Chapter 730: East Heaven King City's Cash King

Fifty billion.

The entire venue fell into a stunned silence.

Xu Xiaoshou, however, remained completely unfazed. Facing the crowd's shocked gazes directed at Box 209, he said calmly:

"Assuming I haven't misunderstood, the Lingque Trading Meeting is for those with the ability to bid, and here, it shouldn't matter about one's influence or power?"

The whole place went quiet.

That was true enough!

But did he have to be so stubborn about it?

This was a textbook example of not turning back until hitting the wall, or people dying for wealth and birds perishing for food!

"Sixty billion." Box 1 ignored the tension and spoke coldly.

This time, everyone felt cold sweat seeping through their backs.

For the first time, Shengshen Hall was making such a formal bid. Would Tian Shang First Building respond?

"Seventy billion." Xu Xiaoshou replied with effortless ease.

"Oh my kidneys!"

Some people downstairs couldn't hold back anymore.

Had Tian Shang First Building gone mad?

Directly confronting Shengshen Hall head-on?

"Cowabunga!"

"No wonder it's Tian Shang First Building—truly deserving of the name, and as a semi-saint force... This confidence, I might not respect anything else, but I respect you!"

Voices erupted from all around.

Even the major powers like Guiyin Pavilion in Box 3 and Da Xian Tian Zong in Box 13 were utterly shocked.

They had already tried to think as highly as possible of Tian Shang First Building.

Yet, after the incident with the Alchemists' Association, its backing and confidence had exceeded their expectations once again.

Even if the leaders of Guiyin Pavilion or Da Xian Tian Zong were here to bid, they wouldn't have the guts!

Directly challenging Shengshen Hall.

As before... how on earth was Tian Shang First Building daring to do this?!

"Eighty billion!"

Amid the crowd's shock, the voice from Box 1 carried a hint of anger.

Now, everyone could detect the unusual tone in that voice.

It seemed this was the first time someone had dared to challenge Shengshen Hall's authority in Dongtian Wangcheng.

Yet, at this moment, it wasn't even the limit...

"One hundred billion!"

Another jaw-dropping number emerged.

To everyone's surprise, the bid of "one hundred billion" didn't come from Box 209, but from the obscure Box 122, which had only won a few antique collectibles earlier.

Everyone: "???"

Another fearless challenger?

Who was in Box 122?

Why jump in just when Shengshen Hall was bidding, and suppress it so aggressively?

You couldn't slap someone in the face like that!

This was no longer about saving face.

Was Box 122 planning to shatter the prestige Shengshen Hall had built over the years with spirit crystals?

As the crowd wondered, a light laugh came from Box 122, and the voice spread instantly in all directions:

"There's no need for surprise, everyone."

"In my view, Young Master Xu from Tian Shang First Building is absolutely right."

"A trading meeting is all about the spirit crystals, after all."

"Coincidentally, besides the spirit crystals, I also have some knowledge of the additional requests from that elder on the stage."

He didn't even care about the crowd's reactions and continued on his own: "It's just a normal transaction, a small bid—surely no one minds?"

The last remark was clearly aimed at Box 1.

Xu Xiaoshou was genuinely surprised.

He was here on a mission to stir things up in Wangcheng, so he had no fears.

The Blood Tree Yin Branch hit his weak spot perfectly.

He also knew a bit about the ghost beasts, so he dared to bid.

But this opponent...

What were they up to?

"Who is in Box 122?" Xu Xiaoshou turned and asked.

Liu Lu was stunned for a moment, then replied with what he knew: "This organization seems to be newly emerged. Ye Mao doesn't have details on them. We don't know where they got the trading meeting invitation—probably from elsewhere..."

"But their registered wealth is indeed over a hundred billion!"

After a pause, Liu Lu listened to something in his ear and continued: "There are three people in Box 122: one in a gold robe, one in a blue robe, and one in a purple robe. Their faces aren't clear—they came with masks, and..."

"Wait!" Xu Xiaoshou interrupted, a sudden flash in his mind as he exclaimed in shock, "You said they came with their own masks? Gold robe and purple robe?"

"Um." Liu Lu nodded, not understanding.

"Did they register an organization name?"

"Yes, but it seems like they just made it up. It's called... Yanwang?"

"Startled, passive points, plus 1."

At that moment, Xu Xiaoshou was truly startled.

Yanwang!

That wasn't just made up—it was their real organization name!

Those people from the Yanwang organization who had targeted his Tian Zhi Eye in the alley—they were here too?

