Chapter 204

Make a bid?

Act as a sucker?

Luo Chen sneered coldly in his heart.

"No thanks, I won't wade into these muddy waters."

"But, don't you want to stay in Taishan Market?"

Luo Chen hesitated for a moment, but decided to speak his mind.

"I really don't want to."

"Hmm?"

In the Li family's private box, Li Yixian couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

"Why?"

"Do you want to stay here? Stay in a market that has been managed by the Kang family for hundreds of years, a place where power is changing hands and the new masters have extremely strong strength and backgrounds? I'm afraid that after many years, you'll be swallowed up completely by them!"

Li Yixian frowned, "But..."

"There are no 'buts'. Perhaps you are considering the family, seeking a safe place to develop without too much fighting. But my heart is set on the Dao, and there is only one second-tier spiritual vein here, which is still being split between two families."

At best, Luo Chen added quietly.

"If you want to compete, Luo Mou doesn't mind lending you ten thousand spirit stones."

After he spoke, there was a long silence.

Only the increasingly strained bidding voices echoed in the palace hall.

Huo Hu sat among them, listening to the bids from both sides with a smile.

Even though there were long pauses in between, he didn't say anything about "first time" or "second time."

However, he looked at the private boxes of the Luotian Society and the Li family with a somewhat unfriendly expression.

Not giving him any face!

With two families missing from the bidding, the atmosphere wasn't lively enough!

In the Li family's private box.

Li Yixian's cherry lips parted, wanting to participate in the bidding.

However, Luo Chen's words kept echoing in her mind.

For the sake of the family, Taishan Market might seem like a place for stable development, but in the long run, it is definitely not a good place.

After all, with the Yuding Sword Pavilion gone, there is no relatively large force to balance things in the middle.

As the local hegemon, the Huo family will sooner or later not tolerate other family forces.

The Kang family and the Yu family, two old friends, might still be able to endure it, but the newcomers...

And for her own sake, she also felt that not having a second-tier spiritual land was truly a drag on her cultivation.

In the end, she gave up on bidding for the Profound Fire Sword in frustration.

Just as she gave up.

The bidding in the venue had been silent for a long time.

The price stopped at the 83, 00 low-grade spirit stones offered by Wang Haichao.

Nangong Jin had a bitter look on his face; he couldn't continue bidding.

This had already exceeded the limit of the Nangong family.

Any further, and the entire family wouldn't be able to bear it.

It was just that by failing the bid, he also lost the opportunity to stay in Taishan Market.

Looking back at the few ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators of the Nangong family who had followed him, he sighed.

"Perhaps, we will have to wander again."

And on Wang Haichao's side, his expression was equally gloomy.

Eighty-three thousand!

To buy an unremarkable low-grade magic treasure flying sword, this was truly being a sucker.

I'm afraid that at this moment, the many Foundation Establishment peers in the venue are all looking at him like he's a fool!

"Nangong Jin!"

"You are too despicable!"

"Didn't we agree to just act as spectators?"

The three Foundation Establishment cultivators of Dahe Market were all in a bad mood at this moment.

And inside the auction venue, there was already a huge uproar.

An ordinary low-grade magic treasure had been auctioned for the high price of 83, 00, which truly shocked these loose cultivators who hadn't seen much of the world.

At this price, it should have been for those defensive magic treasures or rare magic treasures!

Amidst the uproar.

Gradually, some people began to realize what was happening.

These Foundation Establishment true cultivators were giving the Huo family face!

Luo Chen quietly watched this farce come to an end.

It was impossible for Nangong Jin to compete with Wang Haichao.

When the other party left Dahe Market, they had made a fortune in ticket fees from those loose cultivators.

Fifty spirit stones per ticket!

There were two or three thousand people who boarded the ship at that time.

That was a huge sum of money!

Moreover, it was all in Wang Haichao's hands; with Nangong Jin being dragged down by his family, how could he compete?

