Chapter 144: Ghost Capture
Seeing the Ice Empress looking like a scolded child, the Snow Empress smiled gently and patted his shoulder, as if comforting him.
Under the Snow Empress's comfort, the Ice Empress's displeasure finally dissipated.
Snow is still the best, unlike these humans!
Zhongli continued to sip his tea, his expression unchanged.
Paimon, on the other hand, was devouring food nonstop.
"Delicious, it's so delicious!"
Zhongli glanced at Paimon, puzzled as to where all the food she ate actually went.
After all, Paimon was currently his "Martial Soul," truly bound by a contract.
He could sense the changes within Paimon's body.
But after Paimon ate the food, it almost all turned into energy and then vanished, with only a small portion providing her with nourishment.
"Forget it, everyone has their secrets, and this is fine as it is."
Zhongli didn't delve into Paimon's secret, even though he was curious.
After a while, the auction officially began.
The VIP room was sealed and soundproof.
But as the auction started, one wall of the VIP room disappeared, replaced by a specially made glass.
This special glass prevented anyone outside from seeing inside the VIP room.
However, from inside the VIP room, the outside could be seen clearly.
Additionally, the VIP room was equipped with a small microphone. Once activated, it could transmit sound to the outside, facilitating the bidding process.
Xu Jiujiu walked onto the stage with a professional smile and said, "Distinguished guests, the Star Luo Royal Auction House welcomes you!"
"I am Xu Jiujiu, the auctioneer for this event, and I will be introducing the auction items to you throughout..."
Normally, the auction house would be bustling with excitement.
After all, this was the princess of the Star Luo Empire, both beautiful and high-ranking, the object of many men's fantasies.
But today was different; those seated in the auction house were all here for that one thing.
As for the princess, she was just a fleeting beauty!
"Princess, let's just get started!"
"I believe no one here would object to my words!"
Their goal was Mora, not to listen to Xu Jiujiu's chatter.
Upon hearing this, the room fell silent, but no one objected.
Xu Jiujiu was momentarily stunned, her smile faltering, but she quickly regained her composure.
"In that case, let's proceed directly to the auction."
"The first item up for auction is a level six soul guide..."
A level six soul guide, neither high nor low, was a good item in the outside world.
But the crowd showed little interest in this level six soul guide, with no intention of bidding.
Of course, just because no one in the VIP rooms was bidding didn't mean no one in the auction seats was.
They knew they couldn't obtain that thing, so why not bid on something else?
With no one in the VIP rooms bidding, they could bid more confidently.
Soon, the level six soul guide found a new owner.
"The second auction item..."
"The third auction item..."
Though eager, no one asked Xu Jiujiu to auction that thing directly.
After all, this was the Star Luo Royal Auction House, and the auctioneer was the princess; some respect was due.
This was the auction process.
As time passed, though no one made any bids, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, as if a fight could break out at any moment.
"I believe I don't need to say more, you all know what the next auction item is, right?"
"That's right, it's the Mora imbued with divine power!"
"Today, the auction house will auction four Mora, while the remaining five will be auctioned in the next session."
Upon hearing this.
Everyone clenched their fists, their molars almost grinding.
This was just toying with them!
Auctioning them separately was just to give everyone enough time to prepare more gold soul coins!
If all nine Mora were auctioned at once, no matter how valuable Mora was, its value would decrease due to the quantity.
At this moment, there were four ancient boxes in front of Xu Jiujiu. She carefully opened one, and an amber light filled the room.
"It's the divine power of the Martial God..."
When Zhongli used his power, it was amber, and this Mora was also amber. Indeed, this was Zhongli's divine power!
"Is this Mora?"
"I wonder what the Martial God's original intention was in creating Mora..."
"Probably to give everyone hope!"
Zhongli: "..."
Such talk was truly outrageous.
Mora is money, and what is money?
Money is currency!
His original intention in creating Mora was naturally to use it to replace currency.
Currency could be a piece of paper, a shell, a piece of copper, silver, or gold; currency itself has no value.
