Online Game: Evil Dragon Against The Heaven - 232
This time, Tian Zhi Zi could no longer sit still. He abruptly stood up and shouted at the masked archer who had been following him all along, “Let’s go!!”
Even the masked archer did not try to stop him this time because the temptation of an Immortal Spirit Artifact was simply irresistible. Even if he had tried to persuade Tian Zhi Zi by reminding him of the reputation of Wings That Obstruct the Heavens, it would have been futile.
“Two tickets, please!” Tian Zhi Zi and his companion arrived at the auction entrance. He forcefully suppressed his impatience and spoke to the receptionist.
“Hello, sir. Two tickets will be a total of 80,000 gold coins.”
“What?! 80,000 gold coins? What do you mean by that?” Tian Zhi Zi’s face instantly darkened. Even if the ticket was made of solid gold, it wouldn’t be worth 80,000 gold coins… Yet they dared to rob him in broad daylight.
“Sir, the pricing for our tickets at different time slots has long been publicly announced by the Seven Moons Chamber of Commerce. It is already past 9:30 now, so the ticket price has increased by 200 times… Sir, why didn’t you come earlier to buy your tickets?” The receptionist’s smile remained unchanged as she politely responded.
Tian Zhi Zi’s eyebrows twitched violently, momentarily speechless. The masked archer behind him stepped forward without saying a word and handed over 80,000 gold coins, receiving two tickets in return.
As they were about to use their tickets, the receptionist added with a bright smile, almost making them vomit blood, “Gentlemen, due to the limited seating in the auction hall, all seats were sold out long ago. The only tickets available for you… are standing tickets.”
Inside the auction hall, the auction for the Sword of Purple Destruction had yet to begin because Jiu Yue had already spent a full three minutes introducing its history and attributes.
Anyone with sharp eyes could tell she was deliberately stalling for time—because after 9:30, the ticket price skyrocketed to an astronomical 40,000 gold coins!
By now, even a fool understood that the pricing strategy of the Seven Moons Chamber of Commerce wasn’t madness at all… Instead, it was an extremely cunning and devious money-making scheme.
And the results were outstanding.
Even though ticket prices had soared to 40,000 gold coins, and those who entered could only stand in the aisles, the constant flashes of white light proved just how insanely irrational people could become when faced with an Immortal Spirit Artifact.
A single ticket cost 40,000 gold coins… Just imagine how much they were making after 9:30 alone…
These merchants were truly the scummiest of the scum!
“…According to our Seven Moons Chamber of Commerce, this Immortal Spirit Artifact is undoubtedly the first of its kind in the entire Huaxia Region. In fact, it is safe to say it is the first and only Immortal Spirit Artifact in the world. Whoever obtains this sword today can proudly proclaim to the world that they are the first person in history to own an Immortal Spirit Artifact. This is a glory that will be remembered for a lifetime…”
Jiu Yue’s lengthy speech continued. Watching the endless stream of players entering the hall, the smile on her face grew brighter and brighter.
“Po Jun, Qiu Shui, I’m leaving first” Ye Tian Xie said.
“Aah? Second brother, aren’t you going to watch anymore?”
“There’s nothing left to watch; I can guess what happens next.” After saying this, Ye Tian Xie took out the return scroll, ready to go straight back to the southernmost town he had reached on his way to the south.
Just as he crushed the scroll in his hand and his body disappeared at that moment, he happened to see Tian Zhi Zi, who had been teleported into the corridor, and then, his gaze inadvertently fell on the person dressed as an archer with a veiled face behind him… In an instant, his calm eyes suddenly became incredibly ferocious.
Ye Tian Xie appeared in a sparsely populated small town, his face still holding that terrifyingly grim expression, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled into a sinister smile.
Good… very good… what a cover for the Wings That Obstruct the Heavens!
It’s really great!!
You, have successfully made me truly angry!
So… even if you really have the Wings That Obstruct the Heavens, I will make sure you… are forever banned from the virtual game world!
With a cold laugh fading, he summoned his prized horse and headed south. Without modern transportation, the journey from Tianchen City to Tianri City, taking ten days, was not easy. Normally he wouldn’t let the game take up his sleep time, but these few days, he also had to travel overnight during his sleeping hours. Since he had chosen to accept, he would not allow himself to fail.
At the auction site…
“…The starting bid for this first spiritual artifact from the Huaxia region is: 5 million gold coins!” When Jiu Yue’s lengthy introduction finally ended, a base price that surprised no one was shouted out from her mouth.
5 million… an astronomical figure that most ordinary people couldn’t save in a lifetime, yet facing this spiritual artifact, such a price not only did not cool down the auction but instead instantly spurred a wave of bidding frenzies… and the shouted prices, one more shocking than the last.
“6 million! The number one fierce man from the River Mountain Guild!”
