After the Fatty Aipu had boasted to his heart's content, he indeed drew the gaze of everyone present. Curiosity shone in their eyes, each wishing to catch a glimpse of the person Aipu had described. They clamored for Aipu to present the final auction item quickly, which was precisely the effect Aipu had intended with his lengthy preamble.

With a quick clap of his hands, Aipu signaled, and immediately two vividly dressed female staff members from the Qiyun Pavilion entered, bearing a woman draped entirely in white, her hair a striking shade of blue. However, the white-clad woman's head was concealed by a black mask, rendering her features completely invisible.

Yet, judging purely by appearance, the figure of this white-clad woman was exquisitely perfect. Her blue hair cascaded around a beautifully sculpted body encased in a tight-fitting white gauze dress that left no doubt as to her flawless physique—a figure that was neither an inch too heavy nor a shade too thin, truly beyond reproach.

And then there was her snow-white neck visible above the dress, translucent and pure as fresh snow.

Gazing upon it evoked a feeling of refreshment and ease, sparking an almost irresistible urge to lean in and press a kiss upon it.

Upon the gauze skirt of the white-clad woman,

intricate, delicate blue threading was scattered, mirroring the color of her hair, creating an image of absolute perfection. Clearly, this was the result of meticulous preparation by the Qiyun Pavilion. Merely observing her figure allowed everyone present to imagine that this woman must be an unparalleled beauty.

Only Mo Han, however, noticed that the white-clad woman lay motionless on the auction dais. It was unclear if she was paralyzed by fear or for some other reason; she hadn't moved at all since her entrance. The assembled nobles, absorbed by her outward beauty, seemed to overlook this crucial detail entirely.

Even Mo Han, accustomed to beautiful sights, felt a jolt from the sheer perfection of the woman's figure.

How much more so the nobles! Most were stunned into silence by the spectacle, while a select few even allowed their mouths to water in undisguised avarice.

The reactions of the crowd were precisely within Fatty Aipu’s expectations.

He himself had been utterly captivated when he first received this woman, his initial state not much better than that of the current audience.

Seeing events unfold as predicted, the stout Aipu spoke up with smug satisfaction, "I trust you don't need to see the face of our final treasure to know it is no ordinary item, simply judging by her form? Moreover, I dare say her appearance surpasses even your wildest expectations for a peerless beauty."

Hearing Aipu's words,

a noble immediately shouted, demanding the removal of the white-clad woman's veil, but Aipu shook his head, refusing. Aipu continued with a smile, "I believe,

with the golden signboard of our Qiyun Pavilion as guarantee, you all understand the situation? The Qiyun Pavilion would never risk tarnishing its reputation for the sake of one auction item."

"As for why this final treasure cannot yet reveal her true face, it is at the request of her owner, intended to add a touch of mystery and allure. We ask for your understanding.

But I promise, any guest who successfully bids for this treasure will feel the price was absolutely worth it, or else you are free to tear down the Qiyun Pavilion’s sign.

To ensure everyone present enjoys themselves to the fullest, once this final treasure has found its master, we will lift her veil, allowing all guests to feast their eyes. We hope you will all be satisfied with our decision."

Aipu’s mixture of soft assurance and firm declaration immediately silenced the nobles who had been protesting, forcing them to quiet down and agree.

Seizing the moment, Aipu announced, "Very well, now I shall declare the starting bid for this final treasure: One million gold coins, with no bid increase less than one hundred thousand gold coins. I hope none of you miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You may never encounter such a magnificent sight again in your lives, so I urge you all to seize this chance."

... Aipu’s intensely persuasive oration immediately ignited the enthusiasm of the nobles present. Despite the high price of this auction item, it did not diminish the fervor of the noble lords. As soon as Aipu finished speaking, a noble started bidding, and others, unwilling to be left behind, quickly countered, driving the price up to the astronomical figure of two million five hundred thousand gold coins in just a few exchanges.

Aipu, still standing on the stage, was grinning so widely his eyes nearly disappeared, inwardly marveling at his luck in receiving this treasure voluntarily, for which he wouldn't have to pay a single cent—a windfall from the heavens! He was netting a fortune in gold coins, and while the owner's demand—that the woman be kept drugged during the auction—was peculiar, it was insignificant compared to the profit he was gaining. Aipu certainly didn't care.

As the price surged past two million five hundred thousand gold coins, the bidding noticeably slowed. At two million eight hundred thousand, no one offered another bid; it seemed this was the limit of acceptance for these nobles. Just as everyone assumed the white-clad woman was about to be claimed by some great noble bidding from the second-floor private boxes, a clear voice echoed from one of those VIP compartments: "My master bids three million gold coins for this female slave."

These second-floor compartments were reserved exclusively for powerful and influential great nobles; there were only five in total, and money alone could not secure entry. One needed exceptionally high status or authority to enter, placing these boxes a significant tier above the regular second-floor seating.

Hearing that voice, all eyes turned curiously toward the compartment. Since these boxes had remained silent from the start, everyone assumed they were empty. To have someone bid from there at the final moment instantly piqued everyone's curiosity, eager to discover which great noble had purchased the white-clad woman.

Upon hearing the voice, Aipu hastily bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for your favor, Your Highness. I trust no one will offer a higher price than Your Highness?" Aipu's words held a double meaning, fearful that some foolish noble might, unknowingly, compete with the esteemed Prince, causing His Highness to lose face. Not only would that noble suffer, but the Qiyun Pavilion itself might be implicated, resulting in truly unwarranted disaster.

Thus, Aipu's statement both proclaimed the supreme status of the compartment's occupant—warning the nobles not to offend the Prince inadvertently—and implicitly acknowledged the final sale of the item, suggesting that even a higher bid would likely be refused.

The nobles present gasped in surprise, never imagining that a Prince of the Blazing Cloud Empire would personally attend this auction and enter the bidding for the final treasure at the last moment. The only lingering question was which Prince of the Blazing Cloud Empire occupied the box.

As for why the nobles were certain the occupant was an imperial Prince rather than a prince from another nation, they knew by Aipu’s demeanor. The Qiyun Pavilion already had powerful backing. If it were a prince from another country, Aipu would have no need to be so deferential or offer such pointed warnings. Therefore, the identity of the person inside was self-evident.

The nobles present were not fools, and naturally, no one dared to compete with a Prince for a woman. The final treasure was thus settled at the price of three million gold coins. Mo Han, who had been seated all along, remained impassive, showing no reaction beyond his initial astonishment at the white-clad woman's beauty.

Seeing the final item sold, the tension in Aipu’s heart finally eased. He bowed deeply toward the second-floor compartment and said, "Since Your Highness has acquired this treasure, I hope Your Highness will grant the small request I made earlier: to allow all present guests to witness the true splendor of this treasure, so that all the nobles may leave satisfied, feeling their attendance was worthwhile."

Aipu had his reasons for making this request. Firstly, he had explicitly promised the assembled crowd that once the final item was sold, they would be treated to a view of her beauty. If he failed to uphold this, the reputation of the Qiyun Pavilion would suffer damage.

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