The crowd whispered. They gave up competing for the first two bottles; as long as the Peng Family was dealt with, who among those present would dare to bid against him?
"He's truly cunning. This bottle, without a doubt, will be sold at the lowest price."
Though dissatisfied, what could they do against the powerful Tian Family?
In Yan City, the Tian Family's word was law. Both the Peng Family and the Shi Family had to rely on them, all because of the great figure Tian Wuji who emerged from the Tian Family.
"No problem, no problem!"
Receiving a favor from Tian Jingyi was worth more than the Body Tempering Liquid itself, so Peng Cheng actually gave up.
This scene made Ai Linna show a hint of surprise. Selling for 30,000 was just a low price, very unsatisfactory. She had expected it to be no less than 50,000.
"The auction is fair competition. Everyone has the right to participate in bidding!"
Ai Linna's voice was very charming. After she spoke, quite a few people were indeed eager to try. That was Body Tempering Liquid, which could help them refine their Physical Body and strive for a breakthrough in the last month.
Tian Jingyi's gaze swept around. Those shop owners and minor nobles who had ideas all lowered their heads. If it were the Peng Family or the Shi Family, they might compete, but with the Tian Family, they decided against it.
A few days ago, a shop owner offended the Tian Family, and it was said that the next day, the restaurant's sign was replaced with the Tian Family's.
Time passed minute by minute, and the price remained at 30,000, with no one continuing to bid.
"Miss Ai Linna, no one is bidding further. Can we bring down the hammer?"
Tian Jingyi urged, wanting to end it quickly as he had many other things to do.
"30,000 for the first time!"
According to the procedure, it needed to be asked three times to confirm no one would bid further before the hammer could fall.
"30,000 for the second time!"
It was quiet all around. Many people started leaving one after another. The auction was about to end, and without surprise, the last bottle would go to the Tian Family.
"30,000 for the third..."
"I bid 50,000!"
The hammer paused in mid-air, about to fall, when a voice rang out, interrupting Ai Linna.
A hundred gazes, all at once, looked towards a corner, including Ai Linna and Tian Jingyi.
As long as the hammer didn't fall, the bid was valid; that was the rule.
"Chen Zheng, it's him!"
Sitting in the corner, he had been ignored by everyone. The few people sitting next to him didn't recognize him.
Tian Tong shrieked, recognizing him at a glance—the person whose back of the head he had smashed. Why was he still sitting here perfectly fine?
"Chen Zheng, who is Chen Zheng?"
Everyone was confused, not knowing who Chen Zheng was.
"It couldn't be that useless Chen Zheng, could it!"
"Is there a second person named Chen in Yan City besides that useless one!"
Countless jeers came from all directions, but Chen Zheng remained unmoved, a faint smile on his lips. He was the first to disagree with buying the Body Tempering Liquid for 30,000.
"What a joke. Where would a useless person like him get gold coins? I heard the Chen Family is so poor they can barely afford food."
A young man in brocade robes let out a cold laugh, looking down on him, his tone full of sarcasm.
"That's old news. You still don't know, do you? Just a few days ago, he spent 50,000 gold coins to buy three century-old Spirit Medicines at Yu Shan Hall."
Those who were present that day all stood up. This news had not spread throughout Yan City but had circulated in a small area.
Hearing 50,000 gold coins, combined with the Body Tempering Liquid delivered that day, Ai Linna's lips curved into a charming smile.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss..."
Gasps of cold air sounded from all around. Just being able to produce 50,000 gold coins, and with a card in hand, was no simple feat.
Those who had mocked Chen Zheng felt as if they had eaten a rotten duck egg, utterly foul!
Their mouths gaped open. Many people had not been in Yan City these past few days and naturally didn't know about what had happened a few days ago.
"No way, could Marquis Chiye be back?"
At the mention of Marquis Chiye, the mocking voices significantly quieted.
"Tsk, Marquis Chiye has been dead for three years. How could he be back?"
Someone scoffed. Not returning for three years meant he was likely doomed. How glorious the Marquis's Estate was three years ago, and in just three years, it had fallen to worse than an ordinary household.
"Chen Zheng, what kind of thing are you? Do you even have the right to bid against our Tian Family!"
Others feared Marquis Chiye, but their Tian Family did not. Tian Tong stood up and loudly reprimanded him.
A useless person, who knows what kind of dumb luck he had to get a card.
His gaze fell on Tian Tong, and killing intent surged.
"Tian Tong, we'll settle our accounts later. After the auction, it'll be the same arena as three days ago. Sign a life-and-death contract, and life or death won't matter. If your Tian Family is afraid of me bidding, then just give up. No one will mock you."
Chen Zheng took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart. After the auction, he would kill Tian Tong.
"Good, whoever doesn't come is a coward!"
Tian Tong smiled. He was just worrying about not having an opportunity. Last time, Chen Zheng luckily survived, but this time, he would absolutely not give him another chance. With a life-and-death contract signed, even if Marquis Chiye returned, he couldn't do anything.
An auction sparked a battle of life and death, which no one had anticipated.
Chen Zheng's last sentence was vicious: if the Tian Family gave up bidding, no one would mock them.
Just now, Tian Jingyi had boasted, determined to win the last bottle of Body Tempering Liquid.
"70,000!"
Tian Jingyi raised the price, unable to swallow this insult. Their Tian Family couldn't afford to lose Face. Once it spread, it would be very detrimental to Tian Wuji's reputation.
Chen Zheng seized this point. No matter how much the price increased, the Tian Family would follow. This concerned Face, and if it reached the capital, it would greatly impact the Tian Family's reputation.
"80,000!"
"90,000!"
The price soared to 90,000. If Chen Zheng bid again, it would be 100,000.
"100,000!"
After a moment of hesitation, he still raised the price. It was the exact same price as what Jia Baiwan had bought it for. This was an astronomical figure!
"This kid is crazy. 100,000 gold coins? The Chen Family couldn't afford it even if they sold everything they owned."
Everyone thought Chen Zheng was crazy. 100,000 was not a small sum; besides the three great Families, most people really couldn't produce it.
"110,000!"
Tian Jingyi gritted his teeth and blurted out these three words, his heart bleeding.
"Congratulations, it's yours!"
Chen Zheng suddenly spread his hands, looking as if he was saying, "You win," which made many people realize something was amiss. This was digging a pit for the Tian Family!
"Chen Zheng, you bastard, you're maliciously inflating the price!"
Tian Tong realized something was wrong. Chen Zheng had no intention of buying it at all; he was deliberately inflating the price to make the Tian Family spend an exorbitant amount.
"My apologies, I just realized I didn't bring any gold coins with me today."
As Chen Zheng's words fell, a group of people were dumbfounded. "Damn it, you can't play people like this! If you don't have gold coins, why are you getting involved? You made the Tian Family waste 110,000 to buy the Body Tempering Liquid."
Countless people suppressed their laughter, their Faces flushed.
"Hahahaha..."
Finally, someone couldn't hold back and burst into laughter. Who would have expected such an outcome?
The Tian Family had a pit dug for them, and crucially, they willingly jumped into it.
"Cheating! He's cheating! Without gold coins, participating in the bidding should result in expulsion, and it shouldn't count."
Tian Tong stood up, asking Ai Linna to remove him. This person was disrupting order.
The Tian Family didn't care about 110,000 gold coins; they cared about their reputation. This was a disgrace!
To be entrapped by a small ant, how could they swallow this insult?
If it spread, the Tian Family's reputation would be ruined. Tian Jingyi clenched his fists, his killing intent chilling.