Bind to the collection system, I became a national treasure

Light the sky lantern!

These three words are a highly symbolic act in the auction house. It means that no matter how the opponent raises the price, the lamplighter will not hesitate to follow the price until he gets the item he wants.

This behavior not only demonstrates the economic strength of the person who lit the lamp, but also reveals a domineering and determined attitude to win.

This gesture rarely appears in auctions hosted by Chen Ling. It's not because she hosts fewer auctions, but because the auctions she hosts are basically top-tier in the industry. This also means that the prices of the items are also top-tier in the industry, so basically no buyer has the strength and courage to light a sky lantern.

That's why Chen Ling asked a second time to confirm whether she had misunderstood. After the staff gave her a confirmation signal, she calmed down a little and continued to host with a smile.

"VIP No. 666, I'm initiating a sky lantern lighting event! The default bid increment is 100 million. Are there any other VIPs who would like to increase their bid?"

"Wow..."

As Chen Ling's voice fell, the uproar almost broke through the dome, and many peripheral buyers even took out their mobile phones and started taking pictures.

"It really is a sky lantern! I didn't dare to confirm it just now!"

"Whose daughter is this? She's so domineering! I've finally opened my eyes today!"

"It's my first time lighting a sky lantern at an auction jointly hosted by several world-class auction houses. It was worth the trip, it was worth it, hahahaha."

......

Everyone was talking about it, with expressions of amazement, shock, and speculation. Bai Xi and the other two once again became the focus of the whole event.

Facing the attention of the whole audience, Bai Xi just drank his coffee silently. He was still a little nervous, but with the experience from last time as a foundation, he felt much better this time.

Many sellers who had originally planned to participate in the auction looked at each other and left sadly. The original price of 8600 million was almost close to their psychological expectations, and now Bai Xi's move could only be said to have completely shattered their fantasies.

"9000 million!"

Just as the scene was boiling for dozens of seconds and the auctioneer began the countdown to the hammer, an old man in front of Bai Xi's left hesitated for a while and finally chose to raise the number plate in his hand again.

According to professional evaluation, the estimated value of the Yuewang Buguang Sword should be between HK$5000 million and HK$9000 million. Anything above that may be a personal preference and cultural premium. The old man has given a ceiling price.

After putting down the number plate, the old man couldn't help but look back at Bai Xi. The girl looked calm.

Valuation?

What it is?

When others bid, in addition to subjective factors of preference, they also have to consider the collection value, appreciation space, capital chain pressure, resale value, etc. But for Bai Xi, all of the above are not within her consideration range at all.

As long as the system overlord's mission can be completed, these costs are nothing.

What's more, this may be related to whether Bai Xi can realize her wish of making her motherland strong, so it is even more impossible for her to let go.

"9500 million!"

Before the auctioneer could call out a bid, a middle-aged man standing behind Bai Xi on the right also followed suit. They were the only two people in the room who had the confidence to make another bid.

"This is my bottom line. If you continue to follow me, this treasure will be yours."

After the man finished quoting the price, he looked towards Bai Xi, raised the red wine glass in his hand, and spoke loudly.

Upon hearing this, Bai Xi just smiled slightly, picked up the wine glass and took a sip, nodded to him, and then turned around to signal the auctioneer.

The auctioneer immediately understood and continued to count down for her bidding.

"VIP No. 666, bids 100 million! Are there any other VIPs who would like to increase their bid?"

"This is the first time I've offered 100 million!"

......

"boom!"

"Congratulations to VIP No. 666 for successfully bidding on the Yue King's Unbright Sword for HK$100 million! Congratulations!"

As the auctioneer's hammer fell, applause like a tide slowly rang out at the scene.

The transaction amount was a full HK$100 million, which is enough to rank among the top ten even in global auctions in the past decade.

For such a wonderful auction, everyone gave their applause generously, not only because of their admiration for Bai Xi's domineering lighting of the sky lantern, but also because of their respect for her behavior of raising the price by 500 million at the last moment.

At the last moment, the middle-aged man directly quoted his bottom line price.

After learning about the other party's reserve price, Bai Xi did not choose to increase the price by 1 million by default, but directly signaled the auctioneer to increase the price by 5 million, giving the other party the greatest respect with a hammer price of 100 million.

"Clap clap clap..."

The applause at the scene was thunderous and lasted for a long time.

Auctioneer Chen Ling was tactful enough not to interrupt this lively scene. This was Bai Xi's moment of honor. For the luxury service industry where customers are paramount, especially auction houses, keeping their important customers happy is their core principle.

It took a full two minutes for the scene to calm down.

Chen Ling quickly knocked the auction hammer in his hand, indicating that the next heavyweight item was about to appear.

"Dear guests, the next item to be presented is the grand finale of our auction."

"The finale of this auction, lot 42, is the Xibo Jifu Plate from the Western Zhou Dynasty, also known as the Xijia Plate!"

finally come!

Bai Xi cheered up. This was the bronze artifact that she thought was most likely to complete the task, and it was also the most important goal today.

The Xijia Plate is named after its maker, Xijia, whose courtesy name was Jifu, also known as Jifu, and whose bronze inscriptions read Xijia and Xibojifu.

It is the only bronze ware from the Shang and Zhou dynasties unearthed between the Han and Song dynasties that has survived to this day. It was once in the collection of the Southern Song court and was also collected by Xian Yushu, a renowned calligrapher of the Yuan Dynasty, and Chen Jieqi, a renowned epigrapher of the Qing Dynasty.

The inscription has 133 characters, recording the history of King Xuan of Zhou, the penultimate king of the Western Zhou Dynasty. It is one of the bronze artifacts with the most characters, the highest level and the heaviest weight in the domestic auction market.

According to historical records, Xi Jia, the master of the Qi, was a military strategist, statesman, and great poet of his time, a master of both civil and military skills. He was the principal compiler of the Book of Songs, preserving and promoting early Chinese culture and is considered the "ancestor of poetry."

The famous scholar Wang Guowei once said: "This kind of important instrument is enough to support the classics and history, and it is even better than Mao Gong's other tripods!"

Its value is immeasurable, it is truly a national treasure!"

"The starting price for this lot is HK$100 million, and each bid increment must not be less than HK$5 million!"

As the auctioneer's increasingly passionate voice fell, the large screen at the back also showed the actual photos and corresponding introduction of this national treasure.

The Xi Jia Plate is currently 11.7 cm high and 47 cm in diameter.

The dish has an open, shallow belly, a narrow, square lip, and a slightly concave inner bottom. A pair of attached handles protrude above the dish's mouth, each connected to the rim by a pair of horizontal beams. The foot is incomplete. The belly is decorated with a "Qiuqu" pattern, and the inside and outside of the handles are decorated with heavy ring patterns, creating a simple and unadorned look.

The shape and decoration of the Xi Jia Plate are simple, but the long inscription of 133 characters on its bottom is very rich in content and extremely valuable.

The inscription not only records the war between the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Xianyun, the tribute relationship with the Southern Huaiyi, but also the orders ordering the princes and people to trade, etc. It can be regarded as a very important historical document.

......

Just as everyone was about to start bidding, Chen Ling clapped his hands:

"In order to allow our distinguished guests to better appreciate this national treasure, the persons in charge of this art exhibition have decided to present the Xi Jia Plate to the stage for your enjoyment."

As soon as he finished speaking, several staff members and security personnel came to the front of the stage pushing a cart covered with a red cloth. The anger at the scene was even more intense, and everyone's fiery eyes were instantly focused on the red cloth.

But as the red cloth was lifted, bursts of exclamations were heard at the scene.

Because the glass display case under the red cloth...

It turned out to be empty!