Hmm, I'm home today, so there will be two updates. But starting tomorrow, it's back to all sorts of busyness. My apologies, my apologies.
…………
"One hundred and seventy million!" Yang Kai bid without so much as a change in expression, and Qin Yu watched with growing astonishment.
"One hundred and eighty million!" the elderly man surnamed Zhou growled.
"Two million!"
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone froze. The old man Zhou burst into laughter. "Kid, have you lost your mind? Two million…"
"High-grade Source Crystals!" Yang Kai added.
The old man Zhou's laughter cut off instantly.
Two million high-grade Source Crystals was equivalent in value to two hundred million mid-grade Source Crystals, but at an auction house like this, two hundred million mid-grade Source Crystals could not actually buy two million high-grade Source Crystals. In other words, while two million high-grade Source Crystals were theoretically no different from two hundred million mid-grade Source Crystals, their actual value was far greater.
If the old man Zhou wanted to continue bidding, he would have to bid in high-grade Source Crystals as well.
He fell silent immediately.
On the elevated platform, the beautiful auctioneer woman smiled gracefully, her gaze settling on the private room where Yang Kai sat. She spoke up, "Our friend in Heavenly Room Number Three bids two million high-grade Source Crystals. Is there a higher bid?"
Naturally, no one bid further.
After all, when Yang Kai had sold a single Tier Twelve low-grade inner core to the Purple Source Commerce, he had received only two million high-grade Source Crystals. The value of this Flowing Cloud Butterfly Hairpin was roughly equivalent to a single Tier Twelve low-grade inner core.
But such things were not something just anyone could get their hands on.
"Congratulations to our friend in Heavenly Room Number Three!" The beautiful woman smiled faintly, though inwardly she was puzzled. Yang Kai's voice sounded unfamiliar to her — she had no idea the Commerce had gained such a major client. Those Heavenly-tier rooms were not open to just anyone, and occupying a room as highly ranked as Number Three meant this person was likely an extremely important guest to the Commerce.
And just moments earlier, when Yang Kai had begun bidding, a chill had entered Le Dongzheng's eyes in another of the Heavenly-tier rooms.
Having dealt with Yang Kai before, he had recognized his voice instantly. His hostile gaze locked onto the direction of Room Number Three, and fury churned within him. He himself was a major client of the Purple Source Commerce, yet even with his status and standing, he had only been granted the ninth-ranked room. What had that young man done to deserve Heavenly Room Number Three?
After a moment's thought, he turned to the serving girl kneeling before him. "Go fetch Manager Gu."
"Yes!" The girl rose and stepped out of the room.
Before long, Gu Hong knocked and entered, clasping his fists. "Sect Master Le, you wished to see me about something?"
Le Dongzheng said, "The person in Heavenly Room Number Three… what's his background?"
Gu Hong started, then answered with some difficulty, "Sect Master Le, why are you asking about this? You know the Commerce's rules. I may be a manager, but client information is strictly confidential."
Le Dongzheng smiled faintly. "There are always exceptions, aren't there?"
Gu Hong said, "You're putting me in a difficult position, Sect Master Le."
Le Dongzheng's brow furrowed slightly. He had dealt with Gu Hong for many years, and both understood the other's character — Gu Hong was no stickler for rules. With a soft sigh, he said, "To be honest, I have a grudge against that kid."
Gu Hong raised an eyebrow. "Has he offended Sect Master Le in some way?"
Le Dongzheng snorted coldly. "If it were merely an offense, I could let it go. But three of my Dao Source Third Stage disciples died at his hands. One of them was my own descendant!"
"What!" Gu Hong was shocked, thinking to himself that no wonder Le Dongzheng had come to him for information — the enmity ran deep.
Le Dongzheng said, "Manager Gu, you've seen it yourself. This kid bids without hesitation — he's clearly wealthy. If I can take him down, I'm sure to come away with a considerable profit. What do you say I give you thirty percent?"
Gu Hong's face twisted into a bitter expression. "Sect Master Le, it's not that I don't want to help you…"
"Fifty percent!"
"This… this…" Gu Hong put on a show of deliberating for a moment, then slapped his thigh. "Sect Master Le, I don't actually know his background either. He appeared at the Commerce out of nowhere yesterday, and I'd never seen him before…"
"Looks like Manager Gu isn't willing to do me this small favor. Very well — from now on, I'll take my business elsewhere." Le Dongzheng snorted.
Gu Hong smiled bitterly. "Sect Master Le, while I don't know his background, once the auction ends and he leaves, I can certainly come and inform you of his whereabouts."
A sharp gleam flashed in Le Dongzheng's eyes. He nodded. "Then I'll be counting on you, Manager Gu."
Gu Hong rubbed his hands together. "About that fifty percent you mentioned earlier…"
"It won't be less than what I promised." Le Dongzheng waved his hand dismissively.
Gu Hong clasped his fists. "Then I thank Sect Master Le. May your martial fortune be ever prosperous, and may you succeed in your endeavors!"
Stepping outside, a cold, hard light flickered in Gu Hong's eyes. He thought to himself, Don't blame me, kid. It's simply that your arrival has blocked my path.
The day after Yang Kai had appeared, he had clearly sensed that Vice President Lou Chi's attitude toward him had grown somewhat distant, while she had become warmer toward Kang Siran. Connecting the dots between Yang Kai's arrival at the Commerce and everything that followed, Gu Hong knew perfectly well that Kang Siran had leveraged him to close a major deal — one whose value was likely far beyond anything he could imagine.