Ch 25: The Rough Stone Gambling Convention begins
On the spacious and bright venue, crystal stone merchants from all over the place were already waiting. Some were talking in low voices, while others were silently observing the surrounding environment. The atmosphere seemed a bit tense and lively.
Huang Shiman led Xi Yang and Gongsun Yuan into the venue, heading straight for the front row. Their appearance attracted the attention of many people, but none of the three paid attention to these gazes. Instead, they found a comfortable spot to sit down and waited for the convention to begin.
On the stage, a middle-aged woman with a cheongsam, a good figure, and a beautiful face, holding a microphone, walked gracefully onto the stage. She had a smile on her face, and her voice was pleasant and sweet: “Respected gentlemen and ladies, welcome everyone to the Longxi Rough Stone Exchange to participate in this trade convention. I am the host, Yang Chengyuan.”
A round of applause rang out from the audience. Yang Chengyuan continued, “This convention is divided into two stages. The first stage is the highlight of this convention. The rough stone kings from major rough stone mines will be auctioned off here. These rough stone kings have been carefully selected and are of superior quality. I believe they will satisfy everyone present.”
Next, Yang Chengyuan introduced some rules and precautions, and then announced the official start of the auction. The first rough stone king was moved onto the stage. It was jet-black all over, with a smooth, mirror-like surface, emitting a faint glow. Yang Chengyuan picked up the microphone and began to introduce the origin, weight, color, and other information of this rough stone king. Then, she shouted loudly, “The starting price for this stone king is ten million, with a minimum increment of one million each time.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Wen Xiang next to her shouted loudly, “Twenty million!” After speaking, Wen Xiang glanced at Xi Yang provocatively.
Xi Yang ignored him, looking at the giant rough stone on the stage, his Divine Sense fully extended, barely covering the rough stone on the stage.
The Earth Spiritual Energy inside this rough stone has a purity of only Low-Grade Crystal Stone. Although it is large, the price of Low-Grade Crystal Stone is not high. The value of this rough stone does not exceed ten million.
Just as he finished exploring, Huang Shiman next to him had already spoken, “Twenty-one million!” Xiao Lan, sitting behind her, immediately raised the Huang’s Rough Stones sign.
The host Yang Chengyuan on the stage shouted loudly, “Huang’s Rough Stones bids twenty-one million!”
Wen Xiang’s face showed a smug smile when he heard this, “Thirty million!”
Huang Shiman was just about to raise her hand to signal when she was pressed down by Xi Yang, “I don’t have high hopes for this stone king! I suggest not increasing the price!”
Huang Shiman shook her head and said confidently, “The purpose of my participation in this stone gambling convention is this rough stone. This rough stone is the stone king jointly identified by my Huang Family and the Wen Family, and its value is no less than fifty million!”
“With the Wen Family involved, aren’t you afraid of fraud?” Xi Yang said lightly.
“Impossible, the experts involved in the appraisal were cultivated by our Huang Family at a great price, it is impossible to deceive me!” Huang Shiman said.
Xi Yang heard the words and did not speak again. There is no need to say more about this kind of thing. He is just her advisor. If she does not adopt his suggestion, he will not be responsible if something happens.
At this time, many merchants in the venue offered prices, and this rough stone quickly exceeded fifty million.
Huang Shiman looked at the rough stone, bit her lip, and was about to speak when Gongsun Yuan next to her pulled her hand, “Sister Shiman, I think what Xi Yang said makes sense!”
“But, my Huang Family is now in a financial crisis. If I miss it, I’m afraid it will be difficult for the next few years!” Huang Shiman said worriedly.
Xi Yang glanced at Gongsun Yuan, “Let Sister Shiman make up her own mind about this matter. It’s enough for us to remind her once. Don’t disrupt her thoughts!”
“Okay!” Gongsun Yuan replied with a pout.
Huang Shiman looked at Xi Yang gratefully, and then she said, “Sixty million!”
Xiao Lan behind her hesitated to look at her, “Boss Huang, isn’t our valuation fifty million?”
“It doesn’t matter, I said it was just an estimate, what’s wrong with exceeding it a bit?”
Xiao Lan raised the sign helplessly.
Wen Xiang next to him showed a smile on his face when he saw this.
