Chapter 151: Clamor

"This thing…"

Even the experienced Lianyi is now somewhat at a loss for words, she struggles to maintain her professional smile.

"This item was obtained by chance from deep within some ancient ruins by an explorer; its material is special, impervious to water and fire, resistant to blades, though it bears no inscriptions, it may conceal some great unknown secret, possessing immense research value…… Opening bid: five million universe crystals, each raise must be no less than one hundred thousand."

This introduction was feeble and powerless, and the audience below immediately burst into boos.

"A torn piece of paper dares to sell for five million?"

"Research value? Who knows when the research will be done—maybe in the Year of the Monkey and Horse?"

"Let it fail to sell—whoever buys this thing is a sucker!"

The vast majority of beings have no interest in this gold paper at all, thinking it's just a filler item for the auction.

However, no one noticed that in the top-floor private box, Ye Wuque's pupils contracted sharply at the sight of this gold paper appearing, and his body even leaned forward imperceptibly.

This mysterious gold paper!

He has seen it!

Not only has he seen it, but four gold papers almost identical to it are lying quietly in his storage ring right now!

This is…… the fifth mysterious gold paper!

Ye Wuque's heart involuntarily sped up.

After obtaining those four gold papers earlier, he had studied them multiple times, piecing them together.

The four gold papers complemented each other, their light flowing, faintly forming a damaged pattern or trajectory, but obviously a key part was missing, making it impossible to see the whole picture.

He knew well that this was no ordinary item; its origin mysterious, it contained an extreme sense of antiquity and weathering, as if recording some lost brilliant civilization.

He had been on the lookout for subsequent gold papers, never expecting to encounter one here by chance!

At the same time, on the other side of the auction hall, a position equally exalted and shrouded in a heavy gray robe, whose appearance and physique were indiscernible, also straightened its body instantly when the gold paper appeared!

Under that wide hood, two gaze‑like beams shot out, locking onto the gold paper on the stage, revealing an extreme yearning and a determination to obtain it at any cost!

The bidding began.

The scene was once very deserted, with only a few scattered individuals, perhaps genuinely wanting to buy it back for research, placing bids.

"Five million one hundred thousand."

"Five million three hundred thousand."

When the price slowly rose to six million, Ye Wuque spoke calmly: "Ten million."

Directly doubled!

This made many people look surprisedly at his box, wondering if the big shot inside had too much money to spend.

However, just as Ye Wuque's voice fell, a hoarse, low sound, like metal scraping, immediately followed, coming from the corner of the gray‑robed being:

"Twenty million."

Again doubled!

The entire venue immediately erupted in a low clamor.

A torn piece of paper, and yet someone is bidding for it?

And they're bidding so fiercely?

Ye Wuque's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward the gray‑robed being's direction, but the being seemed shrouded in a mist that even his divine sense could not easily penetrate.

"Thirty million." Ye Wuque raised the bid again.

"Fifty million." The gray‑robed being showed no hesitation, as if universe crystals were merely numbers.

"Eighty million."

"One hundred million."

The price rose like a rocket, instantly breaking through the one‑hundred‑million mark!

The whole auction hall fell silent, everyone staring wide‑eyed at this sudden dragon‑tiger clash.

A torn piece of paper with an opening bid of five million actually sold for one hundred million?

This already far exceeds any possible research value it might possess!

Auctioneer Lianyi also shifted from initial embarrassment to shock and delight, her cheeks flushed red with excitement, her voice somewhat trembling.

Ye Wuque frowned slightly, continuing to raise the bid: "One hundred fifty million."

"Two hundred million." The gray‑robed being pursued relentlessly.

"Three hundred million."

"Five hundred million."

The price quickly surpassed one billion, two billion, three billion…… racing toward an astonishing direction!

War Prince beside him was also terrified, not knowing why his lord valued this gold paper so highly, yet he still whispered: "My lord, the financial resources of our War God Heavenly Hall can still support."

Ye Wuque, however, slightly shook his head; his gaze met that of the gray‑robed being across the space, and though he could not see the being clearly, he could feel its unyielding determination.

When Ye Wuque pushed the price to fifty billion universe crystals, this terrifying astronomical figure, the gray‑robed being fell silent for a moment, then hoarsely spoke again: "Fifty‑one billion."

Ye Wuque lightly tapped the armrest with his finger, pondered for a few breaths, and finally, under the auctioneer Lianyi's expectant gaze as she was about to drop the hammer, he calmly said: "I give up."

"Clamor——!"

The entire venue was in an uproar!

He actually gave up?

He gave up after the bidding reached fifty billion?

Everyone thought this would be an endless struggle for possession, but they did not expect one side to suddenly withdraw.

Finally, under countless gazes of astonishment, incomprehension, and even looks as if viewing a fool, that mysterious gold paper was successfully won by that inscrutable gray‑robed being at the staggering price of fifty‑one billion universe crystals.

War Prince looked at Ye Wuque with some incomprehension:

"My lord, why did you give up? If you need it, we can……"

Ye Wuque's face was calm; he picked up the spiritual tea on the table and took a light sip, his gaze deep as he looked toward the direction of the gray-robed sentient being, and said slowly:

"It's fine. After the auction ends, that person…… will come to me on their own."

His tone was firm, as if he had already seen through everything.

Sure enough, just as Ye Wuque had expected.

During the process where the gray-robed sentient being won the gold paper and handled the transfer procedures, its gaze seemed intentional or not, repeatedly passing through the crowd, faintly drifting toward the direction of Ye Wuque's private booth.

In that gaze flickered a hint…… of indescribable anticipation, even a hint…… of barely perceptible…… urgency?