Black Seal Auction House

At the entrance to the Black Seal Auction House in the Black Corner Region, chaos and prosperity intertwined.

A massive, ancient building stood before them, its exterior somewhat sinister, its walls crawling with the marks of time.

The steps at the entrance were paved with huge slabs of black stone.

Two rows of fully armed guards stood on either side of the auction house entrance.

They wore heavy black armor and held sharp spears. Their cold eyes swept over the crowd, making people shudder.

Above the main entrance, a huge plaque bore the words "Black Seal Auction House," carved in sweeping, elegant strokes. Gems that shimmered with an eerie light were embedded along its edges, as if heralding the fierce competition and precious treasures soon to be found within.

"Let's go in."

Yao Chen and the other two were all dressed in loose black robes, their faces hidden beneath their hoods. They followed the stream of people into the Black Seal Auction House.

As they entered, an air of luxury and mystery washed over them.

The auction hall was extraordinarily spacious, its domed ceiling soaring high above. Massive magic crystal chandeliers radiated dazzling light, illuminating the entire venue.

The floor was covered with a luxurious crimson carpet, soft and thick beneath their feet, so that each step seemed to sink into it.

The seating was arranged in tiers around the hall, rising one level after another, with room for thousands of people.

The seats were spaced comfortably apart, each furnished with a soft cushion.

The seating was divided into different sections. The chairs in the VIP area were more luxurious and came with exquisite tea tables for guests to set their belongings on.

The auction stage stood at the very center of the hall, built from black marble, solid and imposing.

A huge magic screen hung on the wall behind the stage, displaying detailed information and bidding prices for each auction item in real time.

Several staff members in black uniforms stood around the stage. Their expressions were serious and their gazes sharp as they kept watch over everything happening in the hall.

The walls of the auction house were decorated with various precious works of art and mounted monster heads. Under the lights, the decorations radiated a wild, mysterious air.

A faint incense scent hung in the air, mingling with the many different scents carried by the people to create a unique aroma.

The audience below leaned toward one another, murmuring about the auction that was about to begin. Their eyes were full of anticipation and excitement.

In the VIP area, several people of high standing sat elegantly, with beautiful maids attending them.

The ordinary seating area was livelier and noisier. People excitedly discussed the auction, guessing which precious treasures might appear that day.

In a corner of the hall, several mysterious figures hidden in the shadows silently observed everything, waiting for the items they wanted to appear.

Just then, a staff member approached the three. Seeing them dressed in black robes, seemingly unwilling to reveal their identities, he cautiously asked,

"Are you three here to bid on items, or to sell something?"

Yao Chen answered in a low voice.

"We're here to bid on items. Can we use pills to place bids?"

Hearing that Yao Chen intended to bid with pills, the staff member concluded that the three before him were alchemists.

"Esteemed alchemists, please come with me. Your pills will need to be appraised in our specialized Treasure Appraisal Room before they can be used for bidding."

After hearing this, Yao Chen and the other two followed him to the Treasure Appraisal Room.

Yao Chen and the others stepped into the so-called Treasure Appraisal Room and were somewhat taken aback to find that the spacious interior had been neatly divided into more than a hundred small chambers. They supposed this arrangement was meant to keep the treasures from being exposed.

After they arrived at the Treasure Appraisal Room, the staff member spoke briefly with a provocatively dressed maid behind the door, then left.

The maid led the three to a small chamber and then turned to leave. An old man with white hair was sitting inside.

After the maid left, Xiao Yan took out a small jade bottle and placed it in front of the old man.

"Can these few Dou Ling Pills be put up for auction?"

The old man raised his eyelids. His gaze fell on the small jade bottle, and instantly turned sharp.

He picked up the bottle, poured out a Dou Ling Pill, brought it close, and examined it carefully, lightly running his fingers over its surface.

The pill's surface was covered by a layer of blue ice crystals.

The old man frowned and muttered to himself. Then he held it beneath his nose and sniffed. His expression grew increasingly grave.

He took out several small tools and began examining the pill more thoroughly.

After a long while, the old man put down his tools, drew a deep breath, and looked up at Yao Chen and the other two. His eyes held both astonishment and uncertainty as he slowly spoke.

"These five Dou Ling Pills are of excellent quality. They're not inferior in the slightest to some Sixth-Grade Pills, so they can be considered rare treasures..."

"Then can they be put up for auction?"

Xiao Yan didn't care what else he had to say and continued to press him.

"Of course. What would you like to bid on? If you wish, we can handle the matter privately."

The old man kept his eyes fixed on the pills. Even as he heard Xiao Yan's question, he couldn't tear his gaze away from the Dou Ling Pills.

Xiao Yan looked toward Yao Chen. The decision was for his teacher to make.

Yao Chen met Xiao Yan's gaze and spoke slowly.

"We need that ancient soul technique."

As soon as Yao Chen mentioned the ancient soul technique, the old man immediately looked at the three of them. With an apologetic expression, he said,

"I'm sorry, but that ancient soul technique was consigned to us by a mysterious old man. We can't agree to this on our own."

"If you want to bid on that soul technique, you'll have to get the old man's approval."

Yao Chen shook his head after hearing that and said,

"Then never mind. We'll follow the normal auction process."

Holding the pills, the old man said regretfully,

"Except for that soul technique, all the other items in today's auction can be exchanged for these. Would you like to consider it?"

"We're only interested in that ancient soul technique. We won't consider anything else for now."

Yao Chen knew he wouldn't be interested in the other auction items, so he answered firmly.

"Very well. This is the highest-tier VIP card for today's auction. Please accept it. I hope it'll make you more comfortable while bidding. If you see anything you like, just tell the staff in the VIP room, and they'll set it aside for you."

The old man carefully put the Dou Ling Pills back into the jade bottle and handed it to them along with the VIP card. Even as he spoke, his eyes lingered on the bottle, reluctant to let it go.

Xiao Yan put the bottle into his Storage Ring and looked at the VIP card in his hand, marveling inwardly.

This VIP card must be worth tens of thousands of gold coins. This place is really rich!

Afterward, the old man instructed the maid to take the three of them to the highest-tier VIP room in the Black Seal Auction House and told her to meet all of their needs.