Private Room 7 of Auction Hall 1.
The Shrek Academy group looked around the private room with curious and novel gazes. Zhu Ziyang listened to Jiang Nannan's valuation of the room's furnishings, Huo Yuhao and He Caitou discussed the technology of the spirit tool light screen, while Wang Yan chatted animatedly with the auctioneer Qing Ya.
Before long, the auction began. The auctioneer for this event appeared before everyone; she was a stunning young woman in a red gown, about eighteen or nineteen years old. Her beauty was only slightly less than Jiang Nannan's, by a mere point or two. What was even more remarkable was her elegant and noble demeanor, a completely different style from Jiang Nannan.
"Greetings, esteemed guests. I am Jiujiu, today's auctioneer, and it is an honor to host this top-tier auction. As your time is precious, our auction begins now. Below, please appreciate today's first item," the young woman Jiujiu said with a sweet smile, her voice clear and melodious, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.
She performed a complex court Rei, then made a 'please' gesture with her right hand. Instantly, the scene shifted, and the entire wall's spirit tool screen displayed an item.
"Auctioneer Jiujiu is the chief auctioneer of our Starlight Grand Auction House, and also the only gold medal auctioneer. Only the most noble auctions are worthy of her presence!" Qing Ya explained to the Shrek group, a hint of respect and admiration on her pretty face. "At the same time, Auctioneer Jiujiu is also the youngest daughter of the late emperor, and the youngest sister of the current emperor, an Empire princess. It is only because she once stated that in the auction house, her identity is solely that of an auctioneer, that we do not address her as Your Highness."
"An Empire Princess!" Zhu Ziyang and the others couldn't help but show surprised expressions, as no one had expected an Empire princess to actually work as an auctioneer. It was truly difficult to understand the thoughts of these nobles.
Everyone was only momentarily surprised by Auctioneer Jiujiu's princess identity, then they fully focused their attention on today's auction.
This auction truly lived up to its name as a top-tier event; all nine items were of the highest quality. A level-7 close-combat spirit tool, twelve level-6 linked fixed-load spirit tool cannons, a left arm bone, a right arm bone, a Right Leg Bone, an extremely rare precious metal, and a level-8 long-range attack spirit tool appeared one after another.
The students of Shrek Academy had no desire to bid, but Teacher Wang Yan, on the other hand, successfully acquired the twelve level-6 linked fixed-load spirit tool cannons. Judging by his expression, he probably intended to take them back to the Academy to donate to the Soul Tool Department for research.
As a teacher in the Martial Soul Department, Wang Yan's vision and knowledge were among the best. Although his cultivation wasn't exceptional, his concern for the development of the Soul Tool Department was absolutely the greatest among all teachers in the Martial Soul Department.
Soul Tool Department: He really made me cry!
The first highlight item of this auction appeared, still a Spirit Bone, and a left arm bone at that.
A fifty-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone, possessing the solidified Spirit Ability 'Ice Blast Art'. Undoubtedly, this was a top-grade Spirit Bone, especially for owners of ice-attributed Spirits. Whether it was the Spirit Bone's enhancement of ice element affinity or the extremely powerful Spirit Ability 'Ice Blast Art', this Spirit Bone could be called top-tier. Although it couldn't compare to a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone, below a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone, few could rival it.
Zhu Ziyang was full of praise for this Spirit Bone. Although he himself already possessed an equally excellent left arm bone, this did not prevent him from adding this Spirit Bone to his collection. He couldn't use it himself, but it could still be used to enrich his own foundation.
The auction for the Ice Jade Scorpion Spirit Bone began, with a starting price of twelve million gold coin, and each bid increment not less than fifty thousand gold coin.
Such a price astonished everyone and completely disheartened another person who coveted the Ice Jade Scorpion Spirit Bone, but such a price was nothing to Zhu Ziyang.
He bid without hesitation, directly raising the price to thirteen million, which made others and those in other private rooms turn their heads. The Spirit Bone, whose price instantly soared to twenty-five million, immediately made many abandon the idea of continuing to bid. Finally, Zhu Ziyang successfully acquired this Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone for twenty-five million.
"Ziyang Big Brother is so rich!" Xiao Xiao couldn't help but exclaim, "Twenty-five million gold coin, and he didn't even bat an eye!"
"Mhm, mhm!" Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao both nodded in agreement. Tang Ya even had stars in her eyes as she asked, "Zhu Ziyang, what kind of fortune did you make? How did you get so rich?"
