Twenty million Black Obsidian—at such a sky‑high price, even if you used it all for cultivation, you could blast your way into the First Level of the Divine Realm. If you used it to buy Spiritual Materials, who knows how much you could get? If you took twenty million to the Herr Family, they could probably be directly conferred as a third grade power.

Yet with something worth that much, Ding Fan actually bought just a single drop of beast blood!

And there was also the tone Ding Fan had used just now. He had directly called out Herr Rufeng’s name, and his tone was vicious to the extreme—plainly provoking Herr Rufeng, looking like he would never stop until he’d completely stripped away her face.

Yue Wu had always addressed the guest in Pavilion One as "honored guest." Would she really not know that was Herr Rufeng? The reason she never exposed it, of course, was also intentional—so that if something hard to control cropped up, she could leave Herr Rufeng a step down...

But now Ding Fan had torn it open in one breath, clearly not giving Herr Rufeng any way to step down. Either she continued to clash with Ding Fan, and as long as she couldn’t beat him in bidding, it would be no different from letting him slap her in the face.

"Thunk~"

That was Elder Wu Ren scared so badly he dropped onto the ground. He was completely stupefied by Ding Fan, utterly rattled. Even the eyes of Mu Gaosou at his side were full of helplessness. It looked like today he might have to account for his life here alongside this crazy young master.

"Wait, that’s not right! Does this brat really have that many Black Obsidian?"

Most people came back to their senses. Twenty million Black Obsidian—never mind ordinary people not being able to take that out, even a Fourth Grade power would have to think twice, right? And Ding Fan could just pull that out?

Right at this moment, the curtain of the First Elegant Pavilion lifted. Herr Rufeng’s incomparably beautiful face was revealed before everyone. Her cold gaze locked onto the eyes behind Ding Fan’s Ghost Mask, and with endless chill in her voice she said, "Hmph, so it really is you!"

"Crap!"

Ding Fan reacted at once. Just now, blinded by rage, he hadn’t bothered to disguise his voice and had just yelled out. This had let Herr Rufeng confirm his identity on the spot.

Herr Rufeng called toward the middle‑aged man who had been sitting in the corner the whole time: "Chief Steward Zheng, do you people trust others that easily? Can just anyone casually shout out a sky‑high price of twenty million?"

That middle‑aged man smiled and glanced at Zheng Qing. Zheng Qing immediately came over to Ding Fan’s side and whispered, "Young Master Ding! Are you sure you have that much Black Obsidian?"

"I do! But I can’t show it to you here. Find another place."

"Very well, Young Master Ding, please come with me!"

As they watched Zheng Qing escort Ding Fan downstairs, mockery surfaced in the eyes of Herr Rufeng and the guests in the auction hall. Could this madman really have Treasure worth twenty million Black Obsidian on him? Or would he be carried out by the Tianyuan Auction Venue instead?

Chief Steward Zheng was also extremely curious about this matter, and followed along with Zheng Qing and Ding Fan into a side hall.

Seeing Chief Steward Zheng follow, Zheng Qing hurriedly bowed to him, then introduced to Ding Fan, "Young Master Ding, this is our Tianyuan Auction Venue’s Chief Steward Zheng. Chief Steward Zheng, this is Young Master Ding, the one who came to sell the Red Cistanche."

Ding Fan cupped his hands toward Chief Steward Zheng and said, "Ding Fan greets Chief Steward Zheng!"

"Hehe! Young Master Ding truly has a bold temperament. Today you’ve really broadened my horizons."

Chief Steward Zheng carried the air of a refined scholar; Ding Fan couldn’t even sense his cultivation at all. But that was also because Ding Fan’s Realm was too low. Judging from this, he had to be a master at least at the Fifth Level of the Divine Realm. At this moment he smiled and said to Ding Fan, "No matter what the final result is today, Young Master Ding, I’ve decided we’re friends."

"Good! With Chief Steward Zheng so forthright, I won’t be pretentious either!"

Ding Fan cupped his hands again to Chief Steward Zheng, then, right in front of him, his Space Ring flashed and a Jade Box appeared in his hand. He passed it toward Chief Steward Zheng and said, "I have a Limitless Fruit here. I wonder if it can serve as collateral for that twenty million Black Obsidian?"

