Tense Atmosphere

After receiving the news, Ling Yun's confident smile returned.

She turned to face the crowd and clearly, loudly answered the question in everyone's hearts.

"Yes. Any item of value can be exchanged for the corresponding amount of Gold Soul Coins at our Auction Pavilion."

"However, these Gold Soul Coins will be stored in our Auction Pavilion's specially made Auction Cards. The Gold Soul Coins in the Auction Cards can only be used for auction bidding and cannot be withdrawn."

The moment Ling Yun finished speaking, a faint commotion rose in the auction hall.

Some of the powerful figures who had looked somewhat dejected due to insufficient funds finally breathed a sigh of relief, eagerness flashing in their eyes.

Since the Starry Sky Auction House could truly provide such a special exchange method, allowing them to trade valuable items for Gold Soul Coins—

They naturally now had the qualifications to join the coming competition.

Jing Hongchen, Xuan Zi, and the others also showed delight upon hearing the news.

A powerful thought arose in all their hearts at the same time.

No matter what, they had to secure this Ultimate Fire Martial Spirit.

Next, the Soul Masters holding important items began to act, excitement and anticipation gleaming in their eyes.

These Soul Masters carefully placed their precious items into the Equivalent Exchange Device.

At the same time, the Equivalent Exchange Device emitted a gentle glow and produced an exquisite Auction Card, with all the exchanged Gold Soul Coins stored inside it.

As this process continued, the competition became even fiercer than before.

Soon, half an hour slipped quietly away like a fleeting white colt.

A shocking bid rang out within the Auction Pavilion. In an instant, all the Soul Masters present fell silent.

"1.1 billion Gold Soul Coins!"

Xuan Zi's voice was firm and powerful, echoing throughout the entire Auction Pavilion.

Shrek Academy had to obtain this Ultimate Fire Martial Spirit.

Shrek Academy had a long history of nurturing Ultimate Martial Spirits. Every appearance of an Ultimate Martial Spirit wielder was like a dazzling star, capable of allowing Shrek Academy to shine brilliantly once more.

"Sigh!"

Hearing that price, Jing Hongchen could not help but let out a long sigh, his voice filled with helplessness and regret.

He had not expected Shrek Academy to be so thoroughly prepared this time.

It was all because he had not thought things through. To participate in the bidding, he had just exchanged several Eighth-Level Soul Tools and one precious Ninth-Level Soul Tool.

Even so, his funds were still insufficient in the end.

If he could bring himself to exchange all the remaining Ninth-Level Soul Tools on him for Gold Soul Coins, he was quite confident that he could contend with Shrek Academy and secure a place in this bidding war.

But no one could predict what the final outcome would be.

If he spent precious Ninth-Level Soul Tools yet still failed to obtain the Ultimate Fire Martial Spirit, would that not be a terrible loss?

Not only would Mingde Hall's treasures be wasted for nothing, but if word got out, it would certainly cause unnecessary trouble and turmoil.

Left with no choice, he could only sigh and withdraw from this intense competition.

As for Xu Tianran, the Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire, his expression was equally gloomy.

"Heh, I miscalculated this time!"

Xu Tianran muttered quietly.

Although he had received an invitation from the Starry Sky Auction House, he had always remained doubtful about the auctioning of an Ultimate Martial Spirit.

Thus, he had not brought many Gold Soul Coins.

Yet he had never expected this Ultimate Martial Spirit to be real.

Unfortunately, Shrek Academy had successfully secured it. Regret was useless now.

Shadow Douluo Xue Chen, who was personally protecting Xu Tianran, still had not lost the shock in his eyes.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is mainly because the Starry Sky Auction House is simply too mysterious. After all, auctioning a Martial Soul has never happened before on Douluo Continent, and this Martial Soul is even an Ultimate Martial Spirit. That makes it even more unbelievable."

Shadow Douluo Xue Chen let out a long sigh.

"As expected of Number One Academy on Douluo Continent. Shrek Academy, which possesses one of the Three Limit Douluo, truly has a sharp eye!"

Xu Tianran snorted coldly. He knew that was indeed the case.

After all, if they were competing in wealth, the Sun Moon Empire would certainly not be weaker than Shrek Academy.

If nothing unexpected had happened, Mingde Hall and the other factions had likely come to the Starry Sky Auction House with doubts in their hearts and insufficient preparations.

That was why Shrek Academy had managed to pick up such a bargain.

The truth was exactly as Xu Tianran had guessed!

Other than Shrek Academy, every faction capable of producing more than a billion Gold Soul Coins was crestfallen.

If they had believed that an Ultimate Martial Spirit would be auctioned, they would have been willing to make a desperate bid no matter what.

After all, the benefits brought by possessing a Soul Master with an Ultimate Martial Spirit were simply beyond words.

They were not something that mere Gold Soul Coins could compare to.

"1.1 billion Gold Soul Coins, going once!"

"1.1 billion Gold Soul Coins, going twice!"

"1.1 billion Gold Soul Coins, going three times!"

Ling Yun's crisp, pleasant voice echoed through the Auction Pavilion like silver bells.

After confirming that no one intended to raise the bid further, she directly lifted the Auction Hammer in her hand and brought it down heavily, loudly announcing—

"Since no one is continuing to bid, I hereby announce that this Ultimate Fire Martial Spirit has been successfully auctioned to Shrek Academy!"

Upon hearing who had obtained the Ultimate Martial Spirit, Xuan Zi and Mu En both revealed relieved expressions and let out deep breaths.

They knew that in order to obtain this Martial Soul, they had nearly exhausted all the funds they carried.

Once the payment and delivery process was complete, the Ultimate Fire Martial Spirit on the auction stage finally appeared in Mu En's hand.

Only when Mu En and Xuan Zi touched the Martial Soul did they truly sense the powerful aura contained within it.

That aura was like surging flames—scorching and majestic. It truly deserved to be called an Ultimate Martial Spirit, leaving them deeply shaken.

Mu En immediately put away the precious Martial Soul.

He knew that an intense conflict would likely be impossible to avoid next.

"Very well, everyone, this auction of the Starry Sky Auction House has now come to an end."

"From now on, our Auction Pavilion will hold an auction every month. We welcome you all to visit again in one month's time, and the final auction item will not disappoint you."

With a smile on her face, Ling Yun announced the time of the next auction to the crowd.

As the auction ended, the ordinary Soul Masters also realized that something major was likely about to happen, and they quickly left one after another.

Some top experts from the Sun Moon Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and Mingde Hall remained seated. They wanted to see how the situation would develop next.

Every one of them looked toward Shrek Academy with ill intent.

Although they knew Shrek Academy was immensely powerful, they were secretly wondering whether Shrek Academy could truly face the many crises to come.

At this moment, Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui rose from their seats and slowly approached Mu En.

Their steps were steady and forceful, each one seeming to tread upon everyone's hearts.

"Mu En, it has been a long time."

Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui greeted Mu En in turn, their voices carrying complicated emotions—both the friendship of old and their present covetousness toward the Ultimate Fire Martial Spirit.

As for what they were thinking, it was as obvious as Sima Zhao's intentions—known to every passerby.