"Next up for auction is a Level Six Ice Elemental Magic Crystal. These are quite rare, as the beasts possessing them are found in colder regions, making them more difficult to obtain. The starting bid is twenty thousand crystal stones, with increments of one thousand."
"Sixty-five thousand crystal stones." Lu Heng didn't wait for others to bid, stating his price immediately. He had overheard the discussions in the crowd earlier and, through mind-reading, had also gauged their internal price limits. He decided to meet their maximum bids and purchase them directly.
"Damn it, who has that much money? They're not even letting anyone else bid before jumping to the base price?" a man below exclaimed in astonishment.
"Yeah, that fire elemental one earlier, the price was also set by that person, I think it sounded similar."
"Sixty-five thousand, are there any other bids?"
"Sixty-six thousand."
Oh, someone wants to compete? Lu Heng smiled and submitted another bid, "Seventy thousand."
A wave of gasps and murmurs swept through the crowd. No one else dared to bid higher.
Ultimately, Lu Heng secured the Level Six Ice Elemental Magic Crystal for seventy thousand.
"Next, a Level Six Lightning Elemental Magic Crystal. This is also rare. The starting bid is twenty thousand, with increments of one thousand."
"Seventy thousand." Lu Heng bid again.
A wave of gasps and murmurs.
"Next, a Level Six Strength Elemental Magic Crystal. Starting bid is ten thousand, with increments of one thousand."
"Seventy thousand."
"Next, a Level Six Speed Elemental Magic Crystal. Starting bid is ten thousand, with increments of one thousand."
"Seventy thousand."
"Next, a Level Six Wood Elemental Magic Crystal. Starting bid is ten thousand, with increments of one thousand."
"Seventy thousand."
"Next..."
"Seventy thousand."
"Damn it, is he here to book out all the magic crystals today?"
"Damn, he's so rich!"
Lu Heng consistently bid seventy thousand, and no one else followed suit. A single crystal wouldn't be enough for an upgrade; each level-up consumed a significant number of magic crystals. Even a Level Five cultivator would need about ten Level Six magic crystals to upgrade. For a Level Six cultivator, the consumption doubled.
"Next, a Level Six Earth Elemental Magic Crystal. Starting bid is ten thousand, with increments of one thousand."
This time, everyone remained silent, waiting for Lu Heng to bid seventy thousand. However, to their surprise, Lu Heng remained quiet. The auctioneer glanced in Lu Heng's direction but quickly shifted her gaze. "Does no one want this Level Six Earth Elemental Magic Crystal? Then we will..."
"Ten thousand crystal stones." How could no one want it? The crowd's mental price limit was around sixty-five thousand, so they weren't going to compete with Lu Heng. But since Lu Heng wasn't bidding, those who wanted the Earth Elemental Magic Crystal would surely bid.
Ultimately, the Level Six Earth Elemental Magic Crystal was sold for sixty thousand to another bidder.
"It seems that person doesn't need Earth Elemental Magic Crystals."
"That's good, it allows Earth Elemental cultivators to get a bargain."
"What bargain, that's the normal price."
"Yes, yes, yes." The crowd agreed.
Similarly, Lu Heng, who already possessed Level Six Water Elemental Magic Crystals, did not bid.
"All Level Six Magic Crystals have been auctioned. Next, we will begin the auction for Level Seven Magic Crystals." As another group of women entered with trays, the auctioneer commenced the next round.
"Level Seven Fire Elemental Magic Crystal. Starting bid is fifty thousand crystal stones, with increments of five thousand."
"Fifty thousand crystal stones." An elderly voice echoed from a private room upstairs.
"Sixty thousand crystal stones." A gruff male voice called out from another room.
"Seventy thousand." Brothers, please don't compete with this little lady. A delicate female voice drifted from a room above Lu Heng's.
"Hmph, I don't care who you are. Whoever has the money buys it. This is a Level Seven Magic Crystal, and I bid eighty thousand crystal stones."
"Ninety thousand." The woman's voice rang out again, indicating her strong desire for the Fire Elemental Magic Crystal.
"One hundred thousand."
"One hundred and ten thousand."
"What's happening today? The prices seem higher than usual." Discussions erupted below. Lu Heng carefully absorbed all useful information.
"I think it's about time. It won't go much higher than one hundred and thirty thousand."
"That's not necessarily true. The person who almost bought all the Level Six Magic Crystals hasn't made a move yet."
Those who couldn't afford the bids didn't leave, as it was still beneficial to understand the market. The seats in the main hall were not expensive.
"One hundred and thirty thousand." The woman's voice, laced with frustration, was heard. After a two-second pause, the man who had been bidding against her remained silent. The woman's voice chimed in again, "Hehehe, it seems my brothers are letting me have this."
"One hundred and fifty thousand." Lu Heng spoke up promptly.
"What the hell, is he crazy? That person is bidding again, and at this price..." Lu Heng felt that if he were to compete in terms of wealth here, even the emperor himself couldn't match him.
Bang! The sound of a table shattering echoed. The woman upstairs stopped bidding.
"One hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones. Are there any further bids?" the auctioneer asked with a smile. She hadn't expected magic crystals to become the most sought-after items. These were consumables, and their supply was finite. As high-level cultivators continued to upgrade, they would return to purchase more. The more such buyers there were, the higher her commission would be. She favored those who treated crystal stones with such disregard. After whispering a few words to her attending maid, the auctioneer glanced in Lu Heng's direction again. "One hundred and fifty thousand crystal stones for the Level Seven Fire Elemental Magic Crystal. Congratulations to the buyer for obtaining their desired item."
"Next, a Level Seven Earth Elemental Magic Crystal. Starting bid is fifty thousand crystal stones, with increments of five thousand."
"One hundred and fifty thousand crystal stones." The auctioneer displayed an expression of expectation, glancing at the private room above with a smile.
"Didn't he say he didn't need Earth Elemental Magic Crystals? Why is he bidding now?" People below began to murmur again.
"He's rich, what can you do?"
"That's right, at an auction, the rich are the lords, hahaha."
"Damn it, I want to find a godfather. I wonder if he's accepting applications."
"Scram, don't try to steal my dad."
"Next, a Level Seven Water Elemental Magic Crystal. Starting bid is fifty thousand crystal stones, with increments of five thousand."
"One hundred and fifty thousand crystal stones." Lu Heng bid again.
"Next, a Level Seven Ice Elemental Magic Crystal. Starting bid is seventy thousand crystal stones, with increments of five thousand."
"One hundred and fifty thousand crystal stones."
"Next, a Level Seven Lightning Elemental Magic Crystal. Starting bid is seventy thousand crystal stones, with increments of five thousand."
"One hundred and fifty thousand crystal stones."
"..."
"He's buying out all the Level Seven Magic Crystals."
"Indeed."