Chapter 31: I'll Take Them All

The "Stardust" project advanced at an astonishing pace under Qin Feng's nearly limitless financial support. The Light-Year Materials team worked around the clock, adjusting processes and prototyping according to Qin Feng's blueprints. Although technical challenges such as material purity and coating uniformity inevitably arose, these issues were systematically resolved in the face of clear direction and abundant resources.

Qin Feng spent most of his time at Yunshan Manor, closely monitoring the progress of the "Stardust" project via video, while simultaneously using the Technology Core to analyze the ancient artifacts and, through Su Wenqian's channels, keeping tight watch on global movements of any special items potentially bearing the Source Technology Imprint.

That day, Su Wenqian sent Qin Feng an encrypted file along with an urgent communication request.

"Boss Qin, I need to report two matters," Su Wenqian's voice came through the encrypted line, carrying both gravity and excitement.

"Speak."

"First, we received reliable intelligence that Wang Hongyuan, the fugitive, may have illegally crossed into Southeast Asia and established ties with a powerful local warlord. We suspect he hasn't given up his vendetta and might use his remaining capital and the warlord's power to retaliate against you or our assets."

Qin Feng's gaze grew cold. That venomous snake Wang Hongyuan still refused to settle down. Hiding in Southeast Asia, allying with a warlord? Clearly, he was determined to walk this path to the end.

"Understood. Keep monitoring. Pinpoint his exact location and movements. Raise alert levels for our personnel in Southeast Asia," Qin Feng ordered. Wang Hongyuan was now a stray dog; though his alliance with the warlord added some unpredictability, it still meant nothing against Qin Feng's absolute power. Still, necessary precautions must be taken.

"Yes." Su Wenqian noted it, then her tone turned excited. "Second matter: regarding the special items you asked us to watch for. A once-prosperous but now-decayed European noble family, facing financial collapse, plans to secretly auction a batch of ancestral artifacts. Based on the partial data and blurry images we obtained, several items—both in material and pattern—bear striking resemblance to the 'Ocean Junk' you previously acquired! One obsidian statue, in particular, exhibits an energy signature… according to our remote detector's fuzzy feedback, potentially exceeding all previous items you collected!"

Qin Feng's spirit surged sharply! An energy signature surpassing all prior items? That meant it might contain a far denser Source Technology Imprint!

"When and where is the auction?" Qin Feng asked immediately.

"In three days, in Zurich, Switzerland—a highly secretive underground auction, invitation-only, attended exclusively by the ultra-wealthy and elite, with extremely strict vetting of bidders' funds and backgrounds," Su Wenqian replied swiftly. "We've secured a bidding slot through our channels. But… Boss Qin, internal sources indicate the starting bids for these artifacts are astronomically high, and several Middle Eastern oil tycoons and American tech magnates have shown intense interest. Competition will be fierce."

"Fierce?" Qin Feng's lips curled into a faint smile—a relaxed, almost playful expression, as if spotting a coveted toy. "No matter. Send me the auction catalog, especially the detailed data on those similar artifacts."

"Understood, Boss Qin."

Soon, a sleek digital catalog arrived on Qin Feng's tablet computer. He skimmed it rapidly, his gaze locking onto three items:

The first was the obsidian statue Su Wenqian mentioned—about half a meter tall, carved with a blurred, inhuman-fishlike figure holding a trident, its surface shimmering with a dark luster. The catalog described it as "suspected prehistoric ritual artifact, unusual material."

The second was an incomplete metal plate, etched with intricate patterns combining star maps and waves, echoing the designs on the stone slabs he'd previously acquired, yet seemingly more complete and refined.

The third was a set of twelve bone calculating rods of varying sizes, housed in a box of the same material. Each rod was inscribed with dense, circuit-board-like strange symbols.

As Qin Feng's gaze settled on these three items, his Technology Core vibrated faintly on its own, transmitting a clear emotion of "desire"—especially toward the obsidian statue!

This sensation was more than ten times stronger than when he'd faced the twelve pieces of Ocean Junk!

"Excellent!" Qin Feng's eyes gleamed. He would obtain these three items—no matter what.

Three days later, in a private lakeside estate in Zurich, Switzerland.

The underground auction venue was understated yet luxurious, hosting only two or three dozen attendees—top global billionaires, representatives of ancient families, and a few mysterious collectors. The air hummed with the scent of money and power.

Qin Feng, accompanied by Sun Zhe and a multilingual Assistant, sat in an unobtrusive corner. He wore a tailored suit, his demeanor restrained, yet his occasional glances toward the stage were sharp as a hawk's.

The auction began. Jewels, master paintings, antique furniture—all sparked fierce bidding—but Qin Feng never raised his paddle, appearing merely as an observer.

