“10000 Silvers!”

Li Fan’s bid attracted the attention of the other two major powers seated in the first row. The City Lord, Du Wen, and Patriarch of Xue Family exchanged gazes before they motioned their subordinates to raise the bid.

“10500 Silvers!”

“10800 Silvers!”

Two consecutive bids from the Xue Family and City Lord’s Manor resounded in the hall.

Li Fan clicked his tongue in annoyance but continued to raise the bid. He was determined to win this Manual.

When Ikasa saw the Ponzi bid for his fake manual so desperately, he couldn’t suppress the gloating smirk forming on his lips.

The battle for prestige intensified among the three powers and the bids were raised all the way to 14000 Silvers!

The other small players had long stopped bidding and were just enjoying the clash of egos.

The Li Family Patriarch’s brows were furrowed. He wanted to prohibit Li Fan from raising the bid more when Li Fan whispered to him.

“Father, promise the other two powers that you will not bid for that toy if they let us have this manual.”

The Patriarch’s face immediately darkened. He wanted to smack this boy in the head. He was calling a rare antique wanted by many powers from a Tier 3 city a ‘toy.’ But his next words immediately placated his raging emotions.

“We already have a low-grade manual focusing on head and neck. Whatever reward the Monstrous Flame Sect promised you, can it compare to a Top Grade manual?”

Li Family’s Chief thought about it. After weighing the pros and cons, he was unable to come to a conclusion. Very rarely do higher tier powers ask for favors. But Top Grade manuals are even rarer.

“Continue bidding till we hit our limit. If they still don’t give up, I’ll relinquish my rights to bid for the antique.”

“Okay.” Li Fan nodded his head. Then he directly raised his next bid to 17000 silvers; The limit they had discussed beforehand.

Silence spread through the hall. Li Family Head cursed his son in his heart while trying to maintain his calm composure. Shan Wu was still smiling as she looked expectantly at the other two powers.

“17000 silvers, going once…”

The Li Family Patriarch was paying close attention to the other two powers. When he saw the Chief Commander of City guards, Du Man opened his mouth to raise the bid, he knew he had no other choice.

“City Lord Du, Patriarch Xue, please give this manual to me. I promise not to bid for the next item.”

City Lord immediately stopped Du Man from raising the bid. Even though Du Man looked a little dissatisfied he had to oblige.

“Don’t go back on your word Family head Li”

Patriarch Xue reminded sternly as he too stopped his underlings from raising the price.

Shan Wu, who had intentionally taken longer pauses during her countdown, shortened them after seeing the three foxes come to a consensus.

“Congratulations to Young master Li Fan for getting a High-Grade Path Forging manual.”

‘Appearances really do matter and so does the name. I wanted to sell the same manual for 1000 silver but no one even looked at it. And here, it sold for 17 times the price.’

Ikasa grinned from ear to ear as he saw his manual sell at a sky high price of 17000 silver, much higher than the Ten thousand silver offered by Master Jin Ping. It was even brought by the people he disliked. Things couldn’t get better.

‘After deducting 5% consignment fees and 5% appraisal fees, I will get 15300 Silvers. I can easily buy that estate worth 7000 silvers and be left with a comfortable surplus.’

Ikasa was happily calculating his gains from this auction when he felt a jolt in his chest. He immediately turned his attention towards the stage while rubbing his chest.

What he saw stunned him. On the stage a green chipset was displayed on a red satin cloth. He didn’t know what chipset it was, but he had a feeling it could help his printer upgrade.

Ikasa desperately wanted to bid for the chip set. Unfortunately, circumstances didn’t allow it. The Xue Family and the City Lord’s Manor were here for this rare antique unearthed from the ruins in abandoned lands near Sal City.

As soon as Shan Wu finished the introduction, City Lord Du Wen and Patriarch Xue personally started to bid.

“20000 Silver!”

“21000 Silver!”

These were their opening bids. Their opening bids were so outrageous that they might as well be their final ones. And yet they raised them to outmatch each other.

The bids increased so quickly that Shan Wu didn’t even get a chance to start a countdown. Their bidding only slowed when they reached the 35000 Silver.

“35,500 Silvers!”

Patriarch Xue raised the price even higher after a moment of deliberation.

City Lord Du Wen didn’t rush to raise the bid quickly. He instead met Patriarch Xue’s gaze.

“What did City Lord Zhen offer you that you are willing to pay this high of a price?”

Patriarch Xue smiled genially.

“His offer is quite lucrative, City Lord Du. And even if he doesn’t offer me anything I would still get this antique for my Brother-in-law.”

City Lord Zhen was the City Lord of Tier 3 City, Birch City and also the legally wedded husband of Xue Miao, Patriarch Xue’s younger sister.

“36,000 Silvers!”

City Lord Du Wen outmatched Patriarch Xue’s bid once again.

Patriarch Xue looked at City Lord contemplatively. He had to know the answer to this question.

“Has the main branch of the Du family also set its eyes on this antique?”

Once Patriarch Xue voiced his question he noticed the City Lord sigh. His heart sank when he heard City Lord’s answer.

“They are in Mahogany City and yet, they specially sent me a message to be on the lookout for these kinds of treasures. If I find it, I have to get it for them.”

The Du family was based in tier 2, Mahogany city and produced numerous imperial officials. Du Wen was a member of a branch of this colossus. Patriarch Xue knew he wouldn’t be able to snatch the treasure if the Du Family wanted it but he had to try. After all, Mahogany City was very far from Sal City.

He raised the bid to his set limit. If City Lord Du could go higher, he could only give up.

“41,000 Silvers”

In response a calm voice of Du Wen resounded.

“41,300 Silvers”

Shan Wu began her countdown for the last time tonight.

Patriarch Xue struggled but finally chose to give up.

“Congratulations, City Lord for winning this rare antique.”

Her words broke the spell of silence in the hall. Whispers and murmurs turned the hall boisterous. Ikasa watched with a gaping mouth as the thing he wanted was presented to City Lord for a whopping price of 41,300 silver!

After having dinner at a banquet organized by the Lotus Pavilion for all the attendees, Ikasa collected his unspent deposit of 10 gold and made his way home.

On the way, he just had one thought in his head.

‘Just what was that Chipset? And Why did I feel I needed it?’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep