Chapter 296: The Generous Yan Yunhuan
Yan Yunhuan raised his crystal card and called out another high price: "Six hundred and thirty thousand spirit crystals."
He seemed determined to go head-to-head with Commander Min Shu.
Commander Min Shu's mood was extremely sour, and his gaze toward Yan Yunhuan grew increasingly hostile.
*I already let you have that storage jade bracelet earlier, and now you dare to compete with me for this space ring? Do you really think I wouldn't dare to offend the Yan Clan?*
An old man with a deeply wrinkled face stood behind Commander Min Shu, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Just a junior, daring to act so arrogantly in Demon Ridge. Your Highness, why not let him have the space ring? Once the auction ends, I'll go deal with him."
"Forget it! He's just a junior!"
Commander Min Shu called out again: "Six hundred and fifty thousand spirit crystals."
Yan Yunhuan raised his crystal card. "Six hundred and seventy thousand spirit crystals."
Commander Min Shu's brow tightened, and he added one final price: "Seven hundred thousand spirit crystals."
At the same time, Commander Min Shu stood up, his gaze fixed on Yan Yunhuan's direction. "Young Master Yan, this is my final offer. If you can go higher, then the space ring is yours."
Hearing this, Yan Yunhuan let out a long sigh of relief. To be honest, seven hundred thousand spirit crystals was already nearing his limit. Fortunately, Commander Min Shu had backed down first.
Yan Yunhuan calmly raised his crystal card again. "Seven hundred and one thousand spirit crystals."
Seeing the price on Yan Yunhuan's crystal card, Commander Min Shu clenched his fist, his anger intensifying. "Damn it, this junior is deliberately humiliating me. Old Ji, after the auction ends, give him a thorough lesson."
"Seven hundred and one thousand spirit crystals. Going once!"
"Seven hundred and one thousand..."
Just as everyone thought the space ring was about to be won by Yan Yunhuan, Zhang Ruochen slowly raised his crystal card. "Seven hundred and fifty thousand spirit crystals."
Bai Xuling's eyes lit up, and she immediately said, "Seven hundred and fifty thousand spirit crystals. Any higher bids?"
Yan Yunhuan's expression darkened, and he glared at Zhang Ruochen with fury. The space ring was almost in his grasp, but he hadn't expected Zhang Ruochen to suddenly intervene.
Yan Yunhuan glanced at Chen Xi'er, who was staring at him with intense anticipation, as if urging him, *"Hurry up and bid! Didn't you say earlier that you'd win the space ring and give it to me? Don't chicken out at the critical moment!"*
Yan Yunhuan gritted his teeth and grabbed his crystal card as if lifting a mountain. With great difficulty, he called out again: "Seven hundred and sixty thousand spirit crystals."
"Eight hundred thousand spirit crystals."
Zhang Ruochen appeared completely relaxed as he raised his crystal card once more.
Yan Yunhuan exploded in rage: "Zhang Ruochen, you're just a prince from a lowly commandery. Can you even afford eight hundred thousand spirit crystals?"
Of course, Zhang Ruochen couldn't afford seven hundred thousand spirit crystals. But since the space ring was his own consignment, he had no worries about the price.
Huang Yanchen said, "Is the heir of the Yan Clan unable to afford even a space ring? If you can't, then don't talk big, lest you be looked down upon."
Chen Xi'er's face showed a hint of disappointment, and she sighed resentfully, "Oh well! Forget it, Young Master Yan. I don't want that space ring anymore. Let Zhang Ruochen have it. We can't outbid him."
Hearing Chen Xi'er's words only fueled Yan Yunhuan's anger. "Don't worry, Sister Xi'er. No matter what, I will win that space ring for you today. I refuse to believe he's richer than me."
Yan Yunhuan was worried that Zhang Ruochen might be deliberately driving up the price. But then he thought, *What if I suddenly stop bidding, and Zhang Ruochen ends up buying the space ring at an exorbitant price? If he can't pay, the Martial Market Bank will severely punish him.*
With this thought, Yan Yunhuan continued to bid against Zhang Ruochen. Little did he know that the owner of the space ring was Zhang Ruochen himself.
"Seven hundred and ten thousand spirit crystals."
Zhang Ruochen raised his crystal card. "Eight hundred thousand spirit crystals."
"Eight hundred and ten thousand spirit crystals."
"Nine hundred thousand spirit crystals." Zhang Ruochen raised the price sharply again.
Every time Zhang Ruochen called out a price, Chang Qiqi, sitting beside him, would shudder. He was genuinely afraid that Zhang Ruochen was just bluffing. What if he won the space ring but couldn't pay?
It wasn't just Chang Qiqi who was on edge; the entire auction hall was filled with tension.
"Is Zhang Ruochen raising the price too aggressively? Where is he getting so many spirit crystals?" someone worriedly remarked.
Many felt Zhang Ruochen was being arrogant, even more so than Yan Yunhuan of the half-saint clan.
Commander Min Shu, on the other hand, was overjoyed and almost laughed out loud. "Impressive! The Yunwu Commandery has produced a fine son. Yes, keep raising the price like that and bleed that Yan Clan junior dry."
"Your Highness, I don't understand. Even if Zhang Ruochen is the consort of the Thousand Water Commandery and has the support of Princess Yanchen, he couldn't possibly have that many spirit crystals at once. Isn't he afraid of not being able to pay?" the old man behind Commander Min Shu asked.
Commander Min Shu chuckled. "That's because you don't know a secret."
"What secret?" the old man asked.
Commander Min Shu laughed. "The owner of the space ring is Lei Jing, the head of the Silver Robe Elder Council."
Hearing this, the old man immediately understood and burst out laughing. "So that's it. Zhang Ruochen is Lei Jing's disciple, so he must be acting as a 'shill.' That Yan Clan junior is in for a rough time, going toe-to-toe with a shill."
Among those present, the big shots who had received Lei Jing's letter mostly understood the situation. Many were waiting to see how high Zhang Ruochen, the "shill," could drive the price.
"That Yan Clan actually produced such a fool. Can't he see that Zhang Ruochen is a shill—and a rather clumsy one at that?" Han Li, the head of the Yuntai Manor, remarked with a laugh.
Han Qiu kept her eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, who was seated in the auction hall below. Her beautiful eyes shimmered. "Where is he clumsy? I think he's quite clever. Otherwise, how would Yan Yunhuan have fallen for it?"
Han Li shook his head. "Of course he's clumsy. Everyone knows Zhang Ruochen is Lei Jing's disciple, so they'd naturally be wary. Lei Jing using him as a shill is a poor move. If I wanted a shill, I'd pick someone no one recognizes."
Han Qiu said, "So Father means it was Lei Jing's decision that was clumsy."
"Who do you think I'm talking about? Zhang Ruochen?"
Han Li shook his head. "Zhang Ruochen is just a junior. There's nothing worth commenting on."
In Han Li's eyes, Zhang Ruochen was merely a junior at the Earth Extreme Realm. His future achievements were uncertain. Such a junior naturally wasn't worth his attention.
Zhang Ruochen raised his crystal card again. "One million spirit crystals."
Yan Yunhuan was drenched in cold sweat. Trembling slightly, he raised his card once more. "One million fifty thousand spirit crystals."
Chen Xi'er, sitting beside him, could clearly see the sweat on Yan Yunhuan's forehead and hear his ragged breathing. What should have been a simple auction felt like a life-or-death struggle.
In contrast, Zhang Ruochen remained calm and composed throughout, occasionally chatting and laughing with Huang Yanchen, exuding an air of ease.
Chen Xi'er knew exactly how many spirit crystals Huang Yanchen could mobilize. So, Zhang Ruochen's confidence in bidding didn't come from Huang Yanchen's support.
If not Huang Yanchen, then who?
Chen Xi'er felt she was increasingly unable to understand Zhang Ruochen. He seemed far more complex than he appeared, and she realized she might have underestimated him.
Zhang Ruochen decided to go for the kill and directly raised the price: "One million five hundred thousand spirit crystals."
"One million fifty-one thousand spirit crystals."
Yan Yunhuan raised the price again.
But as soon as he did, he jolted, suddenly realizing something.
Why had Zhang Ruochen suddenly jumped to one million five hundred thousand spirit crystals?
One million fifty-one thousand spirit crystals had already exceeded the amount he could control.
When Yan Yunhuan called out one million fifty-one thousand spirit crystals, his heart was in his throat. He stared intently at Zhang Ruochen, hoping he would raise the price again.
But to his disappointment, Zhang Ruochen seemed to think for a moment, then glanced at Huang Yanchen and shook his head slightly. He said calmly, "Maybe I shouldn't bid anymore."
Based on his estimation, Yan Yunhuan had likely reached his limit.
If he pushed further, Yan Yunhuan might swallow his pride and abandon the space ring.
Zhang Ruochen was counting on the auction to make money, so he naturally didn't want to buy it himself. Let Yan Yunhuan foot the bill.
Huang Yanchen understood Zhang Ruochen's intent and said, "Since Young Master Yan is so determined to have that space ring, let him have it."
Yan Yunhuan quickly said, "No, no. I've suddenly changed my mind. I don't want that space ring anymore. Let you have it. Bid again! Bid one more time, and I swear I won't raise the price."
Huang Yanchen looked at Yan Yunhuan as if he were an idiot. "You've already won the space ring. Why would we bid again? There are three more space treasures coming up. They might be even better. Why fight over this one?"
"One million fifty-one thousand spirit crystals. Going once."
"One million fifty-one thousand spirit crystals. Going twice."
"One million fifty-one thousand spirit crystals. Going three times. Sold! Congratulations to guest number seven hundred ninety-three for winning the space ring. Next, please bring out today's next auction item."
Even though he had won the space ring, Yan Yunhuan's face was uglier than if he were crying. His mind raced with thoughts of how to explain this to his family.
"One million fifty-one thousand spirit crystals for a space treasure... it shouldn't be a loss, right? After all, it's a space treasure... The clan head probably won't punish me too harshly..."
Yan Yunhuan's face was pale as he tried to console himself.
But Chen Xi'er quickly pulled him back to reality. Beaming, she said, "Young Master Yan, you're so generous! Truly worthy of being the Yan Clan's heir. Thank you for winning that space ring for me. You've spent so much!"
"Huh?" Yan Yunhuan exclaimed in shock.
Chen Xi'er narrowed her beautiful eyes. "Young Master Yan, didn't you say earlier that you'd give that space ring to me?"
"That's right! I heard it too. Young Master Yan is a true role model for us all. To win over Junior Sister Chen, he spent one million fifty-one thousand spirit crystals on a space ring. I, Chang Qiqi, am in awe," Chang Qiqi chimed in.
Yan Yunhuan forced a smile, but it was uglier than tears.