Just as the elder was beginning to think the fragment would be unsold yet again, Xiao Se spoke calmly:
"Eleven hundred thousand."
The moment his voice sounded, it drew countless curious and mocking gazes. Everyone wanted to see who this "rich idiot burning money" was.
Unfortunately, the hanging curtain blocked their view, and they could only withdraw their eyes in disappointment.
"Hehe, our honored guest in Private Room Six bids one hundred and ten thousand. Is there anyone else?" the robed elder announced with a smile.
"This is an ancient fragment map with a history of over a thousand years, as verified by professionals."
Seeing that no one responded, the auctioneer could only sigh inwardly and strike the hammer.
Bang!
The fragment map was sold.
Watching the successful bid, a long-absent smile surfaced on Xiao Se's face.
The third fragment of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map was finally his.
The auction continued.
Treasures appeared one after another—High Xuan-rank techniques, sixth-tier pill furnaces, flying Dou Skills…
Even with Xiao Se's composure, he found the spectacle somewhat dazzling.
Naturally, these valuables were divided among the major factions.
The flying Dou Skill was taken by Fan Ling, the Young Sect Master of the Blood Sect.
The sixth-tier pill furnace fell into the hands of another dominant force of the Black Corner Region—Black Skull Tomb.
"You're still using a third-tier pill furnace, right?" Little Fairy Doctor asked curiously from inside Private Room Six. "Why didn't you buy that sixth-tier one?"
Xiao Se smiled and shook his head.
"The financial power of Black Skull Tomb is extraordinary. Just keep watching."
As the two spoke, the lights around the crystal platform suddenly dimmed.
When they lit up again, a massive cage of refined steel had appeared, completely enclosing the auction stage.
At the same time, the elder now held a silver tray in his hands.
Resting atop it was a black-gold scroll, lying quietly.
Seeing such heavy precautions, even Xiao Se was slightly surprised.
Anything treated with this level of security was at the very least an Earth-rank battle skill.
"Hehe, please don't be alarmed," the auctioneer explained with a smile.
"The next item is the grand finale. This iron cage is merely a precaution."
"This cage is forged from thousand-year cold iron. Even a Dou Huang would find it difficult to break through in a short time."
As he spoke, his gaze swept subtly toward the Blood Sect's private room—and another nearby one.
The warning was unmistakable.
The neighboring private room showed no reaction.
However, Young Master Fan Ling's expression darkened violently.
He viciously crushed the chests of the two attendants in his arms.
Blood sprayed instantly.
A thick stench of blood spread throughout the auction hall.
Only after an elderly man behind him leaned in and whispered a few words did Fan Ling finally suppress his rage.
"That bastard is truly vicious," Little Fairy Doctor said coldly, her brows tightly knit as she glanced across the hall.
"No need to lower yourself to his level," Xiao Se replied calmly, gently patting her back.
In his heart, ever since Fan Ling had spent a fortune to buy the flying Dou Skill—
He was already a dead man.
"Earth-rank low-level battle skill…"
The auctioneer's voice echoed clearly.
"Black Fiend Blood Poison Hand."
The moment the name fell, the entire auction hall plunged into deathly silence.
Countless gazes, even more fervent than before, snapped toward the steel cage.
Sharp intakes of breath echoed one after another.
The temperature in the hall seemed to rise several degrees.
"This—!"
Hearing the word poison within the name, Little Fairy Doctor's beautiful eyes instantly lit up.
Xiao Se smiled and patted her shoulder.
"It suits you perfectly. It might also work well for Zhuqing."
"But without eight or nine million gold, it probably won't be possible."
"Do you have that much money?" Little Fairy Doctor asked anxiously. "Buy it for me. I'll pay you back later."
"What's the point of being polite between us?" Xiao Se shrugged.
"But after buying the Spirit Fusion Pill and Earth Spirit Pill materials, I've got less than five million left. Even with the money from the Three-Pattern Clear Spirit Pill, it's only around six million."
"Ah… what a shame," Little Fairy Doctor sighed regretfully. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have slaughtered you earlier."
Xiao Se's mouth twitched slightly.
He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "We can't afford it… but that doesn't mean others can't."
"Are you saying…"
Little Fairy Doctor froze, a spark of temptation flashing in her eyes.
"That's not very good, is it…?"
"If you don't want to, forget it," Xiao Se said with a wicked grin.
"Wait—don't!" she said quickly.
She truly liked this battle skill.
Xiao Se nodded slightly and chuckled softly.
"We'll hide in the shadows later. Let them fight among themselves first. Trust me—more than just us have their eyes on this Earth-rank skill."
—
On the crystal platform.
Seeing the burning gazes of the crowd, the auctioneer nodded with satisfaction and announced loudly:
"As the name implies, Black Fiend Blood Poison Hand is an Earth-rank low-level battle skill."
"It is specially suited for cultivators of dark-attribute, poison-attribute, and blood-attribute Dou Qi."
"If wielded by someone possessing a special physique among these attributes, its power can rival even an Earth-rank mid-level battle skill!"
"Starting bid—three million gold coins!"
The atmosphere exploded.
The first to react was naturally Fan Ling of the Blood Sect.
Both he and his father cultivated blood-type techniques. This battle skill was practically made for them.
Beside his private room sat Black Skull Tomb, whose members predominantly cultivated dark-attribute Dou Qi.
They had come for this scroll from the very beginning.
After a fierce bidding war, only the Blood Sect and Black Skull Tomb remained.
However, due to Fan Ling having already spent several million gold on the Clear Spirit Pill and flying Dou Skill, his funds were insufficient.
In the end, Black Skull Tomb claimed the Earth-rank battle skill for a staggering 9.5 million gold coins.
"Nearly ten million…" Xiao Se shook his head in amazement.
"Black Skull Tomb truly lives up to its reputation. But their sect master is likely a dark-attribute cultivator—an Earth-rank skill capable of rivaling a mid-level one is absolutely worth that price."
He exchanged a knowing smile with Little Fairy Doctor.
Then the two headed toward the settlement hall.
Before seizing that battle skill—
They first needed to retrieve the most important item of all.
The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame fragment map.
Tonight—
Outside Black Seal City—
Blood was destined to flow like a river.
(End of Chapter)
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