The ten-thousand-year cold jade box fully opened, revealing its contents.
It wasn't the glittering gem as imagined, but a roughly palm-sized fragment, irregularly shaped, edges jagged. Its body presented a dull gray-white color, surface covered with fine,-like patterns—looking unremarkable, even somewhat decayed.
Yet this seemingly ordinary fragment emitted a terrifying soul fluctuation! That fluctuation was ancient, pure, carrying an indescribable killing-sharp aura, as if countless ancient battle souls roared and howled within. Cultivators of slightly lower cultivation, merely feeling this fluctuation, found their souls swaying, as if golden, blood-dyed yellow sand terrifying phantoms appeared before their eyes.
Auctioneer Qian Buduo took a deep breath, his voice carrying immense solemnity, even a trace of: This item, after several appraisal masters from our Ten Thousand Treasures Auction House, jointly with three Gold Core guest advisors, over a month, even injuring one guest advisor's partial spiritual sense, barely managed to identify!
He swept his gaze across the entire hall, speaking word by word: This item is not an ordinary soul crystal, but an ancient Four Symbol Holy Beast—one presiding over killing and military way—the White Tiger Holy Beast's origin soul power transformed—the Four Symbol Soul Crystal Fragment!
Four Symbol Soul Crystal!
White Tiger Soul Crystal Fragment!
Good heavens! It's actually this thing!
Qian Buduo's words exploded like thunder throughout the entire auction hall! Cultivators in the hall went completely crazy—shouts, gasps, disbelieving discussions almost lifting the roof! Even boxes that had sat like on-lookers transmitted obvious spiritual fluctuations and mental waves; the guests inside were clearly shocked!
Four Symbol Soul Crystals! Legendary Holy Beast origin soul power transformed! Its value couldn't be measured by ordinary spirit stones! It meant possibly obtaining an ancient Holy Beast's inheritance, comprehending the supreme killing way, even glimpsing a trace of heavenly primordial laws! For any cultivator, especially those whose cultivation relates to killing, metal, or soul— this was a supreme treasure that could change destiny!
Though just a fragment, not a complete soul crystal, its significance and value already surpassed all previous auction items!
Xiao Qi's heart also pounded violently. Aunt Su's intelligence was true! The Four Symbol Soul Crystals truly existed, and one fragment appeared before his eyes in this manner! This wasn't merely a clue—it was a target! Shadow Snake Pavilion collected soul crystals to strengthen their control over father and restore the demon's power. He absolutely couldn't let this fragment fall into Shadow Snake Pavilion's hands!
This White Tiger Soul Crystal Fragment, starting price— five hundred thousand superior spirit stones! Each bid, not less than fifty thousand! Qian Buduo announced a price that made ninety-nine percent of hall cultivators despair.
However, for box-level factions, this was merely a beginning.
Six hundred thousand! A hoarse, ugly voice came from that lifeless box, carrying an icy cold—the evil cultivator!
Six hundred fifty thousand! The Blazing Sun Sect's box followed immediately, voice.
Seven hundred thousand! Mystery Ice Valley's box also joined the competition, cold air.
Eight hundred thousand! The Central Province dynasty's box displayed once more.
Prices galloped like wild horses, instantly breaking the million superior spirit stones threshold! And still rising at an speed! Hall cultivators were already numb, watching this wealth feast of top-tier factions dumbfounded.
Xiao Qi and Liu Yun's palms sweated. Though they had obtained some spirit stones completing the City Lord's Manor missions, compared to these bids reaching millions, they were merely drops in the bucket.
And that Shadow Snake Pavilion's box, still silent, as if storing strength, awaiting the final strike.
When the price reached one million five hundred thousand by Mystery Ice Valley, the competition's pace slowed slightly. This price, even for major sects, was by no means small.
Just then, that always-silent Shadow Snake Pavilion box finally transmitted an icy, emotionless voice, like a venomous snake's tongue:
Two million.
Added five hundred thousand directly! Instantly overwhelming all voices!
Complete silence. The Blazing Sun Sect, Mystery Ice Valley, and Central Province dynasty representatives seemed to be weighing. That evil cultivator's box transmitted an unwilling cold snort, but didn't immediately bid again.
Qian Buduo's face showed excited flush: Two million! Heaven Box Three offers two million superior spirit stones! Any higher?
Shadow Snake Pavilion's determination to get this was unmistakable!
Xiao Qi knew he couldn't wait any longer! Taking a deep breath, with Liu Yun's surprised gaze, he activated the bidding formation.
A disguised, slightly deeper voice transmitted through the box's communication array, clearly echoing through the entire hall:
Two million one hundred thousand.
Tumult!
Everyone's gazes instantly gathered on this previously silent Heaven Box Three—no! This Earth Box Seven! Where did this force come from? Daring to compete with Heaven Box Three, Shadow Snake Pavilion?
Inside Shadow Snake Pavilion's box, that icy aura, then an even icier voice came: Two million three hundred thousand.
Two million four hundred thousand. Xiao Qi, not hesitating to follow. Though he didn't have that many spirit stones, he possessed valuable things—the Taiyi Formless Sword Talisman, some unknown treasures from the secret realm, even... he could use his Guest Advisor identity to borrow temporarily from the City Lord's Manor! To stop Shadow Snake Pavilion, he had to compete!
Two million six hundred thousand. Shadow Snake Pavilion's voice carried an unnoticeable trace of killing intent.
Two million seven hundred thousand. Xiao Qi.
Prices rose alternately between the two, quickly breaking the three million threshold! Other boxes fell completely silent—this already exceeded their psychological bottom line, and they clearly sensed Heaven Box Three's determined resolve and Earth Box Seven's unknowable stubbornness.
Three million five hundred thousand. Shadow Snake Pavilion's box raised significantly again, attempting to crush Xiao Qi in one move.
Xiao Qi felt pressure—this price was terrifying. Just as he was about to grit teeth and bid again, his shoulder was grabbed by Liu Yun.
Liu Yun shook her head at him, her gaze indicating him to look below. Auctioneer Qian Buduo, though excited, had a trace of abnormality flickering in his deep eyes—he seemed waiting for something.
Xiao Qi instantly understood. The auction house probably didn't want to see this item so easily obtained by Shadow Snake Pavilion, or they had other arrangements?
His thoughts raced; he didn't immediately bid again.
Qian Buduo waited a moment, then seeing Earth Box Seven silent, began counting down: Three million five hundred thousand, first call! Three million five hundred thousand, second call...
Just as his hammer was about to fall!
Four million.
A plain, gentle voice yet carrying undeniable power, suddenly emerged from the auction house's top floor—a Heaven Box One that had never lit up, whose owner no one knew!
That voice wasn't loud yet instantly overwhelmed the hall's clamor, clearly reaching everyone's ears, as if carrying some that made the restless crowd unconsciously quiet down.
Four million! Added five hundred thousand directly!
Everyone was stunned, Shadow Snake Pavilion's box included—that icy aura abruptly stalled, clearly not expecting such a sudden challenger!
Qian Buduo's face showed both relief and a trace of: Heaven Box One offers four million superior spirit stones!
The competition sparked new waves! And Xiao Qi became a temporary onlooker, but he knew—the battle over this White Tiger Soul Crystal Fragment was far from over. Shadow Snake Pavilion wouldn't easily give up, and who was that mysterious Heaven Box One master?