YM778.TV Chapter 80: Chapter 80: The Void Dragon's Egg
"The bidding for the Jade Spirit Blossom will begin at 10,000 spirit stones," Sia Lu announced, her voice smooth and confident.
Immediately, bids began to fly from across the room as voices eagerly called out their offers.
"11,000 spirit stones!"
"12,000!"
"20,000 spirit stones!"
"25,000 spirit stones!"
The excitement was palpable as the bidding escalated rapidly, the price climbing higher and higher. Ye Chen\'s eyes remained fixed on the item. He could see the potential it held—this treasure could help him break through to the Nascent Soul realm with greater ease. Determined, he decided to join the fray.
Aric, seated comfortably in his VIP room, observed the proceedings with calculated interest. Turning to Su Ling, who sat beside him, he remarked, "This item might be more useful to you or to the other juniors in the sect."
Su Ling nodded in agreement. Understanding the significance of the Jade Spirit Blossom, they too entered the bidding war.
"100,000 spirit stones," a voice called out, causing a brief lull as the number of potential buyers dwindled. For many, the price had already reached a level where they felt it was better to conserve their resources for other treasures.
But Ye Chen was not deterred. "110,000 spirit stones!" he called out, his determination evident in his voice.
As silence settled over the hall, it seemed that Ye Chen might have won the item. Sia Lu was preparing to finalize the sale, her hand poised to bring down the gavel, when a new bid came from the VIP room.
"200,000 spirit stones," Aric\'s voice resonated through the hall, cutting through the tension like a blade.
Gasps of surprise rippled through the audience. The audacity of such a high bid left many stunned, and whispers began to circulate as people tried to identify the mysterious bidder hidden in the VIP room.
Ye Chen, hidden behind his mask, clenched his fists in frustration. He cursed the unknown bidder, but his resolve only hardened. He couldn\'t afford to let this treasure slip through his fingers. Steeling himself, he raised the stakes.
"300,000 spirit stones!"
The hall fell silent once more, the tension now thick enough to cut with a sword. For a moment, it seemed as though the auction might spiral into an all-out war of wealth.
But Aric remained calm, his mind working several steps ahead of the competition. He had anticipated Ye Chen\'s stubbornness and was prepared to push him to his limits. Unfazed, he placed his final bid.
"500,000 spirit stones," Aric declared, his voice steady and composed.
A collective gasp swept through the hall. The sheer magnitude of the bid was enough to crush any further competition. Ye Chen seethed in his VIP room, but even he knew when to retreat. The price had escalated beyond what he could justify, and reluctantly, he allowed the item to slip away.
"500,000 Once"
"500,000 Twice"
"Sold"
Sia Lu, sensing the conclusion, gave the room one final glance before sealing the deal. "Sold to the esteemed guest in the VIP room for 500,000 spirit stones!"
As the gavel fell, a mix of awe and envy permeated the hall. The mystery surrounding the VIP bidder only added to the intrigue, leaving many wondering who could afford to spend such an exorbitant amount.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You gained +1,000 Villain Halo and +10,000 Villain Points for successfully stealing the Jade Spirit Blossom from the protagonist, Ye Chen.]
In Aric\'s VIP room, Su Ling turned to him with a mixture of surprise and concern. "Senior Brother, why did you spend so much on this item? We still need funds for the Thunder Law Weapon."
Aric smiled reassuringly. "Junior Sister, don\'t underestimate me. I\'ve kept enough resources for what\'s to come. Though it was expensive, opportunities like this are rare. We may never encounter such a treasure again."
Su Ling nodded, accepting his explanation. Though she was still somewhat anxious, she trusted in Aric\'s judgment. His confidence was reassuring, and she knew he always had a plan.
With the first item sold, Sia Lu moved on to the next.
"The next item for auction is… this broken sword," Sia Lu announced, her voice carrying a hint of intrigue. The sword was presented on a velvet cushion, its once-majestic blade now jagged and incomplete, with faint traces of ancient runes etched into the metal. The hilt was wrapped in worn leather, frayed and aged, as if it had seen countless battles.
Despite its dilapidated state, there was an ominous aura that seemed to emanate from the sword, a dark energy that made the air around it feel colder, heavier.
Sia Lu continued, "We are unaware of its origins, but it carries a mysterious and potentially ancient power. The bidding will start at 10,000 spirit stones."
