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"A ten-thousand-year soul bone?!"
The moment the red cloth was lifted, the basic information of the auction item appeared on the blank section of the soul-guided screen.
It was a left leg bone—entirely jade-green in hue, with a faint inner luminescence that seemed to pulse with restrained power. Even through the screen, its aura felt overwhelming, as if the very air thickened with primal strength.
Chen Junting's eyebrows shot up. He turned to Qing Lan.
"Auntie Qing… you're opening with something this big?"
"If we didn't," she replied coolly, popping a piece of fruit into her mouth, "how would we draw in the guests?" Her expression remained utterly indifferent—as if a ten-thousand-year soul bone were no more than pebbles on the roadside.
"Compared to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's ten-thousand-year legacy, a mere soul bone like this is insignificant."
A mere soul bone?!
Do you have to be this extravagantly arrogant?
Just as Chen Junting frowned in confusion, Ning Tian leaned in and quietly explained.
"Brother Junting, everything auctioned here has already been vetted by the sect. If the sect needs it, they'll simply buy it from the seller at their expected price."
"The truly precious items left for auction are meant to build the Jiubao Auction's reputation. Without standout lots, no one would take future auctions seriously. As Auntie Qing said—it's just one soul bone, after all."
"That… makes sense," Chen Junting murmured, rubbing his temples.
'I've been with the sect for two and a half years, yet I still haven't cultivated the mindset of a top-tier disciple. Guess I haven't seen enough of the world. Then again… aside from those rare ingredients, I really haven't encountered much else.'
On screen, the auctioneer—a woman in a form-fitting crimson brocade robe—swayed gracefully as her sultry voice continued, stoking the bidders' desires.
"Esteemed guests, you're all surely familiar with our first lot. In the soul master world, there exists a ranking known as the Soul Master's Dream List—a catalog of the most coveted treasures. After ten thousand years of refinement, the item ranked fourth is none other than this ten-thousand-year soul bone, hailed as the 'Blood River Treasure.'"
"The base attributes of this Left Leg Bone from a Thirty-Thousand-Year Galewind Demon Wolf King are already displayed. I won't belabor the details—let me cut straight to its unique traits."
"First: this soul bone has been absorbed by multiple soul masters in the past. Its skill is fixed—granting the user an instant state of Bloodthirsty Frenzy. Upon activation, attack and defense double, and speed doubles as well. However, there's a critical drawback: once this soul bone skill is used, no other soul skills can be activated."
This skill is quite good!
Chen Junting's eyes gleamed. Had his own left leg bone not already been secured by the sect—with even higher age and far grander origins—he might've been tempted to bid.
After all, among soul bone skills, the rarest and most valuable were conceptual or domain-type abilities. Next came amplification-type skills—and this was not only that, but a fixed one at that.
But then the auctioneer dropped the next bombshell.
"Second: this soul bone… is related to a god!"
The hall erupted.
Even Chen Junting's eyes bulged. He whipped his head toward Qing Lan, shock written across his face.
Before he could speak, she waved a hand dismissively. "Not what you think. The only soul bone in our sect with actual divine connection is the one you carry. This? Just marketing."
Sure enough, the auctioneer clarified:
"According to our sect's ancient records, ten thousand years ago, the ancestor of the White Tiger Duke Manor—Dai Mubai—possessed a leg bone with this exact same skill. Doesn't that stir something in you?"
Her voice cut off abruptly—giving the bidders a moment to simmer.
After five breaths, she resumed:
"The first lot of tonight's auction: the Thirty-Thousand-Year Galewind Demon Wolf King Left Leg Bone, with the fixed soul skill Bloodthirsty Frenzy. Starting bid: nine million gold soul coins. Bidding opens in five minutes. Minimum increment: thirty thousand gold soul coins."
Five minutes later, the price had already skyrocketed past ten million—and finally hammered down at eighteen million.
Just as Chen Junting predicted, the final price was nearly double its true worth.
