Chapter 257: Chapter 257
The Embroidering Heaven Needle, about thirty centimeters long and as thick as a little finger, was clearly visible under the Divine Sense of Ding Fan, revealing some fine carvings around it. These carvings added a mysterious aura to the needle.
Upon seeing this Embroidering Heaven Needle, Mu Zi's eyes immediately lit up. After all, it was a Spiritual Artifact, something exceedingly rare in this world.
Mu Zi began to clamor excitedly, "I want this, I want this..."
However, before Mu Zi could finish her exclamation, someone else had already begun to speak.
"Is this Embroidering Heaven Needle for sale, or for trade?"
The speaker was a man just over forty, with a calm and steady demeanor that clearly identified him as a Martial Artist.
Seeing the way the crowd eyed the Embroidering Heaven Needle, Mu Zi was taken aback. It seemed that acquiring the needle would not be easy.
"The seller of this Embroidering Heaven Needle expressly states that the starting price is fifty million. In addition, one must offer an item that the seller feels is worthy. Whether it be a Magic Artifact, Spirit Grass, or ore, it's all up to your own capabilities," Thirteenth Mistress surveyed the crowd as she spoke.
After Thirteenth Mistress finished speaking, the people present stirred into noise once again.
Although the Embroidering Heaven Needle was indeed a Spiritual Artifact, the price seemed outrageously high. Fifty million, plus another valuable item. It was simply astronomical.
Mu Zi, hearing this condition, stuck out her tongue. She then quietly moved closer to Ding Fan.
"Brother Fan, maybe we should let this one go and wait for other items later..."
Previously enamored with the Spiritual Artifact, Mu Zi had cooled down now. Even as the Little Witch, she felt it was too excessive for Ding Fan to bleed a fortune of fifty million plus a valuable item for this needle.
Ding Fan glanced at Mu Zi, fully aware of her thoughts but simply smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Ding Fan was someone who acted on his words; since Mu Zi had taken a liking to the Embroidering Heaven Needle, he was naturally determined to compete for it.
"I, Ghost Qianzi, have taken a liking to this piece. I offer sixty million, plus this Green Crystal Stone," Ghost Qianzi was the first to stand out.
After declaring his offer, Ghost Qianzi surveyed his surroundings as a menacing intent spread from him, serving as a warning to all present.
With Ghost Qianzi stepping forward, those previously eyeing the Spiritual Artifact quieted down.
Being an Earth Level Expert, few among the crowd dared to provoke Ghost Qianzi. Thus, after he spoke, a hush fell over the audience.
Shortly after, someone had already evaluated the Green Crystal Stone that Ghost Qianzi had offered and brought it forward.
It didn't take long for the evaluation report of the Green Crystal Stone to be announced.
"An important material for Magic Artifact refinement, classified as Second Grade Material."
Listening to the report, Thirteenth Mistress looked around and said, "Sixty million, plus a Second Grade Material. Does anyone offer a higher bid?"
The crowd fell silent, and even the Taoist nun who had previously competed with Ghost Qianzi now bowed her head in silence, unsure if she was indifferent to the Embroidering Heaven Needle or if she did not want to seriously offend Ghost Qianzi.
At this point, Ghost Qianzi's lips slightly curled upwards, enjoying the utter domination of the moment. "Thirteenth Mistress, you might as well take my offer to the seller now. With me here, no one dares to bid..."
"I bid seventy million, plus... one portion of Spiritstone Essence." Just as Ghost Qianzi hadn't finished his sentence, a voice abruptly interrupted him.
The people present were stunned, all turning towards the source of the voice. The person standing up to bid was none other than Ding Fan.
"Has this lad gone mad? Although the Embroidering Heaven Needle is exceptional, it's not worth losing one's life over!"
"Yes, how could they possibly provoke Ghost Qianzi lightly? Although this young man has some status, being targeted by an Earth Level Expert is hardly a matter that ends well."
"Youthful recklessness...
Seeing Ding Fan daring to stand up against Ghost Qianzi, the crowd seemed to foresee Ding Fan's dire fate.
At that moment, not only were outsiders shocked, even Mu Zi herself was startled. She had not expected Ding Fan to actually challenge Ghost Qianzi.
But realizing that Ding Fan was contending against Ghost Qianzi for her sake, a strange warmth filled Mu Zi's heart, bringing her an inexplicable sense of happiness, though she did not fully understand this feeling, she found it rather comforting...
However, Mu Zi was now most concerned about how to resolve this matter.