The room fell into a contemplative silence. Unlike the earlier treasures, the enthusiasm for this item was notably subdued. To many, it appeared to be nothing more than a relic of the past. But Aric\'s eyes narrowed as he observed the sword from his VIP room. He knew the truth of this item—it was no ordinary broken blade but a demonic sword called Demonic Requiem.
Aric recalled the plot: this sword, though damaged, was a growth-type weapon that fed on the blood to regain its former power. In the original storyline, Ye Chen had stumbled upon it, purchasing it very cheap, only to later unlock its true potential. Aric, however, had no intention of allowing that to happen. This sword would be his.
The bidding began slowly, with a few cautious offers.
"11,000 spirit stones."
"12,000."
"13,000."
The bids climbed steadily, but the lack of enthusiasm in the hall was evident. It was clear that most people saw little value in the broken sword. By the time the price reached 28,000 spirit stones, the room had fallen silent again, and it seemed the auction would end there.
Ye Chen, hidden in his VIP room, couldn\'t shake the nagging feeling that this sword was important. His instincts, urged him to act. He raised his bid. "30,000 spirit stones."
Aric smirked. As expected, Ye Chen had taken the bait. But Aric wasn\'t about to let him have it. Calmly, he placed his bid. "50,000 spirit stones."
A murmur of surprise spread through the hall. Once again, the mysterious bidder in the VIP room had intervened. Ye Chen felt a surge of frustration—whoever this person was, they seemed determined to block him at every turn.
The bidding war resumed, with Ye Chen stubbornly pushing the price higher. But Aric remained unyielding, countering every bid without hesitation. The price quickly escalated to 1 million spirit stones, a sum that left the entire hall in stunned silence.
The spectators could hardly believe their ears. How could a mere broken sword, an item that seemed worthless at first glance, spark such a fierce bidding war? The tension in the room was palpable as the audience watched the standoff between the two unseen bidders.
Finally, Ye Chen conceded, unable to justify spending more. Once again, he had been outmanoeuvred by his mysterious rival.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You gained +2,000 Villain Halo and +20,000 Villain Points for successfully stealing the Demonic Requiem from the protagonist, Ye Chen.]
In the VIP room, Su Ling was visibly curious. "Senior Brother, why did you spend so much on this sword? It looks… well, broken."
Aric smiled knowingly. "Appearances can be deceiving, Junior Sister. Let me show you."
Soon after, two attendants from the auction house arrived, delicately carrying the broken sword. After Aric made the payment, they bowed and left the room, leaving Aric and Su Ling alone with the weapon.
Aric carefully examined the sword, then ran his hand along the jagged edge. As he did, a faint pulse of dark energy radiated from the blade, causing the temperature in the room to drop slightly.
"This sword is a demonic artifact," Aric explained, his voice low and serious. "It may be broken now, but it has the potential to grow stronger, much stronger. It feeds on blood, becoming more powerful with each life it takes. In the right hands, it can become a weapon of unimaginable power."
Su Ling\'s eyes widened in realization. She had heard of growth-type weapons before, but to see one up close, especially one with such a sinister nature, was unsettling. Yet, she couldn\'t help but admire Aric\'s foresight and deep understanding.
"Senior Brother, your insights are truly remarkable," Su Ling said with admiration. "I never would have guessed that this broken sword held such power."
Aric nodded, pleased with her reaction. "Always remember, Junior Sister, in the world of cultivation, what\'s on the surface is rarely the whole story. It\'s the hidden potential that truly matters."
As the auction continued, the atmosphere in the grand hall grew more intense with each passing item. Su Ling, seated next to Aric in their VIP room, had acquired several items.
In another room, Ulsa and Mia, under Aric\'s discreet instructions, also secured several valuable artifacts. Yet, nothing thus far had truly piqued Aric\'s interest. He remained calm, his expression unreadable, as he waited for the final stages of the auction.
Sia Lu, smiled as she addressed the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now entering the final stages of tonight\'s auction. Prepare yourselves, for what comes next might just be one of the most mysterious items of the night."
The anticipation in the room was palpable as Sia Lu gestured to the attendants. They brought forth a large, intricately carved jade box, which was carefully placed on the auction stage. With a dramatic flair, Sia Lu lifted the lid to reveal an egg.
It was unlike anything the crowd had seen before—dark as the deepest night, with veins of crimson running across its surface, pulsating faintly as if it were alive.
"The next item," Sia Lu continued, "is this mysterious egg. This egg as strong as iron, we have been unable to determine its exact origins. It could be the egg of a Phoenix or a Dragon, or perhaps something even more ancient. But as with all great treasures, it could also be something worthless.
