Zheng Dong hadn't gone far when some Ling Shen Cult followers hidden in the auction venue followed him.
Zheng Dong glanced back vigilantly. Seeing it was a plump woman, he paid no mind.
There was no way she could follow him into the men's restroom.
Upon arriving at the restroom, Zheng Dong didn't rush out.
He wanted to see if anyone would come looking for him.
So, he retreated into the relic space and conjured numerous clones.
One of the clones returned to the restroom in his stead.
Afterward, Zheng Dong's main body shrunk his size and used spatial movement to enter the ventilation ducts.
From the ventilation opening, he could clearly see who entered the restroom.
To his surprise, the plump woman actually entered the men's restroom, quietly opening the doors of each stall, searching for him.
As she was about to push open the door of the stall he was in, Zheng Dong's clone proactively opened it.
Instantly, both parties looked awkward.
The woman reacted quickly, feigning drunkenness and pretending to vomit.
Zheng Dong's clone quickly dodged and swiftly left the restroom, returning to the auction.
Hidden in the ventilation ducts, Zheng Dong witnessed it all and immediately knew someone was targeting him, likely from the Ling Shen Cult.
After all, he hadn't offended many people.
Of course, he couldn't rule out others wanting to seize his infinite beast-taming evolution talent.
Zheng Dong planned to leave the hotel.
However, how to take Ning Wei and Yan Han with him? These two hadn't noticed anything unusual yet!
Moreover, a larger group would easily arouse suspicion.
Additionally, he still wanted to try and obtain the Mimic Crystal Stone.
Zheng Dong thought for a moment and decided to send out clones to first ascertain the current situation in the hotel.
Based on his previous encounters with the Ling Shen Cult, their operations were always grand in scale, and this time should be no different.
Thus, Zheng Dong's clones, shrinking their bodies, quickly moved through the ventilation ducts to various floors of the hotel.
Through these clones, Zheng Dong quickly grasped the hotel's current situation.
The Ling Shen Cult had control of the entire hotel and had also deployed a Nether Ghost Barrier, severing the hotel's connection with the outside world. He was now unable to leave the hotel.
Even using earth-遁 skills wouldn't allow him to escape.
Most importantly, the Ling Shen Cult had deployed many Beast Masters this time, with seven Grandmaster-level Beast Masters, over twenty Master-level Beast Masters, and many Senior Beast Masters.
This was only what Zheng Dong's clones had discovered.
As for how many Beast Masters were hidden in the shadows, Zheng Dong had no idea.
What to do?
Running was no longer an option, so he could only hide.
Fortunately, he had mastered the Combination Skill Ultimate Perfect Possession, so as long as he found a hidden spot, hiding should not be a problem.
Thus, he followed the ventilation ducts back to the auction.
He did not reveal himself, choosing to observe the situation.
His clone sat next to Ning Wei in his place.
The auction continued. As item after item was sold, the auction entered its final stages.
The last item, the Mimic Crystal Stone, was brought up by two hostesses.
It was a colorless, transparent rhomboid crystal, only the size of an arm. It looked unremarkable, but it could continuously change its form and combine.
The current crystalline form was merely its initial state.
Through continuous splitting and combining, it could also grow larger or smaller.
However, a single Mimic Crystal Stone was not enough to be the primary material for mechanical pets. At least three were needed, with nine being the optimal combination.
This disappointed many.
Therefore, the auction price was relatively lower, with a starting bid of one hundred million, and each increment no less than ten million.
"Alright, without further ado, please place your bids, esteemed bosses!" Ma Tiantian called out.
As she spoke, she subtly glanced at Zheng Dong.
She was also from the Ling Shen Cult, and her target tonight was Zheng Dong.
Zheng Dong's clone cooperated well, directly bidding two hundred million.
However, it was quickly raised to three hundred million by someone else.
Zheng Dong was not in a hurry.
Even if he won the Mimic Crystal Stone now, he might not be able to take it away.
He had his clone bid only to make a show of it.
If there was an opportunity, he would rather snatch the Mimic Crystal Stone.
Bai Wenxuan did not bid.
Firstly, he had already purchased three resources and didn't have much money left.
Secondly, he planned to wait for Zheng Dong to win it and then snatch it from him, so there was no need to bid.
The ones competing with Zheng Dong for the Mimic Crystal Stone were several local magnates from Modu, with net worths in the tens or even hundreds of billions.
Of course, that was just their net worth. In reality, they couldn't mobilize much liquid capital to purchase the Mimic Crystal Stone.
After all, they had to consider whether their company's capital chain would break.
Ultimately, Zheng Dong won the Mimic Crystal Stone for one billion two hundred and fifty million.
He didn't even bother to check if he had enough money.
Zheng Dong just wanted an opportunity to get close to the Mimic Crystal Stone.
