Zi Linling had a good idea of what to expect the moment she saw Master Dong.
As expected, Xia Luo stepped onto the auction stage and said with a smile, "My apologies for keeping all esteemed guests waiting! Regarding the esteemed guest in VIP Room Number Two, I have inquired with my superiors. An exchange of goods is permissible, but it must be appraised and valued by Master Dong first. May I ask what item the young lady intends to offer in exchange?"
Zi Linling smiled and, using her power of法则 (faze), sent out a porcelain bottle, placing it before Xia Luo. She said, "Miss Xia Luo, would this be acceptable?"
Xia Luo blinked, then smiled and said, "Please wait a moment, young lady. Let Master Dong appraise and evaluate it."
"Mm!"
Zi Linling responded indifferently, agreeing.
Upon hearing Zi Linling's voice, Master Dong's heart began to itch with anticipation.
Having appraised the ten-thousand-year-old Jiù Qū Xiāng Sī Téng and the Zhì Qíng Huā Lù, he was even more curious about what other treasures Zi Linling would produce.
Therefore, before Xia Luo could invite him, he quickly rushed onto the auction stage, picked up the porcelain bottle, and removed the stopper.
A rich life force surged forward, causing Master Dong's greying hair to visibly darken.
Master Dong, almost dropping the porcelain bottle in his excitement, exclaimed, "Spring of Life!"
Then, he quickly stoppered the bottle.
Spring of Life!!!
The auction hall erupted.
What were Dragon Ancestor's essence blood or Kui Niu's tendons compared to the Spring of Life? They were not worth mentioning.
"Who exactly is this person from VIP Room Number Two, to possess such a treasure as the Spring of Life!"
"I don't know! The woman's voice is very unfamiliar. There doesn't seem to be anyone of that caliber on the Divine Remnant Continent!"
"Hmph! As if you know everyone on the Divine Remnant Continent!"
"Whoever it is, daring to bring out a treasure like the Spring of Life is truly playing with fire!"
"Right! Didn't she just bid for the Dragon Ancestor's essence blood?"
"Yes! She already bid for the Dragon Ancestor's essence blood and now she's offering the Spring of Life for an exchange. Does she want the Kui Niu's tendons as well?"
"Whatever she wants! She clearly has many treasures on her, and will surely attract the attention of many. It's unlikely she'll be able to leave the City of Chaos!"
"..."
Zi Linling heard all their discussions.
She raised an eyebrow, a cold smile curling her lips.
They were coveting her?
They were targeting her?
Hmph!
If they didn't trouble her, it would be fine. But if they dared to rob her, then she couldn't be blamed for quickly "amassing wealth."
"Master Dong, the esteemed guest from VIP Room Number Two is waiting for your appraisal!" Xia Luo reminded him with a smile.
"Ah... oh, oh!"
Master Dong snapped back to attention and said, "This bottle is full of Spring of Life. If it were auctioned, it would be worth more than a hundred million high-grade spirit stones. Young lady, are you sure you want to exchange this bottle of Spring of Life for spirit stones to bid for the Kui Niu's tendons?"
Zi Linling replied, "Of course! I desperately need the Kui Niu's tendons, but all my spirit stones were used to buy the Dragon Ancestor's essence blood, so I can only reluctantly part with it!"
"Very well! We at the Nine Domains Chamber of Commerce will not take advantage of you. This bottle of Spring of Life is valued at one hundred and twenty million high-grade spirit stones. If no one bids higher than one hundred and twenty million, then the Kui Niu's tendons will belong to you!"
Master Dong pondered for a moment and said solemnly.
"Mm!"
Zi Linling still responded indifferently.
Xia Luo nodded to Master Dong and said, "Alright, the esteemed guest from VIP Room Number Two has bid one hundred and twenty million high-grade spirit stones for the Kui Niu's tendons. May I ask the esteemed guest from VIP Room Number One, do you wish to increase your bid?"
"A gentleman does not covet what others desire. I am poor and unable to afford it, so I shall not increase the bid!"
The man from VIP Room Number One paused and said indifferently.
However, no one saw the meaningful smile on his face.
"Very well! The esteemed guest from VIP Room Number One forfeits! May I ask the esteemed guest from VIP Room Number Eight, do you wish to increase your bid?"
Xia Luo smiled and looked towards VIP Room Number Eight.
Patriarch Xu's face was ashen, and he said angrily, "This Kui Niu's tendon is too valuable; I cannot afford it!"
In fact, he, Patriarch Shen, and Patriarch Du had not yet reached a consensus.
In reality, even if they had reached an agreement, they would not dare to spend hundreds of millions.
One hundred and twenty million high-grade spirit stones was far beyond the value of the Kui Niu's tendons.
To put it bluntly, these high-grade spirit stones could buy two Kui Niu's tendons.
After speaking, Patriarch Xu looked at VIP Room Number Two with ill intent, thinking to himself, "Hmph! Whoever you are, the Dragon Ancestor's essence blood and Kui Niu's tendons will be mine. It's a win-win situation for me to save spirit stones and obtain these two items!"
Of course, he was not the only one with such thoughts. Patriarch Shen was the same, and Patriarch Du was also the same.
This chaotic domain was inherently a place of chaos, and the City of Chaos was even more so.
Therefore, robbery was not an uncommon occurrence.
Xia Luo smiled and said, "The esteemed guest from VIP Room Number Eight also forfeits. Are there any other esteemed guests who wish to increase their bid?"
Silence fell over the auction hall. Everyone harbored their own intentions.
Xia Luo shook her head helplessly, thinking to herself, "It seems the City of Chaos is about to witness a bloody storm."
However, none of this concerned her, nor the Nine Domains Chamber of Commerce.
Her face still held a smile as she calmly stated, "Since no one wishes to increase their bid, I declare that the Kui Niu's tendons belong to the esteemed guest from VIP Room Number Two."
"Today's auction concludes here. Thank you all for your generous support! I hope to see you all again in a year! Thank you again to all our esteemed guests for your patronage. Farewell!" Xia Luo finished in one breath and elegantly walked off the auction stage.
The crowd dispersed, but Zi Linling, Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing did not leave in a hurry.
Firstly, the transaction between Zi Linling and the Nine Domains Chamber of Commerce had not yet been settled. Secondly, Zi Linling did not wish to walk out so ostentatiously and become a target for those with ill intentions.
Master Dong held the bottle of Spring of Life tightly and, weaving through the dense crowd exiting, arrived at VIP Room Number Two.
He signaled Xiao He to leave, activated the highest level of defense for VIP Room Number Two, completely isolating it from the outside, and said, "Miss Zi, you are in a great deal of trouble now!"
Zi Linling responded with a simple "Oh," and said, "Thank you, Master Dong, for the warning. While I dislike trouble, since it has come to my doorstep, I cannot retreat, can I?"
Master Dong smiled and kindly said, "Miss Zi, as long as you do not leave the premises of the Nine Domains Chamber of Commerce, those troubles will not dare to act rashly. Therefore, for the safety of all of you, please remain at the Nine Domains Chamber of Commerce for the time being. We will certainly protect your safety!"