Chapter 751 751: Challenge to Dignity
"I've heard that Zhao Wuji has also named his price. The auction house doesn't seem to give face to Zhao's words. Li Mubai and Li Mintong felt their hearts suspended mid-air, thoroughly deposited back into their stomachs."
But...
"Is this the authority of Zhao Country? If we don't step forward now, and don't lose the public's gaze, why even have the Four Great Families? I think it's nonsense, but I'll just start with 600,000 yuan worth of stones!"
"You're joking!" Li Mubai and Li Mintong fell off their chairs, kneeling in shock. As soon as they returned from Hell, they were quietly dragged away.
After a brief silence, the auction house erupted in chaos. Everyone thought Li Qingyu was truly someone extraordinary.
Zhao Wuji's entire face darkened? At that time, when a bidding war for a fifty-thousand-yuan stone turned extreme, those proud individuals among them refused to yield, especially hearing, "Why have Four Great Families then? That doesn't sound less ridiculous to me." This ignited an unspeakable fury. For years, they'd dared not offend the Zhao people, but now, their dignity among the Four Families was being challenged!
"Prince, it's unwise to continue raising the bid! This is already the limit!" Zhao Wuji's aides advised.
Suddenly, Zhao Wuji grabbed a pouch and flung it at a servant. "I'm not joking, Zhao scion. My father always taught me that among the Four Great Families, one must never be caught doing evil—fetch me another 300,000 stones!"
"Fine! Brother Zang Feng means Zhao Moxin, right? That suave man, tell him this from Brother Zang Feng—starting today, this is my matter now!"
"I've decided!" Zhao declared resolutely.
"Prince, with all respect, please do not bid anymore!" Advisers tried to dissuade him, underestimating Zhao Wuji's pride and ego.
"I bid 700,000 stones!"
"Ah—" Li Qingyu let out a long chuckle, glowing with the color of triumph. Though outwardly calm, his sweaty palms betrayed him. Only victory in this grand competition would suffice.
Seven hundred thousand stones. This was an exorbitant price, beyond anything Li Qingyu's other two brothers could manage, even with their twenty-thousand-yuan bids.
Bage remained oblivious to the nuances, yet one truth lingered—he was alone. Meanwhile, his prized collection was being carefully guarded in his corner cabinet, barring any outsiders from entry.
There was a royal prince, Emperor Ge Guangwu himself, who attended an auction once. Upon spotting Ling Shaomeng's display of heart-stirring allure, and strolling alongside the empress, his astonishment straightened him upright. Even under the reigning monarch Emperor Guangwu's oppressive stare, the prince dared not utter a word, stunned. The people's hearts… well, there was one undeniable truth—not every treasure from the Treasure Garden could be trusted, even as rumors swirled that the auction house might become a sought-after gateway in itself!
"My son! Be prudent and composed!"
Zhao Wuji grunted coldly. Though enraged, in the end, he returned to his seat, suppressing his anger with difficulty. Even so, they all knew the pain they'd endured already.
The auction continued, but even expensive items being sold failed to reignite the initial excitement. Zhao Wuji pondered whether he should risk bidding again. Not having visited this place for a while, the whispers and suspicions weighed heavily, draining everyone's enthusiasm.
Out of nowhere, a Baoting employee strode over to Meng Lingshao's side. For reasons unknown, they whispered something before swiftly departing.
"Ladies and gentlemen, an adjustment has just been made—right now, the third highlight item will be compressed into bidding!" announced Duan Mengling. With that, the atmosphere in the auction surged forward once more.
Li Qingyu nodded in silent approval. Even merchants under the Baoting name leveraged powerful backgrounds, skillfully reducing the competition among traders.
"This particular item was entrusted to our pavilion by God Himself. Its value transcends standard forces, yet ultimately, it promises to be a game-changing artifact!"
"Don't tell me you're auctioning off Ling Shao's daughter?" someone jeered.
