After that indistinct voice fell silent, the auction hall grew quiet again.
Shen Yan stood on the circular platform, his gaze beneath his hood turning toward the private room that had placed the bid.
In the image, a burly middle-aged man sat on a sofa, his features resolute, his presence commanding without a hint of anger.
An enormous, lifelike blue dragon was embroidered on his chest.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!
Something stirred in Shen Yan's mind.
"Someone from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect."
He murmured, "Judging by that bearing, Sect Master Yu Yuanzhen must have come in person."
"In other words, the father of that Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang, who broke through fifty years of age at rank twenty-nine."
Shen Yan could not help wondering whether the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect could really produce that much money.
But even if they could, did they think five million would secure the God-bestowed Soul Ring?
In their dreams.
Shen Yan cleared his throat, preparing to repeat the current highest bid.
Before he could speak, however, Xue Ye stood straight up.
He raised one finger, his voice booming.
"Ten million Gold Soul Coins!"
At that price, sharp intakes of breath came from quite a few private rooms.
Ten million!
He had doubled it outright!
Shen Yan froze for a moment as well, then wild delight surged through him.
Ten million Gold Soul Coins!
That was already enough for him to buy another God-bestowed Soul Ring from the Conversion Table!
But it was not enough. He wanted more!
Shen Yan suppressed his excitement, remaining outwardly as calm as drifting clouds in a gentle breeze.
He spoke slowly, his voice carrying throughout the hall.
"The current highest bid is ten million Gold Soul Coins."
"Does anyone wish to raise the bid?"
Inside Skywater Academy's private room.
Shui Qingshuang looked at the Light Curtain before her, smiled helplessly, and shook her head.
"Sure enough, this is a battle between gods."
She sighed. "How could a tiny academy like ours afford to get involved?"
Shui Bing'er sat beside her, her delicate brows slightly knitted as she spoke softly.
"Headmistress, who do you think just placed that bid?"
Shui Qingshuang considered it.
"Anyone who dares bid like that..."
She paused. "It's either the Heaven Dou Imperial Family or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Shui Bing'er nodded lightly. "I agree. Most likely the imperial family or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Beside them, Xue Wu pursed her lips.
"Whoever it is, they're richer than us. I just wonder whether they'll manage to take it away safely in the end."
Before long, a gentle, composed voice rang out.
"Twenty million Gold Soul Coins."
This time, Ning Fengzhi had made his move.
Twenty million!
Another outright doubling!
The entire hall erupted.
But Ning Fengzhi knew that this price would certainly not secure the God-bestowed Soul Ring.
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's private room, Xue Ye glanced in Ning Fengzhi's direction.
He frowned, silently speculating.
The one who placed that bid... was it someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, or Spirit Hall?
Even the Heaven Dou Imperial Family had to think carefully about twenty million Gold Soul Coins.
But the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect possessed wealth to rival a nation, and Spirit Hall had even greater financial resources. Either was possible.
For the moment, Xue Ye could not be sure.
On the auction platform, Shen Yan's eyes lit up.
Twenty million!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect really is rich!
He rapidly calculated in his mind.
Ning Fengzhi was far-sighted and tactful, and he had shown Tang San the kindness of recognizing his worth.
In the original story, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had always stood by Tang San and ultimately risen to prominence because of him.
But now, Shen Yan intended to create his own Divine Realm. In the future, a great battle with Tang San, that favored son of fortune, would inevitably await him.
He needed to dismantle these sources of support for Tang San, little by little.
First came the immortal herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, then bringing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect under his command.
Beneath his hood, the corners of Shen Yan's mouth curved slightly upward.
Once the auction ends, I can use information about the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to win him over.
Putting those thoughts aside, Shen Yan cleared his throat.
"Twenty million Gold Soul Coins, the current highest bid."
"Does anyone wish to raise the bid?"
His voice echoed through the auction hall.
This time, the silence lasted longer than before.
Twenty million Gold Soul Coins was already beyond what the vast majority of factions could afford.
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's private room, Xue Ye's expression was rather grim.
He was hesitating.
It was not that the Heaven Dou Empire could not produce twenty million, but continuing to bid would mean dipping into the state treasury.
Was it worth drawing on the state treasury for a single God-bestowed Soul Ring?
Just as Xue Ye wavered indecisively.
A voice rang out.
That voice carried an air that brooked no challenge.
"Fifty million Gold Soul Coins."
Qian Daoliu had made his move.
He had no intention of wasting any more time with these people.
In one step, he raised the price to a height that left everyone else far behind in the dust.
Fifty million!
The instant that number was spoken, the entire auction hall fell deathly silent.
Everyone froze.
They had all guessed it too: the person who had just bid had to be from Spirit Hall.
And his opening bid was fifty million!
This was no longer bidding. This was using sheer wealth to silence everyone!
At the same time, it was also showing Shen Yan respect; they had not used their power to bully anyone.
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's private room.
Xue Ye's fists clenched involuntarily.
Fifty million...
Even if he wanted to match it, he could no longer afford to.
After a long silence, Xue Ye finally let out a deep sigh and slowly sat down.
"Forget it."
A trace of helplessness colored his voice. "This opportunity has nothing to do with us anymore."
Beside him, "Xue Qinghe" lowered his head slightly, concealing the emotions in his eyes.
He knew his grandfather had made his move.
And this God-bestowed Soul Ring was definitely intended for him.
Inside Dugu Bo's private room.
The old monster sat on the sofa, looking down at the Wishing Treasure Pouch in his hands and muttering softly.
"Fifty million... fifty million..."
All his Gold Soul Coins added together amounted to only around five million.
Even with the special medicinal herbs he had dug up from his herb garden, he did not know whether they would equal half the other party's bid.
Dugu Bo gently stroked the Wishing Treasure Pouch and spoke helplessly.
"Spirit Hall really is rich."
He raised his head and looked at the black-robed figure on the auction platform, his eyes filled with hesitation.
"I hope these medicinal herbs can catch this Tower Master's discerning eye."
Dugu Bo raised his hand and held out the Wishing Treasure Pouch, requesting a valuation.
For Yanyan's sake, he had to try.
Even if hope was slim, he had to give it everything he had!
This might be her only chance to survive.
Shen Yan received the request, and a panel appeared before him that only he could see.
"So, it's here..."
He reached out to accept it, and the Wishing Treasure Pouch in Dugu Bo's hands instantly appeared in Shen Yan's.
He extended his Soul Power inside and saw more than a dozen immortal herbs planted in the soil, his eyes brightening slightly.
"They really are those immortal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!"
"Luckily, this old bastard doesn't know their worth. I can't give him too high a price."
"Without these immortal herbs, Tang San and his group's strength will inevitably drop by a huge amount!"
Shen Yan waved his hand, and the Wishing Treasure Pouch returned to Dugu Bo's hands.
At this, disappointment flashed across Dugu Bo's face.
"So, these things still aren't good enough for him?"
Just then, a voice rang out that only Dugu Bo could hear.
"The herbs are good. Stay after the auction."
Before you continue