A Battle Skill Worth Hundreds of Millions

"Number 2200, five hundred and fifty thousand." Someone immediately began raising the bid. Although they knew the owner of this battle skill had to be one of the three great clans, they were still unwilling to accept it. Who among them did not hope for a miracle?

"Number 176, six hundred thousand." Others raised the bid as well, naturally sharing the same hope.

Quite a few people merely watched the scene unfold. They understood that they lacked the means and might as well wait for the final result. There were also many deliberately driving up the price. Since the three great clans had money, they wanted to force them to bleed heavily.

Xiao Yan was somewhat uneasy, especially because of this beautiful woman. Though his intuition told him that she was helping him for neither a condition nor ten times the price, he still could not understand why a stranger would treat him this way.

The woman naturally noticed Xiao Yan's unease, but she had no intention of explaining herself to him. Besides, this fellow had actually dared to tell her to take a detour. If she did not get a little revenge, she would not feel satisfied.

"One million." The Qin Clan Patriarch could wait no longer and directly displayed the bearing of a great clan.

"One million two hundred thousand." The Xue Clan Patriarch announced his price as well. As patriarchs of two of the three great clans, neither of them needed to state a number. No one would compete with them.

"One million two hundred and fifty thousand." Xiao Tian spoke expressionlessly.

The contest between the three great clans had officially begun. Xiao Yan clenched his hands tightly. Though he guessed that the woman's identity was far from simple, he was still worried. After all, she had shown no intention of bidding yet.

The woman looked at Xiao Yan, and a beautiful curve lifted at the corner of her lips. This was the first time she had encountered someone who dared attend an auction without money. Given her status, the people she usually met were elders from great clans, all powerful and wealthy individuals. Yet she felt a trace of admiration for Xiao Yan.

"One million five hundred thousand," the Qin Clan Patriarch said.

"One million eight hundred thousand," Xiao Tian said. The clan had already decided to assess Xiao Yan, and Xiao Tian also hoped that a battle skill could persuade Xiao Yan to join Heavenly Spirit Continent. Then what Xiao Wanqing had failed to accomplish could be completed by Xiao Yan.

"Two million." The Xue Clan Patriarch thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and added another two hundred thousand. However, this was already his limit. Though he was determined to obtain this battle skill, the financial pressure was enormous. The Xue Clan did not belong to him alone. If he raised the price any further, the Xue Clan elders would fly into a rage. Still, the next words made him breathe a sigh of relief.

"Xue Clan Patriarch, how imposing. I concede," the Qin Clan Patriarch said.

"And you, Xiao Tian? If your Xiao Clan can offer a higher price, I can withdraw." The Xue Clan Patriarch looked at Xiao Tian smugly.

"Since you are so wealthy, there is no harm in giving the battle skill to you." Though reluctant, Xiao Tian still gave up. Xiao Yan might be outstanding, but he had yet to pass the Xiao Clan's assessment. He was not worth spending so much money on. If Xiao Yan passed one day, they could find an opportunity to compensate him then. Surely he would put the clan's interests first.

"Two million from the Qin Clan Patriarch. Any higher bids?" the auctioneer asked the crowd below.

The venue fell silent. The woman beside Xiao Yan said nothing either. Yet Xiao Yan's heart instead calmed down. He had never truly had any hope of obtaining this battle skill. He really had been too impulsive. The Qin Clan Patriarch, meanwhile, was smiling broadly.

"Two million. That's expensive. Are you sure our agreement will still stand?" As the finale item, it required three hammer calls before the sale was finalized, and bidding could continue before the third call.

"If you can afford it, the agreement stands." Xiao Yan knew that he did not have much time and could not afford to think further.

A Battle Skill Worth Hundreds of Millions

The auctioneer raised the hammer high for the third time. At that moment, a gentle yet clear voice rang out. "I bid fifty million." Everyone followed the sound, and when they saw the woman's peerless beauty, they were completely stunned. No one knew whether they were captivated by her appearance or shocked by her bid of fifty million.

Many people's auction plaques, including Xiao Yan's, fell straight to the floor. Quite a few thought they had misheard. Even the auctioneer dropped the hammer in his hand, looking at the woman with great respect.

The venue was utterly silent. Silent—deathly silent.

"Not enough? Then I'll raise my bid to one hundred million. One hundred million Spirit Coins." The woman smiled at the auctioneer.

Everyone stared at the woman in shock. Could this breathtaking woman be a fool? One hundred million was enough not only to buy an Emperor-Tier Battle Skill, but even a Divine-Tier Battle Skill.

"I'll have someone deliver the battle skill to you. Even if I gave it to you now, you wouldn't be able to take it back." The woman looked at the stunned Xiao Yan, a smug smile on her face. With that, she turned and walked toward the entrance. The people there immediately made way for her.

"As expected of Miss. Being rich really lets you do whatever you want. One hundred million! But I suppose you'll be thinking about repaying Miss every day from now on. You'll still owe Miss even when you die. Serves you right for daring to tell Miss to move aside." Xiao Yun giggled beside Xiao Yan.

Though Xiao Yan found it difficult to accept for the moment and knew that he had definitely encountered a profiteer, he did not let it trouble him.

"Tell your miss that one day, Xiao Yan will repay her every last coin." Xiao Yan spoke without fear, filled only with fearlessness. After all, one billion Spirit Coins was still finite. Xiao Yan believed that one day, he would be able to do it.

"Hmph. A reckless brat who knows neither his limits nor the immensity of heaven and earth." After glaring at Xiao Yan, Xiao Yun ran off to catch up with her miss.

Xiao Yan ignored the stunned crowd around him and walked straight out of the auction house. Xiao Jian had no idea what they had been talking about, but seeing Xiao Yan leave, he followed him out.

Behind the auction house.

"Miss, Miss, you're amazing! This was much more fun than slapping Xiao Yan to death. One billion Spirit Coins! You could probably buy all of Spirit Prefecture with that." Xiao Yun looked at the woman drinking tea with a face full of admiration.

The woman merely smiled and said nothing. Money held no attraction for her. She had done this partly to lightly punish Xiao Yan for actually suspecting that she had no money, and partly to compensate the Xiao Clan. After all, what they had done back then had been far from honorable. She was her sister, but...

"But what a pity. I thought Xiao Yan would be in utter agony, crying and begging Miss not to give him the battle skill and to cancel the agreement. Yet Xiao Yan looked completely calm, as if one billion were nothing more than cabbages. How disappointing. I didn't get to see that." Xiao Yun complained to her miss, somewhat unwillingly.

"Is that so? Then that truly suits his style." The woman was not surprised by this outcome.

"Miss, don't you find it strange?"

"Would someone who dared say, 'You could have taken a detour,' on World-Creation Continent care about a mere one billion? Perhaps Wanqing's seal can be lifted." A trace of sorrow appeared in the woman's eyes.

"Manager, the battle skill you requested has been prepared." Someone bowed to the woman.

"Mm. Go personally to the Xiao Clan branch and deliver the battle skill to Xiao Yan," the woman said.

"Yes. I'll take care of it immediately."

"I hope you can truly grow stronger. That way, I can lessen my guilt toward Wanqing." The woman spoke softly.