The Mysterious Card Maker: Starting with Zhang Jiao's Deification

As the first few items were brought out, the auctioneer spoke at a steady pace, introducing only unremarkable paintings, calligraphy, and antiques, which seemed more like a warm-up for the event.

Many people in the room just glanced at it casually, and some didn't even seem interested in raising their signs. Most of the signs were snapped up by people in the Starlight Hall above.

The atmosphere only livened up a little when a Purple Domain-level Summoning Card was brought to the stage. As soon as the starting price was set, the price climbed all the way up and was eventually sold for a high price of 600,000.

Da Niu's mouth gaped open. "My god... hundreds of thousands just like that? These people spend money like it's nothing."

Lin Fan frowned slightly. This kind of Purple Domain-level Summoning Card would cost around 300,000 RMB on the outside market, but here it was almost double that price. It wasn't just a simple premium; it was more like giving money away.

"Do they have money but nowhere to spend it?" Lin Fan whispered.

Su Wanqing gently swirled the wine glass in her hand, her gaze sweeping over the items up for auction on the stage. "Some of them came here to get in touch with my uncle. They're not bidding on cards, they're bidding on connections."

"Then why don't you go bid on those calligraphy and paintings? Wouldn't that be cheaper?" Da Niu asked, puzzled.

Su Wanqing glanced at him, her tone flat, "Because they're not stupid either; they wouldn't even look down on those things."

Lin Fan chimed in, his voice low, "Nobody remembers cheap things. Buying these cards is a perfect amount of money; it shows sincerity without being seen as a sucker. Miss Su, am I right?"

"Yes, Mr. Xiao Hei understands me best." Su Wanqing said, glancing at Qin Muyao sitting next to Lin Fan.

Qin Muyao glanced at Lin Fan sideways and gave a light snort, "Oh, Mr. Xiao Hei seems to know Miss Su quite well!"

Lin Fan sensed that something was wrong and immediately shut his mouth, turning his gaze back to the stage. He had only two goals from the beginning.

【Purifying Talisman】 and 【Essential Techniques of Peace】.

The [Purifying Talisman] was the bargaining chip that Zhao Zhong promised to give him, and his goal this time was the [Taiping Essentials] that had not yet appeared.

That was also key to Zhang Jiao's advancement, something he absolutely could not miss.

Then a staff member slowly walked onto the stage and placed an item in the center of the display stand.

It was a yellowed, old, tattered book with blackened, curled edges, looking tattered and as if it would fall apart at any moment.

The auctioneer smiled and then said, "The next item is rather special."

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Don't underestimate this book, it's quite different from the ordinary paintings and calligraphy you've seen before."

"This thing comes from the core area of ​​the secret realm. According to the identification, its name is [Taiping Essentials]. What unknown secrets are hidden within it is up to a destined person to explore."

Upon hearing the words "Taiping Yaoshu" (essential techniques for maintaining peace), Lin Fan sat up straight instantly, his eyes lighting up.

What he wanted has appeared!

As the auctioneer's words became increasingly esoteric, Lin Fan's expression gradually froze.

The moment phrases like "the core area of ​​the secret realm, a secret unknown to others" are uttered, the price is likely to skyrocket.

Although he knew very well that the auctioneer probably didn't know the true value of the Taiping Essentials and was just going through the motions.

But the problem is, others don't know! What if someone is actually swayed by him?

Lin Fan's lips twitched slightly. "Stop bragging... or we won't be able to afford it..."

But the moment the auctioneer spoke, Lin Fan's heart, which had been pounding, instantly calmed down.

"Starting bid: one thousand."

Fortunately, despite the auctioneer's hype, the Foundation clearly hadn't figured out the value of this item either, since the fragment wasn't a card and didn't have any clear purpose.

"One thousand and five."

"two thousand."

"Three thousand."

Prices are rising very slowly.

Soon, the bidding gradually subsided.

Lin Fan seized the opportunity and immediately raised his paddle, "Ten thousand."

As soon as he finished speaking, rustling sounds broke out throughout the room. Buying something for ten thousand yuan with no idea of ​​its purpose was seen by many as a huge rip-off.

The auctioneer surveyed the room. "Ten thousand once, ten thousand twice."

Just when Lin Fan thought he had it all figured out, the auctioneer's voice suddenly paused, then he smiled and announced, "A distinguished guest in the Starlight Hall has placed a bid of eleven thousand."

Lin Fan frowned immediately, preparing to raise the price again, when a voice rang out beside him, "Twenty thousand."

Lin Fan was taken aback and turned his head to look. He saw Qin Muyao calmly holding up a sign and saying nonchalantly, "What are you looking at? Isn't this what you want? I can afford this little bit of money."

As the bid was announced, everyone in the room turned to look at the person who had raised the paddle. They had expected to see who the sucker was, but when they saw Qin Muyao, a commotion broke out in the entire venue.

"Twenty thousand?"

"Does this thing have some special purpose? Has the Qin family made a move?"

"The Qin family wouldn't buy junk for no reason."

"Thirty thousand!"

"fifty thousand!"

"Eighty thousand!"

......

In just over ten seconds, the price increased several times over.

Lin Fan's eyes twitched violently as he watched the numbers rise.

He originally thought he could get it for 10,000 yuan, but now it's almost 100,000 yuan.

Lin Fan's eyes twitched as he watched the constantly fluctuating prices.

He originally thought that 10,000 yuan would be enough to secure the deal.

As a result, Qin Muyao's shout immediately energized the entire auction hall.

Lin Fan couldn't help but turn to Qin Muyao, "Miss Qin, are you sure you're helping me?"

Qin Muyao blinked. "Is there a problem? Isn't someone trying to take it from you? I'll help you put it back."

Pressing down? This isn't pressing down anymore, it's kicking them straight into the sky!

Sitting behind Lin Fan, Da Niu secretly leaned close to Lin Fan's ear and whispered, "Mr. Lin, why do I feel like Miss Qin's prices are getting higher and higher?"

Lin Fan "......"

At this moment on the stage, the price of the Taiping Essentials had reached an outrageous figure: 100,000!

Many of those who were initially just following the trend gradually calmed down, since they only suspected that the product had value, not that they actually knew what it was used for.

Spending tens of thousands to test the waters is fine, but if you actually spend hundreds of thousands, that's a different story.

Soon, fewer and fewer people were bidding, and the price was finally set at 120,000, as offered by Qin Muyao.

Just when everyone thought this was the final price, the price on the screen jumped again and stopped at 130,000.

"130,000"

The entire venue fell silent for a moment as everyone looked inside, but no one was seen holding up a sign. There was only one possibility.

"A distinguished guest in the Starlight Hall has bid 130,000!" The auctioneer's smile widened; even he probably hadn't expected that this tattered book could fetch such an astronomical price.

On the screen, the bidder's number lit up: [Starlight Hall: 07]

Sitting next to Lin Fan, Su Wanqing glanced at him and whispered, "Wang Bo's men, are they trying to take your stuff again?"