Yue Guan didn't hesitate. "Spirit Hall is willing to trade another 50,000 points and apply for a basic Private Auction Room." The Spirit Hall disciples behind him immediately stepped forward and presented the resources they had prepared in advance.
Tang Xiao wasn't about to fall behind either. Though he hadn't won the bid for the Experience Card, he knew how important a Private Auction Room was. He immediately decided to trade for 50,000 points and apply for one on behalf of the Clear Sky Sect. The Auction House soon grew lively again as many factions chose to trade resources for points, all hoping to claim one of the Private Auction Room slots.
Lin Yue watched the points on the System Panel continue to climb, finally stopping at 320,000. His smile deepened. Unlocking the Private Auction Room would not only increase his point revenue, but also make the major factions more dependent on the Auction House. After all, none of them wanted their trump cards exposed to their rivals.
Meanwhile, in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, Gu Yuena listened to Di Tian's report. When she heard that the "Soul Douluo Experience Card" had sold for 80,000 points and that the Auction House had unlocked Private Auction Rooms, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. "This Lin Yue really is extraordinary. It seems the Star Dou Soul Beast Clan should prepare some decent resources of its own to trade for points."
Di Tian bowed. "I'll make the preparations at once. I won't let the human factions get ahead of us."
Gu Yuena nodded slightly and gazed toward the Auction House, her fingers unconsciously tracing the sleeve of her robe. She had a faint premonition that this mysterious Auction House, and the man named Lin Yue, would completely change the balance of power across the Douluo Continent. Her connection with Lin Yue had only just begun.
At the same time, in the Pope's Palace of Spirit Hall, she gently tapped the armrest of her chair. The 80,000-point sale price had been within her expectations, but the "Glazed Lamp Fragment" offered by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had surprised her. "Ning Fengzhi is willing to pay a steep price. It seems Spirit Hall will have to bring out some real treasures for the next auction."
She looked out the window, her gaze seeming to pierce through space and land on the Auction House. "Lin Yue... just how many secrets are you hiding? I'm looking forward to seeing what surprises you'll bring to the next auction."
The auction of the Soul Douluo Experience Card had not only brought the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a handsome reward, but also made factions like Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect realize how important points were. It had also paved the way for the rollout of Private Auction Rooms. Lin Yue knew this was only the beginning. As the point system improved and more valuable Auction Items appeared, the balance of power across the Douluo Continent would gradually undergo a dramatic transformation under his control.
The morning mist still clung to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. The damp air carried the smell of rotting leaves and soil as Tang San clutched the cord around the Clear Sky Hammer at his waist, his knuckles whitening with the force of his grip. Behind him, the Shrek's Seven Devils trudged along wearily. They had set out at dawn and had been wandering through the forest for two hours, yet they hadn't even spotted a single Thousand Year Spirit Beast.
"Xiao San, you really want to look for a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast?" Dai Mubai wiped the sweat from his forehead, the aura of his White Tiger Martial Soul flickering faintly within him. "The Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts around the outskirts either hide well or have vicious tempers. We've all reached Soul Ancestor, but if we have to fight one head-on..."
"We have to find one." Tang San cut him off, his voice urgent and firm. "At the Third Auction, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect spent 80,000 points on the Soul Douluo Experience Card, and Spirit Hall even traded for the qualification to use a Private Auction Room. We don't have nearly enough points—not even enough to meet the Starting Price at the next auction!"
He wasn't wrong. The first two auctions had earned Shrek Academy only 30,000 points, and even that had come from Oscar trading ten Ten Thousand Year sausages and Ning Rongrong offering an heirloom Crystal Pendant. They hadn't even managed to get the "Hundred Year Soul Ring Extraction Liquid." Now that the Auction House had unlocked Private Auction Rooms, everyone knew the items up for sale would only become more precious. Without enough points, they would only fall further and further behind.
Ning Rongrong bit her lip and said softly, "But Teacher Yu Xiaogang said the Auction House checks whether resources are 'legitimate.' If we hunt Soul Beasts that haven't provoked anyone, would that count as..."
"Count as what?" Tang San spun around, a flicker of agitation in his eyes. "Soul Beasts are a Soul Master's opportunity! Are we supposed to wait until everyone else has auctioned off the treasures, then cling to our 'principles' and starve?"
His words struck a nerve. Lately, Spirit Hall disciples had been breaking through one after another with the Auction House's "Soul Power Refining Pills," while Bone Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect seemed close to advancing. Only Shrek Academy was still standing still. Oscar clenched the sausage pouch at his waist but said nothing more. He wanted to win a "Physique Strengthening Pill" too, so he wouldn't keep holding the team back.
They continued deeper into the forest for about half an hour. Suddenly, they caught a faint, fishy smell. Tang San immediately raised a hand for everyone to stop, and Blue Silver Grass spread out silently. A moment later, his eyes lit up. "There's a Ten Thousand Year Jade Phosphor Purple Scorpion in the pool ahead!"
The Jade Phosphor Purple Scorpion's Soul Bone was renowned for its poison and control abilities. According to the Auction House's previous assessment, a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone could be traded for at least 30,000 points. Dai Mubai immediately grew excited and drew the White Tiger Dagger. "I'll keep it occupied from the front. Oscar, get the Recovery Sausages ready. Rong Rong, boost everyone!"
The group quickly took their positions. Tang San circled around to the other side of the pool, and his Blue Silver Grass snaked toward the water. Just as it was about to ensnare the Jade Phosphor Purple Scorpion's tail stinger, a dark figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the pool.
The newcomer wore a robe patterned with dark designs. There wasn't the slightest trace of Soul Power around him, yet the surface of the entire pool seemed to freeze in an instant—not in the literal sense, but under the weight of his presence, as if even the air had been pressed breathless.
"Who are you?" Tang San gripped the Clear Sky Hammer and stared warily at the newcomer. He could tell this man's aura was far stronger than Chrysanthemum Douluo's or Ghost Douluo's. It even reminded him of the legends surrounding the Worship Hall of Spirit Hall.
"Mo Chen of the Auction House." His voice was calm and even, yet his words landed on everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. "The Auction House has one rule: we only accept legitimate resources. Anything obtained through plunder is rejected."
"Plunder?" Tang San frowned. "Hunting Soul Beasts for Soul Bones is a Soul Master's duty. How is that plunder?"
Mo Chen glanced at the Jade Phosphor Purple Scorpion trembling beneath the surface. Though it had cultivated for ten thousand years, it was now like a frightened rabbit, not daring to show even its tail stinger. "This beast has developed intelligence and never attacked humans. You're the ones hunting it, so this is plunder."
"Nonsense!" Tang San stepped forward, black markings rising across the Clear Sky Hammer. "Soul Beasts exist to provide Soul Masters with Soul Rings and Soul Bones. Why are there so many rules? You're just a subordinate of the Auction House. What gives you the right to interfere in our affairs?"
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