After experiencing the two main features of the Black Domain Plain, Liu Yu and Yun Yun encountered no further trouble. Following the path on the map, they arrived at the edge of the Black Plain just before sunset.
Compared to the drab and desolate interior of the Black Domain Plain, lush green began to appear. Seeing this glimpse of green, Liu Yu and Yun Yun transformed into two streams of light and headed towards Black Seal City!
After crossing a mountain, Liu Yu and Yun Yun saw a vast city formed from pitch-black boulders at its foot. At the city's four main gates, densely packed black dots converged, like ants entering a hole, pouring into the black maw of the massive city.
In a matter of moments, Liu Yu and Yun Yun, their faces covered with a veil, approached the pitch-black gates. The two powerful Dou Huang auras were released unrestrainedly, causing a stir among the crowd below.
As Liu Yu and Yun Yun descended, the people below conscientiously left a wide path leading to the city gate. Under the awe-inspiring gazes of the crowd, Liu Yu and Yun Yun calmly and confidently entered the city gate. As for the dozen or so men in black attire at the city gate, they also respectfully invited Liu Yu and Yun Yun in. The so-called hefty entrance fee was nothing to a Dou Huang powerhouse!
As Liu Yu and Yun Yun disappeared from the sight of the crowd outside the city, the two lines of people reunited. The dozen or so men in black attire instantly regained their icy expressions and continued to demand the entrance fee from those who wanted to enter the city. Those in line, of course, had to follow the rules honestly, fearing that if they didn't, they would lose their lives and not be able to enter the city.
...
Liu Yu and Yun Yun strolled casually through the streets of Black Seal City. The scenery along the way gave Liu Yu a vivid sense of the Black Horn Region's chaos. He could hardly walk a few steps without witnessing a fight, even a bloody clash of swords. However, the area around Liu Yu and Yun Yun was remarkably quiet.
Liu Yu's purpose in coming to Black Horn Region was simple: to dominate it, leveraging its resources to gradually increase his own strength, and then proceed to Zhongzhou. Of course, this couldn't be rushed; it had to be planned gradually.
...
At the end of the street, a sea of people surged, and a massive auction hall came into view. The five large characters "Black Seal Auction House" adorned the hall with overwhelming force.
At the entrance, a crowd thronged, and noise and shouting echoed.
But the passageway beyond the Black Seal Auction House's entrance held a different world. A red carpet covered the spacious passageway, and dozens of impassive men in black, sharp weapons strapped to their waists, stood stationed there. The five leading them exuded a sinister and tyrannical aura, intimidating the surrounding crowd.
Suddenly, the clamor ceased as two figures approached, sending everyone retreating in their wake.
Just what kind of young man was this? He was tall and slender, dressed in a form-fitting, luxurious purple robe, casually tied at one side with three thousand silver threads. His face was cold yet alluring, his eyes, dazzling like rubies, shimmering with a boundless, blood-red glow.
Most shocking of all, he exuded the undisguised aura of a Dou Huang. For someone so young, he was a Dou Huang! If it weren't for the fact that breakthroughs in cultivation realms couldn't restore youth, only a slight increase in age, they would have thought this "young man" was some ageless freak with a secret to eternal youth!
Walking alongside the demonically handsome youth was a voluptuous, graceful woman in a light veil. She also exuded the aura of a Dou Huang, though compared to the youth beside her, her presence was more palatable. After all, the leader of the Luosha Sect in Luosha City was also a rather stunning female Dou Huang.
Seeing this, the five leading black-clad figures at the passageway hurried forward to greet them. These two were comparable to their sect masters. If their poor hospitality angered these two Dou Huang masters, they would surely be skinned alive by their sect masters!
Thus, Liu Yu and Yun Yun, led by the five black-clad men, walked down the red carpet and, under the respectful gazes of dozens of black-clad men, entered the auction hall. And the VIP card required to enter this passage? Dou Huang status was enough to negate all that!
...
On the third floor of the Black Seal Auction House, in a luxurious, top-tier VIP room, Liu Yu and Yun Yun reclined on soft, exquisite chairs, attended by dozens of beautiful maids.
