Black Seal Auction House

The entrance to the Black Seal Auction House in the Black Corner Region was a scene where chaos and prosperity intertwined.

A massive, ancient structure stood before them, its exterior slightly grim, the walls covered in the marks of time.

The steps at the entrance were paved with enormous black stones.

On both sides of the auction house entrance stood two rows of heavily armed guards.

They wore heavy black armor and held sharp long spears, their cold gazes sweeping over the crowd, sending a chill down one's spine.

Above the main gate, a giant plaque was inscribed with the words "Black Seal Auction House" in bold, sweeping calligraphy; the edges of the plaque were inlaid with gems that shimmered with an eerie light, as if signaling the fierce competition and precious treasures about to unfold within.

"Let us go in."

Yao Chen and his group of three were all dressed in wide black robes, their faces obscured by hoods, as they followed the flow of the crowd into the Black Seal Auction House.

Stepping inside the Black Seal Auction House, a sense of luxury and mystery rushed to meet them.

The interior of the auction house was extremely spacious with a high-vaulted ceiling, where massive magic crystal lamps emitted a brilliant glow, illuminating the entire venue.

The floor was covered in a luxurious scarlet carpet, soft and thick, making one feel as if they were sinking into it with every step.

The audience seating was arranged in a circular layout, extending layer upon layer, capable of accommodating thousands of people.

The space between the seats was wide and comfortable, with each seat equipped with a soft cushion.

The seating area was divided into different zones; the VIP section featured even more luxurious chairs, complete with exquisite tea tables for the guests to place their belongings.

The auction stage was located in the very center of the venue, constructed from black marble, sturdy and solemn.

On the wall behind the auction stage hung a massive magic screen, displaying real-time details and bidding prices for the auction items.

Around the auction stage stood several staff members in black uniforms, their expressions stern and their gazes sharp, constantly monitoring the movements in the hall.

The walls of the auction house were decorated with various precious artworks and the skull specimens of magical beasts, which, under the illumination of the lights, exuded a wild and mysterious aura.

The air was filled with a faint incense, mixed with the various scents of the people, forming a unique aroma.

The audience below whispered to one another, discussing the upcoming auction in low voices, their eyes filled with anticipation and excitement.

In the VIP section, some prominent figures sat elegantly, served by beautiful handmaidens at their sides.

The general seating area, however, appeared much more lively and noisy, with people discussing excitedly, speculating on what precious treasures might appear today.

In the corners of the auction house, there were also some mysterious figures hidden in the shadows, silently observing everything, waiting for their desired items to appear.

At this moment, a staff member of the auction house walked up to the three, and seeing that they were all dressed in black robes, seemingly unwilling to reveal their identities, he spoke up with a cautious inquiry.

"Three esteemed guests, are you here to bid on items? Or are you here to sell goods?"

Yao Chen replied in a low voice.

"We are here to bid on items. I wonder if medicinal pills can be used for bidding?"

Upon hearing that Yao Chen intended to use medicinal pills for bidding, the staff member concluded that the three people before him were alchemists.

"Respected alchemist masters, please follow me first. Medicinal pills must be appraised for value in our dedicated Treasure Appraisal Room before they can be used for bidding."

After hearing this, the three of them followed him toward the Treasure Appraisal Room.

As the three of them stepped into this so-called Treasure Appraisal Room, they were somewhat startled to find that this fairly large space was neatly divided into no fewer than a hundred small secret chambers, presumably a measure set up to avoid exposing the treasures.

The staff member who had led them to the Treasure Appraisal Room gave instructions to a scantily clad handmaiden behind the door before departing.

The handmaiden then led the three to a small secret chamber and turned to leave, where an old man with white hair was sitting inside.

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

"Can these Dou Ling Pills be used for bidding?"

The old man raised his eyelids, his gaze falling upon the small jade bottle, and it instantly became sharp.

He picked up the jade bottle, poured out a Dou Ling Pill, brought it close to his eyes to examine it carefully, and gently stroked the surface of the pill with his finger.

One could see that the surface of the pill was covered by a layer of blue ice crystals.

The old man frowned slightly, muttering to himself, then brought it to the tip of his nose to sniff, the expression on his face growing increasingly solemn.

He took out some small tools and began a more in-depth investigation of the pill.

After a long while, the old man put down his tools, took a deep breath, and looked up at the three of them, his eyes filled with both amazement and doubt, as he spoke slowly.

"These few Grade 5 Dou Ling Pills are of extremely high quality, not at all inferior to some Grade 6 pills, so they can be called rare treasures..."

"Then can they be used for bidding?"

Xiao Yan, not caring about what else he had to say, continued to press the question.

"That goes without saying. I wonder what you intend to bid for? If possible, we can handle this privately."

The old man's eyes remained fixed on the pill, and even upon hearing Xiao Yan's question, his gaze could not move away from the Dou Ling Pill.

Xiao Yan looked toward Yao Chen; this was a matter for his teacher to decide.

Yao Chen looked at Xiao Yan's gaze and spoke slowly.

"We require that ancient soul technique."

As Yao Chen mentioned the ancient soul technique, the old man's gaze immediately shifted to the three of them, and he said helplessly.

"My apologies, everyone, but this ancient Soul Skill was placed here for consignment by a mysterious elder. We are not in a position to agree to this."

"If you wish to bid for this Soul Skill, I am afraid you will have to obtain that elder's consent."

Yao Chen shook his head upon hearing this and said, "Forget it, then. We will proceed with the standard auction process."

The old man held the medicinal pill, his eyes filled with regret as he spoke, "Everyone, aside from that Soul Skill, all other items in today's auction can be exchanged for this. Would you like to reconsider?"

"We are only interested in that ancient Soul Skill. We will not consider anything else for the time being."

Yao Chen, having no interest in the other auction items, replied decisively.

"Very well. This is the highest-tier VIP card for the Black Seal Auction House. I hope you will accept it. I trust it will make your bidding experience more comfortable. If you see any other items that catch your eye, simply instruct the staff in the VIP room, and they will see to it that the items are reserved for you."

The old man carefully placed the Dou Ling Pill into a jade bottle and handed it to them along with the VIP card, his gaze still lingering on the bottle with visible reluctance.

Xiao Yan stored the jade bottle into his Storage Ring and examined the VIP card in his hand, sighing inwardly, This VIP card alone must be worth tens of thousands of gold coins. They are truly wealthy here!

Afterward, the old man instructed a maid to escort the three of them to the most luxurious VIP room in the Black Seal Auction House, ordering her to satisfy their every request.