The Auction Begins

In the Black Corner Region, the largest auction held by the Black Seal Auction House began in a grand fashion, amidst the eager anticipation of the crowd.

Inside the auction house, the lights were brilliant, and not a single seat remained empty.

The clamor of voices wove together, forming a noisy ocean of sound.

When the bell tolled, the entire venue fell silent in an instant, all gazes focused upon the auction stage.

The curtains of the auction stage slowly parted, and an auctioneer dressed in magnificent attire walked elegantly onto the platform.

He wore a smile, his gaze sweeping across the room, and he spoke in a resonant voice: "Welcome, everyone, to the Black Seal Auction House! We are here for the top-tier auction held once every three years, hosted by the Eight Fan Gate!"

As his words fell, brilliant fireworks suddenly erupted on the stage, and multicolored lights illuminated the entire auction house.

At the same time, a stirring piece of music began to play, as if sounding the overture for this grand event.

The emotions of the audience below were instantly ignited, and cheers resounded throughout the entire space.

The big shots in the VIP area also straightened their postures one after another, their eyes flickering with the light of anticipation.

The auctioneer gave a light wave of his hand, and a beautiful attendant walked onto the stage carrying a tray covered with a red cloth.

The auctioneer paused deliberately to build a tense atmosphere, then suddenly whipped away the red cloth, revealing the first auction item.

The first item was a medicinal pill; its appearance was round, its color like burning crimson flames, and the surface of the pill bore faint, shimmering Phoenix Feather patterns, as if a phoenix bathing in fire were about to spread its wings and soar.

When the red cloth was unveiled, the entire auction house immediately erupted into an uproar; the opening act was already a "king bomb."

Yao Chen also looked at this pill at the very first moment, speaking to Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian.

"This is a Phoenix Feather Sky Flame Pill, a Tier 6 medicinal pill. I did not expect them to bring out a Tier 6 pill right at the start of the auction. This master is looking forward to the items that follow."

"This pill is called the Phoenix Feather Sky Flame Pill, and it is a Tier 6 medicinal pill. The Phoenix Feather Sky Flame Pill contains extremely vast and violent energy. After consuming it, one can greatly increase their Dou Qi cultivation, help a cultivator break through bottlenecks, and it even has a certain chance of granting the user the special ability to control flames. In terms of healing, the Phoenix Feather Sky Flame Pill also has miraculous effects; whether it is internal or external injuries, one can recover rapidly in a short time, allowing the injured to regain their vitality."

The auctioneer vividly described the merits of this Tier 6 pill.

"The starting price is five hundred thousand, with each increment no less than fifty thousand. The bidding begins."

"The starting price for this Tier 6 pill is only five hundred thousand gold coins; the organizers are really willing to bleed to attract people."

Hearing the price called by the auctioneer, Yao Chen could not help but feel curious about the organizers.

"Five hundred and fifty thousand."

"Six hundred thousand."

After a round of intense bidding, the price had now reached two million.

"Two million five hundred thousand."

At this moment, in another VIP room, a middle-aged man dressed in a dark red robe spoke coldly.

This person was none other than the Blood Sect leader, Fan Lao. The moment he spoke, the lively auction instantly quieted down; some who still wanted to bid saw it was him and dared not add any more.

As one of the four major powers of the Black Corner Region, and as a four-star Dou Emperor, Fan Lao was known for being ruthless. Generally, no one dared to provoke him over things he had his eyes on; after all, compared to this Tier 6 pill, one's life was still more important.

As for the other major powers, Jianan Academy did not easily interfere in outside affairs, while the people from the Black Emperor Sect and Demon Flame Valley gave Fan Lao some face, as their goal was the final grand finale item: the ancient soul technique.

"Sect Leader Fan has bid two million five hundred thousand for this Tier 6 Phoenix Feather Sky Flame Pill. Is there anyone else willing to bid higher?"

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"Congratulations to Sect Leader Fan for winning this Tier 6 Phoenix Feather Sky Flame Pill for two million five hundred thousand!"

As the auctioneer's hammer fell, the pill was secured by Fan Lao.

At this moment, Yao Chen looked at Fan Lao in the adjacent VIP room and, with a casual wave of his hand, sent a breeze carrying a soul imprint drifting toward him.

Due to the gap in their strength, Fan Lao was completely unaware, merely feeling curious as to why there was a breeze blowing inside the room.

Following the sale of the Tier 6 pill, the next two items were a wind-attribute Profound-tier high-level Dou Technique and a Profound-tier high-level cultivation method. However, the powers in the VIP rooms did not bid on these specialized items, and the two manuals were bought by smaller factions for six hundred thousand and eight hundred thousand respectively.

Immediately after, another beautiful attendant walked onto the stage carrying a tray covered with a red cloth.

The red cloth was unveiled, and a blood-red scroll appeared in the center of the tray.

"Everyone, the next item is an Earth-tier low-level Dou Technique: Earth-Splitting Mountain-Crushing Strike. When this technique is unleashed, Dou Qi will gather crazily on the practitioner's fists, palms, or weapon, forming a powerful energy fluctuation. Following the practitioner's attack, the immense power will explode instantly, striking the ground or the target with the force of a landslide. Its power can cause large-scale fissures, causing the earth to collapse and forming massive ravines and pits. The surrounding mountain rocks will also collapse and tumble due to this force. Enemies struck by it will suffer tremendous impact and shock; their internal meridians and bones may suffer severe damage, or they may even die on the spot. Even an opponent a level higher would find it difficult to easily withstand this terrifying power capable of splitting mountains and shattering the earth."

As the auctioneer spoke of the Earth-tier Dou Technique, the auction house became lively once again. Although there was only a one-level difference between Profound-tier high-level and Earth-tier low-level, the boost to a cultivator's combat power was several times greater.

"The base price for this item is zero, with no upper limit on increments. The bidding begins."

"One million!"

The moment the auctioneer finished speaking, a bidder shouted out a price impatiently.

"Three million!"

The price was instantly driven up to five million.

Fan Lao in the VIP room directly shouted a price of six million, but this time, the Black Emperor Sect and Demon Flame Valley did not want to miss out on this Earth-tier Dou Technique.

"6.5 million!"

Mo Tianxing, Sect Leader of the Black Emperor Sect, immediately raised the price once more.

"7 million."

Great Elder Fang Yan of the Demon Flame Valley shouted back, refusing to be outdone.

Seeing the Sect Leader of the Black Emperor Sect and the Great Elder of the Demon Flame Valley continuously driving up the price, Fan Lao grew anxious and called out to them.

"Sect Leader Mo, Great Elder Fang, this Dou Technique is quite suitable for the cultivation methods of my Blood Sect. Could the two of you please yield it to me?"

"Sect Leader Fan, you jest. This Dou Technique is also quite suitable for my Demon Flame Valley."

Great Elder Fang Yan of the Demon Flame Valley gave Fan Lao no face at all, retorting directly.

Seeing this, Fan Lao prepared to abandon the competition for the final Soul Technique in exchange for this Earth-tier Dou Technique.

"The two of you, I will not participate in the bidding for the final grand finale item. Could you both grant me this favor?"

Upon hearing that Fan Lao intended to withdraw from the bidding for the final Soul Technique, Fang Yan and Mo Tianxing pondered for a moment before speaking to Fan Lao in unison.

"Sect Leader Fan, my Demon Flame Valley (Black Emperor Sect) will grant you this favor! We hope Sect Leader Fan will keep his word."