Chapter 294: Storage Bracelet
Huang Yanchen shot a glare at Chen Xier, her sapphire-blue pupils emitting a piercing cold light. "Chen Xier, you did that on purpose! You're the daughter of the Martial Market Academy's headmaster. On Demon Ridge, who would dare touch you? What use is the Water-Fire-Wind-Thunder Formation to you?"
Seeing Huang Yanchen angry made Chen Xier very happy. She put on a pitiful expression and said sweetly, "Cousin, why are you so furious? I just lack a sense of security, that's why I wanted a set of formation flags. I'm not like you, Cousin, who has a fiancé to protect you."
Hearing this, Yan Yunhuan, who was sitting nearby, immediately patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, Sister Xier. I, Yan, am willing to be your lifelong protector."
Huang Yanchen gave Yan Yunhuan a pitying look. "Being taken for a fool and thinking you're something special. With an heir like you, the Yan Clan is probably on its way to decline!"
"Princess Yanchen, I am willingly buying the 'Water-Fire-Wind-Thunder Formation' for Sister Xier. This has nothing to do with her, so you'd better not speak disrespectfully to her. I am determined to have this set of 'Water-Fire-Wind-Thunder Formation' flags!"
Yan Yunhuan flared his nostrils, wearing an expression that said, "I'm rich, so back off and don't interrupt my pursuit of a girl."
Huang Yanchen gritted her teeth, extremely annoyed. She turned her head away, ignoring Yan Yunhuan and Chen Xier behind her.
"One hundred sixty thousand spirit crystals!"
"One hundred sixty-one thousand spirit crystals!"
"One hundred sixty-two thousand spirit crystals!"
Even the major powers became cautious with their bids. After all, it was over a hundred thousand spirit crystals—a massive fortune that could be used to nurture many talents. It couldn't be squandered carelessly.
Zhang Ruochen bid again. "One hundred seventy thousand spirit crystals."
"Bidding so recklessly—can you actually produce one hundred seventy thousand spirit crystals?" Yan Yunhuan snorted coldly.
One hundred seventy thousand spirit crystals was no small amount even for Yan Yunhuan. Although he was the heir of the Yan Clan, he was still subject to certain restrictions and couldn't spend the family's wealth without restraint.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Since I dare to bid, naturally I have the spirit crystals."
Yan Yunhuan snorted again and bid, "One hundred eighty thousand spirit crystals."
"One hundred ninety thousand spirit crystals."
Zhang Ruochen didn't hesitate and raised the bid once more.
One hundred ninety thousand spirit crystals was already far higher than the Water-Fire-Wind-Thunder Formation's actual value. After careful consideration, the other major powers ultimately gave up on purchasing it.
Yan Yunhuan clenched his fists and bid, "Two hundred thousand spirit crystals."
Two young juniors were bidding against each other, and the price had reached a terrifying two hundred thousand spirit crystals. The martial artists in the entire auction hall were practically in an uproar.
"The Yan Clan is a third-rate clan. They must already have formation flags of the same level as the Water-Fire-Wind-Thunder Formation. Why would they spend twice the price to buy another set? It's baffling, truly baffling."
"I wonder who will end up with the Water-Fire-Wind-Thunder Formation?"
...
Zhang Ruochen remained very calm. He raised his crystal card, which displayed: "Two hundred fifty thousand spirit crystals!"
"Boom!"
The entire auction hall seemed about to explode.
This price was absolutely astonishing!
Now it was up to Yan Yunhuan to counterbid.
Two hundred fifty thousand spirit crystals had already exceeded Yan Yunhuan's psychological expectations, but as the heir of the Yan Clan, how could he let himself be outdone by a prince from a low-ranking commandery?
Yan Yunhuan tightly gripped his crystal card, displaying: "Two hundred eighty thousand spirit crystals!"
Yan Yunhuan said fiercely, "Zhang Ruochen, if you keep raising the price, I'll let you have the Water-Fire-Wind-Thunder Formation."
Two hundred eighty thousand spirit crystals—even he, the heir of a third-rate clan, was struggling. How could a prince from some backwater place possibly afford more?
"Since Young Master Yan is so gracious, I won't hold back!"
Zhang Ruochen raised his crystal card and added: "Two hundred eighty-one thousand spirit crystals!"
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen could still bid, Yan Yunhuan was furious. He sneered, "Don't think I can't outbid you. It's just that, in my opinion, a mere set of formation flags isn't worth such a high price. When they auction the space treasure later, you'll understand just how deep my pockets are."
The meaning behind Yan Yunhuan's words was easy to understand.
"I'm the real tycoon. I have plenty of money. I just let you off the hook earlier. Later, you'll see just how rich I am—it'll scare you, you hick."
Such a boastful declaration seemed utterly weak in Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
Zhang Ruochen just smiled faintly and ignored him.
He had to admit, Yan Yunhuan was really annoying. If not for his interference, Zhang Ruochen could have saved a lot of spirit crystals.
Yan Yunhuan whispered to Chen Xier, "Sister Xier, let's forget about this set of formation flags. If you really feel insecure, I'll send a message to my clan right now and have them send a set of flags of the same level as the Water-Fire-Wind-Thunder Formation."
