130: Chapter 130: Poor Again

On the auction stage, the previous lot had already descended beneath the floor.

Accompanied by the soft voice of Auctioneer Su Wan, the dark void profound rock was slowly rising from beneath the stage.

In the center of the display stand was a jade tray, lined with a layer of snow-white, delicate cloud-velvet brocade, and resting in the center of the brocade was an Ore the size of a palm.

The base color of the Ore was an incredibly deep ink-black with a delicate matte texture, and its surface was crisscrossed with countless tiny silver thread-like patterns, densely covering the ink-black Ore like a spiderweb.

What was eerie was that while the auction stage was brilliantly lit by spirit lamps, the area around this dark void profound rock was slightly dim, as if the surrounding space were being distorted.

"1.2 million!"

Before the stone stage had even come to a complete stop, someone in a second-floor compartment spoke up, eager to bid.

The dark void profound rock was generally used for setting up spatial Formations, which ordinary Cultivators had no use for.

However, it was quite scarce and often unavailable even if one had the money. If one could win the bid at a low price, they could turn around and sell it to high-level Formation Masters at a higher price. The person who made the first bid clearly had this intention in mind.

Once the first speculator made a move, a second person immediately followed suit.

"1.3 million!"

There were quite a few Cultivators harboring the same thoughts, and for a time, bidding voices rose one after another.

"1.5 million, 1.8 million, 2 million!"

In just a few short moments, the price of the dark void profound rock broke through the 2 million mark.

Once the bid exceeded 2 million, the venue suddenly quieted down significantly, and many speculating Cultivators withdrew their interest.

2 million Spirit Stones was already quite high; the profit margin for reselling was almost completely compressed, and raising the price further would drastically increase the risk.

The atmosphere in the venue fell into a brief stagnation.

Just then, a slightly aged but steady voice came from a private box on the other side of the third floor:

"2.5 million."

Lin Qing's heart sank abruptly; this person was no speculator.

If it were an ordinary reseller, they would never offer such a price. The fact that the other party raised the bid by 500,000 in one go indicated that they had a desperate need for this item and were willing to pay a heavy price to secure it.

Lin Qing's current net worth was only 3.1 million Spirit Stones. If he engaged in a prolonged bidding war with the other party, grinding the price up bit by bit, he would very likely lose out on this spiritual material.

The Void Beast was a once-in-a-millennium Opportunity, and he absolutely could not miss it.

Lin Qing instantly devised a strategy, and so he spoke calmly and composedly:

"3 million."

The murmurs below ceased abruptly. Building on the previous bidder's increase to 2.5 million, Lin Qing had also raised the price by 500,000 in one go.

Combined with his composed tone, it gave others the impression that 3 million was nothing more than a trifle, and if they dared to follow, he would continue to raise the bid.

But only Lin Qing himself knew that he was bluffing.

However, his goal had been achieved; he wanted to use the sudden, sharp increase in price to crush his opponent's will to bid and force them to give up the competition.

Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to reveal his entire net worth. If he had bid 3.1 million, a specific number, others would immediately guess that this was the Peak of his financial capability, leaving no room for further bidding, and he would instead be manipulated by the other party.

The sky-high round figure of 3 million could both intimidate the entire venue and maintain his aura and suspense, making it impossible for others to see his true bottom line.

After a brief, deathly silence, Auctioneer Su Wan spoke softly from the stage, breaking the stillness:

"The honored guest in the Ding box bids 3 million Spirit Stones! Is there any other distinguished guest willing to continue bidding?"

Auctioneer Su Wan waited quietly for a few moments, and as no one in the venue responded, just when everyone thought this round of bidding had ended, that aged voice sounded once again from the Yi box on the third floor:

"Little friend, this old man is Guest Elder Mo Shuxuan of the Chuyun Immortal Sect."

"This dark void profound rock is of vital importance to me. I hope you will show some leniency, little friend, and give this old man some Face."

As these words fell, the atmosphere in the venue instantly became subtle, and countless Cultivators secretly felt contempt in their hearts.

