Chapter 200 - 197: Auctioning the Ninefold Coffin

"Stop!"

Just as the group from the Imperial Alliance was about to explode into violence, Zhu Biquan shouted. A powerful aura surged from his body.

"Seventh Level of Void Spirit Realm!"

Wu Zonghai was instantly shocked and hastily halted his forward momentum. The others from the Imperial Alliance also stopped in their tracks, all staring in shock at the unremarkable, short, and plump Zhu Biquan.

Hearing Wu Zonghai’s words and feeling the terrifying pressure, the crowd present was equally astounded.

"The president of the Eternal Commerce Association is an expert at the Seventh Level of Void Spirit Realm? His cultivation is even higher than the Alliance Leader of the Imperial Alliance?"

"Does that mean he’s stronger than the leaders of all three major powers?"

"Maybe not stronger than all three combined, but his strength is definitely no joke!"

"No wonder the Eternal Commerce Association can stand firm in the Realm of Chaos!"

Exclamations of shock rippled through the crowd as everyone stared at Zhu Biquan in utter disbelief. Even the members of Cyan Cloud Mountain and Black Dragon City were filled with astonishment, and a deep look of surprise involuntarily appeared on Mo Qianqian’s face.

Seventh Level of Void Spirit Realm! No wonder Black Dragon was wary of him. If a fight truly broke out, it wasn’t guaranteed that anyone could beat him. The Realm of Chaos was truly crawling with hidden experts. Now, if the three major powers wanted to snatch the item directly, they would have to think twice.

"Everyone, this is the auction house of the Eternal Commerce Association. Once you leave our premises, as long as you do not endanger the ordinary citizens of Jingshui Town, the Association cares not what you do." Zhu Biquan’s voice deepened. "Otherwise, the Eternal Commerce Association will have no choice but to intervene."

Wu Zonghai and the others furrowed their brows. An expert at the Seventh Level of Void Spirit Realm was no ordinary opponent, and they did not want to make such a formidable enemy out of thin air. Ultimately, Wu Zonghai restrained his aura, and the others ceased their hostilities as well.

The scene once again returned to a state of calm.

On the auction stage, Mu Chen—who was in disguise but still sported sharp brows and bright eyes—smiled calmly. "Alliance Leader Wu, you’re in such a rush to resort to violence. Don’t tell me you forgot to bring your money?"

"Hmph. Mu Chen, you sold out the Imperial Alliance on our prior agreement. The Imperial Alliance will definitely settle this score with you!" Wu Zonghai scoffed coldly.

"Don’t make it sound so high and mighty. Your Imperial Alliance was just using me," Mu Chen retorted. "I obtained this item through my own abilities, so why should I just hand it over to you? If you want it, buy it."

"Enough nonsense, Mu Chen. Bring the item out and start the auction," the Cyan Cloud Mountain Sect Leader said impatiently.

Wu Zonghai didn’t waste any more breath on Mu Chen either.

At that moment, the crowd watched as Mu Chen retrieved his storage bag and, with a wave of his hand, tossed a black coffin onto a luxurious wooden table in the center of the stage. Faint wisps of black smoke permeated from the dark casket.

Seeing this, everyone’s eyes widened. Some were even itching to make a move.

"Is this... the great treasure, the Ninefold Coffin?"

"Is it real? What exactly does this coffin do? Will obtaining it really allow someone to rewrite their fate?"

"It looks incredibly imposing. It has to be real, right?"

Many swallowed hard, their eyes gleaming with greed. If not for Zhu Biquan’s presence, some would have already lost control and lunged for it. In the face of such a treasure, rules meant nothing.

Mu Chen swept his gaze across the crowd. "What I want is very simple: Liquid of Chaos. The starting bid is thirty drops. If you want it, place your bids."

"Mo Qianqian, is that Ninefold Coffin real or fake?" Wu Zonghai’s voice suddenly rang out, laced with a demanding tone.

The crowd instantly turned to look toward VIP Room Number One. Mu Chen also glanced at the room, his expression unruffled.

