Chapter 71

After the auctioneer announced the start of the auction, the audience immediately became noisy, with a flurry of discussions.

"The Shiwai Taoyuan residential area, I know it well. The location is great, perfect for building a villa complex. Guan Dongping has already invested over a billion yuan there. Now, it’s being auctioned off for just one billion yuan, which is really too cheap..."

"Being cheap must have its reasons. Do you dare to buy it? It’s cheap, but you know that place is now very eerie, with many people dying there consecutively..."

"Yes, that place is now too scary. Even if you buy a house there, you can’t sell it. What’s the point of it being cheap? Are you going to keep it for yourself?"

"You’re overthinking it. I heard that even construction workers are afraid to enter that place now, and it’s impossible to complete the project. It’s so eerie that you probably wouldn’t dare to live there either..."

Everyone was discussing热烈地, but no one stepped forward to bid, not even the reserve price.

When Ye Bufan first saw the auction for the Shiwai Taoyuan residential area, he didn’t have much to think about because he didn’t have that much money at the time.

But now he had over three billion yuan in his pocket, which was a different story. If he could get this residential area, he would immediately make a profit of several times its value.

He certainly wouldn’t let such a good deal pass. Whether it was for developing traditional Chinese medicine or for future cultivation, money was always the foundation.

However, he didn’t rush to bid. He was waiting for the first person to make a bid.

It was obvious that something was amiss with the Shiwai Taoyuan residential area. The person who stepped forward to take over was likely the one behind the scenes. Once he took over the area, he would have to find out who that person was.

After waiting for a long time, no one participated in the bidding, and the auctioneer became anxious. After all, this was a major auction worth over a billion yuan, and she didn’t want it to fail.

She said, "Ladies and gentlemen, what’s there to hesitate about? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"One billion yuan to own a super luxury residential area, this is absolutely a highly profitable deal. Opportunity knocks but once, and it won’t come again..."

However, no matter how she promoted and encouraged, the audience remained indifferent. After all, in high society, the story of the Shiwai Taoyuan residential area had already spread widely.

Many were interested, but none had the courage to take it over.

At this moment, a middle-aged man stood up and bowed to the audience, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Guan Dongping. The Shiwai Taoyuan residential area was built by me.

"I, Guan, can assure you with all my heart that the construction quality of this residential area is flawless. The initial investment has already cost over a billion yuan. Whoever buys it will only gain, not lose.

"If it weren’t for the broken capital chain, I wouldn’t have to put it up for auction. Whoever buys this residential area will be doing me a great favor, and I will be eternally grateful!"

Ye Bufan sized up Guan Dongping. He was a middle-aged man in his forties, without the arrogance and extravagance of other tycoons. Instead, he looked honest and sincere.

His words were heartfelt, and his expression was anxious, clearly eager to sell the residential area.

Although many sympathized with Guan Dongping, in the business world, sympathy was one thing, and profit was another. No one would take the risk of buying the residential area, knowing it would be a dead investment.

Just when everyone thought no one would buy it, and the auctioneer was about to declare it a failure, a voice suddenly said, "Since Mr. Guan is in trouble, our Luo family will help out.

"After all, everyone faces difficulties at some point. More friends mean more paths."

The speaker was Luo Wentao, who raised his bidding paddle and said, "I bid one billion yuan."

"Mr. Luo is a good man. He’s the one who helps out in critical moments..."

"Generous, Mr. Luo is truly generous. If he hadn’t stepped in, Guan Dongping wouldn’t have been able to sell it..."

"What do you know? The Luo family has Master Xuanyi behind them. They have the capability to help. I’d like to help too, but do I have the courage?"

Seeing that someone had finally bid, Guan Dongping said gratefully, "Mr. Luo, I thank you!"

Luo Wentao waved his hand and said, "We’re all in the same circle. Helping out a little is nothing."

Ye Bufan frowned slightly. He had long suspected that the Shiwai Taoyuan residential area was related to Master Xuanyi. Now that Luo Wentao had stepped in, his suspicion was almost confirmed.

Putting all the pieces together, it was easy to see the pattern.

First, Master Xuanyi had intimidated Guan Dongping when he took over the residential area. Then, when the construction was almost complete and the investment was almost finished, they set up a Yin-Yang Gathering Array there.

This made the Shiwai Taoyuan residential area a place no one dared to enter, allowing them to easily take over the project.

It was easy to guess what would happen next. Master Xuanyi would use his influence to eliminate the negative impact and restore the sales of the Shiwai Taoyuan residential area.

At that time, the Luo family would only need to invest a little money but would make a huge profit. All of Guan Dongping’s previous investments and efforts would have been for their benefit.

Unfortunately, only he could see through this. Guan Dongping was still overwhelmed with gratitude.

Seeing that someone had finally stepped in to take over, the auctioneer sighed with relief and raised her auction hammer, saying, "Mr. Luo has bid one billion yuan. Is there anyone else who wants to bid..."

She said this, but in her heart, she was already certain that no one else would bid. Apart from the Luo family, who else would dare to take over such an eerie residential area?

Others thought the same. Luo Wentao had the backing of Master Xuanyi, but they didn’t have a powerful mentor behind them.

"One billion yuan, once. One billion yuan, twice..."

Just as the auctioneer was about to finalize the bid, a hint of satisfaction appeared on Luo Wentao’s lips. But at that moment, Ye Bufan raised his bidding paddle: "I bid 1.5 billion yuan!"

Qin Chuchu, sitting beside him, had been thinking about how to persuade Ye Bufan to give the small bottle to Master Xuanyi.

Seeing him bid on the residential area, she said in surprise, "Xiao Fan, what are you doing? That place is very eerie. Why are you bidding on it?"

Others were also quite surprised. They didn’t expect anyone to dare to bid against Mr. Luo. When they saw it was Ye Bufan, the atmosphere in the room immediately became lively.

"Who is this young man? He’s challenging Mr. Luo one after another. What does he want?"

"Is he trying to provoke him? But even if you have money, you shouldn’t spend it like this. He just bid 1.5 billion yuan..."

Luo Wentao’s expression darkened instantly. This guy had just taken away what Master Xuanyi wanted, and now he was bidding on this residential area. It seemed he was determined to go all the way.

He turned to look at Ye Bufan and said, "What are you trying to do?"

Ye Bufan replied calmly, "This is an auction. Of course, I’m participating in the bidding. Are you saying Mr. Luo doesn’t want others to bid?"

Luo Wentao suppressed his anger and said coldly, "Do you know what’s going on with the Shiwai Taoyuan residential area? Do you think anyone can take it over?

"I’m giving you a chance. Withdraw your bid. Otherwise, even if you buy it, it won’t do you any good. Our Luo family won’t be so kind as to take it over for you."