As the sky-high bid of eighty million was called, Yu Yuanzhen fell completely silent.
This price had already exceeded his psychological limit. After all, Yu Luomian was only level eighty-five. Even if he obtained the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma, becoming a Titled Douluo would still be immensely difficult. It was not worth staking more than half the sect's liquid funds on it.
Meanwhile, in another private room, Moonlight and Ghost Douluo looked at each other, their faces filled with helplessness, though a faint, imperceptible delight lay hidden deep in their eyes.
Even counting the twenty-five million earned from selling the Spirit Bone, they only had seventy-five million on them. They had barely begun raising their bids before Ning Fengzhi's single sentence had cut off their path.
"Old Gui, it seems we won't be able to complete this mission. Tell me, how do you think Her Majesty the Pope will deal with us when we return?" Moonlight raised his orchid fingers, his tone full of self-mockery.
"She has no reason to."
"Yeah, she has no reason..." Moonlight sighed softly. "But does she need one?"
As his words fell, both men sank into silence.
A month ago, because of the news from Notting City, they had inexplicably been severely scolded by Bibi Dong and had even suffered minor injuries.
And now, they had been sent to purchase this treasure for that useless brat. The two of them, who had received almost no substantial rewards, could not help feeling aggrieved.
While they spoke, the bidding in the hall continued. The price of the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma had already soared to ninety-seven million!
Only Ning Fengzhi and the old man from the Star Luo Empire remained in the bidding.
"One hundred million Gold Soul Coins." Ning Fengzhi's voice rang out again. This time, he did not raise the price by much. "Old sir, Ning is determined to obtain this herb today, so I shall shamelessly accept it. I hope you will not take offense."
Through the successive bids, Ning Fengzhi had long since figured out his opponent's limit. If nothing unexpected happened, this hundred million would be the final straw that broke the camel's back.
And just as Ning Fengzhi had expected, after he named the price of one hundred million, the other party did not continue bidding and fell completely silent.
Looking at the silent auction hall, the auctioneer felt as though his heart was about to leap out of his throat.
He took a deep breath, raised his small wooden hammer with trembling hands, and, in the loudest voice he could muster, delivered the most glorious ruling of his career.
"One hundred million Gold Soul Coins—sold!"
Inside the private room, Bai Shu did not pay attention to what followed. Instead, he instructed Dugu Bo, "Senior Dugu, I'll leave the upcoming handover procedures to you."
"Yes. Thank you for your trust, Young Master." Dugu Bo bowed excitedly in response. It was his first time handling such an enormous sum of wealth. Even if it merely passed through his hands, his heart could not help surging with excitement.
Then, Bai Shu turned to Xie Biyan. "Old Xie, we should leave the city immediately as well. Yue Guan and the others should be in quite a hurry. If we're late, it'll be easy to miss them."
With Xie Biyan leading the way, the two naturally moved at incredible speed and soon left the bustling capital far behind. Xie Biyan did not stop until they reached a dense forest a hundred li outside the city.
"Old Xie, are you sure they'll pass through here?"
Xie Biyan said with certainty, "Rest assured, Young Master. Those two have not concealed their route in the slightest. They should arrive soon."
Sure enough, the instant Xie Biyan finished speaking, two streams of light tore through the clouds in the distant sky and sped toward them. They were none other than the hurried Moonlight and Ghost Douluo!
"Old Xie, stop them."
Xie Biyan grinned, revealing his grim white teeth. "Please wait a moment, Young Master!"
To ensure nothing went wrong, Xie Biyan directly unleashed his martial soul. His previously restrained aura erupted, and a terrifying pressure shot into the heavens!
In an instant, an eerie blue-and-red curtain of light spread wildly from him, turning everything within a thousand meters into a poisonous purgatory!
This was one of Xie Biyan's ninth soul skills, the Blood Demon Poison Domain.
"Not good! A domain! Retreat!"
The moment Xie Biyan's aura erupted, Moonlight and Ghost Douluo sensed the soul power fluctuations that made them tremble. Ghost Douluo even shouted as black mist churned around him, intending to turn and flee.
This pressure was even slightly stronger than what Pope Bibi Dong had displayed!
But how could their speed compare to the speed at which a domain spread?
The moment they made to retreat, they were already completely enveloped by the blue-and-red Poison Domain.
A cold yet crushing pressure descended from nowhere. They felt the circulation of soul power within their bodies become sluggish by at least twenty percent in an instant!
At the same time, Xie Biyan's figure twisted amid poisonous mist and silently appeared before them as though he had teleported.
Moonlight and Ghost Douluo were terrified out of their wits and instinctively released their martial souls. The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and Ghost Spirit Soul appeared at the same time.
They stared in horror at the unfathomably powerful old man before them. In particular, when their gazes fell upon the blood-red hundred-thousand-year soul ring beneath Xie Biyan's feet, both men instantly recalled some unpleasant memories.
Yet Xie Biyan showed no intention of attacking them. He merely stood with his hands behind his back, made an inviting gesture, and said calmly:
"Gentlemen, my Young Master invites you to come down for a chat."
Yue Guan and Gui mei exchanged glances, each seeing deep suspicion and shock in the other's eyes.
Who was this man? And who was his Young Master? He had set up such an imposing formation merely to "invite" them? But if they obediently went with him, how would that be any different from walking into a trap?
Xie Biyan saw through their concerns and said disdainfully:
"Don't worry. If this old man wished to harm two little fellows like you, there would be no need for such tricks. With your strength, you aren't qualified to make this old man waste such effort."
"Senior, may I ask who your Young Master is?" Moonlight hesitated, but he still decided to clarify the situation first.
"You'll know who my Young Master is once you see him."
"This... Senior, the two of us still have a mission from Spirit Hall. I'm afraid we cannot leave with you." Yue Guan invoked Spirit Hall, hoping to make the other party wary.
"Heh heh, so you're asking this old man to act personally?"
Before he finished speaking, the enormous phantom of the Blood Demon Scorpion Emperor behind Xie Biyan raised its head and let out a soundless hiss. Terrifying killing intent pressed down on the two men like something tangible, leaving them unable to breathe. It looked ready to tear them to pieces at the slightest disagreement.
Faced with Xie Biyan's threat, Yue Guan and Gui mei displayed astonishing coordination. Their dignity as Titled Douluos would never allow them to surrender without a fight!
Without exchanging a single word, they attacked at once!
"Eighth Soul Skill, Myriad Streams of Flowing Light."
"Eighth Soul Skill, Hundred Ghosts Devouring the Heart."
In an instant, countless golden petals flashing with sharp metallic gleams gathered into a dazzling torrent, tearing through the mist within the Poison Domain and hurtling straight toward Xie Biyan's face. Wherever they passed, the air let out piercing wails!
Meanwhile, Gui mei seized the instant Xie Biyan's vision was obstructed to unleash a bizarre soul attack. The resentful thoughts of countless ghosts converged into a mental storm, as though it would drag one's soul into an endless hell!
Yet in the face of the thunderous combined attack of two Titled Douluos, Xie Biyan's expression did not change in the slightest. He merely slowly raised his right hand.
He did not even use a soul skill. He simply gave the empty air ahead of him a light slap.
The next moment, a massive blue-and-red palm appeared out of thin air and slammed toward the torrent of golden petals.
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