Ten million supreme-grade spirit stones!
This starting bid was like an invisible chasm, stretching across the auction hall and cutting off ninety-nine percent of all living beings on the other side.
The clamor and discussion below the hall vanished without a trace in that instant.
All the Demon Race and human bidders who had come to attend the auction could only look up at the Bronze Key on the high platform, breathing in the immortal-spirit energy leaking from it, their faces filled with longing and powerlessness.
This was no longer a game they could take part in.
The true contest belonged only to the existences in the eighteen private rooms on the top level.
Inside the Heaven No. 1 private room, the schadenfreude on Elder Long Xing's face disappeared, replaced by an extreme solemnity.
In the Golden Winged Peng Clan's private room, that sharp aura also withdrew, becoming deep and restrained.
In the No. 7 private room where the Heavenly Fox Queen was, a faint Dao resonance spread out, present yet elusive; clearly, she too was on full alert.
Everyone's gaze was waiting.
Waiting for the first person to break this silence.
"Eleven million."
A steady voice rang out from the Heaven No. 5 private room. It was the patriarch of the Heaven Swallowing Python Clan.
He had only raised the bid by one million. This was a probe, and also a stance, declaring their determination toward this key.
"Twelve million."
The young master of the Golden Winged Peng Clan followed closely after, his voice young yet filled with a cutting edge.
"Thirteen million."
The Heavenly Fox Queen's cool voice sounded, likewise unwilling to show weakness.
The price began climbing upward in a slow but firm rhythm. Every increase represented a clash of wills between top royal clans.
Inside the