Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Auction's End

More and more people gathered outside, making the vicinity of the auction house incredibly crowded.

"It's about time, isn't it?" Ye Shi said, rubbing his hands in anticipation.

Ye Shi had attended many auctions, but this was his first time hosting one. Seeing the artifacts restored by Mu Chen attracting so many, Ye Shi felt a sense of pride.

Fu Yuanbao nodded eagerly, "Yes, I'll be on stage soon."

Ye Shi, looking uncertain, said to Fu Yuanbao, "Do you think I should've hired a beautiful hostess?"

Fu Yuanbao frowned; he had suggested hiring a female host earlier, only to be quickly vetoed by Ye Shi.

Furrowing his brow, Fu Yuanbao responded, "Didn't you not want to spend the stones?" He was surprised that the usually frugal Ye Shi was having second thoughts.

"But as you said, being stingy won't attract many," Ye Shi scratched his head, looking troubled.

Fu Yuanbao sighed softly, reassuring, "It's too late now. The auction is about to start. Rest assured, my charisma isn't any less captivating than a beautiful woman's." He patted his chest confidently.

Fu Yuanbao sighed inwardly: Earning money is no easy task! With a tight-fisted customer like Ye Shi, he had to work even harder.

"Your charm is no less than that of a beauty?" Ye Shi asked with a doubtful look.

Fu Yuanbao felt stiffened by Ye Shi's scrutinizing gaze. Did he really need to look down on him that much? Many women preferred his plump and rounded appearance. Though no one has confessed to him yet, it must be because those beauties are too shy.

"Mr. Ye, I'll head to the stage now."

Ye Shi nodded, simply replying, "Alright."

……

Fu Yuanbao confidently strode onto the stage, gazing down at the crowd below with an air of superiority.

As soon as Fu Yuanbao appeared, all eyes were on him. Basking in the attention, his vanity surged.

"Honorable instructors, dear students, good evening. Thank you for taking the time to attend our auction. I hereby declare the auction officially started."

"Our first auction item is the Cloud Water Woven Robe."

As Fu Yuanbao's words faded, a magnificent and exceptionally beautiful robe shimmered into existence on the stage.

"Look, everyone! Such a stunning robe! Dear seniors and juniors, wearing this robe will enhance your charm by at least 30%."

The Cloud Water Woven Robe's entrance made the gaze of many female cultivators turn fierce.

Fu Yuanbao lifted his hand, releasing an attack upon the robe. Immediately, the robe lit up with a golden glow, revealing a beautiful pattern. "Did you all see? Yes, you're seeing correctly. This robe can absorb attacks."

The eyes of the female cultivators heated up even more. A beautiful and protective garment can easily overcome their usual hesitations.

"Lastly, I have good news to share. Whoever wins this 'Cloud-Water Woven Robe' will be gifted a Level 3 Flame Talisman for free. Yes, you heard right, a new Flame Talisman. If you're lucky, you might be able to refine the Solar Essence Flame with it," Fu Yuanbao declared passionately, raising his fist.

"Let's begin the auction for the Cloud-Water Woven Robe with a starting bid of one million."

"One million five hundred thousand."

"Two million."

"Two million three hundred thousand."

……

"Four million!" Tang Zhu'er shouted.

Often, rather than letting others slowly raise the price, it's more worthwhile to directly announce a high bid and deter competitors.

Unfortunately, while Tang Zhuer's bid deterred most, there were those who remained undaunted.

"Four million five hundred thousand," another student shouted.

"Four million eight hundred thousand."

...

Xia Qingyan, observing the frenzied crowd, gritted her teeth and mused, "Have they all gone mad?"

Xia Qingshu sighed in exasperation. There were so many wealthy individuals at Saint Star Academy, yet as the dean, she was always strapped for cash. It was truly a bitter pill to swallow.

Ultimately, the Cloud-Water Woven Robe was won by a male student for six million five hundred thousand.

Numerous female students glared daggers at Jiang Cheng. If looks could kill, he'd have been torn to shreds.

Xia Qingyan raised an eyebrow, commenting with a hint of envy, "Who would've thought that the one to secure this item isn't a beauty but rather a pretty boy?"

Jiang Cheng's family owns an auction house, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they're rolling in wealth.

As the heir of the Jiang family, Jiang Cheng naturally holds considerable stature.

"I heard he's been pursuing the Ninth Princess recently. I suspect he bought this robe as a gift for her," Xia Qingli speculated.

The first item ended on a high note, selling for six million five hundred thousand.

Soon, the next item was brought out—a massive axe.

While the female students seemed disinterested, the burlier male students looked upon the axe as if they'd seen their beloved, fervently shouting their bids.

The axe's bidding wasn't as heated as the robe's and was finally sold for two million eight hundred thousand.

In terms of value, the axe wasn't far behind the robe. However, the robe's allure lies in its beauty, which naturally attracts the ladies.

The auction progressed smoothly, and all items together fetched a whopping forty-three million two hundred eighty thousand.

Long after the auction ended, the crowd slowly dispersed.

