The Forty-Fourth Auction: Five Treasures Cause Dispute (Part 2)

"700,000 points!" Qian Daoliu's voice followed immediately after, a glint of cold severity flashing through his golden eyes. Spirit Hall had many Assault System Soul Masters, but lacked high-tier combat skills to support them. If they could obtain the Mountain Splitting Art, the Worship Hall's combat strength would surely rise to another level.

Tang Xiao abruptly raised his head and looked toward Qian Daoliu's private room, his tone carrying a hint of ruthlessness. "Qian Daoliu, Spirit Hall already has plenty of resources. Can't you leave these two combat skills as a way out for the Clear Sky Sect? 800,000 points!"

"900,000 points!" Qian Daoliu raised the bid without hesitation, his voice transmitted through Soul Power and carrying unquestionable authority. "The Douluo Continent has always been a place where the strong devour the weak. Since the Clear Sky Sect has declined, it should accept the awareness of decline."

Watching this unfold below the stage, Dugu Bo quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had exchanged directly before. It was still a Yellow Tier High Grade skill, at least, so he did not have to fight until his head was bloodied like Tang Xiao and Qian Daoliu. He could not help muttering to Ning Fengzhi, "Good thing I came prepared. Otherwise, these points would probably have been squeezed dry." Ning Fengzhi smiled and nodded. "Brother Dugu was wise. Though these two combat skills are good, their value for the price ultimately cannot compare to yours."

On the Auction Platform, Tang Xiao's expression grew darker and darker. The Clear Sky Sect had brought a little over two million points in total this time. If they spent too much on two Yellow Tier Mid Grade combat skills, they would have no chance to compete for the later high-tier combat skills. Yet as he looked at the words "Mountain Splitting Art" on the scroll, he simply could not bear to give it up. This was the key to the Clear Sky Sect's resurgence.

"1,000,000 points!" Tang Xiao gritted his teeth and raised his placard, his voice slightly hoarse. "Qian Daoliu, if you raise the bid again, then even if the Clear Sky Sect spends every last point, we'll fight you to the end!"

Seated in his private room, Qian Daoliu lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers as he calculated swiftly. Spirit Hall had brought two million points this time. One million was a large sum, but still within what they could bear. He gave a cold laugh and raised his placard again. "1,200,000 points! Spirit Hall is determined to have it!"

"1.2 million?!" Cries of shock erupted from below the stage. No one had expected Qian Daoliu to be this insane. Tang Xiao looked at the remaining 500,000 points on his Point Token, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails nearly dug into his flesh. 1.2 million had already surpassed his limit. He could only lower his hand unwillingly.

Just as Mo Chen was about to bring down the hammer, Tang Xiao suddenly rose from the Clear Sky Sect's group and shouted, "Wait! 1,400,000 points! Our Clear Sky Sect is willing to use an Ancient Soul Bone from the Clear Sky Secret Realm to exchange for an additional 400,000 points. Added to the previous one million, that makes 1,400,000!"

The entire venue erupted in uproar at those words. The value of an Ancient Soul Bone far exceeded 200,000 points, yet the Clear Sky Sect was willing to take out a Soul Bone for these two combat skills! Qian Daoliu's expression instantly turned ugly. He had not expected the Clear Sky Sect to make such a desperate gamble. After hesitating for a moment, he finally shook his head. Fourteen million had already exceeded Spirit Hall's budget, and the temptation of the Ancient Soul Bone forced him to reconsider the allocation of their later resources.

"1,400,000 points, going once! 1,400,000 points, going twice! 1,400,000 points, going three times!" The wooden hammer fell. Tang Hao and Tang Xiao exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with excitement and relief. The Clear Sky Sect had finally secured a combat skill capable of supporting the sect.

As the Clear Sky Sect took possession of the two scroll combat skills, the atmosphere in the auction hall reached its peak. Mo Chen removed a black box from his Storage Soul Tool. The instant it opened, a wave of Battle Qi far surpassing that of every previous Auction Item swept through the hall. The black radiance was even streaked with faint golden patterns, causing all the Titled Douluo below the stage to instinctively release Soul Power in defense.

"Everyone, the finale Auction Item of this auction—the Yellow Tier High Grade combat skill, 'Weaken'!" Mo Chen's voice was more solemn than ever, every word seeming to carry immense weight. "This combat skill is universal to all attributes. Once activated, it has three major effects. First, it increases one's defense by 100% for ten minutes. Second, it ignores 40% of an enemy's attack damage, including some Titled Douluo soul skills. Third, centered on the user, it forms a fifty-meter-radius Weaken Domain, reducing the defense of all enemies within by 40% and their Soul Power output by 20%!"

The moment his words fell, the crowd below exploded!

"Universal to all attributes? It boosts defense by 100% and can even ignore 40% of damage? Can a Yellow Tier combat skill really have such effects?"

"A Weaken Domain! It can even reduce Soul Power output. If this were used in a group battle, it would be an utterly crushing advantage!"

"It's over. The major factions will definitely fight madly for this. We don't even have enough points to join the fun!"

Tang Xiao's grip on the Clear Sky Hammer tightened once more, his eyes filled with longing. The Weaken combat skill was more than a tier above the earlier Mountain Splitting Art. If they could obtain it, the Clear Sky Sect's defensive weakness would be completely remedied. Qian Daoliu even rose directly to his feet, golden Soul Power surging around him. Clearly, he was ready to bid.