From this VIP room, a glance offered a sweeping view of the entire auction venue. Liu Yu watched as groups of impressive figures gathered near the crystal auction table and took their seats in the VIP booths. They
included the Blood Clan of Dusk City, the Black Skull Tomb of Black Skull City, the Kuilang Gang of Kuilang City, and other major Black Horn Territory factions. Even members of Black Emperor City's Black Emperor Sect—a long-established faction within the Black Horn Territory, with a Dou Zong master within its fold—were among them.
Liu Yu silently observed the individuals in the VIP booths, for he would inevitably come into contact with the forces behind them. He hoped they could "live in peace" and avoid unnecessary bloodshed!
Just then, a burly, middle-aged man entered the VIP booth.
"Haha, I'm truly honored to have a Dou Huang master visit my Black Seal Auction House!"
A hearty laugh echoed, causing the maids in the VIP booth to consciously step aside.
Liu Yu remained expressionless. He had long since noticed the arrival of the eight sect masters. He said softly, "Master Yuan, you're too kind. I've heard that precious items often appear at the Black Seal Auction House, so I came here to see if I could snag anything good."
"If there's anything you like at the auction, just let me know and I'll deliver it to you!" Yuan Yi laughed, then casually asked, "May I know your surname, sir, and who is this?"
"My surname is Liu, and this is my wife!" Liu Yu replied calmly.
Upon hearing Liu Yu's words, Yuan Yi's mind frantically searched for information on these two people. Liu was a Dou Huang powerhouse, and his wife was also a Dou Huang... His mind raced, and Yuan Yi immediately concluded that these two people were not from the Black Horn Territory!
Yuan Yi knew only a few Dou Huang powerhouses with names and surnames in the Black Horn Territory, and there was absolutely no one with the surname Liu!
Upon realizing the two men were from outside the domain, Yuan Yi's thoughts quickened. He then said, "Mr. Liu, I'll leave you alone. If you like any of the items, feel free to bid. I'll take care of the sale!"
As he finished speaking, Yuan Yi exited the VIP room.
As the auction hall gradually filled, a clear chime echoed through the air, and the clamor gradually faded. Countless eyes turned to the crystal stage, their gazes fiery and greedy.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I won't say much. This annual auction begins now!" A white-haired elder in elegant attire clapped his hands and announced loudly. As an experienced auctioneer, he knew these people were there for the items, not to hear his nonsense.
The elder's simple opening ceremony drew applause from the audience, and the various factions nodded in agreement.
As the white-haired old man's voice fell, the huge crystal platform suddenly burst out with a dazzling light. After a moment, the light gradually disappeared. On the auction table in front of the white-haired old man, a blue inner armor emitting a faint chill appeared. In the center of the inner armor, there was a cold luster.
"This inner armor is ice armor, forged from cold iron, and inlaid with the magic core of a fourth-tier ice-attributed monster. If worn by someone with ice or water attributes, it will not only increase their cultivation speed but also provide defensive protection. It's also effective against those without ice or water attributes. Long-term wear can strengthen your physique and condense your fighting spirit. This ice armor is truly a rare treasure!"
The white-haired old man held the ice armor in both hands, looked at the people in the auction hall, and shouted with a smile, "The starting price is 150,000. The bidding begins!"
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Liu Yu and Yun Yun, in the VIP room on the third floor, showed no interest in the so-called ice armor. While it was a remarkable first lot, it was useless to them.
In contrast to the quiet VIP room, the auction floor was bustling with activity. Even the VIP seats saw bids coming in. Ultimately, the item was sold to a cold man in the back for 300,000 gold coins.
After the smooth first bidding, a dazzling array of treasures, weapons, fighting techniques, medicinal herbs, and martial arts techniques appeared on the auction floor. At the very end of the auction, a sixth-grade elixir, the Douling Pill, appeared!
This instantly set the entire auction floor ablaze with excitement. This was a sixth-grade elixir, and a Douling Pill, capable of helping a Dou Wang achieve a one-star breakthrough.
While everyone knew the Black Seal Auction would feature some extraordinary items, they were surprised to find the Douling Pill as the first of the final two lots!
"Everyone, the starting price for this Douling Pill is two million! Each bid must not be less than one hundred thousand!"
"Two and a half million!" The white-haired elder had barely finished speaking when an elder from the Blood Clan in the front row shouted, immediately raising the price by half a million, seemingly determined to win it.
