Ancient Soul Tool 'Wind Bird'

About a hundred people or so were attending this auction.

Looking around, the vast majority were decadent nobles, with spirit masters making up only a small minority.

"What are you two looking to get at this auction?" Qin Xuan asked the two women in a low voice.

Song Qingling shook her head slightly. "I don't have anything I want to buy; I'm just here to accompany Xia Hui."

On the other side, a flicker of imperceptible sorrow crossed Xia Hui's eyes, and she smiled.

"The Crape Myrtle Exquisite Pagoda is an auxiliary spirit, after all, and has no self-defense capabilities."

"I wanted to try my luck and see if there were any powerful weapons."

Hearing this, the usually aloof Song Qingling became uncharacteristically emotional.

"With me always protecting your side, what is there to be afraid of?"

"Qingling, I know you have great talent and your spirit has high destructive power, but we can't stay together forever," Xia Hui sighed, then added, "After all, as time goes on, we each have our own paths to walk."

Song Qingling disagreed, her gaze firm as she replied:

"My life was saved by you."

"No matter what, I will never let anyone hurt you!"

With that, the three of them fell into silence.

Qin Xuan, sandwiched between the two women, felt a bit like a third wheel.

He glanced at Song Qingling, feeling more and more that the relationship between the two women was unusual, but he didn't press for details.

After all, everyone has their own secrets; there was no need to get to the bottom of things.

To pry further would be crossing the line, wouldn't it?

Since Song Qingling didn't want to talk about her background, he naturally didn't need to ask.

This relationship between Song Qingling and Xia Hui is something else!

Could the two of them be...

Impossible, absolutely impossible! I must be overthinking it!

Qin Xuan's eyes drifted, his mind clearly wandering elsewhere.

"I announce that this auction is now officially underway!"

Just then, the host, dressed in a black suit, walked onto the stage.

The initial treasures were all decorative items, such as famous paintings, jewelry, and qipaos woven from gold thread.

Qin Xuan had no interest in such extravagant things, and both Song Qingling and Xia Hui wore expressions of complete indifference.

However, the next treasure caused everyone in the room to look on in surprise.

A set of women's silver soft armor slowly rose from the front of the stage, its surface engraved with several slender, delicate snakes that looked as if they were alive.

"This item is called the Spirit Snake Soft Armor, forged by the apprentice of the world-renowned master craftsman Lou Gao."

"Once worn, this armor can withstand a powerful strike from the fifth spirit skill of an assault-type spirit master!"

"The starting bid is 100,000 gold soul coins, with each increment no less than 20,000 gold soul coins. Let the bidding begin!"

No sooner had the host finished speaking than a flurry of bids erupted, and the price was quickly driven up to 500,000 gold soul coins.

The one who bid 500,000 was a stout woman with a frizzy perm, weighing over two hundred pounds.

Even if she actually bought it, she probably wouldn't be able to fit into it!

Seeing the surrounding gazes fixed on her, with some even wearing mocking smiles, the stout woman barked:

"What are you all looking at me for? I'm not wearing it myself."

"I'm buying this for my daughter, so don't you dare compete with me!"

Qin Xuan just smiled at the sight, having no intention of bidding on the armor.

This Spirit Snake Soft Armor was too mediocre, essentially a weakened version of the Eight Treasure Ruyi Soft Armor.

Not to mention that it was a women's style, the critical issue was that the size was fixed; it could only be worn by someone within a specific height and weight range.

Furthermore, it could only block attacks from a spirit king, which was truly underwhelming.

He noticed that Xia Hui seemed to really want this "Spirit Snake Soft Armor," but every time someone raised the price, the number plate she wanted to lift would sink back down, clearly torn.

Seeing that no one else in the room was raising the bid, the host called out:

"500,000 gold soul coins, going once!"

"500,000 gold soul coins, going twice!"

"500,000 gold soul coins..."

Just as the price was about to be finalized, Qin Xuan slowly raised his number plate. "I bid 800,000 gold soul coins!"

The words had barely fallen.

The entire venue erupted in an uproar.

Because eight hundred thousand gold soul coins far exceeded the actual value of this Spirit Snake Soft Armor!

The stout woman merely glared viciously at Qin Xuan, but she chose not to continue bidding.

Song Qingling and her companion looked at Qin Xuan with expressions of utter astonishment.

They had not expected Qin Xuan to suddenly place a bid, let alone hike the price by three hundred thousand gold soul coins in one go!

The host's expression was agitated, and his tone even became a bit stuttering:

"Eight... eight hundred thousand gold soul coins, going once!"

"Eight hundred thousand gold soul coins, going twice!"

"Eight hundred thousand gold soul coins, going three times!"

"Congratulations to guest number ninety-six for winning the Spirit Snake Soft Armor!"

"Brother Qin, what do you need this soft armor for?" Xia Hui asked, puzzled.

"Naturally, it is a gift for you," Qin Xuan replied nonchalantly.

Hearing this, Xia Hui was stunned for a moment, then quickly came to her senses and waved her hands in refusal:

"How can that be? I have known Brother Qin for less than half a month; how could I accept such a precious treasure armor!"

"How about I buy this Spirit Snake Soft Armor instead?"

"But... but I only have three hundred thousand gold soul coins on me right now. I will pay you the rest once I return to the sect."

Qin Xuan smiled and said with airy indifference:

"To this Young Master, this amount of money is a mere trifle."

"I observed that you truly liked this soft armor, which is why I helped you win it."

"Forget about the gold soul coins; just offer me a cup of tea when I visit the Purple Heaven Sect another day."

"I reckon that in six years' time, you will be able to wear this armor successfully, so don't go getting fat!"

"Many thanks, Brother Qin. In the future, the Purple Heaven Sect will surely treat Brother Qin as an honored guest." Xia Hui's face beamed with joy.

Since Qin Xuan had put it this way, if she were to decline further, it would seem ungrateful.

"Next is the final treasure of this auction. Everyone, please take a look!"

As the host spoke, a ship model the size of a fist slowly rose from the front stage.

The ship was deep blue in its entirety, crafted with exquisite detail, and emitted a faint glow from its body.

Could this be... Qin Xuan's brows relaxed, his mind already having guessed the function of this treasure with fair accuracy.

The host cleared his throat twice and said with a serious expression:

"This ship is named the 'Wind Bird,' a rare soul guidance device of the cruise ship variety. It can accommodate up to three hundred people and is driven by injecting soul power."

"Not only can it shrink to the size of a palm for easy carrying, but it also possesses the ability to fly."

"Of course, if one wishes to make the Wind Bird fly, the consumption of soul power is naturally much greater."

"Only those at the Soul Saint level or above can drive the Wind Bird to fly."

"The starting bid is one million gold soul coins. The auction begins now!"

This time, Qin Xuan did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately raised his number plate to bid.

The Wind Bird, like the Dragon Abyss Boat, belonged to the category of ancient soul guidance devices; they were rare finds that could not be sought out at will.

Such treasures would be of great use in the future, so he naturally would not let this one slip away.