Beside them, Shang Xinci also cast a concerned glance toward Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan smiled faintly. "I did have my heart set on the Labor Gu, but I wasn't about to be the fool paying eight hundred and ten thousand for a single Gu Insect. I'd rather refine one myself. Eight hundred and ten thousand... that's enough for me to attempt it many times."
"But the chances of a failed refinement are very high, and it would cause you harm too, Brother Heitu," Shang Xinci said with worry in her tone.
Fang Yuan gently shook his head. He had his own plans for this matter, but he could not speak of them openly to outsiders.
"Heh! That Fang Zheng really played Shang Yazi for a fool. Shang Yazi spent a full eight hundred and ten thousand, and all he got was a Labor Gu." The crowd had sharp eyes.
"Shang Yazi, that idiot, is practically humiliating our Young Masters!" The faces of the Shang Clan Young Masters were all twisted with anger.
"Speaking of which, Fang Zheng really put on quite the act — even I was fooled by him," someone remarked with a sigh.
"Those watching from the sidelines see clearly, while those in the thick of it are blind. I sensed something was off from the very beginning," someone else chimed in, speaking after the fact.
"Shang Yazi is petty and vindictive, so he kept bidding out of spite. But Fang Zheng didn't get what he wanted either — both of them lost. You truly cannot let your emotions rule you at an auction," Ju Kaibei reflected inwardly with a sigh.
"The only real winner here is the auction house."
"The Ju family must be thrilled — a single Labor Gu sold for 810,000!"
Everyone was buzzing with discussion, whispering to one another.
But in reality, they had overlooked another big winner.
That was none other than Miss An Yu, who had suddenly risen to fame.
*Crack.* Shang Yazi hurled the celadon cup in his hand to the ground with all his might, smashing it to pieces.
Inside Private Room Number Five, the household servants instantly dropped to their knees with heads bowed, not daring to breathe a word.
Shang Yazi sat in his seat. His breathing was heavy, veins bulged on his forehead, and his entire face was twisted with rage.
He had been played by Fang Zheng!
Eight hundred ten thousand — and all he got was a Hard Labor Gu Insect, something utterly useless to him.
Shang Yazi felt as if his heart was bleeding!
In truth, he was a shrewd man. He had learned his lesson from that setback, gaining wisdom from every stumble. Over the past year and more, he had thrown himself into work and managed his shops splendidly.
But character determines destiny.
He was simply a petty, narrow-minded man. Hatred clouded his judgment, and he walked straight into Fang Yuan's trap.
"Fang Zheng, Fang Zheng — if not for the Poison Oath Gu Insect, I would kill you and carve you into a thousand pieces!!!" Shang Yazi roared and raged endlessly in his heart.
The auction continued.
The fourteenth item. The fifteenth, sixteenth… eighteenth… twenty-eighth……
Wave after wave of bidding erupted, the atmosphere blazing hot, and people soon forgot about the rivalry between Fang Yuan and Shang Yazi.
"Next is the thirty-second item — the Fourth Transformation Wind Aura Gu Insect." The female Gu Master's voice remained crisp and pleasant.
The Wind Aura Gu Insect resembled a butterfly, with blue-green wings that, with every flutter, produced diamond-like sparks in the surrounding air. Naturally, it captured everyone's attention.
The Wind Aura Gu Insect was a very special kind of Gu. It absorbed the vitality of life, born from the wind, and was a natural Gu. To date, no Recipe Master had been able to research and develop the recipe to refine them.
Recipe Masters were generally divided into three major schools. The Past School researched the recipes for lost Strength Path, Qi Path, and other Gu Insects, attempting to restore them. The Present School studied natural Gu, striving to discover the recipes for refining them. Then there was the Future School, which specialized in creating recipes for entirely new Gu Insects.
The Wind Aura Gu Insect was not only special in its origin. Its use was also special.
It targeted a specific ethnic group or population, using an invisible force to instill a popular hobby or custom within that collective.
In ancient times, Gu Masters used it against beast herds. For example, to deal with a herd of Steel Needle Pigs, once a Gu Master used the Wind Aura Gu Insect, the herd would suddenly develop a habit of rubbing their entire bodies against rocks.
The fur of the Steel Needle Pigs was like iron needles, serving both offense and defense. After rubbing against the rocks, the fur would gradually deteriorate, and Gu Masters could then deal with them with minimal effort.
However, later on, Gu Masters gradually discovered that the Wind Aura Gu Insect was an excellent tool for ruling tribes and clans.
Some clans, despite a shortage of grain, loved to brew alcohol. After using the Wind Aura Gu Insect to change this custom, their grain reserves increased, and the clan grew stronger.
The Wind Aura Gu Insect could be used not only internally but also externally.
In history, there was a very famous example.
Two clans fought each other, and the weaker side deployed the Wind Aura Gu Insect, causing the powerful clan to suddenly develop the trend of foot-binding among its women.
This drastically reduced the labor capacity of the women in that clan. The female Gu Masters' combat strength also plummeted, and ultimately the weaker clan managed to turn the tables and destroy them.
In the end, this was a world of Gu, with all manner of bizarre Gu Insects.
After the female Gu Master finished her lengthy introduction, she said: "Wind Aura Gu Insect, opening price of two hundred and sixty thousand Yuan Stones."
"Three hundred thousand." The Yi clan's Elder Yi Buhui was the first to bid.
"Three hundred and fifty thousand." The Fei clan's Fei Luanfeng refused to back down.
"Three hundred and seventy thousand." A Recipe Master called out.
"Three hundred and eighty thousand." Wei Yang spoke up. He presided over the Storm Building and also hoped to use the Wind Aura Gu Insect to make his subordinates carry out their duties with greater diligence.
"Fifty thousand!" Fang Yuan shouted once again.
The entire room fell silent.
Fang Yuan remained quiet for a long time, but his latest utterance had reminded everyone of his recent clash with Shang Yazi.
"Fifty thousand Yuan Stones, to buy a Wind Aura Gu Insect? Fang Zheng, you still want to scam me? Do you think I'm a fool!" Shang Yazi gnashed his teeth, the flames of resentment burning in his eyes.