He sat in his seat and did not offer a price again. The other merchants on the field also tacitly stopped competing.
Huang Shiman was overjoyed when she saw this, and it seemed that the family’s financial crisis had been completely resolved.
As Yang Chengyuan’s hammer fell, this rough stone was bought by Huang Shiman.
Xi Yang sighed helplessly when he saw this, and sat in his seat in silence.
Gongsun Yuan next to him asked, “Xi Yang, what’s wrong with you? Even if this stone loses money, it will only lose more than ten million. With the strength of the Huang Family, they can completely withstand it!”
Xi Yang said softly, “I’m afraid that what is lost is not ten million, but fifty million. This rough stone was auctioned too smoothly, as if it was carefully arranged by someone.”
“What? How is that possible?” Gongsun Yuan blurted out.
Xi Yang immediately covered her mouth, “Keep your voice down, don’t distract her!”
Gongsun Yuan nodded.
Soon, the second stone king from Tongyuan Rough Stone Mine was pushed up by the staff. After a fierce bidding, it was finally sold for a price of seventy million.
As one stone king after another came to the stage, they were bought by a group of merchants bidding.
During this period, Huang Shiman also wanted to bid for the purchase, but had to give up due to insufficient funds.
Xi Yang’s eyes had been fixed on Wen Xiang, and a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes. This guy seemed to have no interest in these stone kings. Apart from the first stone king, he had never even bid once. This situation was really abnormal.
At this time, Yang Chengyuan, the charming woman in a cheongsam on the stage, walked gracefully to the center of the stage and announced with a smile: “This rough stone king auction has come to a successful conclusion. Next, we will enter the second stage. Please move to the rough stone exhibition area on the second floor, where you can freely choose and purchase your favorite rough stones. The rough stones displayed at this convention have been repeatedly appraised by several masters, and the quality is guaranteed. You can buy with confidence!”
Her voice was clear and sweet, as pleasant as a spring breeze. As her voice fell, the merchants sitting in the back rows stood up one after another, eagerly heading towards the second floor. They were all energetic and looking forward to showing their skills in the rough stone exhibition area.
At this time, Huang Shiman was in a state of excitement. She turned her head and said to Xi Yang, “You guys go to the second floor and take a look! I’m excited now, I’ll go and unlock that stone king first!” After speaking, she took Xiao Lan towards the backstage of the venue.
Gongsun Yuan came to Xi Yang’s side and said weakly, “Sister Shiman, does she have any opinions about us?”
Xi Yang shook his head, “It’s not that she has any opinions, it’s just that she doesn’t have much trust! Let’s go upstairs!”
In the exhibition area on the second floor, there were rows of counters with rough stones placed on them, and a staff member stood in front of each counter. At this time, everyone had already started buying. The scene was as lively as a vegetable market.
Xi Yang pulled Gongsun Yuan and shuttled through the crowd. He always felt someone following him behind.
But every time he looked back, that person disappeared. Xi Yang was secretly puzzled. He had already broken through Qi Refining Stage 2, and his perception and Divine Sense had greatly improved. He could actually hide from his investigation. This person’s strength was definitely not weak.
“Xi Yang, what’s wrong?” Gongsun Yuan asked, looking at the absent-minded Xi Yang.
“It’s okay, we’ll buy a few rough stones later, and leave after we buy them! I’m a little uneasy today!” Xi Yang said.
“I’m also worried about that Wen Xiang guy. After you buy the rough stones later, go stay at my house for one night!” Gongsun Yuan said.
Xi Yang wanted to decline, but there was no better place to go at the moment. Going to the Liu Family Zhou Family, they ran away behind his back tonight. He didn’t care, but they also had a knot in their hearts.
As for Huang Shiman, although it was possible, she would know that she had been tricked in a while, so how could she be in the mood to pay attention to him? Of course, it was not impossible to sleep on the streets, but he was unfamiliar with the place. If that Wen Xiang guy didn’t let him go, he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to rest tonight.
“Okay, thank you!” Xi Yang said.
Gongsun Yuan’s expression was overjoyed, “I thought you would refuse! Thank you!”
Xi Yang smiled, “You helped me, I should be the one saying thank you!”