After getting a definitive answer from Electrolux, Wang Lin filed the Sunset Forest away in his mind.
In the following days, while waiting for the auction to start, Wang Lin occasionally went to the competition venue to watch the matches. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy naturally advanced smoothly, easily reaching the quarter-finals.
The situation for Shrek Academy was much tougher. As the saying goes, good news doesn't leave the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles.
It was nothing remarkable for Shrek Academy, the perennial champion, to win the competition again, but Shrek Academy's blatant cheating on the competition field was a hot topic.
Overnight, Shrek Academy had gained an unknown number of haters.
However, it must be said that Bei Bei and the others were genuinely capable. Even with Xu Sanshi and He Caitou banned for two rounds, Shrek Academy managed to tough it out and surprisingly made it into the quarter-finals.
Though Shrek Academy's trump cards were almost entirely exposed.
With the list of the top eight teams announced, the Star Luo official declared a one-day break, primarily to repair the damaged arena after numerous battles, and also to allow the contestants sufficient time to recover to ensure more exciting matches.
It was on this day off that the large-scale auction hosted by the Starlight Auction House officially commenced.
Wang Lin, wearing his golden mask, and Long Xiaoyao entered the auction house early. Under the arrangement of the staff, they proceeded to the most exclusive No. 1 Auction Hall.
With the highest authority, they were assigned to Room No. 4 in the No. 1 Auction Hall.
The No. 4 room, spanning two hundred square meters, was furnished with extreme luxury. The room was rectangular, with one of the long walls entirely transparent and white.
Only that wall was devoid of any decorations.
The large sofa was made of unknown beast hide, and its long white fur was exceptionally soft. Sitting on it gave a comfortable, sinking feeling, yet it provided excellent support.
On the jade table in front of the sofa were various drinks, alcoholic beverages, and food.
Wang Lin already knew the auction rules in advance, so he did not let the attendant arranged by the auction house stay to serve them, dismissing them directly.
Sitting on the sofa with Long Xiaoyao, Wang Lin pulled out a palm-sized deep yellow crystal and held it in his hand.
This ten-thousand-year whale tendon was the highlight product of the small auction held by the Starlight Auction House last time, which Wang Lin successfully acquired for the price of 500,000.
Of course, he hadn't paid yet, using his credit limit at the Starlight Auction House.
Soon, the entirely white wall suddenly lit up with a soft glow, and Xu Jiujiu, wearing a long red dress, appeared in the center of the screen.
Seeing this, neither Wang Lin nor Long Xiaoyao made a fuss. It was just a light-guided screen; the master and disciple had seen it many times in the Sun Moon Empire.
Xu Jiujiu, in the red dress on the screen, smiled and said: "Greetings, distinguished guests. I am today's auctioneer, Jiujiu, and I am honored to host this top-tier auction. Your time is precious, so let's begin our auction now. Next, please all distinguished guests admire today's first auction item."
As soon as she finished speaking, the soft light-guided screen changed.
A long saber, four feet six inches in total length, with a blade spine nearly one inch wide at its widest point, in the style of a zhanmadao (horse-slaying saber), and with a slightly bone-like shape from the hilt to the guard. The guard was very large and shaped like a tiger's head. This long saber replaced Xu Jiujiu and appeared in the center of the screen.
"Hegemon Tiger Soul Refinement Saber, Level 8 Close-Quarters Soul Tool. It incorporates the solidified Soul Bone skill, Hegemon Saber Slash. It also increases the attack power of similar soul skills by fifty percent..."
Xu Jiujiu unhurriedly introduced the item, and finally, she slowly announced the price of the Hegemon Tiger Soul Refinement Saber.
"The Hegemon Tiger Soul Refinement Saber starts at 600,000 gold soul coins. Each bid must not be less than 5,000 gold soul coins. The bidding begins. If no one raises the bid within one minute, the auction is concluded."
It must be said, it was quite handsome.
Wang Lin thought admiringly as he looked at the Hegemon Tiger Soul Refinement Saber on the light-guided screen, but he had no intention of bidding.
However, even if Wang Lin didn't bid, many people liked the Hegemon Tiger Soul Refinement Saber. As soon as Xu Jiujiu finished speaking, someone had already placed a bid.
The light-guided screen changed, turning to a pale white. The image of the Hegemon Tiger Soul Refinement Saber faded into the background, and a large number, 600,000, appeared on the screen.
Subsequently, this number constantly jumped, eventually reaching 1,560,000 gold soul coins. Xu Jiujiu's figure reappeared on the screen, smiling.
"Thank you to the distinguished guest who just acquired the Hegemon Tiger Soul Refinement Saber for supporting this auction. Next, we will proceed to the second auction item..."
The second auction item was a complete set of fixed soul tool cannon shells, which sold for only 655,000.
Wang Lin watched the auction with interest. The next few items were a left arm bone, a right arm bone, a left leg bone, an extremely rare metal, and a long-range Level 8 soul tool.
Although the attributes of the three soul bones did not match Wang Lin's, he still bid a few times to experience what an auction was like.
Soon, Xu Jiujiu's figure disappeared from the screen again, replaced by the eighth auction item.
The moment a soul bone, entirely emerald green, appeared on the large screen, Wang Lin immediately stood up from the sofa.
