The auction quickly heated up. Piles of gold taels flew as the various people spent money like pouring water. The prices started out sowhat reasonable but quickly grew past the market price for many items. For people well-versed in business, this was a stupid proposition unless there was another factor at play.
“I see.” Zhou Ziyun muttered after she noticed this trend, “I see. The two phases of the auction are really ingenious. It is creating a competitive environnt where people have to show how much money they have.”
Qu Rong spoke up in agreent, “That’s right. Six people who sold the most expensive items or six who bought the most expensive, six people who sold most cumulatively or six who bought the most cumulatively. Unless they don’t care about the second phase of the auction, everyone will be trying their best.”
“Also, since there is no buyout price and the bid incrents are limited, soone won’t be able to put up an outrageous amount on a single item to win one of the spots. If you notice closely, you’ll see so other interesting things.”
The next item up for auction was five bottles of blood from a cloudsea condor. It could be used to craft dicinal pills or even inserted into a body inscription to increase one’s beast arts. It was a must-have for disciples seeking the immortal path.
The price quickly shot up to fifteen thousand and then even twenty thousand. In the end, it was only two people bidding against each other until the price reached an astonishing twenty-four thousand taels of gold. This was at least twice as much as the market price for these bottles of blood anywhere else.
Zhou Ziyun’s mind quickly spun as she considered the possibilities. She suddenly snapped her fingers and looked toward Qu Rong, “Sister Rong, which party sold this cloudsea condor blood? And winning bid, do they have so kind of relation?”
“Haha, Sister Ziyun is so sharp. Indeed, this cloudsea condor was slain by Elder Qu Zhangtian. The person who happened to end up buying them was Qu Qingtian, who is the elder’s most talented son. They are essentially selling to themselves.” Qu Rong laughed so more.
“I see, they are taking advantage of the rules and increasing the chances of them entering the second phase. Although the auction house will take a cut of the extravagant selling price, it is a price they are willing to pay. And is also correct that this Elder Qu Zhangtian’s family is very wealthy?”
“That’s right!” Qu Rong replied, “Of the Qu branch families, they can rank in the top five in terms of wealth. Looks like they are really making a push for the second phase of the auction to help Qu Qingtian. But it still remains to be seen if will be able to make it.”
“Right, if one group of people can do it, then others can do it too.”
“Exactly!”
Many more items flew across the stage and money continued to flow. The phenonon of people pumping up the prices occurred frequently. Around half of the ti, there were people selling to their own people. The Beast God Sanctum was a sect with a lot of history and there were many wealthy families. In these cases, other factions didn’t interfere and put in any antagonistic bids. After all, these items were still considered the cheaper ones.
“Herbal wine collection! A great pairing while consuming beast at. A product of the Cloud Grass Sect in the central provinces.”
“One thousand taels.”
“Two thousand taels.”
“…”
This item ca from outside the Beast God Sanctum. This auction was open to friends of the sect and other sects that had so relationships in the past. This Cloud Grass Sect did a lot of business with Beast God Sanctum so they had sent up a few items to be auctions. However, because it ca from outside, the bidding was slow and the price barely reached ten thousand taels. Since a high price wouldn’t benefit anyone in the city, nobody cared to spend frivolously.
“Sister Yuechan? Wasn’t Sister Xue and Sister Yue interested in wine lately? I think this will be good for them. There are over fifty bottles in the set, enough for them to study for a little while.” Zhou Ziyun said suddenly.
Li Yuechan’s eyes brightened, “Pairing wine with beast at, such an interesting concept. Does it just improve the taste or does it have so beneficial relationship that increases the spiritual effects of both? I will buy it, eleven thousand taels!”
When her voice reached out over the auction house, many people turned towards their box in interest. Those in the know already knew about the arrival of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. Those not in the know were interested in the person in the private box.
However, they were all shocked when another unfamiliar voice rang out from the sa box.
“Twelve thousand!”
Li Yuechan looked at Zhou Ziyun in puzzlent, “Sister Ziyun what are you doing?”
Zhou Ziyun grinned like she had found sothing fun to play with, “Sister Yuechan, alas, I forgot that I also like wine. I must have this.”
She then winked and giggled.
Li Yuechan understood and chuckled, “Alright, if it is like this, I can’t admit so easily. Thirteen thousand!”
“Fourteen thousand!” Zhou Ziyun countered imdiately.
“Fifteen thousand!”
“Sixteen thousand!”
“…”
Qu Rong sat there in silence and fright, wondering why these two disciples of the sa sect had started fighting with each other. They could have easily gotten the set of spiritual herb wine for at most twelve or thirteen thousand but the price was now over twenty thousand and still climbing. Neither woman seed willing to give up. She couldn’t understand it.
Chen Wentian, as Qu Jing, also sat there woodenly. He realized Zhou Ziyun’s ploy and rolled his eyes. She was doing the exact sa thing the various factions of the Beast God Sanctum were doing. They were artificially pumping up the price so that they could enter the second phase in the afternoon by taking one of the slots for the most cumulative money spent.
However, the item ca from soone else so they were straight up wasting money. Everything over the market price was throwing gold taels into the ocean, never to be seen again.
“Extravagant!”
“Wasteful!”
“Arrogant!”
“Idiots!”
Various people started to murmur amongst themselves. There were many smart people who realized what was going on. But the conduct of these two strange people was almost laughable. They weren’t breaking the auction house’s rules but shouldn’t they be ashad of themselves? They were fellow disciples of such a small sect. Nobody would believe that they were actually fighting with each other, was it necessary to put up such an unbelievable act?
However, Zhou Ziyun didn’t care. Chen Wentian also didn’t care. He didn’t lack money at the mont. They were here to spend money recklessly and cause a commotion. That was their mission.
“Forty-three thousand!” Li Yuechan shouted.
Zhou Ziyun sank back in her seat and gave up. This was a good price. She gave Li Yuechan a thumbs up, “Sister Yuechan, I hope Sister Xue and Sister Yue will enjoy the wine.”
Li Yuechan smiled wryly, “Many thanks, Sister Ziyun.”
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