The Final Lot: News from the Gu Family

"Miss, you..."

The auction house attendant holding the Seven-Scented Blazing Fruit was startled when he arrived at Chen Chang'an's private booth.

Wasn't this their own young mistress? Why was she here?

Could it be that she was the one who bid for this item?

What should he do now? The item was handed over, but should he still ask for the spirit stones?

"Don't look at me. He bought it—ask him for the spirit stones."

"Yes, Miss."

Hearing Gu Fengyao's words, the attendant let out a sigh of relief before respectfully approaching Chen Chang'an.

The attendant didn’t recognize Chen Chang'an, but since Gu Fengyao was here, this person’s status must be anything but ordinary.

"Young master, here is your Seven-Scented Blazing Fruit. Please make the payment in spirit stones."

"Very well."

Chen Chang'an casually handed over two hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones and tossed the fruit to Gu Xian'er without a second thought.

Though Gu Fengyao didn’t particularly care for the Seven-Scented Blazing Fruit, she was surprised that Chen Chang'an treated it with the same indifference—as if he were merely handing Gu Xian'er some trivial trinket.

A cultivator at the Divine Transformation Realm, yet with such lofty discernment? Just who was this man? Why had she never heard of him before?

The surname Chen… In recent years, the only person who had truly caught Gu Fengyao’s attention was the monstrous genius Chen Yunxuan, who had recently appeared on the updated Human Ranking.

At just seventeen years old, he had already reached the fourth level of the Divine Transformation Realm—a feat that even the Gu Family’s patriarch found astonishing.

In contrast, this Chen Chang'an wasn’t listed on the Human Ranking, meaning he must be over thirty. While his first-level Divine Transformation cultivation was passable, it paled in comparison to Gu Xian'er’s abilities.

Unconsciously, without even realizing it, Gu Fengyao’s focus had shifted from Gu Xian'er to Chen Chang'an.

There was something about this man—ordinary yet strikingly handsome, unremarkable yet shrouded in mystery. What a perplexing individual.

"Thank you, young master." Gu Xian'er held the Seven-Scented Blazing Fruit in her hand, her face brimming with joy.

Gu Fengyao sighed helplessly. Hmph, this two-faced woman was truly detestable.

"Esteemed guests!"

"Next, we present the final item of today’s auction."

"This piece is sure to pique everyone’s curiosity."

"To be honest, in all my years as an auctioneer, this is the first time I’ve encountered such an offering."

The auctioneer’s words immediately captured the crowd’s interest. Even he had never seen something like this before?

Could it be that the Gu Family had truly brought out something extraordinary this time?

"Very well, let’s not keep you in suspense."

"The final auction item… is a piece of information."

Information?

The announcement left everyone stunned. Since when could mere information serve as the grand finale of the Gu Family’s auction?

Unless… this information was of unparalleled significance?

"Damn, I get it! Given the timing, this must be related to Chen Chang'an!"

"Highly likely. With the Gu Family’s influence, uncovering details about Chen Chang'an wouldn’t be difficult."

"If that’s the case, then this information will surely spark a fierce bidding war."

"Huh? Why? Shouldn’t it be reserved for the imperial family?"

"Are you stupid? Obtaining the information and presenting it to the imperial family would be a tremendous merit!"

"Damn, I didn’t even think of that!"

Inside his private booth, Emperor Yin Gongyu was also brimming with excitement. He, too, was convinced that this information must pertain to Chen Chang'an.

"Who would’ve thought the Gu Family would resort to such a method to earn spirit stones?"

"Still, this information would indeed be invaluable to us."

Yin Gongyu knew who his enemy was, but he remained completely in the dark about everything else—a disadvantage that left him uneasy.

The auctioneer naturally overheard the murmurs and was surprised that the crowd had linked this information to Chen Chang'an.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I can assure you—this information has nothing to do with Chen Chang'an."

Huh?

Not related to Chen Chang'an?

The auctioneer’s clarification left the crowd even more bewildered. If not Chen Chang'an, then what could possibly be so enticing?

"However…"

"This information comes directly from the Gu Family’s patriarch."

"I trust you all understand the weight of that."

"The Gu Family’s patriarch is a peak Great Emperor. A piece of information from him is something most would never have the privilege of knowing."

"Moreover, only the successful bidder will have the opportunity to learn it."

"Everyone else… will miss out."

