"Welcome, all esteemed guests, to the grand Soto City Auction House!"
"The items featured in today's event are exceptionally rare, including artifacts never before revealed to the public! Please be seated, and don't miss your chance!"
As waves of people filed into the towering auction hall, a middle-aged man in a crisp suit and rimless spectacles stepped confidently onto the elevated central platform. His presence was calm, professional, and authoritative.
Judging by his formal attire and practiced voice, this man was unmistakably the chief auctioneer presiding over today's high-stakes event.
"I heard that in addition to the new elixir refined by Xiaochen, there's a mysterious item that's causing quite a stir."
Yu Xiaogang, seated in the exclusive No. 1 Diamond VIP suite, gazed down at the crowd through the one-way mirrored glass.
Thanks to the sophisticated privacy enchantments embedded into the diamond-level viewing box, those inside could observe the proceedings without being seen themselves.
"This auction might become quite the spectacle," Yu Xiaogang added quietly.
Yu Chen nodded in agreement beside him, his gaze also resting on the brightly lit platform below.
As they conversed, the auctioneer had already begun presenting the first item: a blade with a peculiar curvature and dark sheen.
"This weapon was forged by a renowned master blacksmith. It slices through iron as if it were mere cloth. The edge is razor-sharp and expertly balanced!"
"The starting price is one silver soul coin. Minimum increments: no less than one copper soul coin!"
As he lifted the blade aloft for display, his voice flowed smoothly, captivating the audience like a practiced storyteller.
On the Douluo Continent, although nearly everyone had the opportunity to awaken a martial soul, not all succeeded in becoming spirit masters. Some, due to low innate spirit power or incompatible spirits, remained ordinary folk.
To such people, a finely crafted weapon was invaluable.
After a series of modest bids, the final price for the blade rose to 4 silver soul coins—a respectable 40 copper coins—before the gavel struck.
"The next item is extraordinary. Please focus your attention!"
The first item having concluded successfully, the auctioneer smiled and unveiled the second object by whisking away a red silk cover.
Beneath it lay a brilliantly carved rabbit figurine, forged from a deep, blood-red jade that seemed to pulse with internal heat.
In the No. 1 suite, Xiao Wu's eyes lit up instantly.
"A Red Jade Rabbit, carved entirely from molten flintstone. The texture is translucent and warm to the touch. It enhances one's spiritual affinity and nourishes soul power cultivation."
"The starting price is 10,000 gold soul coins. Minimum increment: 500 gold soul coins!"
The moment the auctioneer made the announcement, Xiao Wu visibly stiffened.
"Ten thousand? That's… steep," she murmured, eyebrows knitting slightly. Clearly, she had fallen for the rabbit at first glance, but hadn't anticipated such a lofty price.
"Flintstone is rare, and this piece is remarkably pure despite minor imperfections. It could fetch fifty thousand or more easily," Yu Xiaogang commented, scrutinizing the craftsmanship from a distance.
"Fifteen thousand!"
"Sixteen thousand!"
"Nineteen thousand!"
Bids surged rapidly, and within a minute, the Red Jade Rabbit's price climbed toward 20,000 gold soul coins.
"Is it really worth fifty thousand?" Yu Chen whispered thoughtfully, watching Xiao Wu's struggling expression. Without hesitation, he pressed the bidding button beside him.
"One hundred thousand gold soul coins!" the automated announcement echoed.
Gasps rippled through the auction hall.
"One hundred thousand from VIP Room One!"
"Do we have any competing bids?!"
The auctioneer could hardly contain his excitement. Yu Chen's bold bid had jumped the price fivefold in one go—an unmistakable signal of determination.
The crowd fell silent. Conversations turned to whispers.
"VIP Room One? Only a Diamond VIP would dare start that high!"
"Tch! He just crushed the competition with that one bid!"
Ordinary nobles and minor clan representatives instinctively pulled back. Competing with a Diamond VIP was financial suicide.
In another diamond-level suite, a rotund man with gold rings and a jeweled cloak grunted in amusement.
"He beat me to this one. Fine—then the next treasure is mine."
Meanwhile, within Suite One:
"Brother Chen… you didn't have to bid so high…"
Yu Chen smiled, brushing it off.
"If Xiao Wu likes it, no price is too much. A treasure should be matched with someone who appreciates it."
Indeed, just from Xiao Wu's shining eyes, Yu Chen had already understood. To spare her hesitation, he simply secured the item.
After all, what were a hundred thousand gold coins to him? His family's elixirs, especially the Spirit Bone Elixir, were worth many times more.
"T-thank you… Brother Chen…" Xiao Wu's soft voice was almost inaudible, her cheeks flushed red.
"One hundred thousand—going once!"
"Going twice!"
"Going three times—sold!"
"With this final hammer, the Red Jade Rabbit is now officially awarded to VIP Room One!"
The auctioneer's voice rang with satisfaction.
"Next, we present a truly exceptional artifact—unlike anything from the Douluo Continent!"
Following the Red Jade Rabbit's sale, a few more items came and went. They included spirit beast materials and enchanted scrolls, but nothing that caught the attention of the Shrek group.
Those items were instead purchased by bidders in the platinum-level boxes.
Then came the moment the auctioneer had built up to.
"The next item is truly outlandish—its origin unknown even to our researchers!"
With flair, he dragged out a large, heavily reinforced box, draped in a shimmering red veil.
Whoosh!
The cloth was lifted in a flourish, revealing…
A massive, iridescent egg, nearly the size of a full-grown man's torso, nestled in a bed of golden hay.
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