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"Gentlemen, the next item will be today's grand finale auction piece."
As the words fell, the light guide screen emitted a golden glow.
When the golden light faded, Xu Jiujiu, now dressed in golden palace attire, revealed her captivating perfect curves.
Combined with the lighting pouring down from above, an aura of noble elegance and refined grace emanated from her every movement and gesture.
However, none of the distinguished guests in the venue were attracted by this beautiful scene. Instead, all their attention was focused on the grand finale auction piece mentioned by Xu Jiujiu.
Even Chen Junting, who had been relaxed and carefree just moments ago, instinctively sat up straight, his expression turning serious.
The Snow Empress embryo—he was determined to obtain it.
At the same time, Xu Jiujiu's voice sounded again.
Compared to her previous seductive tone, her current speech was now replaced by a sense of solemnity and gravity.
With just her opening words, she won everyone's trust.
"Distinguished guests, from Jiujiu's attire, you should be able to tell how precious today's grand finale auction piece is. To be honest, the preciousness of this auction item is already difficult to measure in terms of money. But since it's being put up for auction, there must be a price. One hundred million golden soul coins is its starting bid."
"One hundred million!?"
Leaving aside other private rooms, even just within Shrek Academy's room, they were shocked by these five words—"one hundred million golden soul coins"!
What kind of auction item could be worth this price!
"Holy crap, who on earth would buy this auction item?"
Wang Dong shook his head repeatedly. If not for the fact that this auction was backed by the Star Luo imperial family, he would have thought this was a scheme to cheat fools.
"Senior brother Junting, you and junior sister Xiaotian aren't planning to..."
Hearing Wang Dong's words, Huo Yuhao instinctively looked at Chen Junting and Ning Tian, who had become serious ever since the grand finale item was mentioned. He lowered his voice to ask, but was stopped by their gaze.
"I believe everyone is very curious about why this auction item is worth one hundred million golden soul coins. So, distinguished guests, please look."
As she spoke, Princess Jiujiu raised her right hand, and the light guide screen immediately changed, revealing a white tray.
On this tray was a wooden stand inlaid with over a hundred gemstones of various colors, and on it was a cluster of white energy flow gently undulating, showing no extraordinary characteristics whatsoever.
However, this energy flow seemed like a living creature.
Condensed without dispersing, its left and right surging movements were like trying to break through encirclement. But the wooden stand below continuously emitted a faint golden light barrier that enveloped it, preventing this energy flow from succeeding.
Seeing this, Chen Junting's heart instead became calm.
Since the Snow Empress hadn't disappeared due to the butterfly effect, the Snow Empress embryo was definitely within his grasp. Because whether through legitimate means or unorthodox methods, he was fully prepared.
"What is this thing? Is it alive?" Inside the room, Ma Xiaotao was extremely curious. But she quickly turned to look at Qing Ya, changing her tone, "Don't tell us this is just a soul beast, unless it's a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, otherwise it's definitely not worth one hundred million golden soul coins."
The laughter in her tone let everyone know Ma Xiaotao was joking. After all, no hundred-thousand-year soul beast would be caught so easily. Unless the strength difference was too great, making the hundred-thousand-year soul beast completely unable to resist, not even able to commit suicide.
But Qing Ya's words made Wang Yan and others dumbfounded.
"Actually, the distinguished guest's guess is almost correct."
I guessed it almost correctly!?
After three breaths, Ma Xiaotao suddenly realized.
Looking back at the light guide screen at that moment, Xu Jiujiu also knew the atmosphere had been sufficiently built up, and her voice perfectly came through, "I believe everyone is very curious about what this energy flow actually is. In fact, when we first obtained it, we were the same as all distinguished guests. Finally, we obtained an astonishing result..."
A hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo.
The moment this news dropped, the entire venue was stunned. If not for the sound barriers, the auction house would have been drowned out by the uproar.