The purchasing power of currency is related to the credibility of its creator.
On the continent of Teyvat, Mora could become currency because its creator was a god, the MVP of the Archon War.
Morax values contracts the most, and using Mora as currency also inspires trust.
On the Douluo Continent, Mora could similarly replace copper, silver, and gold soul coins, because Zhongli possessed absolute martial power and sufficient credibility.
"Distinguished guests, tonight's four Mora will be auctioned in three sessions."
"The first session will auction one."
"The second session will also auction one."
"As for the third session, two Mora will be auctioned together."
Upon hearing this, the VIP rooms were in an uproar!
They had thought the auction house would auction them one by one, never expecting the last two Mora to be auctioned together!
Auctioning them separately would give everyone more chances to compete.
Auctioning two together would surely lead to a fierce battle!
"The first Mora is up for auction, starting bid one hundred million gold soul coins, with each bid increment no less than five million gold soul coins. Begin!"
After Xu Jiujiu finished speaking, the entire auction house fell silent.
In VIP room number one, Paimon, who was eating, was stunned, finding it hard to believe.
"Zhongli, is Mora really that valuable?"
Paimon turned to Zhongli, asking in confusion.
How could Mora be so valuable?
After all, Paimon wasn't new to the Douluo Continent anymore; she knew the value of gold soul coins.
She never expected that the starting bid for one Mora would be as high as one hundred million gold soul coins!
That's one hundred million!
What does that mean?
It could buy millions of delicious roast ducks, the very expensive kind!
"Rarity increases value."
Zhongli put down his teacup and said calmly.
Whether something is valuable or not depends not only on its inherent worth but also on its position in people's hearts.
Take paintings, for example. Those who consider them valuable might bid a small fortune, while those who don't see them as just a piece of paper.
"One hundred and fifty million!"
After a moment of silence, VIP room number three couldn't hold back and shouted out an astronomical figure.
###
Chapter 145: Level 10 Soul Engineer
"150 million golden soul coins!"
"Guest room number 3 bids 150 million golden soul coins, is there a higher..."
Before Jiujiuju could finish speaking, a voice came from guest room number 6.
"160 million!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.
The bidding had just begun, and the price had already reached 160 million. The final price was likely to shock many.
It was worth highlighting that even a 100, 000-year soul bone or a ninth-grade soul tool could not fetch a price of over 100 million golden soul coins.
"Mora, must be obtained by all means!"
Those who could become titled Douluo had some thoughts about becoming deities. Even if they couldn't use it now, they might need it in the future.
They couldn't use it themselves, but they couldn't let it fall into the hands of enemies either!
As for the ninth-grade soul engineers, their thoughts were different from those of the traditional titled Douluo. They aim to create legendary tenth-grade soul tools, or even eleventh-grade soul tools.
The Mora contains divine power, even if it was extremely weak, it was still divine power!
"170 million..."
"200 million!"
From guest room number 4, a very firm voice came as if they were determined to obtain the Mora.
"Even if I had to spend all my wealth, I would bid for a piece of Mora!"
"..."
Meanwhile, in the auction room where the representatives of Liyue were, Xuan Ziwen's face showed a hint of confusion.
There were ten pieces of Mora in his soul tool, which were given to him for free by Zhongli.
The price of one piece of Mora had already reached 200 million golden soul coins. Ten pieces of Mora... even if he were sold, he wouldn't be worth the price of ten pieces of Mora!
"I must leave an important mark in Liyue's history, otherwise, I would be unworthy of these pieces of Mora!" Xuan Ziwen clenched his fists, making a firm decision in his heart.
He was a very talented soul engineer, having achieved the level of an eighth-grade soul engineer at a young age, and his future was limitless.
But the future was the future, and now he was not yet among the top in the world, yet he had received treatment that the top soul masters hadn't received.
This trip to Liyue had been worth it.
"Sun and Moon, I'm sorry, I can't go back."
Yes, he couldn't go back.
He, Xuan Ziwen, had already "sold" himself to Liyue!
