After the initial shock wore off, Chu Feng actually felt more at ease.
If the Golden Stone Royal Clan had been targeting him from the very beginning — if they had come specifically to deal with him — then his provocation today had actually been the right move.
But Chu Feng couldn't figure it out. He had no prior grudge with the Golden Stone Royal Clan. Why would they want to come after him?
Could it be that someone had hired them?
But who? Who had the kind of pull that could bring the Golden Stone Royal Clan's Clan Master here in person?
"Forty million Immortal Martial Stones — is there anyone willing to go higher?"
While Chu Feng was lost in thought, the Ghostly Sorrow Elder spoke up on the auction stage once more, confirming the auction results.
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire auction hall erupted into discussion.
How could anyone possibly go higher?
Even if this Spirit Beast Secret Treasure Map was a rare treasure, ten million Immortal Martial Stones would already be the absolute ceiling. Forty million? It wasn't worth it — not even close!
"Fifty million Immortal Martial Stones."
But just then, a new bid suddenly rang out.
The moment that voice was heard, everyone was stunned.
Someone actually dared to bid even higher?
Even if you were going to compete, you didn't have to do it like this! Going over by a hundred thousand or even a million would be one thing — but jumping straight up by ten million? Was this person out of their mind?
In that instant, every pair of eyes turned toward a single point — including Chu Feng and the others at the top of the auction hall, who all looked downward.
Countless gazes converged on one figure.
The person wore a gray robe that shrouded them from head to toe, completely concealing their face. Naturally, no one had any idea who they were.
"Who is that? They actually bid that much?"
At that moment, it wasn't just the crowd below — even the young geniuses gathered at the top of the auction hall were buzzing with speculation.
Anyone who could throw down fifty million Immortal Martial Stones was no minor character.
"Chu Feng, are you going to keep bidding?" Her Majesty asked.
She was asking, but in truth she was trying to talk him out of it. The price had already climbed too high — there was no need to keep pushing. Besides, the other party had opened at fifty million. Who was to say that if Chu Feng bid again, they wouldn't go even higher?
"Forget it. Forty million Immortal Martial Stones is my limit. Anything beyond that is more than I'm willing to pay," Chu Feng said.
He truly did want the Spirit Beast Secret Treasure Map, but everything had its worth — and its limit.
Chu Feng felt the map was worth forty million Immortal Martial Stones, and forty million alone. Fifty million? He would not offer it — not even if he could afford to.
"Fifty million Immortal Martial Stones — will anyone go higher?" the Ghostly Sorrow Elder continued to ask.
At that moment, an irrepressible smile spread across his aged face. He was so excited that sweat was visibly beading on his brow.
As an auctioneer who had stood on this stage for so many years, he had never once been this worked up. Never this far from composed.
And who could blame him? This auction today was simply too far beyond all expectations — the bidding prices had shattered every forecast.
Because only they knew the truth: the Spirit Beast Secret Treasure Map had already been acquired beforehand, and for a mere seven million Immortal Martial Stones.