Xiao Tianyang observed the scene before him and couldn't help but feel a secret sense of satisfaction in his heart.
"I thought that with so many factions present, Spirit Hall wouldn't have much of an advantage, so I had to step in and help them," he mused. "Unexpectedly, they were determined enough to send Chrysanthemum Douluo. It seems they're confident of winning this round. But if things escalate later, how will it all end?"
As he pondered this critical point, a faint thrill of excitement stirred within him.
This was his first direct confrontation with Spirit Hall.
Even if his identity remained hidden, and even if the outcome only resulted in Spirit Hall suffering a financial loss, it still felt like a game between a child and an adult.
Even if the child couldn't win, causing the adult some discomfort would still bring a sense of joy.
Xiao Tianyang found himself in such a mindset at this moment.
Just then, Ning Fengzhi suddenly spoke up, "Friend, aren't you interested in that cookbook?"
"I'm alone. What use would I have for such a thing?" Xiao Tianyang quickly snapped out of his thoughts and replied coldly. "Besides, with Spirit Hall's attitude, do others even stand a chance to compete for it?"
In truth, his words were a veiled warning to Ning Fengzhi, advising him not to get involved. After all, an arm can't twist a thigh.
If Ning Fengzhi insisted on gambling, he wouldn't emerge victorious in the end—he'd only end up colliding head-on with Spirit Hall.
Although Bibi Dong was currently biding her time and wouldn't act rashly, all it would take was a single reason, especially for something like this recipe that could significantly enhance a faction's power.
Xiao Tianyang was certain that Bibi Dong wouldn't remain indifferent.
However, whether his persuasion would be effective was another matter entirely. Based on his observations, Ning Fengzhi didn't seem to show any change in demeanor.
This could mean one of two things: either Ning Fengzhi had already made up his mind, or he had no intention of competing for the recipe in the first place.
Xiao Tianyang wasn't entirely sure which it was.
Unaware of Xiao Tianyang's internal musings, Ning Fengzhi smiled and said, "In that case, could you lend me some funds, friend?"
"So that's your goal?" Xiao Tianyang paused for a moment before replying, "I don't have much in the way of funds here, only treasures. If you're willing to barter, as long as the price is fair, I believe the seller would agree."
Ning Fengzhi nodded, then introduced himself with a smile, "I am Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect. And you are?"
"Edward," Xiao Tianyang replied. With a flick of his right hand, a fist-sized luminous pearl appeared in his palm. '
"This is the Moonlight Pearl. Under the glow of the moon, it can absorb energy and convert it into non-attribute soul power. It can store the total soul power of a Soul Emperor. With this, your chances of winning should increase slightly."
After speaking, he tossed the pearl over to Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi was initially shocked by the description, but when he saw Xiao Tianyang casually throwing such a treasure, he nearly panicked. Fortunately, Bone Douluo, standing beside him, had quick reflexes and caught the pearl before it could hit the ground.
"It's genuine!" Bone Douluo exclaimed after inspecting it. But then he turned to Xiao Tianyang and asked, "Aren't you afraid we won't return such a precious treasure?"
"If I couldn't even recognize the Sect Leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect, then my life would have been in vain," Xiao Tianyang replied calmly.
"Besides, this thing is no longer of use to me. It's like tasteless food—useless to keep, but a pity to throw away. It's better to use it as a favor."
Bone Douluo could somewhat accept this reasoning. However, Ning Fengzhi still clasped his fists and said, "Regardless of whether we succeed this time or not, I owe you a great favor, and I will definitely repay it in the future."
Under his mask, Xiao Tianyang smirked and thought to himself, 'You'll only owe me more in the future. If you want to repay me... I'm afraid you can't afford it.'
Of course, he didn't voice this aloud. Instead, he simply nodded and turned his attention back to the front.
The reason he had done this wasn't to give Ning Fengzhi the means to compete for the cookbook. That was originally a trap set for Spirit Hall.
If Ning Fengzhi got involved, it would spoil the fun. Spirit Hall had clearly come prepared, and Xiao Tianyang believed that the final outcome wouldn't change just because he had provided this luminous pearl.
Moreover, while it was previously mentioned that Bibi Dong might take action, it wasn't a certainty.
There was a saying from his previous life that resonated with him: 'If a problem can be solved with money, is it still a problem?'
Spirit Hall undoubtedly operated with such a mindset.
Xiao Tianyang's actions were merely to inflate the value of the recipe, allowing him to profit from it.
As for whether this would offend Spirit Hall... Hadn't they already been at odds before? Besides, by the time they realized what had happened, Xiao Tianyang might no longer fear them. After careful consideration, he had made these arrangements.
On the other side, Ning Fengzhi saw Xiao Tianyang's demeanor and decided not to press further. After clasping his hands in gratitude, he sat back down and began discussing quietly with Bone Douluo.
Tang San and the others, however, remained unaware of Ning Fengzhi's presence.
Bone Douluo had soundproofed their area, so even though they were close, no one else could hear their conversation.
Tang San had many tricks up his sleeve, but he was no match for a Title Douluo.
As their discussion concluded, the auction officially began. However, Xiao Tianyang was slightly disappointed by the lack of provocations or deliberate price-raising.
Instead, the atmosphere was harmonious, with each bidder calmly competing based on their financial resources.
It was worth noting, though, that Chrysanthemum Douluo was particularly aggressive in this regard. No matter how high the bids went, he would always double them.
In less than a minute, the recipe had been auctioned for a staggering one hundred million gold soul coins!
"Spirit Hall bids one million gold soul coins. Is there anyone willing to go higher?" The auctioneer, a young woman holding a mallet, scanned the room and began the countdown.
"One hundred million, going once... One hundred million, going twice..."
Those in the room who had the financial means to compete for the cookbook felt as though a dagger had been plunged into their chests as they listened to the countdown.
This was especially true for those who had the resources but couldn't bid due to the auction house's requirement for immediate cash.
The competition was purely about the ability to raise funds on the spot.
With only three hours to gather the money—let alone the time it would take to transfer funds from other cities—it was nearly impossible to compete against Spirit Hall.
Even traveling from the north to the south of the city would take nearly two hours!
Under such circumstances, how could they possibly rival Spirit Hall, which had the means to mobilize Soul Douluo experts to deliver funds directly to Chrysanthemum Douluo?
The gap was simply too vast, and it was this very disparity that left them frustrated.
It was also the reason why Chrysanthemum Douluo wore a smile as wide as a blooming chrysanthemum.
…
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