"The Yellow Tier High Grade combat skill, 'Weaken'! Starting Price: 1,000,000 points!"

"1,500,000 points!" Qian Daoliu was the first to raise his placard, urgency in his tone. Spirit Hall had to secure this combat skill to make up for the regret of missing out on the two scrolls earlier.

"2,000,000 points!" At that moment, Di Tian's voice rang out from the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest. His rough voice carried unquestionable dominance. "The Star Dou Great Forest will have this combat skill!"

The entire venue instantly fell silent. The Star Dou Great Forest had always focused on guarding the territory of its fierce beasts and rarely participated in outside struggles. No one had expected it to directly raise the bid to two million. Qian Daoliu and Tang Xiao exchanged looks, both seeing surprise in the other's eyes. Neither of them had counted the Star Dou Great Forest among their competitors.

"2,500,000 points!" Qian Daoliu gritted his teeth and raised his placard. Spirit Hall could not lose the finale combat skill to a group of fierce beasts.

"4,000,000 points!" Di Tian's voice did not fluctuate in the slightest, as though 2.5 million were merely a trivial sum. "The Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast Inner Cores of the Star Dou Great Forest are more than enough to support our points!"

Tang Xiao looked at the remaining 300,000 points on his Point Token and shook his head helplessly. Four million had far surpassed the Clear Sky Sect's limit. He could only give up. Qian Daoliu's face, meanwhile, was livid. Spirit Hall had almost no points left, and four million was practically its entire fortune.

"4,000,000?!" The entire hall fell into dead silence, everyone too stunned by the number to speak. Five million points were enough to exchange for ten ordinary Soul Tools, or five Yellow Tier Low Grade combat skills!

Qian Daoliu looked at the Star Dou Great Forest's group outside the private room and finally lowered his hand weakly. Mo Chen looked across the hall and announced loudly, "4,000,000 points, going once! 4,000,000 points, going twice! 4,000,000 points, going three times!"

The instant the hammer fell, the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python behind Di Tian let out excited roars at the same time. With the Weaken combat skill, the fierce beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest would possess an absolute defensive advantage when facing human Soul Masters!

After the auction ended, the major factions gradually left the auction hall, each wearing a vastly different expression.

Within the Clear Sky Sect's group, Tang Hao and Tang Xiao held the Mountain Splitting Art and Sea Controlling Art scrolls, their eyes filled with excitement. Tang Xiao said gravely to the disciples, "Upon returning, immediately enter seclusion to cultivate. Within three months, someone must master the Mountain Splitting Art! With these two combat skills, the Clear Sky Sect will surely restore its former glory!" The disciples answered in unison, their voices full of exhilaration.

The atmosphere within Spirit Hall's group was oppressive. Qian Daoliu walked at the front, his face so dark it seemed ready to drip water. Ghost Douluo cautiously followed behind him. "Great Elder, although we did not obtain Weaken, the resources we secured earlier are enough to support our cultivation." Qian Daoliu gave a cold snort. "Useless! Four million points... The Star Dou Great Forest has paid a tremendous price this time. It will only become harder for us to act against the Star Dou Great Forest in the future! At the next auction, we must prepare three times as many points in advance!"

Dai Weisi of the Star Luo Empire held the Hundred-Gathering Living Storage Soul Guiding Bracelet, a satisfied smile on his face. He said to the general beside him, "This bracelet can greatly improve the army's transport capacity. Once we return, immediately distribute it to the vanguard battalion! At the next auction, we must prepare more points and strive to obtain a high-tier combat skill!"

Meanwhile, Dugu Bo appeared especially relaxed within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's group. He touched the scroll in his robes and smiled at Ning Fengzhi. "Good thing I wasn't greedy enough to fight for Weaken. I exchanged an immortal herb for this Yellow Tier High Grade combat skill and only spent 1.8 million points. Its value for the price is far better than theirs." Ning Fengzhi smiled and nodded. "Brother Dugu sees things clearly. Though it cannot compare to Weaken, it perfectly suits your poison attribute. Once you master it, your poison control ability will rise to another level."

In the private room on the second floor of the auction hall, Lin Yue watched the departing crowd below, a faint smile appearing on his lips. Mo Chen bowed and reported, "Master, this auction earned a total of eight million points—200,000 plus 2.2 million, plus five million, plus 600,000 from the other Auction Items. The Star Dou Great Forest, Clear Sky Sect, and Spirit Hall spent the most points, while the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Star Luo Empire were relatively conservative."

Lin Yue nodded, a profound gleam flashing through his eyes. "Very good. A final price of four million is enough to make every faction realize the value of high-tier combat skills. At the next auction, we will put out a Mysterious Tier combat skill. When that time comes... it will be the true test of their foundations."

Mo Chen bowed in acknowledgment, his admiration for Lin Yue's arrangements growing ever deeper. A single auction had not only harvested a massive number of points, but also gradually widened the gaps between the major factions. Meanwhile, the Auction House remained at the peak of the entire situation, controlling the desires and fates of every faction.

The winds of the Douluo Continent seemed to grow even more turbulent after this auction. The major factions' desire for high-tier combat skills and rare resources had been thoroughly ignited, and a new struggle centered around Mysterious Tier combat skills was quietly brewing.