"There are even slave auctions!" the steward whispered in Yu Tianheng's ear.
Upon hearing this, Yu Tianheng feigned shock. "Isn't this kind of thing strictly prohibited?"
"Although the two great empires issued decrees prohibiting the slave trade, in reality, the supervision was not strict, rendering the decrees ineffective."
"Of course, some smaller auction houses don't dare to openly auction slaves, but the Heaven Dou Auction House is an exception."
"Because we have powerful backers behind us," the manager said proudly.
Upon hearing this, Yu Tianheng nodded. Although the manager did not explicitly state who this backer was, he could guess the answer.
The fact that the Heaven Dou Auction House can be located in Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, means that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family must be involved. This allows it to disregard the empire's laws prohibiting the slave trade to some extent, as the royal family may be protecting it.
Furthermore, the Heaven Dou Auction House may also have the support of the Spirit Hall. The Spirit Hall is powerful, far surpassing the two great empires, and has the ability to override the rules of the empires.
After all, the current Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, is actually an imposter, Qian Renxue from the Spirit Hall. In order to seize power and profit, he needs a large amount of money to support him. Therefore, the backer behind the Heaven Dou Auction House is very likely Xue Qinghe.
After exchanging a few words with the manager, the auction officially began. Before leaving, the manager told Yu Tianheng that there was a good item at today's auction that all men would like, and advised Yu Tianheng not to miss it.
Upon learning of this situation, Yu Tianheng quickly connected it to a special auction item that appeared in the original plot: a slave, a catwoman who had failed to Martial Soul Awakening.
Therefore, Ning Fengzhi, the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, should have arrived by now and should be sitting in the white area.
Seating at the Heaven Dou Auction House is divided into VIP zones: white, yellow, purple, black, and red.
As the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi was qualified to sit in a higher-level area, but he was a low-key person, so he chose to sit in the white area.
Thinking of this, Yu Tianheng left his seat in the red area without making a sound, concealing his presence as he moved to the white area.
After glancing at the crowd, I immediately noticed a middle-aged man with an extraordinary air about him. He had a handsome face, a straight nose and a square mouth, and a refined and gentle appearance that gave people a sense of friendliness. He looked to be about forty years old, with a soft gaze. He seemed like an ordinary person, but he also inadvertently revealed the grandeur and magnanimity of someone in a superior position.
This must be Ning Fengzhi, the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Yu Tianheng then stepped forward and sat down next to Ning Fengzhi in a very natural and generous manner.
Ning Fengzhi also noticed Yu Tianheng's arrival, but didn't pay much attention to it, assuming he was just an ordinary guest, because he couldn't sense any trace of Soul Power flowing from Yu Tianheng.
The auction then began.
The glass lamps on the dome of the Heaven Dou Auction House lit up one after another, and a warm golden halo enveloped the white jade auction stage, which was carved with dragon patterns. The auctioneer, dressed in a long robe with gold thread embroidered cloud patterns, slowly walked onto the stage, and the black iron auction hammer in his hand fell heavily, the crisp sound startling the mechanical hummingbirds circling the dome.
"Today's first item for auction—three century-old purple Ganoderma lucidum plants! Starting bid is 5000 Gold Soul Coin, with each bid increment no less than 500 Gold Soul Coin. Bidding begins now."
The moment the brocade box was opened, a rich medicinal fragrance, along with a misty purple aura, filled the entire venue, and gasps of astonishment rose and fell from the VIP seats.
Upon seeing this scene, Yu Tianheng's heart stirred slightly. This purple fungus was a valuable item; when combined with other medicinal herbs to refine it into a pill, it could help Soul Master or Martial Artists break through their bottlenecks.
So he decisively placed the bid.
Yu Tianheng then pressed the bidding button on the seat and bid 6,000 Gold Soul Coin.
However, others also participated in the bidding, but ultimately failed to outbid Yu Tianheng, who successfully bought it for 8,000 Gold Soul Coin.
The second item up for auction, "Deep Sea Whale Rubber," had a starting price of 10,000 Gold Soul Coin, with each bid increment not less than 1,000 Gold Soul Coin.
Whale Rubber is produced from the brains of whale-type Soul Beast and is an extremely rare substance. Since whale-type Soul Beast mostly live in the ocean, and the ten-thousand-year-old demon whale lives deep in the sea and is extremely powerful, obtaining Whale Rubber is extremely difficult.
Whale Rubber is a highly potent and yang-infused tonic with a variety of miraculous effects. It can enhance Soul Master's physique, improve the resilience of muscles, bones, and meridians, and allow Soul Master to choose higher-age Soul Ring when absorbing Soul Ring, thereby maximizing their Soul Power ceiling. In addition, Whale Rubber also has a certain aphrodisiac and virility-enhancing effect.
Generally speaking, Thousand-Year Whale Rubber is usually golden yellow and looks very transparent, like crystal; Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue should be dark yellow, but if it is exposed to wind and sun for a long time, it may weather and turn black.
The Whale Rubber in front of us is golden yellow in color and of a thousand-year quality.
It was considered a rare cultivation item in the Soul Master World, and thus many people eagerly bid for it.
The price instantly soared to 30,000 Gold Soul Coin, and it was eventually bought by a powerful Soul Master.
Then came the third and fourth lots.
As time went on, more and more items were brought in for auction, and then bought by the wealthy or powerful.
"Distinguished guests, the next item in this auction is a true treasure, embodying the magical power of nature and the extraordinary wisdom of craftsmen!"
After saying this, two graceful maids, carrying an exquisitely carved tray, walked elegantly to the front of the stage.
On the tray, a soft black velvet cloth covered a mysterious object. The auctioneer gently lifted the cloth, revealing a dazzling gemstone necklace to the crowd.
The necklace is made of a string of dazzling diamonds, like a cascading galaxy. The most eye-catching feature is the fist-sized ruby in the center, with a rich and vibrant color, as if burning with an inextinguishable flame. There is a faint flow of light inside, as if a mysterious power is surging within.
"This is the renowned ' Crimson Flame Heart ' necklace!" The auctioneer's voice was filled with pride and excitement. "This ruby comes from the Flame Secret Realm in the far south, and was forged in lava for thousands of years, possessing incredible fire-attribute power."
Not only does the wearer gain the protection of fire power, enhancing the strength of their fire-attribute Soul Skill, but even more miraculously, in times of crisis, it can automatically release a powerful fire barrier to resist enemy attacks!
As soon as the words were spoken, a chorus of exclamations erupted in the auction hall. Many Soul Master and nobles straightened their backs, their eyes burning as they stared at the necklace on the stage.
"Bidding begins now! Starting price: 30,000 Gold Soul Coin! Each bid must be at least 5,000 Gold Soul Coin higher!" the auctioneer announced loudly.
"Thirty-five thousand Gold Soul Coin!" A middle-aged nobleman dressed in luxurious clothes was the first to bid. He stroked his meticulously groomed beard, his eyes full of determination.