Best Young Master
Chapter 327 - 290: Bidding at the Auction

Chapter 327: Chapter 290: Bidding at the Auction

A few minutes later, the cultivators and the super-rich in the rest area entered the auction hall one after another. Ye Long walked directly to the seat next to Ye Fan, smiled at Ye Fan and Chu Ji, and then sat down.

Under the lighting, the anger on his face had already disappeared without a trace, as if nothing had happened.

"A barking dog never bites. Compared to Ku Rong, the top disciple of the Ghost Sect, this Ye Long is much more dangerous," Ye Fan thought to himself, observing Ye Long’s composed demeanor.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for attending the annual auction of the Huaxia Martial Arts World."

Shortly afterward, once everyone who was attending the auction had taken their seats, a tall woman dressed in a cheongsam, holding a microphone, gracefully walked out from the right side of the stage. She wore a professional, radiant smile, and her voice was crisp and pleasant, "I am Xu Qian, your host for this auction."

"Clap clap..."

As the host finished speaking, a thunderous applause erupted.

"Now, please welcome the public notary of this auction, the president of the Collection Association, Xu Chuan, the captain of the Yanhuang Organization Law Enforcement Team, Master Hong Lie, and the auctioneer from the Yanhuang Organization, Miss Long Yue." As the applause ceased, the female host’s voice rose again while she extended her left hand in a welcoming gesture.

Shush!

At the host’s announcement, including Ye Fan, everyone turned their gaze towards the left side of the stage.

Under their watchful eyes, an elderly man with white hair wearing reading glasses, and Hong Lie walked out from the left side of the stage, followed by a young woman in a black martial arts uniform.

"This auction is indeed of high standards."

"Yes, both the auctioneer and the public notary are from the Yanhuang Organization!"

"It’s one thing for them to be from the Yanhuang Organization, but having Hong Lie as the public notary is quite something. You know, he’s considered the foremost below the Gang Qi Realm!"

"With Hong Lie serving as the public notary, we can be completely assured of the authenticity of the treasures."

"It looks like the rumors are true, there will be some great treasures at tonight’s auction."

...

When Xu Chuan, Hong Lie, and Long Yue made their appearance, most of the martial artists in the audience looked at Hong Lie with admiring eyes, buzzing with discussion.

Hearing the crowd’s chatter, Ye Long, a direct disciple of Hong Lie, slightly curled his lips in a grin, his face brimming with pride.

On the stage, Hong Lie casually glanced at Chu Ji, his gaze burning with intensity.

Chu Ji, however, remained indifferent.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am Xu Chuan, the president of the Collection Association and the person in charge of this auction. Welcome everyone to this auction..." Soon, Xu Chuan, the elderly man with white hair, began to speak.

Perhaps knowing that despite his title as the person in charge he was merely a token figure, Xu Chuan briefly spoke a few words, then handed the microphone to Hong Lie beside him.

"It is a great honor to serve as the public notary for this auction. I will fulfill the responsibilities of a public notary, carefully certifying each item at the auction to ensure the authenticity of the treasures."

Speaking with Xu Chuan was different; when Hong Lie spoke, his voice was full of confidence and resonance, reminiscent of a force that might shake one’s heart and lungs. "Additionally, I am in charge of security for this auction," he proclaimed, "I hope that everyone present will adhere to the rules set by both the auction and the Yanhuang Organization. Thank you!"

"Applause..."

As Hong Lie finished speaking, applause broke out once again in the auction hall, this time even more vigorous as if it might lift the roof off.

"Next, I’ll explain the rules of this auction. First, I will introduce the items up for auction, then President Xu Chuan and Master Hong Lie will jointly appraise each item to ensure they match the description provided. Once that is confirmed, I will announce the starting price, and you may begin bidding. The highest bidder will acquire the item and proceed to the trading hall for the transaction after the auction."

Long Yue, a member of the Yanhuang Organization holding the microphone, first introduced the auction process, then continued, "There are a total of 186 items to be auctioned today. The first item is ’Star Blue’."

Star Blue?

Whoosh——

Upon hearing the words ’Star Blue,’ the entire auction venue erupted into a commotion.

"My God, it’s the Plant Essence Star Blue!"

"Even though the first item in the auction is only second to the finale item in terms of value, auctioning the Plant Essence Star Blue is still insane!"

"That’s right, not only is Plant Essence priceless, it also hasn’t appeared in the past few auctions."

"I wonder what price this Star Blue will fetch?"

"It seems everyone is familiar with Star Blue. Since that’s the case, there’s no need to labor the point. I’ll give a brief introduction. Star Blue, a type of Plant Essence, originates from the African Union. It’s a blue fruit, its surface shimmering with blue light, looking just like a star and rich with the essence of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi."

About half a minute later, Long Yue made a calming gesture with his hand to quiet the murmurs, and then with a smile, he said, "Now, may I ask our staff members to bring out the first auction item ’Star Blue’ for President Xu Chuan and Master Hong Lie to appraise together!"

Click! Clack! Click! Clack!

As soon as Long Yue finished speaking, the sound of high heels striking the ground resonated, and a tall model, holding an antique-looking box in both hands, walked towards the center stage with a seductive stride, placing the box on the table before retreating to stand next to the host.

In the meantime, Xu Chuan, as the person in charge of this auction, knowingly gestured for Hong Lie to proceed first.

Although he was the president of the Collection Association and responsible for this auction, his expertise was mainly in antiques and he knew little about the treasures of the Martial Arts World, making him unable to appraise them properly. Thus, he could only let Hong Lie appraise first and then repeat the results of Hong Lie’s appraisal.