"You’re saying a Limitless Fruit?"

Chief Steward Zheng’s eyes flashed with sharp light. He knew all too well what a Limitless Fruit was. With this Spirit Fruit, breaking through to the Fourth Level of the Divine Realm was something you could do with your eyes closed. This thing was something people only ever heard about; no one could bear to put it up for sale. Never mind the Northern Wastelands—go to the Central Plains and there were probably not many who had actually seen a Limitless Fruit.

Zheng Qing didn’t even dare reach out for it. Chief Steward Zheng stepped forward and personally received it. As soon as the Jade Box was opened, the rich Spiritual Energy and medicinal fragrance instantly filled the whole side hall.

Chief Steward Zheng only took one look before snapping the Jade Box closed again. Returning it to Ding Fan, he said, "Young Master Ding, you really are astonishing. For this item, on my own authority I’ll collateralize sixty million Black Obsidian for you. Add in that Space Ring you had before... here’s how it’ll be: as long as you don’t go over eighty million, you can bid however you like."

"It’s enough to have Chief Steward Zheng’s word!"

Ding Fan cupped his hands once more, turned, and walked out of the side hall. Watching his back, a faint smile appeared on Chief Steward Zheng’s face. He followed out as well, and Zheng Qing, unable to contain his excitement, quickly trailed after them.

Returning to his seat once again, Ding Fan sat down. At this moment the hall was utterly silent. Chief Steward Zheng personally walked to the center of the auction platform, cupped his hands toward the First Elegant Pavilion, and said, "Miss Rufeng, I have just personally verified that this guest does indeed have the ability to call out a sky‑high bid of twenty million. I, Steward Zheng, guarantee this with the reputation of the Tianyuan Auction House. That is to say, the price he called just now is valid."

"Wow~"

The whole venue boiled over. Elder Wu Ren, who had already stood up, suddenly sat back down again. Even he couldn’t tell whether he was more excited or more afraid now; in any case, his entire body was trembling.

A flush spread over Auctioneer Yue Wu’s face, her eyes shining with ripples of light. She looked impossibly beautiful at this moment, but she didn’t speak, simply letting everyone calm down on their own.

In the upper-level Ya Ge, people were all talking at once. Divine Sense was released from practically every private seat, and of course every strand of Divine Sense was aimed at Ding Fan. However...

Ding Fan was wearing the Ghost Mask Ye Li had given him. It could block even a super powerhouse’s Divine Sense probing, so no one could see through his reality.

The First Elegant Seat had gone quiet as well. Herr Rufeng hadn’t spoken for a long while. When everyone’s discussion gradually died down, Yue Wu raised her hand to signal for silence. Smiling brightly, she said to the crowd, "Please quiet down, everyone. Tonight is truly a night to remember; perhaps we’ll never see such a shocking event again. Now, let’s resume the bidding. Twenty million Black Obsidian. Is there anyone willing to raise the price?"

All eyes instantly turned toward the First Elegant Seat, but it remained silent for a long time. After quite a while, a slightly aged voice came from inside: "Our Herr Family gives up on this round of bidding."

Everyone couldn’t help but nod slightly. It seemed the Herr Family’s elders finally couldn’t sit still and had stepped in to stop Herr Rufeng from messing around any further. That drop of Primordial Blood essence simply wasn’t worth this price. If they kept bidding and let Ding Fan pull out and walk away, the Herr Family would be throwing away a massive pile of Black Obsidian for nothing.

"Dong, dong, dong..."

A heavy set of footsteps sounded from within the First Elegant Seat, thudding all the way out of it. Then a strikingly beautiful figure walked out of the auction hall. Before leaving the hall, Herr Rufeng glared viciously at Ding Fan, then finally walked out of Tianyuan Auction House.

Ding Fan glared right back without the slightest loss of momentum, cursing inwardly: "You little vixen, you made this young master waste an extra ten million Black Obsidian for nothing. Just you wait, sooner or later I’ll make you pay."

Ding Fan understood very well in his heart that tonight he had completely offended Herr Rufeng. But for that drop of Primordial Blood essence, he felt it was all worth it.

