Chapter 720: Don't Film from Across, Come to My Room

Chapter 702: Stop Bidding Opposite Me, Come to My Room

"Strongly demand to open the jade box!"

"Bodhi Tree Root, what are its flaws? Tell us!"

"Keeping it hidden is a disrespect to the trade fair!"

As soon as the voice from Box Number 3 spoke, the entire audience stirred, their emotions running high.

On the stage, Nangong Yin, the second-in-command of the Night Cats, remained completely composed.

His face was hidden by a beast mask, making it impossible to read his expression, but there was a faint sense that he had anticipated this scene and was full of confidence.

"Everyone, please calm down."

Waving his hands, Nangong Yin did not open the jade box, but spoke calmly: "Indeed, the Bodhi Tree Root has a slight flaw—it cannot be planted."

"This innate treasure from the dawn of chaos requires the primordial purple qi from that era to nurture it. Even just the root cannot be replanted and grown into a full Bodhi Ancient Tree as you might hope."

"So, any idea of planting the Bodhi Tree Root in your sects to suppress destiny is nothing but wishful thinking—utter nonsense!"

"However, that's not the issue I want to discuss."

Nangong Yin scanned the room, his hand resting on the jade box, his tone still composed: "What I mentioned earlier about holding the Bodhi Tree Root to enhance comprehension is entirely true, without any exaggeration."

"The Night Cats are selling it solely for that property and nothing more."

The crowd fell silent upon hearing this.

Indeed, Nangong Yin hadn't hidden anything in his previous remarks. He had always emphasized the "enhancement of comprehension."

As for imagining the Bodhi Tree Root as something more perfect, that was just the subconscious fantasy of the representatives from various factions.

An ancient treasure surviving to this day as just a root is impressive enough.

Why expect the Night Cats to offer only flawless items?

Still, Nangong Yin's subtle omission—if Box Number 3 hadn't spoken up—might have led everyone to be guided toward that ideal image and bid frantically.

Thus, while people could understand, the resentment from feeling indirectly misled naturally arose.

"Good one, it's all about the art of speaking, right?"

Inside his box, Xu Xiaoshou listened with a sigh of admiration. This Nangong Yin was truly masterful.

Subtle guidance was the deadliest.

He himself hadn't been fooled by Nangong Yin's earlier words.

After all, a treasure's value was what it was. If it were extremely rare, the Night Cats wouldn't have put it up for sale.

However, Nangong Yin's final explanations sparked some ideas in him.

"Planting..."

"Others can't plant it because it's missing the primordial purple qi for nurturing."

"But my Yuanfu has a massive amount of 'primordial mist' from the world's dawn. Does that count as 'primordial purple qi'?"

Xu Xiaoshou fell into thought.

He felt the only mismatch between "primordial mist" and "primordial purple qi" was probably the color.

He wondered if there was a way to dye it...

But his Yuanfu world had already evolved to produce "grass" and "water," and he had the Life Spirit Seal in hand.

Maybe he really could get this Bodhi Tree Root and try planting it?

Even if planting failed, its ability to "enhance comprehension" alone would be perfect for someone like him with limited talent.

"Xu Xiaoshou, buy it. This is a good thing."

At that moment, Mu Zixi said anxiously from the side.

"Why do you want everything?"

"This really is a great item. I can sense it..."

This time, Mu Zixi seemed serious, not joking as she urged him.

Xu Xiaoshou was startled. He could tell his junior sister wasn't lying, and considering her wood attribute...

"That's right!"

"Even if the Bodhi Tree Root can't be planted and is only for enhancing comprehension, it's still useful for me."

"If I give it to my wood-attribute junior sister, maybe we can discover some other uses?"

The Swallowing Wood Body... The thought suddenly flashed in his mind of the conversation he'd had with Elder Sang about his junior sister's special physique.

This physique was quite unique.

Elder Sang's assessment was that, though a spirit body, it had the potential to become a sacred body—capable of both good and evil, depending on a single thought!

"Alright, let's go for it."

Xu Xiaoshou made up his mind and said, "Bid up to fifty billion. If it goes over that, stop. I think that's our limit."

"Okay!"

Mu Zixi's face lit up with excitement, and she immediately prepared to speak.

"Hold on..."

Xu Xiaoshou quickly covered her mouth.

I gave you a fifty billion limit, but that doesn't mean you have to throw it out right away. Whether anyone else wants this Bodhi Tree Root is still up in the air!

