I Received Messages From Future Self!
Chapter 536 - 532 The Terrifying Markup

Chapter 536: Chapter 532 The Terrifying Markup

Looking at the ancient painting, Shu Han Romance, the bidding climbed to eight hundred million. Fang Xiaocao instinctively clenched her fists, quietly complaining in her heart, "Why are so many people interested in this painting that isn’t by a famous artist? Do they all know its special nature?"

Fang Xiaocao genuinely didn’t understand why this painting was so popular.

"Are these people so rich they can waste money like this?"

"Is everyone in the Jianghu so wealthy?"

Every time a bid was made, Fang Xiaocao couldn’t help but internally complain.

"One billion! The latest bid for Shu Han Romance is now one billion! Is there a higher offer out there?"

On the screen, the auctioneer shouted passionately.

"One point one billion!"

Before the auctioneer finished speaking, the bid refreshed again. Fang Xiaocao glanced at the bidding room, which belonged to the Blacklist.

Fang Xiaocao remembered that Zuo Ci was acting with the Blacklist, meaning this one point one billion might very well be Zuo Ci’s bid.

Otherwise, why would the Blacklist be bidding on this painting?

According to Hot Noodles, although this painting contains a mysterious mechanism, it is not widely known.

If the secret were public, neither the Tang Sect nor the black market would allow this painting to appear at auction.

Both the Tang Sect and the black market have super masters, but they are all aging and eagerly want to train a super master to ensure their own safety.

This is especially urgent for the black market.

In this situation, if anyone knew that Shu Han Romance hides the secret to becoming a super master, they would have secretly taken the painting for themselves long ago, rather than letting it appear here.

"One point two billion!"

Just as Fang Xiaocao was lost in thought, the bid for the auction item refreshed to one point two billion.

Fang Xiaocao looked at the new bidding room.

This time, it was the Yu Family’s bid.

Fang Xiaocao squinted her eyes, wondering why the Yu Family was joining in, spending one point two billion for a seemingly useless painting. Do they also have money to burn?

"Sister Xiaocao, do you like this painting?"

Seeing how closely Fang Xiaocao was following the Shu Han Romance painting, Ye Lingchen asked curiously.

Fang Xiaocao tugged at the corner of her mouth and admitted, "Hmm, I quite like it. It’s just that the bidding is too high."

"I’ll keep an eye on it and wait for a bit."

Fang Xiaocao dared not speak the truth and made up an excuse.

The allure of a super master was too great.

Even to Ye Lingchen, she wouldn’t dare say it.

After all, who wouldn’t want to have a super master under their command to ensure their safety?

The human heart is unpredictable, and Fang Xiaocao didn’t dare to take any risks.

Hearing Fang Xiaocao’s words, Ye Lingchen didn’t doubt her sincerity, just nodded.

"One point three billion!"

The bid refreshed once more.

Fang Xiaocao looked again.

The bid came from room number ten.

Fang Xiaocao looked toward the list of room names in the room.

Room number ten belonged to her old friend, the Pawnshop.

This meant the bid was from the Pawnshop.

Knowing the force making the bid, Fang Xiaocao instinctively clenched her fists again.

Even the Pawnshop was involved now.

Fang Xiaocao was quite anxious!

Her fear of insufficient funds kicked in again.

But the only solace was that the Tang Sect granted the Ye Family’s Superior No.1 Room the privilege to view the forces and personnel photos of all rooms, while other rooms only knew which force was behind Superior No.1, the Ye Family, but not who was inside, not even Superior No.2 Room had this privilege.

Beyond the Ye Family’s Superior No.1 Room having this special privilege, other rooms could only view forces with lesser privileges than their own but couldn’t see who was in those rooms.

This was one of Fang Xiaocao’s advantages. When she bids later, others will only think it’s Ye Lingchen bidding, not her, Fang Xiaocao.

This way, the Pawnshop and Blacklist won’t know what she’s bidding for even if they target her.

Fang Xiaocao thought for a moment and looked at Tom, "Tom, you take Mantis and go to our room, listen for my instructions to participate in bidding on other items."

To be safe, Fang Xiaocao decided to have Tom guard her room.

To prevent her own room from being too quiet, leading observers to deduce she’s in the Ye Family’s room.

And there was also Qin Lan to guard against.

This woman might reveal her presence in the Ye Family’s room, but if Tom places a bid, Qin Lan’s leak would become a rumor.

"Yes!"

Tom, being incredibly astute, instantly understood Fang Xiaocao’s intentions, knowing what Her Highness the Princess was planning.

"Prince Ye, Mr. Long, I’ll take my leave first."

Politely, Tom greeted Ye Lingchen and Long Lie before telling Mantis, "Mantis, let’s go."

Watching Tom and Mantis leave the room, Fang Xiaocao continued to focus on the bidding for Shu Han Romance. By now, the bid had reached one point five billion, with the latest bidding force being the Yu Family.

"Does the Yu Family fancy this painting, or are they just messing with the Blacklist and Pawnshop?"

Fang Xiaocao murmured to herself.

Fang Xiaocao wasn’t sure if the Yu Family had grudges with the Blacklist or Pawnshop.

However, several times when the Pawnshop plotted against Fang Xiaocao, they also dragged the Yu Family siblings into the schemes, nearly getting them killed by the Pawnshop.

As for the Blacklist, there shouldn’t be any animosity between them, but the Yu Family siblings do have a grudge with Zuo Ci.

If the Yu Family siblings saw Zuo Ci and recognized him, seeing him mingling with Blacklist people, it wouldn’t be surprising for them to misunderstand Zuo Ci as one of the Blacklist.

Anyway, regarding this painting, the Yu Family seemed to be competing with the Pawnshop and Blacklist.

The Yu Family kept raising bids against both.

Whenever it’s the Blacklist and Pawnshop’s turn to bid, if no one outbids them, the Yu Family steps in.

Out of curiosity, Fang Xiaocao used the special privilege of the Superior No.1 Room to view the list in the Yu Family’s room; the Yu Family had six people there.

Among them, leading the group were Fang Xiaocao’s old acquaintances, Yu Tianqi and Yu Linger, the siblings, along with four Yu Family guest elders, all top-tier masters charged with ensuring the siblings’ safety.

[Tom: Princess Your Highness, Mantis and I are in position, awaiting your orders.]

Just then, Tom sent a message.

[Fang Xiaocao: Whenever the Blacklist or Pawnshop places a bid, immediately raise it. If they outbid, then don’t worry about it.]

Fang Xiaocao wanted Tom to create a presence in her room.

To show those people there’s someone in the room.

And that they will place bids.

[Tom: Understood!]

Meanwhile, the bidding for Shu Han Romance refreshed once again, with the Blacklist now bidding, pushing the price to one point six billion.

In fact, once Shu Han Romance went beyond one billion, ninety percent of the bidding forces were out, leaving only the top-tier forces, those with malicious intent, and the few with more money than sense, to continue bidding.