226: Tianque Pavilion, Yanjing Auction!

The following evening, at Tianque Pavilion.

The night enshrouded this complex of antique-style buildings in a brilliant glow, the upturned eaves and bracket sets outlined in magnificent and mysterious silhouettes under the landscape lighting.

The parking lot in front was already occupied by all sorts of luxury cars.

A Lincoln performed a sharp fishtail and stopped at the entrance of the VIP passage.

The car door opened, and Ye Chen was the first to step out.

He was dressed in simple casual wear, hands in his pockets, his expression calm.

Bai Wanqing followed him out. Tonight, she had changed into a moon-white qipao, draped with a light gray cashmere shawl. Her long hair was pinned up, revealing her long, fair neck. Her temperament was as cool as the moon, instantly attracting many gazes nearby.

The last one to crawl out was Chu Niubi, with a gold chain as thick as a pinky finger hanging around his neck, looking every bit like a nouveau riche.

The three of them had just reached the entrance of the passage.

A middle-aged manager with a face full of smiles came trotting up to meet them.

He clearly recognized Chu Niubi and Bai Wanqing at a glance.

“Young Master Chu! President Bai! Your presence is a great honor. Please forgive me for not welcoming you sooner!”

“Distinguished guests, please come inside! A box has already been prepared for you!”

Chu Niubi tilted his chin up.

“Cut the crap, lead the way.”

“The box must be the best one, with the clearest view.”

“If we find out it’s not the best, I’ll smash your damn auction tonight—tables, chairs, and all!”

The manager broke into a cold sweat and nodded repeatedly. “Rest assured, Young Master Chu! It is absolutely the top-tier ‘Sky Box Number One’ of Tianque Pavilion!”

With that, he stepped aside to lead the way through the VIP passage. The four of them took a private elevator directly to the top floor.

Exiting the elevator, he pushed open a set of double-leafed carved wooden doors.

“After you, the three of you.”

The space inside the box was enormous, and the decoration was extremely luxurious.

Sofas, coffee tables, snacks, and famous wines—everything was provided.

And the entire wall facing the sofa was actually a single, massive ink-wash screen!

On the screen, the live scene of the auction hall was being projected. It was already filled with guests, and the atmosphere was exceptionally lively.

The manager then withdrew, and the three of them took their seats.

Before long.

On the screen, the lights in the auction hall dimmed slightly, and a brighter spotlight focused on the passage entrance at the side of the auction stage.

A woman wearing a dark blue slim-fit formal gown walked gracefully onto the stage.

“Distinguished guests, good evening.”

“Welcome to Tianque Pavilion’s seasonal treasure auction!”

“I am your auctioneer for tonight, Lin Wei. It is an honor to be here with all of you to witness the final destination of a collection of precious art.”

After a simple opening statement, she didn't spend much time on pleasantries and got straight to the point.

“Now, without further ado, let us bring out tonight’s first auction item—”

She turned slightly and gestured with her hand.

Two assistants wearing white gloves carefully carried a tray to the center of the display stand.

Lin Wei reached out her white-gloved hand and gently pinched a corner of the velvet cloth.

In the next second, she flicked her wrist, and the velvet cloth slid off.

In that instant, the gazes of the three people in the box focused simultaneously.

On the display stand lay a piece of jade, roughly the size of a fist and irregularly oval-shaped.

The jade was a deep, dark purple throughout, like the still waters of a deep pool.

Under the specially adjusted lighting, points of light seemed to flow slowly within the jade, creating a layer of faint, dreamlike aura that was breathtakingly beautiful.

It was precisely the piece of raw chalcedony that Chu Niubi had mentioned before!

“It’s here!”

Chu Niubi whispered, subconsciously sitting up straight.

A flash of amazement crossed Bai Wanqing's eyes.

Even without understanding cultivation, from the perspective of aesthetics and gemstone collection alone, this piece of chalcedony was a masterpiece.

Ye Chen put down his teacup, already certain...

There was indeed energy inside the chalcedony.

Furthermore, this type of energy was very suitable for someone who cultivated mental power.

However.

He couldn't help but feel...

That the people from the Soul Hall were probably not here for this thing.

On the auction stage, Lin Wei continued her introduction.

“What you are seeing now is the first item of the night, number 001—a natural, top-tier Deep Purple Raw Chalcedony.”

“This chalcedony was produced in the core old pit of the famous Phakant mining area in northern Myanmar. It is the highest quality purple raw chalcedony found in the last twenty years, truly the essence of the mineral vein that one can only encounter by chance!”

“Rumor has it that there is a special energy sealed inside that can strengthen the body!”

“As for whether it's true, it will depend on the destined person to discover it!”

Lin Wei spoke eloquently.

“So...”

“I won't waste any more words. The starting price is eight million RMB, with each bid increment no less than five hundred thousand RMB.”