At the same time, Xu Jiujiu's voice sounded, "Distinguished guests, this Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone, with a lifespan between 50,000 and 70,000 years, although not a 100,000-year soul bone, can still be considered a top-tier soul bone..."
"Shouldn't be, right?" Wang Lin murmured, looking at the soul bone on the screen. Long Xiaoyao next to him shook his head indifferently.
"What shouldn't be? It's just a coincidence. The soul bone we have is around 30,000 to 50,000 years old, not as good as the one being auctioned now. However, Little Linzi, you can buy this soul bone.
"After all, soul bones from the same soul beast and the same location can be fused!"
"Then I'll buy it!" Wang Lin nodded without hesitation upon hearing this. Given his current relationship with Huo Yuhao, he wouldn't let Huo Yuhao benefit.
Wang Lin was surprised that the one he held wasn't the same as the one in the original work.
Just as Wang Lin made up his mind, Xu Jiujiu had also finished introducing the pros and cons of the Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone.
The con was restricted absorption attributes, and the pro was the solidified top-tier Ice Blast soul skill.
Just then, a maid suddenly walked up to Xu Jiujiu, who was still praising the Ice Jade Scorpion race. The maid whispered a few words into Xu Jiujiu's ear.
Xu Jiujiu snapped back, quickly ended the introduction, and the screen switched back to the Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone.
Seeing this unusual scene, Wang Lin inwardly thought, Not good, and said: "Master, I'm going out for a bit. Someone is about to be misled."
"Mm." Long Xiaoyao nodded, not asking any further questions.
Wang Lin walked straight out of the room and coincidentally ran into Xu Jiujiu, who was walking with Qingya.
"Where is Princess Jiujiu going?"
"This..." Xu Jiujiu frowned, thinking about how to answer Wang Lin. The news from Shrek Academy suggested that the Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone had even more stringent absorption requirements.
If this news was true, it would greatly affect the reputation of the auction house.
"Did someone say there's a problem with the Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone?" Wang Lin asked directly. At his words, the faces of Qingya and Xu Jiujiu tightened, clearly surprised.
"I knew it." Wang Lin nodded. "If someone claims that the Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone requires the Ultimate Ice attribute for absorption due to some inexplicable pride, please disregard it.
"So-called pride is bullshit. It's just the influence of the Ice Jade Scorpion's remnant soul. As long as a method is used to remove the remnant soul from the bone, Ice-attribute Soul Masters can absorb it."
Saying this, Wang Lin's storage soul tool flashed, and an emerald green soul bone, identical to the auction item but slightly smaller, appeared in his hand. He handed the soul bone to Xu Jiujiu.
"Princess, would you like to try it and feel an Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone with the remnant soul removed?"
Xu Jiujiu looked at the other Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone, her eyes widening. She glanced at Wang Lin and then reached out to take the soul bone. A faint soul power entered the emerald green soul bone.
A trace of coldness diffused. Xu Jiujiu narrowed her eyes, cutting off the connection with the soul bone in her hand.
As the auctioneer of the Starlight Auction House, Xu Jiujiu would personally feel the condition of the soul bone before the auction to understand its status. The Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone used for the auction had a strong sense of rejection upon absorption.
Only Ice-attribute Soul Masters would experience a reduction in that rejection. The soul bone she held now did not have a rejection sensation, only the chilling coldness.
Realizing the difference, Xu Jiujiu believed Wang Lin's statement and returned the soul bone to Wang Lin, saying in a deep voice.
"Thank you, Your Excellency. I wonder if Your Excellency would be willing to..."
"I won't sell it." Wang Lin shook his head. "Princess, please go and check the situation. I only brought out this soul bone because I don't want your auction house to be deceived and affect the subsequent auction."
"Understood, thank you again, Your Excellency!" Xu Jiujiu nodded and turned to leave. "Then I will take my leave now, Your Excellency."
"Mm." Wang Lin nodded, watching Xu Jiujiu and Qingya quickly walk towards Room No. 7. He knew that was the room where Shrek Academy was located.
Ignoring Xu Jiujiu, Wang Lin held the Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone and did not rush back. Instead, he walked towards Room No. 3.
This room was occupied by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Before the auction started, Xiao Hongchen had invited Wang Lin to participate with them, but Wang Lin had declined.
Knock, knock, knock!
Knocking on the door of Room No. 3, a maid quickly opened the door. After a brief announcement, Wang Lin walked straight into Room No. 3.
The room layout was similar. Jing Hongchen, the two lead teachers, Ma Rulong, and the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were sitting on the sofa. They were quite surprised to see Wang Lin suddenly appear.
"Dean, I suggest you buy that Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone!" Wang Lin said directly in a deep voice, holding up the soul bone in his hand and waving it slightly.
Jing Hongchen frowned, about to speak, but his attention was caught by the soul bone in Wang Lin's hand.
"Is that yours?"
"That's right, this is also an Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone." At Wang Lin's words, Jing Hongchen immediately stood up and looked at his granddaughter.
Even without Wang Lin's suggestion, Jing Hongchen now had the idea of buying the Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone being auctioned.
Soul bones from the same soul beast and the same part can be fused. The combined value of two Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bones is far greater than the value of two separate Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bones!