The Peacock Clan Leader furrowed his brows deeply. Ye Chen had remained silent throughout the bidding, never once calling out. Without their occasional raises, the auction would have ended long ago.

What was going on? Did Ye Chen not want it?

The Myriad Woods Spiritual Root was indeed somewhat useless for young prodigies like him, whose cave heavens lacked deep foundations. But with his current depleted state—desperately needing nourishment and reinforcement—how could he afford to be picky? Shouldn't he snatch everything to stuff into his realm?

Another stretch of silence followed. No further bids emerged. Just as everyone assumed, the Myriad Woods Spiritual Root's fate was sealed.

At the final moment, the Peacock King gritted his teeth and raised his hand once more. But the instant the words left his mouth, regret flooded him—a pang of heartache. Though they had negotiated the auction house down to a mere ten percent fee—far below the usual thirty.

Without Ye Chen catching it, shooting himself would cost him seven hundred thousand just in fees. A bloody loss.

Yet amid his regret, Ye Chen's voice—rich with pleasure and ease—finally rang from the box. "Ten million top-grade spirit stones!"

The Peacock Clan Leader exhaled in relief. And realization dawned.

Ye Chen had been occupied placing the Spiritual Qi Origin Essence earlier. He must have successfully integrated it—feeling its benefits firsthand. Only now turning attention back to bidding.

The three War God Clan Half-Saints caught the odd note in his voice, too. They exchanged knowing smiles.

Let you enjoy it for now. Soon, everything will come back to us.

…

"Twenty million…"

"Thirty million…"

…

"Fifty million!"

Ye Chen's entry rocketed the price to fifty million—tenfold premium achieved. The Myriad Woods Spiritual Root's fair market value hovered around five million. In auctions, six or seven million marked the ceiling for desperate buyers. Fifty million hit ten times its worth.

The Peacock Clan Leader, reaching his target, ceased raising. If Ye Chen quit now, he'd be stuck with it. Five million in fees alone—equivalent to losing the item outright. Fifty million in hand satisfied him fully. He'd reclaim the root later anyway. He fell silent decisively.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Ye Chen suddenly drew a sharp breath—as though pained. To the crowd, it confirmed his reluctance. The Peacock Clan Leader's smile widened brilliantly.

Uninformed bidders frowned deeper, confusion mounting. Shilling once to hype the atmosphere—fine. Every time? Excessive. What game was this auction playing?

Especially the human cultivators who traveled far, their faces darkened with anger. These local myriad races lacked all propriety. Running such scams in auctions—shameless, devoid of business ethics. No wonder the Heavenly Emperor once drove them to the Northern Domain.

In short, human powerhouses seethed. Some even suspected targeted discrimination. Perhaps dual pricing—humans paid full, myriad races one-tenth.

The more they pondered, the angrier they grew. But in Myriad Races Immortal City, they endured. Yet all were Mahayana—forged through endless strife and slaughter.

If the myriad races persisted, if prices stayed this absurd... they wouldn't tolerate it.

Let the fools play among themselves!

…

"Next up, the third item of this auction—a rare treasure beyond measure: the Black Tortoise Realm-Protecting Armor! This artifact was forged from a fragment of the ancient divine beast Black Tortoise's shell, refined over countless eons. Its defensive power stands at the absolute pinnacle. Once activated, it forms a crystalline tortoise shell—unyielding even against Saint-level assaults, steadfast as Mount Tai without a single crack!

"It infuses cave heavens with vast water- and earth-element energies, spontaneously evolving corresponding spiritual environments. For nurturing rare spiritual plants of these attributes, it acts like wings to a tiger—immensely beneficial. It deepens cave heaven foundations…"

The auctioneer—slender-waisted, long-legged, stunningly beautiful, with a fluffy tail swaying—delivered her pitch with captivating grace and fervor. Her tail's vigorous wags betrayed her excitement.

Though the auction secretly charged myriad races only a one-tenth fee, with the freak Ye Chen present, their earnings surpassed the usual thirty percent. Thus, she poured passion into her presentation.

The item's reveal ignited the hall.

The Black Tortoise Realm-Protecting Armor's effects were extraordinary and highly practical. Its fair value hovered around twenty million top-grade spirit stones. Pricey, yet it stirred many Mahayana cultivators' hearts—eyes gleaming with determination.

The War God Clan Half-Saints offering it rubbed their hands eagerly, ready for another harvest from Ye Chen. This supreme defensive treasure was a clan heirloom. An elder currently wielded it. But under Luo Bingling's persuasion, they relented.

The elder removed it temporarily. They'd reclaim it soon anyway. They even bribed the manager to advance its slot.

As interested cultivators below scrutinized it breathlessly—confirming authenticity, preparing bids, Ye Chen's box rang with a delighted, thunderous voice. "Treasures worth two hundred million top-grade spirit stones!"

The words fell, and the hall froze as though muted—pin-drop silence. A heartbeat later, it exploded like a cauldron. Several hot-tempered human cultivators in the front rows shot to their feet.

Aura erupting, they kicked nearby chairs furiously, eyes blazing as they cursed. "No rules at all, huh!"

"Endless shills? At least switch them up for professionalism!"

"Don't want to sell? Fine—my time isn't free!"

No face was spared—they unleashed tirades. One box door blasted open. A man radiating a surging Saint aura strode out. His immortal robe shredded under leaking pressure, revealing a steel-cast body.

Fury twisted his face like raging thunder. He bellowed, "So the myriad races insist on playing dirty? You clearly hold no regard for this Thunderbolt Great Saint Wen Tailai!"

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