"No, I'm simply dying of curiosity and can't wait to see it unveiled."
"Please, present it now already!"
Seeing impatience among the crowd, Meng Lingshao clapped playfully, her fingers snapping with a gleam. In the next moment, resting in her palm—a polished, oval object glimmered. "The third treasured item—a Demon Beast Egg!"
"What? Demon Beast Egg? Is this Ling Shao mocking us?"
"Indeed, precisely a Beast Egg, one that molds its owner's fate through countless lifetimes."
"Is it truly an egg of a monster beast?"
"Please, quiet down, everyone! Let Ling Shao explain!" Addressing both laughter and mockery, Meng Lingshao responded coolly. "I was also caught off guard by its appearance. According to the item's previous owner, this is indeed a Demon Beast Egg, discovered within an ancient tomb, cementing its mystery."
"How sturdy is such an egg?"
"Capable of enduring direct strikes from Nirvana warriors!" Meng Lingshao replied. "This treasure achieves practical results without deceit or pretense!"
"Nonsense!" another scoffed. "It's nothing more than a beast egg!"
Unexpectedly, Brother Bao discovered significance through his sharp eyes—this was no ordinary egg. Further, within the field of refining Nirvana treasures lay Sister Bao's insight. Right now, she understood its extraordinary essence.
"This is growing interesting. Whoever claims this beast egg will uncover momentous power." Li Qingyu muttered, his gaze penetrating. "Even Zhao Wuji should concede for this."
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces turned serious. Whispers circled the room; clearly, Li Qingyu wasn't bluffing by any stretch.
Zhao Wuji could barely contain himself. "Let's see who dares challenge me in this pit today!"
"Now that everyone recognizes this Demon Beast Egg, let us begin bidding. The reserve price is 300,000 stones, with increments no less than 50,000 each time!"
"Ah, isn't 100,000 high enough? You're deliberately making it unreasonably expensive!"
Li Qingyu's voice broke off abruptly.
Meanwhile, in one private booth, Li Mubai clutched Li Qingyu's arm tightly. "Brother, stop this! My heart can't take playing like this!"
Li Mintong added, "But brother, seriously, this is unbearable. Why don't we just ignore this whole ordeal?"
Li Qingyu pried off Li Mubai's grip, his expression cold and severe. "Who claimed I was playing?"
The two looked at him, utterly confused. "What are you saying?"
"You'll see," Li Qingyu replied curtly. The moment his eyes locked onto the Demon Beast Egg, any trace of hesitation dissipated. With the knowledge he gained from the Monster Encyclopedia, he set his sights on claiming this artifact.
At that moment, Zhao Wuji interjected, "Miss Ling Shao, if chaos erupts during the auction, what will become of the bidding order?"
"Anyone causing trouble will be blacklisted from Treasure Garden for life!" Meng Lingshao proclaimed sternly.
"Hmm, that sounds reasonable. However, I suspect someone here is just a pauper stirring up trouble!" Zhao Wuji remarked.
Li Qingyu's blood boiled. A poor man? Accusing his family of poverty? Dare speak—he'd swap Martial Arts for Yuan Shi techniques just to teach Zhao Wuji a lesson!
"Haha, His Royal Highness Zhao can't even outbid this much? It seems the Four Families aren't what they're hyped to be. Although, with a hundred thousand stones, even my poor wallet still stands a chance!"
"What? A million stones?! What madness is this?" Zhao Wuji leapt from his chair, staring incredulously.
His initial intent to escalate things backfired spectacularly. Knowing his circumstances, he couldn't afford such a ludicrous price. It was insane to think such a sum could be paid willingly for an egg.
"Don't let Zhao force you into this ridiculous escalation!"
Hearing the confidence in Li Qingyu's voice, Zhao Wuji's spirit faltered. In the end, he refrained from further contest, sneering in defeat. "A Junzi doesn't snatch another's prize. Since you've claimed it, may that egg bring you peace!"