System Auction Shop, I'll sell out across all realms!

"Twenty-three thousand?"

"Did I hear that right?"

"My God... is this the wealth of the four major families?"

"Twenty-three thousand spirit stones! I've never even seen a thousand spirit stones in my entire life!"

The ordinary cultivators were dumbfounded, their eyes wide open and their mouths agape as if they could fit a hundred spirit pills.

They were just arguing heatedly over a dozen or twenty spirit stones, and now the other person is asking for over twenty thousand.

This disparity left them with no room for envy, only pure shock.

Inside Lion Madman's room, his face suddenly darkened.

Twenty-three thousand spirit stones.

This number was much higher than he had expected.

He originally thought that Xiao Gu was just casually strolling around today and would carry at most 10,000 spirit stones with him.

Unexpectedly, this old fox asked for 23,000 right off the bat.

Damn it.

Lion gritted his teeth and slammed his fist hard on the table, making the teacups clang loudly.

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, and he clenched his teeth.

So what if it's 20,000 spirit stones?

The Mad Lion Mercenary Group is determined to have this sword today!

"Twenty-five thousand!"

Lion's voice echoed from the private room, carrying an undeniable aura.

……

Inside Xiao Gu's room, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and a hint of annoyance flashed in his eyes.

This brute actually dares to follow me.

"Thirty thousand!"

Xiao Gu raised the price without hesitation, his voice remaining calm and steady.

But the slight tremor in his voice betrayed his inner tension.

Thirty thousand spirit stones—this number already made him feel a pang of pain.

The Xiao clan's net profit for a year is only thirty to forty thousand spirit stones.

But he had no way out.

Because a top-grade third-tier spirit sword is not something that can be measured by spirit stones.

"Thirty-one thousand!"

Lion Mad's voice rang out again, but this time, he was clearly less confident.

Xiao Gu sensed the hesitation in his voice, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Thirty-one thousand?

It seems this brute is nearing his limit.

"Thirty-five thousand!"

Xiao Gu immediately added four thousand spirit stones, attempting to overwhelm his opponent with his imposing aura.

Inside Lion Madman's room, his face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

Thirty-five thousand—this number already exceeded the number of spirit stones he carried with him.

His fingers tapped rapidly on the table, his jaw clenched, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.

Why hasn't my older brother arrived yet?

Lion Mad has already sent more than a dozen telepathic messages.

Every step was urging Lion Mountain to go faster, even faster.

However, even traveling at full speed, it would take nearly half an hour to get from the mercenary group's base to the auction house in the north of the city.

I have to persevere, no matter what.

This is the only chance for the Mad Lion Mercenary Group to turn things around!

"Thirty-six thousand!" Lion Madman gritted his teeth and announced a number, his voice already sounding weak.

Xiao Gu was stunned...

But then, a smile appeared in his eyes!

He could tell that Lion Mad was putting on a brave face.

Thirty-seven thousand.

Xiao Gu's voice remained unchanged, but a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.

If you dare to challenge me again, I'll see if I don't mess with you.

However, Lion Madman continued to follow.

"Thirty thousand... eight thousand!" Lion Mad's voice was distorted, clearly he was gritting his teeth and enduring it.

Xiao Gu finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He stood up abruptly, facing the auction stage, his voice tinged with anger and skepticism:

"Lion Madman, do you have that many spirit stones?"

His voice echoed in the hall:

"I propose—an inspection of the assets taken by Lion Madman!"

"According to the auction house's rules, bidders must possess sufficient spirit stones to participate in the bidding!"

"I doubt he can afford that price at all!"

These words immediately sparked a flurry of discussion in the hall.

"That's right. Although the Mad Lion Mercenary Group is rich, 38,000 spirit stones is no small sum."

"Elder Xiao Gu is right. What if the lion goes crazy and demands a price we can't afford? Wouldn't that break the rules?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, they're about to completely break off relations."

Upon hearing this, Lion Madman immediately became anxious, his voice filled with anger and a hint of panic:

"Elder Xiao Gu, what do you mean by this?"

"My Mad Lion Mercenary Group is a well-known force in Xuan Tian City. How could we not afford to pay this little bit of spirit stones?"

"These spirit stones?"

Xiao Gu sneered, "Thirty-eight thousand spirit stones and you call this little bit of spirit stone?"

"Lion Mad Vice-Commander, you've got quite the nerve. Since that's the case, why not take it out and have a look?"

Lion Madman's face turned bright red, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Because he didn't actually have 38,000 spirit stones on him.

He placed all his hopes on his eldest brother, Lion Mountain, but Lion Mountain has not yet arrived.

At this stalemate...

A loud voice came from the direction of the auction house entrance.

Late but here it is!

Like a resounding bell, the sound shook the entire hall, making it hum and vibrate.

"Our Mad Lion Mercenary Group can afford it!"

All eyes turned to the door.

A burly man, even more imposing than Lion Madman, strode in.

He wore a black cloak, his thick eyebrows were like knives, and his tiger-like eyes held a fierce look.

He exuded an aura of fierce courage from years of battle.

His steps were steady and powerful, each step feeling like it was stepping on someone's heart, carrying an invisible sense of pressure.

"I'll offer 40,000 spirit stones!"

In Lion Madman's room, he suddenly stood up.

The gloom on his face vanished, replaced by ecstasy and excitement.

Big brother is here!

Lion Mountain is here!

They've arrived with the Mad Lion Mercenary Group's savings!

Lion Madman's lips curled up wildly, his gaze passing through the screen and landing on Xiao Gu's private room across the way.

His eyes were full of smugness and provocation.

"Elder Xiao Gu, didn't you want to inspect the assets?"

"My older brother is here, would you like to order some in person?"

Inside the private room, Xiao Gu's face was so ugly it looked like it was about to drip water.

"That scoundrel who relies on his master's power..."

He gripped the communication jade scroll tightly in his hand.

The warm, smooth surface of the jade cloth became hot from his grip, but there was only dead silence on the other end.

There was no response, no news, nothing at all.

Clan Chief Xiao Xuan did not respond.

Whatever the reason, the result is the same—the Xiao Clan missed out on this third-tier divine artifact.

Xiao Gu slowly sat back down in his chair, as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant.

He leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling of the private room.

A low, bitter sigh escaped his throat.

Thirty-three thousand spirit stones.

He could actually add even more.

The Xiao clan has more spirit stones at their disposal than these; he has the authority to mobilize even more.

But the problem is—he doesn't know where Lion Mountain's bottom line is.

That brute didn't even blink when he shouted out 40,000.

If he continues to follow, and the number reaches 50,000 or 60,000, should the Xiao clan continue to follow?

He dared not do it without the clan chief's authorization.

Xiao Gu closed his eyes, tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest twice, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

There's a reason why the Xiao clan ranks last among the four great families.

……