Heaven Dou Empire Auction, Picking Up Ten Thousand Years of High-Quality Whale Glue

Leaving the cemetery on the outskirts of the city, Cao Longyan followed Zhang Lexuan onto the road toward the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. It took only a moment for them to arrive at their destination.

Looking at the bustling streets before him and the magnificent, golden auction house standing in the city center, Cao Longyan's eyes were filled with curiosity.

This was his first time seeing a trading venue of such scale...

"Prosperous" didn't even begin to describe it; this was nothing short of extravagant!

Looking from afar, the gemstones embedded in the auction house's entrance reflected a dazzling, seven-colored light. The people coming and going were all nobles in gorgeous attire and soul masters with extraordinary auras. The very air was thick with the scent of rich spiritual energy and money.

Still, compared to Shrek, it was far behind.

"Little Brother Longyan, let's go. The auction won't start for a while; let's go check out the exhibition hall inside first."

Zhang Lexuan smoothed her clothes and led Cao Longyan into the auction house.

The moment he stepped through the doors, Cao Longyan was stunned by the sight before him.

The lobby was spacious and bright, with smooth white jade slabs covering the floor and various jewels embedded in the walls, making it even more ornate than the exterior.

Walking into the exhibition hall, transparent glass display cases of all sizes were arranged in an orderly fashion. Inside, colorful natural treasures and rare jewels were on display, each emitting its own unique glow.

There were even a few thousand-year soul bones and several high-level soul guidance devices!

However, compared to those of the Star Luo Empire, the Sun Moon Empire, or Shrek, this was truly a case of a minor wizard meeting a great one.

The guests coming and going were dressed in finery, their speech and manners refined, all filled with anticipation for the auction items and sharp critiques of the exhibits.

He followed behind Zhang Lexuan, admiring and analyzing the treasures in the cases while keeping an eye on the surrounding crowd.

After all, there were many things he didn't recognize, and he could just piggyback on other people's explanations.

Cao Longyan couldn't help but praise himself for his own wit.

However, what annoyed him was the gaze of certain young noblemen. From the moment he and Zhang Lexuan entered, their eyes had been locked firmly onto her, and some even followed them from a dozen meters away.

Cao Longyan couldn't take it anymore. He turned his head to look at them, his brows furrowed, his lips pouting, and his eyes widened.

He imagined that this fierce, imposing expression of his would make them retreat in the face of difficulty, but unfortunately, the only response he got was their stifled laughter and the same persistent following and staring.

At six years old, this expression looked merely "milk-fierce" in their eyes—completely harmless, and even a little cute and ridiculous.

Just then, a warm hand gently ruffled his hair. He turned to look at the owner of the hand, the confusion still lingering on his face, when Zhang Lexuan took his small hand in her soft one. She squinted her eyes, her lips curling upward in a smile so warm and healing that it left him dazed.

"Little Brother Longyan, don't mind them. They can't do anything to your Sister Lexuan!"

Still not quite back to his senses, Cao Longyan nodded instinctively and let her lead him along.

Suddenly, a familiar figure hurried past him. That silhouette, that profile—he felt like he had seen it somewhere before.

The Heaven Dou Empire... at this time... it couldn't be her, could it!

Cao Longyan subconsciously turned to look, scanning his surroundings, but the figure moved with great speed, blending into the crowd in the blink of an eye and disappearing at the end of the hall.

He frowned, struggling to recall the figure, but he couldn't be sure if it was her. He could only make a mental note of this small episode, secretly resolving to keep a close eye out during the auction, as he had seen the figure heading in the direction of the auction hall.

The two of them walked slowly to the center of the hall, where the crowd had gradually thinned. Here, the auction house's "treasure of the house" was displayed, illuminated by layers of spotlights.

Just then, Zhang Lexuan's footsteps suddenly halted, and the distracted Cao Longyan nearly bumped into her.

He was about to ask what was wrong, but he saw her body tense up until she was trembling involuntarily. Her hands clenched tight, and her eyes turned red.

Cao Longyan followed her gaze and saw, on the high platform in the very center of the hall, a piece of translucent, pale-blue glowing jade. Below the gem, it was labeled "Ancient Ice Crystal Jade," with a line of small text indicating an astronomical price.

This was the lost heirloom of Zhang Lexuan's family, the very thing she had been longing to find.

Although Cao Longyan didn't know exactly what this gem was, he could see that it meant the world to her.

He gently touched her tightly clenched hands and whispered.

"Sister Lexuan, the auction seems to be starting soon. Let's head over."

He knew that with their current strength, they couldn't possibly bid on this priceless gem. Rather than letting her fall into obsession and sorrow, it was better to distract her.

Zhang Lexuan took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and nodded. The redness in her eyes gradually faded.

"Mm, let's go."

Before leaving, Cao Longyan firmly memorized the appearance of the gem. He had to help Zhang Lexuan get it.

Within the fireball, that blurry, heroic figure let out a disdainful snort, though this time, he seemed somewhat moved.

Zhang Lexuan brought Cao Longyan to the auction staff and presented her Shrek core student identity token.

