Chen Fei was unaware of the legends surrounding the Blood Moon Stone in the Western world. However, in the Eastern world, as well as in the memories passed down from the great masters of the Cultivation World, it was unanimously regarded as a low-grade, top-tier crafting material of exceptional value. The most notable characteristic of this material was its versatility and transformative potential; if it could be integrated into any treasure below the level of a Top Grade Magic Artifact, there was a high chance that the item's rank would directly ascend by one level.

In other words, if he could obtain this fist-sized Blood Moon Stone, he could very likely evolve his Low Grade Magic Artifact, the Mystic Stone Mirror, into a Mid-Grade one. By then, with the power of a Mid-Grade Magic Artifact and his current cultivation level, he probably wouldn't be outmatched even when confronting those at the half-step Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

And if his cultivation level advanced further to the true Qi Refining Seventh Layer, he likely wouldn't fear even those who had already reached that stage. At this thought, Chen Fei felt his lips go dry. A flash of excitement crossed his eyes, followed by a rebellious curve forming on his lips.

He was determined to get the Blood Moon Stone!

"Mr. Chen, you..." Duke Ovilia witnessed Chen Fei's reaction and couldn't help but freeze for a moment, hesitating.

"I want this," Chen Fei said sternly, not bothering to explain. His tone brooked no doubt or refusal. He knew the duke might also have designs on the Blood Moon Stone, so he had to extinguish that notion immediately.

"You… I understand." As expected, Duke Ovilia was stunned for a long moment. He clearly couldn't understand why Chen Fei had such a sudden and keen interest in their Blood Clan's sacred treasure—the Blood Ancestor Essence Stone.

However, since the man had spoken in such an uncompromising tone, and considering Chen Fei's terrifying strength, the duke ultimately chose to back down. After all, although the Blood Ancestor Essence Stone was invaluable, it wasn't a treasure for which the Brad Family had to compete with their full might. Besides, even if the Brad Family had such intentions, they weren't the only powerful family in the auction hall.

"Twenty thousand Magic Gold Coins!" The next moment, before Grand Duke Abel on the auction stage could even announce the starting bid and reserve price, an eager, undisguised voice rang out, dripping with arrogance. If one listened carefully, they could even discern a hint of a threat.

The message was obvious. This Blood Ancestor Essence Stone is mine. None of you better compete with me!

The auction hall fell eerily quiet, not because they were intimidated, but because they were wondering who would dare to be so brazen. And the voice sounded rather young. Of course, some were not convinced.

"Twenty thousand Magic Gold Coins, is that supposed to be impressive? Uncle Abukennidio, how many Magic Gold Coins do we have left? This is the Blood Ancestor Essence Stone! We absolutely cannot give up!" a man in one of the VIP rooms said, his face gloomy as he spoke urgently to the person beside him. Abukennidio, his family's Chief Steward, had personally accompanied him this time.

"...Young Master, let's just forget it," the old steward named Abukennidio advised, his eyes troubled.

"Forget it? Why?" the young man asked, not understanding.

"We brought a total of 24,000 Magic Gold Coins this time. Even if we try to borrow more now, we probably couldn't exceed 30,000. This Blood Ancestor Essence Stone was just bid up to the sky-high price of 20,000 Magic Gold Coins. The 30,000 we might scrounge up probably won't be enough," the old steward analyzed calmly.

"But there's still a chance, isn't there?" the young man persisted, unwilling to give up.

"There might be a slight chance, but, Young Master, didn't you recognize who made that bid?" the old steward followed up, his face grim.

"The bidder? Who is it?" the young man asked, taken aback.

"Bread Ashford of the Ashford Family. The grandson of the Black Dragon Nemosin!" the old steward said slowly.

"What!?"

The young man's resolve was instantly doused, as if by a bucket of ice water, and his desire crumbled to dust. Bread Ashford, grandson of the Black Dragon Nemosin—how could he not know who that was? And he certainly didn't dare to provoke him.

At the same time, similar conversations were unfolding in many other VIP rooms. They had no choice; Bread's notorious reputation, along with the Black Dragon Nemosin's fiercely protective nature, was all too well-known in their circles. As a result, no one dared to cross him.

"Heh." In a certain VIP room, the one who had shouted the sky-high price of 20,000 Magic Gold Coins, Bread, chuckled with immense pride, as if basking in glory. No one dared to oppose him! No one dared to disrespect Bread Ashford! This was the power of his identity—his influence and deterrence.

As for why his own Ashford Family was selling the item while he, their number one talent, was now bidding on it, the reason was simple. The item didn't actually belong to the Ashford Family; someone was merely using this opportunity to commission them to sell it on their behalf.