"Alright, then this drop of Blood essence from a Primordial Spirit Beast belongs to this generous guest!"

Having finally obtained that drop of Primordial Blood essence, Ding Fan could at last relax. Many people were smiling in satisfaction; witnessing such a spectacular scene was something that might not happen even once in a hundred years.

At this moment, the final auction item was brought out. It was a Super Divine Artifact, which could certainly be counted as a Treasure, the grand finale for tonight.

But after the earlier bidding war between Ding Fan and Herr Rufeng, this important treasure seemed rather lackluster by comparison. In the end, its hammer price didn’t even reach ten million, and it was bought by another young master seated in one of the private rooms.

The Tianyuan Auction finally came to an end. Ding Fan was invited by Zheng Qing to the same side hall as before. After a cup of fragrant tea was served and Ding Fan had just taken a sip, the Grand Steward Zheng walked in, holding the bottle containing that drop of beast blood.

Looking at Ding Fan, Grand Steward Zheng smiled and said, "Young Master Ding, this is your drop of beast blood. How do you intend to pay the Black Obsidian?"

What form of payment? How could Ding Fan possibly have that much Black Obsidian on him? He had no other choice and could only take out the Limitless Fruit, hand it to Grand Steward Zheng, and say, "Grand Steward Zheng, how about this—let me pawn this with you for now, leave it here as collateral. Half a year from now, I’ll come back to redeem it. If by then I still don’t have the Black Obsidian, you can auction it off, deduct twenty million, and give me whatever’s left, alright?"

"That’s no problem at all!"

Grand Steward Zheng of course wouldn’t refuse. Not only that, he also had someone deliver the seventy thousand Black Obsidian from the auction of the Red Cistanche and Blood Thorn Sprout to Ding Fan.

The two of them signed the contract. Grand Steward Zheng wanted to host a banquet for Ding Fan, but Ding Fan was in no mood. He found an excuse to politely decline, merely asking Zheng Qing to help him change into a long robe. He then took off the Ghost Mask and put it away in his Space Ring, and slipped quietly out of Tianyuan Auction House.

But once outside, Ding Fan couldn’t help wearing a bitter smile. At the corner by the auction venue ahead, Steward He was standing next to a Chariot. Seeing him come out, Steward He smiled and said, "Young Master Ding, my Madam Yan has returned. She asked me to invite you over for a small drink."

The night was particularly enchanting at this time, and the lights of Daozhen City shone brilliantly, making it look beautiful from afar.

Daozhen Plaza was bustling with people, carriages and horses flowing endlessly. Young men and women were out enjoying themselves, their leisure and ease, along with the unrestrained laughter of the young girls, made this city incredibly charming.

Ding Fan followed Steward He into the Chariot, but instead of returning to Daozhen Trade Firm, the Chariot drove straight out of the city. This did make Ding Fan feel a trace of unease, but thinking that the boat would straighten itself when it reached the bridge, he simply stopped worrying about it.

Perhaps seeing Ding Fan’s concern, Steward He explained that Madam Yan was currently at Daozhen Villa, which was the Herr Family’s core. Being able to meet Ding Fan at Daozhen Villa showed just how highly she regarded him. One had to know that not just anyone could set foot in the Herr Family’s Daozhen Villa.

Sitting in the Chariot, Ding Fan fell silent. He didn’t bother looking at the beautiful scenery outside, only lowered his head deep in thought, light flashing in his eyes as if he were pondering something.

Daozhen Villa wasn’t far from Daozhen City. They had barely gone any distance beyond the city walls when it appeared. Daozhen Villa sat atop a small mountain peak. The mountain wasn’t very tall, but it was steep, like a giant pillar supporting the heavens, thrusting straight into the sky.

The Chariot was pulled by two fine horses, and its speed was quite decent. In less than ten minutes, they arrived at the foot of the mountain. In the distance, Ding Fan saw a mountain path winding upward, looking very difficult to traverse. He couldn’t help frowning as he asked Steward He, "Steward He, with such a rugged mountain path, I’m afraid our Chariot won’t be able to go up, right?"