Chapter 57: The High-Tier Auction
Knock, knock, knock—
Ji Lin was training in his room when he suddenly heard a series of knocks at the door. He stood up and opened it, only to find Elder Ma standing outside.
"Elder Ma, is there something you need?"
"Young master, I came to deliver this to you."
As he spoke, Elder Ma handed Ji Lin an exquisite invitation card, gilded in gold and gleaming on the surface.
"Alright, what is this?"
Elder Ma explained, saying, "Here's the situation. Tonight, Starlight Auction House will be holding a high-tier auction, and this invitation was sent from Starlight Auction House."
"If the young master has time this evening, you may go and take a look. At an auction of this level, there are bound to be many rare treasures."
Naturally, Ji Lin was extremely interested in such a high-level auction.
If his memory served him correctly, the soul bone that possessed the Ice Explosion Technique, as well as the Snow Empress, would both be auctioned at this event.
Ji Lin said expectantly, "Elder Ma, I do have time this evening. And I truly want to see for myself what this so-called high-tier auction is like."
Very well. We'll meet after dinner.
Elder Ma replied, "Yes!
After finishing dinner, Ji Lin and the others changed into ordinary clothes, took the invitation from Starlight Auction House, and under the guidance of Elder Yan and the others, a group of sixteen people arrived at Starlight Auction House.
Standing outside the auction hall was a woman wearing a long black dress. She appeared to be around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old—an age where a woman possessed the charm of maturity without losing the freshness of youth.
Ji Lin recognized her at once; she was the same auctioneer they had met previously—Qing Ya.
When she saw Team Sun and Moon approaching, Qing Ya stepped forward with a gentle smile and spoke in a sweet voice:
"Welcome, honored guests. Qing Ya has been waiting for you for quite some time."
Elder Ma asked, "Auctioneer Qing Ya, were you waiting for us?"
Qing Ya nodded and smiled warmly as she replied, "Yes. My duty is to properly receive our distinguished guests. Please, follow me."
As she spoke, Qing Ya turned around and walked ahead with graceful steps.
Led by Qing Ya, Ji Lin and the others arrived at VIP Room No. 2.
After everyone had taken their seats, Qing Ya remained inside along with two young women wearing long golden dresses. Qing Ya stood beside the sofa and said with a smile:
"Allow me to explain to our honored guests the rules of this high-tier auction."
As soon as she finished speaking, she gestured toward the two girls in golden dresses.
One of them stepped forward to the smooth wall and gently pressed it. Instantly, a layer of soft light spread across the entire wall.
The light gradually intensified, and the wall slowly transformed into a massive screen.
Seeing this, Elder Ma said calmly:
"A light-guidance screen?"
Qing Ya smiled when she heard his voice and said, "Elder Ma, you truly have a keen eye. This light-guidance screen is specially customized and imported from your country."
No noticeable change appeared on the faces of Ji Lin and the others when the screen appeared.
After all, this type of screen was widely used within the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, so it was nothing surprising.
After Elder Ma stopped speaking, Qing Ya began explaining the auction rules in detail to Team Sun and Moon.
Once Qing Ya finished explaining the rules and after a short wait, the high-tier auction officially began.
Without any warning, a golden light flooded the entire room. Instinctively, everyone turned their gaze toward the spirit-guidance screen opposite the sofa.
A soft golden glow radiated from it, bestowing the entire space with an aura of luxury and solemnity.
Qing Ya reminded them, saying, "Honored guests, today's auction is about to begin."
The golden light on the screen gradually faded, and a melodious, pleasant voice rang out. After a brief opening introduction, the screen became clear once more, revealing a beautiful young woman wearing a long red dress.
The woman smiled gently and said, "Welcome, honored guests. I am today's auctioneer, Jiujiu. It is my honor to preside over this high-tier auction. I know your time is precious, so let us begin at once."
"And now, I invite you to view the first item of today's auction."
As soon as she finished speaking, the image on the spirit-guidance screen changed, displaying a perfectly presented auction item. Immediately afterward, Jiujiu's voice followed:
"Tyrant Tiger Spirit-Refining Sword — a close-combat spirit tool approaching Grade Eight.
The materials used are extremely precious and include the right arm bone of a ten-thousand-year Tyrant Tiger spirit beast. The soul-bone skill, Tyrant Tiger Strike, has been embedded within it…"
"This sword was crafted by Mingde Hall of the Sun and Moon Empire.
A seven-ring Soul Saint can wield it. With this sword, it becomes possible for a Soul Saint to challenge Soul Douluo experts across rank gaps.
Inspection time: five minutes."
⸻
As soon as Princess Jiujiu finished her introduction, Meng Hongchen, who was seated beside Ji Lin, spoke up at once:
"Ji Lin, this sword suits you very well."
Ji Lin nodded, then stood up and walked toward the front of the screen, carefully examining this Grade Eight combat spirit tool.
Although it was only an image, he could still feel a fierce, overwhelming aura surging from the sword. Along the broad blade, a faint blood-colored glow flickered, exuding an intimidating presence.
Elder Ma stepped closer to Ji Lin and asked,
"Young master, has it caught your interest?"
"Yes."
Ji Lin nodded.
Elder Ma said with an expert gaze,
"This sword is indeed excellent. Besides relying on the power of the soul bone, the core of its primary formation is made from amber crystal gold, which greatly reduces soul power consumption."
It was true that the Tyrant Tiger soul bone embedded within the Tyrant Tiger Spirit-Refining Sword had some flaws, but the soul engineer who crafted it must have addressed them during the manufacturing process.
Then Elder Ma continued confidently: Since the young master likes it,leave it to me. Young master, place your bid without hesitation."
Ji Lin leaned closer to Elder Ma's ear and whispered,
"Elder Ma, give me a baseline. How much authority did they grant you regarding the academy's credit funds?"
Elder Ma hesitated briefly, then said,
"Young master, to be honest, if not for your presence, the hall master would not have given me more than five million soul gold coins."
"But in this tournament, and with the young master here, the hall master directly granted me authority worth fifty million soul gold coins."
"Fifty million?!"
Upon hearing this number, Ji Lin was genuinely shocked—it was a full tenfold increase.
As expected, having such a capable subordinate… truly felt wonderful.
Five minutes passed, and Jiujiu's voice rang out once more:
"The inspection time has ended.
Tyrant Tiger Spirit-Refining Sword, opening price: six hundred thousand soul gold coins.
Each increase must be no less than five thousand.
All honored guests are experts, so there is no need for delay. The auction begins now.
If no higher bid is placed within one minute, the auction will be concluded."
As soon as she finished speaking, the spirit-guidance screen turned a faint white.
The image of the Tyrant Tiger Spirit-Refining Sword faded into the background, and a massive number appeared on the screen:
600,000.