"Master!"

Suddenly, a voice came from his ear.

Luo Chen turned his head to look; Qu Lingjun was just waking up from his shock.

But there was still a look of confusion in his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Qu Lingjun asked confusedly: "Why does Leader Wang want to spend so much money to buy this magic treasure? I heard others say that this magic treasure doesn't really suit him!"

Luo Chen smiled slightly, "Because he wants to stay in Taishan Market!"

"Why does he want to stay in Taishan Market so much?" Qu Lingjun was still puzzled, "I heard Aunt Gu say that he earned over a hundred thousand spirit stones. With this money, wouldn't it be better to find a second-tier spiritual land and cultivate diligently?"

Luo Chen was stunned, and a look of doubt appeared on his face.

A hundred thousand was a bit of an exaggeration; in order to fill the stomach of the River-Swallowing Toad, he had shared a large portion of spirit stones with the two major families to purchase and raise spirit beasts.

But the remainder was still at least 110, 00 or 120, 00.

With such a large amount of capital, where wouldn't he be happy and free?

"Hehe..."

A hearty chuckle sounded.

It was Wang Yuan.

However, the chuckle gradually turned into a sneer.

"Some people have changed! It's just that simple."

"Changed?"

Qu Lingjun was still puzzled, his eyes full of thirst for knowledge as he looked at Wang Yuan.

He didn't notice that Luo Chen beside him had a drastic change in expression, his spirit shaken.

Yes!

Wang Haichao has changed!

Wang Yuan glanced at Luo Chen and said casually to Qu Lingjun: "Besides immortal cultivation families and sects, why do loose cultivators form forces?"

Qu Lingjun answered as a matter of course: "Of course, it's to use the abundant manpower to collect cultivation resources!"

This was the original intention of all Foundation Establishment loose cultivators who spent great effort to build forces.

Wang Yuan nodded and then said: "However, when a person gets used to being surrounded by stars, gets used to holding the power of life and death, and gets used to commanding thousands of cultivators, would he still be used to taking abundant resources and hiding in a quiet cave or deep mountains and old forests to cultivate?"

Qu Lingjun was stunned and answered very naturally: "What's there to not be used to?"

Yes!

For Qu Lingjun, who hadn't seen much of the world and only understood family and love, what was there to not be used to?

Once the goal is achieved, shouldn't one pursue longevity?

Luo Chen looked at the teenager whose height had gradually caught up to his own with a bitter smile.

My disciple!

You don't know that in this world, there is something called "power."

It is a terrifying existence that can make men give up countless things.

His gaze wandered to Wang Yuan, and he gave him a grateful look.

Wang Yuan nodded indifferently, his gaze returning to the auction in the venue.

The reason Luo Chen was "grateful" to Wang Yuan.

Was because the other party was deliberately pointing things out to him just now!

Wang Haichao didn't hesitate to spend a great price to stay in Taishan Market; wasn't it just to have a piece of territory where he could continue to control the Great River Gang!

If he changed places, could the Great River Gang still exist?

Of these loose cultivators who came out of Dahe Market, how many would be willing to leave their homes with him?

Without blood ties, without Luo Chen's prestige, it was already quite difficult for him to gather these people together and bring them to Taishan Market.

Therefore, if he wants to enjoy the taste of power, he must stay here!

Perhaps, his original intention was just to use the Great River Gang to collect resources for himself.

But gradually, he became addicted to it.

He has changed!

In contrast, wasn't he the same?

Or rather, wasn't he currently in the primary stage of Wang Haichao!

At this stage, the Luotian Society was indeed useful to him, and very useful at that.

But what about later?

When he has earned enough wealth and can comfortably go into quiet cultivation, will he still be able to let go of the habit of enjoying power?

Luo Chen found it hard to imagine whether his future self would change.

Wang Yuan, however, had already taken precautions and thought of that moment.

People are different.

