I Was Forced to Marry a “Trash” Cultivator, But She Turned Out to Be a Reborn Empress!

Chapter 294: The Holy Son of the Sect, An Extravagant Display

In the opulent top-tier private suite, a middle-aged man dressed in black brocade robes reclined languidly upon a soft divan. He held a beauty in his arms, his right hand resting in a decidedly inappropriate location, giving a firm, audacious squeeze.

“At least he knows his place,” the man sneered, glancing down at the disgruntled old fellow on the fourth floor. A mocking curve lifted the corner of his lips.

These people from the so-called first-rate sects… their backbones were softer than he imagined.

This man was Bai Liuqing, the Holy Son of the Cold Moon Palace, possessing a cultivation base at the half-step Soul Formation stage.

“Thank you, Senior Brother,” the woman in his arms cooed, her voice dripping with honey as her hand traced circles on his broad chest.

Bai Liuqing had intervened solely because this woman had mentioned the item looked “pretty.”

In truth, for beings of their level, that jade ruyi served as nothing more than a decorative bauble. They cared nothing for its utility or its importance to others.

If they liked it, they bought it.

This was the absolute privilege brought by status.

The auction continued.

As the event moved into its latter half, the treasures on display grew increasingly precious. The auction floor effectively transformed into a battlefield reserved for the distinguished guests on the fourth and fifth floors.

The cultivators on the lower three floors could only watch in silence, lacking both the confidence and the capital to compete.

As another treasure was claimed by a first-rate power on the fourth floor, a crisp *click* echoed from the display stage.

Han Songzi personally carried out a pitch-black jade box. The moment the lid was lifted, the ambient Spiritual Qi in the entire auction hall seemed to freeze.

Divine Silence Quicksand!

Han Songzi slowly introduced the item, his voice grave. “This item is of extraordinary quality. Starting bid—fifty ordinary Spirit Crystals!”

One Spirit Crystal was equivalent to one million high-grade Spirit Stones.

Fifty crystals meant fifty million high-grade stones.

The hall fell into a dead silence.

Fifty million.

Even the cultivators on the fourth floor felt a crushing weight descend upon their chests. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the first brave soul to speak.

In his booth, Shen Xian finally straightened his posture.

It was time to make his move.

But before he could utter a word, Bai Liuqing’s voice drifted down from the top floor, slow and leisurely.

“Fifty. I want it.”

The moment he spoke, the expressions of the crowd shifted. Those forces that had been itching to bid suddenly froze.

They were not qualified to compete with him.

For a moment, eyes turned toward the other private suites on the top floor. Perhaps only those entities could rival the Cold Moon Palace.

Unexpectedly, none of the other distinguished guests spoke.

They were all here for the final ancient treasure; naturally, they were unwilling to bleed Spirit Stones on a secondary item.

Han Songzi’s eyes flickered with concern. *Is it going to go for the floor price?*

But with silence reigning, he had no choice but to begin the countdown.

Just then, a voice rang out—light, airy, and utterly unbothered.

“One hundred.”

In the top booth, Bai Liuqing’s finger, which had been rhythmically tapping the armrest, stopped abruptly. His Divine Sense swept out like a blade, slashing toward the source of the voice—it was a private booth on the fourth floor!

He frowned deeply.

A mere first-rate sect dared to compete with the Cold Moon Palace?

The hall instantly became so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Every cultivator stared intently in that direction.

“Is he insane? Daring to challenge the Cold Moon Palace?” someone transmitted via Divine Sense, their mental voice trembling.

“He directly doubled the bid to one hundred Spirit Crystals? What is this person’s background?” another exclaimed in shock.

“The fourth floor? Isn’t that just for standard first-rate forces?” In a different top-floor suite, a cultivator sneered. “Now this… this is a show worth watching.”

The atmosphere in the auction hall pulled taut as a bowstring. All eyes were fixed on the source of the voice.

Inside the booth, Qian Yuanjin looked at ‘Master Wang’ in astonishment.

He knew Shen Xian’s goal was a specific item in this auction, but he never expected the man’s bidding style to be so tyrannical.

Directly doubling the Spirit Crystal bid?

Who did business like this?

Shen Xian’s expression remained serene as he gazed calmly at the Divine Silence Quicksand.

He chose this price for one reason: intimidation.

If no top-tier forces had intervened initially, he would have incrementally raised the price. But since a heavyweight had stepped into the ring, Shen Xian needed to project absolute confidence and bottomless pockets.

