For a long breath, no hand was raised. The silence after the jeers was almost heavier than the noise itself. Even Yu Feiyan's graceful poise flickered slightly, though her smile remained painted on like a practiced mask.
Then, from the quiet of the VIP section, a calm voice rang out:
"One thousand spirit stones."
It was Tian Lei.
The crowd's mocking chatter faltered, replaced by startled murmurs. Heads craned toward the fifth booth, where his presence was now impossible to ignore.
"VIP Five actually bid?""That man must have lost his mind…""Or maybe he sees something we do not."
Yu Feiyan's eyes brightened subtly. A faint, amused curve touched her lips."We have a bid of one thousand from VIP Five. Is there anyone willing to offer higher?"
The silence stretched. A few cultivators shifted uncomfortably, but no hands rose. None wished to match such a price for something they deemed worthless.
