Chapter 169: Wrong Private Room

Originally, everyone was shocked because of Yuan Yao's sudden bid; now, hearing another person directly double the price, they were even more shocked!

At this moment, the black-haired old man hosting the auction smiled even wider, looking at the crowd: "Is anyone willing to bid higher?"

"Thirty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!" Suddenly, a low, hoarse voice came from a private room on the fifth floor.

It was impossible to tell his identity.

"Fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!" Xie Yan said in a languid tone.

Everyone was already dumbfounded.

"Holy crap, this small section of Stellar Net Mystic Vine can fetch such a high price? Who's this stupid? I almost want to stake out the volcano crater to pick Stellar Net Mystic Vine!" Cang Li said inside the private room, his mood complex.

He had just finished his complaint when, suddenly, that low voice came again from a private room on the fifth floor: "Seventy thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"One hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!" Xie Yan's voice was calm.

The crowd in the hall instantly sucked in a breath of cold air, then erupted in an uproar.

One hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones?!

This was enough to fund the operations of a small-to-medium sect for a year.

At that moment, in a certain private room on the fifth floor.

The young man seated in the chair wore a dark robe, his face peerlessly handsome, his lips slightly pale, his eyes extremely gloomy.

Seated beside him was an old man in white robes, with crane-like hair and a youthful face, his features orderly, his whole bearing exuding a refined and easygoing air.

"Immortal Sovereign, perhaps the bidder is deliberately opposing you." The refined old man spoke slowly.

The person seated in the chair was none other than the Formless Immortal Sovereign, Xu Yanzhi.

Xu Yanzhi's expression was icy: "This sovereign naturally knows."

But the Stellar Net Mystic Vine is very important to him.

Everyone knows the Stellar Net Mystic Vine can be used as an ingredient for Life-Continuing Pills, but few know it can also be used as an ingredient for Heart-Clearing Pills.

He had recently suffered severe injuries and originally intended to come to the Ninth Province to rest for a while.

But he never expected news of his severe injuries to be leaked.

On the third day, enemies came to his door.

He exerted all his strength to slay that enemy, yet that very night, while cultivating, he nearly suffered a qi deviation.

A heart demon had already arisen in his heart; if not promptly cleared, it would surely bring endless trouble.

Therefore, he must obtain the Stellar Net Mystic Vine.

"If the Immortal Sovereign can win this Stellar Net Mystic Vine, I will surely spare no effort to refine Heart-Clearing Pills for you." The refined old man smiled slightly.

The refined old man was none other than Helian Jingming, the famed Alchemy Grandmaster of the cultivation world.

Helian Jingming was also the Vice President of the cultivation world's Alchemy Association.

His coming here this time was entirely because of Xu Yanzhi.

"Is anyone else bidding?"

"Two hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones." Xu Yanzhi spoke slowly, his eyes dark and deep.

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned dumbfounded.

"Just who is this bidder?"

"Two hundred thousand! Which prodigal son is this!"

"Even though these aren't my spirit stones, why does my heart ache so!"

In their view, this Stellar Net Mystic Vine was worth at most ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, yet now the bid has reached two hundred thousand!

Moreover, the bigwigs in the various private rooms vaguely guessed who the bidder in the fifth-floor private room was.

Just when everyone thought everything was about to settle.

"Two hundred ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones." The youth's voice came again.

The crowd: "!!!" Still coming!

Inside the private room, Xu Yanzhi's formerly calm face instantly cracked, his expression turning gloomy; he drew a deep breath, trying as much as possible to compose himself.

"Three hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones." If that person still dared to bid, he would give up.

He would simply seize it outright!

But immediately after, the private room on the second floor where that youth was fell completely silent.

The black-haired old man hosting the auction smiled narrowly: "Anyone else want to bid?"

"I'll count down three; if no one bids again, then this Stellar Net Mystic Vine will be sold for three hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"Three!"

At this moment, inside the private room where Yuan Yao and the others were.

Cang Li deliberately said: "Yao Yao, why aren't you bidding? Weren't you supposed to win this Stellar Net Mystic Vine for me?"

Yuan Yao: "... I'm not made of money."

"As it turns out, your love for me, Junior Sister, isn't even worth three hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!" Cang Li said with a hurt expression.

Seeing this, Yuan Yao immediately picked up the bright yellow placard, about to extend it out the window—

Cang Li's face changed drastically; he lunged over and snatched the bright yellow placard from her hand.

"You still dare to bid!"

"Don't you want it?" Yuan Yao slightly lifted her chin, "I'll bid, you just pay."

"Yuan Yao, are you looking for a beating?!" Cang Li's face darkened: "Who gives someone a gift and then makes them pay? You're really sly! If you dare to bid, from now on whenever I see you eating bird eggs, I'll stomp them to pieces."

Yuan Yao, however, burst out laughing.

"Third Senior Brother, who let you tease me? Hmph!"

Yuan Yao crossed her arms, so happy she felt like her tail was about to perk up.

The Carefree Sect disciples present couldn't help but laugh.

Cang Li: "……"

At that moment, the black‑haired elder finished the countdown and announced that the Star Net Mysterious Vine had been sold.

Meanwhile, Xu Yanzhi, who was in a private room on the fifth floor, looked even sicker.

He raised his hand slightly.

In an instant, two masked dark guards appeared.

"Go find out the identity of the person who quoted a price with me," Xu Yanzhi said.

If he didn't urgently need the Star Net Mysterious Vine, how could he possibly be the scapegoat in everyone's eyes?

"Bring the Star Net Mysterious Vine to me."

"Yes, master!"

The two vanished inside the private room in an instant.

He Lian Jingming spoke, "Immortal Lord, do you still intend to stay here?"

Xu Yanzhi shook his head, "Once the Star Net Mysterious Vine is obtained, please have Master He Lian quickly refine a Pure Heart Pill for me."

"Fine."

…

As time passed, the auction was nearing its end.

Yuan Yao noticed that Lu Xiangxiang had not returned.

Song Yan furrowed his brows and said, "I've already sent her a message, but she hasn't replied."

Yuan Yao heard this and thought to herself, "Lu Xiangxiang is probably planning something."

She thought for a moment and smiled, "Eldest Senior Brother, Weng Mingshu is also here; she invited me to gather in her private room."

"I'll escort you there," Song Yan was momentarily stunned, then chuckled lightly.

Yuan Yao replied, "It's just next door; I can go by myself."

"Although it's not far, I'd like to escort you personally," he said, admitting that he wasn't entirely at ease.

Yuan Yao was about to speak when he cut her off, "Let's go."

Yuan Yao hesitated.

"Obey," Song Yan said helplessly.

Yuan Yao could only follow him out of the private room.

Weng Mingshu had indeed contacted her and said she was on the second floor.

As for Weng Mingshu's exact location, she was only judging based on the voice she had earlier heard quoting a price.

If her guess was correct, she should go out, turn right, and the second private room.

She knocked on the door.

There was no response.

Yuan Yao knocked again, still no response.

"Is there nobody inside?" Song Yan lightly furrowed his brows, "Do you want to send a message to Daoist Weng to confirm the private room's location?"

"Fine, then I'll message her first..." Before she could finish, the private room door opened halfway.

Yuan Yao looked up and met the cold stare of that ghost‑faced youth.

Her heart tightened; she was about to reach for Song Yan's wrist and say, "Let's go..." but she was wrong.

Before she could finish, the youth shifted slightly, made a little room, and coldly looked at her, "Come in."