Gu Xun'er Obtains Nine Nether Wind Flame!
With the help of the Flame Mantra, Han Feng knew that if he could successfully devour the Nine Nether Wind Flame, it would propel him straight into the Dou Ancestor realm.
He had been yearning to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm for a long time. To maintain his cover, he had always presented himself as a Dou Emperor, never revealing his true strength.
In reality, Han Feng had already reached the half-step Dou Ancestor realm, but breaking through the barrier between Dou Emperor and Dou Ancestor was no easy feat. Only by absorbing the immense energy from a Heavenly Flame could he achieve this long-sought breakthrough.
Once he became a Dou Ancestor, Han Feng's status would soar into the top of the Black-Corner Region. With his status as a Tier-6 alchemist, rising to prominence in the Central Plain wouldn't be out of reach either.
Moreover, he had known the Bone Ancestor of the Hall of Souls for many years. Leveraging that relationship, he could even become a valued alchemist within the Hall of Souls—a prospect that greatly appealed to him.
"Seven million Spirit Coins," Han Feng bid confidently.
As Han Feng's voice echoed through the auction hall, the powerhouses from the Black-Corner Region couldn't hide their despair. Even Yuan Yi, the leader of the Eight Gates who had earlier been so confident, now looked as though his face had been smeared with ash.
"Alchemy Emperor, are you out of your mind?! Do you know how much it costs us to gather seven million Spirit Coins? Such a huge sum of money for a single Heavenly Flame is not worth it!" Yuan Yi exclaimed, his voice tinged with desperation.
"Indeed, Alchemy Emperor, you should stop here. We could find you another Heavenly Flame. There's no need to spend such an enormous amount to compete with these people!"
The powerhouses from the Black-Corner Region tried to dissuade Han Feng, but everyone knew his temper. When Han Feng set his sights on something, he wouldn't stop until he had it.
Understanding this, Han Feng waved them off, his expression cold as he responded, "I appreciate your concern, but the Nine Nether Wind Flame is of extraordinary importance to me. No matter the cost, I, Han Feng, will acquire it!"
"This…"
Elder Ban, leaning on his rusty cane, looked troubled. Han Feng was so obsessed with the Heavenly Flame that he was willing to squander the Black-Corner Region's resources entirely. If this continued, the accumulated wealth of the Black-Corner Region would be depleted in no time.
Meanwhile, Huo Xuan from the Yan Clan eyed Han Feng with a menacing glare. "Seven million Spirit Coins… You've got guts. But whoever you are, going up against the Yan Clan is a grave mistake."
"Seven million and one hundred thousand Spirit Coins," Huo Xuan raised the bid.
The rising bids left the crowd in awe. No one had expected the Heavenly Flame to be auctioned off for over seven million Spirit Coins—an amount equivalent to seven hundred million gold coins.
To gather such a sum, one would need to trade at least a dozen Earth-class Dou Methods or Techniques, along with a vast array of rare medicinal pills, yet even then it would be challenging to amass that much wealth.
Feng Ling'er, the leader of the Wind Shadow Sect, maintained her stern expression, but she did not raise her hand. The price had already surpassed her calculations, and continuing to bid would strain her resources beyond their limits.
The same was true for Han Feng. Although the powerhouses from the Black-Corner Region supported him in silence, the soaring price had reached a point where they could no longer contribute to what was becoming an astronomical bid.
In private room no. 1, Ling Ying knelt on one knee, his voice tinged with concern as he asked, "Miss, what should we do?"
Gu Xun'er turned to Gu Yang, her voice calm but firm. "Uncle Yang, how many Spirit Coins do we have left?"
Gu Yang sighed deeply. "Right now, I can barely gather eight million Spirit Coins, and that's only if I trade in two mid-tier Earth-class techniques I have. Without that… we don't stand a chance."
Hearing this, Gu Xun'er bit her alluring red lips, pondering for a moment before deciding to pursue the Nine Nether Wind Flame. Such a valuable treasure was not something she could afford to pass up.
"Place the bid," Gu Xun'er finally said. "Father would definitely appreciate a Heavenly Flame."
Her gaze shifted to the crystal platform on the first floor, her expression calm and composed. She knew Li Xiao, the Pavilion Lord, was likely observing her closely, watching how the Gu Clan responded to the auctioning of the Heavenly Flame.
Earlier, she had spent five million Spirit Coins on the Emperor Seal Art and hadn't initially planned on bidding for the Heavenly Flame. However, she realized that acquiring the Nine Nether Wind Flame might help pacify her father's hostility towards the Heaven Ascending Pavilion.
She didn't want to see her father or any of the clan's powerhouses perish because of a conflict with this formidable force.
At that moment, Huo Xuan from the Yan Clan was watching the auction with a smug smile. With the bid already at seven million and one hundred thousand Spirit Coins, a near-insurmountable sum, he was confident that no one else would be able to outbid him. The Nine Nether Wind Flame was as good as theirs.
But then, a voice shattered Huo Xuan's expectations.
"Eight million Spirit Coins."
The crowd erupted in an uproar!
The atmosphere in the auction hall crackled with shock and excitement. No one could believe that someone had actually placed a bid of eight million Spirit Coins. Was this person's home sitting on a gold mine?
Such extravagance!
As the price continued to climb, the auction's intensity only grew, with the crowd's fervor reaching a fever pitch. The sheer audacity and confidence of such a bid left everyone in awe, their hearts pounding with excitement.
Eight million Spirit Coins were equivalent to eight hundred million gold coins. These Spirit Coins were all exchanged for techniques and skills, not gold coins. How long would it take a single force to accumulate such a massive amount?
Huo Xuan's face twisted with anger. He wanted nothing more than to charge into the private room and see who had the nerve to challenge the Yan Clan for something they had set their sights on. This was unforgivable!
"What a staggering price," Li Xiao remarked with a smile, his eyes scanning the crowd. "Is there anyone who would like to bid higher? Perhaps eight million and one hundred thousand?"
He waited, watching as the powerhouses around him fell silent, realizing that the competition was effectively over. Satisfied, Li Xiao prepared to close the auction.
"Eight million Spirit Coins, going once!"
"Eight million Spirit Coins, going twice!"
"Eight million Spirit Coins, going three times!" Li Xiao struck his auction hammer with a decisive thud. "Let's congratulate the guest in room no. 1 for successfully acquiring the tenth-ranked Heavenly Flame, the Nine Nether Wind Flame, for eight million Spirit Coins!"
"Let's give them applause!"
Applause and cheers filled the hall, echoing off the walls as the crowd celebrated the thrilling conclusion to the auction. It had been an event like no other, leaving everyone buzzing with excitement and amazement.
As the auction came to an end, most of the attendees began to leave the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Some, however, headed to the Heaven Ascending Pavilion branch, The Windguard Tower, in the Jia Ma Empire, eager to spend their gold coins.
As a Dou Saint, Gu Yang had no fear of those who might try to ambush him. If anyone dared, he was prepared to kill and take whatever they had. But within fifty miles of the Heaven Ascending Pavilion, no fighting was allowed, and no one was foolish enough to break the rules and challenge the Pavilion's authority.
"This time, I must thank Pavilion Lord Li Xiao. Xun'er is truly grateful," Gu Xun'er said as she bowed to Li Xiao, her interest in him growing. How was it that this man possessed such incredible power, along with treasures like the God Seal Technique and the Nine Nether Wind Flame?
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Xun'er," Li Xiao replied with a polite nod. "The Heaven Ascending Pavilion is always eager to welcome the experts from all walks of lives across the land. It is my honor that Miss Xun'er graced our auction with her presence."