The atmosphere inside the auction hall had completely changed.
If the battle for the Golden Spirit Orchid had been a spark—
then the Purple Heaven Leaf had become dry oil poured upon raging flames.
Every cultivator could feel it.
Every elder could feel it.
The true giants were finally beginning to move.
Upon the golden stage—
the violet leaf rested quietly inside its crystal box.
Ancient patterns resembling stars shimmered faintly across its surface.
A mysterious spiritual fragrance continuously spread throughout the hall.
Many cultivators subconsciously inhaled.
Then immediately became shocked.
Their thoughts became clearer.
Their spiritual senses became sharper.
Even the circulation speed of their spiritual energy seemed to increase slightly.
Just from the fragrance alone.
One could easily imagine its true value.
Yun Ruoshi smiled.
"The current bid..."
"Twenty-five million gold coins."
Her gaze swept across the hall.
"Any higher bids?"
Silence lingered for only a moment.
Then—
"Twenty-seven million."
The voice came from LinJian Sect.
The white-haired elder sat calmly.
His expression remained indifferent.
As though twenty-seven million gold coins meant nothing.
The crowd immediately erupted.
Another increase of two million.
Many smaller factions felt their hearts tremble.
Such wealth was enough to support an entire sect for generations.
Yet here—
it was merely another bid.
Inside Sword River Sect's section—
Jian Xue Ning slowly opened her eyes.
A sharp sword aura flickered briefly around her.
"Twenty-eight million."
Her voice was cold.
Like ice striking steel.
The hall stirred once more.
LinJian Sect.
Sword River Sect.
Both sides immediately began clashing.
The elder from LinJian Sect smiled faintly.
"Twenty-nine million."
"Thirty million."
Jian Xue Ning replied without hesitation.
The atmosphere instantly exploded.
Thirty million.
The Purple Heaven Leaf had officially crossed the same threshold as the Golden Spirit Orchid.
Many cultivators were already sweating.
Not because of pressure.
Because they were trying to imagine how many gold coins thirty million actually was.
Unfortunately—
their minds failed.
Meanwhile—
within Golden Jade Pavilion's section—
Jin Yu Chen slowly waved his fan.
His eyes never left the stage.
Nor did they leave Lin Shuan for very long.
Eventually—
he smiled.
"Thirty-two million."
The hall instantly became silent.
Golden Jade Pavilion had entered.
The merchant giant had finally joined the battlefield.
Jian Xue Ning narrowed her eyes slightly.
The LinJian Sect elder remained calm.
Both knew—
Jin Yu Chen was not someone to underestimate.
His cultivation might only be Energy Core Rank.
But his wealth...
could make countless Form Shaper experts lower their heads.
Not far away—
the elder from Xuan Yun Sect finally spoke.
"Thirty-four million."
A wave of frost energy spread quietly through the air.
Mo Xiao Lan remained silent beside him.
His attention was elsewhere.
Far more elsewhere.
His gaze repeatedly drifted toward Lin Shuan.
The longer he observed—
the more familiar the masked youth seemed.
The posture.
The calmness.
The confidence.
Even the way he sat.
Everything reminded him of one person.
Shuan Hao.
The mysterious champion of the Imperial Tournament.
The monster who had overwhelmed countless geniuses.
The same person who had entered the Primordial Garden.
The same person who had disappeared afterward.
The same person whom even Protector Yi had personally summoned.
Mo Xiao Lan's eyes deepened.
Could it truly be him?
At that moment—
the bidding continued climbing.
"Thirty-six million."
"Thirty-eight million."
"Forty million."
The hall exploded.
Forty million.
The number felt unreal.
Many cultivators had already stopped paying attention to the treasure itself.
Now—
they were simply witnessing history.
Meanwhile—
inside the second section—
Yan Feng Luo's expression had become numb.
Completely numb.
He stared at the stage.
Then at Lin Shuan.
Then back at the stage.
Finally—
he spoke.
"Brother Shuan."
Lin Shuan glanced toward him.
"What?"
Yan Feng Luo swallowed.
"If I steal one leaf from your garden..."
"Will I become rich?"
Han Qing Li nearly laughed.
Lei Hao Tian covered his face.
Lin Shuan calmly replied.
"No."
Yan Feng Luo looked disappointed.
Then Lin Shuan added—
"You'll become dead."
Everyone immediately burst into laughter.
Even Han Qing Li couldn't suppress her smile.
Only Tian Wuchen laughed even harder inside the Dragon Pendant.
Meanwhile—
on the stage—
the battle had reached another level.
"Forty-three million."
"Forty-five million."
"Forty-seven million."
The bids continued rising.
Yet—
throughout the entire process—
one person remained silent.
The mysterious black-robed figure.
The winner of the Golden Spirit Orchid.
The individual sitting within the highest private platform.
Watching.
Waiting.
Observing.
Many people had already noticed.
The moment that person entered the auction—
everything changed.
Even the major factions felt cautious.
Nobody knew his identity.
