Qin Yu merely glanced at the Radiant Extreme Soul-Annihilating Shield Core before looking away. While the flowing annihilation ripples were indeed profound, he knew very well that although this treasure was rare, it leaned more towards defense and counter-attack; its true value lay in dealing with practitioners who relied on cause and effect and rules. For him, the defensive components he had previously purchased, Realm-Sealing Causal Disc and the Returning Evolving Reflection Abyss Mirror, were already sufficient to cover such threats—what he needed was something that could turn the tide in a true life-or-death duel.
He didn't make a bid, but quietly picked up the luminous jade cup on the table, took a sip of the clear tea, and let the surrounding noise fade into distant sounds.
Soon, an elderly man in Purple Radiance robe next to the golden-robed man locked onto the item with his divine sense and began a fierce bidding war with a middle-aged cultivator in black robes at another seat.
Five hundred and fifty million.
Six hundred million.
"Seven hundred and twenty million."
The shouts of bidders were like intersecting blades, slicing through the air with solidified ripples, as if even the space on the auction stage trembled slightly.
Finally, when the price climbed to one billion Annihilation Starlight Crystal, the old man in the Purple Radiance robe revealed a confident smile and said calmly:
"One billion."
The black-robed cultivator's brow twitched for a moment, but he ultimately remained silent. The instant the auctioneer loudly announced the sale, the Radiant Extreme Soul-Annihilating Shield Core transformed into a stream of light and fell into the hand of the Purple Radiance Elder, followed by a few sighs and expressions of envy from those around him.
Qin Yu remained calm, placing the teacup back on the table and gazing steadily into the depths of the auction stage—he was waiting for the treasure that would truly move him to appear.
Just moments after the Radiant Extreme Soul-Annihilating Shield Core was taken away, the light in the entire Radiant Abyss Fate Splendor Hall suddenly dimmed for a moment. Then, from the depths of the auction stage, a black obsidian light box wrapped with ninety-nine annihilation chains rose up.
The surface of the light box was covered with ancient characters that were difficult to decipher. Each stroke seemed to carry the fluctuations of annihilation and world World Extinguisher, and even the void was etched with layers of dark ripples. Around the lid of the box, countless tiny gray-white light spots, like stars, floated. They did not emit light, but they were like black holes that could devour one's vision, making one more and more drawn into them the longer one looked at them.
As the auctioneer's fingers lightly touched the chains, a deep and ancient rumble suddenly resounded in the hall, a sound wave that could even shake the spacetime barrier in the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer. The ninety-nine chains were released one after another, and a series of shattered starscapes appeared in the void—some star fields had completely collapsed, some universes had been torn in two, and chaotic storms roared in the boundless ruins.
As the last chain snapped, the box lid slowly opened, and an indescribable chill and oppressive aura burst forth—a pressure that struck directly into the sea of consciousness, causing many cultivators with slightly weaker cultivation levels below to turn pale and their robes to be soaked with sweat.
A gray-gold cube component floats silently in the light box, each face constantly changing shape—sometimes a chilling bone relief, sometimes a mirror that seems to contain the entire sea of time and space, and even for a moment it transforms into a slowly opening eye, staring straight at everyone below the stage from inside the cube.
"This item—" the auctioneer's voice carried an unusual solemnity, "Is a remnant from the Ownerless Realm, called the Annihilation Abyss Mirror Prison Heart Core. It can seal the soul and causal chains of an enemy within a construct, until they are completely obliterated, with no chance of return. Whether in physical form, rule-based form, or purely conceptual existence, all can be imprisoned within it."
The moment these words were spoken, the entire room fell silent; even the sound of breathing seemed to freeze.
Many cultivators' eyes flashed with greed—this was not just a defense, but the Ultimate component that combined imprisonment and killing. Even Severed Observation Realm · Peak would have to pay a terrible price to break free if sealed inside.
Qin Yu's eyes finally lit up slightly for a moment.
If he wasn't mistaken, once this Annihilation Abyss Mirror Prison Heart Core is combined with the Realm-Sealing Causal Disc and the Returning Realm Evolving Reflection Abyss Mirror, it will form an almost unsolvable triple seal—enough to deal with the Severed Observation Realm · Supreme, and even temporarily imprison the Chaos Realm · Initial Stage.
Qin Yu slightly raised his eyes, looking at the Annihilation Abyss Mirror Prison Heart Core in the center of the auction stage, a faint glint of sharpness flashing in the depths of his eyes.
The auctioneer took a deep breath, suppressing the tremor caused by the pressure from the core, and announced in a deep voice:
Starting bid: 100 million Annihilation Starlight Crystal! Each bid must be at least 10 million higher!
