After a satisfying meal, some of the women decided they wanted to get footbaths to relax. Luo Xiu wasn't in the mood to join them, so he and Li Jiuzhen went to the third floor to find a lounge for a nap.

At two-thirty that afternoon, the auction resumed.

The first item was a nine-eyed Dzi bead. According to Xiao Hong's introduction, it had been acquired from an old lama in Hua Country Zang Land. Insiders called this "forming a fateful connection," while laymen joked it was "Buddha provides passage for the funded."

The opening bid for this nine-eyed Dzi bead was five million, and it was ultimately bought by a wealthy man from out of town for twenty-three million to "form a connection."

"A stone the size of a finger for twenty-three million. The world of the rich is truly unimaginable."

In Box No. 3, Luo Xiu shook his head and sighed.

"But to collectors of Dzi beads, this nine-eyed one is absolutely worth the price," Lin Xiyue commented.

"That's true," Luo Xiu said. "Something worthless in your eyes might be a priceless treasure to someone else."

The second item presented was a diamond.

However, unlike the kind typically seen on engagement rings, this diamond wasn't a multi-faceted cone but a perfect, regular cube about the size of a child's palm. At first glance, it looked like a die carved from diamond.

Luo Xiu was initially uninterested, but he became deeply captivated when he saw the pattern within the diamond. The pattern inside it was identical to the one carved on the surface of the Jade Pendant around his neck!

The design resembled both a lotus flower and a brightly burning flame. Yet, it looked less like a pattern and more like a real, tiny lotus growing inside the diamond. From every angle, the small lotus appeared full and three-dimensional.

On the stage, Xiao Hong held the microphone and explained, "As you can all see on the large screen, there is a lotus flower inside this diamond. This was not artificially inserted; the lotus is naturally occurring within it. Our modern technology is incapable of achieving such a feat."

"Furthermore, the hardness of this diamond far exceeds that of any diamond we typically see. Whether man-made or natural, none can match the hardness of this one."

"After examination by our expert authorities, we have confirmed that this diamond was formed naturally and has only been polished by human hands."

In Box No. 3, Li Zihan faced the giant screen above the hall, staring at the image with a pensive expression. Suddenly, she recalled something from the past and walked over to Luo Xiu. "I've seen this diamond before," she said.

Luo Xiu looked at her, puzzled.

Li Zihan asked, "Do you remember the woman I told you about last time?"

Luo Xiu frowned. Li Zihan had previously told him that while serving as a combat medic, she had treated a wounded woman with the same lotus pattern on her body as the one on his Jade Pendant. That woman's surname was also Luo.

"I've seen this diamond before," Li Zihan said. "It was hers."

Coincidentally, at that moment, Xiao Hong began to introduce the diamond's origin, stating that it was found on the Henghai Battlefield. This confirmed Li Zihan's suspicion. The diamond at the auction was the very same one she had seen in the possession of that wounded woman years ago.

On the stage, Xiao Hong continued, "Because we have no detailed history for it and its true purpose is unknown, this diamond can only be considered a memento of the Henghai campaign."

"The starting bid is eight hundred thousand, with each increment no less than fifty thousand."

An awkward silence fell over the hall as no one placed a bid. Items found among the dead on a battlefield were generally considered to carry bad energy and be highly inauspicious. Those present were all wealthy and influential members of society, and they were often the most superstitious, fearful of bringing something unclean home. Moreover, this diamond had appeared at several previous auctions but had always remained unsold, indicating a general lack of interest.

Xiao Hong assumed it would fail to sell again and was about to move on when Luo Xiu from Box No. 3 placed a bid.

"Eight hundred thousand going once!"

"Eight hundred thousand going twice!"

"Sold!"

Xiao Hong's gavel fell, finalizing the sale.

In the end, Luo Xiu acquired the diamond for eight hundred thousand. Although he didn't know what use it had, the lotus flower inside made him feel it was worth the price to take it home and study it.

As time went on, the medicinal herbs Luo Xiu wanted appeared one after another. There were three types in total: Deer Horn Dendrobium, Yin Moon Flower, and Yanluo Hand. Luo Xiu spent over a hundred million in total to acquire all three, mainly because numerous wealthy bidders drove up the prices. Fortunately, they all eventually backed down.

