For a long moment, the crowd snapped back to reality, watching Bai Tianjing, who seemed utterly oblivious to the danger, with veiled sneers in their hearts.
Quite a few in the hall recognized Bai Tianjing as the head of the Bai family from Jiyang City, a vassal family under the Nie clan. For a mere minor family head to try and snatch food from the imperial mouth—had he grown tired of living? Moreover, even the Nie family had withdrawn from the bidding; for the Bai family head, a subordinate of the Nie, to step forward and bid, starting immediately at five hundred million—did he even consider if the Bai family had the means?
Such deliberate troublemakers were especially detestable. On this matter, even if the Nie family wished to protect him, they would likely find no decent excuse, unless he could truly produce five hundred million. At this point, everyone could already foresee Bai Tianjing’s pathetic end.
“You…”
The Fifth Prince, Cheng Zirong, shot to his feet, glaring furiously at Bai Tianjing. However, before he could utter the rest of his retort, Cheng Feiliu pulled him back down into his seat.
Under the incredulous gazes of the crowd, Cheng Feiliu smiled faintly, “Brother Tianjing is also interested in this ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers’? Very well, this old man bids five hundred and fifty million!”
“Brother Tianjing?”
Hearing Cheng Feiliu’s address to Bai Tianjing immediately drew a host of wide-awake, twitching eyes from the opposite side. The onlookers felt as if the very world had turned upside down; it was utterly unfathomable—not only was Cheng Feiliu not angry at Bai Tianjing for causing trouble, but he was smiling broadly while continuing the bidding?
The eyes of the assembly then instinctively shifted to Nie Xingyun, Que Yu, Fu Erong, Qu Tingyun at the forefront, and Mu Zisi on the circular platform, only to find that none of them displayed any significant surprise, as if Bai Tianjing’s bid were the most ordinary thing in the world?
What was going on? The Nie family couldn't sustain their bid at two hundred and fifty million, yet this vassal family bid five hundred million without batting an eye!
The crowd felt their minds were struggling to keep up. Since when could the financial power of a vassal family surpass that of its main clan?
“Bai Tianjing?”
Nie Kong’s thoughts also stalled momentarily. He murmured Bai Tianjing’s name before his gaze flicked towards Bai Yuqing, attempting to glean some clue from her expression, but alas, the young girl remained impassive and cold, rendering Nie Kong’s effort futile.
“Six hundred million!”
Bai Tianjing paused briefly before calling out again. Those two simple figures struck the already stunned people in the hall into deeper stupefaction.
“Six hundred and fifty million!”
“Seven hundred million!”
“…”
Taking advantage of the intense bidding between Bai Tianjing and Cheng Feiliu, Nie Kong exchanged a brief greeting with the bewildered and astonished Mu Xiaoling, slipping back to his seat between Lian Tianxin and Nie Xingyun.
“Want to ask about the relationship between the Nie and Bai families?”
Nie Xingyun, seeing Nie Kong’s expression, had guessed his intentions almost perfectly. Nie Kong felt hopeful and nodded eagerly, but the old man abruptly shifted gears, “Too bad I can’t tell you, little fellow. You are still young; focus on your cultivation and don’t dwell on other matters.”
Nie Kong then looked toward Lian Tianxin and Nie Xinghai. The two elders merely smiled, offering absolutely no intention of solving Nie Kong’s puzzle.
Nie Kong was quite exasperated by the three old men’s reactions, yet he was now certain that the Bai family was far more than just a simple vassal of the Nie clan!
“Eight hundred million!”
“Eight hundred and fifty million!”
“Nine hundred million!”
“One billion!”
The bids escalated faster and faster between the two men.
The crowd had become numb to this rapid exchange.
After a short while, they realized that the one calling out one billion was Cheng Feiliu, not Bai Tianjing. In less than a minute, the price of the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers’ had soared from four hundred million to one billion. This was likely the highest bidding surge ever recorded at an auction on the Tianling Continent. Of course, one billion was still not the ultimate value of the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers,’ but achieving this price under such circumstances was already quite remarkable.
Nie Kong, too, felt numb.
At the beginning, the bottle of “Purple Lilac Pills” priced at just over a million had deeply moved him, but as time passed and the final transaction prices continuously climbed—from four million to fifty-one million, and now from four hundred million to one billion—Nie Kong, after an initial shock, had no more room for profound feelings.
In this world, two or three hundred gold coins were enough for a family of five to live comfortably for a year. But if those two or three hundred gold coins were spent on spiritual herbs or elixirs, they wouldn't even stir the smallest ripple. Take this ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers’ for instance; if it were merely displayed, the entrance fee alone would probably cost tens of thousands of gold coins. In terms of wealth, the world of ordinary people and the world of Spirit Masters were simply incomparable.
Lost in thought, Nie Kong turned his gaze to Bai Tianjing.
Bai Tianjing slowly raised his right hand, his lips parting slightly as if to bid, yet after several moments of silent movement, no sound emerged.
A moment later, Bai Tianjing lowered his arm, let out a long sigh, and then fell silent. Having learned from the earlier lesson, Cheng Feiliu remained vigilant, his eyes fixed on Mu Zisi on the circular platform.
Mu Zisi announced loudly, “Ladies and gentlemen, surely there are no more bids this time… In that case, the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers’ belongs to Brother Cheng?... Very well! One billion, Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers, sold!” With that, someone immediately opened the newly prepared large wooden box and placed the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers’ inside.
“Hoo!”
Cheng Feiliu finally let out a breath of immense relief.
Glancing at the Fifth Prince beside him, whose face was flushed red with indignation, Cheng Feiliu shook his head with a wry smile and raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his brow. Spending one billion to finally secure the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers.’ He had brought a spirit card storing five hundred million gold coins when he came to Jiyang City; the remaining five hundred million could be mobilized from nearby cities before tonight. Alternatively, he could borrow some from the Lingbao Pavilion; the Mu family would grant him this much courtesy.
“This auction concludes here. Thank you all for attending!” Mu Zisi had no patience for pleasantries and ended the auction with just a few casual sentences…
……
Half an hour later, the fourth floor of the Lingbao Pavilion.
Only Mu Zisi, Nie Xingyun, and Lian Tianxin were in the room. As soon as they were seated, Nie Xingyun said with sincere distress, “Old Man Mu, you handled today’s affair very poorly. How could you allow a miraculous medicine like the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers’ to be sold in a public auction?”
Mu Zisi replied, deeply frustrated, “I didn't want to, but the owner of the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers’ insisted on it. What choice did I have?”
Lian Tianxin asked with curiosity, “Who exactly is that person?”
Mu Zisi shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure myself; I didn't even get a clear look at his face. I only sensed his cultivation was exceedingly high! Besides, the Lingbao Pavilion deals in spiritual medicines and herbs. Since he wished to auction it, it wasn't convenient for me to refuse. In any case, once the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers’ is gone, it has nothing to do with my Lingbao Pavilion anymore!”
“That’s strange. By your account, this person seems to be deliberately using the opportunity of this ‘Thousand Spirit Herb Gathering’ to spread word about the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers.’ Otherwise, who would dare to auction off such a miraculous medicine after obtaining it?”
“Fifth Brother, are you suggesting this might be a conspiracy?”
“Not might be, it is definitely a conspiracy! That’s why, no matter how tempted I was by the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers,’ I didn’t instruct anyone below to help bid.”
“It’s a good thing the imperial family managed to acquire the ‘Fiery Tree, Silver Flowers’! Given the strength of the imperial family, as long as their experts rush to Jiyang City in time, there shouldn't be any major issues.”
“…”