"Bishop Salas, this is an auction house. The highest bidder wins."
Just then, a refined, gentle voice came from the private box to Yu Tianming's right, and its screen was withdrawn immediately afterward.
Ning Fengzhi's scholarly figure appeared before everyone, his robes as sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda particularly eye-catching.
The white-haired man beside him had an indifferent gaze and resembled a razor-sharp longsword.
Chen Xin of the way of the sword, a rank ninety-six Titled Douluo and one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's two guardian Douluos. His title-Sword!
At the sight of the two, the bidders throughout the auction house caught their breath.
Many cupped their hands in greeting. "Greetings, Sect Master Ning, Your Eminence Sword Douluo!"
"Twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins."
Ning Fengzhi waved a hand to indicate that there was no need for such formalities, then looked at Salas with a composed smile.
Salas's expression shifted slightly. Clearly, he had not expected the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to be at the auction, much less to bid against him.
Salas raised his paddle again, his face dark. "Thirty thousand."
Seeing the two bidding, Yu Tianming did not remain a spectator. He did not want to give up this "Jade Spirit Crystal," which might be Gold of Life.
"Thirty-five thousand!"
Yu Tianming refused to yield, calling out his bid directly.
"Hmph!"
Seeing that someone else dared to bid, Salas's expression darkened further.
Ning Fengzhi was one thing. As sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, his standing was higher than Salas's.
But across the entire continent, Salas believed few could compare to him.
There were only those few from the Upper Three Sects, the emperors and princes of the two great empires, and the Supreme Pontiff, elders, and consecrators of his own faction...
Salas swept a cold gaze toward Yu Tianming's box, his voice chilling. "Forty thousand Gold Soul Coins!"
"My friend, you had best think carefully before bidding."
The threat in his words could not have been clearer.
Inside the box, Dugu Yan snorted. "That old bastard is throwing his weight around just because he's a Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall!"
Yu Tianming and Yu Tianheng exchanged a glance, both brothers revealing confident smiles at the same time.
"So what if he's a Platinum Bishop?" Yu Tianming reached out and pressed the reveal button inside the box. The one-way glass screen vanished instantly.
The box was fully exposed to everyone.
Yu Tianming stood quietly before the glass, looking down at the auction item below. His deep eyes were full of oppressive force, and his medium-length black hair stirred without a breeze.
Though young, his presence was fierce.
Compared with Ning Fengzhi, Salas, and the others, he merely looked a little immature. He showed not the slightest stage fright!
Yu Tianheng stood beside him, a gleam of lightning flashing through his eyes.
Dugu Yan folded her arms, staring straight at Salas with fearless emerald eyes.
As for Ye Lingling and the others, although their backgrounds were far from ordinary, they were not enough to compare with Salas, so they did not draw too much attention to themselves.
"Fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins."
Yu Tianming's voice was calm, every word ringing with weight.
The entire room erupted!
Salas's pupils abruptly contracted, and his expression turned utterly ugly.
He recognized the three-the grandsons of Yu Yuanzhen, sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the pearl in Poison Douluo Dugu Bo's palm!
Among them,
Yu Tianming was not merely Yu Yuanzhen's grandson, but also the young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!
"So it's the young friends from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Poison Douluo's young lady..." Salas forcibly suppressed his anger, his voice dry.
Though he held the lofty position of Platinum Bishop,
he did not dare act too brazenly toward direct descendants and young sect masters of the Upper Three Sects, or someone like Dugu Yan, who had a Titled Douluo backing her.
A trace of surprise flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes when he saw Yu Tianming and the others, followed by a gentle smile.
"So my two worthy nephews, Tianming and Tian Heng, are here, along with Miss Dugu."
He cupped his hands, his voice as warm and smooth as jade.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin also nodded slightly. His gaze lingered on Yu Tianming a moment longer, as though he had some interest in this young sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Yu Tianming and Yu Tianheng returned the greeting without servility or arrogance. "Greetings, Uncle Ning, Your Eminence Sword Douluo."
Dugu Yan also reined in her earlier sharpness and responded politely with a smile. "Hello, Sect Master Ning, Your Eminence Sword Douluo."
Ning Fengzhi waved a hand and smiled. "Since my worthy nephew wants this Jade Spirit Crystal, as your elder, I won't compete with you."
With that, he signaled to the auctioneer that he was withdrawing from the bidding.
The entire room erupted once more!
The sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had actually yielded of his own accord?
Although Ning Fengzhi had spoken courteously, anyone with discerning eyes could see that he was giving face to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan-or rather, to its young sect master, Yu Tianming!
Salas's expression grew even uglier.
Ning Fengzhi's withdrawal meant he would have to face the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's bid alone.
If he continued raising the price, it would amount to offending two of the Upper Three Sects at once. Even as a Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall, he had to weigh the consequences.
What was more, Poison Douluo's granddaughter was watching like a tiger from the side.
That old poisoner Dugu Bo was notorious for protecting his own and holding grudges!
"Fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins, going once!"
At that moment, the auctioneer's voice broke the brief silence.
Salas clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened. In the end, he gave a cold snort and did not raise his paddle again.
"Fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins, going twice!"
"Fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins, going three times-sold!"
The auction hammer came down heavily.
"Congratulations, young sir! The Jade Spirit Crystal is yours!"
The auctioneer announced it with a broad smile.
Inside the box, Dugu Yan excitedly patted Yu Tianming's shoulder. "Not bad, Tianming! You even managed to suppress that old fellow Salas!"
Yu Tianheng also smiled. "A Platinum Bishop may have high standing, but Tianming is the young sect master of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. He represents the sect when he's outside. Who would dare slight him?"
Yu Tianming smiled faintly without saying anything. His gaze remained fixed on the Jade Spirit Crystal, his eyes full of anticipation.
I hope this thing really is what I think it is...
Soon,
an attendant delivered the Jade Spirit Crystal to the box.
"What a pure presence of life...!"
Ye Lingling's Martial Soul was Nine Heart Begonia, making her more sensitive to the presence of life than ordinary people. Her beautiful eyes immediately lit up.
"It looks like Tianming's fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins were well spent!"
Observing it up close, Yu Tianming became even more certain of his guess.
This so-called "Jade Spirit Crystal" was very likely the legendary Gold of Life!
Only,
for some unknown reason, its life energy and presence had been concealed, and the presence of life leaking out was not that rich.
Otherwise, a few tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins would never have been enough to buy it!
According to the original story's description, Gold of Life was a solid, refined form of vitality, formed when incomparably vast vitality condensed through millions upon millions of years of nurturing or the unique workings of heaven and earth.
The vitality contained in a single piece of Gold of Life equaled that of an entire world!
If a Soul Master could refine a piece of Gold of Life, their physique and vitality, and even their spiritual power, would undergo a qualitative leap.
An unexpected windfall... This thing's value is not the slightest bit inferior to Immortal Herbs or a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. It surpasses them rather than falls short!
Delight filled Yu Tianming's eyes as he put the "Jade Spirit Crystal" into his Storage Soul Tool.