"So… who's the sucker who bought it?" he mused, stroking his chin with a wry smirk.
"Probably the White Tiger Duke Manor," Qing Lan answered instantly. "I heard they sent representatives today. Knowing their pride, they'd pay any price they can afford—just to reclaim a piece of their ancestor's legacy."
Chen Junting started to nod—then paused, realization dawning.
"You planned this," he said slowly.
Qing Lan didn't deny it. "No merchant thrives without a bit of cunning."
The auction continued, each lot more dazzling than the last:
An Eighth-Grade soul-guided device, handcrafted by a Sun-Moon Empire soul engineer as well as heaven-grade treasures like Thousand-Year Frost Marrow—likely snapped up by Shrek Academy.
Even a Grade-Eight Fixed-Load Soul-Guided Cannon, a weapon of strategic warfare—where the sect got that, no one knew.
Truly worthy of the title: 'the pinnacle of auctions'.
With each passing lot, Chen Junting's composure grew. Soon, even the rarest treasures failed to stir his expression—matching Qing Lan and Ning Tian's serene detachment.
Until…
"The next item," the auctioneer announced, her voice dropping to a hush, "will be of special interest to any soul engineers in the audience. Watch closely."
As the red cloth fell, a carving knife came into view.
Ancient. Jet-black. Etched with faint, ominous runes. It radiated a quiet, archaic aura—yet beneath it lurked something deeply unsettling.
"This… is the legendary Ranked Carving Knife!"
The moment the words left her lips, tension crackled in Chen Junting's private room.
"Little Tian," Chen Junting said, voice firm, eyes burning with intensity, "I must have this knife."
On the screen, its name had appeared: Soul Devouring Carving Knife—ranked 99th among all Ranked Carving Knives, infamous as the "Ominous Blade."
And more importantly—it was a massive chunk of Life Gold!
He'd assumed he'd need to travel to the Starlight Auction House to acquire it. Yet here it was, delivered straight to his lap.
Fortune favors the prepared!
As for purification—he could have the sect's Light-attribute soul masters attempt it. There was a real chance they'd succeed.
And if not? He had other methods.
But one thing was certain: this knife had to be his.
First, though, he needed to win over Ning Tian.
"No!" she snapped—her first act of defiance against her beloved Brother Junting. Her eyes were already red-rimmed. "This Soul Devouring Knife is too dangerous! Records show thirty-seven deaths linked to it—and nine soul masters turned evil because of this cursed blade! I absolutely forbid it!"
Seeing her distress, Chen Junting softened his tone. "Little Tian, I truly need this knife—and I have an idea that might neutralize its corruption."
But his words didn't sway her.
After a brief pause, he offered a compromise. "How about this: we bid for it, bring it back to the sect, and let Light-attribute soul masters purify it. Only once they confirm it's safe will I take possession. What do you say?"
"Little Tian, agree to this," Qing Lan interjected smoothly. "I'll personally escort the knife back and oversee the process exactly as Junting suggests. But if it fails…" She fixed Chen Junting with a sharp look. "…you'll have to answer for your own life."
Chen Junting caught the unspoken message—and, seeing Ning Tian deep in thought, shot Qing Lan a silent look of gratitude.
She responded with a stern glare… then sent a thread of sound directly into his ear:
"I know you've got your own plans, so I'll hand you the knife regardless. But guard your life carefully. And remember—this only happens if Elder Brother approves. Otherwise, you're out of luck."
With that, she rose gracefully.
Ning Tian, after a long moment, finally nodded. "Fine. We'll do it your way."
Thanks to the blade's fearsome reputation, their only competitor quickly dropped out. Acquiring the Soul Devouring Carving Knife proved effortless.
With their prize secured, the rest of the auction lost its luster.
They left the suite and headed toward Jiubao Pavilion—where all purchased items were delivered.
Besides, Elder Zhang Ming was waiting for them there.
Tomorrow at dawn, they'd be returning to the sect.
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