The experts have been unable to decipher the method to hatch it, yet we all know… the greatest treasures often come with the greatest risks."
The crowd buzzed with excitement. This was the kind of mystery that cultivators lived for—the chance to obtain something truly extraordinary.
"This egg," he mused quietly, "is a Void Dragon\'s egg—a creature born once in a billion years. Its power over space and time is unmatched. In the original plot, Ye Chen would have stumbled upon this treasure for a pittance. But not this time."
In another VIP room, Ye Chen\'s heart raced as he gazed at the egg. A strange sensation welled up within him, as if the egg was calling to him, resonating with his very soul. It was as if he could sense the immense potential within, a connection that urged him to obtain it at any cost. He clenched his fists, determination flashing in his eyes.
"This… this is the one," Ye Chen whispered to himself. "No matter what, I must have it."
Meanwhile, in Aric\'s VIP room, Su Ling also felt a sense of intrigue. "Senior Brother, this egg… it feels different. I think it could be something extraordinary."
Aric nodded thoughtfully, already aware that Mia and Ulsa were prepared to secure the egg at any cost. "We will bid, but only if it doesn\'t exceed our budget. There are other treasures we must prioritize."
Su Ling nodded in agreement, trusting Aric\'s judgment.
Sia Lu\'s voice cut through the tension, "The bidding for this mysterious egg will start at 100,000 spirit stones, with each increase being no less than 10,000 spirit stones.
Meanwhile, the bidding war began.
"100,000 spirit stones!" someone shouted, the enthusiasm in the room palpable.
"200,000!"
"300,000!"
The numbers climbed rapidly, as each bidder eyed the egg with a mix of greed and curiosity. Soon, the price reached one million spirit stones, and yet the bidding showed no signs of slowing down.
"1.5 million spirit stones," Zhen Fang of the Zhen family called out, his voice steady, but with a hint of excitement.
A voice cut through the murmurs. "2 million." It was Ye Chen. His eyes were fixed on the egg, his determination clear.
The crowd buzzed with excitement as the bidding war intensified between the Zhen family and Ye Chen. The price soared to 5 million spirit stones, with neither side willing to back down.
But then, a calm and authoritative voice from the Bai family\'s VIP room rang out. "6 million."
Ye Chen gritted his teeth in frustration, his gaze darkening as the stakes rose. "10 million!" he declared, the desperation in his voice evident. He was determined—this was his destiny.
The crowd gasped. The bidding was reaching absurd heights, and many wondered if the mysterious egg was truly worth such an astronomical price.
Aric watched the proceedings with a detached interest, waiting for the right moment. When the hall fell into a brief silence, he casually raised his hand. "15 million."
Gasps of shock echoed through the room. The audacity of the bid stunned the crowd, and all eyes turned towards the VIP room, wondering who could possess such wealth.
Ye Chen\'s fists clenched tightly. Whoever this person was, they were clearly doing this to antagonize him. He wouldn\'t be outdone. Not this time.
"16 million," he countered, his voice trembling with restrained fury.
"17 million," Aric responded smoothly, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather.
"20 million!" Ye Chen shouted, his frustration boiling over. The strain in his voice was clear—he was reaching his limit, but he couldn\'t afford to lose this item.
The entire hall was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade. Even Sia Lu, who had seen countless auctions, was taken aback by the sheer intensity of the bidding war. The unknown egg, whose origins were a complete mystery, was now the most sought-after item of the night.
Just when everyone thought the bidding was over, a new voice echoed from yet another VIP room. It was a woman\'s voice, calm and poised. "30 million."
The crowd was in an uproar. Who was this mysterious bidder willing to spend such an outrageous sum on an egg with unknown potential? The hall buzzed with speculation, but no one could identify the source of the voice.
Ye Chen felt a wave of despair crash over him. He knew the main item of the auction was yet to come—a Thunder Law Weapon, something he couldn\'t afford to miss. Spending more on the egg would mean losing the chance at acquiring the weapon. With great reluctance, and a deep, simmering anger, he backed down, his heart heavy with disappointment.
The egg was sold to Mia Lei, who had followed Aric\'s orders perfectly. The auction house\'s protocols ensured the identity of those in the VIP rooms remained confidential, but the thrill of the night\'s events left everyone in the room buzzing with excitement.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You gained +5,000 Villain Halo and +50,000 Villain Points for successfully stealing the Void Dragon Egg from the protagonist, Ye Chen.]
Aric leaned back in his seat, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. Everything was proceeding according to plan.