In this eerie atmosphere, the auction host wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and announced, "Distinguished guests... Next up, is our... grand finale item for tonight!"
His voice, amplified by the microphone, echoed throughout the venue, and also acted like a shot of adrenaline, piercing Xiao Fan's body!
It's here!
The opportunity has arrived!
As the host's words faded, two etiquette ladies in cheongsams carefully and jointly carried a specially crafted crystal box onto the stage.
The box was opened.
Boom!
A visible wave of scorching heat, centered around the auction item, instantly swept through the entire venue!
The temperature in the air suddenly soared!
It was a peculiar jade stone, about the size of a fist, entirely crimson like blood, with what appeared to be magma slowly flowing within it!
It lay quietly on the cushion, yet it exuded a wild, domineering, and primal scorching aura!
"Mined from the Kunlun Mountains, from the bottom of a ten-thousand-zhang volcano, tempered by millennia of earth fire, and born from absorbing the essence of heaven and earth's fire element—the millennial fire spirit jade!"
The host's voice, at this moment, also carried a hint of excitement!
"This item is a supreme treasure! Starting bid, one hundred million!"
One hundred million!
This figure made the vast majority of people present gasp.
However, at this moment, in Jiang Lian's proud phoenix eyes, for the first time, a trace of unconcealed longing appeared!
Others only felt the heat, but she, as a Nine Revolutions Divine Phoenix Body, could clearly feel that her bloodline and her cultivation art were resonating with joy and excitement due to the appearance of this fire spirit jade!
If she could obtain it, her Nine Revolutions Burning Heaven Art might be able to break through further... This is it!
Jiang Lian instantly made up her mind and was about to signal her attendant to prepare for bidding.
However, an untimely voice once again rudely broke the rhythm of the entire venue.
"Miss Jiang!"
Xiao Fan suddenly stood up from his seat, pointing at the fire spirit jade on the stage, and shouted towards Jiang Lian's direction with what he considered his most affectionate and domineering voice.
"This jade, I, Xiao Fan, am giving it to you today!"
This roar was earth-shattering!
The entire venue instantly shifted from marveling at the treasure to an uproar!
"Who is this person? Is he crazy?"
"So rude, it's practically public harassment!"
"He should bid for it first, then shout. Who shouts before even buying it?"
"Truly foolish and vulgar!"
Whispers surged like a tide.
The longing on Jiang Lian's face was replaced by an icy frost.
She didn't even bother to look at Xiao Fan again, only two words remained in her mind.
Noisy!
Disgusting!
But at this moment, Xiao Fan was completely carried away by his grand aspirations. He paid no attention to Jiang Lian's icy expression, nor did he hear the surrounding discussions.
He only knew that he wanted to win this jade in front of everyone, in the most crushing way!
"Two hundred million!"
The second after the host called out the starting price, Xiao Fan raised his bidding paddle high, directly doubling the price!
He wanted to use this overwhelming bid to display his "dominance"!
He wanted everyone to know that money, in front of him, Xiao Fan, was just a number!
"Two hundred million... this gentleman has bid two hundred million!"
The host was also stunned, then shouted with wild joy.
The entire venue fell into a brief silence again, everyone was shocked by this crazy bidding method.
Just as Xiao Fan surveyed the audience, enjoying this brief "sense of control."
A playful voice, through the microphone of the Heaven-tier No. 1 VIP room, clearly rang out.
"Two hundred ten million."
The voice wasn't loud, but it sharply pricked Xiao Fan's lungs!
It's him again!
It's this sneaky fellow again!
Inside the Heaven-tier No. 1 VIP room.
Lu Ying, dressed in a white long dress, also had a hint of confusion flash in her pure, empty eyes.
She could feel that although the stone contained immense energy, for Lu Cheng, it was not worth mentioning at all.
"Do you... really need that stone?"
She spoke softly, her voice gentle and ethereal.
