As Chu Su retreated to rest, Yan Wei announced the next item up for auction. The announcement sparked a wave of astonished chatter from both the contestants and the audience. Yan Wei, with his head bowed, seemed pleased with the reaction, a hint of cunning in his eyes.
"Allow me to explain further. As you all know, Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are incredibly rare in the Soul Beast world, akin to our human Title Douluo. On the Soul Master's Dream Rankings, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring consistently holds the top spot. Many strong individuals who have reached the Title Douluo level desperately seek such a ring. However, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are incredibly mysterious, making their location a significant problem."
"Fortunately, a Soul Master has been researching the whereabouts of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts for years. Based on the Soul Beasts' species, activity locations, and living habits, he has finally discovered the location of one."
"This Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is relatively easy to hunt, making it very suitable for those striving to break through to the Title Douluo level. It is none other than the Soul Beast known as the greatest healer, the Jade Swan, Biji!"
Yan Wei announced the name of the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast up for auction. The mention of the Jade Swan, Biji's, whereabouts caused many eyes to gleam. This was Biji!
Who hadn't heard of Biji's reputation? She was a Soul Beast with immense prestige in the Soul Beast world. Humans had given her the name Biji. Some had seen the ten-thousand-year-old Jade Swan, incredibly beautiful and magnificent, with deep green feathers that were like dripping jade, hence the title Biji.
However, hunting a ten-thousand-year-old Biji wouldn't be easy. Biji was famous for healing Soul Beasts, and many Soul Beasts who had received her help protected her. Anyone who wanted to target Biji would first have to defeat her guardians, most of whom were at the ten-thousand-year level or even the Hundred-Thousand-Year level.
"Master Yan Wei, is your information reliable? We can't tell if it's true or false. How can we trust you based solely on your claim about Biji's whereabouts?"
Someone in the audience asked, voicing the doubts of the Soul Masters present.
"Hehe, a good question. I dare to auction Biji's whereabouts here, naturally, I have guarantees. Let me reveal a little information to you all."
"The source of this information comes from Lord Qian Xunji, who entrusted me to auction it. As for where Lord Qian Xunji obtained it, you all know that the Spirit Hall once ventured deep into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the Soft Bone Charming Rabbit. Since then, the Spirit Hall has recruited many talents specializing in the study of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. The one who specializes in the study of Jade Swans is named Zhao Zhou, and he is also a Title Douluo. His Title, I believe, is very familiar to you all: the renowned Golden Crocodile Douluo!"
The mention of Golden Crocodile Douluo Zhao Zhou's name shocked everyone. His fame predated even Qian Daoliu, and he had long been the Spirit Hall's most powerful enshrinement. Rumor had it that he also possessed a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, although the truth was unknown.
If the information about the Jade Swan came from Zhao Zhou, it wouldn't be surprising.
"I heard that Golden Crocodile Douluo's ninth Soul Ring is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Golden Crocodile King, and the Golden Crocodile Soul Beast is the natural enemy of the Jade Swan!"
"So, the information source is indeed reliable!"
"Yes, yes!"
The audience began to discuss amongst themselves. Qian Xunji and Yan Wei exchanged glances, both wearing strange smiles.
Why would the Spirit Hall, with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's location, auction the information instead of keeping it for themselves?
The answer was to release the information first, attracting some strong individuals to scout the area. They knew that no Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was easy to deal with. If some greedy people got the information and went in search of Biji, the Spirit Hall could then reap the benefits. Either way, they wouldn't lose.
In this world, besides the Spirit Hall, which other force or individual could hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? Releasing the information meant these people would just be sacrificing their lives, becoming stepping stones for others.
"What a bunch of ignorant fools. Do they dare to covet Biji? The Spirit Hall didn't directly hunt her, but instead released this information, proving that even the Spirit Hall isn't fully confident in taking her down alone."
"These guys will only be used by others."
Meng Qianji watched their greedy expressions from the shadows and couldn't help but sneer.
"So, everyone, the starting price for Biji's information is ten thousand gold soul coins. Bidding starts now!"
"Twenty thousand gold soul coins!"
"Fifty thousand gold soul coins!!!"
"One hundred thousand gold soul coins..."
The scene immediately became lively and intense, with people shouting out bids, quickly reaching a price of five hundred thousand gold soul coins.
In the audience, someone watched everything with a furrowed brow.
"What, are you tempted? Brother Morris?"
"This is just a test by the Spirit Hall. There are very few forces that can hunt Biji."
"Doesn't your Bright Jade Sect have that strength? If I remember correctly, the one who's about to come out of seclusion..."
"Hmph, I'm here to see if Feng Siming can get into the Spirit Hall's selection. I'm not interested in these things!"
"That little fellow has already severed ties with your sect, yet you still value him so much. Indeed, there's something special about him."
"Heh, aren't you also here to see Mong Xun?"
"We're in the same boat. In fact, if we combined our efforts, we might have a chance with Biji..."
"Three million gold soul coins!"
With that, the man beside Morris, the Bright Jade Sect's Sect Master, started the bidding.
The announcement of three million gold soul coins silenced the bidders, who all turned to look at them.
"Mong He, what audacity. No one's competing with you."
Morris glanced at the man beside him.
"Hehe..."
"Three million gold soul coins once!"
"Three million gold soul coins twice!"
"Three million gold soul coins three times! Sold!"
Yan Wei slammed down the final hammer.
"Wow, are there really such fools? Who's the idiot who did that?"
Yan blurted out from the waiting area.
They could see through this scheme of releasing information to test the waters, so they watched with interest, wondering how high the price would go. They didn't expect someone to bid three million gold soul coins, which surprised them.
When Mong Xun heard the voice, his expression became somewhat strange. Hearing Yan say that, he said softly:
"The idiot you're talking about is my father."
"Huh?"
"..."
Unexpectedly, Mong Xun revealed his father, and the waiting area wasn't big. Everyone heard the conversation and burst into laughter.
"Uh, your father has guts, hehe..."
Yan scratched his head and laughed.
The first auction ended. Chu Su changed his clothes and recovered his soul power, and Yan Wei started the draw.
"Alright, let's welcome our first defending champion, Chu Su. I will now begin the next draw."
"The new challenger is Bu Zi Shan."
Bu Zi Shan was also a contestant who made it through the semi-finals. His martial soul was the Stone Sword Ghost, an earth- and ghost-type martial soul.
He was a two-ring Soul Master, belonging to the strong attack type.
The Stone Sword Ghost was a humanoid martial soul, entirely made of stone. It was small in stature with a sinister aura, blood-red eyes, and held a curved stone sword, hence its name.
However, this Bu Zi Shan was clearly no match for Chu Su's Ice Fire Demon Tiger. After a brief exchange, Chu Su defeated him with the Ice Fire Spiral Kill.
After that, Chu Su defeated two more people who had entered the finals. His soul power was depleted, but being able to defeat three opponents of the same level, plus Chuan Man Yan before, made it four, which showed how strong Chu Su was.
"Alright, our contestant Zang Xuan has also unfortunately lost. However, it's clear that our defending champion Chu Su is also at his limit. Chu Su, would you like to apply to forfeit and rest?"
Yan Wei asked with concern.
"Hoo――Hoo――"
Chu Su's breathing became rapid and heavy, clearly unable to handle the upcoming match, but his inner pride wouldn't let him admit defeat.
"Continue, come on!"
He barely straightened his body, and a glint flashed in Chu Su's eyes.
"Alright, let's welcome the next one. The next one is Ning Si Yin, please come on stage."