Chapter 1409 The Biggest Obstacle?

The price skyrocketed, and the atmosphere in the secret room finally became lively.

Inside the hall, people began to whisper among themselves, speculating about what unknown secrets the fragment might hold.

Otherwise, why would so many people choose to bid, and why would the bids be so high?

Luo Feng remained silent, taking a sip of coffee, but his gaze kept drifting towards the woman in the corner.

Seeing that she finally put down the amber bracelet, her gaze returned to the stage.

Immediately, she tapped the table lightly with her finger, a cold smile playing on her lips.

Upon seeing this, Luo Feng's expression turned serious.

The real contest is about to begin.

He did not underestimate his opponent, after all, the opponent was a member of the Shadow Council, and that was no small fry.

Although Luo Feng was very confident in his financial resources, he always remembered one principle: in this world, there are always people more capable than you, and there is always something beyond your understanding.

There might be people even richer than him, but he just hasn't met them yet, or they're just being discreet.

"Eleven million."

Soon, the woman in the cheongsam in the corner spoke up.

Her voice was clear and crisp, like shattered ice hitting a jade plate, purifying one's soul.

However, despite the offer.

But she didn't even look up at the bronze fragment; she simply placed it lightly on the table, as if she were casually reciting the price of a corner coffee shop rather than a huge sum of money.

To be frank, this amount of money is really nothing to the Shadow Council.

And she definitely knew this item was genuine, so she didn't need to verify anything; she could just ask for a price directly.

Luo Feng had anticipated this, otherwise he wouldn't have agreed so easily.

Because he was determined to fight.

It's just a matter of money, isn't it? He's never been afraid of anyone.

Colin raised an eyebrow and turned to Luo Feng, whispering, "They're here."

"If we want to win, she may be the biggest obstacle."

Luo Feng didn't respond, his gaze shifting between the woman and the man in the hat.

Eleven million, only one hundred thousand more than the previous bid, this move was very prudent.

This showed a determination to win without raising the price too high, clearly an attempt to test the limits of others.

Luo Feng remained silent for the time being, waiting.

Logically speaking, something involving clues about Penglai would inevitably be being watched by other forces in the shadows.

The Shadow Council wouldn't send just one person. There's no reason for Colin's rivals, or even other forces that have heard the news, to stand by and watch the fragments be easily taken away.

But after a few seconds, the room became so quiet that you could hear the ticking of the clock on the wall.

The man in the hat fell silent. His face was obscured by the brim of the hat, but one could sense the hesitation emanating from him.

The decisiveness he displayed when bidding earlier had vanished, and he was repeatedly rubbing his hands on his knees, clearly weighing the pros and cons.

The others remained completely silent.

Some people held teacups and pretended to drink tea, while others looked down at their phones, as if the bidding just now had nothing to do with them.

Luo Feng frowned slightly.

Not right.

It was all so quiet.

It was so quiet it was as if someone had deliberately arranged it, intentionally giving the spotlight to this woman.

However, this possibility only flashed through Luo Feng's mind.

If the person involved here really wanted to give the items to the woman, then this game was specifically designed for him or Colin.

Because they won't give this to the Shadow Council.

"Eleven million for the first time." The auctioneer's voice was hesitant; he clearly hadn't expected things to turn out this way, raising and lowering his gavel repeatedly.

Colin's hands were already on the table, his face was pale, and he was obviously enduring it.

If you don't bid now, you'll miss your chance!

He looked at Luo Feng, his eyes questioning.

If we don't act now, it will be snatched away.

Luo Feng kept his head down, sipping his coffee, his mind racing.

Is it a trap?

Or are these people deliberately backing down because they are wary of the Shadow Council's power?
"Eleven million, the second time."

The auctioneer raised his gavel again, this time much higher, clearly about to bring it down.

The woman in the cheongsam finally raised her eyes, looking directly at Luo Feng. The cold smile on her lips deepened, as if mocking his hesitation.

Luo Feng felt a chill run down his spine.

Whether it's a trap or not, this bronze fragment must not fall into the hands of the Shadow Council.

He must obtain the clue to the other half of the stone tablet.

Besides, the other party is the Shadow Council; we can't give it to them, no matter who it's given to.

"Fifteen million."

Just as the mallet was about to fall, Luo Feng's voice rang out in the secret room.

He wasn't tall, but everyone could hear him clearly.

The price suddenly jumped by 400,000, bypassing the gradual bidding process, like a heavy hammer hitting everyone's hearts.

The man in the hat looked up abruptly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes beneath the brim.

Looking at Colin beside Luo Feng, he paused for a moment, then frowned, as if he was thinking about something.

He then slumped back in his chair, completely giving up.

Seeing this, Colin smiled faintly.

His old face still had a certain intimidating quality.

The financial resources of the Thorne Group in Eurocity are unmatched by most people.

The smile on the woman in the cheongsam froze. For the first time, she looked directly at Luo Feng, and the disdain in her eyes turned into wariness.

She clenched her fist tightly, making the amber bracelet creak, clearly calculating something.

The room fell silent again, but this time, the silence was tinged with tension.

The auctioneer was clearly taken aback by the sudden increase in bids, pausing for a couple of seconds before shouting, "Fifteen million! First time! Any higher bids?"

He looked at the woman in the cheongsam, his eyes filled with expectation.

The woman remained silent for a few seconds, then finally released the bracelet, leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and gave up.

Luo Feng frowned, somewhat stunned.

"So you're not calling anymore?"

Based on his understanding of the Shadow Council, they should have already considered this item as their own a long time ago, so they should be determined to win this bid.

Something's strange... "Fifteen million for the second time!"

"Fifteen million for the third time!"

"Boom!"

The auctioneer's gavel fell with a dull thud.