As soon as the voice fell, the previously deathly silent hall erupted in chaos.
"These kinds of prison shackles... a starting price of 100 million isn't high at all!"
"If we can obtain it, even those at the Severed Observation Realm can be trapped and killed! This item is definitely worth fighting for!"
Almost before the auctioneer had finished speaking, the first bid rang out like thunder.
"One hundred and fifty million!"
Immediately afterwards--
"One hundred and eighty million!"
"Two hundred million!"
Two hundred and fifty million!
Prices soared like wildfire, and the Spiritual Qi and killing intent within the hall intertwined imperceptibly. Several cultivators from core forces exchanged glances, secretly locking onto each other, their clashing auras causing the void to tremble slightly.
Qin Yu remained seated in the back, his expression calm, his fingertips lightly tapping on the armrest of his seat, as if calculating some kind of Threshold point.
Soon, the price broke through 500 million. At this point, the bidding was no longer at a level that ordinary cultivators could afford. All those left were representatives of major powers. There were even two experts at the Only Book Realm · Peak exchanging cold stares, seemingly ready to fight to the death instead of using spirit crystals.
Six hundred million.
This was the first time Qin Yu had spoken.
His voice was neither fast nor slow, yet it was like a silent pebble thrown into a lake, instantly drawing everyone's attention to him.
Some people immediately frowned—this young man looked unfamiliar, his aura was so restrained that it was almost imperceptible, yet he could speak calmly at this stage, which must mean he had something to rely on. What made them even more uneasy was that when he spoke, the "eye" inside the Annihilation Abyss Mirror Prison Heart Core actually turned slightly, as if it had glanced at Qin Yu from afar.
"Seven hundred million!"
"Seven hundred and fifty million!"
Prices continued to soar, and a chilling sense of impending doom hung over the entire hall.
Qin Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, and just as the bid paused at nine hundred million, his voice rang out again:
"1.2 billion."
For a moment, even the auctioneer's breath caught in his throat.
The hall was eerily quiet. Almost everyone was weighing their options—1.2 billion Annihilation Starlight Crystal were enough to exchange for a top-tier semi-divine weapon. Should they continue their deadly struggle against this seemingly calm but unfathomable young man?
Two breaths later, the cultivator at the Only Book Realm · Peak in the front row smiled meaningfully, but slowly leaned back in his chair and fell silent. The other person also lowered his eyes and withdrew his aura expressionlessly.
"1.2 billion, once."
"1.2 billion, twice."
"1.2 billion, three times -- Sold!"
As the auction hammer fell, the ninety-nine annihilation chains once again encircled the core, sealing it within a heavy obsidian box. Two attendants, with utmost solemnity, presented the box to Qin Yu.
The moment Qin Yu's fingertips touched the lid of the box, that familiar, oppressive feeling that could seal away concepts and existence slid into his sea of consciousness along his meridians, only to be easily swallowed up by the Azure Evolution Core.
A slight smile played on his lips.
With the Annihilation Abyss Mirror Prison Heart Core, three days later in the Desolate Annihilation Secret Realm, he will have a trump card to deal with or even counter any being he faces, no matter what kind of being he encounters.
The silence in the hall lasted only a few breaths before being broken by low whispers and suppressed sneers.
"1.2 billion? Ha... He's probably just a greenhorn new to the scene, intimidated by the sheer size of the bid and throwing around a ridiculous offer."
"It's one thing to not know the value, but the real problem is that she's acting so calm. Does she really think she can afford that price?"
"The Annihilation Abyss Mirror Prison Heart Core is indeed rare, but it's only worth around six or seven hundred million. Unless you're a complete idiot... a mere twelve billion is a huge loss."
Several pairs of eyes, filled with undisguised contempt, were cast from the front and side seats, as if watching a fool who was overestimating himself and about to make a fool of himself.
An elderly man in purple robes near the auction platform snorted coldly and whispered to his companion:
"Just wait and see. The real show will begin when it's time to settle the bill. If he can't pay, according to the rules of the Radiant Abyss Fate Splendor Hall, this kid won't just be left with nothing."
Someone smirked and shook their head slightly.
"What a pity... 1.2 billion could have bought several top-tier components in this auction, but he chose to waste it on a worthless core. If someone like him enters the 'Desolate Annihilation Secret Realm' three days from now, he probably won't even survive the first level."
Although the words were spoken in hushed tones, they were as clear as whispers in Qin Yu's ear. He simply withdrew his gaze, his fingers tracing the edge of the obsidian box, his expression as calm as if he hadn't heard anything at all.
