At the start, I tricked the school beauty, and ended up with twins?

Undercurrents surged in the auction hall. By this morning, at least two-thirds of the buyers present had shown varying degrees of unrest upon seeing the Snake Head.

This also showed that most of the buyers who came to the auction this morning were here specifically for the Snake Head.

"There must be people invited by sellers in this crowd."

Chen Tian squinted his eyes and looked at the restless crowd around him, speaking softly in a voice that only Lin Huaye and Gu Yu could hear.

Having attended countless auctions, he was naturally aware of all the tricks involved.

Although many of the items at the Sofu Coin auction were from their own collection, a large portion was also consigned by external sellers.

Obviously, the Snake Head couldn't possibly belong to Sofu Coin.

If it were theirs, they would have auctioned it off long ago.

The last time the Rat Rabbit Beast appeared, it fetched a sky-high price of 31.49 million euros, and although the Huaxia buyer did not pay in the end, it showed these people the significance Huaxia people place on such items.

"Are you saying there will be people making malicious bids?"

Gu Yu observed the foreigners huddled together and whispering, carefully pondering over Mr. Chen Tian's words.

It makes sense. Opportunities to make money from Huaxia people's pockets don't come often.

The foreigners, with their utmost interest in profit, would definitely try every possible means to sell the Snake Head for a high price.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Using some underhanded tactics in the process was only too normal.

"How infuriating! We know there are traps, but we can't help but step right into them!"

Gu Yu clenched his fist tightly against his abdomen, feeling immensely angry.

"Leave the bidding to me. You two just watch Mr. Lin's skills when the time comes."

Lin Huaye smiled as he watched the young and the elderly.

This time, he was determined to fight for Huaxia!

The pressure inside him was immense!

But the passion of his national spirit had already ignited!

"The auction is about to begin. Next, let's showcase the auction item!"

Unbeknownst to everyone, the Huaxia auctioneer on stage had been replaced.

He was now a blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreign auctioneer, wearing a small top hat with a fluttering plume, his eyes shining with astute inscrutability.

At the foreign auctioneer's words, everyone stood up, pulled out their mobile phones, and aimed their cameras at the Snake Head on the stage.

And this auction was being broadcast live on various major streaming platforms.

As soon as the news of the Snake Head's appearance broke, millions of Huaxia netizens' attention was captured.

[Dou Ying-Yangxia Livestream Room]

Not part of the silent majority: "That belongs to us!"

Stand up, stand up!: "How dare the thieves! To put our Huaxia artifact in an international auction, are they openly mocking us Huaxia?"

Iron-hearted Patriot: "Everyone, be rational! These foreigners can't hear us shouting here; we can only hope for the magnates present at the venue!"

Post-00s Patriots: "Yes! All we can do is silently cheer for them here!"

Xiao Fang: "Cheer/ Balloons/ Balloons"

Just a Legend: "Cheer!"

...

At this very moment, whether it was any platform, if it was broadcasting the auction scene live, it was jam-packed with viewers.

Everyone's attention was wholly focused on the Snake Head on the high stage.

The red cloth was lifted inch by inch, and the breath of the Huaxia people seemed to stall at that moment.

First, a hint of bronze appeared, followed by the proud snake belly, and then the curved, fierce Snake Head.

The bronze scales shimmered dazzlingly; a pair of snake eyes were as spectacular as those of an ancient python.

There it stood quietly, perching on the high platform, breathing out the flexible tongue, as if it were a living being.

"It's a bamboo leaf green."

Gu Yu fixed his gaze intently on the Snake Head on the stage.

Although its shape looked slightly bloated, it was still discernible that the model of the Snake Head was the bamboo leaf green snake.

"This was designed under the supervision of the Jesuit priest Lang Shining and the Fa Country's Jiang Youren, produced by the court craftsmen, perfectly blending the aesthetic styles of both East and West,"

"From the meticulous carving of the snake head's scales and teeth, one can see the legendary skill of the court craftsmen. And looking at the snake's form and its upright posture, the Western reverence for this creature is also evident."

"Although I cannot handle it to check, just from looking at its exterior, I believe this Snake Head is very likely to be authentic."

Despite Golden Eyes confirming it as entirely genuine, Gu Yu still held back a little.

After all, since the Snake Head had never appeared before, if he declared it genuine outright, it would definitely raise suspicions among others.

"Good! With your words, I'm reassured! Mr. Lin, from now on I depend on you!"

Upon hearing Gu Yu's words, Chen Tian's spirits lifted.

Others might not believe it if they said it was most likely genuine, but coming from Gu Yu, he believed it!

Gu Yu would not deceive him!

Since the Snake Head was authentic, Chen Tian naturally had no more concerns, needing only to provide the funds to bring this item back, thereby completing his mission.

"Mr. Chen, rest assured! Today, I, Lin Huaye, will bring out all my skills to secure this Snake Head for you and for Huaxia!"

Lin Huaye nodded vigorously.

"I'm giving you a budget of ten million US dollars, bid as you please within that limit!"

After thinking it over, Chen Tian still decided to give Lin Huaye a ballpark figure.

Lin Huaye breathed a sigh of relief, the set budget giving him more confidence.

It wasn't that ten million allowed him to bid recklessly, but it clarified for him where Chen Tian's bottom line lay.

Understanding the bottom line, he could manage the bidding rhythm.

Otherwise, without a limit, he would have felt uncertain, and his bidding might abruptly be halted.

Experience tales at empire

"Ten million? That should certainly be enough!"

Lin Huaye patted his chest as he assured Chen Tian.

Chen Tian did not respond verbally, he just nodded slightly, then continued to rest with his eyes closed.

Gu Yu looked at the elderly man and silently praised him.

He truly feared that the old man, in a heat of passion, would then bid at all costs to secure the Snake Head, rashly throwing millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars!

In that case, even if the Snake Head was obtained, it would be a loss!

The reason lay in the fact that the Snake Head wasn't worth that much. If one really spent tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, it would not only fail to reclaim the dignity of the Huaxia people.

It would even cause foreigners to look down on the Huaxia people more, cementing an image of them as fools with too much money.

Although the Snake Head was significantly meaningful, it was not an exceptionally rare treasure.

Let alone ten million US dollars, even just one million US dollars far exceeded its actual value!

Otherwise, the previous incident of a bidding coalition of Snake and Rat at 31.49 million euros, rejected by the Huaxia buyer, wouldn't have occurred.

It was to tell the foreigners that Huaxia people are not fools and not easy targets.

The Twelve Zodiac Heads are only a few among the thousands of exquisite components in Yuanming Garden, possibly considered fine pieces on their own, but the whole of Yuanming Garden was filled with treasures!

If the price is fair, we will buy them back!

But if they think we are big spenders? Then they shouldn't expect good temper from us!

While Gu Yu was thinking, the auctioneer on the stage finally announced the starting price.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the opening bid for this auction is—1 million!"

The price was announced, the whole crowd was silent for three seconds, and after those seconds, a more intense discussion ensued.

"What? A starting bid of a million dollars!?"

"Why not go rob someone!?"

"How is this different from what bandits do?"

"They see us as fools?"