"Sixty-five million."
A brat in a suit instantly shouted.
Kyle Gray is one of Eldoria's top jewelry masters, and his last work of his lifetime is worth a fortune.
Moreover, the piece is unfinished, and the beauty of its incompleteness sometimes exceeds the market value of a complete necklace.
"Sixty-eight million."
The renowned collector from Brooksdale, Noah Stewart, also raised his paddle.
"Seventy million."
Jessica Brown listened to the voices constantly resounding in her ear, biting her red lip lightly.
She was somewhat resentful!
Why did they have to break with the Brown family at this moment!
If it were before, she would sell off Radiance Group to acquire these Tears of the Stars.
But now, she simply couldn't afford to bid for it.
She subconsciously glanced at David Johnson, originally intending to ask him for help, but when 92 million echoed in her ears, her last shred of hope vanished.
Now, even David no longer had the qualification to bid.
I naturally noticed Jessica Brown' tension, stood up, and said, "I'm going to the bathroom."
"Okay..." Jessica Brown was rather disappointed.
Shortly, I found Maria Murphy, and without wasting words, directly instructed Maria to use another identity to bid for the Tears of the Stars.
Maria Murphy was quite curious. She could see that David Johnson had some cultivation, likely an ancient martial artist.
But why would an ancient martial artist bid for such an ordinary piece of jewelry?
Was it perhaps a gift for a woman?
"How about this, Mr. Johnson, take this phone. If there's anything else you'd like to bid on but find it inconvenient to do so, you can contact me through this phone. I'll have someone place the bid for you," Maria Murphy said.
I received the phone, and indeed found Maria somewhat favorable. It seemed the reason her family entrusted her to oversee the auction was not unfounded.
"By the way, Mr. Johnson, currently, the bid for the Tears of the Stars has reached 96 million. May I ask, what's your limit? I feel it shouldn't exceed 100 million," Maria Murphy said.
I narrowed my eyes, contemplated for a moment, and then earnestly said, "Bid 200 million directly. If someone continues to follow, raise it by another 100 million."
Hearing this, Maria Murphy froze on the spot.
Though she knew David currently had at least a billion in cash flow, money wasn't supposed to be squandered like this!
That necklace had no trace of spiritual energy, so why bid this way?
...
One minute later, at the auction house.
I had already returned to my seat.
In the arena, only two people were left bidding for the last item, and one of them had already calmed down.
While the Tears of the Stars were undoubtedly valuable, exceeding a billion was a loss-making deal.
The host struck the hammer: "98 million, once! Is there a higher bid?"
"98 million, twice!"
The flashy bidder curled a smile at the corner of his mouth.
If anyone bid 200,000 higher, he'd continue. His limit was 140 million.
Everyone present thought these Tears of the Stars were just a jewelry necklace, a massive mistake! Only he knew, these Tears of the Stars were not just jewels, but also closely linked with the Brown family in Northridge Province!
He even knew that Jessica Brown was in attendance.
He planned to bid for it and then gift it to Jessica Brown, exchanging for her heart's approval. Perhaps his family might leverage the Brown family to soar high!
At this moment, Jessica Brown also looked toward the highest bidder, and her brows knitted slightly.
She had already resolved in her heart, no matter who won the bid, she would spare no expense to acquire it.
Seeing no one else was bidding, the host was about to lower the hammer when a female voice sounded from the auction house's speakers: "An anonymous gentleman has bid 200 million."
Hearing 200 million, everyone gasped in shock!
Would someone actually bid 200 million for these unfinished Tears of the Stars!
This is fucking crazy! Got money but nowhere to spend it?
Jessica Brown' beautiful eyes filled with astonishment, and she subconsciously covered her mouth to stifle any scream.
Meanwhile, the highest bidder's face turned deathly pale.
Being caught off guard by someone else's bid completely derailed his plan! The critical point being he couldn't bid any higher!
"200 million, once!"
"200 million, twice!"
"200 million, thrice! Sold! Let's congratulate this... uh... anonymous gentleman."
Everyone had peculiar expressions, except me, who had a mysterious smile on my lips.
A few days ago, from a chat between Sarah Moore and Jessica Brown, I learned that Jessica Brown' birthday was approaching.
Given so, this necklace would make a fitting gift for her.
Just then, that brat suddenly stood up frenzied: "How can anyone bid 200 million! This must be the auction house's doing!"
Before he finished his sentence, Maria Murphy in her cheongsam appeared at the auction house!
Her voice was extremely cold: "Are you questioning my Murphy family?"
Everyone present shivered upon seeing Maria Murphy!
Because the spokesperson for Brooksdale's Martial Family Murphy had finally appeared!
Although the brat didn't know the woman before him, he understood the onlookers' reactions and stammered: "N... No…"
Maria Murphy snorted coldly: "Take this guy out, break his arms and legs!"
Such dominance!
This is the heritage of the ancient martial Murphy!
The next second, the brat was taken away by two men in Zhongshan suits.
He struggled madly, shouting: "I am Ethan Sanchez, you can't just do this…"
Maria Murphy' eyes were icy, and she remarked: "From now on, the Sanchez family of Brooksdale will be barred from setting foot within a hundred paces of the auction house. Violators, be killed!"
Just those two sentences intensified the tension on scene.
Ordinary families in Brooksdale naturally didn't know Maria Murphy' identity. Only ancient martial artists and top families knew what the Murphy' name signified in Brooksdale.
Following that, Maria Murphy glanced at me in the seating area and then ascended to the center of the stage: "Next, I declare the start of the auction's second phase! However, I'll provide everyone with a hint; this time, the centerpiece isn't the Hundred Herbs Tripod, but a new item is taking its place!"
Upon hearing this, those who came specifically for the Hundred Herbs Tripod collectively changed their expressions.
They dared not bet everything now. Since Maria Murphy stated so, the final centerpiece must be more precious than the Hundred Herbs Tripod!
"First auction item, Cooper Threads Robe, starting bid, 90 million."
...
"Seventh auction item, Moffat Swordsmanship, starting bid 150 million."
"One hundred sixty million!"
"One hundred eighty million!"
I wasn't interested in other items. To me, most of this stuff was useless.
That Cooper Threads Robe, or other cultivation manuscripts, in my eyes, were no different from garbage.
Yet they were being frantically contested by these ancient martial artists!
Turns out, Eldoria's and that place's disparities are immense. These folks, thinking they're above, don't realize how minuscule they are in that place.
The Moffat Swordsmanship was finally taken by a lady, priced at 280 million.
Maria Murphy' gaze occasionally and inadvertently fell on David, realizing that until now, David hadn't once placed a bid. Could this guy only be interested in the Tears of the Stars?
Ceasing further thoughts, she had three martial artists bring over a massive box, which when opened, revealed a bronze ancient tripod!
"This was the original centerpiece, now the second last item. We obtained this accidentally at Mount Valerock. This tripod is called the Hundred Herbs Tripod. It can refine medicines or serve as a collectible. Starting bid is three hundred million, with each increase not below ten million!"
"Boom!"
At this moment, my eyes were filled with fervor, and my breathing accelerated!
Because the Hundred Herbs Tripod on stage was the Elixir Furnace I had dreamed of!
The crucial point was its high grade!