Chapter 856: Auction Bidding, Three Billion And Two Hundred Million Spiritual Marrows, Played Like A Fool From The Very Start
"Haitang's friend, huh?"
Daoist Wang looked at Chu Kuangren with the animosity in his eyes growing increasingly intense. Then, he greeted, "Greetings, Brother Chu. My name is Wang Hang, future heir of the Wang clan. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure's all mine."
"Brother Chu, the auction is about to begin. Let us find somewhere to sit," Tang Haitang said.
She then found two seats next to each other.
The two of them sat together and started chatting happily.
A malicious gaze landed on the two of them from behind. It was no doubt from the Wang clan's Wang Hang, and everyone around could not help but become amused upon seeing that.
"Interesting. The city lord's daughter seems very fond of this young man. Could she have fallen for him?"
"Hm. It's quite possible. With that look and temperament, even I'd fall for him if I were a woman."
"Indeed…"
"Things are going to get more interesting. Although the Wang clan's heir has been pursuing the city lord's daughter, it seems like someone else has beaten him to it. I'm afraid he won't let this slide easily if that's the case. Now, I wonder. Can this young man handle the Wang clan's wrath?"
"Besides the ones from the city hall, the Wang clan is said to be the most powerful force in this Ancient Godly City. The Wang clan has always wanted to form a strong alliance with the city hall, so how could they possibly allow someone else to lay their fingers on the city lord's daughter?"
Everyone's thoughts converged, and they conversed in secret.
In the meantime, Chu Kuangren had also noticed the resentful gaze from behind him.
However, he did not care.
He could talk and get close to whoever he wanted to. It was all dependent on his mood and preference. When has he ever cared about the opinions of others?
Furthermore, by getting closer with her, he could take the opportunity to analyze Tang Haitang's Immortal Physique. If he succeeded, that would greatly benefit his cultivation progress.
"Just you wait!"
Wang Hang stared daggers at Chu Kuangren's back while gritting his teeth.
The auction soon began.
Manager Li, whom Chu Kuangren met before, was the one hosting the auction.
The first item to be auctioned was a Daoist Emblem that weighed fifty kilograms with a starting price of five million kilograms of Superb-grade spiritual marrow. It was soon obtained by a Sect Master from an orthodoxy.
Following that, a few more items were auctioned off consecutively.
Chu Kuangren had his eyes on a Purple Temporal Core Metal that was being auctioned. That was because Purple Metal was a very rare material, and he wanted to buy it to practice his weaponsmithing with.
"Ten million kilograms of spiritual marrow."
Chu Kuangren declared his offer.
"Fifteen million kilograms of spiritual marrow."
Another voice appeared. It was Wang Hang, the Wang clan's future heir.
"Sixteen million kilograms of spiritual marrow."
"Twenty million kilograms of spiritual marrow."
Wang Hang, the Wang clan's future heir, continued raising his offer.
'Oh, it looks like I have a competitor.'
Chu Kuangren smiled playfully as he stopped bidding. That piece of Purple Metal was only worth sixteen million kilograms of spiritual marrow at most.
"What's the matter, Brother Chu? If you don't continue bidding, I shall kindly accept this Purple Metal," Wang Hang said to Chu Kuangren with a taunting grin.
"You should mind your manners, Wang Hang."
Tang Haitang said as she looked at Wang Hang coldly.
Her glare made Wang Hang feel increasingly displeased.
Nothing enraged him more than seeing the woman he liked defending another man against him.
"In an auction, those who have the most spiritual marrow will get the most priceless of items. What's the matter, Brother Chu? Do you need help from the city hall to go against me?" Wang Hang sneered while looking at Chu Kuangren.
The more Tang Haitang defended Chu Kuangren, the more Wang Hang would harass him.
"Brother Chu, if you truly want that Purple Metal but do not have enough spiritual marrow, I can help you bid for it first," Tang Haitang said.
Chu Kuangren shook his head. "It's alright."
In the end, Wang Hang successfully brought the Purple Metal. He fiddled with it and looked at Chu Kuangren playfully. He was clearly delighted about winning that bid.
Chu Kuangren ignored him.
He was just a buffoon, after all.
After that, a few more items were placed on auction until a black armor was brought out.
That armor was pitch-black in color, with ferocious and wild beasts carved all over it. Mysterious Daoist patterns flowed through its surface, and the armor emanated an extraordinary aura.
Upon seeing it, everyone's breathing became heavier.
"T-This is a Great Daoist Weapon!"
"Not only is it a top-tier defensive Great Daoist Weapon, but it's also the rarest and most valuable item below the level of a Heavenly Daoist Weapon!"
