"The Wang Family, I have heard a bit about them. Who is this Wang Ping?" Lin Tian asked in a low voice.

"He is the younger brother of Wang Shi, the current Patriarch of the Wang Family, and also an elder of the Wang Family. He is quite protective and I rarely see him. However, I’ve heard he is not very talkative and rarely appears, being obsessed with cultivation."

Qu was now willing to share everything she knew, as Lin Tian’s words could affect her future greatly.

Lin Tian nodded noncommittally. Wang Ping seemed quite mysterious, but since he was from the Wang Family, there was no need to be courteous.

A cold smile appeared on Lin Tian’s lips, seen by Chen Moxiang, who knew that this rascal had another bad idea.

Soon, the auction reached the twenty-sixth item.

Two burly men in black robes came out, carrying a tray covered with a red cloth, placed it on the table on the stage, and then withdrew.

The Fifth Elder unveiled the red cloth, revealing a pitch-black object that was shaped like a cauldron,

Through the projector, everyone could see on the big screen that it looked like a burnt, damaged defective item, with the only notable feature being the engraved cloud pattern on it.

Instantly, the audience erupted in whispers.

This thing seemed only valuable to someone collecting scrap, didn’t it?

But how could the twenty-sixth auction item be a piece of junk?

The Fifth Elder, ignoring the crowd’s surprise, simply said, "Surely everyone has seen in the manual, this is our twenty-sixth auction item, the Alchemy Furnace. Let me tell you, the seller is our Family Alliance. Speaking of its uses, besides alchemy, it is also a treasure for someone with a cold constitution."

"This furnace has been in my family for over two hundred years, and the fire inside hasn’t extinguished in all that time. To this day, the furnace contains Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, making it naturally heat up like a coal stove without adding fire, perpetually warm! In winter, it can be placed indoors, comparable to a brazier with health and disease-preventive effects. Starting price: two hundred million!"

The room fell silent; two hundred million to buy a heater, wasn’t that insane?

If the occasion had been less formal, many might have laughed aloud, considering it a joke.

"Ding!"

Everyone knew that sound well; it signaled a bid from one of the VIP rooms.

"Room No. 8, two hundred and ten million!" the Fifth Elder announced loudly.

"Ding!"

"Room No. 3, three hundred million!"

"Another hundred million increase?" Wang Ping’s expression changed somewhat; he simply couldn’t understand why Zhang Zhixing, who neither practiced cultivation nor alchemy, wanted such an item, especially at the cost of three hundred million. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Is earning three hundred million that easy these days?

"Wang Ping, this item is of no use to us; let’s drop it," an elder advised.

Wang Ping nodded, giving up. First, because the other party was official, and second, because three hundred million was really too much.

"Three hundred million, going thrice, sold!" The Fifth Elder dropped the hammer, looking at Room No. 3, full of doubt. Why did Zhang Zhixing want this thing? To really use it as a heater?

And another three hundred million, where did he get all that money? From the state? Nobody would agree to that, surely?

At this moment, Zhang Zhixing was still watching with interest, sensing something unusual about this Cannon King, who was extraordinarily generous.

But because of unfamiliarity, he didn’t ask too many questions.

Zhang Zhixing did not yet know that he had taken the fall for Lin Tian...

Chen Moxiang and Zhao Qingtang did not know what to say anymore; this guy had a bit too much money.

Lin Tian, seated comfortably in a corner of the sofa, felt at ease, having already explained the item’s uses to the two women beforehand, leaving no need for further words.

The auction continued, and Lin Tian still intended to bid on a "Ren Du Golden Elixir," ranked thirty-sixth in the order, so he was in no rush and enjoying the spectacle.

As the items were arranged later, the competition also became fiercer, and soon the prominent families that had been mere spectators joined in.

"Next, a knife named ’Hidden Dragon’ is up for auction, weighing fifty jin and seven liang, it was the sword of the last Grand Elder. Many are aware of its fame as Luoyan Dock’s top weapon," the Fifth Elder gave a brief introduction.

The Hidden Dragon Sword was indeed famous among the families. Its notoriety came because it was forged from a celestial meteorite, and when infused with Inner Strength, its sharpness increased exponentially, making it rightfully Luoyan Dock’s foremost sword.

"It was once sent to the nation’s most professional department to test its hardness and sharpness. The conclusion reached was that it required over two tons of force to break. As for sharpness, it could easily cut through diamond!"

Wow...

The audience was once again in an uproar. Was this even a sword? The attributes were simply overwhelming! If it could emit light, it might as well be considered a Divine Artifact, right?

For ordinary people, it was useless, as who could wield a fifty-jin heavy sword steadily?

The families wanted to bid too, but... the sword was auctioned as an exchange; without a top-class Heart Method for calming the mind, it couldn’t be acquired.

Inside VIP Room No. 1, the Grand Elder and the Second Elder sat together.

The Grand Elder was very tense, unable to suppress the aura of killing intent emanating from him.

Slam!

A sturdy hand slapped his back, as the Second Elder used Inner Strength, saying, "Brother! Keep calm! Someone should bid!"

Feeling a cool Inner Strength entering his body, the Grand Elder’s killing intent was somewhat subdued.

He placed his hands on his knees, looking fatigued, and said, "I hope so! I have already given up my most precious possession. If I can’t exchange it for the Heart Method, we’ll have to try other ways. If it truly doesn’t work, and if the day comes when I fall into a Heart Demon... Brother, please bury my ashes under the peach tree behind Luoyan Dock."

"Brother..." The Second Elder’s lips moved slightly, unable to speak for a while.

The Grand Elder implied that if he succumbed to his Heart Demon, he would end it himself...

"Brother, it’s too early to say that. Let’s wait and see first," the Second Elder urged.

The Grand Elder shook his head slightly, sighed, and fell silent.

To suppress one’s Heart Demon, fear that a calming Heart Method had long since been lost. Even if it existed, it couldn’t cure, only mask temporarily.

The Fifth Elder looked at the stage, and seeing no one bidding for long, his eyes also grew dim.

"Take it down, bring on the next auction item!" After speaking, a strong man came onto the stage and took the sword away.

Bam...

Instantly, the Grand Elder felt his entire strength drained, slumping onto the sofa, his eyes dim, his heart like dead ashes.