40: The boss is here

“Five million spirit coins, Box Number Three.”

This was likely the fastest price surge of the auction, starting at five times the base price right after the bidding began.

But this was only the beginning.

“Eight million spirit coins, Box Number One.”

The price jumped significantly again, instantly igniting the atmosphere in the venue.

The Cloud Mountain Finch, also a King Beast Breed, had a slightly higher cultivation realm than the Fragrant Spirit Affinity Rabbit, yet it only sold for three hundred forty to five hundred thousand spirit coins.

The Fragrant Spirit Affinity Rabbit, however, had just started its auction, and guests in the higher-numbered boxes were already competing fiercely for it.

Even those in the main hall who weren't fully aware of the Fragrant Spirit Affinity Rabbit's true value now caught a whiff of something unusual.

However, even if they realized it now, this price was already enough to deter most people.

“Eight million two hundred thousand spirit coins, Box Number Two.”

This competition was now confined to Boxes One through Three; others with the capacity to compete had already learned the identities of the occupants in those boxes, so they wisely chose not to bid.

“Eight million five hundred thousand spirit coins, Box Number Three.”

Qin Zhou frowned, feeling it was getting troublesome. Although he was a King Rank Seven-star Beast Master and held significant sway within his family, the amount he could spend at one time was limited to fifteen million spirit coins.

Moreover, he had already purchased the King Beast Breed Cloud Mountain Finch, so he now had only a little over ten million spirit coins left. He was worried that the other two families were also determined to acquire this beast.

Thinking of this, he took a deep breath, “Qin Mu, quickly contact your grandfather and send him the information about this beast.”

“Nine million five hundred thousand spirit coins, Box Number Nine.”

What was originally a competition among Liuyun City's three great families suddenly saw the emergence of a mysterious Box Number Nine.

Qin Zhou merely frowned and began typing numbers into his tablet again.

“Nine million five hundred one thousand spirit coins, Box Number Three.”

This time, Qin Zhou decided to bid in small increments, hoping to stall for time, allowing Qin Fuzhong, the Wild-Ranked Beast Master of the Qin Family from outside Qingyang City, to arrive.

“Nine million five hundred two thousand spirit coins, Box Number One.”

Box Number One also only increased its bid by ten thousand spirit coins. Thinking of a certain possibility, Qin Zhou couldn't help but curse,

“Damn it, the Feng Family is thinking the same thing as me.”

“Ten million spirit coins, Box Number Two.”

He Liangyu still maintained a refined and noble demeanor, but what he was thinking was that when it came to wealth, his He Family truly wasn't afraid of the other two families.

While the other two families were trying to increase the price incrementally to buy time, He Liangyu's idea was to directly overwhelm the other two families with the financial resources he controlled and secure the beast for himself.

Qin Zhou saw the numbers on the large screen and couldn't help but slam the table. That black-hearted kid from the He Family.

After Liang Jingsi confirmed the price twice, and just as she was about to confirm it for the third time, she finally sent out the numbers she had already entered on her tablet.

“Ten million one thousand spirit coins, Box Number Three.”

“Hmph.” He Liangshu snatched the tablet from He Liangyu's hand and immediately entered a large number.

“Eleven million one thousand spirit coins, Box Number Two.” The extra ten thousand seemed like a provocation.

Qin Zhou had never been so sensitive, feeling that the 'one thousand' was a mockery directed at him, causing his square face to darken repeatedly.

Unable to match their financial power, he could only hold his nose and bid again, “Eleven million two thousand.”

“Twelve million one thousand, Box Number Two.”

Box Number Two's bids were always quick, as if saying to Qin Zhou, 'Is that all you've got?'

“Boom!”

A terrifying aura descended upon the auction hall.

“I heard there are good things at this auction. I wonder if I could request an invitation?”

Everyone looked towards the source of the voice and saw that at some point, a burly middle-aged man riding an armored lion had appeared at the entrance of the hall.

It was one of the three who came to support Qingyang City during the attack by the Tide-Calling Mermaid that day.

Liang Qiu, the current head of the Liang Corporation, was originally sitting in Box Number Nine, happily watching the three great families compete. But upon seeing the burly man, his expression suddenly twisted, a truly spectacular sight.

However, he instantly composed himself and walked out of the box.

“Lord Qin's arrival truly honors our humble establishment! Please, come in quickly.”

