Chapter 33: No Upper Limit

Lu Fengmian’s gaze fell upon that sword seal and could no longer move away.

Three million.

The starting bid was three million.

His fingers unconsciously tightened around the handle of the fan, the knuckles turning faintly white.

If it had been an ordinary magical item or pill, he might have laughed it off.

But this sword seal concerned Junior Sister Yun’s sword bone, concerned her path of cultivation for the next several hundred years.

He could not possibly miss it.

But what could he use to compete?

The neighbor next door had already spent fifteen million just now.

And now, she was definitely not the only one eyeing this sword seal.

Lu Fengmian clenched his teeth.

There was no other way.

In the sea of consciousness, he said in a low voice:

“System.”

【Present】

The mechanical voice was as calm as ever.

“I need this sword seal,” he said without beating around the bush. “Help me.”

The System fell silent briefly.

【Checking reasonableness of request...】

【Check complete.】

Lu Fengmian held his breath slightly.

【Host objective: repair Junior Sister Yun’s sword bone.】

【Determination: upholding the core principle of the “Perfect Senior Brother” and protecting fellow sect disciples.】

【Mission issued: obtain the sword seal.】

【The System will provide the funds required for the auction, with no upper limit.】

Lu Fengmian’s tightly clenched hand finally relaxed.

No upper limit.

System, you were wonderful. You were truly his benefactor.

He let out a long breath in the sea of consciousness.

“Thank you,” he said. “From now on, I’ll work even harder to complete missions.”

The System did not respond again, but the promise of “no upper limit” was enough.

Lu Fengmian lowered his eyes and lightly placed the cloud-bearing fan across his knees.

With the System’s support, he felt very steady inside.

Below the stage, the bidding had already begun.

“Four million!”

“Five point five million!”

“Six million!”

One lamp after another lit up in the private rooms on the second floor. The bids rose one after another, and in just a few rounds, the price had been pushed above nine million.

Lu Fengmian was in no hurry to act.

He listened quietly, like a hunter lying in wait, waiting for the best moment.

Yet He Shi’an was becoming somewhat restless.

He looked at the fierce bidding outside the window, then at Lu Fengmian’s calm face, which revealed no emotion at all. In the end, he could not help leaning a little closer.

“Senior Brother,” he said in a low voice, “do you really want that sword seal?”

Lu Fengmian glanced at him.

He Shi’an met his gaze. “I noticed that ever since that sword seal appeared, your eyes haven’t moved away from it.”

Lu Fengmian was silent for a while, but did not deny it.

“Yes,” he replied softly, “I want it.”

He Shi’an’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Then I’ll help you!” He sat up straight, his tone serious. “Senior Brother, you’ve helped me so much, and I’ve always wanted to repay you! I’ll definitely help you get this sword seal! Even if I go bankrupt, I won’t hesitate!”

Lu Fengmian looked at him and suddenly found it amusing.

The feelings of youth were always so fervent and pure.

Once they received help, they thought only of repaying it; once they decided to help someone, they gave everything wholeheartedly.

He let out a soft sigh and raised his hand.

He flicked He Shi’an on the forehead.

“Ow!” He Shi’an covered his forehead, looking baffled. “Senior Brother?”

Lu Fengmian withdrew his hand, the corners of his lips curving faintly upward.

“I appreciate your kindness,” he said warmly, “but I’ll obtain this sword seal myself.”

He Shi’an opened his mouth, gave an awkward “oh,” and obediently sat back down.

But before he could even settle properly, he could not help muttering in a low voice:

“Senior Brother, if you don’t have enough money, just tell me anytime.”

Lu Fengmian did not answer.

He merely gave the fan in his hand a light wave, and his gaze settled upon that green jade sword seal.

When the price climbed past nine million, the speed of the bidding clearly slowed.

One lamp after another in the private rooms on the second floor went out. Very few of the competitors who had previously been determined to win still remained.

Then, the room next door moved.

“Twenty million.”

That young woman’s voice sounded again, as though she were talking about two spirit stones rather than twenty million.

The whole hall fell into brief silence.

Twenty million—an immediate increase of ten million. That jump alone was enough to make most competitors retreat.

But clearly, quite a few people had come for this sword seal.

“Twenty-five million.”

Immediately afterward, another person followed suit.

“Twenty-eight million.”

The room next door responded without hesitation.

“Thirty million.”

This price had already exceeded many people’s expectations. A few more lamps in the private rooms slowly went out.

Lu Fengmian lowered his head, his fingers lightly stroking the ribs of the fan.

