The final featured lot was the Two-Thousand-Year Soul Bone, dark red from end to end.
The auctioneer tapped his gavel. "Our final lot is a two-thousand-year leg Soul Bone from a Shadow Demon Leopard, with attributes suited to agility-type Soul Masters. Bidding starts at one million Gold Soul Coins."
As soon as he finished, Private Room Zero and Private Room Two raised their paddles almost simultaneously.
"One million one hundred thousand."
"One million two hundred thousand."
"One million three hundred thousand."
The price kept climbing.
Bibi Dong leaned back on the sofa. Her gaze swept past the glass window to Private Room Zero above and to the side, then to Private Room One directly opposite.
She tilted her head slightly toward Salas.
Taking the hint, Salas went to the window, raised his paddle, and called, "One million five hundred thousand."
Seeing Spirit Hall enter the bidding, Ning Fengzhi immediately raised his paddle. "One million seven hundred thousand."
At Bibi Dong's signal, Salas jumped straight to two million.
Seeing no sign of Spirit Hall backing down, Ning Fengzhi promptly raised his paddle again.
After two more exchanges, Salas called out two million nine hundred thousand.
Ning Fengzhi got carried away. He raised his paddle, ready to bid three million.
But Sword Douluo stopped him. "Fengzhi, I suspect Spirit Hall is doing this on purpose. Don't fall for it. A two-thousand-year Soul Bone isn't worth that price."
Ning Fengzhi looked toward Spirit Hall's group in Private Room Three, hesitation crossing his face.
When Ning Fengzhi failed to bid, Salas grew worried. "Your Highness, has Ning Fengzhi given up? The price is already thirty percent above its original value."
Bibi Dong calmly sipped her tea. "Don't worry. I have a way to make him bid."
Onstage, the auctioneer began the count. "Two million nine hundred thousand, going once!"
"Two million nine hundred thousand, going twice!"
Just then, Yue Guan stepped up to the window and said with great excitement, "My thanks to everyone for stepping aside. I—"
"Wait..." Ning Fengzhi could no longer hold back. "I bid three million!"
Sword Douluo said urgently, "Fengzhi, ah..."
Ning Fengzhi's voice turned cold. "Uncle Jian, I know what you mean, but every Soul Bone Spirit Hall gets only makes it stronger. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is rich enough to rival a nation. We can afford this. I'd rather pay more to keep this Soul Bone in Heaven Dou City."
"Since we've come across it, I won't let Spirit Hall have it, even if I never use it myself."
Sword Douluo sighed helplessly. "All right."
Yue Guan laughed. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly is the richest sect on the continent. Three million for a thousand-year Soul Bone! I'm impressed, truly impressed..."
Quite a few people in the hall could not help laughing under their breath.
Ning Fengzhi's expression darkened. "Damn it. Find out what Spirit Hall is doing in Heaven Dou City. Even one of the Pope's favorites is here. That matters far more than a Soul Bone."
Bibi Dong smiled faintly and stood. "Let's go."
Bibi Dong and her group left the auction ahead of everyone else.
Once outside, Yue Guan was still grinning. "Your Highness, you should have seen Ning Fengzhi's face at the end. He knew perfectly well we were driving up the price, but he swallowed it anyway."
Bibi Dong kept walking. "He swallowed it because he could afford to."
"Three million is nothing to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. But if he'd backed down, word would spread that Spirit Hall had frightened the sect into retreating at an auction."
"He couldn't afford that loss of face, either."
Salas said, "Your Highness is wise."
Only when they reached Spirit Hall Palace did Bibi Dong stop. "Salas, go back. Remember to keep a low profile in Heaven Dou City."
"The Pope has issued new rules. You must not defy them."
Salas immediately bowed. "Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness. But won't you and the elders come in to rest?"
Gui Mei said coldly, "Mind your own business. Don't ask what doesn't concern you."
"Yes, yes." Salas shuddered under Gui Mei's chilling aura and hurriedly nodded.
Bibi Dong and her group then left the city that very night, before Ning Fengzhi even had time to react.
After leaving the city, they returned to Sunset Forest.
Yue Guan knew Qian Xunji needed Immortal Herbs with fire attributes, so he picked several and placed them in the Wishful Treasure Pouch.
Then, leaving four Soul Douluos behind, Bibi Dong and the others returned to Spirit City overnight.
Spirit Hall, Lin Fan's quarters.
Qian Xunji examined the unconscious Lin Fan. "Blue Silver, there are signs his mental power has been damaged. Fortunately, you treated him in time. His life isn't in danger."
"But what exactly happened?"
Blue Silver stood beside the bed, clutching a bloodstained handkerchief. She looked shaken.
"I don't know, either." She shook her head. "I came in to bring him food and saw Lin Fan suddenly cough up a mouthful of blood before passing out."
"Oh, right. I heard him say something just before he fainted."
Qian Xunji pressed her. "What did he say?"
Imitating Lin Fan's startled tone, Blue Silver said, "He said, 'What the hell is this thing?' Then he passed out."
Qian Xunji thought it over but could not see how those words helped.
He could only say helplessly, "Forget it. We'll ask him when he wakes. In the meantime, tell me if there's any change in his condition."
Blue Silver nodded.
Lin Fan woke two days later.
"Hiss! My head feels swollen." As he came to, Lin Fan felt a dull ache in his head.
He sat up anxiously and muttered, "Could this be from when I hit my head?"
"Or has the blood clot in my brain pressed against a nerve?"
As he muttered about nerves, something seemed to occur to him.
"Damn, those lines in front of my eyes must be a network of nerves in my brain. When I imagined changing one, the blood clot touched something, and the pain made me cough up blood."
"That has to be it. I don't know anything about the brain, but I'm sure of it."
He was still mulling it over when the door opened.
"Lin Fan, you're awake?" Blue Silver came in carrying a bowl of porridge and hurried to his bedside. "You were unconscious for two days. You scared me to death."
"How do you feel now?"
"Two days?" Lin Fan froze. "I was out for two days?"
Damn. I've rested for days, but the injury in my brain still hasn't healed as easily as I thought it would.
"Don't scare yourself." Blue Silver comforted him gently. "I checked you over while you were unconscious. It's nothing serious."
"But you suddenly coughed up blood and fainted. Can you tell me exactly what you felt? Then I can treat you."
Lin Fan thought for a moment. "There are a lot of lines in front of my eyes, all different colors."
"One of them turned from red to black. I tried imagining it changing back to how it was."
"Then I passed out."
Blue Silver stared at him. "Lines of different colors? Lines that change color?"
She was bewildered. She could not understand what Lin Fan meant.
Lin Fan nodded. "At first, I thought it was a sign my eyesight was recovering. Everything looks blurry, and some of the threads drift around."
"Anyway, I can't explain it clearly. That's about it."
Blue Silver could only say helplessly, "All right. What you're describing is beyond what I know. We'll have to wait for Teacher to return from gathering herbs. I'll tell him exactly what you've told me."
"You've been out for two days. Have some porridge first."
"Mm."
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