Chapter 138: Keep a Low Profile in Life, High Standards in Work

Gu Qinghe led Shang Xuanyun and the others into a private room, though it was one tier lower than expected.

Yet Shang Xuanyun and his companions foolishly believed it to be the finest room available.

At present, the room Qin Chuan occupied was reserved exclusively for distinguished guests.

Since the branch opened, this room had never been used and remained unknown to most.

From his seat inside, Qin Chuan could see Shang Xuanyun and the others clearly, while they were utterly unable to spot him.

At this moment, Qin Chuan began plotting how to deal with this shark of a man.

An auctioneer named Qingqing stood on the stage, announcing the start of the auction.

None of the items up for bidding caught Qin Chuan’s interest.

After all, at his current level, it was rare for anything valuable to him to appear at an auction of this caliber.

Thus, his focus rested solely on the people from Black Wind Cliff.

“Honored guests, we are about to auction a very rare item: a fourth-rank supreme Five-Colored Fruit,” Qingqing announced.

“This fruit possesses extraordinary effects, capable of greatly enhancing human potential.”

“The starting bid is two million spirit crystals.”

As Qingqing spoke, a maid stepped forward carrying a tray, unveiling the fruit beneath a silk cloth.

A crystal-clear, radiant Five-Colored Fruit was displayed before the assembled crowd.

Its surface shimmered with swirling multicolored light; merely by its appearance, one could tell it was no ordinary fruit.

“Wow!”

“A fruit that enhances potential! Such treasures are almost impossible to come by!”

“I never expected such a marvel at this auction!”

“I’ll take the Five-Colored Fruit! Two million!”

“Two million? I bid two and a half million!”

In an instant, powerful cultivators began bidding fiercely, determined not to let the fruit slip away.

“I offer two million! Whoever dares to challenge me dies!” Shang Xuanyun shook his folding fan arrogantly, striding to the railing to look down at the cultivators below, his gaze dark and menacing.

This display instantly cooled the previously heated atmosphere among the cultivators.

Seeing the stunned silence beneath him, Shang Xuanyun’s pride swelled, and a wicked smile curled at the corner of his lips.

“This is outrageous! I’ve already bid three million, yet he dares only two million? Might as well try to snatch it by force!”

“Damn it, that bastard from Black Wind Cliff showed up at this auction. Looks like this Five-Colored Fruit really isn’t meant for me.”

“Curse those Black Wind Cliff people—they’re nothing but thieves!”

...

For a while, the cultivators present were filled with restrained fury, unable to voice their anger; even Qingqing wore a troubled expression.

The fruit’s minimum price was set at five million spirit crystals, and judging by the earlier bidding, it could have easily fetched a high price.

Now, with Shang Xuanyun’s brazen interference, it would likely sell at the minimum.

None among the cultivators dared to defy Shang Xuanyun—doing so was a death sentence.

“I bid five million.”

A calm voice rang out, thunderous enough to stun the crowd.

Indeed, the bidder was none other than Qin Chuan.

The cultivators, shocked, also felt a surge of exhilaration, silently cheering in their hearts.

Yi Yi blinked her beautiful black eyes in surprise, staring at Qin Chuan.

Knowing Shang Xuanyun’s formidable background, for Qin Chuan to act so boldly meant he either had tremendous courage or a remarkable origin.

Yi Yi believed it was the latter—but in truth, Qin Chuan was simply audacious.

According to auction rules, sellers are typically prohibited from bidding, to avoid accusations of price manipulation.

Yet Yi Yi offered no warning, instead eagerly anticipating what would unfold next.

Moreover, Shang Xuanyun’s arrogant breach of auction protocol had roused widespread disdain.

“Five million, first bid!”

Qingqing was ecstatic and nearly ready to finalize the sale.

“What nerve! He’s asking for death!”

Qingqing shuddered at the angry roar, too frightened to speak further.

At that moment, Shang Xuanyun’s mind exploded with rage.

He had just projected an imposing image that made everyone tremble and hold their breath.

Yet suddenly, he was slapped down—sent crashing from the heights in an instant.

The feeling was indescribably bitter unless one experienced it firsthand.

Fuming, Shang Xuanyun glared toward Qin Chuan’s room, clearly ready to take action.

“You’d better behave, or bear the consequences.”

“Who’s this?”

“It doesn’t matter who I am; what matters is that even your father, Shang Guihong, must yield to me.”

An aged voice echoed directly into Shang Xuanyun’s ears, forcing him to swallow back his fury.

His insides churned with anxiety and frustration.

This masterful tactic of being heard but unseen was not one many could wield—and the mention of Shang Guihong’s name struck terror in Shang Xuanyun’s heart.

He had long feared Shang Guihong above all else.

If even Shang Guihong inspired fear, just how formidable must this voice’s owner be?

Flushed and sweating, Shang Xuanyun reluctantly shouted, “I bid ten million!”

This puzzling response stunned everyone except Yi Yi, who understood the true meaning.

He Changjiu had been ready to burst out of the room, but hearing Shang Xuanyun raise the bid again nearly knocked him off his feet.

“Could the young lord of the cliff have changed his mind? What’s going on?”

Qin Chuan had initially expected Shang Xuanyun to come forward and hand over the prize, but now this man was holding back—how strange.

Yet Qin Chuan felt some relief; the signs indicated this was no simple matter.

He calmly replied, “Twenty million.”

Since Shang Xuanyun refused to surrender readily, Qin Chuan decided to make him pay dearly.

Almost spitting blood with rage, Shang Xuanyun growled, “Thirty million!”

If he failed to secure the Five-Colored Fruit, his future would be bleak.

Such humiliation would become a laughingstock throughout the Spirit Realm.

Determined, he resolved to obtain the fruit at any cost.

In stark contrast to Shang Xuanyun’s suppressed fury, Qin Chuan remained composed, leisurely raising the bid.

Witnessing this, the cultivators below could hardly contain their delight.

As the saying goes, every villain has a match, and among villains, Qin Chuan was the fiercest.

He continued bidding until the price reached one hundred million spirit crystals before finally ceasing, having noticed that Shang Xuanyun seemed to have run out of funds.

“Hm, another hundred billion source energy—feels alright.”

Humble in demeanor but bold in action—this was the perfect description of Qin Chuan at this moment.

With Qingqing’s announcement, the Five-Colored Fruit was finally awarded to Shang Xuanyun, who paid an exorbitant fifty times its base price to save face.

“That young master Qin is truly a devil,” Yi Yi said, a glint of admiration lighting her eyes as she smiled sweetly.

After securing the fruit, Shang Xuanyun stormed out of the Treasure Pavilion, his anger blazing as he stood guard at the entrance, clearly intent on causing trouble for Qin Chuan.

“Wait until that guy comes out—I want him chopped into pieces!”

“Yes, young lord!”

Shang Xuanyun dared not make a move inside the pavilion, but outside, he was reckless.

Seeing this, Yi Yi kindly advised Qin Chuan to leave through the secret passage, but he firmly declined.

This resolute behavior only deepened Yi Yi’s admiration for him.

As for Qin Chuan, he had long awaited this opportunity, this gift delivered on a silver platter.

“The Five-Colored Fruit is mine, and so is the head,” he declared.

Moments later, with all eyes on him in astonishment, Qin Chuan walked forward with an air of serene confidence.

At that instant, it seemed as though an unparalleled master was emerging from the Treasure Pavilion, calm and unshakable.