Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1083: Bid War

"This artifact is quite intriguing; it presents itself as a mere painting, yet offers a glimpse into the Dao. It is the work of an anonymous master of the Painting Dao," Kwon Qianhong began his presentation.

Concurrently, the two brothers, who had been engrossed in a discussion about a missing treasure from their dispatched acquisitions, turned towards the stage with astonishment. They could not believe their eyes to see it appear now, amongst the auction's most prized possessions.

"Indeed, its guise is so convincing that we, too, were deceived. This piece was originally scheduled to be presented much earlier this evening. However, just as we were making preparations for its unveiling, our guest consultant for Symbol Arts detected something that prompted a re-evaluation, leading to its current placement near our auction's grand finale," Kwon Qianhong elaborated, his words measured and deliberate, carefully building suspense as more eyes were drawn to the painting.

The crowd, fond of a good mystery and the thrill of identifying hidden value, frantically searched for any discernible clues. All gazes were riveted to the painting, while the two brothers from the City Lord Manor exchanged fleeting glances.

Once the atmosphere reached its peak, Kwon Qianhong declared, "Concealed ingeniously within this painting lies an enigmatic and profound array formation formula."

His announcement immediately captured widespread attention, causing the jaws of the two brothers to drop. Ko Wenlu let out an exasperated sigh, exclaiming, "N-No way..."

"As before, our esteemed guest consultant, the masked Talisman Master, will provide further details," Kwon Qianhong added.

He stepped aside, yielding the spotlight to the masked Talisman Master.

Treasures of the 'hidden gem' variety, whose actual worth significantly surpassed their apparent value, were consistently popular items at any auction. This fostered an palpable air of anticipation throughout the hall.

"The hidden formation formula within this painting is of at least the 3rd-tier Profound Grade, possibly even higher. Naturally, as I was not its owner or purchaser, I was not permitted a thorough examination. However, it appears to be an adaptation from one of the 216 volumes concerning..." he continued, detailing the approximate origins of the Formation. He invoked the names of legendary Symbol Arts Masters who formed the bedrock of contemporary Symbol Arts, and referenced their works that served as inspiration for the formation formula embedded within the painting.

Subsequently, he revealed the non-critical outline of the formation's pattern. This partial glimpse, while not disclosing anything of significant value, showcased elements of its unique design, recognizable to a discerning, trained eye.

Not long after his explanation concluded, Kwon Qianhong initiated the bidding at a staggering 10 million Wei Dynasty gold, much to the audience's shock. While numerous treasures had commanded bids reaching into the millions, even tens of millions, particularly towards the auction's end, this marked the first instance of such a high opening bid.

Wei Yuanjie immediately proclaimed, "12 million gold!!!"

"My, such fervent enthusiasm~! It appears His Imperial Highness possesses a keen interest in formations, or perhaps paintings, or possibly both, hahaha!" Kwon Qianhong chuckled heartily.

"13 million!" the 5th Prince, spurred by this unexpected display from his brother, raised his bidding card. He cast a probing look at Wei Yuanjie, attempting to discern if this was a deliberate ploy to deplete his funds on a worthless item just before the main attraction. To his surprise, however, he detected subtle yet discernible signs of deep contemplation and a genuine desire to secure this particular lot.

Only for Wei Yuanjie to then place a bid of 15 million gold moments later, astonishing everyone with the aggressive nature of his participation.

The audience barely had a moment to react or fully process the rapid turn of events.

"16 million!" a member of the Bao Family, seated amongst the representatives of the Silverleaf Trade Hall, suddenly entered the fray. This prompted a wave of murmurs throughout the auction hall, as it signified the first direct competition involving the two princes.

"20 million!" Wei Yuanjie escalated the bidding once more, causing Wei Liheng to feel a surge of internal unease. He remained uncertain whether this was indeed a feint – an exceptionally well-orchestrated trap designed to outmaneuver him, a theory that held considerable plausibility. Yet, simultaneously, Wei Yuanjie's apparent eagerness to acquire the item felt equally authentic.

Meanwhile...

"Tsk... I cannot utilize a communication talisman within this area..." Ko Furen clicked his tongue, retracting the talisman he had produced moments earlier. "Remain here; I shall venture outside to seek Father's directives."

Ko Wenlu nodded absently, his attention consumed by the unfolding situation. His younger brother rose and departed the private balcony.

If this painting truly held such immense value, prompting these influential figures to engage in such a fierce contest, it implied that the City Lord had inadvertently overlooked a treasure of immense worth, and was now on the verge of suffering a significant financial loss.

"T-twenty-two million!" With gritted teeth, Wei Liheng committed to a gamble, his eyes catching a flicker of hidden panic in Wei Yuanjie's reaction. But in the very next moment, "Twenty-five million!" A member of the Bao family declared, their smile vanishing. "Thirty million!" Wei Yuanjie escalated the bid once more. At this juncture, a sound transmission reached him from Wei Yuanjie: [If you let me have this, I will concede the Heaven Turning Pill.] [To hell with you! Do you think I'll let you get the better of me?] Wei Liheng shot back, continuing to shout out his bids. "Thirty-five million!" The 5th Prince increased the offer. He couldn't discern if it was a deliberate trap, nor could he ascertain the sincerity of his younger brother's proposition. Technically, with the Silverleaf Trade Hall appearing to drive up the price, he shouldn't have had to involve himself, yet now, he felt uncertain about remaining a spectator – there was undeniably something significant about this painting. "Forty million!" The Bao family member also refused to back down, their aggressive bidding seemingly intended to discourage any further competition. Then, an anonymous bid of fifty million emerged – it was the Right Guardian, who also harbored suspicions that there was more to the painting given the intense competition from these figures. The onlookers in the hall began to clutch their heads, bewildered by the unfolding events. The majority of those present with substantial wealth had already secured their desired items, leaving few with the capacity to contend with these dominant forces at this stage. Consequently, sudden anonymous bids, especially against the formidable Bao and Imperial families, were a matter of considerable significance.