What if a few billion spirit crystals could seal the deal? Bidding fifty billion outright would be a huge loss!

Down in the audience, the scene unfolded just as Xu Xiaoshou had expected.

Once the Bodhi Tree Root was pulled down from its idealized pedestal and reduced to merely enhancing comprehension occasionally over a long period, the massive disappointment made many people hesitate.

No one had tried it, so they had no idea what kind of "enhancement" Nangong Yin was talking about.

What if it was just barely better than nothing?

"One billion!"

"Two billion."

"I'll go three billion."

The bids came sporadically, only from the regular seats.

The people in the boxes remained completely silent.

It was clear that for major factions, they didn't lack treasures for improving comprehension.

If what was on offer had been the full Bodhi Ancient Tree, it would have sparked a bloody frenzy, as it was one of the nine ancestral trees.

But for just the Bodhi Tree Root, stirring the interest of these big players...

One word: tough!

The bids from the audience inched up—one billion, two billion—at a snail's pace. After half an incense stick's worth of time, it barely reached twelve billion.

And each bid only came as Nangong Yin was about to finalize the deal, revealing the bidders' inner struggles.

Just as Nangong Yin was about to hammer down for the third time at twelve billion, Box Number 3 made its move.

"Twenty billion!"

The entire hall was shocked, and heads turned.

The one who had earlier dashed everyone's expectations was Box Number 3.

And now, as the bidding neared its end, it was Box Number 3 again.

It was hard not to suspect something.

"Was it intentional?"

"First lower the expectations, then snatch it at a low price..."

"Is this Box Number 3's strategy?"

Seeming to sense the crowd's doubts, the person in Box Number 3 didn't stop after bidding but continued:

"I believe that anything the Night Cats offer, even if flawed, won't be that disappointing."

"Given the legends of the Bodhi Ancient Tree, twelve billion is far too cheap."

"Twenty billion to buy some prestige... and it can also give the juniors in my faction something to play with. If any of you still want it, feel free to bid—we won't compete."

These words instantly doused the flickering interest of the crowd.

Twenty billion wasn't a small sum.

More importantly, Box Number 3's casual remark hinted at something.

"The juniors in my faction?"

"My faction..."

In Wangcheng, many sects used "ge" in their names.

But those qualified for a prime box like Number 3...

Everyone's minds converged on one name:

Guiyin Ge!

The overlord of the southern district!

With that realization, the people in the regular seats found it hard to speak up.

This faction was not one they could afford to offend!

Risking unknown results from the treasure just to cross Guiyin Ge? It was instinctively unappealing.

Thud.

On stage, Nangong Yin struck the hammer without hesitation and looked toward Box Number 3.

"Box Number 3, warning once: no indirect threats or using influence to suppress bids, or the Night Cats will ask you to leave the trade fair."

"Apologies..."

Box Number 3 responded immediately, though their tone was indifferent. "I didn't mean it that way, but I'll definitely be more careful next time."

Inside his box, Xu Xiaoshou turned to his junior sister. "Bid a little higher."

"Okay!"

Mu Zixi's mouth was uncovered, and she opened it to speak.

But at that moment, a voice came from Box Number 183.

"Twenty-one billion."

The voice wasn't altered by the beast mask, and its clear, enchanting tone made it obvious to those familiar.

A woman... That was all Xu Xiaoshou could gather.

The person in Box Number 183 clearly had the same idea as him.

"Which faction is that?"

Xu Xiaoshou quickly asked Liu Lu.

Liu Lu paused, as if listening to something, then shuddered and said, "The Alchemists Association—it's Dongling, the president... Young Master Xu, this is no one to mess with. She's the head of the Wangcheng headquarters, a top figure! A real powerhouse!"

On stage, Nangong Yin struck the hammer again.

This time, his tone carried a thread of respect: "Box Number 183, warning once: please wear the beast mask when bidding, and don't use influence to pressure others."

"Oh, next time for sure."

The response from Box Number 183 was still cool, and the beast mask clearly hadn't been put on yet.

Yet Nangong Yin fell silent, saying nothing more.

He didn't even add the usual line about expulsion for repeat offenses, making it blatantly clear: "If you do it again... well, what can I do about it anyway?"

Even newcomers to the event could see it now.

The people in Box Number 183 were even harder to provoke than those in Box Number 3!

"The Alchemists Association?"

