Chapter 425: Bidding Back the Phoenix Crown

No matter which Sect's item it is, it represents that Sect's reputation, so they desperately bid it back.

Their rivals also took the chance to keep raising the price to obstruct them. Some prices were even more than five or six times the floor price set by Steward Mao for Ye Liuyun.

"These middle‑region Sects are truly wealthy," Ye Liuyun smiled, occasionally joining the fun by nudging the price up.

At this moment, the crowd began to chatter, speculating that the tomb of the poison dragon had been found and excavated, though they didn't know by whom. Many guessed it was the Iron Eagle Sect or the Dark Night Demon Hall.

Ye Liuyun also learned from the crowd that the iron‑masked man who had greeted him was Jing Wudi, the Deputy Sect Leader of the Iron Eagle Sect. He is a legendary figure who led the Iron Eagle Sect on campaigns east and west, hard‑won a solid foothold within the Golden Peng Dynasty's territory, so that now they can even contend with the Golden Peng Dynasty.

From the way they kept outbidding each other during the auction, one can see that the two families are not on good terms and surely have fierce profit disputes.

Ye Liuyun estimates that when the Phoenix Crown is up for auction, the Iron Eagle Sect will definitely intervene.

When the Phoenix Crown auction finally arrived, Ye Liuyun began to focus intently.

When the Phoenix Crown was brought out, a woman's voice rang out from Box No. 1: "Ladies and gentlemen, everyone knows this Phoenix Crown was stolen from the Royal Palace by the bandit Poison Dragon. It is not a treasure, just an ordinary item, but it holds great significance for the royal family. I hope you will give the royal family some face and refrain from bidding, so the Phoenix Crown can return to the royal family!"

Obviously, it was the Queen speaking. After she spoke, many people also declared they would not bid.

The elderly auctioneer's face turned sour; in fact, the Queen had already broken the rules. Yet, since she is the Queen, he dared not rebuke her.

At that moment, Jing Wudi's voice rang out: "Since this is an auction, the highest bidder wins! My night pot is missing a decoration; I will bid it back and mount it on my night pot!"

Everyone hearing this knew Jing Wudi was deliberately causing trouble. The Queen's headpiece, he wanted to put on a night pot—an obvious insult to the Golden Peng Dynasty's royal family. The royal family insisted the Phoenix Crown must be bought back.

Among those present, only the Iron Eagle Sect dared to oppose the royal family. Even the Dark Night Demon Hall lacks such strength within the Golden Peng Dynasty's domain.

After Jing Wudi finished speaking, the Queen fell silent and began calling out prices directly. Both Jing Wudi and the Queen kept raising by 100,000 Spirit Stones each.

The Phoenix Crown's opening bid was 3 million Spirit Stones, and it quickly doubled to 6 million Spirit Stones.

A mundane item selling for that price is a sky‑high sum. Jing Wudi's talk of mounting it on a night pot was merely to spite the royal family; he had no intention of actually buying it back.

He thought the price had risen enough and was about to give up.

Ye Liuyun's voice suddenly rang out: "Ten million Spirit Stones!"

Though not loud, the voice thundered like a bomb, shocking everyone!

"Raise it directly to ten million Spirit Stones! Who is this person?"

"The figure in Box No. 3 must also have a substantial background!"

"Dares to contest the royal family and the Iron Eagle Sect? I wonder which deity they are!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, the venue erupting in chaos.

"Hahaha! So there are others who like this more than I do! In that case, I'll give it to you!" When Ye Liuyun spoke, Jing Wudi recognized his voice and promptly gave up. He also wanted to see what Ye Liuyun intended.

"May I ask who you are? Insisting on opposing our royal family?" the Queen's voice from Box No. 1 sounded again.

"Where? I have long admired the Queen's visage and wish to bid for this crown, seizing the tribute opportunity merely to behold the Queen's unparalleled beauty."

Ye Liuyun's reply was exceedingly flippant. To brazenly tease the Queen so openly, perhaps only he has ever done such from antiquity to the present.

For a moment, everyone was left speechless, silently staring at his box.

"Hehe! You really have guts; aren't you afraid the Queen will punish you?" a laugh rang from Box No. 1.

Although everyone knows she is the Queen, she has never publicly disclosed her identity.

"I am merely speaking the truth. The Queen's beauty can topple cities and nations; the love of beauty is common to all. If that warrants punishment, wouldn't that mean all men in the city would have to be executed!"

"Audacious! To utter such lewd words and harass the Queen! Guards, seize this person!" The Leader of the Queen's attendants could no longer tolerate it and shouted for the guards to apprehend him.

"This is an auction house, not the Royal Palace!" Ye Liuyun's calm voice replied. "Besides, I never said anything insulting to the Queen; why are you so tense, sir?"

In Box No. 1, the Queen also halted the guards' actions. She didn't know Ye Liuyun's background, but someone who could sit in Box No. 3 and immediately bid ten million Spirit Stones cannot have a simple identity.

She then said, "Your goodwill is appreciated, but with only ten million Spirit Stones you cannot purchase this Phoenix Crown!"

"Ten million not enough? Then twenty million. Twenty not enough? Then thirty million. I wonder if my determination will move the Queen?" Ye Liuyun laughed.

The crowd, hearing this, were even more astonished! This guy is incredibly wealthy.

The Queen, upon hearing this, frowned. From Ye Liuyun's tone, she realized she could not compete with him. Even as Queen, she does not spend money frivolously; she cannot mobilize that many Spirit Stones. Around fifteen million Spirit Stones is already near her limit.

She dared not gamble. She truly feared provoking Ye Liuyun; if he snapped and auctioned the crown away without giving it to her, that would be trouble.

"So you just want to see the Queen in person?" she asked tentatively.

"Of course! Otherwise my heart would be uneasy!" Ye Liuyun also knew the Queen was wavering, testing him, so his words were resolute.

"Very well, since you are so sincere, I will give you this chance!" The Queen decided, abandoning the bidding, but she kept watch on the person in Box No. 3 to prevent Ye Liuyun from running off with the Phoenix Crown.

Thus, Ye Liuyun again secured the Phoenix Crown for ten million Spirit Stones. Though he lost many Spirit Stones, his purpose was initially achieved.

Ye Liuyun was also very satisfied with the result. He immediately paid the Spirit Stones and stored the Phoenix Crown safely.

The auction then continued. When it was the Iron Eagle Sect's turn to show interest in an item, Box No. 1 also began deliberately raising the price.

For the subsequent auctions, Ye Liuyun no longer paid any attention. He now thought more about how to face the Queen.