Sensing the somewhat strange looks from the surrounding Shrek students, Xuan Zi's old face flushed red. He forced himself to look nonchalant, waving his hand as he said:
"It's fine. This bit of pocket change is something I can afford. As long as Caitou likes it, what's a little extra money?"
As he spoke, he even puffed out his chest, putting on a grand display of "I'm not short on money."
But in his heart, Xuan Zi was bleeding profusely.
...
The atmosphere of the following auction became somewhat eerie.
Because it was an auction hosted by the Star Luo Empire, many of the early items were spirit tools to cater to the market.
The Sun Moon Team naturally lacked interest in these things.
In their eyes, the Star Luo Empire's spirit tool manufacturing level was like a child who hadn't been weaned—crude, simple, and completely lacking aesthetic beauty.
Even the few so-called "fine products" among them were junk of the junk in Xiao Hongchen's eyes.
But for Shrek Academy, these were rare good items.
Especially He Caitou and Huo Yuhao; the two of them watched with wide eyes.
Although Huo Yuhao was a spiritual-type Spirit Master, he also studied spirit tools. He was very interested in some rare metal Materials or spirit tools with special structures.
Thus, whenever Shrek took a fancy to something and wanted to bid, that voice that made their teeth itch would ring out right on time.
"Three thousand."
"Five thousand."
"Ten thousand..."
Jing Hongchen was like a precise market manipulator.
He could always precisely raise the price at the moment just before Xuan Zi reached his psychological limit, pushing it to a height that was painful yet forced the other to follow.
Then, when Xuan Zi gnashed his teeth and called out the next price, he would decisively stop, hiding his fame and merit.
This set of operations was smooth and seamless.
In less than half an hour, Xuan Zi had already won four or five spirit tools and some rare metals.
But the price paid was double or even triple the normal market value!
No matter how much Xuan Zi pretended to be wealthy, his hand holding the bidding paddle began to tremble slightly.
What kind of auction was this?
This was simply cutting his flesh!
"That old bastard... don't let him fall into my hands, or I'll refine all that fat on him into spirit tool oil!" Xuan Zi cursed viciously in his heart.
Finally.
As item after item was auctioned off, the atmosphere of the auction was pushed to a climax.
Auctioneer's cheeks were slightly flushed, clearly excited by the staggering transaction volume tonight.
She took a deep breath, her tone becoming somewhat mysterious:
"Honored guests, the next item to be auctioned is a very special object."
"Its history is very long, dating back three thousand years. It was once the masterpiece of a Ninth-Rank Soul Engineer and is also a famous... Ranked Carving Knife in the Soul Engineer world!"
Hearing the words "Ranked Carving Knife," Jing Hongchen, who had been somewhat uninterested, suddenly had sharp eyes.
Even Liu Yuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slightly opened them.
It's here!
Finally waiting for you!
The curtain on the stage was slowly pulled back, revealing an exquisite crystal display stand inside.
In the center of that stand floated a pitch-black carving knife.
The body of the knife was slender, with a hideous ghost head pattern carved on the handle. Although the blade was not unsheathed, it faintly emitted a heart-palpitating chill and... evil Qi.
"This knife is named—Spirit Devouring Carving Knife."
Auctioneer's voice remained sweet, but now it held a hint of solemnity. "Although it ranks ninety-ninth on the Carving Knife List, it is... also a cursed carving knife."
"It is said that the Soul Engineers who possessed it through the generations all came to a bad end, mostly dying violent deaths or going insane. Therefore, before bidding, I must solemnly remind everyone: though this item is good, the risk is enormous."
"Starting price, one hundred thousand gold coins!"
"Hiss—"
Hearing this starting price, the sound of people sucking in cold air immediately rang out in the venue.
A vicious knife that would backfire on its owner, and it still starts at one hundred thousand gold coins?
That's crazy!
However, inside Shrek Academy's booth.
Huo Yuhao stared intently at that Devourer of Spirits, his eyes flashing with an unprecedented light of desire.
Just now, Teacher Electrolux inside him suddenly woke up and told him that this carving knife contained a massive amount of Life Qi, and it was exactly the peerless treasure that could help him repair his sea of consciousness and even reconstruct his Divine Sense!
"Elder Xuan!"
Huo Yuhao suddenly turned to look at Xuan Zi, his tone urgent, "This carving knife... I want to buy it!"
"This..."
Xuan Zi looked at the carving knife emitting an ominous aura, his brows furrowing tightly.
One hundred thousand gold coins!
That was not a small amount.
Having been scammed so many times by that old thing Jing Hongchen just now, his private stash had already shrunk significantly.
And this thing had such a foul reputation; what if buying it back harmed the child?
"Yuhao, this thing is too sinister, and the price..."
Xuan Zi was just about to start persuading him or consider it further.
Just then.
Inside the adjacent booth, that voice like a nightmare rang out once again.
And this time, it was no longer that lazy playfulness, but rather carried an unquestionable dominance and resolve:
"Two hundred thousand."
No testing, no buildup.
Jing Hongchen directly doubled the price!
Dead silence throughout the venue!
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