347: Chapter 347 Head-to-Head

As the auction began, a dazzling array of goods started to appear.

For instance, long-lost powerful sorcery, various rare formations, perhaps some powerful wizard tools, incredibly precious natural treasures, and even treasure maps requiring deciphering, among others.

Nie Ning sat below, watching the scene eagerly, his eyes filled with envy.

What a pity; he didn't have much money left and could only buy materials useful to him. As for other things, he could only feast his eyes.

Mainly, he hadn't expected the decennial auction to start at this time.

Because the items being auctioned were so precious, they rarely circulated on the market.

For those in dire need of a specific item, this was a rare opportunity.

This resulted in an absurdly high number of bidders, and the prices climbed steadily.

Although the money he brought was already quite a lot, he was still a step behind those willing to spend their entire family fortunes.

To ensure the auction proceeded smoothly, the Dark Swamp used every means possible to collect wealth on-site.

Customers could have their own items appraised.

Of course, the prices offered by the auction house were only slightly above the minimum value.

In other words, on this point alone, the auction house could earn a fifty percent profit on the item's value.

Since the auction time was limited, most people could only reluctantly part with their treasures and sell them to the auction house at a low price to continue bidding.

Nie Ning sighed at this; after all, since others had started betting their family assets, it would be a bit impolite to compete with them.

Regardless, Nie Ning didn't have that much money to buy those things.

Especially when the intermission arrived, the turnover had already exceeded 1,500 high-grade magic crystals.

Nie Ning looked on greedily, but he could only watch, and it was the same for what followed.

In fact, compared to the previous auctions, the upcoming part was the main event; the transaction volume might even break ten thousand high-grade magic crystals.

...

After a half-hour intermission, the second half of the auction continued.

Nie Ning counted the time in his head, not paying much attention to the items on stage.

"The next item for auction is jiying grass, starting price 10 high-grade magic crystals!"

The host pointed to a strange plant with diamond-shaped serrated leaves, black in color, and scattered with small white dots.

Hearing this, Nie Ning was momentarily stunned, then his spirits suddenly lifted.

Since his main goal wasn't to participate in the auction, he didn't know much about the items being sold.

After all, his funds were limited, and too many people were competing for rare items. Who would gamble their family fortune for no reason?

Besides, he had already bought many of the materials he needed during this period; what he lacked most was naturally special soul-type materials like nether spirit gold.

As for other things, Nie Ning didn't need much; for now, he had enough for his research.

But to Nie Ning's surprise, they were actually auctioning jiying grass here!

jiying grass, a special space-type material, was required for refining most space-type items.

Most importantly, jiying grass was something needed for the evolution of the god-forbidden ring!

If the god-forbidden ring was to have a teleportation function, jiying grass was an indispensable component!

"20 high-grade magic crystals!"

Someone started bidding, doubling the price right away.

The bidding followed, with people calling out prices one after another. Before long, it reached 50 high-grade magic crystals; clearly, quite a few people needed jiying grass.

Nie Ning's expression darkened slightly; he simply hadn't brought that much money.

He had spent too much money previously, and now he only had a little over thirty high-grade magic crystals left on him.

According to the profits from the Yi Pin Store, which was doing better and better, it was naturally impossible to have only this much.

But don't forget, his research cost money—especially the research on Artificial Spirits, a project that consumed a vast amount of funds.

"70!"

Nie Ning placed a bid.

jiying grass was scarce and something he desperately needed; even if he didn't have the money, he had to bite the bullet and bid.

As Nie Ning suddenly added twenty high-grade magic crystals, the scene went quiet as the customers interested in buying began weighing the pros and cons.

Normally, although jiying grass was precious, it was just a material, not a true space-type treasure, so the price should be around 40 high-grade magic crystals at most.

Now that the price had nearly doubled, they had to consider it carefully.

"80!"

At this moment, a somewhat youthful voice rang out.

Nie Ning looked toward the source of the sound, and his face immediately darkened.

That young knight, Jerry!

Seeing Nie Ning look over, Jerry gave him a provocative smile.

Nie Ning was expressionless as he gave Jerry the middle finger: "160."

With Nie Ning's bid, even the host was startled.

He had seen many bidders, but this kind of bidding was rare. After all, this was tripling the market price; almost no one would do something so foolish.

For a moment, scattered whispers broke out in the hall, and the conflict between Nie Ning and Jerry was brought up by those in the know.

The smile on Jerry's face vanished, and a strange light flickered in his eyes.

Although his family was backed by a Sixth-Order Wizard, their money didn't blow in with the wind. If his family found out, there would likely be no good consequences.

"I want a fund verification!"

Jerry suddenly shouted.

160 high-grade magic crystals was no small amount; he didn't believe this unremarkable-looking guy could be that wealthy!

Hearing this, the host nodded to his subordinates in the hall.

While few dared to bid recklessly on the Dark Swamp's territory, one couldn't rule out someone acting on impulse.

And since these two had argued outside before, it inevitably made people think Nie Ning was intentionally inflating the price.

"Sir, can we talk in the back room?"

A smiling woman came to Nie Ning's side and made an inviting gesture.

"Of course."

Nie Ning stood up with a smile and followed the staff into the back room.

Whispers filled the hall as everyone speculated whether Nie Ning would be thrown out by the auction house.

But the outcome was destined to disappoint them; Nie Ning walked out unscathed.

"The bidding continues!"

As the host spoke, everyone knew what the outcome was.

But then people began to guess Nie Ning's identity; after all, Transcendents who could spend money like this were rare.

Among them were those with ulterior motives, looking at Nie Ning with strange expressions, as if staring at a fat sheep.

Returning to his seat, Nie Ning looked at Jerry in the distance and returned the same provocative smile Jerry had given him earlier.

Jerry was fuming at Nie Ning's actions.

However, the price was truly too high—so high that even he needed to consider it carefully.

"Since no one is bidding, let's wrap this up quickly, lest some people think I'm a shill."

Nie Ning leaned back in his chair and spoke lazily.

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