Meanwhile, in the guest room where Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were, the brother and sister looked at each other, feeling overwhelmed.
This... this was terrifying!
What had they done to deserve being given twenty pieces of Mora by Zhongli, each getting ten pieces!
For Zhongli, this might have been just a casual creation, but for them, Mora was not something they should possess now!
"Little ones, don't just exchange looks."
"Take out half of the Mora on you, and I will buy it at the highest price of the auction."
In the guest room, the old man stroked his beard, smiling.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen showed a bitter smile. This old man, wasn't he forcing a sale?
The Hongchen family was not short of golden soul coins.
The Mora can be used as the family's foundation.
But with the old man's words, they...
"Can't escape it!"
After returning to the Sun and Moon Empire, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were not happy. Even their grandfather had to be guarded against!
Not to mention others.
"Don't count on me, 80% of the Mora on me has been handed over to the Hall of Worship."
Jing Hongchen spread his hands, feeling helpless.
He had handed over eight pieces of Mora, leaving only two!
This old man was his master, he had to give it to him!
"Master, ten pieces are too much, give the children some hope!"
Xiao Hongchen said bitterly.
This old man was the great elder of the Sun and Moon royal family, the only tenth-grade soul master in the Sun and Moon Empire!
"Mora in your hands is just a hot potato, in my hands, it can transform into the core of a divine tool!"
"Xiao, it's not that I need your Mora, but that your Mora can only shine in my hands!"
The old man said confidently.
If these two were not his disciples, he would have taken it by force!
Ten pieces, each carrying ten pieces of Mora!
Wasn't this the same as a treasure vault?
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen pouted, it was only because they were young and their soul power and experience were insufficient, otherwise, they might have been able to create a tenth-grade soul tool!
Young people should have dreams, what if they come true?
As for why only ten pieces were taken, wasn't it to give the children some hope?
It wasn't a good idea to keep plucking the same sheep.
Jing Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen, the three of them were all from the Hongchen family, it was no different from plucking the same sheep.
It was already the maximum to get eighteen pieces of Mora from the Hongchen family.
"Xiao, Meng, your master is not paying, if you need money, tell your master, and I will continue to buy the Mora in your hands!"
Kong Deming's words made Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen's eyes twitch. They were not short of money!
Damn old man, using his status, position, and strength to force a sale, they couldn't refuse!
"Forget it, forget it, let's just contribute to the empire."
Xiao Hongchen reluctantly took out five pieces of Mora, and Meng Hongchen could only take out five pieces.
Kong Deming was quick, grabbing them and putting them away, then returned to normal.
With the items in hand, there was no need to be nice to these little ones.
Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen complained in their hearts but could do nothing.
"The golden soul coins for buying Mora will be given to your grandfather when we return, rest assured, I swear by the name of a tenth-grade soul engineer, I will not embezzle."
Kong Deming said seriously.
For him, thirty or forty billion golden soul coins were just a number.
As the great elder of the Sun and Moon Empire and the only tenth-grade soul engineer, his wealth was terrifying!
"Thank you, master!"
Forced to buy and sell, and still had to thank the person, what was this?
"Rest assured, if I can create a divine tool, your Hongchen family will definitely leave a mark in history!"
Kong Deming made a very important promise, one that could not be refused.
Although a tenth-grade soul tool exceeded the limits of a ninth-grade soul tool, it was not a true divine tool.
As a tenth-grade soul master, Kong Deming knew best.
If he could create a true divine tool, he could die in peace!
Everyone's life pursuit was different, the pursuit of an ordinary soul master was nothing more than becoming a ninth-grade soul master.
But Kong Deming was already at the pinnacle of soul engineering, how many ninth-grade soul engineers had achieved their current status under his guidance?
Too many to count.
His current pursuit was not just about soul tools, but a divine tool that could be passed down!
With this divine tool, perhaps a deity could be created!
"Even though I have obtained so many pieces of Mora, it is still necessary to collect the Mora from the auction!"
Thinking of this, Kong Deming picked up the microphone and said, "290 million golden soul coins!"