Chapter 272 - 112: From the Kunlun Immortal Ruins. A Scam? A Face-to-Face Threat.

"You may bid using life-extending items, or you may bid using Spirit Stones. The starting bid is one million Top-Grade Spirit Stones."

As soon as he said this, a huge stir went through the auction.

For many, it was the first time they had ever seen such an Exotic Stone, one brimming with Immortal Energy and surging with a rosy brilliance. They were utterly shocked.

If it truly came from the Kunlun Immortal Ruins, then perhaps it really did contain an Immortal Embryo.

But life-extending items were always astronomically priced and incredibly rare. The major Immortal Sect Lineages all hoarded them, so who would be willing to trade one away so easily?

Besides, the kind of Life-extending Divine Object that senior was looking for would certainly be frighteningly expensive.

A starting bid of one million Spirit Stones was no small sum—and these weren’t ordinary Spirit Stones, but Top-Grade ones.

One million Top-Grade Spirit Stones could cover the expenses of many Immortal Sect Lineages for several years.

The Noble Sects that had heard about the Exotic Stone in advance and had come prepared with high hopes now fell silent, their once-fiery gazes dimming.

The starting bid of one million Top-Grade Spirit Stones was enough to deter most of the crowd.

The only ones qualified to bid were the ancient, influential clans within the Great Xia, the Commandery Princes, imperial princes, powerful Noble Families, and the top-tier Immortal Sect Lineages from the surrounding regions.

’That’s insane!’

Ye Ming clicked his tongue in disbelief. ’A starting bid of one million Top-Grade Spirit Stones? All the Celestial and Earthly Treasures and Magical Artifacts I have, combined, are probably only worth a few tens of thousands of Top-Grade Spirit Stones. That’s not even a tenth of the starting price.’

"If you want it, you can offer that bottle of Longevity Liquid you acquired. A single drop of that stuff is enough to qualify you to bid..." the Old Ghost’s voice echoed in his mind.

Ye Ming froze.

It was only then that he remembered he had come into possession of a bottle of Longevity Liquid. It was indeed a Life-extending Divine Object, and a single drop was worth a fortune.

However, he was in the prime of his youth and had no use for it. Keeping it on his person was like having something he couldn’t use but was too valuable to discard.

"That Exotic Stone might not be from the Kunlun Immortal Ruins, but I can faintly sense the aura of Dao Source within it. Only a cultivator of the Eighth Realm Tribulation Bridge Realm would be qualified to condense Dao Source to seal something. In ancient times, Tribulation Bridge Realm cultivators were also known as Great Powers..."

"An item that would compel a Great Power to seal it with Dao Source, just to prevent it from decaying over time, cannot be anything simple," the Old Ghost said gravely.

Hearing this, Ye Ming understood. His gaze immediately grew firm and fervent.

"The best method would be to find the senior who consigned the item and trade with him directly, but that would break the rules of the Business Alliance. The auction house would never allow it."

"Once you win the item, you should find a place to cut it open and retrieve its contents immediately. Fortunately, this is the Imperial Capital, right under the Emperor’s nose, so the various Immortal Sect Lineages won’t dare to act too recklessly here. But you could face a lot of trouble later on. You need to weigh the risks yourself..."

Ye Ming was well aware of the risks, but fortune favors the bold.

Of all the opportunities and fortuitous encounters he’d had, which one hadn’t come with immense danger?

"One million two hundred thousand."

And just as Ye Ming was lost in thought, a voice suddenly cut through the silence of the auction floor.

A female attendant spoke, her voice delicate but carrying clearly throughout the entire hall.

Everyone was startled by the voice. They turned to look at the private box the attendant belonged to and immediately knew who was inside.

After all, Jiang Lan’s appearance at the fighting arena earlier had drawn a great deal of attention.

"I can’t believe the Prime Minister’s Mansion is getting involved..."

"It seems the auction master was telling the truth. The Exotic Stone is a consigned item, not one they’re selling themselves. Otherwise, why would the Prime Minister’s Mansion need to bid for it?"

A quiet realization dawned on many in the crowd, followed by a surge of excitement. They felt they were about to witness a rare battle of wealth.

It was no secret in the Great Xia that the Changlong Business Alliance was backed by the Prime Minister’s Mansion. This meant that the auction house’s own Young Master was personally taking part in the bidding.

He was clearly determined to win the Exotic Stone.

Ye Ming was also taken aback. His eyes flickered, a sense of unwillingness rising within him.

From the Old Ghost’s explanation, he knew just how important and precious the Exotic Stone was, and he couldn’t stand the thought of letting Jiang Lan get his hands on it so easily again.

’If I try to compete, I’ll most likely lose to Jiang Lan. He has the Prime Minister’s Mansion behind him. I can’t match his wealth...’ Ye Ming’s fists clenched.

The Old Ghost, too, was at a loss for words.

But just as the crowd was reeling in shock, a crisp, clear female voice rang out through the spacious auction hall.

"One million four hundred thousand."

The bid was also called out by a woman dressed as an attendant, and as it happened, she was from the private box directly opposite Jiang Lan’s.

The scene stunned everyone for a moment. Then, the gazes of many in the crowd became intrigued.

Many even found the situation fascinating. Was this going to be a clash of titans? To dare compete when it was clear the Prime Minister’s Mansion was determined to win?

In her private box, Shang Mingyu’s face was serene. Her features were as flawless as Immortal Jade, shimmering with a soft white luster, but her expression had soured.

She knew that a wisp of the Emperor’s Qi was sealed within that Exotic Stone.

For the sake of her great plan to restore her nation, she had to have it.

But she had never imagined that Jiang Lan, in the box opposite hers, would also have his sights set on the Exotic Stone and intend to win it.

In other words, if she wanted to win the Exotic Stone, she would have no choice but to cross Jiang Lan...

In her original plans, she had wanted no contact with a person whom even the Ball of Grand Aspiration could not read, let alone make an enemy of him.