"An eighth-rank soul tool... the tyrant tiger soul refining blade!"
As Xu Jiujiu's crisp voice fell, the entire venue instantly erupted into a boil, like a pot that had exploded.
Countless burning gazes stared fixedly at the giant blade on the stage, which emitted a bone-chilling aura, and the sound of heavy breathing rose and fell throughout the room.
An eighth-rank soul tool!
That was a top-tier killing machine corresponding to a Spirit Douluo-level powerhouse!
In places outside the Sun Moon Empire, a spirit tool of this caliber was practically a strategic resource. Once it leaked out, it would inevitably cause a frantic scramble.
"Good stuff... it really is good stuff!"
Inside the Shrek Academy private booth, Xuan Zi suddenly stood up. His originally cloudy old eyes now burst with sharp light as he stared intently at the tyrant tiger soul refining blade.
His mind was racing with calculations.
Why did Ma Xiaotao lose to Liu Yuan?
Wasn't it because her Phoenix Evil Fire was completely neutralized by Liu Yuan's natural counter-like 'Fire Immunity' ability?
Once her flames became ineffective, Ma Xiaotao was like a tiger with its teeth pulled; she couldn't even exert twenty percent of her strength.
But if she had this blade...
All problems would be easily solved!
Thinking of this, Xuan Zi's gaze became exceptionally determined. His desire for victory outweighed everything else.
"This blade must be obtained no matter what! It is the key to our comeback!"
The flames of hope also ignited in Ma Xiaotao's beautiful eyes.
She looked at the blade as if she saw an opportunity to wash away her previous humiliation.
...
Meanwhile, in the opposite booth of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Xiao Hongchen leaned against the one-way glass, looking at the tyrant tiger soul refining blade with a slight frown. He turned and asked:
"Grandfather, is this thing really a product of our Mingde Hall?"
"Aren't our high-level spirit tools strictly forbidden from leaking out?"
Jing Hongchen gave a cold laugh, a flash of disdain and gloominess crossing his eyes:
"Hmph, 'from the hands of a certain Soul Engineer of Mingde Hall' is nothing more than a smokescreen from the Star Luo Empire."
"This blade was a trophy captured by the Star Luo Empire's army during that war decades ago. They've been hiding it away, and now they've specifically brought it out for auction and intentionally spread such rumors. It's nothing more than an attempt to disgust us or even create suspicion within our ranks, making us think there's a traitor collaborating with external enemies."
"I have seen plenty of such low-level schemes to sow discord."
At this point, Jing Hongchen's gaze became solemn as he looked toward the Shrek booth opposite them.
"However, this thing is indeed causing us some trouble right now."
"Hall Master, are you talking about the Shrek side?" Liu Yuan spoke up at this moment, his tone calm.
"Exactly."
Jing Hongchen nodded, his fingers lightly tapping on the table. "That old fellow Xuan Zi is like a drowning man right now, desperately trying to grab onto any life-saving straw."
"If Ma Xiaotao gets this blade, she will have a physical attack method sufficient to threaten you. Although you aren't afraid of fire, Xiao Yuan, this blade is an eighth-rank soul tool after all; its lethality cannot be underestimated."
"Tomorrow's match is of great importance. I absolutely cannot allow any accidents to occur!"
A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Jing Hongchen's eyes, reflecting the dominance of the Hall Master of Mingde Hall:
"Since they want to buy it to deal with us, then we simply won't let them have their way!"
"This blade, I'm taking it!"
...
By now, the atmosphere in the auction hall had been brought to its peak by Xu Jiujiu.
"eighth-rank soul tool, tyrant tiger soul refining blade. Starting price—six hundred thousand gold coins! Each bid increase must not be less than ten thousand gold coins!"
"Let the bidding begin!"
As soon as she finished speaking, bidding voices rose one after another.
"Six hundred and fifty thousand!"
"Seven hundred thousand!"
"Eight hundred thousand!"
The speed at which the price soared was astonishing. In just a few breaths, it had already broken the one million mark and reached one million two hundred thousand gold coins.
