After thinking for a moment, the woman in the bamboo hat finally made her offer: "11,000 spirit crystals."
"It's just a broken bell, what's so special about it?" People below the stage began to murmur in confusion.
"Could there be some hidden secret in it?"
The people on the first floor didn't have much money to begin with, and those on the second floor had their eyes on other auction items.
So if the price got too high, naturally no one wanted to waste spirit crystals on other things.
"20,000 spirit crystals," without hesitation, Xu Zimo said after hearing the bamboo hat woman's bid.
"The young master in the bamboo room has bid 20,000 spirit crystals. Anyone else want to raise the price?" the red-robed old man said with a cheerful smile.
He had thought it was just a broken item, but now there was an unexpected surprise.
The bamboo hat woman fell completely silent this time.
"Then it's settled. This bell from the God-Demon Battlefield goes to the young master in the bamboo room," the red-robed old man said after waiting a moment and struck the gavel.
Not long after, a maid came in with the bell on a tray.
According to auction rules, it was cash on delivery.
Xu Zimo looked at Lin Feng, and Lin Feng reluctantly paid the 20,000 spirit crystals.
Originally, he thought Xu Zimo wouldn’t need the spirit crystals, so he could use them to buy something for the upcoming Nine Heavens Grand Gathering.
But judging by the situation now, even one million spirit crystals might not be enough.
Xu Zimo took the bell and began examining it.
The bell was about the same size as an ordinary one, dark brown in color, with rust and peeling paint in some places, clearly very old.
Inside the bell was a small, round stone-like clapper. When shaken lightly, it made a faint ringing sound.
Nothing about it seemed special. If no one had said it came from the Divine Demon Battlefield, it wouldn’t even be worth a regular bell.
"Does this bell do anything?" Jiang Changsheng asked from the side.
"Can't tell for now," Xu Zimo shook his head.
He couldn’t sense any energy in the bell.
"Just a pile of junk, what use could it possibly have," Lin Feng added.
"You think I need your opinion on whether it’s useful?" Xu Zimo shot back.
"If I don’t say anything, let’s see how you explain this to father when we return," Lin Feng retorted.
...
The auction on the first floor continued, and more and more items were put up for bidding.
As the event progressed, the items got pricier.
Finally, when the red-robed old man presented a purple flower, Lin Feng became serious.
The flower was about the size of a palm, with six petals, each engraved with Buddhist chants.
Staring at it long enough, you could almost hear faint whispers of chanting.
"This is the Heavenly Lotus, a flower unique to the Temple of Myriad Buddhas," the red-robed old man explained with a smile.
"It blooms once every six months after being placed in the temple’s sanctum. It wards off evil, calms the mind, and offers protection. It’s extremely rare, and greatly enhances understanding of Buddhist techniques and martial arts. Starting price is one million spirit crystals, with each bid increase no less than 100,000."
As soon as he finished speaking, people began bidding.
"1.1 million spirit crystals."
"1.5 million spirit crystals."
...
Seeing how aggressive the bidding was, Lin Feng looked at Xu Zimo and said, "Brother, father only gave us five million spirit crystals for this auction. If it’s not enough, we’ll have to use your share too."
"That’s your problem. If you’re short, pay the difference yourself. I’m not helping," Xu Zimo waved him off, firmly refusing.
Lin Feng’s face darkened. He wanted to say something but held back, clenching his fists.
"Three million spirit crystals," when the bidding started to slow down, Lin Feng shouted.
"You people from Grand Heaven Mountain want in on this too?" someone from a second-floor room called out.
"Got enough money? Want me to lend you some?"
"No need for Jade Heaven Mountain to worry," Lin Feng replied calmly.
He recognized the speaker as Yan Song, the prince of Jade Heaven Mountain.
"In that case, I’ll bid 3.5 million spirit crystals," Yan Song said from his room.
"Four million," Lin Feng said with a sour expression.
The others were intrigued by the rivalry between the two branches and didn’t bid further.
After all, their target wasn’t the Heavenly Lotus.
"4.5 million," Yan Song followed up immediately.
In his room, a middle-aged man next to him reminded, "Prince, this isn’t our target. What if the other side stops bidding?"
"Don’t worry, he’ll keep going," Yan Song replied with a smile.
"I bid five million. Yan Song, if you bid again, I’ll drop out and let you have it," Lin Feng said coldly.
His energy flared, clearly agitated.
"A gentleman doesn't take what others desire. Since you like it so much, it’s yours," Yan Song smiled.
Just as Lin Feng was about to relax, a voice suddenly came from the first floor.
"I bid 5.1 million."
Everyone turned toward the voice and saw a monk quietly sitting among the crowd.
"It’s Monk Kuwu," someone exclaimed in surprise.
"He was once the number one divine monk of the Temple of Myriad Buddhas, but was later expelled," another whispered.
"He dares show his face here? Isn’t he afraid of being caught by the temple?"
"You don’t know, the monks haven’t left the temple for a long time. It’s unlikely they’d come to Fire Phoenix City anytime soon."
"5.5 million," Lin Feng gritted his teeth and bid again.
"Friends from Grand Heaven Mountain," Monk Kuwu spoke calmly after chanting “Amitabha,” "I have no intention of competing with you for the Heavenly Lotus. If you agree to one request, I will withdraw and even reimburse you for the extra crystals you just bid."
"What request?" Lin Feng frowned.
"I’ve heard that the ancestor of Nine Heavens Sect once defeated the Ghost Buddha Tathagata and obtained the Six Cuts of Ghost Zen," Monk Kuwu said. "I only ask to take a look at it."
"Impossible. That’s Grand Heaven Mountain’s core technique. We can’t just let someone else see it," Lin Feng refused.
"In that case, don’t blame me for not stepping aside," Monk Kuwu replied, and immediately said, "I bid six million spirit crystals."
With a loud “bang,” Lin Feng slammed the table beside him, his energy flaring up even more.
"This Monk Kuwu is looking for death," he said angrily.
"Monk Kuwu is a World Paragon. You’re probably not his match yet," Xu Zimo said with a smile.