Especially when Xu Jiujiu mentioned that this hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo might give a person a second martial soul, the entire Starlight Auction House's uproar was replaced by silence, but everyone's breathing became increasingly heavy at this moment.
"I must obtain it!"
At this moment, in the private room where the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was located, after listening to Xu Jiujiu's introduction, Xiao Hongchen slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his entire body trembling uncontrollably from excitement.
A completely new second martial soul!
Xiao Hongchen, who considered himself the number one genius of the Sun Moon Empire, had the capital to be arrogant. Possessing the divine beast bloodline Three-Legged Golden Toad martial soul, he had unique advantages in the field of soul guidance.
If he could get another martial soul, he was confident he could break through to the Super Douluo level. By that time, with both soul master and soul guide abilities working together, who on the continent could still be his opponent?
Just as Xiao Hongchen was filled with ambition, Meng Hongchen beside him poured cold water on him, revealing the most pressing issue at present. "But brother, we don't have that much money."
"This..."
Xiao Hongchen opened his mouth, his face showing unwillingness.
They now had the will but not the strength.
Although the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was wealthy, the activity budget for participating in this Douluo Competition could never reach the absurd amount of one hundred million golden soul coins. Even if they combined the funds of him and his sister, as well as the other participating team members and their team leader teachers, they were still far from one hundred million golden soul coins.
It was at this moment that the Star Luo Empire revealed its true intentions.
Seemingly seizing certain people's psychology, Xu Jiujiu directly proposed that this auction could proceed through mortgage-based loans, providing convenience for bidders lacking funds. However, during this process, the auction house would charge a 20% handling fee.
"Elder Ma."
This method was undoubtedly like seeing light after darkness for Xiao Hongchen. Because although they might not have brought enough money, they definitely brought enough soul guide devices. And Elder Ma was a ninth-grade soul guide team leader—the wealth calculated from this would be astonishing!
"Xiao Hongchen!"
Before Elder Ma could respond, Ma Rulong sternly reprimanded!
"You're aiding the enemy!"
"But it's worth it!"
Xiao Hongchen didn't even turn his head, his voice directly overpowering.
"Using some soul guide devices to exchange for a top-tier powerhouse—this deal is very worthwhile for our Sun Moon Empire! Soul guide devices can be remade, but how many opportunities are there to cultivate a powerhouse? This is one of the rare opportunities."
"You really know how to put makeup on your face."
Facing Ma Rulong's mockery, Xiao Hongchen remained unperturbed.
"This isn't makeup, it's the truth. Moreover, what does it matter if we give them those soul guide devices? Can they even research and understand them? Even if they really figure them out, so what? Our Sun Moon Empire's soul guide technology has already been updated and iterated several times."
After saying this, he directly turned his back on Ma Rulong.
He continued to persuade Elder Ma.
He even brought out his grandfather Jing Hongchen's name.
This also made Elder Ma make up his mind, calling over the receptionist who served them, and heading toward the auction house's appraisal platform.
Thirty minutes later,
A silent battle began.
On the light guide screen, the price digits started to jump.
One hundred million.
One hundred million one hundred thousand.
...
In less than a minute, the price of this hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo climbed to one hundred and ten million golden soul coins.
The climbing speed stunned the Shrek group.
"Wow, they're not treating money like money at all."
Xu Sanshi muttered, secretly swallowing saliva.
"This is already the major forces making their moves."
Wang Yan couldn't help but shake his head. In this bidding war, they simply couldn't get involved. Unless Elder Song personally entered the bidding now.
"Little brother Chen, are you still going to continue bidding?"
At this moment, Bei Bei looked at Chen Junting and asked.
"Of course!"
"This hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo—I am determined to obtain it." Chen Junting looked at the Snow Empress embryo in the divine platform, which faintly showed a human-like shape, resembling a human infant, his tone extremely resolute.
"Then why aren't you making a move yet?"
"It's not time yet. Let the bullet fly for a while longer."
Everyone was shocked again upon hearing Chen Junting's words.
If they weren't raising the price now, when would they?
