"Seventy-two great merits!"

"Seventy-four great merits!"

Eventually, for some unknown reason, Dongfang Mobai stopped bidding.

Gradually, only Second Uncle Fang and Qingfei were left competing against each other.

In the second A-grade room on the third floor, Qingfei wore a calm smile, unhurriedly calling out each new price.

Compared to Second Uncle Fang, whose forehead was beaded with cold sweat, she was the very picture of composure.

In truth, the main reason she was trying to snatch the Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object from Fang Yang was because of Qing Mang.

A grudge had formed between Qing Mang and Fang Yang ever since the All-Army Grand Tournament.

During the tournament, Fang Yang had beaten Qing Mang so badly that his Dao heart had nearly shattered, forcing him to return to his family’s estate to recuperate.

In reality, none of this was Fang Yang’s fault. One could only say that Qing Mang had brought it upon himself.

But as luck would have it, Qing Mang had a Saint ancestor who doted on him to an extreme degree.

Given the circumstances, Qingfei was simply doing her part to help.

She needed to suppress Fang Yang’s rate of growth, giving Qing Mang a chance to catch up to—or even surpass—him!

"Eighty-one great merits!"

"Eighty-two great merits!"

Second Uncle Fang and Qingfei were still locked in their bidding war, with the price trending toward one hundred great merits.

This was astonishing.

After all, earning even a single great merit was an incredibly difficult feat.

One hundred great merits was enough to secure the protection of a Dao Seed!

"Fang Yang is really in for it, getting targeted by Qing Mang like this," Zhang Le said, gloating.

But the elder from the Zhang Clan shook his head. "Perhaps Qing Mang himself doesn’t want to keep bothering Fang Yang, but the people around him will certainly push him to surpass Fang Yang!"

Zhang Ye said nothing.

’Fang Yang was being pestered by Qing Mang, but wasn’t I in the same boat? I had Lin Tianxue haunting my every move.’

’I failed to get the Thunder Sparrow Essence Spiritual Object,’ Zhang Ye thought. ’So there’s a good chance Fang Yang will fail just like me.’

’Fang Yang won’t be able to win the auction for the Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object!’

’That would put the two of us back on the same starting line.’

’The downside, though, is that we could both genuinely be caught, and even surpassed, by Lin Tianxue and Qing Mang in six months.’

Zhang Ye hated the feeling.

He hated being pestered like this, especially by someone he had already defeated in a direct confrontation.

’Of course, the only reason I haven’t given up on catching up to Fang Yang is that I’ve never actually faced him head-on!’

"Sis, when are you going to make your move? You promised me," Chen Ying said, a hint of a pout on her stunning face as she clung to Chen Kui.

Chen Kui gazed down at the room where Fang Yang was and sighed softly. "Don’t be anxious. It’s not time to offer a helping hand just yet."

In her heart, Chen Kui felt quite helpless.

’I don’t believe for a second that winning this Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object and gifting it to Fang Yang will win back his affection for my sister.’

’Besides, a Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object of this near-perfect quality was clearly prepared specifically for Fang Yang by someone from the Sen family!’

At this thought, Chen Kui shot an extremely subtle glance toward the first A-grade room on the third floor. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

In that room sat the members of the Sen Clan, among them Elder Hua.

’If I’m not mistaken, Elder Hua is Sen Hui’s representative!’

"Ninety-three great merits!"

"Ninety-four great merits!"

The price for the Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object was about to break one hundred great merits.

It was high. Far too high.

The price was already vastly inflated. Even if they managed to buy it, it would be at a major loss.

In Fang Yang’s room, several people sighed in succession, as if resigning themselves to defeat.

At that moment, a decisive glint flashed in Second Uncle Fang’s eyes. He was about to stake his entire fortune to win the item, consequences be damned.

But Fang Yang stopped him.

Fang Yang could see what was happening. ’It seems I’m just like Zhang Ye,’ he realized. ’They’re determined to slow my cultivation speed.’

’Those people won’t stop otherwise.’

’The orthodox way... The orthodox way... The orthodox way...’ Fang Yang silently repeated the words, his mind at peace.

’If you enjoy the benefits of the orthodox way’s rules, then you must naturally accept its constraints.’

’For now, I can’t walk the line between good and evil.’

He didn’t feel particularly wronged or frustrated.

’You clear a path when you find a mountain, and you build a bridge when you reach a river. You just have to solve problems one by one as they appear.’

"Almost a hundred great merits. We’ve finally suppressed Fang Yang. Heh heh." Qingfei’s face was smug, and the others around her grew cheerful as well.

However, Qingkong, the Dao Seed seated in the main chair, showed no signs of happiness.

’If it were up to me, I wouldn’t be involved in this sort of thing,’ he thought.

But ultimately, his actions revolved around the Saint ancestor’s wishes—to create an opportunity for Qing Mang to turn the tables on Fang Yang.

This was what it meant to have powerful backing.

"Ninety-eight great merits, going once." The old auctioneer, San Ya’zi, struck his stone gavel as he made the call.

"Ninety-eight great merits, going twice." San Ya’zi struck the gavel again.

「At that moment.」

Just as everyone in the venue thought the matter was settled, and even Fang Yang and his party were preparing to leave, the situation suddenly changed.

"One hundred great merits."

"One hundred great merits."

At the exact same time, bids rang out from the rooms belonging to the Sen Clan and the Chen Clan, leaving the crowd stunned.

It was a twist that no one had seen coming—not the crowd, and not even Fang Yang or Qingfei.

"What’s happening? Why are so many people fighting over the Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object?"

"Yeah, it’s bizarre. I don’t remember the Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object ever being this popular."

"I don’t get it. I don’t get it at all. The only connection I can think of is between Fang Yang of the Commander’s Order and this Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object."

"Heh, are you suggesting they’re going to buy the Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object and just give it to Fang Yang?"

"You’re thinking too much. No matter how incredible Fang Yang is, that’s impossible..."

An uproar began to build.

The storm of bids surrounding the Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object was a dazzling spectacle for the onlookers. They found the constant twists and turns highly entertaining.

It was like watching a grand play, and they were enjoying every moment.

However, for Qingfei, one of the "actors" in this play, the experience was far from pleasant.

Qingfei’s expression darkened. "One hundred and five great merits!"

Two other voices immediately followed:

"One hundred and eight great merits!"

"One hundred and ten great merits!"

Qingfei laughed. It was a laugh born of pure rage.

’Of all the times to show up! Not earlier, not later, but right when the fate of the Thunder Carp Essence Spiritual Object was about to be sealed.’

’They’re blatantly opposing us!’

Qingfei took a deep breath, about to call out an even higher price.

But unexpectedly, the Dao Seed, Qingkong, reached out and stopped her.

"We’ve done enough," Qingkong said gently. "If we keep going, it will become too conspicuous. It’s unnecessary."

Qingfei was absolutely livid.

But constrained by his status and strength, she was helpless to do anything but obey his command.

Still, she crossed her arms and glared coldly at the two rooms on either side of her, her dissatisfaction obvious.

She could throw her weight around to suppress the Fang Clan, but trying to do the same to the Chen and Sen Clans would be asking for humiliation!