Unlike other auctions, this one required immediate transaction on-site and did not require a deposit.
Of course, bidding recklessly was shameful, and no one would invite you again, your reputation would be ruined, and no one would dare to cooperate with you.
But Zheng Dong didn't care. He wasn't involved in Modu's business circles, and it was still unknown how many of these people at the auction would survive.
Therefore, many were surprised when Zheng Dong won the Mimic Crystal Stone.
Who was this illegitimate son of a super-rich magnate?
Ning Wei looked shocked.
"Holy crap, when did Brother Dong get so rich?"
Yan Han, beside him, couldn't help but roll her eyes and grabbed Ning Wei's ear, saying indignantly:
"Did you lie to me again? Zheng Dong is clearly rich, but you said he was poor and tricked me out of my allowance!"
...
On the auction stage, Ma Tiantian enthusiastically invited Zheng Dong's clone to the stage.
She didn't care if Zheng Dong was bidding recklessly; as long as Zheng Dong came forward, she would seize him.
Moreover, she had already received notification that the hotel was completely under their control, and all the people outside had been eliminated.
Next, they could deal with the people in the auction venue.
As for Zheng Dong, he needed to be captured alive.
Although Zheng Dong's clone didn't have a single bank card in his pocket, he didn't flinch and walked up confidently.
The clone's purpose was to attract the attention of Ma Tiantian and others, giving Zheng Dong an opportunity to take the Mimic Crystal Stone.
As Zheng Dong's clone stepped forward and reached for the Mimic Crystal Stone, he was stopped by Ma Tiantian.
"That won't do. It's against the rules. You have to pay first!" Ma Tiantian said with a smile.
As she spoke, she reached out to grab Zheng Dong's clone.
Her hands were very white, unnaturally so, and her strength was immense.
Zheng Dong's clone could also tell that Ma Tiantian was in a state of fusion with a pet. When she wasn't attacking, she was completely undetectable.
However, Zheng Dong's clone was not just for show. He possessed ninety percent of the main body's attack power and immediately counterattacked.
The two suddenly began to fight, leaving others bewildered.
At the same time, Zheng Dong, hiding in the ventilation ducts, also made his move.
He directly had Ling'er use Vine Sea Constriction to contend for the Mimic Crystal Stone.
Countless vines surged from the ventilation ducts in the ceiling, quickly covering more than half of the auction venue.
The vines, like living venomous snakes, surged towards the Mimic Crystal Stone.
The two hostesses responsible for carrying the Mimic Crystal Stone also shed their disguises. They were two Senior Beast Masters, each summoning their pets.
Unfortunately, as they were dealing with Ling'er's attack, Zheng Dong used spatial teleportation to quickly snatch the Mimic Crystal Stone.
By the time the two hostesses reacted, Zheng Dong had already arrived beside Ning Wei and Yan Han, leaving dozens of clones in his original spot.
He had previously conjured 365 clones. After understanding the hotel's situation, he had stored these clones in the relic space.
Now, he could deploy them to help at any time.
With these clones blocking Ma Tiantian and the two hostesses, Zheng Dong had time to send Ning Wei and Yan Han into the relic space.
Ning Wei and Yan Han had come to the auction because of him, and he didn't want them to be dealt with unknowingly.
Afterward, Zheng Dong prepared to leave the auction.
However, he was blocked by Bai Wenxuan.
"Zheng Dong, you're outright robbing! Then I'll act on behalf of heaven and eliminate you, you scoundrel!" Bai Wenxuan said righteously.
His move against Zheng Dong now was not only for revenge but also for the Mimic Crystal Stone in Zheng Dong's possession.
The Beast Masters around him also stood up, each summoning their pets.
Zheng Dong didn't want to bother with them and used the Combination Skill Ultimate Infinite Parasitism.
He also released more clones.
For a time, Zheng Dong's clones were everywhere in the auction venue.
Zheng Dong's main body shrunk his size and, taking advantage of the chaos, used spatial teleportation to return to the ventilation ducts, waiting for an opportunity to leave the hotel.
At this moment, Ren Fei, wearing a rat-head mask, and seven Grandmaster-level Beast Masters wearing lion-head and other masks, arrived at the auction venue.
Seeing the chaotic scene, Ren Fei was confident and unhurried.
He nodded slightly at the seven Grandmaster-level Beast Masters.
Instantly, the seven Grandmaster-level Beast Masters each summoned their pets.
King-level pets were summoned one after another, their immense auras like a basin of ice water poured over everyone's heads.
As long as they weren't foolish, everyone could tell that Ren Fei and the masked individuals had ill intentions, and they all became vigilant.
Bai Wenxuan was also surprised.
Although he had two Master-level Beast Masters and three Senior Beast Masters by his side, he still felt no sense of security.
He quickly stopped attacking Zheng Dong's numerous clones and looked at Ren Fei and the others.