Each step the lion beneath Qin Fuzhong took seemed to tread upon the hearts of everyone in the hall, and they could even hear their own 'thump-thump' heartbeats.

“That's good. After all, I came uninvited. I'll just stay here; please continue the auction.”

The armored lion stopped at a position relatively close to the front stage, and Liang Qiu could only stand beside him with a forced smile.

Receiving Liang Qiu's signal, Liang Jingsi was about to continue the auction process when another untimely voice rang out.

“Since Qin Fuzhong can join this auction midway, Clan Leader Liang, you wouldn't mind two more of us, would you?”

Two more figures appeared at the auction hall's entrance: an old man and a young woman.

They were the remaining two of the three who had come to support Qingyang City during the siege.

What could Liang Qiu do when faced with Wild Rank powerhouses? His already wrinkled face was now almost creased into a chrysanthemum from smiling, “Of course, you are welcome.”

“Old He, why are you everywhere?”

Despite being disrespectfully called Old He, the man didn't get angry. He still said with a chuckle, “The world is vast; surely you must allow someone to walk the same path as you.”

“Tsk.” Qin Fuzhong glanced at him disdainfully, then spoke, “I bid fifteen million spirit coins.”

“This old man bids eighteen million spirit coins,” Old He said calmly.

“Holy crap, old man, you didn't take out your retirement fund, did you?” Qin Fuzhong complained, slightly crudely.

As soon as he spoke, even Old He, who had been smiling, showed a slight crack in his expression. “It's merely a bit of money; it's not enough to dip into this old man's retirement fund.”

For some reason, he emphasized the words 'retirement fund' particularly heavily.

“Oh, that's good. If you used your retirement fund to buy this beast, and your descendants turned out to be unfilial, it would be tragic if you ended up on the streets.”

Qin Fuzhong's seemingly kind advice was, in every word, implicitly criticizing the He Family's improper family conduct.

He Song, who was Old He, finally couldn't endure it and said coldly, “Qin Fuzhong, if you have the ability, just speak with your wealth. There's no need to babble on like a gossiping woman.”

“Tsk, I'm thinking of you, why are you getting angry? Alright, alright, I bid twenty million.”

Feng Manwu, who had been silent, seemed oblivious to the undercurrents between the two of them. She simply said coldly, “On behalf of the Feng Family, I bid twenty-one million.”

Hearing that Feng Manwu also joined the bidding, Qin Fuzhong showed a hint of helplessness. “Little sister, this is just a King Beast Breed. There's no need to raise the price so high. Your brother genuinely likes this beast. How about you let your brother have it?”

Feng Manwu looked at Qin Fuzhong, who was acting like a drama queen, her expression unchanged. “I apologize, but I also find this beast quite endearing and wish to try my luck with my financial resources.”

Looking at the two who were impervious to persuasion, Qin Fuzhong finally showed some helplessness. The family was indeed experiencing some financial difficulties recently, and directly producing twenty million spirit coins was quite challenging.

“Alright, I won't compete with you directly anymore. I'll just make the highest bid I can: fifteen million spirit coins plus one King-Ranked Beast, a Crimson Blood Dragon Cypress.

If you can bid higher, I will withdraw from the competition.”

Qin Fuzhong's words stunned the people in Boxes One through Three; even the two beside him almost couldn't control their expressions.

“The Qin Family truly has guts, to even trade away a specialty beast from their clan. My He Family withdraws.”

Old He resumed his smiling expression, but his constantly twitching eyebrows indicated that his mood was far from calm.

Feng Manwu also shook her head. Unlike Qin Fuzhong of the Qin Family, the Feng Family had more than one Wild-Ranked Beast Master. She didn't have as much autonomy over family beasts or funds, so she voluntarily withdrew from the competition.

Although he felt a pang of regret for the price he had to pay, Qin Fuzhong's face showed a look of relief after hearing that both of them had withdrawn from the competition.

As long as he could acquire the Fragrant Spirit Affinity Rabbit, he believed it was all worth it.

He looked at the auctioneer, Liang Jingsi, on the stage, somewhat displeased with her dazed state. “Young lady, didn't you hear they both withdrew? Announce the result quickly.”

Liang Jingsi, who had come back to her senses after being reminded, quickly struck the stage three times. “Then, this Fragrant Spirit Affinity Rabbit has been successfully acquired by this esteemed adult.”