“6.5 million! Red Leaf Alliance’s Red Leaf Fierce Wind!”
“8 million! Battle Soul Hall’s Thunderstorm!”
“Tsk… less than ten million and you dare to bid, 12 million! Invincible Gang’s Wind Chaos Departure!”
In just a few seconds, the price of this spiritual artifact had skyrocketed to tens of millions of gold coins, leaving players outside the auction in total astonishment… this was no ordinary auction of virtual equipment…
“12.5 million!”
“13 million!”
“15 million!!”
“Alright, this friend has bid 15 million gold coins. Is there anyone else willing to offer a higher price?”
“20 million!”
“20 million! The current price has reached 20 million, is there anyone else…”
“20.5 million.” A person, sweating profusely and gritting his teeth, raised the sign in his hand. It was clear how determined he was.
“20.8 million!”
“21 million!”
…………
…………
After the price rose above 20 million, the frequency of bids and the rate of price increases visibly slowed down. Spending 20 million on a virtual item had already exceeded the financial tolerance of most people. Some players, who had paid a huge cost to attend, could only sigh dejectedly as the price soared to such an extent.
Meanwhile, several individuals with the wealthiest backgrounds, including Tian Zhi Zi who stood in the aisle receiving various odd looks, remained silent without making a bid.
“30 million… anyone who competes, dies!”
A cold, menacing voice carried a threatening force, and the tone and words uttered were dismissive of anyone present. All eyes turned to him… a man standing in the aisle, his name—Yi Jian Ling Yun!
His cold face and sharp eyes, holding the seventh rank on the leaderboard. The 30 million starting bid was astounding, but the four words that followed caused many to frown secretly and others to smirk. His bid and demeanor might have intimidated many, but how many in the room were simple characters? Such a tone was likely to backfire rather than produce the effect he desired.
“The first celestial artifact of all Huaxia, thinking 30 million is enough to take it is a bit naive, isn’t it? I bid 40 million!” spoke the leader of the Red Leaf Alliance, Hong Ye Lie Feng. The Red Leaf Alliance was powerful, and Hong Ye Lie Feng was surprisingly young, not yet thirty, with a scholarly appearance and a demeanor fitting of a great family’s heritage. As soon as he spoke, Yi Jian Ling Yun’s icy eyes fixed on him, but Hong Ye Lie Feng, with a smile, fearlessly met his gaze.
Although Yi Jian Ling Yun consistently ranked around sixth or seventh on the leaderboard, his name was unfamiliar to those who had been in the virtual gaming world for years. While strong individually, he lacked substantial power, giving Hong Ye Lie Feng no reason to fear.
As Yi Jian Ling Yun looked at him, Cang Chen sitting in a corner also turned his gaze to note Hong Ye Lie Feng’s face, then turned away.
Under everyone’s gaze, Yi Jian Ling Yun chose not to continue bidding but silently turned around and left the auction amid a wave of soft hissing.
The Ling, Cang and Blood Dream Heaven clans, these three taboo families possessed strength far beyond ordinary people’s imagination. However, under the agreement signed with the Huaxia government, their growth was greatly restricted, especially in terms of financial resources—lacking substantial funds.
30 million was the final limit Yi Jian Ling Yun could afford. It was a desperate bid for the celestial sword he so desired.
Although he failed… 『who competes, dies,』 he was not merely bluffing.
“50 million!” Finally, the previously silent Tian Zhi Zi could no longer hold back, setting the highest price seen so far. 50 million… a number that made regular players feel increasingly like they were dreaming.
As Tian Zhi Zi spoke up, Zang Shen wouldn’t sit idle. Almost immediately after him, Zang Shen raised his sign and declared loudly, “Ha, 50 million to take away the strongest equipment in all of Huaxia with your fortune is rather shabby, isn’t it? Since you offer 50 million, then I bid… 60 million!”
As soon as Zang Shen spoke, those preparing to bid changed their expressions and quickly put down their signs. The wise could guess what would happen next.
Tian Zhi Ziglanced sideways at Zang Shen and snorted softly, “70 million!”
“80 million!” Zang Shen, undisturbed, followed up his bid immediately, so swiftly it seemed without thought.
“90 million!”
“Ha… I bid one hundred million!”
Thud… In front of the magic screen at the center of Tianchen City, many players whose hearts couldn’t take the strain finally collapsed to the ground.
One hundred million… a new, stunning high set before all players in Huaxia and the world.
“Du Gu Cheng, you being an assassin, getting this celestial sword might not be much use, right?” Tian Zhi Zi said with a grim face.
“Oh? I don’t understand what you mean. True, I am an assassin and unfortunately can’t use this celestial sword. But many friends and companions by my side do use swords, how can you say it’s of no use… According to what you said, as a gun-fighting warrior, it seems you can’t make much use of this celestial sword either” Zang Shen replied calmly and deliberately.