"What... are you doing?"
However, no one paid him any attention.
Ren Fei scanned everyone and said with a smile:
"We are only looking for Zheng Dong. Anyone who doesn't want to die should get to the corner on the right."
Instantly, hundreds of people in the auction venue moved away from Zheng Dong's numerous clones, clearing a path for Ren Fei and the others.
Then they squeezed towards the corner on the right.
There were many people, and the corner on the right couldn't accommodate them all. Some who thought they were clever kept pushing their way in.
Bai Wenxuan also put aside his pride and squeezed in with his people.
Unexpectedly, Ren Fei then said to the seven Grandmaster-level Beast Masters:
"See clearly? Kill everyone except Zheng Dong!"
This immediately stunned Bai Wenxuan and all the auction attendees.
What kind of monstrous act was this?
They all glared at Ren Fei and the others in anger.
However, they were directly ignored.
They were cornered by the King-level pets summoned by the seven Grandmaster-level Beast Masters, making escape difficult.
As soon as Ren Fei finished speaking, the King-level Dark Mantis took the lead in the slaughter. A portly rich man, before he could even react, had his head severed.
Instantly, blood gushed out, and screams erupted.
The people present were all wealthy, accustomed to a life of luxury and indulgence, and rarely witnessed such a bloody scene.
Many even vomited on the spot.
Of course, some reacted quickly and summoned their own pets.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of training, these pets were not very powerful.
Furthermore, in the auction, among these hundreds of people, there were only two Grandmaster-level Beast Masters.
These two had both started from scratch and worked their way up to become Modu magnates.
Their pets could put up a fight, but facing seven Grandmaster-level Beast Masters, they had no chance of winning.
Soon, more and more people fell.
Seeing this, Zheng Dong frowned.
He had originally planned to escape amidst the chaos and find an opportunity to leave the hotel.
However, Ren Fei had quickly brought the situation under control.
He was still hiding in the ventilation ducts, while his numerous clones were trapped in the middle by Ren Fei and others, as well as Ma Tiantian and the two hostesses.
After Bai Wenxuan and the others fell, it would be the turn of his clones.
If all his clones were defeated, Ren Fei and his group would inevitably conduct a thorough search, doing everything they could to find him.
Therefore, he needed to stall for time, the longer the better.
Ideally, it would be until dawn, when someone discovered the anomaly in the hotel, and perhaps then he would have a chance to leave.
At this moment, Ren Fei spoke again, saying to all of Zheng Dong's clones:
"Zheng Dong, look, all of this is your fault. If it weren't for you, they wouldn't have died!"
This single statement caused many who didn't understand the situation to resent Zheng Dong.
Some even cursed him before dying.
Zheng Dong hadn't expected Ren Fei to be so cunning, easily manipulating people's emotions, which put him in a more passive position.
He looked at Ren Fei. Although Ren Fei wore a rat-head mask, his build, movements, and voice remained unchanged, making him feel very familiar, yet he couldn't recall who it was.
After all, he had only met Ren Fei once.
"Stop pretending. Whether they live or die is up to you. With your strength, you could have let them go and attacked me directly!" Zheng Dong, through one of his clones, impersonated himself and said.
"Let them go? I can't trust that. I don't want them to live and become witnesses.
By then, your Special Operations Bureau would follow the clues and expose all of us.
Unless you cooperate with us honestly and let me take your beast-taming talent, I might consider letting them live!" Ren Fei said with a sinister laugh.
Knowing that Ren Fei's words were unreliable, many still begged Zheng Dong to agree.
After all, their own survival was paramount.
As for Zheng Dong's fate, it was no longer within their consideration.
Of course, Zheng Dong ignored these people.
While having his clones impersonate him and continue the dialogue with Ren Fei, he was also looking for an opportunity to create more chaos, allowing Bai Wenxuan and the others to survive longer, thus buying him more time.
He soon noticed the two Grandmaster-level Beast Masters who had started from scratch.
These two were local magnates from Modu, quite elderly, and they were also among the behind-the-scenes bosses of this auction.
Zheng Dong intended to help them out. As long as these two could unleash their power, the situation would become chaotic.
Because Zheng Dong wasn't the only one looking for an opportunity; many others were also seeking a chance to escape. After all, anyone with a brain could see that Ren Fei had no intention of letting anyone leave alive.
Thus, Zheng Dong had his numerous clones launch an attack.
Various Combination Skill Ultimates were directed at Ren Fei, Ma Tiantian, and others.
Ren Fei, however, remained unfazed.
He summoned a King-level Hell Rakshasa Ghost King.
This was a humanoid pet enveloped in black hellfire, with a monstrous face and fangs, appearing extremely terrifying, and it had four arms.
The Hell Rakshasa Ghost King was not only skilled in combat but also in sealing barriers.