Shortly after Qin Xuan and the other two returned from the restroom, the auction resumed.
This time, the staff presented a delicate brocade box that was golden all over.
Yi Ruo, with her graceful steps, slowly walked to the brocade box.
As the box was opened, a dried ginseng with an exquisite appearance and extremely long roots was revealed to everyone.
After the backstage displayed detailed photos of the ginseng on the large screen on the stage, Yi Ruo finally spoke slowly.
"As you can all see, the sixth item up for auction today is a pure wild ginseng from Changbai Mountain in Northeast China."
"It is reported that when this wild ginseng was first harvested, its fresh weight reached an astonishing over 830 grams."
"After drying, its dry weight still exceeded 200 grams."
"It can be said to be very 'weighty'."
"Corresponding to its substantial weight is its developed root system."
"According to measurements, the shortest root of this ginseng alone can reach an astonishing one hundred and sixty centimeters, while the longest one exceeds two meters!"
"Based on the general estimation methods for determining the age of ginseng, this ginseng is at least a thousand years old."
"It is a veritable thousand-year-old ginseng king!"
Wow!
Yi Ruo's introduction truly detonated the entire venue like a bomb.
A thousand-year-old ginseng, this was a legendary existence.
It was said that once ginseng reached a thousand years of age, its overall efficacy would undergo a qualitative leap.
Not only could it strengthen the body and cure all illnesses, but it could even potentially reverse aging and prolong life!
No one did not want to be healthy and live long, and this was especially true for these wealthy individuals.
As the ancients once said, "The most painful thing in life is when a person dies and their money remains unspent."
They possessed wealth that ordinary people could not earn in several lifetimes, and naturally, they hoped to enjoy life for as long as possible.
Yi Ruo was very satisfied with everyone's enthusiastic reaction.
She smiled and watched everyone revel.
Only when they quieted down involuntarily did she continue, "Since there has been no precedent for a thousand-year-old ginseng being auctioned worldwide, we can only refer to the auction price of the highest-aged ginseng king in recent times."
"146,000 Dragon Coins per gram."
"This means that the starting price for this thousand-year-old ginseng king with a dry weight of 208 grams is: 30.32 million Dragon Coins."
"Each increment must not be less than 5,000 Dragon Coins."
"Please bid!"
Yi Ruo extended her hand forward, immediately igniting an unprecedented bidding frenzy.
Although the starting price of this thousand-year-old ginseng king was not high, it did not mean that its final transaction price would be lower than that of the jade bracelet earlier.
Moreover, with the temptation of extended lifespan, no one would hesitate to bid due to fear anymore.
However...
Just as everyone was eagerly bidding, Qin Xuan noticed something amiss.
Similar to Wang Chong's calligraphy he had discovered earlier.
Qin Xuan could surprisingly hear several inner voices from this thousand-year-old ginseng king.
Ginseng: Damn it, after being pieced together by that human, I've become a thousand-year-old ginseng king?!
Ginseng root a: I originally thought my future was ruined, but I didn't expect to be worth millions per gram!
Ginseng root b: The joys and sorrows of participating ginseng are not shared. They feel happy, but I only find them noisy.
Root bowl a: This glue is too sticky!
Root bowl b: ...
Good heavens.
After listening to the inner voices of all its parts, Qin Xuan finally realized.
It turned out that this so-called giant thousand-year-old wild ginseng was actually assembled from many younger ginsengs with glue!
However, the counterfeiter's technique was so meticulous that it deceived all the participating medicinal experts, allowing it to successfully pass as genuine and arrive at this top auction venue in Jiangcheng.
Having understood everything, Qin Xuan furtively looked around.
He found that almost everyone present, except for himself, had fallen into a state of frenzy.
The chairman of Wang's Group, the eldest young master of the Li family.
One by one, their bidding paddles were raised like fans, only to be lowered and raised again.
"Hmm?"
"Wait."
"Hu Hao is also participating in the bidding?"
His gaze swept to Hu Hao's location, and Qin Xuan was surprised to find that the other party was also bidding frantically.
Not only that, but from Hu Hao's frenzied expression, he clearly saw four big words: I must win!
So, his target this time was not the Yohen Tenmoku tea bowl, but this "thousand-year-old ginseng"?
If that were the case, then things would become interesting...
"Brother Qin, Brother Qin!"
"How is it? Is your intuition useful for this wild ginseng?"
It wasn't until he was awakened by the anxious voices of Chen Zhongping and Ye Shuliang that Qin Xuan slowly came back to his senses.
He noticed that their eyes were filled with the same frenzy as Hu Hao's.
To be able to ask for his opinion first in this situation, Qin Xuan admired their composure.
"Brothers, do you trust me?"
After a moment of contemplation, Qin Xuan asked them with a serious expression.
Chen Zhongping and Ye Shuliang were taken aback, not understanding why Qin Xuan would suddenly ask such a question.
But without hesitation, they nodded decisively.
"What are you saying?"
"Since we invited you here, we naturally trust you one hundred percent."
"That's good then."
"Actually, this so-called thousand-year-old ginseng is fake; it's pieced together with glue."
"What?!"
Qin Xuan's words were like a basin of cold water, instantly extinguishing the flames in their eyes.
After a full minute of silence, Ye Shuliang recalled and slowly said.
"I have indeed heard of people using broken root bowls, ginseng roots, and other parts, and gluing them onto the ginseng body. Once these parts regrow together, they can be passed off as genuine in the market."
"I just didn't expect such a rare 'thousand-year-old ginseng king' to be manufactured with such shoddy methods."
"This is truly..."
"Alas..."
Chen Zhongping and Ye Shuliang shook their heads with great regret.
They had thought they could present a good treasure to the ancestor of their family this time, but they hadn't expected this wild ginseng to be fake.
Seeing their emotions instantly plummet from the peak, Qin Xuan quickly patted their shoulders, "Brothers, you don't need to feel too regretful. Isn't it also a good thing to discover that this 'ginseng king' is fake in advance?"
"Otherwise, you would have spent a lot of money and still bought a fake, which would be truly frustrating enough to make you spit blood!"
"That's true."
They nodded subconsciously, but then they noticed a hint of a mischievous smile on Qin Xuan's lips.
Their understanding dawned, and they returned a sly smile.
"I say, Brother Qin, why do I feel like you have something more to say?"
Qin Xuan, having been seen through, chuckled sheepishly, "Hehe, actually... I wanted to ask you brothers to do me a favor."