Outsiders might not know, but Xu Xiaoshou had faced them directly and witnessed their prowess.

This organization dared to openly target the semi-saint Jiang family and ignore Shengshen Hall—that was just... normal for them!

Completely normal!

The price for the Blood Tree Yin Branch had climbed to one hundred billion.

The white-haired, beast-faced elder on the stage was already very satisfied.

But he still couldn't help reminding: "Besides the spirit crystals, the additional conditions are the most important—don't forget that, everyone."

By now, however, everyone's attention was no longer on the white-haired, beast-faced elder.

Even in Box 1, Cheng Ji and Chu Lisheng had taken a strong interest in Box 122 and hurriedly asked Ye Mao for information.

But to no avail.

They got nothing useful.

This left Cheng Ji hesitating.

He wasn't sure if he should keep bidding.

Box 122 and Box 209 didn't seem short on money.

But Shengshen Hall was different.

They had money, but every penny was allocated to major decisions and projects.

The branch was under headquarters' control.

Cheng Ji couldn't just mobilize endless resources on his own to secure the Blood Tree Yin Branch.

While Box 1 was still hesitating, Xu Xiaoshou from Box 209 had already started bidding again: "One hundred and one billion!"

Box 122 followed suit, throwing out: "One hundred and ten billion."

"One hundred and eleven billion." Xu Xiaoshou chuckled and chased with just a bit more—what did he have to fear?

"One hundred and twenty billion." The voice from Box 122 rose again.

"One hundred and twenty-one billion." Xu Xiaoshou pursued once more.

"One hundred and thirty billion!"

"One hundred and thirty-one billion."

"One hundred..."

The voice from Yanwang suddenly paused.

Tian Shang First Building's way of adding just one billion at a time felt like they were toying with them.

Realizing this, the person in Box 122—Bitan Huakai under the blue mask—had a sour expression.

"This is too much!"

"Huang Quan, I suspect Tian Shang First Building is messing with us!"

Bitan Huakai was the blue-robed agent of the Yanwang organization.

Just like the purple-robed Jiu You Gui Ying, both were under the command of the gold-robed Huang Quan.

At that moment, Bitan Huakai was truly angry, his chest heaving, and he subconsciously reached for his mask to catch his breath.

Jiu You Gui Ying's cold eyes, glowing with a greenish light under his mask, swept over instantly: "Mind your image, and don't forget, your new body isn't suited for getting angry."

Bitan Huakai: "..."

He had been utterly destroyed by the Ming Jian from Sheng Nu's Lei Shuanghang in Wangcheng's alley, without any chance to fight back.

That filled him with shame.

But it also made him realize the terror of the ancient sword cultivator's Jian Dao Wangzuo.

If Huang Quan hadn't appeared at the last moment with the power of time-space regression to retrieve his divine soul...

The Yanwang organization's blue-robed representative would have had to be replaced.

Bitan Huakai felt extremely wronged.

He hadn't fully adapted to this new body yet, so Lei Jia Tong couldn't be transferred over. For now, he was the weakest in Yanwang.

Normally, he could trade barbs with his rival Jiu You Gui Ying, but now, he didn't dare.

So, Bitan Huakai turned to the gold-robed masked figure: "Huang Quan, Tian Shang First Building is bullying us, and Jiu You is taking advantage too..."

Huang Quan said nothing.

Bitan Huakai immediately backed down and fell silent.

At this point, Jiu You Gui Ying spoke up, glancing back at the gold-robed masked figure with some hesitation: "Tian Shang First Building isn't short on money, and neither are we. But endless bidding like this will only benefit others, and besides, we need our funds for other things..."

"What's there to fear?" Bitan Huakai seized the opportunity and interjected: "Money is meant to be earned. How can we let Tian Shang First Building insult us like this?"

Jiu You Gui Ying: "Shut up, or I swear I'll kill you."

"I believe you!"

Bitan Huakai puffed out his chest and declared boldly, then immediately sealed his lips and said no more.

The three in the box spoke freely, but they were extremely cautious.

Every word was transmitted via sound, within the Wangzuo domain, under Huang Quan's watch.

Even with Ye Mao's spirit array monitoring and Tai Xu experts, they couldn't eavesdrop at all.

Huang Quan, lounging on the sofa, appeared to have only empty eyes under his mask.

In reality, he was watching the banter between the two with great interest.

Yanwang had chosen to recruit young people, so it should accept their youthful ways.

Besides, this kind of unguarded chatter hadn't been seen in ages.

If it were the older members of the organization, such playful arguments would never happen in front of him.

How to put it?