This staggering sum deterred those in the back rows, making it clear they weren't even qualified to participate in the auction for a sixth-grade pill. Even those with considerable wealth dared not raise their voices.
"Two and a half million!"
A faint voice suddenly rang out the moment the Blood Clan member finished speaking.
Everyone's gaze followed the shout and rested on a middle-aged man in a skull-gray robe in the front row. The Black Skull Tomb was a major faction in the Black Horn Territory, and coincidentally, they had a significant feud with the Blood Clan. It was unclear whether they were trying to disgust the Blood Clan or if they truly desired the Douling Pill.
The Blood Clan elder's expression darkened upon seeing the middle-aged man from the Black Skull Tomb. He snorted, "Three million!"
"Three and a half million," the middle-aged man said, expressionless and unhurried.
"Four million!"
"Four one hundred thousand."
...
Some factions in the VIP seats were about to bid, but paused. The Blood Clan and the Black Skull Tomb were clearly locked in a heated argument. The bid price was rising rapidly, and in a short moment, it had already reached six million!
"Seven million!" The middle-aged man from the Black Skull Tomb's expression changed, and he finally shouted out the exorbitant price of seven million!
The Blood Clan elder's face darkened upon hearing this exorbitant price. Although the sixth-grade Douling Pill was extremely rare and in short supply, seven million was beyond his means and exceeded the value of the Douling Pill.
The other factions in the front row also looked at the Black Skull Tomb in surprise. It seemed that the Black Skull Tomb really wanted this Douling Pill!
Even Liu Yu, in the VIP room on the third floor, was slightly surprised. Could this Dou Ling Dan be so valuable? It reminded him of the few Dou Ling Dan he'd casually refined during his time in the Serpent People's ring.
"Seven million gold coins! Any more bids? If not, this Dou Ling Dan belongs to the gentleman from the Black Skull Tomb!"
With that, the white-haired elder on the crystal stage banged his hammer and cheerfully announced the owner of the Dou Ling Dan.
The appearance of a Dou Ling Dan filled the auction hall with excitement over this final item, and for a moment, the entire venue felt like it was about to erupt in chaos.
Just as the situation seemed to be spiraling out of control, from somewhere in the darkness on the second floor, an oppressive Dou Huang aura surged forth, forcibly halting the chaotic auction.
The white-haired elder on the crystal stage breathed a sigh of relief. He bowed slightly and carefully removed a scroll of interwoven green and silver from the counter below. Invisible green air swirled around the scroll's surface.
"'Wind-Evolving Soul-Destroying Finger,' a low-level Earth-rank fighting technique."
The white-haired elder's gentle voice instantly plunged the entire auction hall into a dead silence. Heavy breathing echoed continuously, and even the front row VIP seats were filled with a considerable commotion.
Members of the Black Emperor Sect, the Blood Sect, the Black Skull Tomb, and other factions were also extremely shocked. They had never expected that the finale of the Black Seal Auction would be an Earth-rank fighting technique!
The leaders of these eight sects were truly astounded, not having spread the word earlier. However, this also worked to their advantage. If word got out that an Earth-rank fighting technique would appear at the Black Seal Auction, the entire Black Horn Region would be shaken, and the competition would undoubtedly be unimaginable! (Yuan Yi: ...)
Actually, it's not really Yuan Yi's fault. This Earth-grade fighting skill was suddenly taken out by a mysterious person and handed over to the Eight Gates for auction these days. He simply didn't bother to promote it. Anyway, many people from powerful forces would come to the annual Black Seal Auction, and the value of the Earth-grade fighting skill was there, so there was no worry about not being able to sell it. Moreover, this way he would have the opportunity to recycle this Earth-grade fighting skill!
At this time, Liu Yu in the VIP room also showed an interested look. He didn't expect that such a thing would appear in this year's Black Seal Auction! Earth-grade fighting skills, this is an extremely precious fighting skill. He has only mastered two Earth-grade fighting skills. From the name, it seems that they are wind-attributed. Maybe they are suitable for Yun Yun.
He is determined to get this "Wind-Evolving Soul-Exterminating Finger"!
"There are no attribute requirements when practicing the "Wind-Evolving Soul-Exterminating Finger". This fighting skill has no reserve price. It can be exchanged with gold coins or treasures of equal value. Barter has the highest priority."