Zhuang Yu fondly toyed with the jade fan in her hands, turning to Murong Yan to inquire, "Seventh Prince, are you truly gifting this to me?"

Murong Yan smiled and replied, "Of course."

"I can't thank you enough," Zhuang Yu said, looking sincerely into Murong Yan's eyes.

"A worthy sword for a hero; this fan suits you perfectly," Murong Yan responded with a smile.

Hearing Murong Yan's words, Zhuang Yu lowered her eyes, blushing slightly. Knowing the fan cost him four million eight hundred thousand, she felt increasingly fond of him.

Lan Ruofeng observed Zhuang Yu and Murong Yan's interaction with a stiff expression.

"There sure are a lot of rich people," Lou Ruoyi remarked as they walked, still in awe of the auction's spectacle.

Everything from the auction felt dreamlike to Lou Ruoyi.

"Indeed!" Mi Xue blinked in agreement. While she knew there were many wealthy students in the academy, most kept a low profile. Today's event, however, unveiled their grandeur.

Ye Rong trailed behind the group, reminiscing about the bidding scenes, feeling her blood boil with excitement.

How magnificent they all were, spending without a care! Oh, how wonderful it would be to be one of them!

"The guy who spent six million five hundred thousand on the Cloud-Water Woven Robe is a man. He doesn't have some kind of cross-dressing fetish, does he?" Bai Le said with a hint of sarcasm.

Lou Ruoyi chuckled, "That's the young master of the Ziyue Auction House. He doesn't have any peculiar tastes, but it seems he's pursuing the Eighth Princess. Probably buying it as a gift for her."

"The Eighth Princess, truly a fortunate one!" Bai Le couldn't help but remark.

“It seems the jade fan bought by the Seventh Prince was gifted to Zhuang Yu.” Mi Xue commented.

Bai Le furrowed his brows, commenting, "Zhuang Yu, already having Lan Ruofeng, is still not satisfied. Now he's even ensnaring the Seventh Prince."

“Not just these two. Nearly every outstanding male freshman in the academy seems to fancy Zhuang Yu. She wants them all to herself, not leaving even a drop for us!” Lou Ruoyi grumbled, grinding her teeth in frustration.

Bai Le smirked, “I've heard Zhuang Yu has taken a liking to Mu Chen.”

“That Zhuang Yu, biting off more than she can chew. With so many admirers, now she's setting her sights on Mu Chen. But it seems Mu Chen isn't interested in her.” Lou Ruoyi remarked with a hint of schadenfreude.

...

Ye Shi looked at his spirit stone card, exhaling in relief. With today's auction earnings, he now had over sixty million.

Fu Yuanbao, having earned over three million, was equally elated, clearly feeling quite fortunate.

“Mr. Ye, if there’s another opportunity like this, remember to call on me.” Fu Yuanbao said with a sycophantic grin.

Ye Shi nodded slightly, answering with a serene tone, "Alright."

Seeing Ye Shi's reaction, Fu Yuanbao was taken aback. For once, Ye Shi did not respond coldly, which left Fu Yuanbao pleasantly surprised.

With the collection of sixty million yuan stones, Ye Shi's mood was rather uplifted, even viewing Fu Yuanbao in a more favorable light.

Though Ye Shi claimed to disdain his biological father's possessions, deep down, he valued them greatly.

No son doesn't yearn for his father's affection, especially Ye Shi, who was neglected by the man he once thought was his “father” and deeply craved paternal love.

...

Ye Xun's residence.

Wang Li played with the beautiful dress in her hand, joyfully saying, "Rong sent a letter. She mentioned that Ye Shi held an auction and earned over forty million yuan stones. The sixty million yuan stones should be complete now."

Ye Xun paused, envy evident in his tone, “Just one auction and he gets over forty million.”

Selling the family's martial arts secrets only earned him a mere million.

Having just sold the family's martial arts secrets, Ye Xun was quite restless. But after spending a day in the Golden Den of the capital, he cast aside his anxieties.

Wang Li nodded, replying, "Indeed!"

After selling the ancestral secrets, Ye Xun's finances were significantly bolstered.

With spirit stones in hand, Ye Xun lived lavishly. Knowing he would soon have sixty million more made him even more carefree with his spending.

“That ungrateful wretch sure is lucky.” Ye Xun muttered.

“How's the book?” Wang Li inquired.

Ye Xun shook his head, “I consulted two more experts. No one can decipher it; it’s all gibberish!”

Wang Li frowned, saying, "Although it appears that way, the book can't even be torn apart."

Despite her desperate desire for the sixty million spirit stones, Wang Li was reluctant to hand over the book to Ye Shi. She was convinced it was a priceless treasure. Even though she couldn't understand its contents, her intuition told her its worth.

Ye Xun looked thoughtful and hesitant. The book looked tattered but was made of some resilient material. Not only tear-resistant but also impervious to water and fire. Sixty million yuan stones seem like a bit of a loss for such an item.

Many things seem inconsequential when they are with us, but the thought of parting with them brings hesitation. This was Ye Xun's sentiment at the moment.