The Auction Begins! Qian Renxue's Gaze

Stepping through the doors of the auction house, two attendants respectfully greeted them and led "Xue Qinghe" and his entourage to the most luxurious, best-viewing royal exclusive box on the second floor.

Su Ling ignored the opulent decorations around him. As soon as he entered the box, he walked straight to the massive, one-way crystal floor-to-ceiling window.

His gaze penetrated the specially made glass, precisely locking onto a large cage covered by a black cloth behind the auction stage below.

He seemed to have shed all his strength, yet also as if he had found his sole target. His body leaned forward slightly, hands propped on the cool surface of the crystal window.

Qian Renxue waved her hand, dismissing all the attendants. The heavy box door completely sealed them off from the outside.

Looking at Su Ling's back, precariously balanced yet straight as a pine tree, propped against the window, and at the dark red bloodstains silently dripping from the hem of his black robe, she felt an invisible hand clench her heart fiercely.

The image of him lying in a pool of blood in her past life overlapped with the present, and that bone-deep fear instantly overwhelmed her reason.

She suppressed the urge to rush forward, speaking in a tone that was slightly concerned but maintained a distance: "Your injuries are severe. This place is noisy and crowded, which is not conducive to rest."

"The auction house has strict security. Why do you need to come in person?"

Her gaze swept casually over his bloodstained back, her fingertips pinching painfully beneath her wide robe sleeves.

"It's none of your business."

Su Ling's voice was hoarse and low, carrying a chilling coldness that pushed people away and the pain he was desperately enduring. He didn't even turn his head.

He tossed a jade bottle containing the Soul Enlightenment Pill to Qian Renxue.

He knew that as the behind-the-scenes controller of the auction, the Imperial Family must already know that he was the one consigning this item.

Helping him now was merely an exchange for benefits.

These cold four words were like poisoned needles, accurately piercing Qian Renxue's heart.

The pain was sharp and clear, but the gentle mask of the Crown Prince on her face remained unmoved.

She held the Soul Enlightenment Pill in her hand, silently walked to a soft chair on the other side, and sat down, her eyes reddening as she stared at Su Ling's back.

"What kind of gaze is this guy giving me?"

Su Ling's eyes twitched, and he felt a wave of discomfort.

Having a grown man staring at him from behind with such an almost obsessive gaze gave him the urge to punch the other person's eyes out.

But remembering Qian Renxue's terrifying combat power in his First Life, and the fact that he was currently insignificant trash, Su Ling could only suppress this discomfort.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the auction hall below had been completely ignited.

The auctioneer, with highly inflammatory language, described the effects of the Soul Enlightenment Pill as if it were a divine miracle:

"...Purify Marrow and Cleanse Meridians, defying heaven to change fate! Innate Soul Power insufficient? Martial Soul quality mediocre? Soul injured? Physical foundation unstable? One Soul Enlightenment Pill, solve it all!"

"Verified by the Imperial Family's authority, a Slave with Innate Soul Power level one took it and immediately broke through to the peak of Innate Full Soul Power, with a beneficial mutation in their Martial Soul!"

"Such a Divine Pill that defies creation has only nine precious pieces left in existence! Miss this chance, and it's gone forever!"

"Starting bid... one million Gold Soul Coin! Each bid must not be less than one hundred thousand!"

The entire venue erupted in an uproar!

After a brief silence, it was followed by a volcanic surge of fervor.

"One point two million!" A Noble's private box lit up first, shouting a bid.

"One point five million!"

"Two million! Box number three bids two million!"

"Two point three million!"

The price soared at an astonishing speed, each bid accompanied by gasps of amazement and sharp intakes of breath from the crowd.

Gold Soul Coins here seemed to have become cheap numbers.

Inside box number 6, where the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was located.

Ning Rongrong tugged urgently at Ning Fengzhi's sleeve: "Daddy! Buy it! Buy it no matter how expensive! I feel my Light Feather Divine Bow still has room for improvement! And... and..."

She thought of Su Ling lying in a pool of blood, the latter half of the sentence "maybe it can save him" stuck in her throat, her face flushing slightly.

Ning Fengzhi's eyes were solemn, and he raised a hand to stop his daughter: "Rongrong, don't be foolish. Your aptitude and Martial Soul are already top-tier in the world. This pill's effect on you is minimal."

He naturally knew Ning Rongrong's little thoughts.

She was probably having a Love Brain episode, wanting to give the Soul Enlightenment Pill to her Companions from Shrek.

But that was two point eight million Gold Soul Coin!

Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, as wealthy as they were, couldn't afford such extravagance.

However, the moment Ning Fengzhi hesitated, the price had already soared to three million.

By now, more than half of the bidders had dropped out, leaving only a few top forces still competing.

He turned to Chen Xin and Gu Rong, and said in a low voice: "If this pill's efficacy is truly so heaven-defying, we must acquire it for research. At the very least... we need to figure out where it came from."

Bone Douluo Gu Rong couldn't stand seeing Ning Rongrong's wronged expression and said sternly: "Fengzhi, since Rongrong wants it so much, just get her one! Aren't money meant to be spent?"

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi didn't even want to look at Gu Rong.

If over 3 million was really going to be wasted on this dead girl.

He felt he would be so angered in death that he would jump out of his coffin.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin's sharp gaze swept over Xiao Wu in the crowd below, his brow furrowed slightly. He transmitted his voice secretly: "Fengzhi, more than the pills, I'm more concerned about that girl named Xiao Wu."

"I didn't examine her closely during the chaos at the Su Family before. This strange aura on her now... is definitely not from a human Soul Master. It's more like... a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form." His voice carried a hint of certainty.

Ning Fengzhi's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. He took a deep look at Xiao Wu below, a hint of solemnity and calculation flashing in his eyes. He also transmitted his voice: "Uncle Jian, this matter is no small thing. The fewer people who know, the better. It's not too late to make a move after we leave the auction."

"It's Rongrong..." Sword Douluo hesitated slightly. After all, Rongrong had a good relationship with that Xiao Wu. A rash move might hurt her feelings.

Ning Fengzhi sighed softly, looking at his daughter with a complex gaze: "Rongrong is still young, she doesn't understand some things. But once she obtains the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone and Soul Ring, she will naturally understand our good intentions."

Ning Rongrong, who had been acting spoiled and cute in Ning Fengzhi's arms, instantly froze when her Mental Power caught their transmitted voices.

She suddenly looked up, staring at her father in disbelief, her eyes filled with shock and resistance.

"Daddy! You can't—" she almost screamed, but Ning Fengzhi covered her mouth.

"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect bids three million seven hundred thousand. Please give us some face, everyone."

Ning Fengzhi's steady voice was transmitted throughout the venue via the amplifying Soul Tool, while he subtly pressed his daughter back into her seat.

Ning Rongrong struggled violently under his palm, tears streaming down her face, but could only let out muffled whimpers.

The auctioneer excitedly struck the gavel: "Three million seven hundred thousand once! Three million seven hundred thousand twice! Are there any higher bids?"

The entire venue was silent.

This price had already exceeded the affordability of most forces. Moreover, they really had to give face to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Three million seven hundred thousand thrice! Sold!" The gavel fell heavily. "Congratulations to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for obtaining the first Soul Enlightenment Pill!"