Chapter 176

After securing sufficient resources, he could mobilize more people for military training.

This would greatly strengthen the territory's combat capability, making it far easier to handle invasions or attacks from other lords.

After all, Salduo in the West District had been relentlessly pursuing him.

The long-silent Middle and North Districts also forced Chen Ping to pay attention.

With only about a thousand vouchers left, Chen Ping had no intention of spending them.

Mainly because there was nothing worthwhile to buy anyway—it was better to save them.

For the time being, Chen Ping sat like an ordinary spectator, watching the auction with calm interest.

不得不说，拍卖会越是到后面，竞拍的东西就越是吸人眼球。

And the tycoons kept coming one after another, raising bids by ten thousand vouchers at a time, eventually starting at fifty thousand.

Chen Ping couldn't help but feel exhilarated.

In his previous life, he'd only seen such scenes in films and TV—this time, he was experiencing it firsthand.

The chaotic, cheering atmosphere of these elites bidding wildly did indeed stimulate people's desire to spend.

Items on the purchase list were snapped up in droves by excited buyers.

As if merely buying something meant they had joined the elites' bidding contest.

During this time, the druid seated beside Chen Ping also made a bid.

He ultimately won a segment of wood core for two million vouchers, containing the divine essence of the Nature God.

After acquiring this item, he made no further bids.

He had come to this auction solely to obtain this one object.

The most expensive item auctioned was a golden bracelet.

The auctioneer declared outright: it was the War God's bracer!

It not only held divine power but also contained the War God's combat insights.

The starting bid was five million vouchers.

Chen Ping had seen this item on the list and assumed such an expensive item would draw little competition.

Yet several top-tier elites emerged, driving the price up to nine million eight hundred thousand!

When a VIP in one of the private boxes finally bid ten million, the entire hall fell into stunned silence.

Chen Ping couldn't help but marvel—these were truly the pinnacle of this world…

While some were still struggling to secure a lord's slot, these elites spent millions of vouchers without a second thought.

The vouchers here weren't comparable to gold coins from the outside world—their purchasing power was at least ten times greater.

Ten million vouchers—he had no idea what kind of strength he could build his territory into with that much.

At the very least, he could easily dominate the Lord Trial.

Too small. His vision was too narrow.

Chen Ping shook his head; the self-satisfaction he'd gained from leading the Lord Trial vanished completely.

In its place rose a longing for the true upper echelons of this world.

One day, he too would step into this circle!

The Wang Clan? Before these people, they weren't even fit to carry their shoes.

While all the apprentice lords still fixated on the Trial, Chen Ping had already seen much farther.

He even saw farther than Salduo and other noble-born lords.

This was one of the reasons he attended this auction.

Only by witnessing the true pinnacle of this world could one understand just how powerful it truly was.

Only then could one gain the drive to walk the path ahead with greater clarity.

"Kid, see that? Every one of those bidders is among the highest elites of this world."

"I don't know how you got into this auction or who recommended you, but your rank is nowhere near sufficient."

"If I find that seed in the Main World, you'd better watch yourself."

The druid beside Chen Ping spoke coldly.

But Chen Ping merely shook his head.

"Empty threats are useless. I guarantee you—search every corner of the Human Alliance, and you won't find me."

Chen Ping looked at the druid—he wasn't lying.

He was still in the Lord Trial, with two years left until its end.

How could the druid possibly find him?

The druid was unnerved by Chen Ping's calmness, uncertain and wary, unable to fathom the source of his confidence.

At that moment, as the next auction item concluded, many lords rose to leave.

Some went to the rest rooms to use their newly purchased items.

Others prepared to return to their territories.

Nearly half the auction hall emptied out.

The auctioneer waited a while, confirmed no one else intended to leave, then snapped his fingers.

The hall began shrinking; the surrounding lights dimmed, while only the central stage brightened.

125: The Climactic Act—The Impact of Dimensional Fragments

"Next is the grand finale of this auction."

"Due to the special nature of this segment, all guests wishing to participate must implant a Mysterious Glyph."

As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, a strange glyph appeared before every remaining attendee.

Merely glancing at the glyph made one dizzy and disoriented.

"The Mysterious Glyph will erase from your mind any memory of what occurs during this segment."

"Unless you actively participate in this segment, you will retain no recollection of it after leaving."

Mysterious Glyph.

It was like a memory-blocking plugin.

Once implanted, you could still see what happened—but it wouldn't truly remain in your memory.

After leaving the auction, the glyph remained, and so did the memory.

Chen Ping found the Mysterious Glyph fascinating—it involved esotericism, consciousness studies, and even foundational knowledge.

It was a high-level application of these disciplines; if he could take it back for study, he'd benefit immensely.

But it was impossible.

Chen Ping picked up the glyph and pressed it to his third eye—it vanished.

In the real world, he felt a chill in his mind—the Mysterious Glyph had activated.

Seeing all had implanted the glyphs, the auctioneer bowed to everyone and stepped offstage.

The stone pillars on stage had long since lowered, leaving only a spacious, brightly lit platform.

Slow footsteps echoed from behind; the curtain at the stage's rear drew open.

A figure appeared on stage, clad in a crimson cloak, wearing a towering hat over a meter tall.

His face was deeply hidden in the shadow beneath the hat, utterly indistinguishable.

His height, build, and all physical traits were concealed by the cloak.

Even his voice had been altered.

What Chen Ping heard was a strange, echoing tone, as if processed with electronic distortion.

"Esteemed guests, forgive me for concealing myself thus."

"I sought entry into the Dimensional Trade Auction to participate in its Puzzle Segment, seeking answers."

"If anyone solves the following puzzle, I shall reward them with a substantial payment."

"The reward depends on the depth of your solution."

Puzzle.

This was the name the Dimensional Trade Auction had given this segment.

In this segment, they brought forth individuals or entities with unsolvable problems.

They asked the auction's elite participants to find solutions.

Typically, only problems of extreme depth were presented—far beyond the reach of ordinary minds.