On the contrary, the auctioneer's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt—this indifference and composure did not seem like a bluff.
The auctioneer's voice, tinged with deliberately suppressed excitement, echoed throughout the hall:
"The third item is a [Crimson Glow Immortal Herb] that is billions of years old! This herb grows in the crevices of the Annihilation Fire Stone deep within the Annihilation Star Abyss, sprouting only one leaf every ten thousand years, and taking billions of years to fully develop nine leaves. The essence of Annihilation Fire and the power of life it contains can be used to refine the legendary 'Myriad Tribulations Origin-Returning Pill,' allowing the dying to be reborn, and even helping those at the peak of the Severed Observation Realm · Perfection to break through to the Chaos Realm! Starting bid: 800 million Annihilation Starlight Crystal!"
At that moment, the air inside the hall seemed to ignite, and countless eyes instantly gleamed with greed and fanaticism.
"Eight hundred million!"
Nine hundred million!
"One billion!"
The bidding was almost continuous, each bid sounding like a war drum pounding on everyone's eardrums. Many cultivators' voices trembled slightly, as if they would squeeze every last penny out of their possessions to acquire this immortal herb.
In the VIP box, several auras of the Severed Observation Realm intertwined and collided, their spiritual consciousness clashing with an oppressive force that caused many low-level cultivators below to turn pale, some even afraid to look up.
In just a few breaths, the price had been pushed up to 1.5 billion. The atmosphere in the auction hall gradually became violent, and some cultivators even stood up from their seats, their eyes flashing with the urge to snatch the prize at any moment.
"Sixteen billion!"
"1.7 billion!"
"1.8 billion!"
The bidders were practically gritting their teeth, their voices like blades slicing through throats, conveying a ruthless determination to gamble everything. Some had flushed faces, some had already crushed the storage boxes in their hands, and others were breathing rapidly, as if they were about to leap off the auction stage to snatch the prize at any moment.
The atmosphere inside the hall was pushed to a near-out-of-control Threshold. A burning greed spread through the air, and even Qin Yu's private room could feel the fervor and restlessness.
Qin Yu simply watched calmly, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, seemingly oblivious to all the fighting—this treasure, though precious, was not something he needed at the moment.
The light screen on the auction stage reflected the entire nine leaves of the [Ember Glow Immortal Herb] in mid-air, flowing with a radiance like the intertwining of twilight and annihilation fire. Every vein of the leaf radiated a fusion of heat and vitality, as if it could break through the void at any moment and transform into nine annihilation fire dragon shadows, roaring across the heavens and earth.
"1.85 billion!" A deep, thunderous bid rang out. In the VIP box, a Severed Observation Realm expert at the Jueguan Realm, clad in a dark gold battle robe, stood up. His divine sense swept down like a tidal wave, instantly causing dozens of people below to gasp for breath and break out in a cold sweat.
"1.9 billion!" On the other side, a woman shrouded in silver soul flames spoke coldly, her eyes sharp as blades. In the next instant, she released a sharp edge of soul consciousness, which collided violently with the divine consciousness of the man in the dark gold battle robe in mid-air!
"Boom--!"
A visible shockwave of divine sense swept across the entire area, almost shattering the crystal jade table on the seat. Dozens of cultivators whose cultivation was below the Annihilation Source Realm were directly blasted back several steps, their faces as pale as paper.
"Two billion!" The powerful figure in the dark gold battle robe snorted coldly, his soul-pressing aura as heavy as a mountain, each word piercing the ears, as if to shroud the entire auction hall in his oppressive aura.
"Twenty-one billion!" The woman with the silver soul flames suddenly turned cold. She raised her slender fingers, and a silver Soul Sea appeared in the void. Billions of soul lights condensed into a tide, surging back towards the oppressive aura of the man in the dark gold battle robe. The two people's divine senses rubbed and exploded in the air, turning into countless shimmering fragments of soul light that fell down, making the hall look like a battlefield of souls.
The onlookers held their breath, many with a mixture of fear and excitement in their eyes—the scene was only a step away from a real fight. Some had already secretly placed their hands on their storage rings, as if they would seize the opportunity to grab something in the chaos if someone couldn't hold back.
In the increasingly tense atmosphere, the price continued to rise, soaring to 2.2 billion. The air was thick with a mixture of murderous intent and greed, as if the entire "Radiant Abyss Fate Splendor Hall" would turn into a battlefield of Asura in the next instant.
Qin Yu simply sat quietly in the private room, his gaze indifferent, letting the Realm God surge in and then dissipate inch by inch around him. His fingertips continued to lightly tap the armrest, as if waiting... for the moment when it would be more worthy of his action again.