293 Rising Costs

As lot after lot was auctioned, the bids rose ever higher.

"Three hundred and forty one thousand!" That was the concluding bid of Lot 15.

"Sold!"

By the time Lot 16 came around, Chen Ho had basically already spent his entire budget. Ming Ye was down some 375,000 Black and by his own estimates, had 125,000 Black remaining to spend. Wu Tian, however, since raising his earlier spending limit, still had some 300,000 Black available. This made him the only remaining threat to Remian winning Lot 17.

Hmm. Maybe he could just sit back and let things be… chances were, Wu Tian would pass over lot 17 and save the remainder of his already-extended budget for the Most Important Final Lots.

Then again… was it worth the risk? Remian sensed out Wu Tian's thoughts. The guy had no intentions for Lot 16. He wanted to save his money for the later lots. Did those later lots include Lot 17? Remian had no idea, and apparently, neither did Wu Tian. He was going to wait and see.

In other words… it was still a risk.

"Starting bid, one hundred thousand! Anyone?"

There was a short, awkward silence.

Remian paid close attention to Wu Tian's thoughts.

Wu Tian was telling himself, 'No, absolutely not, I really can't…'

But somewhere in that resolution was a twinge of pity. It really was a good spear being auctioned, reinforced with sixteen ancient runic formations, long-lost arts the likes of which nobody in the world today could replicate. One hundred thousand for that spear was a steal…

Keenly, Remian pushed that thought, encouraging it and protecting it like blowing on the embers of a barbecue charcoal. [Come on, now, it's a good investment, with your contacts, you could easily sell it off for twice that price…]

[But… but…] Wu Tian was struggling against the temptation. [The Nine Dragons Jade Cauldron is up next! And the Nobles Karma Scripture is after that! And then…! A Seedling of the Tree of Boiling Blood Fruit! Any of those three would benefit my clan for generations to come!]

Thus thinking, Wu Tian suavely warded off temptation. [I'm already going to extend my budget to the absolute maximum for those three! If I must spend one million today, so be it!]

Remian sat stunned, frustrated for once. The Wu Clan was a nouveau riche family that had only recently stumbled into wealth. Their foundations were lacking in comparison to the older, bigger clans like the Chens or the Mings. This was why Wu Tian had the potential for extending his budget if he found worthwhile deals, items with potential to strengthen and benefit the clan for generations… like a young Tree of Boiling Blood Fruit! Every practitioner in the Body Tempering stage would go crazy over those fruits! To bring back that tree would change the fate of low-level martialists in his clan forever!

Remian paused, then finally decided to change his tactics. Instead of pushing the thought of the 16-runic formation spear, he shifted his efforts to the Sapling of the Tree of Boiling Blood Fruit. [That tree! Must buy! At all costs! No matter what!]

Suddenly, Wu Tian had a desperate urge to save up every bit of his remaining funds for the all-out bid on the final lot.

Remian pressed it. [That's right! Forget the spear! Forget the cauldron! Even the scripture is a gamble, at best! But the tree! The tree is a definite must-buy!]

That was right. Wu Tian agreed. Weapons and tools could be bought anywhere, any time, by anyone. Techniques and cultivation scriptures could be bought elsewhere too. But a once-in-a-million chance like the tree sapling was an absolute find!

Had he not spent so much earlier, Wu Tian could tried for the others too… if his budget were just higher…

Remian hurriedly pressed. [No! Don't lose focus! Everything depends on this now! Save all your financial strength for the tree!]

The truth was a very strong persuasion. Without further second thoughts, Wu Tian was finally resolved. He would completely give up on the next few lots for the sake of that final prize.

With the three greatest bidders suddenly silent, other, less flamboyant buyers finally raised bids on the lot. The price went up to 190k Black before being bought by a local clan.

Finally, Lot 17 came up. This was it!

"Starting bid, 120,000 Black!" the auctioner called.

"One hundred and fifty thousand!" Remian shot out at once. This was the first time he placed a bid in the entire auction.

"One hundred and sixty thousand!" Chen He barked.

Remian froze. What?! How… why…?

Chen Ho's thoughts were sinister. [What a cheapskate! I forked out so much money already, these other guys aren't getting off so easy! From now on, I'm going to make them pay a high price for whatever they buy!]

Remian felt his heart sink. Chen Ho wasn't actually intending to buy the cauldron, he just wanted to make others pay more. That was mean, and selfish, and… typical of that sort of arrogant brat.

Still linked to Chen Ho psionically, Remian groaned to himself and said something out loud that he probably really shouldn't have.

He said, "Oh, crap."

Suddenly, Chen Ho's thoughts shifted. Pain filled his mind.

Eh? What?

Then, from the back room where Chen Ho lurked, there came a very distinct high pitched sound. People sitting near that room started to sniff, and then grimace. Several of them immediately left the auction.

On top of that, a rumbling, bubbling sound emerged.

"Was that a bid?" one blur student asked, puzzled.

Then there was a shout of horror, and Chen Ho dashed out yelling, "Toilet! Where's the toilet! I need the toilet, NOW!! Anyone who gets in my way, dies!!"

Footsteps faded away in a hurry, and Chen Ho was gone from the auction hall.

That sudden event was followed by a stunned silence.

"Uh… any other bids?" the auctioneer asked gingerly.

"One hundred and seventy thousand?" Remian offered, also feeling rather stunned.

Again, a long, awkward silence.

"Sold." The auctioneer said, at last, still looking somewhat flabbergasted. "Uh…next up, we have Lot 18, the Nobles Karma Scripture…���

Remian ignored it, and only applauded politely as Lot 18 went for 230k Black. Lot 19 came up and Wu Tian instantly bid 300k for it, the highest single bid called out all night. Even then he had a short fight but won it for 420k Black. This was still feasible with his extended, extended budget, and he went away with the Sapling of the Boiling Blood Fruit Tree satisfied.

As for Remian, he followed the auction staff to a back room, paid for the cauldron and took it to Professor Qin straight away. Professor Qin gave him the cipher and about half an hour's worth of explanation.

Coming out from Professor Qin's place, he ran into a trio of thuggish students who looked at him greedily. "Well, here's our rich cauldron buyer! What do you have in your hand, eh? Something good?"

In answer to that, Remian grimaced and said, "Oh crap."

And with that, a low rumbling sound was heard, followed by a high pitched sound. Suddenly, all three thugs lost all interest in Remian and gained immense interest in finding the nearest toilet.

"I can't believe that works!" Remian shook his head dumbfoundedly as he went to find Xiao Yan and prepared to make the long trip back to the Ancient Formation.