Mo Qianqian furrowed his brows. He wondered if this was the proper attitude to take when asking him for a favor.

"Mo Qianqian, you are the most familiar with the Ninefold Coffin. Please verify it for us," the Cyan Cloud Mountain Sect Leader chimed in.

Hearing this slightly more respectful tone, Mo Qianqian felt a bit more appeased.

"If I said it was fake, would you believe me?" Mo Qianqian replied.

Truth be told, the shape was utterly identical to the coffin he had given Mu Chen, right down to the faint wisps of permeating black smoke. Even he couldn’t tell if it was real or fake just by looking at it. He wondered if Mu Chen was truly intending to sell that black coffin. Of course, if they were asking whether it was the true Ninefold Coffin, it was undoubtedly a fake—because the one he had handed over was a counterfeit to begin with.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

At Mo Qianqian’s words, powerful auras erupted from the private rooms of Cyan Cloud Mountain and the Imperial Alliance.

"If it’s fake, would you dare not to snatch it?" Mu Chen quickly shouted, forcing the group to calm down.

"Do you dare not bid on it? Are you absolutely certain Mo Qianqian is telling the truth?" Mu Chen explained further, "I couldn’t figure out the use of the Ninefold Coffin, and I’m afraid only Mo Qianqian knows. I want to rid myself of this hot potato, and I want Liquid of Chaos.

"The starting bid is thirty drops. If you think it’s fake, then don’t bid."

With that, the venue instantly fell dead silent. A stalemate settled over the crowd. Who were they supposed to believe—Mo Qianqian or Mu Chen?

However, no one truly understood the Ninefold Coffin. Judging purely by its exterior, they couldn’t distinguish its authenticity. When Mo Qianqian possessed it, he had summoned it from within his own body, which proved it was bound to him. But Mu Chen had merely tossed it out of a storage bag. From this detail alone, it was entirely impossible to verify. Of course, Mu Chen had only acquired it a few days ago, so it was naturally impossible for him to have claimed it as his own and bound it to his body like Mo Qianqian had.

Mo Qianqian frowned again. He was the only one who knew its true purpose. He realized Mu Chen was trying to redirect the hostility back onto him.

"Thirty drops."

Just then, a voice broke the silence. To everyone’s surprise, the first person to bid was Black Dragon!

Mo Qianqian looked at Black Dragon in astonishment.

"Are you trying to play us?" Wu Zonghai’s gloomy voice rang out.

Black Dragon retorted, "Just because he says it’s fake means I can’t bid? I’m bidding to drive up the price and screw you over. Let’s see if you have the guts to buy it."

Mo Qianqian was speechless. The rest of the crowd was equally dumbfounded.

The sheer brazenness of his words left everyone at a loss, unsure if he was telling the truth or bluffing. Furthermore, if he wanted to drive up the price to screw people over, he should have done it secretly. Why would he just blurt it out so directly?

Yet, even Wu Zonghai and the Cyan Cloud Mountain Sect Leader couldn’t be certain if Black Dragon was telling the truth. If it was the real Ninefold Coffin and Black Dragon successfully won and walked away with it, they would suffer a massive loss. But if it was a fake and they bid a high price to win it, they would suffer an equally huge loss.

"Thirty-five drops!" Wu Zonghai finally called out.

"Forty drops," the Cyan Cloud Mountain Sect Leader immediately followed.

The crowd in the first-floor hall balked at the escalating price. Forty drops of Liquid of Chaos was equivalent to four hundred bottles of Qi of Chaos. This was not a sum that any ordinary person or standard faction could produce.

"Fifty drops!"

At that moment, an old man’s voice drifted down from a private room on the second floor.

The crowd was stunned. Aside from the three major powers, someone else could actually afford to bring out so much Liquid of Chaos? They had jumped straight from forty to fifty drops.

"Sir, are you sure you’ll be able to walk away with this item if you win it?" Wu Zonghai threatened. He wasn’t just directing this warning at the old man on the second floor, but at everyone present in the hall.