Nobody knew his cultivation.
Nobody knew his origin.
Only one thing was certain.
He was extremely wealthy.
Dangerously wealthy.
Suddenly—
the black-robed figure moved slightly.
Nothing more.
Yet—
the entire hall instinctively became quiet.
Many people felt their hearts tighten.
The figure slowly raised one finger.
Then—
a calm voice descended from above.
"Fifty million."
BOOOOOOM!
The auction hall exploded.
Some cultivators nearly stood up.
Others almost forgot how to breathe.
Fifty million!
Another ten-million leap.
The pressure instantly crushed countless competitors.
Jin Yu Chen's smile disappeared.
Jian Xue Ning frowned.
Even the elder from Xuan Yun Sect narrowed his eyes.
The LinJian Sect elder remained silent.
For the first time—
everyone truly understood.
The black-robed figure wasn't simply participating.
He was dominating.
Yun Ruoshi herself needed several breaths to calm down.
Then she smiled brightly.
"Fifty million."
"A magnificent bid."
Her voice echoed throughout the hall.
Yet nobody responded immediately.
Because fifty million was no longer a simple number.
It was a declaration.
A warning.
A challenge.
The hall fell silent.
One breath.
Two breaths.
Three breaths.
Then—
another voice suddenly emerged.
"Fifty-two million."
Everyone froze.
The bidder—
was LinJian Sect.
The white-haired elder.
His expression remained calm.
Yet his eyes had become much sharper.
The crowd instantly became excited.
Someone had challenged the mysterious figure.
The black-robed individual remained motionless.
Several moments passed.
Then—
"Fifty-five million."
His voice descended once more.
Simple.
Calm.
Indifferent.
As though increasing three million meant nothing.
The hall shook.
Many elders felt their scalps tingle.
This wasn't an auction anymore.
This was war.
A war fought with mountains of gold.
The LinJian Sect elder finally became quiet.
He stared upward.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The black-robed figure sat completely still.
Like a shadow.
Like darkness itself.
After several moments—
the elder slowly leaned back.
Then closed his eyes.
He had withdrawn.
Not because he couldn't continue.
But because—
he had other goals tonight.
Much more important goals.
His gaze unconsciously drifted toward Lin Shuan again.
Compared to the Purple Heaven Leaf—
that masked youth interested him far more.
Yun Ruoshi immediately noticed.
"Fifty-five million."
"First call."
Silence.
"Fifty-five million."
"Second call."
No response.
The black-robed figure remained motionless.
Like a king seated upon a throne.
"Fifty-five million."
"Third call."
BANG!
The golden hammer struck.
"The Purple Heaven Leaf has been sold!"
The crowd exploded.
Another terrifying price.
Another victory for the mysterious figure.
Yet—
the true shock wasn't the result.
It was the realization.
That person had purchased both treasures.
The Golden Spirit Orchid.
The Purple Heaven Leaf.
Both.
And nobody had been able to stop him.
Even the great factions.
Even the merchant giants.
Even the powerful sects.
For a brief moment—
everyone wondered the same thing.
Just how rich was that person?
Meanwhile—
inside the second section—
Lin Shuan remained calm.
Very calm.
Yet inwardly—
even he was slightly surprised.
Fifty-five million.
That was far beyond his expectations.
Far beyond.
Inside the Dragon Pendant—
Tian Wuchen laughed loudly.
"Brat."
Lin Shuan raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Tian Wuchen's laughter continued.
"I suddenly understand why merchants rule continents."
Lin Shuan smiled.
For once—
he agreed completely.
At that moment—
another crystal platform slowly emerged from backstage.
The hall gradually became quiet once more.
Everyone focused their attention upon the stage.
The next treasure was arriving.
Yun Ruoshi smiled mysteriously.
A smile that instantly caused countless hearts to tighten.
Because by now—
everyone had realized something.
The previous treasures—
all belonged to the same mysterious merchant.
The same individual.
The same source.
And judging from the reactions of the Merchant Organization—
more treasures were still coming.
The crystal platform finally stopped.
A silver crystal box rested upon it.
Strange frost patterns covered its surface.
The moment it appeared—
Mo Xiao Lan suddenly sat upright.
The elder from Xuan Yun Sect narrowed his eyes.
Even Jian Xue Ning showed interest.
Yun Ruoshi slowly opened the box.
Whoooooosh!
An ancient frost aura instantly erupted.
The temperature throughout the hall dropped dramatically.
Countless cultivators shivered.
Inside the box—
rested a silver-colored mushroom.
Ancient.
Mysterious.
Covered in moonlight-like patterns.
The hall became silent.
Absolute silence.
Then—
Yun Ruoshi's voice echoed.
"Silver Moon Mushroom."
"Estimated age..."
She paused.
Then smiled.
"Two thousand seven hundred years."
The hall exploded.
And for the first time tonight—
Mo Xiao Lan stood up.
His eyes locked onto the stage.
The war of wealth—
had entered an entirely new phase.