He knew these top factions were saving their ammunition for the final ancient treasure. They wouldn’t want to waste excessive Spirit Crystals on side dishes.

Therefore, he simply needed to send a signal that he was determined to win, no matter the cost. It would save him a lot of trouble in the long run.

However…

Shen Xian had underestimated Bai Liuqing—or rather, he had misjudged the man’s fragile ego.

Upon hearing the bid of one hundred Spirit Crystals…

*Crack.*

The ice-moon sculpture in Bai Liuqing’s palm fractured, a spiderweb of cracks appearing on its surface. He raised two fingers, and his attendant immediately shouted:

“One hundred and ten!”

The meager increase caused an uproar in the hall.

Han Songzi smiled. If the item had sold at the floor price, it would have been a loss for the auction house.

“Two hundred.”

The voice was light, casual, yet the bid landed like a war hammer, smashing into the hearts of everyone present.

The venue plunged into a suffocating silence. Even the sound of breathing seemed deafening.

“T-two hundred Spirit Crystals?!” A Nascent Soul cultivator’s legs gave way, nearly dropping him to his knees.

He hadn’t seen that many Spirit Stones in his entire life.

Inside the booth, Shen Xian appeared perfectly calm.

Since establishing the Duobao Sect, his financial resources had become obscenely vast. Two hundred crystals was a significant sum, yes, but to secure the Divine Silence Quicksand quickly, he had to name a number the opponent couldn’t stomach.

Of course, if the other party wanted to keep dancing…

He would accompany them to the end.

He had prepared five hundred Spirit Crystals for this.

For a Dongxuan Supreme Treasure, it was worth every stone.

In the Tianzi-grade suite, Bai Liuqing’s handsome face twisted into a mask of rage.

“Bastard!”

He clenched his fist violently, and the nine ice needles in his palm exploded into glittering powder.

“Is he deliberately opposing my Cold Moon Palace?”

“Holy Son!” The accompanying Elder hurriedly transmitted his voice, sounding frantic. “Our main target is the final ancient treasure. We cannot hemorrhage funds here…”

They had prepared a war chest for the finale, as had the other top forces. The Elder naturally didn’t want to waste resources on a grudge match.

“Shut up!” Bai Liuqing’s Divine Sense roared.

As the Sect’s Holy Son, did he not understand the logistics? But this was about *face*.

The whispers in the hall had already exploded into a fervor:

“Heavens! He doubled it again!”

“Which family’s young master is this? He’s too extravagant!”

“The Cold Moon Palace kicked an iron plate this time…”

Cultivators in the other top-floor suites grinned. “Good. Let the Cold Moon Palace bleed a little more. One less competitor for the finale is better for us!”

Han Songzi forcefully suppressed his excitement, his voice trembling. “T-two hundred, going once!”

Veins bulged on Bai Liuqing’s forehead.

*When has this Holy Son ever suffered such humiliation?*

He raised his hand sharply, preparing to escalate, but the Elder grabbed his arm, holding him down firmly.

“Holy Son, think twice! The material the Palace Master commanded us to obtain *must* be secured. If we lose the greater prize for a moment of petty anger…”

The words were like a bucket of ice water dumped over his head.

Bai Liuqing took a deep, shuddering breath. “Damn it… indeed. I cannot ruin the grand plan over a moment of pique.”

He cast a gaze filled with venom toward the west wing. “Two hundred and ten!”

The weak increase drew a wave of hushed jeers from the crowd.

Anyone could see the Cold Moon Palace had lost its nerve.

Shen Xian also sensed the opponent’s hesitation. He let out a faint chuckle.

“Two hundred and fifty.”

*Boom—*

The auction hall erupted.

Even the heavyweights in the Tianzi suites couldn’t sit still, leaning forward to peer out.

“This isn’t bidding; this is financial slaughter!”

“That price… does it carry a hint of mockery?”

“Just who is this sacred being?”

…

Bai Liuqing’s face turned the color of ash.

“Investigate! Go investigate him immediately!” he growled low in his throat to his guard.

*After the auction ends, this Holy Son will teach him the consequences of offending the Cold Moon Palace!*

Faced with such a tyrannical bid, even the Holy Son of a top-tier force had to fold.

Han Songzi was so excited he was practically incoherent. “Two hundred and fifty, going once! Two hundred and fifty, twice! Two hundred and fifty, sold! Congratulations to the distinguished guest in the Guizi suite!”