329: Chapter 329 The Grand Finale

The discussions downstairs were noisy and clamorous.

After listening for a few sentences, Lao Sheng stopped paying attention.

He turned around, revealing his slightly yellowed teeth, and asked Shen Yan and Liu Hui, "Do you two know where all these rough stones at the auction came from?"

Liu Hui blinked and replied, "Didn't you say they were all shipped back from abroad?"

Lao Sheng nodded.

"That's right, these stones were all specially shipped back from overseas. Let me reveal a few more details to you: these stones were all dug out from those illegal mines."

"The combined price of these stones is only a few hundred thousand, but once the auction starts, their value can multiply dozens of times!"

As his voice fell.

Shen Yan glanced at Lao Sheng, his tone neither warm nor cold: "Regardless of where they bought these stones from, we are ultimately buying them here at the auction."

"If they feel the price isn't worth it, they are perfectly welcome to go abroad and search for these stones just like them."

A hint of awkwardness flashed across Lao Sheng's face.

He also wanted to go abroad to buy those cheap and worthwhile stones.

But the key was he had no connections!

If he had connections, would he need to run all over the country and abroad?!

Of course, he couldn't say that.

So, he just managed a dry laugh.

After their conversation, the auction downstairs officially began.

The first stone pushed out was a slightly irregular, light gray stone.

Its size and weight were similar to the opening stone presented by the Host.

Since the system didn't prompt that this was the stone he needed, Shen Yan remained still, just watching quietly.

Lao Sheng also had no intention of buying that stone.

He kept his eyes on the Host's movements while eloquently explaining to Liu Hui.

"Do you see that line on the stone?"

"That line isn't aligned, which indicates this stone's quality is the same as the last one—not very good. Even if jade can be cut out, it won't be of high quality."

Liu Hui nodded, half-understanding.

To be honest, she didn't understand what Lao Sheng was talking about.

His speaking speed was fast, and he wasn't explaining in detail, so she only grasped that the stone wasn't a good one.

Lao Sheng wasn't trying to make Liu Hui understand what he was saying either.

He kept talking only to alleviate his nervousness.

Although Shen Yan and Lao Sheng weren't interested in this stone, it didn't mean others weren't.

Soon, this stone was successfully bid upon and sold.

As time ticked by second by second.

Shen Yan had unknowingly purchased three rough stones based on the system's prompts.

Because the stones here were very expensive, these three alone cost him over ten million.

Lao Sheng was full of envy at this.

He envied Shen Yan's ability to spend so lavishly, buying three expensive rough stones without batting an eye.

If it were him, he absolutely could not have auctioned off three rough stones so easily.

However, this did not hinder his determination to compete for the jade stone he desired.

That's right, he had already decided which stone he wanted to buy before coming.

To buy this stone, he had put in a great deal of effort.

Not only did he use all his savings, but he also acted as a guarantor and took out a loan of over eight million.

It was precisely because of this that he possessed assets exceeding ten million.

Lost in thought, over an hour passed.

Downstairs, the auction Host had already instructed the staff to bring out the finale stone.

"Next, I will introduce to everyone this stone in my hand. Although it looks ordinary, it was discovered near the Malan Mine."

As his voice dropped.

The guests on the first floor gasped in astonishment.

Seeing such a large reaction, Liu Hui couldn't help but feel curious.

She turned to Lao Sheng and asked, "Why are they so surprised to hear this stone was found near the Malan Mine?"

Lao Sheng retracted his greedy expression and explained quietly to Liu Hui, "Because stones discovered from that area have an eighty percent chance of yielding Ice Type or Glass Type jade."

Fearing Liu Hui still wouldn't understand, he patiently added,

"It's like drawing cards; the guaranteed minimum is an S-rank card, and the upper limit is 3S+."

His analogy was very simple and easy to grasp.

Liu Hui immediately understood the value of this stone to them.

"I understand. So, are you going to bid for this stone?"

Lao Sheng nodded without hesitation.

After nodding, he glanced at Shen Yan and probed, "Little Shen, are you also planning to buy this stone?"

Shen Yan had already received the system's prompt. He replied to Lao Sheng, "Yes."

Hearing this, Lao Sheng's face darkened. He pursed his lips and said to Shen Yan, "Haven't you already bought three rough stones? Wouldn't buying so many at once be too much for you?"

Shen Yan curled his lips and replied with a smile, "Don't worry, I have plenty of money."

Lao Sheng: "..."

Although he knew Shen Yan wasn't intentionally showing off, he still felt a twitch in his hands, wanting to punch Shen Yan.

While they were chatting, the auction Host had already started hammering, preparing to auction the rough stone.

"Starting bid is 200,000, increments of 1 million starting now!"

As soon as the words fell.

Someone in the adjacent private room immediately raised a paddle to bid.

"300,000 for the first bid!"

As soon as the Host finished calling out, Lao Sheng impatiently raised the paddle in his hand.

Seeing Lao Sheng's paddle, the Host called out again.

"Four million!"

After raising his paddle, Lao Sheng couldn't help but glance at Shen Yan beside him.

He expected Shen Yan to immediately raise his paddle to compete with him, but surprisingly, Shen Yan didn't seem to have any intention of raising his paddle.

Just as he couldn't quite figure out Shen Yan's intentions, someone from another private room began to compete with them.

"Five million!"

"Six million!"

"Seven million!"

"Ten million!"

Everyone was raising the price very quickly.

Before long.

The price was already nearing Lao Sheng's psychological limit.

He unconsciously began to feel anxious.

"Heaven bless! Heaven bless, I must be able to buy this stone!"

He muttered to himself while raising his paddle again.

"Twelve million!"

As his voice rang out.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Lao Sheng held his breath, frantically praying in his heart that no one else would bid against him.

All the money he had combined only amounted to twelve million. If anyone else bid against him, he wouldn't be able to buy this stone.

Time seemed to slow down a hundredfold.

He listened to his own accelerating heartbeat while observing the people downstairs and in the adjacent private room with his eyes.

"Thirteen million!"