As time passed, more and more people gathered in the plaza, and the atmosphere between the various factions grew increasingly tense.
Qian Daoliu of Spirit Hall watched the Clear Sky Sect's group with disdain. "A fallen sect dares to compete with Spirit Hall for Battle Skills? How utterly presumptuous!"
Tang Xiao heard Qian Daoliu's words but didn't respond. He merely tightened his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand. Strength was what mattered. Once he got his hands on the Battle Skill, he would make Spirit Hall understand that the Clear Sky Sect wasn't to be trifled with.
Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect watched the group from the Star Dou Great Forest with curiosity. "I never expected the Ferocious Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest to attend the auction. It seems the appeal of Battle Skills is enough to tempt even Soul Beasts."
Sword Douluo Chen Xin nodded. "These Ferocious Beasts are powerful. If they obtain Battle Skills, they'll grow even stronger. We'll have to be more cautious when dealing with the Star Dou Great Forest in the future."
Dugu Bo stood on the steps of the Auction House, speaking quietly with Mo Chen. Dressed in a dark robe, he was surrounded by a faint aura of Poison Battle Qi, and his face was wreathed in smiles. "Your Excellency, Mo Chen, the Battle Skills at this auction won't disappoint everyone, will they?"
Mo Chen smiled and nodded. "Rest assured, Lord Dugu Douluo. This time, the Auction Items will exceed everyone's expectations."
Dugu Bo was overjoyed, his eyes full of anticipation. This time, he had brought the Bone Gnawing Vine and exchanged it for five million Points. That would be enough not only to bid on a Battle Skill for himself, but also to get the Shadow Kill Technique for his granddaughter, Dugu Yan. Thinking of how happy she would be when she received the Battle Skill, Dugu Bo's face softened with rare tenderness.
The chatter in the plaza gradually died down as everyone turned their attention to the Auction House doors. Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance, took a deep breath, and said in unison, "Everyone, the Otherworld Auction House's grand auction is now underway! Please enter in order, and don't push!"
As soon as they finished speaking, the Auction House doors slowly swung open. A rich spiritual energy spilled out, making the Soul Masters present draw in deep breaths. The various factions entered one after another, their footsteps and conversations blending into a lively scene.
Tang Xiao led the Clear Sky Sect disciples into the Auction House. His gaze swept across the auction hall before settling on the seats in the front row, his eyes full of resolve. He was determined to win the Mountain Splitting Fist at this auction.
Qian Daoliu led the people of Spirit Hall to seats on the other side of the hall, keeping his gaze fixed on the Auction Platform, confident that victory was his.
Di Tian led the Ten Great Fierce Beasts into the auction hall and found a secluded place to sit. Yet his gaze remained fixed on Xiao Wu, clearly still scheming to get his hands on her.
Ning Fengzhi watched his daughter, Ning Rongrong, skillfully guide the guests to their seats, his face full of pride. He knew the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's future would grow brighter and brighter thanks to Rong Rong's connections at the Auction House.
Tang San sat alone in a corner of the auction hall, watching Xiao Wu bustle about, his heart heavy with conflicting feelings. He didn't know whether the distance between him and Xiao Wu would grow after this auction.
The lights in the auction hall gradually brightened, illuminating the entire Auction Platform. Everyone fell silent and turned their attention to its center, waiting for the Auctioneer to appear. An auction that would shape the balance of power on the Douluo Continent was about to begin.
Behind it all, Lin Yue sat in a second-floor private box, watching the crowd below through the window with a satisfied smile. He knew that after this auction, the Auction House would hold an even more exalted position, and the transformation of the Douluo Continent would enter a new phase.
The lights in the auction hall suddenly focused on the Auction Platform at its center. Amid a pale golden glow, Mo Chen strode onto the stage, carrying a jeweled tray in his hands and wearing a composed smile. The hall fell instantly silent. Every eye locked onto the tray, and even breathing grew cautious. At last, the much-anticipated auction was getting underway.
"Thank you all for coming from afar." Mo Chen's voice rang clearly and steadily through the Soul Tool amplifier, reaching every corner of the hall. "There are five Auction Items up for bid today. Each has been carefully selected by the Auction House, and I'm certain they'll live up to your expectations. Now, let's begin with the first item."
Mo Chen lifted the red cloth covering the tray, revealing a crystal vial. Inside was a pale purple liquid, flecked with tiny golden specks and giving off faint fluctuations of Soul Power. "The first Auction Item is Soul Ring Enhancement Fluid." Mo Chen smiled. "It's refined from a Thousand Year Spirit Beast Inner Core, Spirit Calming Grass, and over thirty other rare ingredients. It can increase the age of a Soul Master's existing Soul Ring by up to ten thousand years, with no side effects."
The hall erupted.
"Up to ten thousand years?! Did I hear that right?"
"My third Soul Ring is only five thousand years old. If I use this, it'll jump straight to fifteen thousand!"
"For young Soul Masters, this is an incredible treasure!"
Amid the commotion, Yu Tianxin of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was the first to raise his bidding paddle. His voice was urgent. "One hundred thousand Points!" The disciples behind him nodded, their eyes full of anticipation. If they could secure the vial, the young disciples of their clan would become much stronger.
"120,000 Points!" The representative from Sea God Island raised a paddle next, his tone calm but firm. The disciples of Sea God Island spent years in seclusion training, and their Soul Rings were generally of lower age, so the enhancement fluid was just as important to them.
"150,000 Points!" Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect raised his paddle with an unhurried smile. He turned to Ning Rongrong beside him, his eyes warm. Her fourth Soul Ring was only eight thousand years old. If it could be raised to eighteen thousand, her support abilities would reach a new level.
Yu Tianxin frowned and was about to raise his bid again, but an elder beside him stopped him. "150,000 Points is already over our budget. There are still Battle Skills to bid on later. We can't waste our Points here," the elder said quietly. Yu Tianxin gritted his teeth, then finally lowered his paddle.
The representative from Sea God Island hesitated for a moment, then shook his head as well. Their main target was the Battle Skills coming later; they couldn't afford to sacrifice their primary goal for a lesser prize.
"150,000 Points, once! 150,000 Points, twice! 150,000 Points, three times!" Mo Chen brought down the gavel with a heavy strike. "Congratulations to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect on winning the Soul Ring Enhancement Fluid!"
Ning Fengzhi smiled and nodded. Ning Rongrong's eyes shone with delight, and she murmured, "Thank you, Father!" Ning Fengzhi patted his daughter's hand, his face full of pride. As long as Rong Rong grew stronger, no amount of Points was too much to spend.
Mo Chen soon brought out the second Auction Item: a black wooden box. Inside lay a palm-sized ore, its surface shimmering with blue lightning and radiating a powerful aura of thunder. "The second Auction Item is Thunder Pattern Crystal," Mo Chen explained. "This ore comes from the Thunderstorm Mountain Range in the Far North. It can be incorporated into Soul Tools or weapons to greatly enhance the power of lightning-attribute Soul Skills. It's especially well suited to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Agility Attack System Soul Masters. The Starting Price is 50,000 Points, and each bid must be at least 10,000 Points higher."
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