Those who dared to board this ship and do business with the Sea Tribe were naturally not ordinary people.
Far from being foolish, they were incredibly shrewd, able to keenly sense opportunities from the slightest clues and act decisively.
Almost all the beings on the ship had gathered on the deck. Those with deep pockets had already entered the fray, bidding for the secret manual in Bonnyu's hands.
Since the Golden Eyes, the Master of Forgery, and Ao Cheng's faction had all made a move, there was no doubt that this secret manual was likely the real deal.
The atmosphere was incredibly heated, and soon the price had surpassed twenty million.
The voices bidding also began to dwindle.
Firstly, everyone remained cautious. After all, no one could understand the text, and there was no guarantee that this was the true Void Swordplay.
Secondly, not many could afford to part with over twenty million immortal crystals at once.
The handsome young man, Nangong Manyin, was a generous bidder, never hesitating, and seemed determined to win.
Of course, to be precise, Nangong Manyin was a young lady. However, she had been a tomboy since childhood, always dressing as a boy. Those unfamiliar with her wouldn't even realize she was a girl.
Guan Shan, the Master of Forgery, looked extremely displeased. He had expected to acquire this secret manual at a bargain price, but the situation had escalated far beyond his expectations.
"Kid, do you know who I am? How dare you ruin my plans, seeking death?"
Guan Shan's eyes were fierce, and he felt like killing Nangong Manyin.
Nangong Manyin remained silent. A young master accompanying her immediately put on a stern face and snorted, "And do you know who we are? How dare you threaten my Nangong family, you've got some nerve."
"The Nangong family!"
Guan Shan sized up Nangong Manyin and suddenly realized, "It's you, Nangong Manyin, who possesses the Golden Eyes by birth. No wonder."
The Golden Eyes were rumored to possess incredible, peculiar abilities. It seemed Nangong Manyin could discern the extraordinary nature of this secret manual, hence her contention for it.
With two Immortal Emperors from the Nangong family, they were a renowned noble clan in Purple Thistle Prefecture. Although Guan Shan was arrogant, he dared not provoke them and could only suppress his anger.
However, he couldn't swallow this insult and continued to compete with Nangong Manyin in the bidding.
"Thirty million immortal crystals!"
As the notorious Master of Forgery, who knew how much ill-gotten money Guan Shan had amassed, he was also a man of means, raising the price to the astronomical sum of thirty million.
"Thirty-one million."
Nangong Manyin's brow didn't even furrow. It was as if she were merely uttering a string of numbers. Her calm and composed demeanor earned the admiration of outsiders.
"Sister, that's about enough,"
The handsome young master couldn't help but advise. He was Nangong Manyin's younger brother, Nangong Chou.
Although he knew that with his sister's discerning eye, whatever she fancied must be valuable, the money they had brought was intended for purchasing a rare treasure from the Sea Tribe, and it could not be lost.
"Shut up, what do you know? This item is far beyond its value. Buying it is a profit. Also, how many times have I told you, you must call me 'brother' when we're out."
Nangong Manyin showed no leniency to her own brother, telling him to behave.
No one understood the value of this secret manual better than Nangong Manyin. Her Golden Eyes could perceive more astonishing things than divine sense.
Even though she couldn't decipher the text, whether it was the true Void Swordplay or not.
It didn't matter at all. The calligraphy in this secret manual contained the purest principles of the sword, and even grasping a sliver of it would be infinitely beneficial.
In her eyes, the characters on this secret manual were priceless.
"This young brother is quite decent."
Ji Hanhan found Nangong Manyin more and more pleasing to the eye. She was good-looking and a generous bidder, worthy of deep friendship.
Moreover, seeing Nangong Manyin reminded him of that Blue brother with the exaggerated pectoral muscles. He hadn't seen him in a long time and missed him dearly.
"My Blue brother likes playing with eggs. If this stone egg hasn't hatched yet, I'll give it to him to play with."
Ji Mo stroked the black and white Kun egg in his arms, feeling a sense of nostalgia. He wondered if he could pinch Lan Rou's chubby little face again the next time they met.
The Kun egg had previously been cared for by Xia Wan'er. However, recently, the Kun egg's life force had been growing stronger, and it had also begun to absorb a large amount of external energy. Xia Wan'er, knowing this might be the crucial moment for hatching, returned it to Ji Mo.
The bidding continued. After breaking the forty million mark, Ao Cheng's faction could no longer sustain it and withdrew from the competition.
Nangong Manyin's delicate brows finally furrowed slightly. As she had only brought forty million immortal crystals with her, she cast a mischievous glance at Nangong Chou.
"Hey, I'm your own brother, the bond of siblings."
Nangong Chou understood Nangong Manyin's intention; she was clearly eyeing his personal savings. He had worked hard and saved diligently to accumulate over two million immortal crystals for his dowry. Was it easy?
"That's why I've always doted on you since we were young."
Nangong Manyin clenched her fist.
Fighting was doting.
The more she beat him, the more she loved him.
The affection between siblings was often so simple and unadorned.
Nangong Chou's mouth twitched. The memories of past beatings were unbearable. With tears in his eyes, he handed over his personal savings, making Nangong Manyin promise to repay the money.
"Stop being so verbose. When I get married, the entire Nangong family will be yours. If you still haggle with me over this, I won't get married and will fight you for the inheritance."
Nangong Manyin was clearly being unreasonable.
Wasn't it only natural for a sister to take a little pocket money from her brother?
Besides, after acquiring the secret manual, wouldn't Nangong Chou benefit from it anyway?
Nangong Chou had a mournful expression, knowing his dowry was about to be lost. Who would marry this tomboy of an elder sister? They wouldn't want her even if she paid them.
"Forty-two million five hundred thousand."
Nangong Manyin announced the highest price, all the immortal crystals she had on hand.
Guan Shan fell silent. He knew this was Nangong Manyin's final offer, and if he bid higher, she certainly wouldn't be able to match it.
Spending over forty million immortal crystals on a secret manual he couldn't understand, he didn't want to be such a sucker and intended to give up.
"This big sucker wants to back out, but I won't allow it."
Ji Mo suspected that Guan Shan was highly likely to be someone who knew the whereabouts of the Great Immortal Void's notes and had to lure him into the trap.
He revealed himself, walked over, took the secret manual from Bonnyu, flipped through a few pages, and exclaimed, "Heavens, Void Sword Control Art..."
As he spoke, he pretended to be practicing according to the manual, forming a sword gesture. A wisp of Void Sword Intent immediately swirled around his fingertips.
Bonnyu cooperated perfectly with Ji Mo's performance, snatching the manual back in a hurry and reprimanding, "The highest bidder wins. If you want to learn, bid for it."
"Damn it, could this really be the Void Swordplay secret manual?"
The surrounding suckers were instantly agitated and couldn't hold back, bidding again.
Nangong Manyin glared furiously at Ji Mo. If it weren't for this brat's interruption, she would have succeeded.
Ji Mo offered a smile. Really, I'm helping you out of good intentions. Whoever buys this book is the biggest sucker.
"It's confirmed, the secret manual is real."
A tempest of shock surged within Guan Shan.
He had once come into contact with Great Immortal Void's notes and personally experienced the true Void Sword Intent.
What Ji Mo had just manifested at his fingertips was undoubtedly the purest and most orthodox Void Sword Intent.
"This kid seems to understand this kind of text. As long as I get the secret manual and deal with this kid, I'll be able to obtain the true Void Swordplay."
Guan Shan had fallen for the bait and continued to participate in the bidding.
In the end, he successfully acquired the secret manual for fifty-four million immortal crystals, becoming the biggest sucker.