Chapter 51: Auction

Wang Ping, upon hearing Chu He's words, was filled with shock in his eyes; since he joined this organization, although he usually dealt with spiritual phenomena, this was still the first time he had heard of the existence of cultivators.

He walked over and said to Chu He, "Boss, when you just made the phone call, I heard something about cultivators; does our world really have cultivators?"

After hearing Wang Ping's words, Chu He said solemnly, "You've already joined the Spiritual Phenomena Investigation Bureau; why are you still asking such a brainless question?"

Wang Ping, upon hearing this from Chu He, immediately became embarrassed.

However, Chu He paid no attention to Wang Ping's expression, instead frowning and saying, "Since spiritual phenomena exist, there must be some hidden existence behind them—for example, immortal cultivators."

After hearing Chu He's words, Wang Ping's eyes were still full of disbelief, as if this matter was still hard for him to accept.

Everyone is clearly ordinary, yet today they were suddenly told that someone can fly in the sky and might even possess supreme power; the sudden occurrence of such a thing indeed makes it hard to accept in a short time.

Even so, he is a member of the Spiritual Phenomena Investigation Bureau.

Chu He looked at Wang Ping, seemingly seeing his inner psychological change, and thus said to him, "Take it slow; I went through the same. Moreover, the cultivators we have encountered mostly only have some strange methods and lack the power to overturn heaven and earth."

Upon hearing Chu He's words, Wang Ping's heart felt much better; if there truly were cultivators capable of overturning heaven and earth, we ordinary people couldn't even run.

"Record what happened here and submit it; I will go to the Northern Sect to see their stance on this matter. If even their strongest cultivator expresses no knowledge of it, then this unknown cultivator is a potential threat."

After Chu He finished speaking, Wang Ping nodded slightly; seeing Wang Ping nod, Chu He then left while on the phone.

Meanwhile, Wang Ping kept watching the direction Chu He left, as if still pondering the matter in his mind.

As for the party involved, Ye Chen, having received Ji An's call just now, has already gone to the private auction.

Whether it was Ji An's request or his friend wanting to boost the auction's fame, the auction's venue was chosen at Ji An's Wanbao Pavilion.

When Ye Chen arrived at Wanbao Pavilion, the moment his figure appeared, Ji An saw him and walked over.

"Ye Younger Brother, I've waited left and right, finally got you here; wait a moment, Elder Brother Zhang Hai is also coming; he asked us to wait for him, he's thinking about asking for a peace‑protecting charm for his daughter, and he also wants to trouble you with this."

After hearing Ji An's words, Ye Chen nodded lightly, indicating he had no objection.

Not long after, Zhang Hai also arrived at Wanbao Pavilion; upon seeing Ye Chen, his eyes were full of gratitude. Ye Chen knew what Zhang Hai wanted to say, so he quickly said, "No need for words of thanks; as for the peace‑protecting item you want, I'll help you look for it."

After Ye Chen spoke, Zhang Hai knew Ye Chen didn't like to say too much nonsense, so he also stopped saying extra nonsense.

"If so, shall we go in first?"

Ji An stepped forward and said to Ye Chen and Zhang Hai.

After Ji An finished speaking, he looked at Ye Chen, and Zhang Hai also looked at Ye Chen at the same moment; unconsciously, the two already fully trusted Ye Chen's words, as if he were the mainstay of the three.

Seeing this, Ye Chen said no nonsense, but merely nodded lightly.

After receiving Ye Chen's affirmation, Ji An and Zhang Hai took the lead.

Before entering the third floor of Wanbao Pavilion, Zhang Hai told Ye Chen about the medicinal herbs and stone materials, saying that everything Ye Chen needed had been found and would be delivered to him no later than five o'clock in the afternoon.

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen had no objection; the time was still early, not yet the time he had agreed with Bai Lingling, so he was not in a hurry, and moreover, the power he left on Bai Lingling's person could also guarantee her safety.

After Ye Chen, Ji An, and Zhang Hai arrived together on the third floor, Ji An found a relatively front position; although he is the founder of Wanbao Pavilion, many people's positions here are obtained by their own strength, so he cannot have too many privileges.

Regarding this, Ye Chen was aware, so he didn't say much more; moreover, he originally had no demands about the seat, only needing to be able to see.

"Wait a moment, the auction is about to start."

Ji An said to Ye Chen and Zhang Hai.

After Ji An finished speaking, a voice suddenly sounded from the venue.

"Dear collectors, hello! At the beginning of the Year of the Snake, all things renewed; it is an honor to gather with everyone at this New Spring and jointly participate in this antique auction. Each lot here has endured the sedimentation of time, bearing a unique story, awaiting those with affinity to cherish them. May everyone today reap their desired items!"

After the host finished speaking, the auction officially began.

"The next lot is a porcelain piece from the Yuan Dynasty, an item with rich historical color; the starting bid is 30 million, each raise not less than 200,000."

As her words fell, many people began bidding.

"31 million."

"32 million."

"35 million."

Ji An and Zhang Hai looked at Ye Chen; Ye Chen showed little reaction to this, after all it's a private auction, so the items aren't necessarily genuine—just saying the probability is low—but Ji An and Zhang Hai clearly had no intention of wanting these.

Since they learned of Ye Chen's extraordinariness, they no longer had much desire for these.

Although Ji An temporarily still doesn't know exactly wherein Ye Chen's extraordinariness lies, through Zhang Hai's reaction he can also tell that Ye Chen might be even more mysterious than he imagined.

As long as Ye Chen shows no significant reaction, they will not readily make a move on those items.

Even after half the items were auctioned, Ye Chen remained unmoved, but Ji An and Zhang Hai were not anxious; Ye Chen hadn't spoken, what could they be nervous about?

"Most of these are genuine, but to me they are useless objects of little use; since Ji An and Zhang Hai have decided to follow me, I naturally cannot give them something too inferior."

Ye Chen said in his heart.

But at this moment, Ji An's voice suddenly sounded in Ye Chen's ear.

"Ye Younger Brother, could it be that there's nothing here you'd like?"

After Ji An finished speaking, Ye Chen turned his head and said to him, "For now, none; they're just ordinary things with not much use; if you want this kind, I'll tell you about it later."

Just as Ye Chen finished speaking, Ji An quickly shook his head, saying, "No no no, just say it; I only hope you can also get me something good."

After Ji An finished speaking, Ye Chen turned his head, no longer responding to Ji An's words, because Ye Chen's eyes were fixed straight on a pair of jade bracelets, inside which actually circulated threads of spiritual energy!