King of Creation
Chapter 569 - 562: The Conclusion of the Treasure Auction Conference

Chapter 569: Chapter 562: The Conclusion of the Treasure Auction Conference

"Manager Qiao, tell me, does Fengh Qingyue have a record of malicious bidding, or do I, Tian Guizhang, have a record of malicious bidding?"

"This time we sit in a VIP room, and it’s always about verifying our financial capabilities. What do you mean by that? Is Stars Tower a client, but we are not?"

"Financial verification is fine, but does it have to be this disgusting? Whenever a competitor can’t outbid, they call for financial verification—what is that supposed to mean?"

"Fine, Stars Tower has bid on nearly twenty treasures in total, with the lowest total bid price exceeding fifteen million mid-grade Spirit Crystals. Including the bids from this session, it’s close to twenty million mid-grade Spirit Crystals. Start by verifying their finances completely, then come to verify mine!"

"Also, everyone present listen up, if anyone is outbid by Stars Tower, they should immediately call for financial verification. If we can’t outdo them with Spirit Crystals, can’t we disgust them? Hehe!"

Jiang was truly cunning. Inspired by Ye Zhen, Tian Guizhang made a sharp attack and several statements, managing to turn everyone against Stars Tower.

At this point, even Yan Cong, the Stars Tower Master from the True Spirit Domain, dared not say much, even though he was so angered that his chest heaved like a bellows.

If Tian Guizhang really started calling for financial verification, then their future at the auction could involve a lot of disputes. Just when the bidding was getting exciting, someone would call for financial verification, and that would be truly disgusting.

And that wasn’t even the main point. The main issue was that Stars Tower had more enemies at the auction than one could count. As long as it could disgust Stars Tower, many would likely do so.

Behind the auction stage, the Heavenly Spirit Auction House’s Manager Qiao also frowned tightly, not expecting that two consecutive verifications could cause such a commotion.

Actually, after being scolded by Ye Zhen and Tian Guizhang like that, he really did feel like verifying the finances as Tian Guizhang seemed somewhat guilty by his demeanor.

But pride was at stake, and Tian Guizhang might just be too upset to speak.

Yet, the most important thing was the subsequent impact of this matter.

If, in future auctions, everyone followed suit, the impact on the auction would be significant.

Right away, Manager Qiao discussed with a few stewards and quickly made a decision.

"Vice Sect Master Tian, there might be a misunderstanding regarding the financial verification. Our Heavenly Spirit Auction House never intended to target the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.

As for why the verification concentrated on your room, number twenty-four, it was merely a coincidence that arose because we responded to requests from our clients, and it just so happened to be concentrated in your VIP room.

However, we did overlook this matter!"

Here, Manager Qiao paused, "Alright, from this moment onwards, our Heavenly Spirit Auction House will no longer conduct financial verifications during the auction process! But if anyone is found to be bidding maliciously, they will be punished according to the rules of our auction house!

Now, let us continue with the auction!"

In VIP Room twenty-four, upon hearing Manager Qiao’s final words, Tian Guizhang relaxed and gave Ye Zhen a thumbs up.

Had it not been for Ye Zhen’s quick thinking, Tian Guizhang’s reputation might have been lost here today.

In VIP Room three, Yan Cong’s expression turned somewhat sour.

His reputation had taken quite a hit today.

"The grand finale, the Demon Cloud Fruit, four million five hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Crystals for the first time, any more bids, any more bids?" Auctioneer Youx Fang’s voice rang out.

"Four million six hundred thousand!" Yan Cong increased the bid again!

"Four million seven hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Crystals!"

"Four million eight hundred thousand!"

"Four million nine hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Crystals!"

"Five million!"

"Five million one hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Crystals!"

As the bidding between Yan Cong and Tian Guizhang heated up to a fever pitch, Spirit Crystals flowed like water. However, when Tian Guizhang bid five million one hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Crystals, Yan Cong, in VIP Room three, was about to increase the bid again but saw Deacon Ding shaking his head and laughing bitterly.

"Tower Master, including our private funds, we only have a total of four million five hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Crystals! Bidding higher might not even be sufficient with collateral from our personal possessions!"

Yan Cong’s mouth froze in a grimace, fully aware of the consequences of malicious bidding.

However, the next words from Deacon Ding completely dissuaded him from further bidding.

"Tower Master, the most important thing is, the real value of the Demon Cloud Fruit is around two million mid-grade Spirit Crystals, maybe three million at the peak period before the Ancient Secret Mansion appears. Five million mid-grade Spirit Crystals are already an exorbitant price.

If we were to actually win this and send it to headquarters, taking into account our previous losses, Stars Tower in the True Spirit Domain would face an extremely severe deficit this year..."

"But, I can’t understand where Tian Guizhang got five million mid-grade Spirit Crystals? Even if he spent half his life’s savings, he couldn’t possibly muster five million mid-grade Spirit Crystals!

Five million mid-grade Spirit Crystals, I don’t even have that much now," Yan Cong said, utterly baffled.

Upon hearing this, Deacon Ding and Steward Ma looked at each other and laughed bitterly!

"Five million one hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Crystals for the third time! Vice Sect Master Tian, congratulations on winning the Demon Cloud Fruit!" Auctioneer Youx Fang announced.

"Hehe, Tower Master Yan, I yield!"

Tian Guizhang respectfully clasped his hands from a distance, then looked gratefully towards Ye Zhen. If it hadn’t been for Ye Zhen’s help, he wouldn’t have been able to win the bid for the Demon Cloud Fruit.

Because, he truly didn’t possess five million, one hundred and ten thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals.