Lu Cheng's lips curved into a playful arc, his gaze passing through the one-way glass, watching the already furious young man downstairs with great interest.
"No."
He chuckled softly, then lightly uttered a few words.
"I'm just... teasing a dog."
Downstairs.
Xiao Fan's sanity began to snap the moment he heard "two hundred ten million"!
"Three hundred million!"
He roared, raising his paddle again!
"Three hundred ten million."
Upstairs, that voice remained calm and collected, as if merely stating an insignificant number.
"Five hundred million!"
Xiao Fan's eyes were bloodshot, and veins bulged on his forehead!
"Five hundred ten million."
That voice carried a cat-and-mouse elegance and cruelty, each time, only ten million more than his!
This understated demeanor, more than any malicious curse, stung Xiao Fan's fragile and inflated self-esteem!
He felt as if he wasn't bidding, but being publicly executed!
That mysterious person was using this method to tell everyone that he, Xiao Fan, was nothing more than a monkey jumping around for people's amusement!
A sweet, metallic taste surged in his throat, Xiao Fan was almost angered to the point of spitting blood on the spot!
"Ah ah ah ah!"
He roared wildly in his heart!
"One billion!!!"
Finally, Xiao Fan used all his strength to roar out this earth-shattering number!
He directly called out all the funds the system had given him!
With bloodshot eyes, like a gambler who had lost all his chips, he stared intently in the direction of the Heaven-tier No. 1 room, issuing his final and most insane challenge!
"I bid one billion! If you dare! Bid again!"
The entire venue, at this moment, fell into a deathly silence!
One billion!
For such a jade stone?
Everyone was stunned by this astronomical figure, their minds blank!
A trace of disbelief and shock also flashed in Jiang Lian's beautiful eyes. She stared blankly at the crazed Xiao Fan, then looked at the tightly closed door upstairs.
This time, would that mysterious person follow?
Just as everyone held their breath in anticipation.
"Heh heh..."
A soft chuckle, through the microphone, spread throughout the venue.
That laugh was filled with unconcealed pleasure and... playfulness.
"Since this... gentleman, is so fond of this stone."
"A gentleman doesn't take what others love, so let's give it to him."
The two words, "stone," were pronounced with particular clarity, filled with endless disdain.
Boom—!
Xiao Fan's brain, the moment he heard these words, completely exploded!
I won?
I won?
I used money to crush him underfoot!
He's just frustrated, it's just an excuse for not getting it!
A surge of ecstasy, like a volcanic eruption, instantly overwhelmed all his rationality and humiliation!
He won!
["Onlooker" dropped attribute: Shock +10]
["Rich Second Generation" dropped attribute: Envy +5]
["Minor Celebrity" dropped attribute: Adoration +2]
[Obtained status: Spendthrift Tycoon (Charm +100)]
A series of light orbs burst among the crowd!
"Pick them up! Pick them all up!"
Xiao Fan roared in his heart, he could feel that his entire aura seemed to have changed because he absorbed these attributes!
And at the same time, inside the Heaven-tier No. 1 room.
A line of text, visible only to him, appeared before Lu Cheng's eyes.
[Ding! Sub-system host picked up low-level luck, triggering hundredfold return!]
[Congratulations to host for obtaining: Charm +200, Aura +100, Prestige Max!]
The curve of Lu Cheng's lips became even more playful.
"One billion once!"
"One billion twice!"
"One billion thrice!"
"Sold!"
"Bang!"
The auction gavel fell heavily!
That sound, to Xiao Fan, was the most beautiful celestial music in the world!
He won!
He strutted triumphantly, amidst a multitude of complex gazes, onto the stage. Under the terrified watch of the staff, he snatched the scorching fire spirit jade into his hands!
Then, he turned and walked towards Jiang Lian!
He seemed to already see Jiang Lian moved by his grand gesture of spending a fortune, throwing herself into his arms!
"Miss Jiang, now, it's yours!"
He presented the fire spirit jade, as if offering a precious treasure.