Chapter 300: The Auction Begins
"While you discuss your alliances, allow me to explain the limitations of the Human Altar in more detail," Ling Yun said calmly.
"You must first understand the true nature of faith power. To obtain blessings from the altar—or to use faith to strengthen yourselves—the quantity of faith you receive will depend entirely on your own actions."
"If you contribute selflessly to humanity, if your deeds earn the trust and reverence of soul masters across the continent, then your faith power will grow. But if you seek only to exploit it for personal gain, bringing no benefit to humankind, your share of faith will dwindle."
"In other words, the three Authorities of the Human Altar are merely conduits. What these conduits yield for your factions depends solely on the sincerity and service you dedicate to the human race."
The hall fell into silence as she spoke.
Her words carried a weight that made even the most ambitious bidders pause.
Faith could elevate one to divine heights, but it could just as easily plunge a soul into ruin. Used wisely, it would raise a legend; used selfishly, it would destroy its bearer.
The gathered soul masters lowered their heads in reflection. In their excitement, they had momentarily forgotten this truth.
Faith belonged to the people—it was born from their hearts. To wield its power, one had to first earn their genuine belief.
Still, their excitement did not fade. The thought of channeling the will of thousands to gain god-level power ignited an irresistible desire in every heart.
The energy in the hall soared once more.
…
Ten minutes passed in an instant.
By then, the atmosphere was so tense that even the air itself felt sharp.
Ling Yun walked back to the center of the stage and lightly tapped her finger against the table—the sharp, clear sound silenced every whisper.
"Time's up."
Her voice was cool, precise, edged like steel.
"By now, I believe you've chosen your respective allies. Therefore, I announce the beginning of the final auction of this event—the Human Altar!"
As her last word fell, the first alliance—comprised of Shrek Academy, the Clear Sky Sect, and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—sent forth their representative: Yan Shaozhe.
Rising slowly, his expression solemn, he raised his paddle and spoke with quiet authority.
"Fifteen billion."
Gasps swept the audience. The leap far exceeded the minimum increment—a declaration of both wealth and confidence, meant to intimidate all rivals.
The murmurs had barely subsided when another voice rang out.
"Twenty billion."
It was the Sun Moon Empire's envoy, speaking on behalf of their alliance with Mingde Hall and the Body Sect.
The bidding had truly begun.
Within moments, the room's web of alliances became clear.
The first coalition: Shrek Academy, the Clear Sky Sect, and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The second: the Sun Moon Empire, Mingde Hall, and the Body Sect.
And acting alone—unyielding and silent—stood the Holy Spirit Cult.
As for the smaller forces, they too joined in, knowing they had little chance but unwilling to stay idle. Even failure would still grant them the honor of having participated in the greatest auction in history.
"Thirty billion!"
Yan Shaozhe's clear tone boomed again, his bid shocking the crowd.
Thirty billion gold soul coins—a fortune that could bankrupt an entire kingdom—yet it was still only the beginning.
The spectators exchanged uneasy glances.
At every Starry Auction in the past, the final item's winning bid had never fallen below fifty billion. Yet those were single-faction contests.
Today, with the wealth of multiple empires and sects combined, the stakes would surely reach astronomical heights.
This altar, representing the future of humanity itself, was worth more than any divine artifact or godly relic before it.
"Forty billion!"
The chilling voice came from the corner.
All eyes turned to see Zhongli Wu calmly toying with a skull ring, his expression unreadable.
The Holy Spirit Cult's solo entry into the battle caught many off guard.
Few believed they could win, but none dared underestimate them either.
Still, most of the powerful factions silently rejoiced. If the altar truly symbolized human destiny, it was better it never fell into the hands of such a dangerous organization.
Let the fair forces fight it out—they could accept that.
"Fifty billion."
The Sun Moon representative adjusted his glasses, speaking with quiet firmness.
Their unity with Mingde Hall's wealth and the Body Sect's ancient resources gave them confidence unmatched by most.
And so, the numbers rose like wildfire. Within mere minutes, the price had exploded past eighty billion.
Each bid climbed in staggering jumps of ten billion at a time. The crowd's heartbeats synchronized with the hammer's echo, anticipation setting the air ablaze.
The tension tightened further. Everyone realized this final sale would reach an unprecedented height—perhaps beyond one hundred billion.
In the Shrek alliance's section, Ning Qitian leaned toward Mu En and whispered heavily, "The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's vault is nearly empty. From here on, it's up to you and the Clear Sky Sect."
Each faction in the alliance had contributed its share.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had already poured out its full resources—eighty billion gold soul coins—leaving it to Shrek and Clear Sky to see how far they could go.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Kira1997