"Haha, it's not bad. Once you also apprentice under a rich person, you can spend money as lavishly as I do!" Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
That's right, Mu En gave Zhu Ziyang a lot of pocket money. As a Limit Douluo, and one who had lived for over two hundred years, Mu En's assets were extremely vast, definitely among the wealthiest people on the Douluo Continent. However, he himself didn't particularly enjoy spending money, so two-tenths of all his assets were left to the Academy, four-tenths to his descendants, and the remaining four-tenths to his disciples, namely Yan Shaozhe, Zhu Ziyang, and the other four. But Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Cai Meier, and Qian Duoduo had already graduated and had their own industries, so almost all of those four-tenths of assets went to Zhu Ziyang alone.
Therefore, for Zhu Ziyang now, twenty-five million gold coin was truly nothing. He was no longer the Zhu Ziyang who needed to refine pills to sell for money; he now had a bright future awaiting him to inherit.
After the Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone, the last item of this auction, and the second highlight item, made its appearance.
This final auction item was actually an engraving knife, and it was also a listed engraving knife. The moment this engraving knife appeared, Huo Yuhao and He Caitou instantly rushed forward, pressing against the spirit tool light screen to admire the silver-blue engraving knife.
"The Secret Technique Blue Silver Engraving Knife, ranked eleventh on the Engraving Knife List, is a powerful engraving knife whose quality and value are in no way inferior to the top ten engraving knives. For a Soul Engineer, its value far exceeds that of a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone. I believe I don't need to say more for you all to understand its worth," Auctioneer Jiujiu explained. At this moment, she had changed into a golden gown, which meant that in their auction house's valuation, this Secret Technique Blue Silver Engraving Knife exceeded one hundred million gold coin!
"Without further ado, ranked eleventh on the Engraving Knife List, the Secret Technique Blue Silver Engraving Knife, with a starting price of fifty million gold coin. Each bid increment must not be less than five hundred thousand gold coin. The auction begins!" Auctioneer Jiujiu announced directly without any delay.
"This, Teacher Wang, we must get it!" Huo Yuhao and He Caitou both looked at Wang Yan, their eyes filled with a crimson glow, like two perverts who had seen a peerless beauty bathing, their desires laid bare.
Wang Yan was startled by their reaction, then immediately responded, "You two don't need to worry, I will bid! This is something that can greatly enhance the strength of our Soul Tool Department, how could we miss it?"
"Exactly! Exactly!" He Caitou nodded repeatedly and said, "As long as we get this Secret Technique Blue Silver Engraving Knife, then my teacher will definitely become the first Rank 9 Soul Engineer of Shrek Academy!"
"Mhm, mhm! Teacher Fan Yu's engraving knife is just an ordinary one. Every time he engraves a Rank 9 magic array, he has to replace the engraving knife several times, which greatly affects his success rate. With this Secret Technique Blue Silver Engraving Knife, he will definitely be able to break through to Rank 9 Soul Engineer very quickly!" Huo Yuhao also chimed in, his voice filled with excitement.
Seeing Huo Yuhao and He Caitou both strongly emphasizing the importance of the Secret Technique Blue Silver Engraving Knife, not only did Wang Yan's resolve to obtain it grow stronger, but even Zhu Ziyang, Ma Xiaotao, and the others unconsciously began to believe that this Spirit Devouring Engraving Knife was very important to Shrek Academy.
How to put it, this could also be considered their gain from this competition. They understood that the development and role of spirit tools could no longer be stopped. Only by actively promoting the development of spirit tools in Shrek Academy could they avoid being eliminated by the times. More importantly, if Shrek Academy could produce a Rank 9 Soul Engineer, wouldn't they, as future high-ranking officials of Shrek Academy, be able to obtain Rank 9 spirit tools for free?
Why wouldn't they want such a high-quality tool person?
Therefore, the Shrek Academy group instantly reached a consensus: they wanted this Secret Technique Blue Silver Engraving Knife!
"One hundred million!" Wang Yan didn't hesitate, directly bidding one hundred million gold coin, which stunned the guests who were still tentatively adding bids of a few million at a time. This was also because Wang Yan's authority only allowed him to bid up to one hundred million gold coin; otherwise, he would have undoubtedly bid an even higher price!
Everyone knew that one hundred million gold coin was far from the true value of the Secret Technique Blue Silver Engraving Knife. Wang Yan only hoped to catch others off guard and acquire the engraving knife before they could react. However, he clearly underestimated human nature. After Wang Yan bid one hundred million, Auctioneer Jiujiu, after striking the first gavel, deliberately drew out a long trailing sound. By the time she struck the second gavel, a new price appeared: one hundred and fifty million!
This price shattered Wang Yan's little scheme. Helpless, Wang Yan only regretted that his authority was too low and he couldn't use more funds. It truly was a case of regretting not having enough money when it was needed!
Wang Yan could only look to Zhu Ziyang for help. Zhu Ziyang smiled slightly; he knew it was his turn to act.