At this price point, many of the wealthy people who were just following the trend began to back off.
After all, while this blade was good, the price had to be reasonable. At this level, the cost-performance ratio was no longer particularly high.
Just then, a steady and powerful voice came from the Shrek booth:
"One million six hundred thousand!"
The bidder was Dai Yueheng. Having received instructions from Xuan Zi, he directly increased the price significantly, attempting to use Shrek Academy's prestige and financial power to clear the field.
Sure enough, as soon as this shout went out, the entire venue suddenly became much quieter.
Everyone looked toward the Shrek booth, their eyes showing a hint of awe.
As expected of the continent's number one academy; they made a grand move as soon as they acted.
The corners of Dai Yueheng's mouth curled up slightly, thinking victory was within his grasp.
However, in the next second, a lazy voice drifted over from the opposite side like a ghost:
"One million seven hundred thousand."
Jing Hongchen had made his move.
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a needle, stabbing ruthlessly into Xuan Zi's heart.
Xuan Zi's face instantly darkened; the thing he worried about most had happened after all.
"Dammit! This fat bastard really is going to interfere!"
Xuan Zi growled through gritted teeth, "Yue Heng, raise the bid! Don't let him look down on us!"
"One million eight hundred thousand!" Dai Yueheng shouted, bracing himself.
"Two million."
Jing Hongchen's voice remained unhurried, as if the amount he called out wasn't money, but a string of meaningless numbers.
*Hiss...*
The sound of collective gasping rang out through the entire venue.
Two million gold coins! This was already a severe overpayment!
Dai Yueheng was starting to feel the pressure. He turned back to look at Xuan Zi, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.
Xuan Zi took a deep breath, slammed the table, and stepped in personally:
"Two million five hundred thousand!"
His voice carried a hint of anger, as if he were making a show of force to Jing Hongchen.
"Three million."
Jing Hongchen didn't even take time to think, following up immediately.
"You..."
Xuan Zi was so angry his beard trembled and his eyes turned bloodshot. "Three million five hundred thousand! Jing Hongchen, don't go too far!"
"Four million."
Jing Hongchen calmly took a sip of tea. That nonchalant appearance of his was practically enough to make Xuan Zi explode with rage.
Four million!
This was already an astronomical price among astronomical prices!
Xuan Zi's heart was bleeding.
Although he had brought tens of millions, that was meant to buy many things! If he spent this much on the very first item, what would happen later?
But... if he gave up now, Ma Xiaotao would have no physical attack method. What would happen in tomorrow's match?
"Five million!"
Like a gambler, Xuan Zi roared out this number with bloodshot eyes.
He was gambling—gambling that Jing Hongchen wouldn't dare to follow again. After all, the Sun Moon Empire could make this stuff themselves; spending five million to buy it back was too much of a loss.
However, he underestimated Jing Hongchen's determination, and he also underestimated the financial power of Mingde Hall.
Jing Hongchen didn't even look at Xuan Zi. He just lightly raised his hand, his voice cold and firm:
"Ten million!"
*Boom!*
The entire auction hall felt as if a heavy bomb had been detonated!
Everyone, including Xu Jiujiu, was completely dumbfounded.
Ten million gold coins?!
To buy an eighth-rank soul tool?
This was too crazy! It was practically throwing gold coins away like they were stones!
In the Shrek booth, Xuan Zi was frozen in place as if struck by lightning, his mouth hanging wide open, unable to close for a long time.
Ten million...
This was no longer a matter of overpaying; this was burning money!
Xuan Zi's original impulse to continue bidding was completely extinguished the moment he heard this number, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him.
Although he had brought tens of millions, he wasn't an idiot.
If he spent ten million on this one item, then if there were other good things later, what would he have left to compete with Jing Hongchen?
Was it worth sacrificing all subsequent resources for this one item that was already severely overpriced?
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"
Xuan Zi trembled with rage: "Jing Hongchen! You lunatic! You spendthrift!"
"You win! I don't want it anymore!"
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