This auction house, intent on expanding its international influence, presented only the finest items for bidding this time.[Bookmark:] Although most of the auctioned items came with related certificates, the bidders were all magnates and tycoons, clearly placing no faith in those so-called "professors" and their "certificates." Almost every single person had brought along their own specialized appraisers to meticulously examine everything and confirm authenticity before placing a bid.

Fang Senyan held absolutely no interest in the other items. Having already experienced the marvels of the Nightmare Space, money in the real world had completely lost its allure. After waiting a while, the item Fang Senyan desired finally appeared. The words "Maotai 1950 Original Vintage" falling upon his ears were as melodious as celestial music, so much so that he only then realized the auctioneer’s flawless figure and the attractive curve of her bust.

This 1950 Maotai Original Vintage was exquisitely packaged, though the container was a simple earthenware jar, appearing quite unremarkable. However, once it was presented, it immediately sparked a fierce battle among bidders. Several parties engaged in a back-and-forth bidding war, driving the price of this item, which started at two million, well over ten million. Fang Senyan felt a sudden urge to rush forward and seize a swig, but his innate ability, "Toughness," was currently useless, and he couldn't bring any equipment from the Space with him. Otherwise, he stood a very good chance of success. But now, there was absolutely no need to take such a risk; keeping a low profile on arrival and departure was the best approach.

As the auction hammer fell heavily, the two bottles of liquor were snatched up for the exorbitant price of 2.9 million Singapore dollars, equating to over fourteen million in local currency. The two bottles, once successfully bid upon, were immediately repackaged on site and handed directly to the seller. Fang Senyan also took note of the successful bidder/fat sheep's name: Li Xianhai.

He was a middle-aged man, perhaps in his early forties, with two thick black eyebrows that swept back into his temples, giving him an air of distinction. Despite having just spent an amount that an ordinary person could never accumulate in a lifetime, he remained calm and composed, casually setting the bag containing the two bottles of wine at his feet, as if these items were merely appetizers before a true feast. Surrounding him were several bodyguards whose backs were ramrod straight, clearly looking like the kind of hardened veterans who had tasted blood and survived countless skirmishes.

Following this, besides keeping a close watch on Mr. Li Xianhai, Fang Senyan’s mind was entirely consumed with plotting how to snatch a taste of the wine and successfully escape. Time flew quickly, until he suddenly heard the host announce:

“Next, we commence the auction of the final rare treasure: The Qianlong Nine Virtues Portable Bell Pendant Seal.”

Even though Fang Senyan's focus had been elsewhere, hearing the name caused a jolt to run through his body. First, the nature of the item was defined as a "Seal" (Xi), which immediately marked it as an item exclusively for royalty. With any antique, as soon as the word "royal" is attached, its value is invariably multiplied tenfold, especially considering Qianlong, a figure of paramount importance in imperial history. The term "Nine Virtues" was not merely praising the emperor, but hinting at the material quality of this small seal, as the finest Tianhuang stone possesses nine distinct characteristics: fine, firm, warm, lustrous, pure, tender, unctuous, cohesive, and spiritual—hence the nickname Nine Virtues Stone. A plain-language translation of this rare treasure’s name would be: the imperial seal worn by Emperor Qianlong, carved from the highest quality Tianhuang stone.

A low hum immediately spread through the hall, clearly indicating that the attendees understood the profound significance of this object, which had been brought over from the mainland. The precious nature of this small seal was self-evident. For these Singaporean dignitaries and gentry, it held an additional, special meaning. Southeast Asia in the modern era was known as Nanyang, and the vast majority of the Chinese populace residing there had migrated from Fujian and Guangdong, carrying a deep-seated sentiment for their ancestral soil—the belief that even if they couldn't be buried in their hometown after death, a pinch of the soil from there should be buried with them.

And globally, Tianhuang stone is found exclusively in Shoushan, Fujian, making it another tangible link to the homeland. For these influential figures, acquiring the Qianlong Nine Virtues Portable Bell Pendant Seal was a prestigious and meaningful act. They could use it as a substitute for ancestral soil to honor elders in the family, or keep it as a personal treasure to show off their sophistication and depth of knowledge—an elegant pursuit that offered both face and substance.

Subsequently, various experts hired by wealthy bidders stepped forward to verify the authenticity. Fang Senyan only needed to look at the grave concentration on the faces of the appraisers to know that this object could not possibly be fake. The middle-aged man, Li Xianhai, who had purchased the Maotai, also straightened up, calmly wiping his spectacles with a linen cloth, his eyes revealing a flicker of intense desire. It was clear he was determined to obtain this item.

