Chapter 91: Chapter 91: The City Lord’s Mansion Makes Its Move

Jiang Chen wasn’t the only one with a strong reaction.

Beside Jiang Chen, his parents, Jiang Han and Xiao Yun, were also flushed with excitement.

Xiao Yun even clenched her fists.

’It has to sell for a high price.’

This was her son’s Elixir, after all. Naturally, she hoped it would sell for a high price.

Still, the starting bid of five million was beyond the couple’s expectations.

They were overjoyed.

Of course, after the initial shock, many people had no choice but to reluctantly give up on bidding.

A starting price of five million had already blocked the vast majority of people.

But the Treasure Elephant Pavilion didn’t seem to mind. They just wanted to auction this Foundation Strengthening Pill for a sky-high price.

"Number Thirteen bids five million, one hundred thousand."

After a brief pause, someone immediately placed a decisive bid.

The only ones who could bid now were all figures at the Wealth Lord Level from Hanwu City, or even some who had rushed here from other places after hearing the news.

If you weren’t worth tens of millions, you’d be too embarrassed to even bid.

In fact, the true magnates were all calm and composed.

Even the patriarchs of the Bai and Ximen Families were only slightly moved; they weren’t overly shocked.

Each of Hanwu City’s three great families had financial resources of at least twenty million, to say the least.

So while a starting bid of five million was high, the value of the Foundation Strengthening Pill itself was considerable.

If the starting price had been lower, it wouldn’t have done justice to the Pill’s value.

Ximen Gong had come specifically for the Foundation Strengthening Pill.

Without hesitation, he immediately raised his paddle.

"Number 1002 bids five million, three hundred thousand."

After seeing Ximen Gong’s bid, Bai Xiong glanced at Jiang Han.

He noticed that Jiang Han wasn’t in a hurry to bid.

But he himself couldn’t wait any longer.

He placed a bid directly.

"Number 800 bids five million, four hundred thousand."

Jiang Chen’s entire family looked over at Patriarch Bai Xiong of the Bai Family.

There was a strange look in all three of their eyes.

After all, only the three of them knew who would ultimately profit from the Elixir being auctioned.

The three of them exchanged smiles.

But Jiang Han didn’t stay idle.

After Bai Xiong’s bid, he paused for a moment.

Then he raised his paddle without any hesitation.

"Number 561 bids six million."

That’s right, Jiang Han had directly raised the price to six million.

He had an air of someone determined to win.

Bai Xiong looked at Jiang Han, his face dark and his eyes spitting fire.

’Bastard, what a vicious price hike.’

He was furious. After all, a slow bidding war left more room for everyone to participate. If someone just shouted the highest price in one go, no one else would be able to bid.

Bidding slowly was also a test of patience.

Of course, what Bai Xiong saw was a Jiang Han full of passion, seemingly determined to obtain the Foundation Strengthening Pill.

But inwardly, he sneered, ’The Jiang Family wants the Foundation Strengthening Pill? Not a chance.’

He would not let the Jiang Family succeed.

Of course, the Bai Family was clearly not the only one with this thought.

When Ximen Gong saw Jiang Han bid six million, he sneered inwardly. After a glance at Jiang Han, he raised his paddle again.

"Number 1002 bids six million, one hundred thousand."

Ximen Gong had no intention of yielding to Jiang Han either.

But Jiang Han was laughing to himself.

He wasn’t bidding to win the Foundation Strengthening Pill, but to drive the price up quickly. He definitely wasn’t going to be the final buyer.

If someone else bought it for a high price, his son would earn even more.

This was a conspiracy. Or rather, Jiang Han was a shill.

He was deliberately stirring up trouble.

But others didn’t know this and thought Jiang Han was genuinely bidding for the Elixir.

A frantic bidding war began among the three great families, with Jiang Han raising the price again and again.

"Hmph!"

Jiang Han snorted deliberately.

He raised his paddle again.

"Number 561 bids fourteen million."

Just like that, the price had been pushed to an incomparably terrifying high.

A high price of fourteen million.

Jiang Han had played a significant role in driving it up.

Jiang Chen was speechless at his father’s antics, but he didn’t say anything.

This was all for his benefit, after all.

Of course, even if his father hadn’t intervened, the Foundation Strengthening Pill would certainly have sold for a very high price.

Now, the high price of fourteen million made many people’s hearts turn cold. They had already lost all hope.

Only a handful of bidders remained.

Bai Xiong’s face was ashen.

This price was already becoming too much for even him to bear.

The Bai Family’s wealth was easily over thirty million, but fourteen million was almost half of it.

The auction had now reached its most critical moment.

Whoever could hold on longer, or even be more ruthless, would have a chance to get the Foundation Strengthening Pill.

Bai Shu looked at his father.

He saw that his father’s forehead was already covered in sweat.

"Father, should we keep bidding?"

At this point, he could only ask his father.

Fourteen million was no small burden for the Bai Family.

"Bid. Keep bidding."

A ruthless look appeared on Bai Xiong’s face.

He started bidding again.

Ximen Gong was the same, still not giving up.

As for Jiang Han, after his bid of fourteen million, he simply gave up bidding.

"Forget it. You all can fight over it. The Jiang Family can’t afford to play anymore."

He said this coolly to Bai Xiong and then truly dropped out of the bidding completely.

At that moment, Bai Xiong gave Jiang Han a deep look.

Although he was suspicious about why Jiang Han had suddenly given up, it wasn’t that strange. After all, at such a high price, it was perfectly normal for the Jiang Family to be unable to afford it and drop out.

He pursed his lips and thought, ’The Jiang Family’s finances probably can’t support any more bidding. It’s good that they gave up. One less competitor.’

With the Jiang Family’s withdrawal, not only did the Bai Family breathe a sigh of relief, but even Ximen Gong secretly heaved one as well.

They had taken down a powerful competitor.

But just because the Jiang Family had given up didn’t mean others had.

After another round of bidding, the auction price for the Foundation Strengthening Pill climbed higher and higher.

"Number Twenty bids eighteen million."

Amidst the heated bidding, Number Twenty suddenly appeared, bidding eighteen million in one go.

Everyone in the room gasped and couldn’t help but look at the bidder.

They quickly saw it was a young man holding up a paddle.

"Someone from the City Lord’s Mansion."

Seeing him, Jiang Han was slightly taken aback.

He recognized the person.

Someone from the Hanwu City Lord’s Mansion had also joined the auction.

Besides the three great families, the City Lord’s Mansion was also unfathomably powerful.

For the City Lord’s Mansion to bid at this moment was like a dark horse charging onto the scene.

It made both the Ximen and Bai Families tremble in fear.

The two patriarchs now hesitated, wondering whether to follow up with another bid.

First, they considered that their finances might not be able to keep up. Second, bidding would mean offending the City Lord’s Mansion.

The power of the City Lord’s Mansion was far greater than that of the three great families and could not be underestimated.

As the person from the City Lord’s Mansion placed their bid, the scene fell silent.

Especially since the only ones still bidding now, besides the Bai and Ximen Families, were three other financially formidable families.

Everyone else had given up long ago.

Both the Bai and Ximen Families were wary of the City Lord’s Mansion, and so were the other three families that were still in the running.

"Number Twenty has bid eighteen million. Is there anyone who will bid higher?"

Murong Xiangming asked with a smile from the stage.