Chapter 33: Checking the Funds, Winning the Treasure

After the price of six million was called, everyone waited for City Lord Tan Wang to bid.

Tan Wang alone looked furious. Six million was beyond his limit, and he had no Spirit Stones left.

“City Lord, since we stand together, the Li Family will naturally help. Although I have no Spirit Stones left on me, my family can still raise five hundred thousand. We are willing to lend you a hand.”

Observing Tan Wang’s dark expression, the Li Family Ancestor hesitated for a moment before hardening his resolve and speaking.

“Do you mean it, Ancestor?”

Tan Wang had already prepared to concede, but the Ancestor’s words reignited a flicker of hope.

“I do. You and Yan’er are husband and wife, so we’re family. Of course the Li Family will help.”

The Li Family Ancestor had his own motives. He wanted to secure a deeper connection with the City Lord Manor. While the City Lord had always treated the Li Family with a degree of courtesy, it was merely polite accommodation rather than genuine respect.

“Good. Your word is enough, Ancestor.”

“Six million one hundred thousand.”

With a heavy exhale, Tan Wang raised the bid by another hundred thousand.

As Tan Wang raised his bid, everyone’s gaze turned to Ye Tianyi’s private room. At this point, each increase drew the attention of the entire crowd.

“Six million two hundred thousand.”

Ye Tianyi had not yet reached her limit, and she immediately countered with another hundred thousand.

“Damn, how many Spirit Stones do they have? We can’t keep this up forever.”

Realizing they were still willing to drive the price higher, Qin Xiao felt a brief wave of hesitation. Just what figure would finally put an end to this?

“Seven million.”

After a moment’s thought, Qin Xiao decided to press the issue with a flat seven million. If he could force one of his competitors to drop out here, the rest would become much simpler.

“Forget it. This item is not meant for me.”

As much as Tan Wang wished for Qin Xiao to back down, the moment that seven-million bid echoed through the hall, the City Lord slumped back into his chair. He knew his run had ended.

“Since both esteemed guests are determined to secure it, I shall no longer contend for it.”

Though he was withdrawing, he still felt the need to preserve his dignity with parting pleasantries.

“Finally, one of them is out of the way. Now we’ll see where the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion draws its line.”

Hearing that Tan Wang would bid no more, Qin Xiao had a rough idea of the City Lord’s limit.

“Where on earth did this brat get so many Spirit Stones?”

Ye Tianyi was puzzled too. Her limit was seven million, and she had thought victory was certain.

She had investigated Tan Wang. The City Lord Manor could produce only a little over five million Spirit Stones, and offering possessions at their assessed value would add no more than a million. She had even included the Li Family and concluded that seven million was his absolute limit. Bringing seven million five hundred thousand should have guaranteed her victory. Then Qin Xiao had appeared out of nowhere.

“Miss Ling, I suggest checking our funds, to prevent bids that can’t be paid.”

Ye Tianyi refused to believe Qin Xiao could produce seven million Spirit Stones. Even if Old Man Qin had left him everything, it could not be that much. She was not convinced. Visit novelрing.com for the full chapter.

“Why didn’t I think of that? Oh well, even with verification, I’m no match for that woman Ye Tianyi anyway. I might as well sit back and watch the show.”

Hearing Ye Tianyi’s suggestion, Tan Wang thought it over and decided to watch.

“Checking your funds? That might be awkward. Of course, if you both agree, our auction house can do so.”

Although Ling Ruoxue knew a distinguished guest holding a Supreme Membership Card had entered the premises today, she had not connected that VIP to Qin Xiao. She had suspected him earlier, but as the bidding war on the third floor escalated, she dismissed the notion. While the young man possessed some wealth, he hardly looked like someone capable of producing seven million Spirit Stones.

“Check our funds? Fine, I don’t mind.”

Qin Xiao had nothing to fear; he still had Spirit Liquid. Buying on credit would be even better, of course, though it probably would not be allowed.

“Since both sides consent, I shall conduct the verification personally.”

With no objections, Ling Ruoxue agreed to check their funds. Several million Spirit Stones were at stake, so a check was reasonable.

Since the request originated from Ye Tianyi, the inspection began on the second floor.

“The second-floor guest’s funds have been checked. She has at least seven million Spirit Stones.”

After inspecting Ye Tianyi’s assets, Ling Ruoxue announced the result.

Ye Tianyi had prepared thoroughly, producing a pre-arranged storage pouch that allowed an immediate sweep of Divine Sense to confirm the contents.

Ling Ruoxue then ascended to the third floor.

“It’s you?”

Ling Ruoxue knocked and entered. Seeing Qin Xiao and Yun Man, she could hardly believe it. She had suspected them, but had not expected her suspicion to be right.

