Chapter 1966: 812, one billion, open treasure_2

“If this item is Yutang Golden Marrow, it would be worth about two billion origin coins,”

“What’s most important is that Yutang Golden Marrow, as a treasure of this caliber, serves as a catalyst in the refining of Primordial-level Armors. Its value cannot solely be measured by origin coins.”

“Based on that price, a bid of one billion would still yield a profit of half.”

“Half for each person, that’s five hundred million origin coins.”

“For the young elites of the seven families in the divine realm, taking out this much money is not a crippling blow.”

“Of course, winning it back is also a pleasant little gamble.”

“In just a moment, all the masters on the platform finished speaking and then sat down, smiling.”

“They too were curious to see whose judgment was the most accurate and who came the closest.”

“Keep in mind that from now on, they will have to pay a fee for providing their opinions.”

“Whoever is the most accurate with their appraisal of the first treasure will earn more evaluation fees for the appraisals of later treasures.”

“Lu Dongju laughed heartily, took a few steps forward, and stood before the item with a diameter of three zhang.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, based on the masters’ appraisals, we will start the auction with the base price stated by Master Zhu Donglin, which is ten million origin coins for Mica Strip Gold.”

Ten million as the starting bid.

In an instant, spiritual lights flew out from all but one of the 9,999 pavilion seats.

These spiritual lights would appear on all the light screens.

How much each pavilion bid was clear for all to see.

This was Yuntang Treasure Pavilion’s intention.

If not deliberate, how could they incite competition among the various parties?

In a blink, all the numbers vanished except for three, which were revealed atop the high platform.

“Three hundred million.”

“Six hundred and eighty million.”

“One billion.”

These numbers were accompanied by the marks of their respective pavilions.

For example, behind the one-billion figure was the marker for pavilion number 3751 where Han Muye was seated.

In a flash, divine senses from all the pavilions examined the bid.

This detection posed no harm to those within the pavilions.

Those attending the treasure identification conference generally would not hide their identities.

After all, the conference actually provides a chance for elites from all sides to interact.

For the major powers, these ancient items whose effects cannot be discerned are of limited value even if they are worthwhile.

It’s better to bring them out and stir up a fuss among the younger generation.

“It’s him!”

“Lu Zixu, hehe, a descendant of the Lu family.”

“Li Changyun, the Li family can barely count as being of direct lineage. Lu Zixu is said to be quite influential in the Lu family recently.”

Voices rose from within the pavilions.

Neither Lu Zixu nor Li Changyun was considered the most elite of those present.

Their bids did not match their status.

“The Shangguan Family bid three hundred million, and the one who came is Shangguan Hong. Oh dear, this person seems to be the third heir of the Shangguan Family.”

Someone who had figured out the identities of the bidders for the three hundred million and six hundred eighty million quietly spoke out.

Who bids, and how much they bid was plainly evident.

For instance, the bidders from Han Muye’s pavilion were Lu Zixu and Li Changyun, who were splitting the cost as well as the profits.

This was all arranged in advance to avoid disputes later on.

Without special attention, no one would notice Han Muye sitting to the side.

Han Muye seemed more like a blacksmith invited by Lu Zixu and Li Changyun to help identify treasures.

Of course, among the elites who had come this time, there were those who recognized Han Muye.

For example, the core elders from the Armament Alliance seated on the platform, as well as several other young elites in the pavilions who had nearly been sacrificed in the Wasteland.

And then there was Shangguan Hong.

“One billion, have the Lu family descendant and the Li family youth gone mad?”

In one of the pavilions, a middle-aged man in a black robe whispered.

“Brother, you said that this object is very likely to be the Jade Sandalwood Wind Spirit Stone valued at one billion. The price we’ve bid is already quite high,” said a cultivator in iron armor, who appeared to be in his thirties and was standing behind the black-robed man.

He exuded the presence of a divine-level powerhouse and had a Divine Artificer Badge hanging on his chest.

“Shall we raise our bid to compete for it?”

Hearing this, the black-robed brother shook his head.

“Our 680 million is already high enough, it’s not possible to make a profit at 1 billion. The Lu family probably wants to prop up this artifact identification conference first.”

If the price of the first treasure doesn’t rise, it would affect the prices of the other treasures that follow.

Conversely, if the first item is priced high, people will subconsciously have a benchmark to compare to, and their bids for subsequent items won’t be too low.

The disciple in iron armor nodded and chuckled, “Once that thing is opened later, if it doesn’t bring a profit or a loss, the Lu family won’t have much face left.”

“The Lu family was already at rock bottom in the Giant Beam Continent this time; if not for some good luck, our Sun family should be one of the seven families in the divine realm now.”

The Sun family, a great clan in the divine realm, only second in strength to families like the Lu family among the seven divine-realm families.