As the auction neared its conclusion, the eagerly anticipated second Solid Peiyuan Pill finally made its appearance.

The starting bid for the second Solid Peiyuan Pill was, once again, nine million.

Not wanting to waste time with what he considered riff-raff, Duan Feibai brazenly raised the price to two hundred million. This instantly filtered out a large portion of the bidders he viewed as poor, truly demonstrating what "inhumanly rich" meant.

"Young Master Duan, isn't your approach a bit improper?" an elderly voice called out from Box No. 1 on the second floor.

Duan Feibai just smiled faintly. "We are all following the rules. This is an auction. Naturally, whoever has the most money gets the prize."

Another person retorted angrily, "When the first pill came up, none of us competed with you! We let you have it, intending to bid on the second one!"

"Now that the second one is out, you immediately drive the price to two hundred million! What is the meaning of this?!"

Soon, angry condemnations echoed from all corners of the hall. In an instant, Duan Feibai became the target of everyone's scorn.

But he couldn't care less. He was rich, so he could be willful.

"Everyone, I'll say it again… at an auction, money is power. There's no such thing as letting someone win."

"Besides, it wasn't easy for the mysterious senior who refined these two Elixirs. What's wrong with helping him earn a bit more?"

His words were met with another chorus of furious curses.

Luo Xiu, however, was somewhat moved.

"I bid two hundred and five million! Duan family boy, don't you dare raise it again!"

Duan Feibai scoffed dismissively and announced loudly, "My apologies, old sir whose name I don't know, but our Duan Family simply has too much money, more than we know what to do with… I bid three hundred million!"

"You…"

What Duan Feibai didn't realize was that the occupants of the private boxes on the second floor were all true magnates. They might not have been as fabulously wealthy as the Duan Family, but they were more powerful. Some were even reclusive figures from Ancient Martial Families and sects.

But just as Duan Feibai had said, at an auction, money was power.

In the end, Duan Feibai won the second Solid Peiyuan Pill for the sky-high price of five hundred million.

After the auction ended, Luo Xiu and his group went backstage. They had items to collect and money to receive.

At the counter, Luo Xiu presented his invoice. After processing the transaction, the cashier offered a professional smile. "Esteemed guest, you have won a total of four treasures at this auction, for a combined total of one hundred thirty million, eight hundred thousand. Our warehouse staff has already packed them for you. You can collect them after payment."

"Tianbao Residence will also provide complimentary bodyguards to escort our honored guests safely home."

Luo Xiu scratched his head. "Ah, sorry, miss, but I don't have that much money on me right now. If you could just wait a moment, the money will be here soon."

The cashier's expression shifted slightly. Is this guy here to cause trouble? Why come to an auction if you have no money? It's one thing to show up, but to bid on so many treasures and then not be able to pay? What kind of joke is this?

Just then, Sun Li walked over and took out a bank card. "Use mine."

Luo Xiu refused. "Xiao Li, friends are friends, and money is money. How can I always be spending yours? Besides, it's not like I can't afford it."

Sun Li nodded in understanding and put her card away. "By the way, Xiu, didn't my grandpa give you a card? That one should work here."

Luo Xiu was a bit exasperated. "That's still your Sun Family's money."

Sun Li looked confused. "My grandpa gave you the card so you could use it freely."

"Heh, broke but still trying to act like a big shot?"

"Needing a woman to pay for you?"

A jeering voice came from behind Luo Xiu. He turned to see Duan Feibai and Du Gang.

Duan Feibai shot Luo Xiu a look of disdain, then pushed past him to the counter and handed his own invoice to the cashier.

Seeing the invoice, the cashier immediately stood up, her beautiful eyes trembling as she looked at Duan Feibai, her heart pounding with uncontrollable excitement. Is this the legendary Young Master of the Duan Family? He's so handsome! And so rich!

"Esteemed guest, you have won a total of three treasures. One has already been paid for and collected. The remaining two amount to nine hundred and fifty million."

Duan Feibai glanced back at Luo Xiu with utter contempt, then produced a glittering gold bank card and handed it over.

"Use this card."

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