“Miss Ling, I was rude before. Please don’t hold it against me.”

Now that he knew several Soul Formation experts were guarding the auction house, Qin Xiao finally behaved himself and even apologized.

“Hmph! You had better actually possess those Spirit Stones. Causing a disturbance in my auction house-even if you are Man’er’s master-will not save you from severe punishment.”

Seeing Qin Xiao made Ling Ruoxue angry all over again. She still remembered him insulting her earlier.

“A misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding. I had no idea you and my disciple were old acquaintances. Do calm your anger, Miss Ling.”

Qin Xiao wisely refrained from talking back. The young woman’s backing was far too formidable to cross.

“Sister, please don’t hold my master’s attitude against him. Let’s attend to the matter at hand first.”

Sensing the awkward tension in the room, Yun Man hastily intervened.

“Ah, almost slipped my mind. Produce your storage pouch; I need to verify your funds.”

Prompted by Yun Man, Ling Ruoxue recalled her purpose and temporarily set aside her grievance against Qin Xiao.

“I only have a little over five million Spirit Stones, but I also have this. It should be worth three million, shouldn’t it?”

Qin Xiao had no storage pouch, and his Spirit Stones were all in the System Space. He first took out a hundred drops of Spirit Liquid. Get faster updates on novelping(.)com.

A drop had sold for fifty thousand at auction, but that was an auction price. At thirty thousand a drop, buyers would normally snap it up. Qin Xiao was not trying to take advantage, so he valued it at thirty thousand per drop.

“What is this?”

Ling Ruoxue picked up the bottle suspiciously. What trick was he playing now?

“Wait-one hundred drops of Spirit Liquid?”

Ling Ruoxue checked and found that it really was Spirit Liquid. She was stunned. Offering ten drops at auction had already been a lavish gesture, and now he had produced a hundred.

“Well? Converting this should easily satisfy three million Spirit Stones, correct?”

From her reaction, Qin Xiao could see that Spirit Liquid worked much better than Spirit Stones.

“Fine, no problem. Now take out your other five million Spirit Stones so I can check them.”

Ling Ruoxue had seen enough of the world to recover quickly. She then asked Qin Xiao for the five million Spirit Stones.

“If I were to take all of them out right now, this private room wouldn’t have enough floor space. Of course, if you insist, I suppose I could empty the lot onto the floor.”

Qin Xiao had briefly considered transferring the required stones to Yun Man, but the process was tedious, and the compact private room simply lacked the volume to accommodate such a mass at once.

“Sister Ruoxue, you know my master is a mortal and cannot use a storage pouch. Even filling this room would not fit all his Spirit Stones. I guarantee he has them, so don’t worry. And if he can produce a hundred drops of Spirit Liquid, do you really think he lacks five million Spirit Stones?”

Yun Man had seen Qin Xiao hand over Spirit Stones before. Even five hundred thousand had been too much for a whole main hall to hold, let alone five million, so she spoke up.

“Fine. Since Man’er vouches for you, I’ll accept that you have the five million. With these hundred drops of Spirit Liquid, you pass the check.”

Placing trust in Yun Man’s assurance, Ling Ruoxue pursued the matter no further. Anyone capable of producing a hundred drops of Spirit Liquid clearly did not lack for wealth.

“Safe journey, Miss Ling.”

After seeing Ling Ruoxue out, Qin Xiao returned to his seat. It seemed she was still far from friendly toward him.

“The third-floor guest’s funds have been checked. He has at least seven million Spirit Stones.”

Stepping back out into the hall, Ling Ruoxue announced the final verification.

“Damn, they’re both something else! They both passed the check.”

“Well, obviously. One is the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion, and the other is a mysterious magnate wielding a Supreme Membership Card. Neither of them is short on funds.”

“I’ve never even dreamed of having so many Spirit Stones.”

Both bidders passing the check astonished everyone in the hall. Having assets worth seven million and actually being able to produce seven million Spirit Stones were two different things. These people were hardly inexperienced, yet they still could not help marveling.

“Since the situation stands thus, I withdraw.”

Ye Tianyi had only a little over seven million Spirit Stones. There was no point in bidding further: her rival had at least seven million and was raising the price so aggressively that he surely had far more than she did. Continuing the contest would be pointless, and she had no wish to embarrass herself.

“Very well. With no further counterbids, this final auction item is secured by our distinguished guest on the third floor for seven million Spirit Stones.”

“This concludes the auction proceedings. We thank you all for your patronage and look forward to meeting again at the next event.”

Her announcement concluded, Ling Ruoxue carried the item directly to Qin Xiao’s private room, determined to see exactly how he intended to produce those five million Spirit Stones.