Seeming to understand Xu Chuan’s intention, Hong Lie did not show any modesty but expressionlessly went to the box, opened it in front of everyone, and took out the Star Blue.

Woosh!

Seeing this, the cultivators and ultra-wealthy individuals attending the auction, all widened their eyes, seemingly eager to get a clear look at the legendary Plant Essence ’Star Blue.’

Just as Long Yue had described, the Star Blue was a blue fruit, its surface aglow with a blue light, making it look quite magical.

"The Plant Essence Star Blue matches the description."

Half a minute later, Hong Lie put the Star Blue back into the antique-looking box and announced the appraisal result.

Having done all this, he returned to his original position, Xu Chuan stepped forward, pretending to scrutinize it in his hand just like Hong Lie, and then, without missing a word, proclaimed Hong Lie’s appraisal result.

"As stated by Master Xu Chuan and Master Hong Lie, the Plant Essence called Star Blue matches its description. I will now announce the starting bid for the auction."

Seeing Xu Chuan retreat next to Hong Lie, Long Yue stepped forward, holding a microphone in one hand and a small hammer in the other, and loudly said, "There are two kinds of starting bids for the auction of Plant Essence Star Blue."

"Two kinds?"

A cry of surprise arose from the audience below.

"Yes, two kinds. The first is calculated in Huaxia Coins, with a starting low bid of fifty billion Huaxia Coins."

Long Yue said word by word, "The second is calculated in high-level Elixir Pills, the Nirvana Pill, with a starting bid of two Nirvana Pills. Additionally, according to the owner of Star Blue, if both types of bids are offered, the Nirvana Pill bid will take precedence!"

"I see."

Hearing Long Yue’s words, the audience below understood clearly that the so-called fifty billion Huaxia Coins was just a nominal bid, while the true aim of the owner of Star Blue was to acquire high-level Elixir Pills, the ’Nirvana Pill’."

"My master is indeed making painstaking efforts."

Chu Ji pondered deeply. In view of being unable to find the rare Plant Essence, Chu Xuanji chose an indirect method—finding materials for Ye Fan to refine the ’Nirvana Pills’ himself and then using them to exchange for Plant Essence at this auction."

While feeling emotional, Chu Ji thought of the twenty Nirvana Pills Ye Fan had refined and smiled as she glanced at him.

"Could it be that Chu Ji is going to use the Nirvana Pills to exchange Star Blue for this bastard Ye Fan?"

Catching a glimpse of Chu Ji’s action, Ye Long felt tense.

As a disciple of Hong Lie, he knew Chu Ji was Chu Xuanji’s disciple, and that Chu Xuanji, known as the Evil Emperor and Divine Doctor, could refine Nirvana Pills.

Similarly, he was also aware of the miraculous effects of the Plant Essence Star Blue!

Once Ye Fan consumed the Star Blue, his strength would soar!

"Plant Essence Star Blue, starting bid at fifty billion Huaxia Coins or two Nirvana Pills, the auction begins!"

As Ye Long’s heart tightened, Long Yue suddenly raised her voice. Although she was a member of the Yanhuang Organization, she was somewhat excited to auction an item as precious as Plant Essence Star Blue.

"Fifty-five billion!"

As soon as Long Yue spoke, a super-rich businessman from Nangang eagerly bidded the auction price.

"Sixty billion!"

Another super-rich businessman bidded, directly increasing by five billion.

"Sixty-five billion!"

"Seventy billion!"

"Two Nirvana Pills!"

Suddenly, a loud voice stopped the three super-rich businessmen from raising the bid.

Swish!

At the sound, everyone’s gaze swiftly turned to the northeast corner of the auction hall, where they saw a man dressed in a white robe, raising his bidding card.

The Martial Arts genius of the Northeast Nolan Family, Nolan Xuan!

He had bid two Nirvana Pills!

Hearing Nolan Xuan’s bid of two Nirvana Pills, thinking of what the auctioneer had said earlier—that the owner of Star Blue prioritized the second type of bid—the three super-rich businessmen trying to bid with Huaxia Coins instantly turned as pale as death.

And other cultivators wore looks of envy, jealousy, and hatred!

They dreamt of obtaining the Plant Essence Star Blue, but the equally invaluable ’Nirvana Pill’ was something they couldn’t offer!

"Mr. D2 offers two Nirvana Pills, according to the owner of Star Blue, the next offers must be in Nirvana Pills—does anyone have a higher offer?" Long Yue spoke again.

Hearing Long Yue’s words and seeing no one raising their bidding card at the scene, but rather looking enviously, jealously, and hatefully, Nolan Xuan felt a surge of excitement.

He had already reached the Peak of Innate Realm, and if he could secure this Star Blue, he could not only solidify his status at the Peak but also had hopes of breaking through to Great Perfection!

In such a circumstance, he had the capital to compete in next year’s Qing bang Tournament!

"Two Nirvana Pills, once!" Seeing no one raising their card, Long Yue reminded aloud.

Swish!

Listening to Long Yue’s words, whether it was Hong Lie on the stage or the cultivators below, all turned their eyes towards Chu Ji, seated in the front row.

Demon Queen Chu Ji was Chu Xuanji’s disciple!

This was no secret in the Huaxia Martial Arts World!

In their eyes, the only one who could offer more Nirvana Pills to outbid for Star Blue was probably Chu Ji.

"Three Nirvana Pills!"

Just as everyone’s gaze focused on Chu Ji, Ye Fan slowly spoke up, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone’s ears.

Star Blue, he was determined to have!

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and buy monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)