Volume Two: Anbei Consortium Chapter Seven: The Mysterious Man in Black

"Seven hundred million!"
On Chen Chengde's cue, the woman raised her card and immediately increased the bid by a full hundred million. This audacious move stunned many of the bidders seated farther back.
Such a dramatic increment revealed just how determined these dignitaries in the front row were to win; many others weighed their own worth and could only withdraw in dismay.
Of course, plenty still considered this item as good as theirs and would not give up so easily.
After a brief silence, the bidding resumed with renewed fervor.
"Seven hundred and forty million."
"Seven hundred and fifty-five!"
"... "
"Eight hundred million!"
Chen Chengde did not continue to bid. He glanced at the people in the middle and front rows—many of the persistent bidders were familiar to him, mostly from martial arts families.
He understood perfectly well what this signified.
"Have these people received a signal?" he wondered. If that was truly the case, perhaps they had gotten some other information—hence their near-maniacal bidding.
He also knew that among these families still in the running, some could produce the funds, but when the time came to actually pay, they might have to sell everything they owned.
Most importantly, Li Yu at his side had so easily appraised the value of this jade. Clearly, he must have had plenty of experience with such things. Chen Chengde gave him a few sidelong glances. Yes, that made sense—otherwise, how could he so casually bring out so much ginseng?
Li Yu was observing as well. "Tsk tsk, so much money. Is there really anyone who can use this?" Suddenly, he paused. If no one needed it, why was everyone bidding so frantically?
How many fools could there be among those who could spend such sums?
"One and a half billion! Any higher offers?" The hall had gradually quieted without anyone noticing, and Le Lin pressed for a final bid.
"My young friend, do you think it's worth continuing?" Chen Chengde felt reluctant. He had raised his bid two more times, but it had little effect—the price had swiftly soared to a staggering one and a half billion.
He could keep going, but that would mean dipping into his reserves, and those backing him hadn't insisted on acquiring it at all costs.
Chen Chengde was unsure if it was worth it.
"I can't say, since I don’t know what you plan to use it for," Li Yu replied, spreading his hands. He didn’t want to make a rash decision—this was no small sum. If Chen Chengde listened to him and lost everything, how could he take responsibility?

"But don't you find it strange?" Li Yu turned to look behind them. "If I recall, the seating here is arranged by status, isn't it? Yet the bid of one and a half billion came from the very last row."
His eyes rested on a figure tightly wrapped in black, seated right at the back—a seat that should not belong to someone with such resources. Yet here he was, shouting out a bid of 'one and a half billion.' Intriguing, to say the least.
Even more curious, when Li Yu had sensed for spiritual energy, he'd felt a ripple from behind—the same tightly wrapped figure.
Chen Chengde nodded. "True. But if the organizers haven’t checked his credentials, they must assume he can pay."
Anyone admitted with an invitation would have been thoroughly vetted by the auction house to avoid frivolous bids. Since no one had verified this person, it meant the organizers believed he was good for the money.
"Isn't there still one final item?" Li Yu pointed out. "We could take a look at that."
Chen Chengde fell silent for a moment, then understood Li Yu’s meaning and let the jade go.
"One and a half billion, final call—sold!" Le Lin announced. "Congratulations to this gentleman!"
The final item was brought out, also swathed in black cloth.
"A lot of people are leaving—the jade must have been their target," Li Yu remarked, glancing back at the departing crowd.
Le Lin was unfazed. In fact, the consignor of this last item had said it was up to fate—as long as it didn’t sell for less than a hundred million.
"The starting bid for this lot is one hundred million, with increments of no less than one million!" Le Lin uncovered the item.
"A spiritual plant?" Li Yu exclaimed in surprise.
He had sensed only one source of spiritual energy earlier, but as the jade was revealed, he realized there had been other fluctuations backstage; clearly, the two had been stored together, confusing his senses.
Beneath the cloth was a jet-black seed the size of a fist, pitted and rough, with three thin, withered tendrils sprouting from it. It looked sickly, but unmistakably, it was alive!
"Tsk, this is worth far more than that jade," Li Yu remarked.
"Don't you want it?" Chen Chengde asked. If Li Yu wanted to bid, he would not compete with him.
Li Yu shook his head. "It's useless to me." His own home was overrun with such things, all mature. Who knew how long this one would take to cultivate, or even if it would mature at all? He had no use for it.
There was no spiritual energy on Blue Star to nurture such a plant. He couldn't very well take it back to the Qing Clan's lands for cultivation.
"Then I’ll bid," said Chen Chengde, turning to the woman beside him. "One hundred million."
"One hundred million," the woman announced, raising her card.

"One hundred million, once."
"One hundred million, twice—anyone else?" called Le Lin.
"Looks like I’m about to snatch up a bargain," Chen Chengde said with a satisfied smile. At that moment, a voice rang out from behind.
"Five hundred million!"
Li Yu hadn't expected anyone else to bid now; both he and Chen Chengde turned to look.
"A spiritual plant? To think such a thing still exists in this world!" the man in black murmured, then grinned widely. If he won this, his elder sister would surely... dote on him even more?
Good thing he’d glanced back just now!
Otherwise, he would have missed his chance.
"Six hundred million," Chen Chengde said calmly.
"Seven hundred million!" the man called out.
"Eight hundred million," Chen Chengde responded, his brow furrowing. Who was this man? He’d just spent one and a half billion on the jade and still had the funds to keep bidding?
In truth, the man wrapped in black had only five hundred million left. He’d come with two billion after hearing about the spiritual crystal—though he’d succeeded in acquiring the jade, if he had the chance to do it over, he would never have squandered it all.
He would have saved his money for this living spiritual plant!
"Nine hundred million!" the man gritted his teeth and called out.
"This..." Chen Chengde turned to Li Yu. He couldn't be sure whether this seed was worth bidding higher for.
In the past, he’d helped purchase similar items, but never for more than a hundred million. Now, the bidding had reached nine times that.
"What do you think? Look at him—he’s bidding on both the jade and this. Do you know what that means?" Li Yu shrugged.
If he bought it, Li Yu could guarantee he’d make a profit. Of course, if Chen Chengde didn’t trust him, there was nothing more to be said.
It truly was a high-stakes gamble.