After seeing Ning Fengzhi off, Lin Yue returned to the top-floor loft and opened the System Panel. The notice, "The Star Dou Soul Beast Clan's trust has increased to 60%," stood out on the panel. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he swiped a finger across it and brought up Gu Yuena's profile. After this auction, her trust in the Auction House had risen considerably, leaving far more room for future cooperation.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest, Gu Yuena sat upon the Ice Crystal Throne, gazing at the Thousand Year Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Beast Egg Di Tian had brought back. Under the nourishment of her Soul Power, the icy patterns on the shell had grown brighter. A faint heartbeat could just barely be heard from within.
"Excellent." A note of satisfaction entered Gu Yuena's voice. "This Soul Beast Egg can not only strengthen our clan, but also help us better understand the Auction House's capabilities. Di Tian, you did well this time."
"I merely followed Master's orders," Di Tian replied, bowing. "By the way, Master, Lin Yue mentioned at the auction that the system would soon issue a 'Cross-Faction Resource Sharing' quest. Do you think we should take part?"
Gu Yuena lightly tapped the armrest of the throne, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. "Resource sharing... This could be an opportunity. An alliance between human factions may not necessarily be bad for our Soul Beast Clan. Keep a close eye on the quest's details. If the conditions are right, the Star Dou Soul Beast Clan can participate as well."
"Yes!" Di Tian bowed in acknowledgment.
Gu Yuena turned her gaze back to the Soul Beast Egg, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes. She had originally thought the Auction House was merely an ordinary venue for trading treasures. But the more she learned about it, the more she realized that Lin Yue and his Auction House were far more mysterious and powerful than she had imagined. This man and the force behind him might truly be able to change the balance of power on Douluo Continent—and perhaps even change the fate of the Soul Beast Clan.
Meanwhile, inside the Pope's Palace of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong was reading the auction report Yue Guan had sent back. When she saw, "The Star Dou Soul Beast Clan bought the Thousand Year Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Beast Egg for 160,000 Points," a cold glint flashed in her eyes. "I never expected the Soul Beast Clan to start taking the Auction House seriously as well. Yue Guan, at the next auction, no matter what, make sure Spirit Hall secures at least one high-value treasure."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Pope!" Yue Guan replied with a bow. "We've already prepared ample resources. I won't let you down."
Bibi Dong waved for Yue Guan to leave. She walked to the window and gazed toward the Auction House, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. Lin Yue, Gu Yuena, the Star Dou Soul Beast Clan... More and more people and factions were being swept into the Auction House's vortex. The peace of Douluo Continent had been utterly shattered, and she had to seize the advantage for Spirit Hall in the midst of this storm.
The auction of the Thousand Year Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Beast Egg had not only brought the Star Dou Soul Beast Clan a rich haul, but also made every major faction realize that the Soul Beast Clan had officially become an important participant in the Auction House. Lin Yue knew this was only the beginning. With the release of the "Cross-Faction Resource Sharing" quest, the balance of power on Douluo Continent would undergo even more dramatic changes. And he would be the one controlling them.
Countless Night Pearls were set into the dome of Spirit Hall's Worship Hall. Their soft light spilled over the enormous Angel Statue, yet did nothing to dispel the heaviness in the air. Qian Daoliu sat on the Golden Seat beneath the statue, silver hair falling over his shoulders, an elusive divine aura lingering around him. As Spirit Hall's Great Elder and the successor to the Angel God Inheritance, he had not paid such close attention to events beyond Spirit Hall for a long time—not until Bibi Dong personally visited that mysterious Auction House three times in a row.
"Great Elder, Her Majesty the Pope has returned from the Auction House. She did not bid on any high-value Auction Items this time. She exchanged only 50,000 Points and requested a Private Auction Room." A Worshipper bowed as he reported, his tone cautious. Since the Auction House had appeared, Pope Bibi Dong's attention had clearly shifted. She had even drawn on Spirit Hall's reserves to exchange for Points, making several elders of the Worship Hall uneasy.
Qian Daoliu lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips, his gaze resting on the Angel Statue outside the hall. His voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority. "Bibi Dong has always acted with restraint. If she's taking the Auction House so seriously, there must be treasures there worth competing for on Spirit Hall's behalf. But... the Auction House's owner, Lin Yue, and the two powerful individuals under him remain an unknown quantity."
After a pause, he continued, "Golden Crocodile, go to the perimeter of the Auction House and assess the strength of those two. Remember, test them, but do not fight."
At the side of the hall, a burly old man in golden armor slowly rose to his feet. He was the Second Worship of Spirit Hall's Worship Hall, Golden Crocodile Douluo—a level 98 Super Douluo, just one step away from becoming a Peerless Douluo. Golden Crocodile Douluo bowed. "Understood. If those two aren't strong enough, should I..."
"No need." Qian Daoliu cut him off. "The Auction House has drawn the attention of the major factions in such a short time. It's clearly more than it appears. If they really are powerful, acting rashly will only make an enemy of them. Our foremost priority is to obtain the Auction House's treasures, not to invite unnecessary trouble."
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded and strode out of the Worship Hall. Soul Power quietly stirred around him. The golden crocodile Martial Soul shimmered across his body before he shot off toward the Auction House like a streak of golden light.
At that moment, outside the Auction House, Mo Chen stood beneath an ancient tree with his eyes closed, regulating his breathing. As Lin Yue's chief subordinate, he was responsible for protecting the Auction House and monitoring the movements of nearby factions. Ever since the fourth auction had ended, he had sensed that more and more forces were watching the Auction House from the shadows—including top powers like Spirit Hall.
Suddenly, a powerful wave of Soul Power swept over from afar, carrying a hint of provocation. Mo Chen slowly opened his eyes and looked toward its source, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Someone had finally decided to make a move.
A moment later, Golden Crocodile Douluo appeared on a distant hillside. He looked at Mo Chen standing beneath the ancient tree, surprise flickering in his eyes. The man looked middle-aged and showed no trace of Soul Power leaking from him, yet there was something unfathomable about him. He seemed even more intimidating than any Titled Douluo Golden Crocodile Douluo had ever encountered.
"Are you the Auction House's guardian?" Golden Crocodile Douluo called out, his voice carrying a note of authority. "I'm Golden Crocodile Douluo of Spirit Hall. I've come today to see what you can do."
Mo Chen did not rise. Still leaning against the ancient tree, he replied evenly, "Someone from Spirit Hall? If you want to test my strength, that's fine. But the fifty-mile perimeter around the Auction House is a safe zone where fighting is prohibited. If you want to spar, follow me beyond the safe zone."
A flicker of surprise crossed Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes, then he nodded. "Very well! I'll go with you." He wanted to see what gave this seemingly ordinary middle-aged man such confidence.
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