This was clearly an attempt to use his status as a Guest Elder of the Chuyun Immortal Sect to force Lin Qing to back down.

Although everyone had complaints in their hearts, no one dared to speak up. The status of a Guest Elder of the Chuyun Immortal Sect was indeed enough to intimidate people.

Everyone remained silent, including the auction organizers, who did not dare to come out and uphold any rules of fair bidding at this moment.

At this moment, Lin Qing did not speak, and everyone assumed that Lin Qing would most likely back down.

Inside the private box, a hint of impatience and repulsion vaguely arose in Lin Qing's heart.

The Chuyun Immortal Sect was respected because of the Sect's heritage and the integrity of the Righteous Path, not as a tool to bully others and seize an Opportunity.

A Guest Elder was, after all, only a Guest Elder; they were not within the orthodox system of the Sect. How dare he act so tyrannically outside while relying on the name of the Immortal Sect?

Lin Qing couldn't be bothered to respond for the moment.

Seeing Lin Qing remain silent for so long, Guest Elder Mo Shuxuan mistakenly thought that the young Lin Qing was already intimidated and compromising. With a hint of self-satisfaction in his tone, he announced a new price:

"3.01 million."

He only added 10,000. In his view, this dark void profound rock was already in his pocket.

But before his words had completely faded, Lin Qing's cold, clear voice sounded again:

"3.1 million."

Reporting 3.1 million at this time, in the eyes of outsiders, was the young guest refusing to give the Immortal Sect Elder any Face.

No one would guess that this was already Lin Qing's entire net worth.

Inside the Yi box, Guest Elder Mo Shuxuan's aged voice carried undisguised anger:

"You!"

He had completely lost his composure and could no longer maintain his previous steadiness and calm.

Having spent hundreds of years in the cultivation world, he had always been successful in bidding by relying on his status as a Guest Elder of the Chuyun Immortal Sect.

Some people would even take the initiative to visit him afterwards to apologize.

Today, however, he had been made to lose Face by a young man of unknown origin.

He quickly weighed the situation in his mind. Listening to Lin Qing's consistently composed, unflustered tone, he simply couldn't fathom the other party's true background.

He did not continue to bid.

If the other party's background was unfathomable and he continued to push hard, only to fail in the end, he would only lose more Face.

Auctioneer Su Wan began to ask as was customary.

"3.1 million Spirit Stones, third time!"

In the end, Lin Qing exhausted his entire net worth and successfully secured the dark void profound rock.

Not long after, the door to the private box was gently knocked.

"Come in."

Manager Song Nian pushed the door open and entered, holding a specially made sealed jade box, having come personally to settle the transaction for the treasure.

Lin Qing endured the pain in his heart and handed over the Spirit Stones in the full amount, completely finalizing the transaction.

Looking at his empty Spirit Stone reserves, Lin Qing smiled bitterly to himself; he was back to square one overnight.

After the transaction was completed, Manager Song Nian hesitated for a moment, but finally could not help but whisper a reminder, his tone carrying obvious worry:

"Young Master Lin, that Guest Elder Mo Shuxuan from just now is not known for having a broad mind... I fear today's events will create a grudge; you will need to be very careful in the future."

Lin Qing said indifferently:

"It is of no consequence."

A flash of coldness swept through his eyes. Guest Elder Mo Shuxuan was relying on his seniority to bully others; how dare a mere external Guest Elder try to pressure him in secret?

If he really didn't know his place and came knocking, he wouldn't mind teaching him a lesson or two.

Seeing that Lin Qing appeared full of confidence, Manager Song Nian said nothing more and quietly retreated from the private box.

At the same time, the entire auction came to a complete end, and the guests began to disperse.

Lin Qing led Yun Nian and the others out of the private box and walked slowly down the stairs, preparing to return to the group and make preparations for capturing the Void Beast.

Just as they reached the entrance of the first-floor lobby, a slightly gloomy, aged voice came from the stairs behind them:

"Stop!"