When Chen Xiao and the other two returned just in time, the Mitre Auction House was already packed.
The Dou Ling expert from the Mitre Family who had escorted the medicinal ingredients had also changed into a black robe and was seated in the front row, not standing out in the auction hall that could accommodate thousands of people.
This was because there were at least twenty to thirty people dressed similarly.
Ya Fei had also changed into a red dress and was just waiting for noon to arrive before announcing the start.
After the three of them arrived at the auction house, they went straight up to the second floor, standing high up and taking in the full view of the hall.
Ya Fei on the stage noticed their appearance and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Just as the time arrived, she immediately announced the official start of the auction.
Skipping the unnecessary opening remarks, the first auction item was brought up by a maid on a jade plate under everyone's watchful eyes.
"The first item for auction is a third-tier Magic Core..."
With Ya Fei's introduction, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became heated.
The widespread use of Magic Cores needed no further explanation. Starting with a third-tier Magic Core further convinced those who had traveled from afar that this trip would not be in vain.
While the people in the hall were bidding heatedly, the three people standing on the second floor didn't pay much attention.
For Chen Xiao, these things were just being handled in a different place; the crucial item was that incomplete map.
Hai Bo Dong, however, raised his hand and drew an auction catalog from the stairs in the distance into his hand. He had already known for days that most of the items in this auction came from Chen Xiao, but he hadn't asked in detail. Now he could see what kind of things this kid had brought out.
He didn't know until he looked, and when he did, Hai Bo Dong was stunned.
He casually set up a soundproof barrier, blocking out the noise from outside.
"This incomplete map, it's not the one I had, is it? I knew why you were interested in it back then. Turns out you already had a copy. But I saw you valued it quite a bit, why are you suddenly putting it up for auction now?"
In the past, Hai Bo Dong had suffered greatly for that incomplete map and had even lived in seclusion in Mo City researching it for over ten years.
Although he had gained nothing, investing so much energy had given him a special obsession with this incomplete map.
"Elder Hai has researched the incomplete map for so long, so you should naturally understand that this incomplete map is useless to us before it's complete. Today, in this hall, there is someone who recognizes its value, and coincidentally, he has many things that I want."
Chen Xiao's gaze swept across the crowd below, and he quickly locked onto several people completely shrouded in black robes at the back of the hall.
Hearing Chen Xiao's words, Hai Bo Dong completely understood his plan. No wonder he had specifically found someone to act as a shill.
"The idea is good, but seeing this incomplete map fall into someone else's hands, I just don't feel right."
"Don't worry, let alone whether they can complete the incomplete map, even if I let them complete it, I'll have a way to get it back later. For now, it's just bait to squeeze out more good stuff."
Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong was speechless.
It's one thing for you to use entrapment, but you even want to do business without capital. You really have the cunning merchant temperament of my Mitre Family!
"Old Hai, how's the scale of your headquarters' auction house? Does it usually get robbed? Chen Xiao and I have also participated in a few auctions in the Black-Corner Region. Every single one had at least one Dou Huang expert overseeing it. Do you also often oversee auctions in the Imperial Capital?"
"The Jia Ma Empire isn't as chaotic as the Black-Corner Region, so I'm not needed to oversee it. The items auctioned here are definitely not as high quality as those in the Black-Corner Region."
Hai Bo Dong shook his head and smiled.
Amidst their casual conversation, the auction below became increasingly heated.
It was at this moment that Chen Xiao saw a maid carrying a bottle of extremely familiar Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid onto the stage.
Eighty percent of the items in this auction came from him, with the remaining share coming from the auction house and those who had brought out good things.
Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid was a second-grade medicinal pill, and coupled with its special effect on the Dou Zhi Li stage, it was not surprising that it appeared in the auction after being carefully selected by Gu Ni.
"Bid for it. More might appear later. The more the better."
Chen Xiao sent a voice transmission to a black-robed person sitting in the front row below.
At the same time, he confirmed that Xiao Yan and his master had arrived!
The black-robed person nodded silently, and a trace of a Dou Ling expert's aura spread out, participating in the bidding for the first time.
"Twenty thousand gold coins!"
Feeling the powerful aura of the black-robed person, everyone in the hall became solemn.
Especially Xiao Zhan, who was prepared to bid, his face was even a little ugly. He hadn't expected a Dou Ling expert to appear!
Thinking that this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, which hadn't appeared in the auction catalog, was very likely useful to Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan hesitated, unable to make up his mind for a moment.
He didn't want to give up, but he was also worried about displeasing that Dou Ling expert.
While he was hesitating, Ya Fei on the stage had already brought the hammer down.
Seeing this, Xiao Zhan could only reluctantly accept the result.
Although he had used his Clan Leader authority multiple times for Xiao Yan, buying him many things despite the opposition of the three elders, he didn't dare to easily decide on something that could potentially bring disaster to the Xiao Family.
In a corner.
Xiao Yan, shrouded in a black robe, was also a little angry.
"This Dou Ling expert appeared at such a bad time. If he hadn't bid, the price could have at least doubled! But thankfully, Father didn't participate in the bidding. I came out too late today and didn't have time to tell him that I can cultivate now."
"No need to think too much. This is the essence of this world. Everything is about strength. If you have strength, others naturally won't dare to offend you. You can even disregard the rules and directly snatch things, and no one will say anything."
Yao Chen's voice sounded in Xiao Yan's mind, seeing this quite openly.
He wasn't as naive as Xiao Yan was now and considered issues more comprehensively. He had already anticipated that this situation might occur and had specifically refined many more portions of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid for this purpose.
Therefore, the appearance of this Dou Ling was harmless.
Just as Chen Xiao had guessed, after the first Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid appeared, it was brought up by the maidservants from time to time during the subsequent auction.
After letting the Dou Ling below acquire more than ten portions consecutively, Chen Xiao sent a message telling them not to participate in the bidding anymore.
The auction continued to be lively, with items that Chen Xiao had brought out being presented one by one.
Among them, the most fiercely contested item among the crowd was undoubtedly the Profound Middle-Rank Cultivation Method.
A Profound Middle-Rank Cultivation Method was already the highest level of cultivation method in Wu Tan City's largest family, the Xiao Family.
Its value was self-evident.
Smaller families would feel that acquiring this cultivation method would give them a chance to rise.
As for the Xiao Family, they were also unwilling to let it go. With an additional Profound Middle-Rank Cultivation Method of a different attribute, it would be easier for strong individuals to emerge within the family, so there was no reason to miss out.
After a fierce bidding war, in the end, this Mystic Lightning Aura was acquired by the flourishing Xiao Family for a price of 420,000 gold coins, far exceeding the cultivation method's inherent value...
Next, the Profound Middle-Rank Dou Skill and the Soul Scattering Sand, which could threaten a Da Dou Shi, were still forcefully acquired by Xiao Zhan.
Chen Xiao, watching from above, saw that Xiao Zhan had already spent nearly a million gold coins today, which was a significant expenditure. Fortunately, the Xiao Family was several times stronger than a few years ago, otherwise, they could only sigh in despair.
After the intense bidding, a slight pause was needed. Ya Fei appropriately brought up the incomplete map, allowing the family members who had been arguing fiercely to take a breather.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan in the corner experienced the Heaven Rank Dou Technique—Possession—for the first time!
Yao Chen took over his body and sat up slightly straighter.
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