The auctioneer was undeniably skilled—with just a few words, he had reignited the excitement in the room.

This was a message from a peak Great Emperor, and only one person would have the chance to hear it.

Who knew? Perhaps securing this item could open doors to a connection with the Gu Family. This was an opportunity no one could afford to miss.

"No matter the cost, we must secure this item."

"The Fengtian Imperial Dynasty desperately needs powerful allies."

"If we can forge ties with the Gu Family, what does one Chen Chang'an matter?"

Compared to information about Chen Chang'an, this prospect was far more compelling.

"The starting bid for this final item is one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones."

Boom!

One hundred thousand?

And that was just the starting price?

The staggering amount instantly deterred many from even considering a bid.

"Ah, forget it. Information from the Gu Family isn’t something just anyone can obtain. I was being too hopeful."

"Even if you weren’t, it still wouldn’t be yours."

"Fair point."

"One hundred ten thousand top-grade spirit stones!"

"One hundred twenty thousand!"

"One hundred thirty thousand!"

"One hundred forty thousand!"

While some backed out, many were willing to stake everything for this knowledge.

Yin Gongyu remained silent, his expression icy as he listened to the escalating bids.

"Good, very good."

"Have they forgotten that this is merely a chance—just a possibility—to gain the Gu Family’s favor? And yet, they still reside within the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty?"

Yin Gongyu was deeply displeased with the situation. He didn’t believe for a second that the winning bidder would simply hand the information over to him.

The auctioneer had made it clear—only the bidder would have the right to know.

Even if it could be transferred, would they really be willing to give up such an opportunity?

"Three hundred thousand!"

Gritting his teeth, Yin Gongyu abruptly raised the bid to three hundred thousand.

The moment he spoke, the room fell into silence.

Everyone now had to weigh not only whether they could afford to bid higher but also whether offending Yin Gongyu was worth it.

"Ah, forget it. With the imperial family’s resources, three hundred thousand is just the beginning. Even if I emptied my coffers, I wouldn’t win—and I’d only earn Yin Gongyu’s enmity. Best to step back."

"It seems this item was prepared by the Gu Family specifically for the imperial family."

"Naturally. This is the imperial capital—who else but the imperial family could afford it?"

"I'm so curious, I really want to know what this news is all about."

"Three hundred and fifty thousand!"

Just as the crowd buzzed with speculation, certain that this information would undoubtedly go to the imperial family, someone suddenly raised the bid again.

And the one who made this bid was none other than King Bingjian!

"Hmm?"

"It's actually him!"

"I knew it—this man has ulterior motives!"

King Bingjian's bid filled Yin Gongyu with fury and deeper curiosity. How could King Bingjian possibly possess such an enormous amount of premium-grade spirit stones?

For years, every move King Bingjian made had been under the imperial family's surveillance. The royal court knew exactly how much wealth the King's estate held.

But now…

"Fine, fine, fine!"

"All these years, he's been hiding his true strength from me."

"What a formidable King Bingjian!"

"Once this auction concludes, I will not let him off lightly!"

"Four hundred thousand!"

"Four hundred and ten thousand!"

"Four hundred and fifty thousand!"

"Four hundred and sixty thousand!"

"Five hundred thousand!"

When Yin Gongyu pushed the bid to five hundred thousand premium-grade spirit stones, King Bingjian took a deep breath and ultimately had to concede—this price had reached his limit.

"Your Highness, aren’t you afraid Yin Gongyu will retaliate against you for this?"

"It doesn’t matter. Though he is the emperor, the imperial court is not his personal domain—he doesn’t hold absolute power."

"Even if the imperial family moves against me, they’ll likely wait until Chen Chang’an makes his appearance."

King Bingjian wasn’t concerned about offending Yin Gongyu. After all, he had long grown weary of living under constant surveillance. This was his gamble—if he lost, he would accept it.

"Five hundred thousand!"

"The current bid stands at five hundred thousand premium-grade spirit stones. Are there any further offers?"

As a seasoned auctioneer, his job was to drive the bidding as high as possible.

Now that the bidding had stalled, it was his turn to use persuasive tactics to buy time.

"Why drag this out? No one’s going to bid higher."

"Exactly, who in the imperial capital could possibly offer more?"

"Just end it already."

"Right, wrap it up."

"One million premium-grade spirit stones!"