One hundred and fifty million? Or two hundred million?
Soon, under everyone's gaze, that string of one hundred and ten million digits had changed to one hundred and forty million.
And from this moment on, the price climbing speed slowed down.
Because such astronomical figures had already made many bidders hesitate. Besides the determined Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, and the Star Luo imperial family secretly driving up the price for them.
"They should be nearing their limit soon."
At this moment, in the bidding room where Xu Jiujiu was located.
When she saw the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy raise the price of this hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo to one hundred and forty-five million, her beautiful eyes looked at a staff member not exposed on the light guide screen, hinting for him to make the final price increase.
The next second, the price digits jumped.
One hundred and forty-nine million.
Immediately after, one hundred and fifty million!
"It's time."
In the room where Shrek Academy was located, Chen Junting looked at Qing Ya, calmly issuing his instruction, "Two hundred million."
Qing Ya trembled violently, but still executed the instruction.
However…
"Whoa—"
The entire room instantly erupted in an uproar!
"Holy crap! Brother, are you crazy!?"
Seeing the price directly raised by fifty million, Xu Sanshi cursed loudly!
Even Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao couldn't sit still anymore, repeatedly trying to dissuade him, "Junior brother Chen, two hundred million golden soul coins really isn't worth it."
"That's right. If you need a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and hundred-thousand-year soul bone, you can completely have those seniors from your Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect hunt them down for you. There's no need to spend money buying them."
"Moreover, I'm telling you, that second martial soul isn't realistic."
"Yes, senior brother Junting."
Huo Yuhao showed worry on his face, because he had just learned from Brother Tianmeng and Ice Empress that obtaining a second martial soul was indeed possible. But the success rate was simply too low.
Basically speaking, there was no hope!
"I know what I'm doing."
Chen Junting didn't explain much.
The name of the Snow Empress—two hundred million golden soul coins was still cheap.
At this moment, the one hundred and fifty million price hadn't even lasted a breath before it was replaced by the terrifying figure of two hundred million golden soul coins.
This time, someone couldn't sit still anymore!
In the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's room.
"Who on earth is driving up the price!?"
Xiao Hongchen saw the price directly raised by fifty million, and after being stunned for a moment, he fell into madness.
Originally, this hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo was about to become his possession. Who knew that halfway through, a Cheng Yaojin would suddenly appear!
Two hundred million golden soul coins, this price…
Just as Xiao Hongchen was grinding his teeth in hatred, Meng Hongchen leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Brother, let's just give up. If we go higher, we can't afford to add more anyway."
At this moment, Xiao Hongchen's entire expression changed like a chameleon.
For a moment, various expressions appeared on his face.
But Elder Ma's next words were like the final straw that broke the camel's back, directly eliminating Xiao Hongchen's thoughts.
"We can't exchange any more soul guide devices. If we continue exchanging, even if we obtain the hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo, we won't have the ability to bring it back. Everything will still end up benefiting others."
At this moment, Xiao Hongchen's spirit instantly deflated.
He sighed deeply, "Fate brings us together but doesn't let us stay."
At the same time, it wasn't just one family that couldn't sit still.
Xu Jiujiu, who thought her goal had been achieved and was just about to finalize the hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo for the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, was stunned when she saw the words "two hundred million golden soul coins"!
Then after waiting for a long time, the amount still didn't jump again.
Obviously, this price had no one continuing to follow.
"Who made this bid!?"
Seeing her plan interrupted, a sense of irritability rose in Xu Jiujiu's heart.
However, soon a staff member gave the answer.
"Princess, it's that student named Chen Junting from Shrek Academy. And this matter has nothing to do with Shrek."
Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!
Xu Jiujiu immediately understood which force was behind this.
Unable to make a decision, she immediately consulted Xu Jiawei.
After learning about the situation, Xu Jiawei couldn't help but sigh deeply.
"No matter how carefully one calculates, there are always oversights."
"Ah well, what's done is done, what can we do about it? Let it be like this."
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