It had a unique flavor!

With a flicker of thought, Huang Quan's gaze pulled back from his memories to the present. He moved his hands, spread on the sofa, and said indifferently: "Go ahead, add more, but stay under two hundred billion. Let's play along."

"Yes!"

Bitan Huakai's eyes lit up instantly. He tilted his chin at Jiu You Gui Ying and then turned to shout energetically: "One hundred and fifty billion!"

"I say, on the other side, if you've got the money, go all in. Don't play around with just one billion at a time—it's no fun at all!"

Jiu You Gui Ying sighed immediately.

Having someone like this in the organization made them lose face, in his view.

On the other side, Xu Xiaoshou heard this and smirked.

If it was Yanwang, there was no way he'd let them win.

But just as his lips curved to speak, Yuan Haisheng's voice came through his ear: "Young Master Xu, no need to keep bidding!"

"Though the Blood Tree Yin Branch is highly desirable and valuable, we've just looked into this Yanwang organization—they seem quite formidable."

"Besides, with Shengshen Hall in the mix, even if Yanwang gets the Blood Tree Yin Branch, they might not hold onto it."

"The same goes for Tian Shang First Building—if you spend a fortune to grab it, you could invite unnecessary trouble later..."

"Think carefully before acting!" Yuan Haisheng urged heavily.

Xu Xiaoshou's expression shifted.

He hadn't expected the organizer, Ye Mao, to look out for him like this and offer a reminder—it was breaking their own rules.

After all, they were the hosts and stood to gain from higher bids.

For them to set aside profits and speak up showed Ye Mao really wanted to build ties with Tian Shang First Building.

Xu Xiaoshou appreciated the gesture.

But some things couldn't be conceded.

If the Blood Tree Yin Branch fell to Yanwang, Shengshen Hall might not pursue it, and besides...

"I'm just making a normal bid for the Blood Tree Yin Branch—what's there to fear from Shengshen Hall's fallout?"

Xu Xiaoshou replied with a smile: "More than that, once it's in my hands... I'd like to see who can make me give it up!"

Then, amid Yuan Haisheng's sigh, Xu Xiaoshou turned to the venue and called out: "Two hundred billion!"

"Damn..." The people in the seats clutched their heads, their pupils shaking.

The previous rounds of bidding had already left everyone exhausted.

No one was foolish—midway through, Box 1's silence meant even Shengshen Hall couldn't keep up.

But Box 122 and Box 209...

Did they not have to worry about their organization's future?

Just like that, two hundred billion was shouted out?

In the background, Yuan Haisheng and Nangong Yin exchanged glances, both falling silent.

In Box 1, Cheng Ji and Chu Lisheng sank back into their sofa, their expressions dim as they pondered something.

Beyond their expectations, the Blood Tree Yin Branch might end up with Tian Shang First Building?

It was supposed to go to a big fish—how could it fall to such an unreliable group like Tian Shang First Building?

Or perhaps...

"Tian Shang First Building is actually a big fish?" When Chu Lisheng thought of this, he looked at Lord Cheng, hesitating to speak.

Cheng Ji smiled.

"Investigate!"

In Box 122.

Bitan Huakai looked back at the gold-robed masked figure: "Huang Quan..."

"Let it go for now."

Huang Quan gestured, not wanting to bid further.

"Alright!" At this point, Bitan Huakai dropped his joking tone and said seriously, word by word: "Then we'll... let it go to them!"

Two hundred billion.

For any organization, it was a massive sum.

Perhaps in terms of overall assets, most present could scrape together that amount, even exceeding it.

But to pull out that much in cash for a transaction...

Two hundred billion would hurt deeply, possibly down to the bone!

Crucially, any treasures they needed later would have to be forfeited.

Wangcheng was a place of no rules.

Not every major power or dominant force was swimming in cash...

Shengshen Hall was no exception.

Yanwang was no exception.

The only exception was the newly minted tycoon—Xu Xiaoshou—with the three Void Orders in hand. After his encounter with the storyteller, his wealth had skyrocketed.

On the stage.

The white-haired, beast-faced elder finalized it with three hammer strikes, and with no further bids, the Blood Tree Yin Branch went to Young Master Xu in Box 209 for two hundred billion, plus the additional condition.

This time, no attendant stepped forward—the white-haired, beast-faced elder personally carried the jade box and headed to the second floor.

Everyone knew that Box 209 was about to host a major discussion on ghost beasts under Shengshen Hall's watchful eye.

If the content leaked...

Tsk tsk!

It would be nuclear-level explosive!