"This Great Daoist Weapon is worth one billion and eight hundred million spiritual marrows."
Everyone looked at that armor with a fiery gaze.
Even the most top-tier cultivation sects in the Ancient Godly Moon Kingdom did not have many Great Daoist Celestials among their ranks. If anyone could obtain this Great Daoist Weapon, it would greatly benefit their combat strength.
"The Wang clan must get this Daoist Weapon."
Wang Hang said with a determined look on his face.
Soon, the auction began.
"One billion, eight hundred and ten million."
"One billion, eight hundred and twenty million."
"One billion and nine hundred million."
"One billion, nine hundred and fifty million."
"Two billion..."
The armor's price soon exceeded two billion.
"Two billion and two hundred million."
At this time, Wang Hang spoke.
He stood up and looked at everyone. "My Wang clan must get our hands on this Daoist Weapon. I hope everyone here will allow us to do so this time."
He spoke very politely.
However, everyone clearly knew it was a threat.
If they continued bidding, it would mean that they were going against the Wang clan.
Besides the city hall, no other sects and orthodoxies in the Ancient Godly Moon Kingdom would dare to oppose the Wang clan.
The next moment, those sects and orthodoxies could not help but stop bidding. Not only were they not a match for the Wang clan in terms of financial background, but if they continued to bid, they might also risk offending the Wang clan.
It was just not worth it to continue bidding.
Wang Hang grinned when he saw the scene. "Thank you, everyone."
"Two billion and three hundred million."
Chu Kuangren suddenly spoke.
Wang Hang frowned. "Two billion and four hundred million."
"Two billion and five hundred million."
"Brother Chu, you can't even bet against me for that piece of metal earlier, and now you want to compete with me for this Great Daoist Weapon? Hmph. Do you even have that much spiritual marrow?"
"I didn't think that the piece of metal earlier was worth the price it was being bid for. However, I do think this Great Daoist Weapon is quite valuable. Hence, two billion is well spent for me. Besides, although I am short of spiritual marrow, it doesn't mean that the city hall is lacking, right?"
Chu Kuangren chuckled.
Tang Haitang was stunned for a moment before she said, "That's right. I shall pay for anything that Chu Kuangren is bidding for. Although the city hall is not that rich, we can afford to get this Great Daoist Weapon."
Everyone was amazed to hear that.
They did not expect Tang Haitang would be willing to spend so much on him.
However, Tang Haitang understood well that Chu Kuangren was an esteemed guest of her father, the Godly Moon Daoist Celestial. He was the one who would help her awaken her Immortal Physique too.
As such, spending a few hundred million on him was no problem for her.
Besides, she was quite willing to help as well.
"Tsk. This guy is someone who relies on his woman it seems."
"I didn't expect him to be that kind of person."
"Why has the city lord's daughter fallen for someone like him?"
"But I have to say that I'm so jealous of that guy."
Even if Chu Kuangren was being a deadbeat, not everyone could be a deadbeat of the city lord's daughter. In a way, it was quite an achievement for him too.
The Wang clan's heir could not even impress her despite spending so much money on her, yet the city lord's daughter was now willing to spend the same amount on Chu Kuangren.
Based on that fact alone, Chu Kuangren had won.
"Hmph. You're nothing but a guy with a pretty face. Two billion and six hundred million."
"Two billion and seven hundred million."
"Three billion!"
"Three billion and one hundred million!"
"Three billion and two hundred million!"
By then, Wang Hang's eyes were a little red with rage and panic. Three billion and two hundred million was the most he could offer as his bid.
Chu Kuangren stopped bidding when he saw that Wang Hang was almost at his limit.
"Hmph. After all that nonsense, this Great Daoist Weapon is still mine in the end. I bet a pretty boy like you must've realized that the city hall will not be willing to shell out so much spiritual marrow for someone like you, and that is why you didn't dare to bid anymore. Am I right?"
He felt that he had won again.
"Is anyone else interested in bidding on this item?"
"In that case, I declare that this Great Daoist Weapon now belongs to the Wang clan."
Manager Li slammed his hammer as a conclusion.
At that moment, Tang Haitang took a closer look at that armor and suddenly exclaimed, "Brother Chu, isn't this the armor you entrusted to the Three Thousand Firms for auction?"
"Oh… I think you're right." Chu Kuangren chuckled.
Upon hearing that, everyone was dumbfounded.
It was especially true for Wang Hang, who realized that the "priceless item" he spent three billion and two hundred million spiritual marrows to purchase was, in fact, Chu Kuangren's unwanted item.
He had been played like a fool from the very start!