Ning Fengzhi led Chen Xin and Gu Rong through the void gate and into a private room.
The room was small, with a round table and three sofas.
Before them was an enormous transparent screen of light, through which they could clearly see everything on the central auction platform.
As soon as Ning Fengzhi sat down, he instinctively circulated his Soul Power, wanting to probe for information within the tower.
But the next second, his expression changed drastically.
"Where's my Soul Power?"
Hearing this, Chen Xin and Gu Rong tried at the same time, with exactly the same result.
The two exchanged a glance, each seeing shock in the other's eyes.
"It can even seal our Soul Power..."
Chen Xin's voice was low. "The master of this tower may truly be a deity."
Ning Fengzhi smiled helplessly.
"In that case, let's behave ourselves and get ready for the auction."
"If we can secure this God-bestowed Soul Ring for Rongrong, perhaps it can let her break through the level 79 limit!"
In the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's private room, Xue Ye likewise discovered that his Soul Power had been sealed.
His face alternated between green and white before he finally let out a long sigh.
"A tower that even Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo together couldn't withstand, that can seal all our Soul Power..."
Xue Ye said quietly, "Other than a deity, I can think of no other possibility."
Beside him, Xue Qinghe lowered his head slightly, concealing the sharp gleam in his eyes.
He understood better than anyone what a deity meant.
Because his grandfather, Qian Daoliu, was the guardian of the Angel God.
And now, the master of this tower actually possessed god-level power too!?
Lights came on in the private rooms one after another.
Dugu Bo, Prince Xue Xing, the three education commissioners of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the deans and representatives of the Four Elemental Academies...
Everyone's first reaction upon entering their private room was to try circulating their Soul Power.
Then, everyone was stunned.
Their Soul Power had been sealed completely.
For a time, discussions filled the private rooms, but no matter what was said, there was only one conclusion.
The master of this tower was definitely a deity!
Otherwise, who could possibly have the ability to seal the Soul Power of so many powerful people at once?
Once all the token holders had entered their private rooms, a figure slowly appeared on the central auction platform.
It was someone dressed in a black robe.
The loose black robe enveloped the figure completely.
Not even a face was visible, only a patch of profound darkness hidden beneath the hood.
He stood quietly in the center of the circular platform, as though he had walked out of the void.
The next moment, a deep, resonant voice reached every private room.
Specially processed by the Nine Dragon Tower, the voice betrayed neither age nor gender.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Nine Dragon Tower."
"I know you must all be very nervous right now."
The black-robed figure raised a hand slightly, his voice growing a little gentler.
"Sealing your Soul Power was not an attempt to make things difficult for you."
"There are simply too many powerful people within this tower."
"I do not wish to see anyone break the auction's rules in a moment of impulse."
"Your Soul Power has been sealed only so that everyone can feel more at ease and focus on the auction."
"Once you leave this place, your Soul Power will naturally return."
Hearing this, the expressions of those in the private rooms eased considerably.
At least this Tower Master did not appear to intend them harm.
"Next, I will explain the auction rules."
The black-robed figure's voice rang out again.
"This auction will be anonymous throughout."
"Your private rooms are isolated from one another, so you cannot learn the identities of the other bidders."
"Once bidding begins, I will announce the current highest bid in real time."
"If you wish to raise the bid, simply call it out."
"When no one raises the bid any further, the current highest bidder will win the item."
"Payment must be made on the spot upon completion of the sale. No credit will be extended."
"Gold Soul Coins, immortal herbs, Soul Bones, rare metals-anything of equivalent value may be used as payment."
"Those are all the rules. Does anyone have any questions?"
After a few seconds of silence, an indistinct voice sounded.
"May I ask, Tower Master, what are these immortal herbs?"
Shen Yan turned toward the source of the voice. Sure enough, it was Dugu Bo.
"You may think of them as special medicinal herbs."
The voice rang out again.
"Then, Tower Master, how will these immortal herbs and Soul Bones be appraised?"
"I will appraise them according to their value, with absolute fairness."
Dugu Bo said nothing more. Although he had dug up all the immortal herbs in his medicinal garden and brought them along, he did not know their value.
However, he had also replanted some seeds. If they proved highly valuable, more would surely grow.
On the auction platform.
Shen Yan looked around, though his face was not visible.
Yet everyone could feel his gaze sweeping across every private room.
"Since no one has any questions, then..."
He raised his hand and beckoned.
A ring of ripples spread through the space above the auction platform.
The next moment, a metal sphere bearing crimson patterns slowly emerged from the void and hovered in midair.
As soon as the metal sphere appeared, an invisible fluctuation spread outward from it in every direction.
The fluctuation passed through the walls and reached every private room.
The reactions in the private rooms were entirely different.
The three education commissioners of Heaven Dou Royal Academy only felt as though something had been added to the air.
But they could not say exactly what it was.
The people from the Four Elemental Academies were equally bewildered, completely unable to sense anything special about the fluctuation.
But the expressions of Chen Xin, Gu Rong, and the other experts at Titled Douluo level or above changed drastically.
Chen Xin abruptly stood, his eyes filled with shock.
"This fluctuation... it's divinity!"
Gu Rong drew a deep breath.
"That's right, it's a God-bestowed Soul Ring!"
"Only a Soul Ring bestowed by a deity could give off such a pure fluctuation of divinity!"
Ning Fengzhi's hands trembled slightly.
"It really is a God-bestowed Soul Ring!"
Ning Fengzhi clenched his fists. "Good thing I brought all the funds the sect could mobilize!"
In Qian Daoliu's private room, his pupils suddenly contracted.
He was more familiar with the aura of divinity than anyone.
There were remnants of divinity within the Angel Temple.
"It really is a God-bestowed Soul Ring!" Qian Daoliu's voice was somewhat hoarse.
On the auction platform, Shen Yan took in everyone's reactions.
One of the Nine Dragon Tower's functions was to receive real-time emotional feedback from every private room.
Shock, greed, desire, apprehension...
Beneath his hood, the corners of Shen Yan's mouth lifted slightly.
That's exactly the effect I wanted!
He cleared his throat, and his voice once again carried throughout the venue.
"Auction item: one God-bestowed Soul Ring."
"It has no attribute, is compatible with any absorber, and its age will equal the limit of what the absorber can withstand."
"Now, the auction officially begins."
His voice faded.
The auction hall was utterly silent.
No one bid.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Still, no one spoke.
Shen Yan stood on the circular platform, his face stiffening slightly beneath his hood.
What's going on?
What the heck are you all doing? Start fighting over it already!
He ranted furiously inwardly, but on the surface, he still had to maintain the Tower Master's cold, aloof image.
In truth, the crowd could hardly be blamed.
Something like a God-bestowed Soul Ring was simply too precious.
Most of them had only come to watch the excitement.
Seated here were Qian Daoliu, Spirit Hall's Great Enshrined, the Heaven Dou Emperor, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
With these big shots yet to speak, who else would dare make the first move?
Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward, Prince Xue Xing stood.
"None of you want to start the battle, is that it?"
Prince Xue Xing snorted. "Then I shall fire the opening shot!"
"One million Gold Soul Coins!"
Transmitted through the Nine Dragon Tower, his voice sounded indistinctly throughout the auction hall.
Someone had finally placed a bid!
Shen Yan breathed a sigh of relief and immediately repeated, "One million Gold Soul Coins, the current highest bid..."
Before he finished speaking.
Another indistinct voice rang out.
"Five million Gold Soul Coins."
The price jumped straight from one million to five million!
Before you continue