Finally, the batch of special artifacts from the fallen noble family was presented.

When the obsidian statue was wheeled onto the stage, a low murmur of awe rippled through the room. The statue radiated an ancient, mysterious, almost eerie aura that made everyone sense its significance.

"Starting bid: 50 million euros!" the auctioneer announced a staggering price.

Yet bidding erupted instantly into a frenzy!

"55 million!"

"60 million!"

"70 million!"

"80 million!"

Several Middle Eastern tycoons and one Silicon Valley tech magnate had clearly prepared thoroughly; prices surged rapidly, soon surpassing 100 million euros. Other bidders gradually withdrew, leaving only these few titans in contention.

Sun Zhe, beside him, sweated through his palms. The price was already absurd.

At that moment, Qin Feng, who had remained silent, raised his paddle for the first time. He did not incrementally raise the bid like others—he spoke clearly and calmly, uttering a price that silenced the entire room:

"200 million euros."

Double the last bid!

All eyes snapped to this unfamiliar East Asian face. The competing titans turned, frowning, studying Qin Feng.

The auctioneer paused, stunned, then exclaimed excitedly: "Bidder 68 offers 200 million euros!"

After a brief silence, the Silicon Valley magnate, visibly irritated, raised his paddle again: "210 million!"

Qin Feng didn't even lift his eyelids. He raised his paddle once more, voice still calm:

"300 million."

Another near-100-million-euro jump!

The room erupted! This wasn't bidding—it was throwing money at people!

The Silicon Valley magnate turned ashen. He opened his mouth, then slumped back in defeat. The Middle Eastern tycoons exchanged glances, then shook their heads. Paying over 300 million euros for an obscure, mysterious relic—even for them—was irrational.

"Bang!" The gavel fell.

"Congratulations to Bidder 68!"

Next came the incomplete metal plate, starting at 30 million euros. Having learned from the previous spectacle, fewer bidders joined, but the price slowly climbed to 80 million euros.

Qin Feng bid again, directly: "200 million euros."

No one dared follow.

Finally, the set of bone calculating rods, starting at 20 million euros.

This time, before anyone else could bid, Qin Feng raised his paddle, swept his gaze across the room—those bidders still shaken by his earlier moves—and said, in a tone as casual as picking up groceries:

"I'll take all three."

He turned to the auctioneer and named a bundled price:

"Total: 800 million euros. Any difficulty?"

Auctioneer: "..."

The entire room: "..."

Sun Zhe and the Assistant felt their hearts might burst! 800 million euros! Over six billion RMB—for three incomprehensible "junk" items?!

After a brief shock, the auctioneer trembled as he brought down the gavel. This transaction would be etched into the annals of underground auctions.

No one spoke out in opposition anymore. Faced with Qin Feng's utterly unreasonable, money-crushes-everything stance, any competition seemed pale and powerless.

After the auction ended, in the sealed room handling the transfer procedures, Qin Feng personally touched those three items. The moment his fingers made contact with that Obsidian Statue, the tremor and longing transmitted from the Technology Core reached their peak!

【High concentration "Source Technology Imprint" detected! Absorb?】

"Absorb!" Qin Feng chanted silently in his heart.

A surge of energy, far more vast and pure than before, instantly poured into the Technology Core! At the same time, a flood of chaotic yet astonishingly information-rich fragments poured in along with it!

【Absorption successful! Gained a large amount of "Source Technology Imprint"!】

【Technology Core experience greatly increased! Lv. 1 (2500/) → Lv. 2 (0/)!】

【Analysis efficiency improved! Deduction ability enhanced!】

【New function unlocked: Technology Imprint Fusion!】

【Tech Points +5000!】

【Warning! Detected Star Map Fragment information and Unknown Civilization Warning Fragment contained within the Imprint… Information is excessively complex, further analysis required…】

Qin Feng's heart was wild with joy! Not only did the Technology Core level up, Tech Points skyrocketed to 5,700, a new function was unlocked, he even obtained information on a Star Map Fragment and an Unknown Civilization!

These eight hundred million euros were incredibly well spent!

He forcefully suppressed the urge to immediately study the new function, completed the procedures without showing any change in expression, and left Zurich swiftly with the three treasures.

Sitting on the private jet returning to the Imperial Capital, Qin Feng gazed at the rolling sea of clouds outside the window, his heart swelling with boundless heroic spirit.

Wang Hongyuan's threat? Nothing but the wailing of an ant.

The nation's test? He had absolute confidence in completing it.

The expenditure of money? Merely chips exchanged for power.

Having obtained an upgraded Technology Core and a massive amount of Tech Points, his path of technological ascent from here on would surely be even more rapid!

His gaze seemed to have already pierced through the clouds, seeing that starry sea composed of endless technology, waiting for him to conquer.