“The bidding starts now!”

As her voice fell, the auction hammer tapped lightly on the table.

In the hall, the bidding had already begun.

“Twelve million!”

“Nineteen million!”

“Twenty-five million!”

...

The price soared all the way, and in less than ten seconds, it had already broken thirty million!

In the box, Chu Niubi couldn't contain himself anymore. Grabbing the bidding device, he turned to look at Ye Chen: “Master! It’s only thirty million, should we bid?”

Ye Chen didn't answer him. Instead, he tilted his head slightly and spoke softly to Bai Wanqing beside him.

“The energy contained in this chalcedony would be of great benefit to Shanshan.”

Hearing this, Bai Wanqing's beautiful eyes suddenly lit up.

Without the slightest hesitation, she reached into her handbag and took out a black gold card, then inserted it into the card slot next to the box's bidding device.

In the next second.

She quickly tapped, entered a number, and then pressed the confirm button.

...

On the auction stage, Lin Wei was smiling as she scanned the room, waiting for a new round of bidding...

Suddenly!

The electronic bidding screen in front of her jumped violently, and a staggering number appeared at the very top!

“Sky Box Number One bids...”

Lin Wei was dazed for a moment before announcing the price, “One hundred million!”

“Whoosh—!!!”

The entire auction hall instantly broke into an uproar!

Everyone subconsciously looked up toward the ‘Sky Box Number One’ behind the one-way glass on the second floor, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

Jumping directly from thirty million to one hundred million?

Which god-like figure was this?

They really didn't treat money like money at all!

Even the auctioneer, Lin Wei, missed a heartbeat.

Although this chalcedony was rare, the industry's estimated upper limit for the closing price was only around fifty million.

This bid of one hundred million completely broke all conventions!

After a brief silence, various whispers spread like a tide.

“Sky Box Number One? Isn't that the box the Chu family's young master always reserves?”

“Chu Niubi? Since when did he become interested in jade?”

“This is too exaggerated, it’s just a piece of chalcedony...”

...

In the box, even Chu Niubi was stunned by Bai Wanqing's unhesitating bid of one hundred million.

He gave a thumbs up and praised, “Madam Bai, so bold! Impressive!”

Bai Wanqing didn't say anything.

She wouldn't hesitate for a moment for anything that could help her younger sister.

However.

Just when everyone thought this chalcedony would fall into the hands of Sky Box Number One at this staggering price—

A sudden change occurred!

The electronic screen in front of Lin Wei jumped again!

She looked closely, her pupils shrinking. Taking a deep breath, she announced loudly, “Earth Box Number Two bids... one hundred and fifty million!”

Boom—!

The crowd exploded again!

Someone else had raised the price!

And they added fifty million directly!

What was going on today?

A piece of chalcedony was actually being fought over with the intensity reserved for top-tier jewelry?

Everyone's gaze shifted in unison toward the direction of ‘Earth Box Number Two.’

Wait...

Who was the person in that box?

To actually dare to go head-to-head with Chu Niubi???

Inside Sky Box Number One.

Ye Chen's eyebrows twitched slightly.

A flash of sharpness passed through Bai Wanqing's cool eyes.

She didn't look at the bidding screen, but simply reached out her finger again and calmly yet firmly entered a new number on the touch screen.

Then, she pressed it.

On the auction stage, Lin Wei looked at the newly refreshed highest bid on the screen. Even though she was used to big scenes, her hand holding the auction hammer couldn't help but tighten slightly.

She steadied her mind and, in a voice as steady as possible but still unable to hide a hint of a tremor, announced loudly:

“Sky Box Number One, the latest bid is—”

“Three hundred million!”

Three hundred million!!!

At this moment, the entire Tianque Pavilion auction hall fell into a deathly silence!

One could hear a pin drop!

Everyone's brain was shocked into a blank state by this number.

Three hundred million was something everyone present had.

But to spend three hundred million to buy an uncarved piece of raw chalcedony?

This could no longer be described as being wealthy; this was simply insane!

...

Inside Earth Box Number Two.

The decoration was equally luxurious, but the atmosphere was completely different.

A Middle-aged Man with a sinister face, wearing a black suit, sat dominantly on the main sofa.

Nestled in his arms was a charming young woman wearing a white low-cut evening gown and heavy makeup.

The woman's slender fingers were pinching a peeled crystal grape, daintily feeding it to the man's mouth.

Just as the man was about to open his mouth, the glaring “three hundred million” on the bidding screen in front of him made his brow furrow deeply, and a flash of ferocity appeared in his eyes.

He was about to reach for the bidding device.

But the charming woman in his arms gently pressed his hand, her red lips close to his ear, breathing like an orchid.

“Darling, don't fight over it.”

“It's just a stone with a bit of spiritual energy, it's not worth it.”

“The thing we really want...”

“Hasn't come out yet.”