(A/N: Read the Author's note.
Discord link: discord.gg/SC9HNKVj5e
)
Everyone else in the auction house, including Li Huang's fellow members of the sect, was in awe of the object being put up for auction while Li Huang was crying crocodile tears because of his incapacity to spend freely.
It is not every day that you would come across a one-of-a-kind and remarkable item, but when it comes to items that are the talk of the continent, it could potentially be called an event that only happens once in a lifetime, even for the cultivators who live a long life.
"We will start the auction for the [Whispering Lotus Mirror] soon." The auctioneer said with a smile as the item's introduction had the intended effect of gaining everyone's attention.
"The item is being safekept in another location so we will not bring it to the stage right now, but you can rest assured that as the winner of this item, you can verify its authenticity before the payment is done." The auctioneer explained and waited a few seconds for his words to sink in.
Li Huang would love to see this item with his peeping eye of heaven and see its true worth, but it seemed that he would not be able to do so, at least not today.
"The starting price for this remarkable treasure is five hundred million high-grade spirit stones." The auctioneer said and Li Huang almost shed a tear in resignation.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"The auction starts now." The auctioneer announced and the bidding for the [Whispering Lotus Mirror] started.
"Five hundred and fifty million high-grade spirit stones." A voice said and everyone turned toward the sound's source direction.
Li Huang didn't need to do so to know the identity of the bidder as he already knew that the voice belonged to Hao Huizheng. Nevertheless, he did so as he was surprised that Hao Huizheng had this kind of money.
'I can outbid him, but not for long.' Li Huang thought to himself. He had enough to bid for some time but if the price passed the ten-digit mark, he would have to forfeit the item to whomever that has that level of wealth.
Li Huang had no real desire for this item and as it was not presented on the stage for security reasons, he had no way of justifying this level of expenditure even to himself. Others may perceive Li Huang as wasteful and a spendthrift, but in reality, he would not spend even a spirit stone if he was unsure about the investment return on it.
Just as those with enough money to spend were contemplating entering the bidding for [Whispering Lotus Mirror], a new bid changed the equation for them.
"Six hundred million high-grade spirit stones." A gravelly voice said. There was almost no one in the auction house who did not recognize the bidder this time. No, the person might not be known to everyone but the organization they represented, and their uniforms were enough indication as to who has placed the bid this time.
'Of course, Grandmaster Huili would be interested in the [Whispering Lotus Mirror].' Li Huang couldn't help but smile a little. He could somewhat guess why this item has appeared in this auction now, 'They probably will get a part of the money so it would be cheaper for the Tianteng organization in the end.' As he was from a prominent family, he knew that the Tianteng organization partially owned many of the items that the Feng family had been auctioning in recent years which were brought to the Divine central continent from the Lian continent.
"Six hundred and ten million high-grade spirit stones." After a few seconds of silence Hao Huizheng bid again.
"Seven hundred million high-grade spirit stones." It didn't take even a second for the Tianteng organization to bid again.
"…" Hao Huizheng was speechless for a second, but he didn't have any intention of losing this item, so he bid again, "Seven hundred and ten million high-grade spirit stones."
"Eight hundred million high-grade spirit stones." The old man who has been bidding for the Tianteng organization so far, outbid Hao Huizheng again. You could feel a tinge of pride in his voice when he was placing the bids.
"Eight hundred and ten million high-grade spirit stones." Hao Huizheng said again but a bit louder.
"One billion high-grade spirit stones." The old man said with the same calm voice but if one were to look closely at him, they could see him smirking.
"…"
Everyone in the auction house was shocked to a level. They didn't think that the price would pass the one billion mark on the second day of the auction but they were proven wrong.
Hao Huizheng furrowed his brows and said something inaudible under his breath, "One billion and ten million high-grade spirit stones." He placed a new bid soon after.
Before the formation mater could place a higher bid like before, Grandmaster Huili sent a sound transmission to him. That sound transmission changed his approach, "Two billion high-grade spirit stones." He said after a few seconds.
Hao Huizheng couldn't do anything other than glare with anger toward the stage as he didn't have this much spirit stone to continue bidding. The chair handle of the chair he was sitting on was of high quality, otherwise, it would have shattered into pieces long ago.
A few seconds passed and no one added to the current bid, so the auctioneer spoke again, "The winner of the [Whispering Lotus Mirror] is the Tianteng organization with an astonishing bid of two billion high-grade spirit stones." He said enthusiastically.
…
"*Sigh* It's good to be rich…" Li Huang said with envy in his voice.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Junior uncle, I think you are the last person that should say that." Hu Anjing looked at Li Huang with no small amount of dissatisfaction on her face and said.
Li Huang couldn't help but chuckle and raise his hands in surrender, "True, I'm probably high on the list but I'm far from the last person." He shrugged and said.
Hu Anjing couldn't refute that and nodded with a small frown on her face.
Cai ZhenKang used this chance to nudge Li Huang on the shoulder and attract his attention, "Hey Huang, don't forget that you promised to buy an axe for me." He said with a toothy grin.
"I haven't forgotten, It's just that there were not any decent axes up for auction until now." Li Huang turned to him and said.
"You don't expect me to will it into existence, do you?" Li Huang said after a moment.
"Bah, of course not. I'm just saying that I still remember our agreement." Cai ZhenKang pumped his chest and said.
"Sure, if not tomorrow, then I'll find one for you later." Li Huang nodded and said.
Everyone started leaving the auction building shortly after as this item was the last one for the day and started making their way back to their residents within the city.
Li Huang and others were not any different and they did the same. Cai ZhenKang went his separate way with Kong Zexi who was waiting for him with the other sect disciples of the Blue Bulls sect.
Li Huang mentally shared a few things with Li Wanrou and let her know about his theories on the Xu family's plan and what he thought would happen when they eventually attempt to exit Five Rivers City.
For the remainder of their short walk toward their temporary residence, Li Huang was thinking about money, specifically making it. He had quite an amount of money to start a business, but the main issue was finding the right idea.
He thought about his past life and the things that made quite a lot of money there. He needed something that was either rich in quality or in quantity which he could make a big profit from. He also needed to make money with it without making it obvious that this was the work of someone with his past life's memory. If there is a hypothetical reincarnator, Li Huang didn't want to paint a target on his back for no amount of money.
It took him quite a while, but he finally had his Eureka moment.
"How could I not see the answer? It's drugs, it's always been drugs." Li Huang said in a self-deprecating manner. Others just looked at him in befuddlement after his sudden outburst.