In his box, Xu Xiaoshou frowned. Frankly, he had no goodwill toward the Alchemists Association.

After all, his skills went far beyond a tenth-grade alchemist, yet that stingy association only gave him a tenth-grade badge, as if issuing anything lower would kill them.

As he thought about it, Xu Xiaoshou patted Mu Zixi's shoulder.

She immediately understood and called out: "Thirty billion!"

Xu Xiaoshou's heart skipped a beat.

Goodness, is that what I meant by "a little higher"?

You're not giving the Alchemists Association any face at all! No matter how annoyed you are, you don't have to make it this obvious!

Liu Lu, off to the side, wiped cold sweat and kept reassuring himself:

"I didn't say anything, and Young Master Xu knows nothing about this. He's just bidding because he doesn't know who they're from."

"Yeah, that's exactly it!"

In Box Number 183,

Dongling sat with her legs crossed on the sofa, like a blooming lotus, her aura pure and transcendent.

She held the beast mask in her delicate fingers, toying with it absentmindedly, a look of surprise on her face.

Generally, in Wangcheng, major factions recognized her voice because it was so distinctive.

In events like this, once the Alchemists Association bid, they usually secured what they wanted at the lowest price.

It was an undeniable fact.

Sometimes, the organizers would even consider halting other bids outright.

After all, the gravity of losing a treasure paled in comparison to the catastrophe of no one being able to heal them in a life-or-death situation.

But right then, as if charging blindly into a trap, Box Number 172 jumped in with a bid that screamed, "I'm ready to dance with death."

"Who is that?"

Without turning her head, Dongling asked the Night Cats' attendant.

The attendant hesitated before saying, "Normally, we at the Night Cats keep such information confidential, but for you, President Dongling, we can make an exception..."

"Don't waste time!"

Dongling cut her off.

The attendant stammered slightly, then blurted out: "It's from Tian Shang First Tower! Xu Di Yan has someone with a wood attribute nearby, so they're probably eyeing this wood-based treasure. It's not a malicious bid."

Pausing, the attendant seemed to get further instructions and added helpfully: "They're new to Tian Shang First Tower, so they likely don't know your identity yet."

With that, the attendant withdrew.

Everyone was smart; no need for more words.

But her explanation didn't quell the dissatisfaction among the others in the box as expected.

Instead, they exchanged glances, showing unexpected delight.

Who would have thought...

After searching high and low, Tian Shang First Tower had walked right into their hands.

"Xu Di Yan?"

Zhou Tian Can raised an eyebrow, suddenly looking at Hua Sui, his brows furrowing then quickly rising in a "here we go" expression.

Hua Sui naturally knew about "Tian Shang First Tower"—it was the faction Zhou Tian Can suspected might house Master Xu.

She immediately turned to President Dongling.

Dongling smiled: "You all handle this. Bid as you like; I'll cover the cost."

She quickly set aside any thoughts of claiming the treasure.

Right now, the task from Shengong Palace to find someone took precedence.

The Bodhi Tree Root was a divine alchemical item, but it clearly didn't compare to Hua Sui's mission.

Su Qianqian suddenly stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the window of Box Number 172 through her beast mask, though she couldn't see inside. A sense of unease washed over her.

It felt like the person she had to find, the one she needed to say goodbye to, was right there.

"What should we do?"

Hua Sui asked anxiously; now they were on opposing sides with Master Xu.

To draw Master Xu's attention, bidding was probably the only way, but bidding against him might get her killed by her master!

"Zhou Tian Can..." Hua Sui looked to him for help.

Zhou Tian Can, under his beast mask, looked baffled.

He had no idea what was going on; somehow, he had become the backbone of this box, and he internally screamed, "Why are you all looking at me? What can I do?"

But on the surface, he tried to project an air of reliability.

After a quick think, Zhou Tian Can suggested: "Provoke him, make someone in that box speak... Once they do, I can tell if it's him from the scent, even through ten boxes."

Hua Sui froze, then grew frustrated.

What kind of nonsense was that?!

Provoke Master Xu?

I'd refine you first, wouldn't I?!

Dismissing that utterly impractical idea, with the stage attendant already calling "second time" and the deal about to close, Hua Sui panicked. She adjusted her beast mask, leaned toward the window, and shouted:

"Twenty-one billion!"

"Don't bid anymore on the opposite side. Wait till I get this treasure, then come to my room—I'll give it to you!"