Chapter 31: As Useless as Scrap!

Ye Fei did not finish his sentence.

He too had once worn the Cold Bone Wood.

It was a secret between him and his master.

Back then, he was on the verge of death; had his master not brought him back and used the Cold Bone Wood in combination with various herbs, he might not have survived that frigid winter night. That was how he regenerated flesh and bone and lived to see today.

The Cold Bone Wood before him, with a starting price of fifty million, he regarded with utter disdain.

The genuine Cold Bone Wood, if placed in an overseas auction, would fetch at least a hundred million—and even then, it would be priceless, with buyers clamoring for it.

Thus, he could immediately tell true from false.

"Mr. Ye, have you seen Cold Bone Wood before?" Uncle Fu sneered, unable to contain himself.

In his heart, he felt Ye Fei was nothing but a fraud.

A young upstart, what could he possibly know? If not for Chen Yu, he wouldn’t even have the qualification to enter this place, yet here he was, boasting shamelessly.

He sneered repeatedly. "Since you claim this Cold Bone Wood is fake, could you tell us the difference between it and the real thing?"

"The difference?" Ye Fei stroked his chin, recalling the days spent with the Cold Bone Wood, and replied, "The real Cold Bone Wood bears frost on its surface. Moreover, in a room like this, its presence alone would lower the temperature, unlike what we see here. Apart from the feigned cold mist, there is no genuine chill to be felt."

Uncle Fu laughed even louder. "Surely you jest, Mr. Ye? Lowering the temperature of the whole room? How could such a thing exist? That’s bordering on the mystical."

"In my opinion, you’ve never seen Cold Bone Wood and are just making things up."

"Is that so?" Ye Fei smiled faintly, a glimmer of spiritual energy flickering in his eyes. Without drawing attention, he glanced at the auctioneer holding the 'fake Cold Bone Wood'. With a subtle flick, he sent out a sliver of spiritual energy, invisible and swift, which pierced through the glass.

A sharp crack resounded.

The glass shattered instantly, echoing loudly.

The guests around were startled.

The auctioneer holding the glass box jumped, his hand trembling, and let the box fall to the floor.

The cold mist inside dissipated completely, and the Cold Bone Wood, once valued at fifty million, lay on the ground like an ordinary twig, its surface stripped of any coverings.

It looked like mere refuse.

"Now, what do you think?" Ye Fei withdrew his hand, smiling.

Everyone glanced over, faces filled with astonishment.

"This… How is this possible?" Uncle Fu exclaimed.

"Why not?" Ye Fei replied with disdain. "They simply used a bit of liquid nitrogen to create a misty chill. The glass acted as a barrier; once it’s destroyed, it becomes no different from a roadside stick."

"This…" Uncle Fu still struggled to believe it.

Chen Yu, upon hearing this, regarded Ye Fei with even greater respect.

Chen Bozhong, meanwhile, looked at Ye Fei with a reverent expression, as though contemplating something.

What surprised them was not the exposed truth of the Cold Bone Wood, but Ye Fei's effortless gesture that shattered the glass.

That was not something an ordinary person could accomplish.

"Mr. Ye, I must apologize for my earlier offense. Please don’t take it to heart," Uncle Fu quickly recovered, inhaling sharply at the realization and apologizing, his heart filled with apprehension.

He was now convinced he had misjudged Ye Fei; the young man was likely associated with those martial artists frequently in contact with the Chen family.

Ye Fei merely smiled, not bothering to hold a grudge.

Instead, he surveyed the surroundings.

The guests, seeing the Cold Bone Wood lying on the ground, were briefly surprised, but showed no further reaction. Some even continued to raise their bids, willingly becoming the 'sucker', rapidly pushing the price up to two hundred and thirty million.

"It seems you’re all quite determined to destroy the Eternal Group," Ye Fei thought darkly.

"It appears there’s nothing noteworthy left in this auction."

"Mr. Ye, we can leave at any time," Chen Bozhong suggested after some thought.

"No rush, there’s only one item left. We might as well stay and see," Ye Fei replied with a smile.

"Very well," Chen Bozhong agreed without pressing further.

The ninth item’s price hovered around eight hundred million.

With the previous lots combined, the total capital on the table had reached nearly three point eight billion.

Three point eight billion.

This figure seemed but an appetizer.

"The tenth item is a Qilin Jade Seal, said to have been specially commissioned by a descendant of an emperor during the Song dynasty, who asked a wandering Taoist to craft it, infusing it with genuine Qilin blood."

"I needn’t explain the seal’s efficacy. A master once said it carries the emperor’s fortune. If worshipped, it will surely bless generations to come."

"Starting price: two hundred million."

"Each raise: no less than one hundred million."

The starting price of two hundred million instantly caused an uproar in the hall.

Even Ye Fei was taken aback.

By the previous bidding rules, a starting price of two hundred million would easily climb to a billion.

"Wait—"

"This thing…"

As the auctioneer presented the so-called Qilin Jade Seal, Ye Fei’s brows furrowed suddenly, then his expression burst into joy!

The surface of the seal looked ancient.

The carving was lifelike.

Even more astonishing, it contained spiritual energy within!

"Who would have thought to find such a treasure here!"

"This is a windfall!" Ye Fei’s heart soared.

What does the Nine Dragon Divine Art lack most?

Spiritual energy.

Even after years training with the old master, he possessed only a meager amount.

If he could obtain this seal and absorb its spiritual energy, the benefits from the Nine Dragon Divine Art would rise to new heights!

By his side, Chen Bozhong and Chen Yu noticed Ye Fei’s change in demeanor. The former asked curiously, "What’s wrong, Mr. Ye? Are you interested in this seal?"

"Indeed!" Ye Fei answered without concealment, nodding. "I want this seal."

"Yu’er, since Mr. Ye desires it, secure it for him," Chen Bozhong said with a smile, asking no further questions.

Though the seal’s starting price was two hundred million, the former warlord regarded the young Mr. Ye as worth far more than that.