"The next item is..."
Lilith unveiled it to reveal the item.
"A Rank 3 Golden Essence Pill! This is one of the rarest Rank 3 pills. With this pill, it can help an early or middle-stage Tier 3 cultivator smoothly reach the peak of the Tier. If someone at Tier 2 uses the Golden Essence Pill, achieving Tier 3 will be guaranteed!"
Upon the introduction of the Rank 3 Golden Essence Pill, another uproar erupted throughout the hall.
But many were also filled with sorrow, knowing they had no chance of obtaining it.
Their dream was right in front of their eyes, yet still out of reach.
This was especially true for Vant, the Temple Master of the Spider Silk Temple. He had been stuck at Peak Tier 2 for a long time now.
Reaching Tier 3—even just the early stage—was already his greatest dream.
His hatred for Larisha deepened. But he knew he couldn't kill her now, not when she wielded a Rank 3 weapon. If he wanted to survive, he had to keep his distance.
"The starting bid is 150,000 Spirit Stones! The minimum increment is 10,000 Spirit Stones."
With that, the bidding began.
"500,000 Spirit Stones!"
Dazel immediately raised the bid to 500,000 with full confidence. To him, this was already his. This was his moment at last.
The others watching, unable to compete, felt dizzy from the sheer amount of Spirit Stones involved.
They were filled with awe—and envy.
"600,000 Spirit Stones!"
Then a familiar voice rang out. Of course, it was Larisha.
Dazel's body trembled the moment he heard her bid.
"S-She still has that many Spirit Stones?" he exclaimed in shock.
Emperor Dazon, Temple Master Doji, and everyone affiliated with the Eldoria Royal Family grew anxious.
They were all praying for Dazel to win the Rank 3 pill.
"650,000!"
"900,000!"
Dazel clenched his fists, suppressing his fury. He was truly enraged this time.
But he restrained himself.
A mouthful of blood burst from his lips as his previous injury flared up again.
"Royal Grandfather!" Dazon rushed to support Dazel and immediately gave him a healing pill.
Inside VIP Room No. 2, Doji was full of concern and angrily glared toward the Ice Domain Temple's VIP Room.
The crowd was stunned.
"My god... why is the Temple Master of the Ice Domain Palace so rich?"
"Where did she even get that many Spirit Stones?"
"Maybe she's secretly from a powerful clan outside the Eldoria Kingdom!"
Speculations and whispers spread like wildfire.
"Temple Master, you may have just killed that old man indirectly," Calyx said, laughing heartily.
"Well... it's not my fault. I just wanted the pill," Larisha replied softly while gazing at him.
Behind them, even the elders were so shocked that they slapped their own faces, thinking they must be dreaming.
"Is there anyone who wants to increase the bid?" Lilith called out, but was met with silence.
"900,000 Spirit Stones! Going once, going twice—sold! Congratulations once again to VIP Room No. 7. The Rank 3 Golden Essence Pill is yours!"
Larisha immediately stepped forward to claim her winning item.
At that moment, envy toward the Temple Master of the Ice Domain Temple filled the hearts of many.
Especially Vant. His expression had become unreadable.
Ancestor Dazel tried to calm himself, slowly beginning to relax.
'That's right. By now, Temple Master Larisha must have already spent all her Spirit Stones. A total of 1.5 million—on a Rank 3 Ice Sword and the Rank 3 Golden Essence Pill. It's a pity I didn't get them, but the Rank 4 item is the most important. I must win it no matter what!'
Ancestor Dazel strengthened his resolve.
People began to speculate on who would claim the Rank 4 item. Some said it would be Dazel, since Larisha should have already used up all her Spirit Stones.
Others believed she still had plenty left.
"And now, the final item..."
Lilith slowly lifted the veil, revealing the final treasure.
"This is the Rank 4 Mud Glory Armor! It has decent resistance against early and middle-stage Tier 4 humans. It also provides 100% resistance to attacks from Peak Tier 3 and below. It possesses excellent camouflage abilities, especially in forested environments."
"The starting bid is 500,000 Spirit Stones, with a minimum increase of 10,000 per bid!"
Just as Lilith finished speaking—
"600,000 Spirit Stones!" Dazel shouted instantly. His body was tense with nerves, despite already being at early Tier 3.
"1 million Spirit Stones!"
Larisha's voice rang out.
It was like lightning struck Dazel when he heard her.
'H-How is this possible?!' he screamed in his mind.
"1.1 million Spirit Stones!" Dazel roared with a hoarse voice.
"1.2 million!" Larisha countered.
"1.3 million!"
"1.5 million!"
Dazel went mad. He had only 1.6 million Spirit Stones left, but Larisha's Spirit Stone reserves seemed endless.
"1.6 million Spirit Stones!" Dazel declared his final bid, praying Larisha wouldn't raise it further.
But alas...
"2 million Spirit Stones!" Larisha shouted. Her body was tense with anticipation, hoping Dazel wouldn't continue. She wasn't sure how much more he had left.
But clearly, Larisha had overestimated him.
Moments after her bid, Dazel coughed up another mouthful of blood.
Everyone in the hall fell silent, too stunned to speak.
Seconds later...
"2 million Spirit Stones! Going once, going twice—sold! Once again, congratulations to the guest in VIP Room No. 7 for also winning the Rank 4 Mud Glory Armor!" Lilith announced.
Larisha excitedly claimed her item and paid for it.
She decided to give the Rank 4 armor to Calyx, but he simply smiled and declined, saying he didn't need it.
She didn't understand why Calyx was so selfless.
Were people like that real?
Perhaps... she had now met one.
She could only keep the Rank 4 armor with immense gratitude in her heart. She vowed to strengthen the Ice Domain Temple and repay Calyx in the future.
And with that, the auction came to an end.
Many asked questions, such as when the next auction would be held.
Calyx told Lilith there would be minor auctions every 10 years and a major one every 100 years.
Upon hearing this, some were disappointed—especially Dazel, who wondered why it couldn't be held annually instead.
But it was what it was.
The factions began leaving one by one. Some were in shock and awe. Some were filled with envy, especially toward the Ice Domain Temple. Others, like Dazel, stood in a daze, not speaking, his face seeming to have aged a century. Emperor Dazon grew worried for his royal grandfather.
Emperor Dazon even suggested stealing the items from the Ice Domain Temple, but Doji immediately dismissed the idea, calling it idiotic.
The Ice Domain Temple faction was now on their way back to their temple.
The Monarch Auction House assigned five Peak Tier 2 guards to ensure their safe journey.
Many had mixed emotions about the outcome, but one thing was certain—
The Ice Domain Temple's power would surge, becoming stronger than the Eldoria Empire.
And the fame of the Monarch Auction House would spread across neighboring empires.