Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Public Provocation
I bid fifty thousand!
The moment this voice rang out, everyone in the audience paused for a moment, and then their faces were filled with surprise.
"Who is this?"
"Jumping straight from forty thousand to fifty thousand..."
Originally, Nie Yuan raising the bid by five thousand Spirit Stones in one go had already surprised them quite a bit.
They didn’t expect that after Nie Yuan, someone even wealthier would join in.
Increasing by ten thousand Spirit Stones in one go!
Such determination is not something that ordinary people have.
"The voice sounds quite young."
"Could it be the Young Master of some family?"
"The Celestial Profound Sect is one of the three major Sects within the Chu Kingdom and has developed well in recent years, with substantial financial resources. Currently, in the Chu Kingdom, there are definitely less than five factions that can compete with them financially."
"Is it the Zhao Family? Or the Lin Family? Or is it one of the three major Sects, like the Heaven-Gazing Pavilion?" Many people speculated, but clearly, based on just this information, they couldn’t confirm who was bidding fifty thousand Spirit Stones from Room No. 3.
"It can’t be the Lingyun Sect, can it? With their current situation, they don’t have that kind of wealth to squander."
...
The crowd continued to discuss, all sorts of opinions flying.
"Hmm?"
Meanwhile, in Room No. 7, Nie Yuan squinted his eyes, frowning deeply, and snorted coldly, "Could it be that waste Ji Chen?"
Evidently, he had just seen Ji Chen enter Room No. 3 along with the Eldest Princess.
Now, the bid of fifty thousand Spirit Stones came from Room No. 3.
And from the sound of the voice, it was undoubtedly Ji Chen.
At this thought, his expression darkened.
Beside him, Lu Ren exclaimed in surprise, "Really? The Lingyun Sect has been in financial trouble for years, barely able to provide the Spirit Stones to the disciples each month. How could they have enough Spirit Stones to participate in the auction?"
"Moreover, this wastrel, although nominally the Young Sect Leader, probably doesn’t involve himself in any Sect affairs, and the Sect wouldn’t possibly give him so many Spirit Stones to squander. Aren’t they afraid he will waste them all?"
"In any case, the bidder was indeed Ji Chen without a doubt." Nie Yuan frowned deeply, clearly unable to make sense of these events either.
But the auction was a Zhao Family enterprise, one of the ten great families in Celestial Essence City, and even Ji Chen wouldn’t dare to bid recklessly here.
As that would disrupt the venue’s order, and he would certainly be held accountable by the Zhao Family.
"Could it be the Eldest Princess’s doing?" Lu Ren suddenly suggested.
Upon hearing this, Nie Yuan was taken aback. "That’s definitely possible."
Perhaps the Eldest Princess didn’t want people to know she had arrived at the venue, so the bid of fifty thousand Spirit Stones was actually Ji Chen voicing a bid on behalf of the Eldest Princess?
That’s likely the case!
This would also explain why the Eldest Princess brought Ji Chen along for no apparent reason.
Nie Yuan had been puzzled before, but now it seemed the Eldest Princess was merely using Ji Chen as a servant.
Moreover, with the Lingyun Sect in such decline, how could they still have so many Spirit Stones at their disposal?
"Since the Eldest Princess seems interested in the Cyan Emperor Sword, should we yield?" Lu Ren spoke up.
Nie Yuan remained silent. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, "Logically, if we yield now, our Celestial Profound Sect could gain some goodwill from the Royal Family, but this is the Cyan Emperor Sword, a Dao Artifact-level Magical Treasure..."
Having said that, he hesitated no longer and shouted out again, "Fifty-one thousand Spirit Stones!"
This time, it was clear that Nie Yuan no longer had the confidence he had before.
After all, to him, the rival was the Eldest Princess of Chu Kingdom. Though the Celestial Profound Sect is one of the three major Sects, financially they are nothing compared to the Royal Family.
Moreover, he wasn’t carrying many Spirit Stones, almost reaching his limit.
"Fifty-one thousand?"
Just as Nie Yuan’s voice fell, a mocking voice came from Room No. 3, "The mighty Young Sect Leader of the Celestial Profound Sect, being so cheap? Where did all your previous confidence go?"
The speaker was none other than Ji Chen.
Upon hearing such a voice, everyone in the venue was astonished.
"Who exactly is this person?"
"Daring to provoke Nie Yuan in public?"
No one could suppress their surprise, as the Celestial Profound Sect holds significant weight in the Chu Kingdom, and aside from the Royal Family, few forces could match them.
Even the ten great families of Celestial Essence City, if considered individually, are not as large as the Celestial Profound Sect.
As the Young Sect Leader of the Celestial Profound Sect, Nie Yuan’s status is not something that ordinary people dare to offend.
No one expected that someone would dare to publicly provoke him.
Instantly, the crowd was even more curious about the bidder in Room No. 3, eager to know about their background.
"There are hardly any forces in the Chu Kingdom with grudges against the Celestial Profound Sect; this person provoking Nie Yuan publicly must likely have animosity with the Celestial Profound Sect." Someone said.
"Just being used, Ji Chen, you dare to mock me?" Nie Yuan coldly snorted, just as everyone was puzzled.
"Ji Chen?"
"The name sounds familiar..."
"I remember, isn’t the wastrel Young Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect named Ji Chen?"
"From the voice, it is indeed a young man, and the Lingyun Sect is also one of the few forces at odds with the Celestial Profound Sect."
"I thought it was some big shot, but it turns out to be this wastrel, how unlucky."
"It shouldn’t be possible; the Lingyun Sect has declined greatly in recent years, and the entire Sect is financially troubled. How could they have so many Spirit Stones to participate in the auction?"
...
Many people discussed it, but clearly, facing their confusion, no one could provide an answer.
"Being used?" Ji Chen was surprised after hearing Nie Yuan’s words.
Qu Luoning chuckled, "He probably thinks I made you bid, maybe because he saw us entering this room earlier."
"He’s quite imaginative, isn’t he?"
Ji Chen laughed at these words, not responding back to Nie Yuan, but calling quietly, "Sixty thousand Spirit Stones."
Although his voice wasn’t loud, it was very clear to everyone in the venue.
"Si... Sixty thousand?"
"Jumping from fifty-one thousand to sixty thousand, once again increasing by nine thousand?"
"What determination! This is sixty thousand Spirit Stones, enough to keep a small or medium force running for ten years!"
"Determination? Just a wastrel! This matches my understanding of him, extravagant and wasteful. Although the Cyan Emperor Sword is indeed worth this price, that’s not how auctions work." Someone sneered.