"Oh no, this is bad!"

Almost at the moment the auctioneer Youx Fang declared the sale final, Yan Cong, who was inside the No. 3 VIP room, suddenly stood up, looking as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a cockroach!

"With the Demon Cloud Fruit fetching such a sky-high price, then Ye Zhen’s funds will be significantly eased. The scenario we predicted where Ye Zhen was maliciously bidding will not occur...."

Yan Cong’s expression was somewhat despondent; initially, they had concluded that Ye Zhen was maliciously bidding during the auction for the Secret Record of Soul Refining. However, with the Demon Cloud Fruit reaching such a sky-high price, that situation was no longer possible.

Originally, he was waiting to see Ye Zhen’s embarrassment, then, as the second-ranked bidder, acquire the Secret Record of Soul Refining at a low price...

But now, this plan had miscarried before it could even be realized...

...

With Tian Guizhang successfully bidding for the Demon Cloud Fruit, it also marked the culmination of Qinglan Martial City’s annual Treasure Bidding Conference.

Over eighty percent of the Martial Artists, in fact, left the venue disappointed. The Treasure Bidding Conference attracted heavyweights and hardly gave them much chance to participate. Of course, the Heavenly Spirit Auction House held an auction once a month where they still had opportunities, but such an abundance of treasures would not appear again.

Most of the Martial Artists left, but for those like Ye Zhen and Tian Guizhang who had won bids on a lot of treasures, their matters were just beginning.

However, being in the VIP room had its perks, there was no need for them to squeeze into the payment hall like other Martial Artists to pay for their treasures with Spirit Crystals and collect them.

Soon, a deacon of the Heavenly Spirit Auction House knocked on the door of VIP Room 24 again.

"Vice Sect Master Tian, because Young Hero Ye consigned the Demon Cloud Fruit, we need to start the settlement with you!"

"Hmm!" Tian Guizhang hummed lightly, inadvertently glancing at Ye Zhen again.

"Vice Sect Master Tian, your total bid for the Demon Cloud Fruit was five million, one hundred and ten thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals. However, you had previously consigned a total of eleven treasures in our auction house, which sold for a total of one million, eight hundred and seventy-five thousand, one hundred Mid-grade Spirit Crystals.

You are a VIP of our Heavenly Spirit Auction House, and the commission can be as low as three percent. After deducting the commission, you can receive one million, eight hundred and eighteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty Mid-grade Spirit Crystals.

After settling the minor amount left, you will still need to pay our auction house three million, two hundred and ninety thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals to take away the Demon Cloud Fruit," said the deacon of the Heavenly Spirit Auction House.

"Three million, two hundred and ninety thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals, right? Previously during the bidding, this Young Hero Ye, due to insufficient Spirit Crystals, had borrowed one million, five hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals from me."

Having said this, Tian Guizhang looked towards Ye Zhen, "Young Hero Ye, since you have not settled yet, why don’t you first return these one million, eight hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals to me, then after I have settled, you can then settle using the Spirit Crystals from the consigned Demon Cloud Fruit!"

In the presence of this deacon from the Heavenly Spirit Auction House, Ye Zhen returned one million, eight hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals to Tian Guizhang and successfully completed the settlement; however, the strategy initially agreed upon by the two of them was not needed.

According to their initial agreement, they were to use the loan amount between them to offset, so as to enable Tian Guizhang to acquire the Demon Cloud Fruit despite his lack of sufficient Spirit Crystals.

However, because Ye Zhen had consigned the Demon Cloud Fruit, the Heavenly Spirit Auction House had not settled with Ye Zhen, resulting in Ye Zhen, despite bidding for many treasures, still having a massive amount of Spirit Crystals in hand.

This directly enabled a smooth transaction with Tian Guizhang!

When the Sealing Jade Disc containing the Demon Cloud Fruit fell into Ye Zhen’s hands, a wave of inexplicable fervor suddenly emerged in Tian Guizhang’s eyes.

"Young Hero Ye, although it’s your first time here, due to consigning the Demon Cloud Fruit, you also enjoy our Heavenly Spirit Auction House’s VIP commission of three percent!

After deducting the commission, the Demon Cloud Fruit you consigned can net you four million, nine hundred and forty-seven thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals. However, the treasures you bid for today total five million, four hundred and sixty thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals.

Therefore, Young Hero Ye, you still need to pay our auction house fifty-one thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals!"

"Fifty-one thousand! Okay!"

Ye Zhen promptly paid the remaining Mid-grade Spirit Crystals, his face relaxed.

Ye Zhen had initially thought that he might have to use one or two Supreme Attribute Spirit Crystals to complete the settlement today, but unexpectedly, the Demon Cloud Fruit had fetched a surprisingly high price.

As a result, after settling, he still had nearly four hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals left over, keeping him from becoming penniless.

Half a quarter-hour later, when Ye Zhen received the treasures he had won, especially the two thousand Purple Spirit Jade and the Secret Record of Soul Refining, an unprecedented confidence surged within him.

Once Ye Zhen assimilated these two treasures, especially the Purple Spirit Jade, even if his Cultivation did not break through, his Combat Power would significantly increase again.

As for the Blood Shadow Spear, it brought Ye Zhen even greater peace of mind—it was Ye Zhen’s last means of safeguarding his life.

"Haha, not a bad harvest, Vice Sect Master Tian, Master Fengh, should I be leaving now?"

Conversely, just after winning the treasures, Tian Guizhang’s expression was unusually solemn.

"Wait a bit longer, it’s not time to leave yet!"

"What happened?" Ye Zhen’s expression suddenly changed. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)