The auctioneer stepped up to the cart pushed by the emcee and yanked the cloth off.
The red cloth flew up, falling to the ground.
A jet-black spear-shaped soul tool, radiating a fierce aura, was revealed to the crowd.
The auctioneer's excited gaze swept over the audience.
She cleared her throat and shouted into the sound-amplifying soul tool, "As everyone knows, the rise of soul tools marks a revolution in the soul master era."
"And our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is one of the bearers of this change."
"Over time, soul tools have quietly integrated into the lives of soul masters and even commoners, though mostly in the form of ordinary lifestyle soul tools."
"High-tier combat soul tools, however, remain quite rare."
"Today, as the auctioneer for the Nine Treasure Commerce Guild, I present to you this sixth-tier soul tool from ancient times."
With that, the auctioneer stepped back two paces, gesturing for a prepared soul master to come forward, then continued, "This sixth-tier soul tool not only carries the history of our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan but also marks a significant milestone in Master Lou Gao's comprehension of soul tool creation."
During her speech, a Soul Sage stepped onto the stage.
He lightly lifted the black spear.
With a casual flourish, he performed an aerial spear kick, then gripped the handle, spinning it with commanding vigor.
As soul power was infused, faint electric sparks emanated from the spear's tip.
With a forceful thrust toward a pre-set target at the edge of the platform, he struck.
Boom
The target shattered into pieces, debris scattering across the floor.
After the demonstration, the Soul Sage returned, his expression reluctant, placed the soul tool back on the cart, and stepped down.
Following the performance, the auctioneer stepped forward.
"You've all just witnessed the terrifying power of this soul tool."
"Even an auxiliary soul master can unleash strength comparable to a battle soul master."
"And…" the auctioneer paused, as if teasing the crowd, "this lightning-attribute Black Tassel Spear bears traces of Master Lou Gao's enlightenment. It might hold clues to the soul tool creation methods everyone covets."
"For various reasons, our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has no plans to publicize soul tool creation methods for now. But if someone comprehends it on their own, that's none of our concern."
The auctioneer smiled. "Of course, some say we're buckling under pressure by revealing this, but how could outsiders understand the truth?"
"In any case, due to its ancient origins, despite Master Lou Gao's extensive refinements, this soul tool is not suitable for mental probing."
"Those hoping to glean soul tool creation methods from it should avoid using mental power to probe, or you might damage its core."
"Enough talk." The auctioneer's voice grew firm and resonant. "Lightning-attribute Black Tassel Spear, sixth-tier soul tool, starting bid two million, with increments of at least five hundred thousand."
No sooner had the auctioneer finished than a bid came from a second-floor VIP room.
"Two million five hundred thousand."
As soon as the voice rang out, another VIP room countered.
"You 250, thinking you can snag a sixth-tier soul tool for two and a half million? Dream on!"
"I, Qian Duoduo, bid five million."
"Jerk, Qian Duoduo, you think you're the only one with money?" came an exasperated voice from the so-called "250" VIP room. "I bid ten million for this soul tool."
But before the words settled, they were drowned out by other bids.
In the blink of an eye, the soul tool, potentially tied to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's soul tool secrets, was driven up to fifteen million.
Gradually, the second-floor VIP rooms couldn't keep up.
Fifteen million—enough to buy who-knows-how-many pounds of ribs. Hiring a Soul Sage to guard your home was far more cost-effective, wasn't it? Why buy a lifeless object you had to wield yourself?
Of course, some were banking on uncovering soul tool creation methods from it.
"Fifteen million, first call." Seeing the second-floor VIP rooms mostly halt their bids, the auctioneer began striking her hammer, her gaze shifting to the third floor.
After all, the third floor housed the real tycoons; the second floor was just petty bourgeoisie.
"Supreme VIP Room 3 bids sixteen million."
A sudden synthetic voice from Supreme VIP Room 3 rang out.
Supreme VIP Room 3 was occupied by the Demon Empress and her daughter, Lan Fozi.
"Mom, you're curious about this soul tool?" Lan Fozi looked at the Demon Empress with surprise.
Having lived with the Demon Empress in the seas of the Sun Moon Continent, Lan Fozi knew soul tools weren't uncommon there, though the highest tier available was only sixth-tier.
Even a sixth-tier fixed soul tool could barely threaten a Soul Sage, and beyond that stage, soul tools' power gradually fell behind soul masters.
"It just feels different from the ones on the Sun Moon Continent," the Demon Empress explained.
Unlike her husband, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, who preferred to stay put, she often visited the human world.
The Demon Empress knew a great deal about humans, though mostly limited to the Sun Moon Continent.
Shortly after her bid, a voice came from Supreme VIP Room 4.
"Supreme VIP Room 4 bids seventeen million."
Hearing the synthetic voice from Supreme VIP Room 4, nearly identical to their own, the Demon Empress frowned slightly, glancing out the window toward Supreme VIP Room 4's location.
Before she could think further, a voice abruptly cut through.
Not synthetic, but a real voice.
"The Martial Soul Hall bids twenty million."
"The Martial Soul Hall?" A trace of surprise crossed the Demon Empress's face.
If she recalled correctly, their partner in the Star Dou Great Forest was the Martial Soul Hall.
Should she make contact?
But for now, it was still the auction.
The Demon Empress didn't dwell on it, as the moment after the Martial Soul Hall's bid, Supreme VIP Room 4 called out again.
Following the voice from Supreme VIP Room 4, the auctioneer shouted, "Supreme VIP Room 4 bids twenty-two million, twenty-two million first call."
In Supreme VIP Room 3, the Demon Empress took a deep breath, switching to a custom voice mode that masked her own, and said in a low tone, "Twenty-five million, plus two ten-thousand-year soul bones."
Hiss—
Hiss—
Hiss—
Gasps echoed through the auction house.
Ten-thousand-year soul bones—two of them.
Was a sixth-tier soul tool worth that much?
As expected, after the Demon Empress's bid, no one else raised the price.
Ten-thousand-year soul bones started at millions, even tens of millions. Two would be worth over ten million, right?
This sixth-tier soul tool wasn't worth that price!
Not to mention, the chance of uncovering Master Lou Gao's soul tool creation techniques was uncertain.
With the price of this sixth-tier soul tool, you could hire a team of Soul Sages.
What a fool with too much money.
Many in the audience thought so.
In Supreme VIP Room 2, Golden Crocodile Douluo looked stunned, lowering the hand he'd just raised.
"Forget it, I can't compete." Golden Crocodile sighed. "As long as Sea God Island doesn't get it, that's fine."
To be honest, given Qian Renxue's relationship with Ning Fengzhi, they'd acquired plenty of soul tools, including combat ones, but no one had cracked their anti-theft measures over the years. This auction was just to mess with Tang San and Sea God Island.
Since they didn't get it, it didn't matter.
With the Demon Empress's bid, the hammer struck three times, sealing the price.
Watching the Black Tassel Spear being wheeled away, Tang San's face darkened like blood.
Supreme VIP Room 4, daring to steal from me, Tang San.
You are already on the path to death!