About a hundred people had attended the auction.
At a glance, most of them were decaying nobles, with Soul Masters making up only a small minority.
"What did you two come to the auction hoping to buy?" Qin Xuan asked the two women softly.
Song Qingling shook her head. "There's nothing I want to buy. I'm just here with Xia Hui."
Over on the other side, a barely perceptible sadness flashed in Xia Hui's eyes. She smiled and said,
"The Crape Myrtle Exquisite Pagoda is an auxiliary Martial Soul, after all. It gives me no way to protect myself."
"I wanted to try my luck and see if I could find a powerful weapon."
Hearing this, the usually aloof Song Qingling grew unusually emotional.
"With me by your side to protect you, what is there to be afraid of?"
"Qingling, I know you're talented and your Martial Soul has great destructive power, but we can't stay together forever, can we?" Xia Hui said with a sigh, then added,
"As time passes, we'll each have our own paths in life to follow."
Song Qingling didn't think much of it. Her gaze unwavering, she replied,
"You saved my life."
"No matter what, I won't let anyone hurt you!"
After that,
the three fell silent.
Sitting between the two women, Qin Xuan felt a little like a third wheel.
He glanced at Song Qingling, increasingly convinced that there was something unusual about the two women's relationship, but he didn't press them for answers.
After all, everyone had secrets of their own. There was no need to pry.
To ask any further would be crossing a line, wouldn't it?
Since Song Qingling didn't want to talk about her background, he naturally had no reason to ask.
Song Qingling and Xia Hui really do have an unusual relationship!
Could these two be...
No, absolutely not! I must be overthinking it!
Qin Xuan's gaze wandered, and no one knew what was going through his head.
"I hereby declare this auction open!"
Just then, the host, dressed in a black suit, stepped onto the stage.
The first few treasures were all decorative items, such as famous paintings, jewelry, and a qipao woven with gold thread.
Qin Xuan had no interest in such luxurious things, and Song Qingling and Xia Hui looked equally unimpressed.
But the next treasure left everyone present astonished.
A silver soft armor made for women slowly rose from the stage. Several slender snakes were carved across its surface, as lifelike as if they could move.
"This item is called the Spirit Snake Soft Armor. It was forged by a disciple of Lou Gao, the Divine Craftsman of our time."
"Once worn, this soft armor can withstand a powerful direct strike from a Power Attack System Soul Master's fifth Soul Skill!"
"The starting bid is one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. Each raise must be at least twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins. The bidding starts now!"
As soon as the host finished speaking, bids rang out one after another, and the price eventually soared to five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
The person who bid five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins was a plump woman with frizzy curls, weighing over two hundred pounds by the look of her.
Even if she got the armor, she probably wouldn't be able to squeeze into it!
When she noticed everyone around her staring, some with mocking smiles, the plump woman snapped,
"What are you all staring at me for? I'm not going to wear it myself."
"I'm buying this armor for my daughter. Don't any of you dare try to outbid me!"
Qin Xuan merely smiled at the sight. He had no intention of bidding on the armor.
The Spirit Snake Soft Armor was far too limited, basically a weaker version of the Eight Treasure Ruyi Soft Armor.
Putting aside the fact that it was designed for women, the main issue was that it came in just one fixed size. It could only be worn by someone within a certain range of height and weight.
On top of that, it could only withstand attacks from a Soul King. It was nothing special.
He could tell that Xia Hui really wanted the Spirit Snake Soft Armor, but whenever someone raised the bid, the number card she was about to lift came back down. She seemed deeply conflicted.
Seeing that no one else was bidding, the host called out,
"Five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, once!"
"Five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, twice!"
"Five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins..."
Just as the price was about to be finalized, Qin Xuan slowly raised his number card. "I bid eight hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins!"
The moment his words fell,
the entire hall erupted in an uproar.
Eight hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins was far more than the Spirit Snake Soft Armor was worth!
The plump woman glared fiercely at Qin Xuan but didn't choose to bid again.
Song Qingling and Xia Hui stared at Qin Xuan in astonishment.
They hadn't expected him to suddenly bid, let alone raise the price by three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in one go!
The host was visibly excited, and his voice began to stumble.
"E-eight hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, once!"
"Eight hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, twice!"
"Eight hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, three times!"
"Congratulations to VIP number ninety-six for winning the Spirit Snake Soft Armor!"
"Brother Qin, what do you want the armor for?" Xia Hui asked in puzzlement.
"To give to you, of course," Qin Xuan replied casually.
Hearing this, Xia Hui froze for a moment, then hurriedly shook her head and refused.
"How can I accept it? I've known you for less than half a month, Brother Qin. How could I take such precious armor?"
"Why don't I buy the Spirit Snake Soft Armor from you instead?"
"But... but I only have three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins on me right now. I'll pay you back the rest after I return to the sect."
Qin Xuan smiled and spoke as if it were nothing.
"That amount is a mere trifle to me, young master."
"I could tell you really liked this armor, so I bid on it for you."
"Forget the Gold Soul Coins. When I visit the Purple Heaven Sect someday, just treat me to a cup of tea."
"By my estimate, you'll be able to wear this armor in six years. Just don't get fat!"
"Thank you, Brother Qin. The Purple Heaven Sect will welcome you as an honored guest from now on," Xia Hui said, beaming with delight.
Qin Xuan had put it so plainly that if she kept refusing, she would seem ungracious.
"Now, please behold the final treasure of this auction!"
As the host spoke, a model ship about the size of a fist slowly rose onto the stage.
The ship was a deep blue, finely crafted, and surrounded by a faint glow.
"Could this be..." Qin Xuan's brows relaxed. He had already guessed most of what the treasure could do.
The host cleared his throat and spoke solemnly.
"This ship is called the Wind Bird. It is a rare Soul Tool of the pleasure-boat type, capable of carrying up to three hundred people. It can be operated by infusing it with Soul Power."
"Not only can it shrink to the size of a palm and be carried around, it can also fly."
"Of course, making the Wind Bird fly consumes much more Soul Power."
"Only someone at the Soul Saint level or above can make the Wind Bird fly."
"The starting bid is one million Gold Soul Coins. The bidding starts now!"
This time, Qin Xuan didn't hesitate at all. He quickly raised his number card to bid.
The Wind Bird and the Dragon Abyss Boat were both ancient Soul Tools, rare treasures that one might never encounter in a lifetime.
A treasure like this would prove immensely useful in the future, so he naturally wouldn't let it slip away.
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