The black-robed senior disciple turned his head and glared, “Sun Meng, you are a Sun family member and also a member of the Furnace Platform Hall.”

The Furnace Platform Hall is a significant artifact refining power in the divine realm; although it doesn’t measure up to the Refining Holy Land that is Heavenly Secret City, it’s still a recognized force in artifact refining.

From a distance, Shangguan Hong, seated in the pavilion of the Shangguan family, had a smile on his face.

He hadn’t expected to encounter Han Muye here.

Since he had, after the artifact identification conference was over, he could invite Master Han to visit the Shangguan family.

“Lu Zixu, one billion origin coins…” Shangguan Hong whispered.

Lu Zixu got along well with Master Han, as he was the one who had invited the Master to the Lu family’s.

“Third uncle, can’t this Lu Zixu read the room? He actually bid one billion on Lingtong Gold Tassel worth no more than five hundred million origin coins,” Shangguan Yuqin said in a hushed voice. “You see that too, don’t you? This Lu Zixu is an idiot.”

Her words made the other disciples of the Shangguan family turn their heads.

“Oh, Miss Yuqin, isn’t Lu Zixu the one the family arranged for your marriage alliance?” A female cultivator in a jade-colored dress chuckled, “What, you don’t approve of him?”

“Whether I like it or not doesn’t matter. Matters of the family are not to be taken lightly,” a young man with a straight posture spoke coldly from not far away.

Others either chuckled light-heartedly or showed mockery on their faces.

The thing the disciples of the aristocratic families fear the most is placing their trust in the unworthy.

Shangguan Yuqin looked toward her calm-faced third uncle Shangguan Hong and then at the upright young man who had just spoken.

If her third uncle remained silent and her fifth brother, ranked within the top ten in the family, was reprimanding her, what could she possibly do?

Grinding her teeth and clenching her fists, Shangguan Yuqin said in a low voice, “Lu Zixu, just wait and see what kind of loss you are going to suffer today.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to see him lose even his underwear before, Miss Yuqin?” A teasing voice rang out, and laughter filled the pavilion.

On the high platform, the three digits vibrated for a moment, with no one raising the bid.

In the end, only the digit representing one billion origin coins remained.

Lu Zixu and Li Changyun looked at each other and smiled.

Both took out their source coin cards, each with five hundred million origin coins stored within, and handed over the coins.

Each paid five hundred million origin coins.

Once the transaction was complete, Lu Zixu turned to look at Han Muye, “Brother Han, would you like to come down and open the treasure with us?”

The treasure-revealing part of the artifact identification conference was also interesting.

“You guys go ahead,” Han Muye wasn’t interested in being the center of attention at the moment.

Lu Zixu and Li Changyun, laughing, flew down to the stage. They walked over to stand before the large green and yellow stone measuring three zhang in circumference.

He looked up and caught Lu Dongju’s face, which bore a smile that was not quite a smile.

He had just called someone else a chatterbox.

“Gentlemen, would you like me to open this treasure for you, or would you like to do it yourselves?” Lu Dongju’s gaze swept over Li Changyun, then he asked.

“I’ll do it myself,” Lu Zixu quickly said, then walked over to the large stone.

He didn’t make a move, simply walking around the perimeter of the stone.

“Golden drifting clouds with a hint of translucence, piled up golden flowers on the outside; these patterns, this weight, it must be a rare artifact refining spiritual material,” Lu Zixu turned to look at Guo Jintang, who was seated in his place, and said with a smile, “I, too, think this is Yutang Golden Marrow.”

His words made Guo Jintang burst into hearty laughter.

It seemed they shared a sense of camaraderie as heroes.

“Yutang Golden Marrow? How could that be? If it were really Yutang Golden Marrow, they would be making at least ten billion.”

“Yutang Golden Marrow, they dare to boast. This item doesn’t even have the full spread of cloud patterns that Yutang Golden Marrow should have,” voices arose from around, even from the artifact identifying masters seated on the stage, who were also whispering among themselves.

“All talk and no substance, Lu Zixu. Just wait and lose everything,” the voice of Shangguan Yuqin from the Shangguan family’s pavilion flowed over.

Lu Zixu turned around and looked in that direction, his expression indifferent, “We’ll know if I’m just talking big when the treasure is opened.”

“Miss Yuqin, how about we make a personal bet?”

“If I lose and my judgment was wrong, then our marriage engagement will be called off.”

Pausing, he added softly, “If I win, you’ll have to give me a token of our engagement, alright?”

In the Shangguan family’s pavilion, Shangguan Yuqin, her face red, stood up, “Fine, it’s a bet.”

By her side, the straight-postured young man frowned.

Shangguan Hong, still wearing a light smile, remained silent.

“Then let’s reveal the treasure.” Raising his hand, Lu Zixu’s palm shimmered with golden light as he struck down toward the large stone that measured three zhang in circumference.