In his previous life, Luo Chen was just a corporate slave; except for the occasional experience of commanding teammates in games, he rarely enjoyed the taste of power.

But now, he really likes the scene where hundreds of people show him respect with a wave of his hand.

He enjoys the feeling of that moment when the cultivators of the Luotian Society shout in unison: "President, let's board the ship!"

So!

In the future, he really might be addicted to it.

But Wang Yuan is different.

He came from the world of martial arts, fought his way up, and had also formed martial arts sects in the world.

But for the sake of the immortal path, for the sake of being strong.

He still unhesitatingly abandoned his peak status in the secular world and chose to come to Dahe Market, starting from the lowest level of loose cultivators.

Once, Luo Chen asked him to manage the Luotian Society on his behalf, and he also showed great impatience.

It wasn't that he couldn't manage it, but that he felt it would affect his cultivation.

He is an experienced person!

"He is a friend, a big brother, and even more so a mentor who constantly reminds me on the path of cultivation."

Luo Chen suppressed his complex emotions, gave Wang Yuan a grateful look, and pulled his attention back.

"Next is the auction stage for the Spirit Medicine Pavilion."

"What they are going to auction is... Foundation Establishment Pills!"

Huo Hu's voice was drawn out very long.

However, the moment it fell, the thousands of loose cultivators in the venue all held their breath.

Their burning gazes seemed as if they could melt him.

Huo Hu pursed his lips, waved his hand, and the red cloth on the table was pulled away, revealing three jade bottles that were extremely eye-catching.

"A total of three, auctioned separately."

"The starting price is 1, 00 spirit stones each, and each bid must be no less than 100."

"Everyone, please!"

As soon as the words fell.

The surging bidding voices came crashing down like a tidal wave.

1, 00!

1, 00!

2, 00!

3, 00!

Without any hesitation, the price soared crazily.

Not only the loose cultivators, but heavy breathing could also be heard from the private boxes of the major Foundation Establishment forces.

In the Great River Gang's private box.

Min Longyu's eyes lit up, "Leader!"

Wang Haichao glanced at him, "Wait a little longer, I don't suggest bidding on the first one; the price will definitely be hyped up very high."

Min Longyu opened his mouth, but eventually suppressed his urgent mood.

The other party was not wrong.

And in the Luotian Society's private box.

Luo Chen's heart stirred.

The Huo family was indeed extraordinary; for their first auction, the Spirit Medicine Pavilion gave them a lot of face.

Although not as good as the Yuding Sword Pavilion in Dahe Market, which casually brought out five Foundation Establishment Pills, three was indeed not a small number.

And what made his heart stir was that the quantity was so small.

This meant that there was no possibility of the major Foundation Establishment forces colluding to share the cake.

Then, it meant... first come, first served!

Turning back, Luo Chen looked at the cultivators of the Luotian Society.

Ten ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators!

Those close to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining included Sima Huiniang, Murong Qinglian, Duan Feng, and a loose cultivator named Bian Zhen who joined three years ago.

Besides them, Qin Liangchen and Sima Xian were only a few years of hard cultivation away from the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

In addition, Gu Caiyi, Zhou Yuanli, Liu Qiang, and Su Xiaolin were also considered young.

In the future, there was some possibility of Foundation Establishment.

These people must all want a Foundation Establishment Pill very much!

Even Qin Liangchen and his wife, who already had one in hand, would never think it was too many.

Facing Luo Chen's sweeping gaze, the breathing of the ten people became heavy.

They looked at Luo Chen, their lips opening and closing, but they held back.

Luo Chen smiled.

"You guys don't bid; you won't be able to snatch it."

"For the three Foundation Establishment Pills, I will bid for one for you!"

"When the time comes, whoever reaches the Great Perfection of Qi Refining first can come to me to purchase it at the original price."

After speaking, he turned around abruptly.

Facing the heated bidding scene below, he shouted loudly.

"5, 00 low-grade spirit stones!"