But just as Bread sat there with a proud expression, already considering the Blood Ancestor Essence Stone on the stage as good as his, a faint bidding voice cut through the air amidst the stunned expressions of the crowd. "Add a thousand. Twenty-one thousand."

"Whoa!"

"No way! Is someone really bidding against Bread? Are they serious?"

"What's so surprising? Just because we're scared doesn't mean everyone is! Bread's grandfather is powerful, but not everyone fears him."

"True! But Bread must be furious now. He probably thought it was in the bag!"

…

The venue erupted in a low murmur.

"Who is that? Did they not recognize my voice? How dare they compete with me!?" Seeing this, Bread Ashford's face darkened. He glared through the window toward the VIP room the voice had come from, but he obviously couldn't see who was inside.

"Twenty-two thousand Magic Gold Coins!" Just as Bread's expression turned exceedingly ugly, someone else placed a bid. It seemed to be a representative from a well-known, powerful Blood Clan family.

"Twenty-two thousand five hundred Magic Gold Coins!" another bid followed.

However, just then, that same calm voice sounded again. "Thirty thousand!"

The bid jumped by 7,500 Magic Gold Coins in an instant, leaving everyone present stunned. The room fell silent once more. The one who made this grand bid was none other than our Young Master Chen, Chen Fei.

Faced with the immense temptation of the Blood Moon Stone, he certainly wasn't going to foolishly conserve his funds. After all, including what the Ashford family had prepared for him, he had a total of 45,000 Magic Gold Coins on hand. It would be best if he could win the bid! If he used up all his coins and still lost, he would probably have to resort to other methods! Such as... robbery! In any case, just like with that last Jade Artifact, he was unwilling and would never give up on this Blood Moon Stone!

"Fuck!" Seeing this, Bread's face naturally turned as dark and ugly as possible. The Blood Ancestor Essence Stone was precious, but 30,000 Magic Gold Coins... that was an astronomical price!

"Thirty-one thousand Magic Gold Coins." Just then, an unfamiliar female voice joined the bidding. She hadn't seemed to participate before.

Upon hearing her voice, however, Bread's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Miss Vivian, I haven't seen you in so long! I've missed your beauty terribly," he said, a smile forming on his lips as his tone suddenly became elegant. "Do you need this Blood Ancestor Essence Stone as well? If so, allow me to present it to you as a token of my long-held affection. Please, grant me this opportunity, won't you?"

"WHOA!"

"What! Miss Vivian? Could it be Vivian of the Nuo Weiya Family? I remember her grandmother is one of the family's two giants, right? The Nuo Weiya Family is publicly the strongest of the Eleven Major Mafia Families in Europe right now. Only legendary SSS-Level Powerhouses or a Blood Clan Prince are qualified to be one of the family's giants!"

"Who else could it be? I can't believe she came in person. But Bread is being really generous, isn't he? A Blood Ancestor Essence Stone worth over 30,000 Magic Gold Coins, and he's just giving it away?"

"What do you know? Bread has been pursuing Vivian for years! If those two get together, other things aside, at least Elder Vance's faction in the Ashford Family will definitely be suppressed!"

"If that's the case, are you saying the European Dark World is about to be reshuffled?"

"…"

Suddenly, the crowd was in an uproar. It was as if a giant boulder had been tossed into a calm lake, sending waves of shock through everyone's hearts.

The Nuo Weiya Family was currently the publicly acknowledged strongest of the Eleven Major Mafia Families of Europe. When comparing them with the Ashford Family and their concealed strength, it was difficult to say who was superior. And now, the sole granddaughter of one of the Nuo Weiya Family's two giants, Miss Vivian Nuo Weiya, was also interested in the stone.

It seemed no one would dare to continue bidding. Forgetting about Miss Vivian's grandmother for a moment, who was one of the two giants of the Nuo Weiya Family, just look at Bread, who had now clearly stated his "attitude." Who would dare to cross him at a time like this? That would be asking for death.

"Since you've put it that way, then all right," the female voice replied, accepting Bread's proposal. It wasn't hard to understand; that was over 30,000 Magic Gold Coins, and it's always best to save money when you can.

Hearing her acceptance, Bread was instantly invigorated, as if injected with adrenaline. Overjoyed, he quickly shouted out his bid again. "I, Bread Ashford, bid thirty-one thousand five hundred Magic Gold Coins!"

He deliberately spoke very slowly, ensuring everyone heard him clearly. The threat in his voice was unmistakable: who would dare to compete with him now?

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