“Fifty million.”

A crisp male voice crashed down like thunder, making everyone present’s eardrums buzz.

“Fifty million?!”

“It jumped directly from thirty million to fifty million?!”

“Who? Which private room is it?”

Countless gazes turned toward the direction the voice had come from.

He Shi’an’s mouth fell open, and he even forgot to stuff the spirit fruit in his hand into his mouth.

Fifty million.

The moment Senior Brother spoke, the amount had reached fifty million.

He turned blankly to look at Lu Fengmian. Seeing that calm and composed profile that remained unchanged, he suddenly felt his heartbeat miss a beat.

Cool.

Too cool.

He Shi’an silently put down the spirit fruit, feeling that his boast just now of “even if I go bankrupt, I’ll still win it” had seemed as childish as playing house in front of Senior Brother.

The bidding continued.

That offer of fifty million was like a heavy hammer, mercilessly smashing apart all the competitors’ hearts.

A few more lamps in the rooms slowly went out.

Now, only three parties remained in the bidding.

Heaven Room Three—the owner of the young woman’s voice next door.

Heaven Room Six—a mysterious buyer who had bid from beginning to end.

And.

Heaven Room One—Lu Fengmian.

“Fifty-five million.” A hoarse voice came from the direction of Heaven Room Six.

Lu Fengmian’s expression did not change. “Sixty million.”

“Sixty-two million.” The young woman’s voice next door rang out again.

Lu Fengmian: “Sixty-five million.”

“Seventy million.” The voice from Heaven Room Six had slowed, and the increase had clearly grown smaller.

Lu Fengmian still did not hesitate. “Seventy-five million.”

Each time he raised the bid, he increased it directly by five million.

No probing, no hesitation.

He was simply telling everyone.

This item is mine.

The lamp in Heaven Room Six went out.

Now, only two sides remained.

That female voice was silent for a long time before speaking again:

“Seventy-eight million.”

Lu Fengmian: “Eighty million.”

Eighty million.

This price had far exceeded many people’s expectations.

Heaven Room Three next door did not bid again immediately.

Lu Fengmian pressed the Yun-Wielding Fan against his lips, his face expressionless.

Only he himself knew that his heartbeat was not nearly as calm as it appeared on the surface.

Not because of nervousness.

But because this feeling was simply too exhilarating.

Using the limitless funds provided by the System to engage in an ultimate showdown with an opponent.

Although the money was not his, the feeling really was a little intoxicating.

Just when everyone thought the room next door was about to give up, the woman’s voice rang out once more:

“Eighty-two million.”

Lu Fengmian did not even blink. “Eighty-five million.”

“Eighty-six million.”

“Ninety million.”

He Shi’an had already forgotten how to breathe.

The lamp in the private room next door was still lit.

But it was a long time before the sound of bidding rang out again.

After a long while, Su Jinxiu’s voice finally sounded cautiously:

“Ninety million once... ninety million twice... nine—”

“Ninety-one million.” The voice next door sounded again, and there seemed to be exhaustion in her tone.

Lu Fengmian remained expressionless.

He picked up the teacup, took another sip, then set it down.

“One hundred million.”

His words were sonorous and forceful, clear and unmistakable.

This time, the room next door fell completely silent, and its lamp quietly went out.

Su Jinxiu’s voice rang out again, full of excitement:

“One hundred million once... one hundred million twice... one hundred million three times—sold!”

The crisp strike of the wooden hammer broke the silence of the entire hall.

Lu Fengmian let out a light breath and leaned back against the chair.

He had finally obtained it.

He turned to look at He Shi’an.

He Shi’an was sitting there with his mouth open, staring blankly ahead, as though thinking: “Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?”

That spirit fruit he had been holding the whole time had already been crushed into a miserable lump in his palm.

Lu Fengmian chuckled softly and waved a hand before his eyes.

“Pull yourself together.”

He Shi’an shuddered violently and finally came back to himself.

He lowered his head to look at the pitiful lump of fruit pulp in his hand, then raised his head to look at Lu Fengmian’s jade-handsome face. He opened and closed his mouth, and only with great difficulty managed to squeeze out one sentence:

“Senior Brother, you’re so cool.”

Lu Fengmian raised a brow and lightly shook the Yun-Wielding Fan in his hand.

“It was nothing.”

Just then, a light knock came at the door.

A maid said respectfully, “Excuse me. The distinguished guest from Heaven Room Three next door wishes to pay a visit. May I ask if it is convenient for the two of you?”

Lu Fengmian raised a brow.

That one next door?