The scene was quiet for a while.

Then, a Great Perfection of Qi Refining cultivator gritted his teeth and shouted: "5, 00!"

Luo Chen glanced at him and said unhurriedly: "5, 00."

That person gritted his teeth again: "5, 00!"

"5, 00."

With this calm and unhurried momentum, it seemed as if he would follow no matter how much the other party bid.

That person still wanted to bid, but was pulled back by his companion.

The companion shook his head solemnly at him, but he was still unwilling.

But in the end, he gave up in frustration.

After all, the person he was facing was a Foundation Establishment true cultivator!

Enough is enough; if he continued to compete, he was afraid that he would have the life to buy it, but not the life to use it.

Moreover, there were still two more coming up!

The fear of the Foundation Establishment true cultivator, and the fluke of the subsequent ones, made him finally give up.

"The first Foundation Establishment Pill, 5, 00 spirit stones, going once!"

"5, 00 spirit stones, going twice!"

Huo Hu frowned, his face full of dissatisfaction.

The price of a publicly auctioned Foundation Establishment Pill shouldn't be this low!

Moreover, with the current market trend of elixirs rising, it shouldn't be this low!

Today was the day his Huo family announced their sovereignty over Taishan Market; it shouldn't be this low!

He dragged out the third call, refusing to let it fall.

Facing him was Luo Chen's high and mighty, calm gaze.

In the end, he said hatefully: "5, 00 spirit stones, going three times."

"Sold!"

He didn't say congratulations, but directly had someone send the elixir to Luo Chen.

This graceless scene was seen by many people.

In the Kang family's private box.

Kang Dongyue shook his head; the Huo family's auction this time was really not well-run.

Announcing sovereignty, that was nothing.

Being in such a hurry to push out Huo Hu, this newly promoted genius Foundation Establishment cultivator, was very questionable.

Inviting a highly respected senior to host this auction could not only gain high profits but also not ruin their reputation.

Why bother!

Inside the Yu family's private box.

A young woman in palace attire also frowned.

An old man beside her said in a low voice: "This Huo Hu is like his father. He acts domineeringly, but is narrow-minded. If Chuchu marries him, I'm afraid her days ahead won't be easy!"

The young woman in palace attire smiled bitterly, "Clan Elder, what can I do? I'm afraid that once that old guy Huo Quan comes out of seclusion, he will be in the late stage of Foundation Establishment. In this way, he is already stronger than us, and they have two Foundation Establishment cultivators in one family, with the Flame Alliance backing them."

"We are not like the Kang family, having the Yuding Sword Sect as a backer. If we don't marry, are we waiting to be beaten later?"

The Clan Elder was silent.

But looking at Huo Hu, he was ultimately not satisfied.

In the future, I'm afraid it will be hard for that child Yu Chuchu.

The first Foundation Establishment Pill was sold at the low price of 5, 00.

The loose cultivators who didn't participate in the bidding were extremely envious.

Especially those who could afford this sum of spirit stones were even more regretful.

But, that was a Foundation Establishment true cultivator!

Over at the Great River Gang.

Min Longyu watched eagerly as the Foundation Establishment Pill was sent to the No. 9 private box via the backstage.

He knew that Wang Haichao couldn't compete with Luo Chen.

After all, the other party didn't trip him up during the Profound Fire Sword auction, and his wealth was extremely abundant.

If it were him in the same position, he would do the same.

He licked his dry lips and reminded him cautiously:

"Leader, the auction for the second Foundation Establishment Pill has begun."

Wang Haichao nodded.

"Don't rush, let's observe the changes first, and then make a final decision!"

Min Longyu hesitated for a moment, then nodded heavily.

Right!

Make a final decision!

Didn't that Luo Chen just make a final decision to bid for a second-tier secret technique earlier?

There was no reason why they couldn't do it.

When he first defected to Wang Haichao, the other party had promised him with certainty that he would find him a Foundation Establishment Pill.