Yin Sudie hadn't wanted to bid so early, because she genuinely fancied the Dragon-Beating Whip. She had never once owned a mid-grade Void-grade artifact, and this time venturing into the Flowing Flame Sandlands, who knew what dangers she might face? Possessing such an artifact would greatly enhance her personal safety.
But that oblivious Qu Changfeng had steered the conversation her way, which infuriated her beyond measure. Even if she hadn't wanted to bid before, she had to now.
Though Liuli Gate wasn't as powerful as Zhantian Alliance, they certainly had the means to purchase a mid-grade Void-grade artifact. There was no need to let Qu Changfeng stir up a fuss and tarnish both the sect's prestige and her own reputation for nothing.
The moment Yin Sudie placed her bid, everyone understood what she was thinking—she clearly refused to owe Qu Changfeng a favor. Immediately, many people cast meaningful glances toward Zhantian Alliance's private box, their faces wearing expressions of barely concealed schadenfreude.
Qu Changfeng, however, was entirely unconcerned. His clear voice rang out: "Since Junior Sister Yin wishes to bid herself, then I, Qu, won't overstep my bounds. I wish Junior Sister success in claiming the treasure, and I ask everyone to show some restraint. Junior Sister rarely bids—let's not disappoint her."
His words sounded casual, but the half-hard, half-soft tone still left many people displeased. Unhappy or not, there was nothing they could do—the Zhantian Alliance was the Zhantian Alliance. The only forces that could stand alongside them were Lei Tai Sect and Star Emperor Gate. These three powers were universally acknowledged as the mightiest on the Dark Star.
Sure enough, after Qu Changfeng finished speaking, no one in the bustling auction hall raised the price further. Not even Fang Tianzhong, who had been going toe-to-toe with him the entire time.
In Shadow Moon Palace's private box, the delicate young woman gazed longingly at the Dragon-Beating Whip. Qian Tong glanced at her and asked, "Xuan'er, you want this artifact?"
The delicate young woman called Xuan'er, her beautiful eyes flickering, quickly shook her head. "Xuan'er doesn't want it."
"You really don't want it?" Qian Tong pressed. "If you do, we'll bid right now."
The young woman offered a faint smile. "Really, Master. If it were just an ordinary mid-grade Void-grade whip, I would want it. But the poisonous spike at its tail is rather sinister and underhanded—Xuan'er doesn't want it."
The handsome young man who had been silent until now broke into a wide grin. "Junior Sister Xuan'er is kind-hearted. Even when she comes across injured little animals, she brings them back to nurse them to health. The poisonous spike at the tail really doesn't suit her nature. That's exactly what I like best about Junior Sister Xuan'er!"
Hearing him blurt out such things so brazenly in front of so many people, the delicate young woman's pretty face flushed crimson.
Qian Tong sighed softly, glancing at the young woman with a trace of guilt.
How could he not know that his disciple's words were merely an excuse? The spike at the tail was indeed poisonous and underhanded, but if you simply never used it, there'd be no issue at all. The real reason she said this was that she didn't want Shadow Moon Palace to offend both Liuli Gate and Zhantian Alliance.
After all, Yin Sudie had already begun bidding, and Qu Changfeng was clearly backing her.
These two youngsters and their flirtatious little game—Qian Tong couldn't be bothered with the likes of them. He believed that even if he placed a bid on the whip, it wouldn't truly offend either Liuli Gate or Zhantian Alliance. But... what if he spent Sacred Crystals now, and then when the time came to buy that last item, he didn't have enough?
It was precisely because Qian Tong knew better than anyone just how precious that final lot was that Shadow Moon Palace hadn't made a single bid throughout this entire Treasure Gathering Pavilion auction. They had been conserving their strength all along, preparing for the final struggle.
His disciple's thoughtfulness left Qian Tong feeling both warm and bitter. He was an elder of Shadow Moon Palace, for heaven's sake—since when did he have to agonize over whether he could afford to buy an artifact for his disciple?
Just as he was sinking into melancholy, the handsome young man suddenly called out in a loud voice: "Three million five hundred thousand!"
The appearance of this price sent ripples through the auction hall, which had just settled down, and murmurs once more filled the air.
"I knew it—a mid-grade Void-grade artifact couldn't possibly sell for only three million two hundred thousand. Someone's finally raised the bid."
"Who is that? Takes some nerve—aren't they afraid of earning Qu Changfeng's grudge?"
"They're in a Jiazi-tier box too. Not a small power. What is there to be afraid of?"
"That's Shadow Moon Palace's box. I remember hearing Elder Qian Tong's voice from there before. The bidder is Wei Guchang, Shadow Moon Palace's most talented disciple—his personal strength is no less than Fang Tianzhong's or Qu Changfeng's."
"Him? Then he must be buying it for Dong Xuan'er. I hear they grew up together since childhood and have long harbored feelings for each other—wonder if it's true!"
Inside Shadow Moon Palace's private box, Dong Xuan'er stared at Wei Guchang in stunned disbelief, clearly not expecting him to bid outright like that.
Wei Guchang grinned. "If you want it, we bid. We don't answer to anyone else!"
With that, he turned to Qian Tong. "Elder Qian, I can draw on several million Sacred Crystals, correct?"
Qian Tong smiled faintly. "You may."
He felt deeply gratified. Dong Xuan'er was his disciple, and although Wei Guchang had no formal master-disciple relationship with him, over the years he had been guiding the young man in his cultivation. Not master and disciple in name, but better than such in practice. Both of them possessed exceptional talent, and Qian Tong felt that had they been born not on the Dark Star but in the outside world, their future achievements would surely be far greater.