Chen Xier didn't actually care about the formation flags. She just wanted to provoke Huang Yanchen.
But she hadn't expected Yan Yunhuan to back down halfway and let Zhang Ruochen outshine him. It infuriated her!
Chen Xier had originally admired Yan Yunhuan's martial arts talent, but now she was deeply disappointed in him.
Still, she didn't show her disappointment. Instead, she put on a look of understanding and smiled. "It's fine. It's just a set of formation flags. Since Junior Brother Zhang likes them, let him have them."
Seeing that Chen Xier wasn't angry, Yan Yunhuan breathed a sigh of relief and laughed. "Don't worry, Sister Xier. When they auction the space treasure later, no matter the price, I'll definitely get it for you."
Chen Xier smiled and nodded lightly.
She was actually quite looking forward to the space treasure.
Just then, the fifth auction item was brought onto the stage by a beautiful maid.
The item was placed in the center of an exquisite green tray—a small, delicate jade bracelet.
As the jade bracelet was presented, everyone began guessing what it was.
Some speculated it was a protective treasure, others thought it was an ancient relic left by a Saint, and still others guessed it was a bracelet carved from a special type of spirit crystal.
Bai Xuling looked at the jade bracelet, a hint of admiration in her eyes. She announced, "Next up for auction is today's first space treasure, called the 'Storage Bracelet.'"
"What? That's a space treasure?"
"Finally, a space treasure is being auctioned?"
The entire auction hall fell silent. Everyone's gaze locked onto the jade bracelet on the stage.
In one of the VIP bidding rooms, the leader of the Yuntai Sect, Han Li, suddenly opened his tiger-like eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.
The head of the Taiqing Palace, Ye Huiyi, who had been flipping through a Daoist scripture, now closed it and fixed her gaze on the jade bracelet.
"A space treasure has actually appeared on Demon Ridge? Excellent! I want to see just how miraculous a space treasure really is."
Prince Minshu laughed heartily, stroking the beard on his chin with an expectant look.
Aside from Zhang Ruochen and his group, none of the other martial artists had ever seen a space treasure before. To them, space treasures had only existed in legends.
Now, a real one was right before their eyes—how could they not be excited?
Bai Xuling began the introduction. "The jade bracelet before you has only one function: storage."
"Miss Bai, could you demonstrate the miraculous power of the storage bracelet?" an elderly man asked.
"Of course."
Bai Xuling put the jade storage bracelet on her left wrist and activated its inscriptions with true qi.
A white light flashed, and a void-like door appeared on the surface of the bracelet.
Bai Xuling picked up a two-meter-long formation flag from the Water-Fire-Wind-Thunder Formation and placed it into the bracelet.
Then, she put the remaining thirty-one flags inside as well.
The entire set of formation flags was now stored inside a single bracelet.
Bai Xuling smiled. "As you can see, with a storage bracelet, even a full set of formation flags can be easily carried. When you need to use the flags, just activate the storage bracelet, and you can set up the formation effortlessly."
As she spoke, she waved her arm.
"Whoosh!"
The thirty-two formation flags flew out of the storage bracelet, hovering in the air and forming a Water-Fire-Wind-Thunder Grand Formation.
Seeing this, the crowd grew excited.
There was another reason why martial artists were reluctant to spend a high price on formation flags: they were inconvenient to carry. Who would want to carry dozens of large flags around on a journey?
With a space bracelet, many troubles could be avoided.
The head of the Taiqing Palace, Ye Huiyi, asked, "How large is the internal space of that space bracelet?"
"Twelve cubic meters."
Bai Xuling smiled. "The internal space of the storage bracelet is enough to hold a large amount of money, weapons, and pills. If you, Senior Ye, had a storage bracelet, you wouldn't need to carry a pack when traveling."
Ye Huiyi shook her head gently. "Unfortunately, this space bracelet can only be used for storage, and its internal space is too small."
Bai Xuling said, "If a space treasure capable of containing mountains and rivers or encompassing heaven and earth were to appear, how could the Pavilion Master put it up for auction on Demon Ridge?"
"True."
Ye Huiyi said, "If I obtained a space treasure of that level, I wouldn't put it up for auction either."
Prince Minshu was very interested in the storage bracelet. "Girl, why don't you hurry up and announce the starting bid? Lady Ye might not care about a storage bracelet, but I certainly like it."
"Who said I don't care?"
Ye Huiyi glared, about to snap at Prince Minshu.
Prince Minshu and Ye Huiyi were fellow disciples from the same sect. No one thought they would actually fight; they just enjoyed bickering with each other.
Bai Xuling announced, "The storage bracelet has a starting bid of fifty thousand spirit crystals, with each bid increase no less than one thousand."
"Sixty thousand spirit crystals." Prince Minshu immediately bid.
"Seventy thousand spirit crystals."
"Seventy-one thousand spirit crystals."
...
As the price of the space bracelet soared higher and higher, Huang Yanchen was shocked. She had never expected that the bracelets and rings Zhang Ruochen casually gave away were worth so much.