The reactions of the crowd were of no concern to Mu Jinyu.
He simply sat quietly with Wen Rou, waiting for the auction to begin.
The host standing on stage could clearly feel the change in the atmosphere among the audience, he forced a smile and made some small talk before announcing the start of the auction.
"First up for auction is a work by the master painter Qi Baishi, with a starting price of fifty million, and each bid must not be less than five million."
As the host's voice fell, staff members immediately brought up Qi Baishi's painting to the stage to show everyone.
Most of the attendees were martial artists, their purpose being to witness how Dan Pavilion would secure the alchemy techniques and pill furnaces; they had no interest in such trifles.
Therefore, there wasn't a single person who seemed interested in making a bid.
If no one placed a bid, the item would typically be passed in.
The auction's organizers had predicted this outcome and, to preserve the reputation of their event, they had specially arranged for a few shills to place bids.
Even though it would ultimately be passed in, to the uninformed, it would appear to have been sold.
Soon, Qi Baishi's painting was taken back with a price of sixty million by a shill.
Subsequent items came up for auction, most of which were taken back by shills, and some caught the interest of the attendees, who then started bidding.
Unless both parties were very keen on an item, people generally adhered to the principle that harmony brings wealth and would simply let the other have it.
The people from Dan Pavilion found it rather dull; their goal wasn't to buy these useless things but to acquire the techniques of alchemy and the alchemy furnaces.
However, since the people behind this auction held some influence, and since the auction process for the alchemy techniques was a way to save some face for the Luo family, they patiently waited.
After all, they needed to stall for time until their Divine Realm Warrior could arrive to deal with Mu Jinyu!
"Next up for auction is an iconic piece, the last work of a world-famous fashion designer featuring three hundred and sixty-five diamonds. Its name is 'Eternal Love,' starting at thirty million, with each additional bid required to be no less than two million."
As real bidders had started participating in the auction, the host's smile on his face became much more natural, as he introduced the next item up for auction.
Subsequently, a maid presented the 'Eternal Love' necklace with a starting price of thirty million on stage.
Under the dazzling lights, the necklace immediately reflected a beautiful spectrum of colors, dazzling the audience below.
Some began to think whether it would be appropriate to buy such a useless necklace for thirty million to give to their wife or daughter.
However, seeing Wen Rou's eyes light up, Mu Jinyu chuckled and asked, "Do you like it?"
"Mhm," Wen Rou nodded hesitantly.
Wen Rou had liked several of the previous auction items but thought they were too expensive and not worth it, so she ultimately didn't ask for them.
But this 'Eternal Love' necklace, according to what the host had said, was a piece made with the designer's essence blood, meant as a gift for his wife to ensure their love would last long and forever...
Wen Rou adored it because she too wished to be together with Mu Jinyu forever.
Seeing Wen Rou nod her head, Mu Jinyu prepared to bid and secure the 'Eternal Love' necklace.
But at that moment...
From the Dan Pavilion's side, the young girl who had lost a mouthful of teeth to Mu Jinyu was also enamored with the necklace, she hurriedly reached out to pat Chu Xuan's thigh next to her, crying out, "Wuwuwu..."
Her teeth had fallen out, and she couldn't speak clearly, but her intent was clear to everyone; she obviously wanted the 'Eternal Love' necklace.
Seeing this, Chu Xuan, who wasn't bothered by the expense, nonchalantly raised his hand and bid, "Thirty-two million."
As soon as Chu Xuan opened his mouth, those who had been considering whether or not to bid on the necklace fell silent.
They didn't particularly like the necklace to begin with, only feeling that the price wasn't too outrageous to consider purchasing it.
But now that someone from the Dan Pavilion had made a bid, they preferred to abstain rather than risk offending the other party.
Wen Rou saw Chu Xuan place a bid and frowned slightly, then whispered to Mu Jinyu, "Maybe we should let it go."
"Why should we let it go?" Mu Jinyu looked at Wen Rou, chuckled softly, and affectionately reached up to scratch the tip of her nose, saying, "We are already at odds with them. A dispute over alchemy is bound to arise later; there's no need to give in to them!"
"Oh." Wen Rou, upon hearing this, felt it made sense.
The auctioneer on stage saw that Chu Xuan made a bid and increased it by two million, deterring the crowd that was itching to participate from speaking up, feeling a wave of disappointment.
This Eternal Love necklace could sell for at least fifty to sixty million at a regular auction, and with some luck, even a billion wouldn't be out of the question.
Now that Chu Xuan had placed a bid, it was impossible for the auctioneer to have the shill continue bidding to take the item back.
After all, once they were found out to have planted shills, their auction house would be in deep trouble!
"Is there anyone else who would like to bid? If not, then it's thirty-two million once..."
The auctioneer pushed down the disappointment in his heart, hoping the Dan Pavilion folks would remember this favor since it seemed they were about to get the Eternal Love for a bargain.
At that moment, Mu Jinyu raised his hand and called out softly, "Forty million!"
"Boom!"
Mu Jinyu's act of bidding after Chu Xuan made his bid surprised everyone anew.
Previously, when Mu Jinyu mocked those with bruised faces for not seeking medical attention and yet attending the auction, the Dan Pavilion's folks didn't utter a word, which could still be explained away. Perhaps Mu Jinyu wasn't aware of their identity, or perhaps the Dan Pavilion's people didn't hear Mu Jinyu's mockery...
But now, with the Dan Pavilion's show of strength, making a bid that silenced the entire hall, Mu Jinyu's subsequent bid couldn't help but present an equally intriguing stance.
The crowd, amazed, looked from Mu Jinyu to the Dan Pavilion members, curious how they would react.
Would they fly into a rage, confronting Mu Jinyu there and then, or swallow their pride and the insult?
The young woman at the Dan Pavilion's seats, seeing Mu Jinyu's bid, became furiously angry but didn't dare to openly curse.
Truth be told, even if she wanted to curse, no one would be able to hear what she was saying.
Chu Xuan's expression darkened, looking as unpleasant as if he had eaten excrement, but under the gaze of all those present, he still didn't dare say anything.
After hesitating, he placed another bid, "Forty-two million!"
No sooner had he finished speaking.
Mu Jinyu, without hesitation, followed with a bid, "Fifty million!"
This time, Chu Xuan fell completely silent.
He did have the money for fifty million, but he didn't think it was worth it.
Moreover, if they provoked Mu Jinyu by contending over this trifle, and the Divine Realm Warrior from their Dan Pavilion had yet to arrive, wouldn't they be finished on the spot?
Seeing Chu Xuan fall utterly silent, the crowd was shocked.
Indeed, their previous speculation was not wrong!
The people from the Dan Pavilion were indeed wary of Mu Jinyu!