Battle Skill Worth a Fortune

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

"Number 176, six hundred thousand." Others raised the price as well, naturally harboring 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 Lineages had money, they would inflate the bids on purpose and make them bleed heavily for once.

Xiao Yan was somewhat uneasy, especially because of this beautiful woman. Although his instincts told him that she was helping him for more than a condition, and certainly not for ten times the price, why would a stranger treat him like this?

The woman naturally noticed Xiao Yan's unease, but she would not explain 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 comfortable.

"One million." The Qin Clan's patriarch could wait no longer and directly displayed the bearing of a great Lineage.

"One million two hundred thousand." The Xue Clan's patriarch announced his price as well. As patriarchs of two of the three great Lineages, they did not even need to state their numbers. No one would compete with them.

"One million two hundred and fifty thousand." Xiao Tian spoke without expression.

The clash among the three great Lineages had officially begun. Xiao Yan's hands clenched tightly together. Although he guessed that the woman's identity was far from ordinary, he was still worried. After all, she showed no sign of making a move.

The woman looked at Xiao Yan, the corners of her lips curving into a beautiful arc. This was the first time she had encountered someone who dared attend an auction without money. Given her status, everyone she usually met was an elder from some great Lineage, people with both strength and vast wealth. Yet she held a trace of admiration for Xiao Yan.

"One million five hundred thousand." The Qin Clan's patriarch said.

"One million eight hundred thousand." Xiao Tian said. The Lineage had already decided to assess Xiao Yan, and he hoped to use this battle skill to persuade Xiao Yan to join Heavenly Spirit Continent. That way, what Xiao Wanqing had failed to accomplish could be completed by Xiao Yan.

"Two million." After considering it, the Xue Clan's patriarch 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 immense. The Xue Clan did not belong to him alone. If he raised the price further, the Xue Clan elders would fly into a towering rage. But what came next made him breathe a sigh of relief.

"Patriarch Xue is truly imposing. I willingly admit defeat." The Qin Clan's patriarch said.

"Xiao Tian, what about you? If your Xiao Clan can offer a higher price, I can withdraw." The Xue Clan's patriarch looked at Xiao Tian smugly.

"Since you are so wealthy, there is no harm in letting you have the battle skill." 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 someday, they could find another chance to compensate him. Surely he would place the Lineage's interests first.

"Patriarch Qin, bid two million. Is there anyone offering more?" 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 in the first place. He really had been too irrational. The Qin Clan's patriarch, meanwhile, was all smiles.

"Two million. That's expensive. Are you sure you still want to continue our agreement?" As the finale item, it followed the rule of three hammer calls. Bids could continue until the third call came down.

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

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 turned toward the voice. When they saw the woman's peerless beauty, they were utterly stunned, unable to tell whether they were captivated by her appearance or shocked by her bid of fifty million.

Many people's auction paddles, including Xiao Yan's, fell straight to the floor. Quite a few felt they were hearing things. Even the auctioneer dropped the hammer in his hand, looking at the woman with utter respect.

The hall was silent as a grave—quiet, deathly quiet.

"Not enough? Then I'll raise my price to one hundred million. One hundred million spirit coins." The woman smiled at the auctioneer.

Everyone stared at the woman in astonishment. Could this breathtakingly beautiful 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 away." The woman looked at the stunned Xiao Yan, a smug smile appearing on her face. After speaking, she turned and walked toward the door. The people there immediately made way for her.

"As expected of Miss. When you have money, you can be as willful as you please. One hundred million! Still, I reckon you'll be thinking about repaying it every day from now on. Even when you die, you'll still owe Miss money. You dared tell Miss to make way—serves you right." 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 ruthless profiteer, he did not let it give him a headache.

"Go tell your Miss that one day, Xiao Yan will repay her every last gold coin." Xiao Yan spoke without fear, filled only with dauntlessness. A billion spirit coins was ultimately finite. Xiao Yan believed that one day, he would accomplish it.

"Hmph, a brat who doesn't know life from death, who doesn't know the height of heaven or the depth of earth." After glaring at Xiao Yan, Xiao Yun ran off to catch up with her Miss.

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

Behind the auction house.

"Miss, Miss, you're incredible! This is much more fun than slapping that Xiao Yan to death. A billion spirit coins! You could probably buy all of Spirit Prefecture with that." Xiao Yun looked worshipfully at the woman drinking tea.

The woman merely smiled and said nothing. Money held no allure for her. She had done this first to lightly punish Xiao Yan for actually suspecting that she had no money, and second to compensate the Xiao Clan. After all, what they had done in that matter had been far too dishonorable. She was Wanqing's sister, but...

"But what a pity. I thought Xiao Yan would be so miserable that he would cry and beg Miss not to buy the battle skill, begging to cancel the agreement. Yet Xiao Yan looked completely calm, as though one billion were nothing more than cabbages. What a disappointment—I didn't get to see that." Xiao Yun complained to her Miss with some reluctance.

"Is that so? That really does suit his style." The woman was not surprised by this result.

"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 billion? Perhaps Wanqing's seal can be lifted." A trace of sorrow appeared in the woman's eyes.

"Manager, the battle skill you requested is ready." 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 handle it immediately."

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