Seeing this, the staff member immediately stepped forward respectfully to lead the way, taking the two of them to a supreme VIP suite on the second floor.

The view here was wide, overlooking the entire auction floor; it was the best seat in the house, bar none.

Inside the room, they used fine golden nanmu tables and chairs, and exquisite tea and snacks were laid out on the table, showing the utmost prestige.

Clearly, the name of Shrek carried immense weight even in the Heaven Dou Empire.

At the auction, various treasures appeared one after another: natural treasures that increased soul power, soul guidance devices that boosted defense, and rare auxiliary items for absorbing soul rings. The bidding from the floor was constant and intense.

However, these items were only attractive to ordinary people; Cao Longyan and the other nobles didn't even bat an eye.

Cao Longyan observed quietly the entire time, not making a move, until an item labeled "Thousand-Year Inferior Whale Glue" was brought onto the stage. Only then did he show a slight interest.

The Whale Glue looked dull in color, with fine cracks on the surface. When the auctioneer introduced it, he specifically noted it was an "inferior product," questioning whether it could even serve as a standard cultivation aid. The starting price was also much lower than similar items.

"The starting bid is one hundred gold soul coins, with increments of one hundred. Let the bidding begin."

The auctioneer's voice was much quieter than before, lacking its previous enthusiasm; clearly, he did not hold high hopes for this item.

Cao Longyan hadn't paid much attention to it either, but at that moment, the voices of Xu Chu and Dian Wei echoed within his spiritual sea.

"My Lord, the aura of this Whale Glue is wrong. It is not a thousand-year-old specimen, nor is it of inferior quality! We can sense that the soul aura it radiates far exceeds a thousand years; it is very likely ten thousand years old!"

Cao Longyan's heart stirred, and he immediately mobilized his own soul power to carefully probe the Whale Glue.

A moment later, a flash of pleasant surprise crossed his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled upward uncontrollably.

This was no inferior thousand-year Whale Glue; it was clearly a high-quality ten-thousand-year Whale Glue! Had the appraiser misjudged it?

"One thousand gold soul coins, going once. Is there any other bid?"

The auctioneer's voice carried a hint of resignation as he prepared to strike the gavel.

"Room One, four thousand gold soul coins."

Cao Longyan immediately raised his paddle and interrupted. His voice was not loud, yet it rang out clearly across the entire auction hall.

As his words fell, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone turned to look at the VIP suite in Room One on the second floor, their eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.

Who would spend four thousand gold soul coins to buy a piece of "inferior" thousand-year Whale Glue? They must be a fool with too much money—perhaps some noble young master throwing away gold just to win a beauty's smile!

Even Zhang Lexuan, sitting beside him, frowned. She tugged at Cao Longyan's sleeve and whispered, "Little Brother Longyan, are you sure you want to bid on this? Although your Sister Lexuan isn't short on money, this is inferior thousand-year Whale Glue; it isn't worth this price at all!"

Cao Longyan smiled without offering much explanation, simply nodding toward the auction stage and speaking calmly.

"I want it."

No one else in the hall bid; after all, no one was willing to waste so much money on "inferior" Whale Glue. The auctioneer paused for a moment before calling out the final hammer strikes.

"Four thousand gold soul coins, going once! Four thousand gold soul coins, going twice! Four thousand gold soul coins, going three times! Sold to Room One!"

When the staff delivered the Whale Glue to the VIP suite, Zhang Lexuan didn't ask further questions, though she wrinkled her brow at the dull-colored item.

Seeing that Zhang Lexuan remained skeptical, Cao Longyan waited for the staff to leave before picking up the Whale Glue without a word. He injected a sliver of soul power into his fingertips, and the previously dim Whale Glue instantly shimmered with a faint golden light. A rich, potent aura overflowed from the item, instantly filling the entire suite.

"Look, Sister Lexuan."

He smiled at Zhang Lexuan while holding the "reborn" Whale Glue out before her.

"This isn't inferior thousand-year Whale Glue at all. It is a high-quality ten-thousand-year Whale Glue that requires fire-attribute soul power to reveal its true form."

Zhang Lexuan's eyes widened. She reached out to touch the Whale Glue, and upon feeling that pure, potent aura, a look of sudden realization dawned on her face.

"So that's it! I didn't even notice—Little Brother Longyan, you are truly amazing!"

The way she looked at Cao Longyan now held a touch more admiration.

This youth, who appeared so young, not only possessed extraordinary talent and astonishing insight, but he also... he was...

Cao Longyan rubbed the back of his head, smiled, and tucked the Whale Glue away.

"It was just luck."

He did not mention his own soul power or the warning from his guardian spirits; it was better to keep some trump cards hidden.

What he did not know was that the moment he won the bid for the Whale Glue, a figure in a corner not far away was silently watching his direction with a complex gaze—it was the very same familiar figure he had brushed past earlier.

She had come this time to bid for the Mystic Water Pill, the only thing that could save her mother's life, but she had not expected to encounter such a "noble young master." Her hands tightened, and her body began to tremble.

Little did she know, her true rival for the auction was someone else entirely.