Kingdom chuckled, changing the subject. "By the way, Brother Zhi Tian, I know you're looking for something, and it's on the small floating island."
Ming Zhi Tian lay back on the recliner. "I came for it."
Kingdom nodded. "So you already knew it was here. However, this is a good opportunity. I heard the Tian Hai family is putting this item up for auction at the international exhibition. Do you know what that means?"
Ming Zhi Tian shook his head. Kingdom continued, "It means we're going to get it, no matter what. Although there will be competition from various countries, as long as it's something Brother Zhi Tian wants, I doubt they'll have the financial means."
Ming Zhi Tian shook his head again, thinking, "Kingdom is still too young. He doesn't know that there's always someone better, and that throughout history, conflict has never lacked for wealth."
Soon, they arrived at the international exhibition. After Kingdom presented the invitation, the four entered.
The hall was filled with art exhibition halls from various countries, displaying numerous high-priced collectibles: the headless lion of the Alps, the Turkish rainbow diamond, the hyena with a lost tail from [Country Name], and ancient Chinese artifacts like the Buddha's Hand... and so on.
There were also various sets of antiques, such as collections of Buddha statues, bodies, and feet. Although they were incomplete fragments, they were still priceless. As long as one had the money, anything they fancied could be bid on at the auction.
Kingdom and his companions were assigned to table number 13. Each table had several photo albums containing the items to be auctioned.
Ming Zhi Tian naturally wasn't interested in these. Besides antiques, there were also plots of land and old shops and residences up for auction.
"Ding ding!" The auction began. A beautiful female host stepped onto the stage and said into the microphone, "Welcome, distinguished guests, to our international exhibition. The auction officially begins. We have recently acquired many rare treasures. Without further ado, please welcome the first item of today's auction."
A young woman in a qipao, with an S-shaped figure, elegantly carried a birdcage onto the stage. With a professional smile, she placed the cage on the auction table.
Inside was a palm-sized, colorful bird, very lively, with a crisp and pleasant chirping sound.
The host introduced the bird: "This Rainbow Cuckoo is a globally limited rare new species, with only ten in existence. This is one of them. Its starting bid is one hundred thousand gold coins, with each subsequent bid no less than ten thousand gold coins."
Immediately, someone raised a paddle. "One hundred and ten thousand."
The host smiled. "This gentleman bids one hundred and ten thousand gold coins..."
"One hundred and twenty thousand!"
The host turned to another side. "This lady bids one hundred and twenty thousand gold coins..."
"I bid thirteen thousand... I bid fifteen thousand!..."
The bidding continued to escalate. A man in white clothes, holding a paddle, said, "This is taking too long, I bid five hundred thousand directly..."
There were still people bidding. Good heavens, in the end, the man in white won the Rainbow Cuckoo for eight hundred and twenty thousand gold coins.
The host smiled broadly and struck the gavel three times. "Eight hundred and twenty thousand, first time, second time, sold! Congratulations to this gentleman for acquiring the Rainbow Cuckoo!"
The audience politely applauded, offering congratulations. Seeing this, Ming Zhi Tian also clapped.
The initial momentum was set, and the auction atmosphere immediately heated up. Then came the second, third, ... eighth item, all of which were successfully bid upon.
Ming Zhi Tian yawned. It wasn't until the twelfth item that what everyone had been waiting for, the national treasure of [Country Name], appeared.
Two assistants carried a long spear in a long case. The spear was silver-gray, two meters long, a cold weapon exuding an imposing aura.
The female host introduced, "The next item is priceless. It is the national treasure of [Country Name], the Rainbow Spear..."