It was known that even though groups three, five, six, and seven were directly under the central authority, they wouldn't dare to mess with an Earth Level Expert. Those were existences they simply couldn't provoke. At this moment, Mu Zi somewhat regretted why she had expressed her interest in the Embroidering Heaven Needle…
On the side, Cheng Bufan was looking at Ding Fan with a face full of admiration, an admiration that carried respect…
"Kid, you're not bad, daring to challenge me!" At this moment, the face of Ghost Qianzi directly turned ugly.
Previously, during the bidding by Ghost Qianzi, the Taoist nun had stood out, and given her secretive background, Ghost Qianzi, although he wouldn't dare to rashly do anything to her, was angered by Ding Fan, a youngster barely past his twenties, daring to challenge him.
At this moment, Ding Fan outright ignored Ghost Qianzi. Earth Level Martial Artists were incredible, but Ding Fan had nothing to fear.
He had clearly seen the situation at the auction, and when everyone had learned that the Second Grade Spirit Pill was his, many had already planned to stop him after leaving. Ghost Qianzi was among them.
Since he couldn't avoid it either way, why should Ding Fan be meek? It was better to just let loose.
After all, what was so incredible about Earth Level Martial Artists? Hadn't Ding Fan killed one in Honggang City as well?
Ding Fan ignored Ghost Qianzi to the side and handed a piece of Spiritstone Essence to the attendant beside him.
The Spiritual Energy contained within the Spiritstone Essence had already reduced below a quarter, and at this moment, using this Stone Milk to exchange for the Embroidering Heaven Needle, Ding Fan felt no regrets as he had already absorbed the essence from it.
At this point, the attendant took the Spiritstone Essence forward, but just as the evaluators were about to assess it, a person wearing a hood walked straight out from backstage.
The hood only exposed two eyes, making it impossible for outsiders to discern the person's face or even age.
Although the person's attire was quite strange, no one at the venue was surprised; after all, this was an underground auction, and it was absolutely necessary for some people to act more cautiously.
The hooded figure briskly walked up to the attendant and directly took the Spiritstone Essence from his hands. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝘯𝘦𝘵
"Indeed... indeed it is Spiritstone Essence..." Seeing the Spiritstone Essence, the figure then went on to click his tongue in admiration.
It was known that the conditions for the formation of Spiritstone Essence were exceedingly harsh. First, there must be a Spiritual Energy Pool within a Karst Cave; secondly, the Stone Milk should occupy a critical position among the Spiritual Energy Stones.
It was said that Spiritstone Essence would only grow a little every hundred years, and the piece of Stone Milk he now held was more than thirty centimeters long, indicating how many years it must have taken to form.
"There's no need to continue the bidding, I am set on this piece of Stone Milk," the man valued it greatly and directly pocketed the Stone Milk, then without looking back, he returned backstage.
It was clear to everyone that this person was the owner of the Embroidering Heaven Needle. Now that he was interested in the Spiritstone Essence, the subsequent auctions were unnecessary; the Embroidering Heaven Needle was undoubtedly Ding Fan's now.
At this point, the auctioneer directly raised the wooden mallet.
"Next, I announce that this Embroidering Heaven Needle belongs to this gentleman..."
A stir went through the crowd at the venue.
A Spiritual Artifact was, after all, a Spiritual Artifact, and the surrounding people were naturally filled with immense envy. Following this envy, some individuals lurking in the corners had gleaming eyes, harboring ill intentions.
At this moment, Ghost Qianzi was looking at Ding Fan with a gloomy face. "Kid, what goes around comes around. Remember this encounter well."
After saying that, Ghost Qianzi directly sat back down.
Ding Fan, however, did not pay any attention to Ghost Qianzi. He simply handed the Embroidering Heaven Needle over to Mu Zi who was beside him. "From now on, this treasure is yours!"
At this time, Mu Zi still seemed to be in a fog. That was a Spiritual Artifact, and Ding Fan had spent over seventy million on it, plus a piece of Spiritstone Essence.
Although Mu Zi didn't know what Spiritstone Essence was, from the masked man's expression earlier, she guessed that it must be an extraordinary treasure.
Having paid such a high price, Ding Fan had simply presented the Embroidering Heaven Needle to her as if it were a common item.
You should know, that was a treasure worth over seventy million!
"Really giving it to me?" Mu Zi looked at the Embroidering Heaven Needle Ding Fan handed her, her face filled with disbelief.
"Of course, haven't I already said so before? No matter what you're interested in, I'd buy it for you!" Ding Fan smiled lightly as he spoke.
Mu Zi held the Embroidering Heaven Needle in both hands. Her face turned pale from excessive excitement. "A Spiritual Artifact! I actually have a Spiritual Artifact now!"
To the side, Cheng Bufan watched Ding Fan casually give the Embroidering Heaven Needle to Mu Zi, his eyes flickering with a hint of approval.