Chapter 32: Low Grade Dharma Treasure, Heart-Protecting Turtle Shell

“Our final lot is a Low Grade Dharma Treasure—a defensive one, at that.”

Ling Ruoxue introduced it with pride. Dharma Treasures normally appeared only at the grand auctions held once a decade. For her debut here, she naturally had to offer something special.

“This item is called the Heart-Protecting Turtle Shell, a Low Grade Dharma Treasure. Once bound, it can protect its owner on its own. The shield it forms can withstand attacks from Dharma Treasures of the same grade. The shell itself is also extremely hard; even Middle Grade Dharma Treasures cannot break it. Unfortunately, there is only this single piece, otherwise it would not be merely a Low Grade Dharma Treasure. An excellent treasure like this is comparable to a Middle Grade Dharma Treasure.”

Ling Ruoxue went on at length, full of praise for the treasure.

“So it’s just a defective product?”

Qin Xiao was tempted, but he understood the catch: there was only one piece. Once its shield broke, the shell itself could protect only his heart.

“Master, be grateful. If it were more than a single piece, do you think it would turn up at an auction like this?”

Yun Man had seen enough of the world to explain at once.

“Oh, what you say makes sense. That means this Dharma Treasure is the best thing I can see here. Then I must obtain it. I cannot cultivate, so being able to protect the heart area is just right for me.”

Hearing Yun Man, Qin Xiao realized she was right. If one fragment alone ranked as a Low Grade Dharma Treasure, what would the complete treasure be like? It certainly would not appear at an auction of this level.

“Alright, quickly tell me what the starting bid is.”

Qin Xiao was growing impatient. A shield that could withstand Low Grade Dharma Treasure attacks was bound to command a high starting price.

“It seems someone can’t wait. Then I won’t waste words. The starting bid for this treasure is one million five hundred thousand, with increments of no less than one hundred thousand.”

Ling Ruoxue had planned to praise it a little more, but with someone urging her on, she announced the starting bid.

“One million six hundred thousand.”

Qin Xiao called out immediately.

Since taking Yun Man as his disciple, Qin Xiao had been receiving two Spirit Stones per second. Over the past month or so, he had accumulated more than six million. Apart from the five hundred thousand he had given Yun Man, compensation payments and purchases had cost only a few hundred thousand. He still had more than five million Spirit Stones, so a starting bid of one million five hundred thousand was well within his means.

At this level of auction, forget about the Four Great Families; even ordinary small Sects and small forces couldn’t get involved.

Only three people present could afford to compete: Heavenly Clothes Pavilion Master Ye Tianyi, Tianyuan City Lord Tan Wang, and the unexpected bidder, Qin Xiao.

The Immortal Dao Merchant Association had invited others, but only Tan Wang and Ye Tianyi had come. Some lacked the Spirit Stones; others thought the price too high. A few were in secluded cultivation, and their disciples lacked the authority to bid.

A starting bid of one million five hundred thousand wasn’t something ordinary people could come up with. Even the Seven Peaks of Tianyuan Sect would find taking out several million Spirit Stones a burden. Starting at one million five hundred thousand, who knows how much the final price would be, so Tianyuan Sect didn’t send anyone this time.

Ye Tianyi and Tan Wang both happened to need it. With those two attending, the auction house hardly had to worry about finding a buyer.

These two both had offensive-type Low Grade Dharma Treasures, but defensive-type Low Grade treasures were rare. Every defensive-type Dharma Treasure was a life-saving artifact, and prices generally exceeded offensive-type Dharma Treasures.

The final lot should have been a contest between those two. Then Qin Xiao had unexpectedly joined in.

As soon as Qin Xiao called out his price, no one responded immediately; everyone was calculating on their own. This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.

“This time I prepared five million Spirit Stones. This is all the savings of my City Lord Manor. I will definitely obtain it.”

The corners of Tan Wang’s eyes twitched. He had not expected a third bidder to join the contest.

“So, kid, you dare to bid? Let me show you what the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion can afford.”

Ye Tianyi remained calm. She had Heavenly Clothes Shops in every city in Qingzhou; when it came to Spirit Stones, she had nothing to fear.

“One million seven hundred thousand.”

Seeing no one responding, Ye Tianyi added one hundred thousand.

“One million eight hundred thousand.”

Tan Wang also made a move. He had to bid quickly to put pressure on these two.

“Two million.”

Qin Xiao unhurriedly called out a price of two million.

Regarding the bids of the other two, Qin Xiao felt that adding one hundred thousand at a time would take forever. Too slow.

“Since we’re all confident, let’s stop testing each other. Three million.”

Ye Tianyi did not want to drag things out either. Since everyone wanted the treasure, they might as well stop probing and see how high each could go.

“This City Lord also has the same intention. Three million five hundred thousand.”

Now that Ye Tianyi had made her intentions clear, Tan Wang had no choice but to keep up.

“Four million.”

Qin Xiao still unhurriedly called out.

No matter how many Spirit Stones, he could keep up. If Spirit Stones were gone, he still had Spirit Liquid. He didn’t believe anyone present could be richer than him.

“Four million five hundred thousand.”

Ye Tianyi was not to be outdone. Without much hesitation, she also directly added five hundred thousand. She had also made sufficient preparations this time.

“Five million.”

After that bid, Tan Wang’s expression darkened. He had reached his limit far sooner than expected; he had no more Spirit Stones to offer.

“Five million? This is getting insane!” New chapters come out on novelping . com first.

“The City Lord brought all his family assets, right? This is five million.”

“It seems the City Lord is determined to obtain it.”

At five million, everyone in the hall began talking. That was not the value of his assets—it was five million actual Spirit Stones.

Now the pressure came to Qin Xiao’s side. If Qin Xiao gave up, then only Ye Tianyi remained.

“Five million three hundred thousand.”

Qin Xiao checked his Spirit Stones, then went all in with everything he had left. He did not want to reveal his Spirit Liquid unless he had to.

“Looks like this kid’s limit is five million three hundred thousand. If I put up some of my possessions at their assessed value, I can raise almost another million. He’ll be out of the running soon.”

Hearing Qin Xiao bid five million three hundred thousand, Tan Wang actually felt relieved. He still had plenty of possessions he could offer at their assessed value; five million was not his true limit.

“Five million five hundred thousand.”

Ye Tianyi thought the same as Tan Wang, feeling Qin Xiao had reached his limit. Next would be the contest between her and Tan Wang.

“Five million six hundred thousand.”

Tan Wang promptly added another hundred thousand. At this price he had to be cautious, but hesitating would let Ye Tianyi see how close he was to his limit.

“Six million.”

Qin Xiao shook his head helplessly. These major forces really could not be underestimated. He had no choice but to reveal a little of what he had—he was determined to win the treasure.

“What’s going on? Wasn’t this kid’s limit five million three hundred thousand? Why can he still increase the bid?”

Tan Wang could hardly believe it.

“I underestimated the kid. Did Old Man Qin really leave everything to him?”

Ye Tianyi was puzzled too. It was the only explanation she could think of.

“Insane, just insane! The one on the third floor is only a young man—I saw him heading upstairs. Who knew he had that much money? Is he a disciple of some major force?”

“He must be. I saw him beat up Li Qian earlier. Even the Li Family Ancestor couldn’t get the better of him when he arrived. No wonder the kid is so fearless. He must have powerful backing.”

“Obviously. How else would he get a room on the third floor? Even the City Lord is only on the second.”

“Why would such a person come to Tianyuan City?”

At the six-million bid, everyone in the hall began speculating about Qin Xiao’s identity and background.