But just then, one of the "appraisers" who had stepped forward to inspect the seal drew a three-edged bayonet from inside his trouser leg! His movements were extraordinarily swift and agile; he was clearly someone tempered by countless trials between life and death. He began stabbing everyone around him. This attacker moved incredibly fast, and the three-edged bayonet caused horrific bleeding. Each person stabbed immediately developed a deep, bloody hole, and blood instantly spurted onto the floor.

The "appraiser" snatched the box containing the Tianhuang stone and, without missing a beat, stabbed three security guards who rushed forward wielding batons. He was about to turn the corner and bolt into the inner rooms when a series of rapid, sharp sounds echoed—the dense gunfire of weapons equipped with silencers. After running only two or three steps, the man’s entire body was riddled with holes, turning him into a sieve, and he collapsed instantly. The blood pooling beneath him immediately dyed the ground crimson!

It appeared the patrolling guards in the main hall were merely for show; the real protective force remained hidden, only emerging when an emergency occurred—a swift strike and withdrawal! Silently, their actions—drawing their weapons, firing, and re-holstering—were executed with incredible speed. Even those standing right beside them would have had difficulty noticing. Fang Senyan’s five senses were currently far superior to those of an ordinary person (excluding his mental perception), so he clearly saw the positions and faces of the shooters. These gunmen came from diverse backgrounds: some were bidders, some were television reporters, and others were cleaning staff. Had they not just shot someone, their identities would have been impossible to determine.

But at this very moment, Fang Senyan’s pupils constricted slightly. Because of the recent killings, the hall had descended into chaos, with guards struggling desperately to maintain order. Yet, clearly, seven or eight figures had taken advantage of the confusion to stealthily position themselves, aiming silently at the security gunmen whose identities had just been exposed. The scene was akin to sharks sensing blood in the ocean, silently closing in on their prey.

The situation had become painfully obvious: the initial attacker who had snatched the jade seal was nothing more than bait, intended specifically to lure out the hidden security forces!

At this point, the assassins closed in on the gunmen, swiftly drawing knives and delivering fatal blows. The gunmen, in their death throes, attempted a final struggle, starting to return fire. The scene instantly escalated into a fierce gun battle, throwing the situation into even greater disorder, with screams and cries rising one after another. However, the seated auction guests had segregated into five distinct clusters, each centered around their primary leader who was tightly encircled by bodyguards. These guards had their hands deep inside their suit inner pockets, maintaining an extremely tight perimeter, completely unruffled. Among these groups, Li Xianhai was surrounded by the most guards, his defensive formation being the most robust.

“So, if I were the mastermind…” A thought flashed through Fang Senyan’s mind with the speed of lightning, “then the next step would surely be to eliminate the remaining resistance in the hall! The bodyguards accompanying these high-ranking officials are all battle-hardened elites; they must be among the targets to be cleared!”

With this realization, Fang Senyan immediately retreated a few steps, positioning himself in a corner with his hands clutching his head in a gesture of terror. His eyes, however, were fixed intently on the movements around Li Xianhai. For him, the more chaotic the overall situation, the better. His sole objective was the two bottles of wine. While they were ridiculously expensive, this auction featured an endless array of rare treasures. The Qianlong Nine Virtues Seal alone was astonishing, not to mention the Mi Fu landscape painting that had sold earlier. Those two bottles of wine, unless one was particularly mindful, would likely have been completely forgotten.

Although the hidden security gunmen were formidable, they couldn't withstand the sudden, violent assault from the concealed attackers, and they were quickly cut down like weeds. The bodyguards surrounding the gentry and dignitaries, however, remained completely unmoved, guarding their principals so closely that not an inch of vulnerability was exposed. Only at such a moment could one truly appreciate that they were exceptionally professional, definitely not novices who could be compared to fresh recruits.

Li Xianhai surveyed the chaotic scene and realized that the Qianlong Nine Virtues Portable Bell Pendant Seal, which he had been determined to acquire, had vanished. He frowned, bent over, picked up the bag containing the "Maotai 1950 Original Vintage," and murmured quietly:

“Let’s go.”

This man’s status was high, yet his movements were surprisingly agile. As he rose and took a step, the bodyguards around him moved simultaneously. Previously, they had formed a vast square, completely enveloping him; now, as they moved, the square shifted together, stepping in unison like a military formation during a National Day parade, shielding the person they protected so thoroughly that not a single gap remained. Li Xianhai strode purposefully towards the adjacent corridor, his bodyguards matching his pace and moving in the same direction.

The assailants who had struck the security forces offered no resistance. They, too, were under immense pressure. There were at least thirty bodyguards in the hall in total, all highly professional. Although not a single bodyguard had fired a shot, nearly all attention was focused on them. Should these attackers make any sudden moves, they would immediately be torn apart by a hail of bullets!