"Sold! Congratulations, sir!"

Colin let out a long sigh of relief, finally lifting his arms off the table.

Those few seconds of standoff were more exhausting than Colin and Luo Feng's entire day of maneuvering.

Luo Feng, however, remained somber.

With this bronze fragment in hand, the trouble has probably only just begun.

Immediately afterwards, Colin smiled with relief and raised his glass to him.

"Mr. Luo is indeed very composed."

Luo Feng didn't laugh; he just looked at the woman in the corner.

She had already stood up, and as she turned around, her peripheral vision swept over Luo Feng again, carrying a chilling glint.

The auction for tonight has ended.

But the real game was about to begin.

I'm afraid this matter won't be resolved so easily.

Stepping out of the secret room, the night market outside the warehouse was still bustling.

The vendors' shouts and the beams of flashlights crisscrossed in the darkness, mingling with the lively atmosphere of the evening breeze, creating a more human touch than the tense atmosphere of a locked room.

As soon as Luo Feng reached the first stall, he felt footsteps following him.

He didn't need to turn around to know it was the woman in the cheongsam.

“Mr. Luo, she’s come along.” Colin glanced back, his voice low, his hand already instinctively reaching for his waist, where a weapon was hidden.

Luo Feng didn't stop walking. He casually picked up a rusty copper lock from the stall, ran two fingers lightly across the keyhole, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Never mind it."

His tone was calm, as if he were full of confidence.

He didn't believe the woman would dare to make a move in this place.

Colin paused for a moment, glanced at Luo Feng's profile, and finally let go of his hand, but his eyes remained warily scanning behind him.

The woman followed at a moderate distance, her high heels making a crisp sound on the gravel, standing out in the noisy night market.

She didn't speak or approach, just like an ordinary customer browsing the night market, occasionally stopping to glance at the trinkets on the stalls. But Luo Feng knew that her attention was on him the whole time.

Luo Feng seemed oblivious, strolling leisurely. He glanced at the chipped blue-and-white porcelain bowl and shook his head.

He picked up another string of plastic beads, which he claimed were "Qing Dynasty court beads," smirked, and put them back in their place.

Most of the items on the stalls were either poorly made imitations or worthless old objects, offering nothing new.

"Young man, take a look at this?" an old man with gray hair suddenly called out.

His stall was located in the far corner of the warehouse, covered with a faded blue cloth, on which were displayed a few inconspicuous pottery jars and bronzeware.

Luo Feng stopped and his gaze fell on a palm-sized pottery jar.

The jar was dusty and had several cracks on its surface, looking no different from rubble picked up from the roadside.

But he paused slightly when his fingertips touched the mouth of the jar.

The texture of that clay, with its warm and mellow feel that comes with the passage of time, is something that modern imitations can never replicate.

He picked up the pottery jar without making a sound, pretending to examine the patterns on the bottom, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed a very faint engraving on the inside of the rim, like some kind of symbol.

This symbol... subtly echoes the patterns on the bronze fragment that was just auctioned.

"How much does this thing cost?" Luo Feng asked casually, his tone devoid of any emotion.

The old man squinted at him, then grinned and said, "Young man, you have good taste!"

"This is an old thing I collected from the countryside. Since you seem to have a connection with it, I'll give you fifty euros."

Fifty euros? Luo Feng was slightly surprised.

Judging from the appearance, this pottery jar dates back to at least the Qin and Han dynasties. Even with cracks, it's worth far more than this price.

It seems the old man had no idea that what he had was a genuine artifact; he just thought it was an ordinary old jar.

"Too expensive." Luo Feng put down the pottery jar and made to leave. "It's only worth twenty."

Since this guy doesn't know the price, Luo Feng can't just make a definitive claim.

Otherwise, the boss might not have sold it to Luo Feng because he was so generous, or he might have thought the item must have some value.

Once Luo Feng makes a bid, the focus will shift to this topic, and the boss won't have time to think about anything else.

"Hey, no!" the old man quickly grabbed him. "Thirty, no less! This is..."

"Twenty it is." Luo Feng said firmly, then turned and left.

"make a deal!"

Upon hearing this, the old man gritted his teeth, pulled out a plastic bag from under his stall, put the pottery jar inside, and handed it to him, saying, "Consider it a loss for me, but I'm just trying to make a name for myself."

Luo Feng paid the money and continued walking forward, carrying the plastic bag.

It's ironic that such an antique was damaged by a plastic bag; it's not befitting its status.

The footsteps behind him continued, but he could sense that the woman's gaze seemed to linger on the plastic bag in his hand for a few seconds before moving away.

In her opinion, it was probably just a worthless piece of junk.

Colin leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Is there... something wrong with this jar?"

Luo Feng weighed the bag in his hand, a rare smile appearing on his lips as he said, "It was an unexpected bonus."

He didn't say much, and Colin didn't offer any explanation for the time being.

They simply quickened their pace and headed out of the night market.

The woman wouldn't give up easily, and the fact that the other party hadn't valued this inconspicuous pottery jar presented an opportunity for Luo Feng; perhaps he could obtain a few more clues.

As for the tails behind them, they need to be properly dealt with and entertained.

Luo Feng didn't want the other party to pass on any information back to the Shadow Council.

Stepping out of the hustle and bustle of the night market, a cool evening breeze swept by.

Luo Feng carried the pottery jar, his steps unhurried, as if he were taking a stroll.

Colin, on the other hand, seemed very nervous the whole time.

That's the Shadow Council! A well-known underground force in EuroCity.

Colin tightened his coat around his waist and said in a low voice, "The alleyway is just ahead, a blind spot for surveillance cameras."

His hand returned to his waist, as if he were ready to act at any moment.

Luo Feng gave a faint "hmm".

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