138: Auction begins

As Bai Yan's words fell, the atmosphere in the auction house suddenly tensed.

He flipped his palm, and a pitch-black Magical Beast claw, radiating a chilling cold light, floated above his hand.

The claw was about half a foot long, covered in fine scales, with razor-sharp tips. Even though it was dead, it still exuded a terrifyingly fierce aura!

"A Fifth-Tier Magical Beast—the foreclaw of a Shadow Demon Lizard!"

Bai Yan's voice echoed throughout the entire auction house, carrying a hint of allure.

"This item has been refined by my Heavenly Serpent City using a secret method, removing the residual Magical Beast soul and its violent blood, retaining only its pure power essence!"

"If it can be integrated into a human body through special means, at a critical moment, it can unleash a strike no less powerful than a Fifth-Tier Magical Beast!"

At these words, the entire hall erupted in an uproar!

Integrating a Magical Beast limb?!

This was an extremely rare secret art!

While there were precedents on the continent, most came with immense risks, and examples of Magical Beast residual souls backlashing or bloodline conflicts leading to self-destruction were numerous.

But now, Heavenly Serpent City dared to publicly auction such a treasure, clearly confident in its refining methods!

For a moment, many people's eyes grew fervent.

Especially those rogue cultivators who had been stuck at bottlenecks for years and craved power, their breathing quickened as they stared intently at the Shadow Demon Lizard claw.

Bai Yan surveyed the hall, a slight smile playing on his lips, and slowly uttered three words.

"Starting bid: eight hundred thousand gold coins!"

"Hiss—"

A collective gasp of cold air immediately swept through the hall.

Eight hundred thousand gold coins was enough to bankrupt some small families!

But for truly established powers, this was an acceptable figure.

"Eight hundred and fifty thousand!"

Almost the instant Bai Yan's voice faded, a hoarse bid came from somewhere on the first floor.

"Nine hundred thousand!"

"Nine hundred and thirty thousand!"

The price climbed steadily, with the competition far exceeding expectations.

Inside the private room, Jiang Donghua's eyes flickered slightly as he muttered to himself.

"Heavenly Serpent City actually dares to bring out such a rare item for auction?"

The atmosphere of the entire auction house subtly fractured.

As the price of the Shadow Demon Lizard claw soared, many people in the main hall looked on with complex emotions, a mix of greed and disdain, but more often a sense of melancholy, like a rabbit seeing a fox die.

"One million nine hundred thousand! Sold!"

As Bai Yan brought down his hammer, everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the successful bidder.

It was a middle-aged man in a gray robe, with a sinister face and a cold Dou King aura emanating from him. But what was most striking was his empty right sleeve—he was missing an arm!

"Heh, so it's the One-Armed Ghost Hand, Han Shan."

In the private room on the second floor, Yin Jiuxiao let out a hoarse chuckle, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

"No wonder he's willing to spend so much money on this thing."

Tieshan, arms crossed, grumbled, "This old ghost had an arm severed by an enemy ten years ago, and his cultivation has been stagnant at Three-star Dou King, unable to advance. Now he's really going all out, even daring to attach a Magical Beast claw to himself!"

Mo Wuhen, toying with his dagger, said coldly, "A fool who ruins his own future."

Jiang Donghua listened silently to their discussions, his gaze fixed on the Shadow Demon Lizard claw, deep in thought.

"Many thanks to Heavenly Serpent City for making this possible!"

He grinned, revealing stark white teeth, a smile that sent shivers down many people's spines.

Bai Yan gave him a meaningful look.

"Mister Han, remember to go to the City Lord's Mansion's secret chamber in three days. An elder will perform the integration ceremony for you."

The atmosphere of the auction gradually warmed, with treasures appearing one after another, prompting a scramble of bids from the crowd.

Seeing Jiang Donghua's consistently calm expression, Bai Xiaofeng smiled and asked.

"Master Jiang, that Fourth-Tier Medicine Cauldron just now was of quite good quality. Are you interested?"

Jiang Donghua shook his head slightly, his fingertip gently brushing his storage ring, as a steady earthy-yellow glow subtly emanated.

"Thank you for the Ninth Young Master's kindness, but I'm used to my earth spirit cauldron, and it's quite handy."

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Bai Xiaofeng's eyes.

Although he was not an Alchemist, he could tell that the Medicine Cauldron was indeed sturdy and grand.

At this moment, the bidding on the auction stage rose and fell, and the price of that Fourth-Tier Medicine Cauldron had already climbed to three million gold coins.

"Three million two hundred thousand!"

"Three million five hundred thousand!"

Tieshan, arms crossed, chuckled gruffly, "These Alchemists, they're really generous with their money!"

Yin Jiuxiao narrowed his eyes and said hoarsely, "Alchemists are inherently wealthy; one pill for ten thousand gold coins, how could that be false?"

The atmosphere of the auction had been relatively stable, but when the Fire-attribute Profound Rank High-Grade Dou Technique, Blazing Flame Slash, was brought onto the stage, the hall instantly erupted!

"One million five hundred thousand!"

"One million eight hundred thousand!"

"Two million!"

The price climbed steadily, and the competition grew even fiercer.

However, when the bidding surpassed three million, a cold snort suddenly echoed from within the hall.

"Hmph! A mere third-rate power, dares to contend with my Fire Blade Sect for a Fire-attribute Dou Technique?!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a red-haired muscular man slam his hand on the table, his Dou Qi surging around him. He was clearly a Five-star Dou King!

Across from him, a black-robed elder gave a sinister smile, a cold glint appearing in his sleeve.

"Fire Blade Sect? Just a small sect barely surviving on Fire-attribute cultivation methods, yet dares to spout such nonsense here?"

"Are you courting death?!"

The red-haired muscular man's eyes widened in fury, and flames suddenly erupted from his palm!

The black-robed elder was not to be outdone; a pitch-black short blade slid from his sleeve, and he said chillingly, "What, want to fight? This old man will accompany you!"

Their auras clashed violently, and scorching fire waves and chilling blade winds raged through the hall, scaring the surrounding guests into retreating!

"Presumptuous!"

A cold shout exploded like thunder!

On the high platform, Elder Bai Yan waved his sleeve, and the pressure of Peak Dou Huang descended like Mount Tai crushing down!

"Bang! Bang!"

The red-haired muscular man and the black-robed elder were struck as if by a heavy blow, their knees buckling, forced to half-kneel on the ground!

"Have the two of you forgotten the rules of Heavenly Serpent City?"

Bai Yan's gaze was icy, his voice soft, yet it carried an undeniable killing intent.

"Dare to disturb the auction again, and this old man doesn't mind letting you stay here forever."

The two men's faces changed dramatically, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

Although they were leaders of their respective factions, they were utterly powerless before a Peak Dou Huang, not to mention that behind Heavenly Serpent City stood a Dou Zong!

"Yes, yes, this one was presumptuous!"

The red-haired muscular man gritted his teeth and lowered his head.

The black-robed elder also put away his short blade and chuckled dryly, "This old man was impulsive, I hope the Great Elder will be magnanimous."

Bai Yan snorted coldly, and his pressure slightly receded.

"Sit down, the auction continues."

The two sullenly retreated to their seats, though indignant, they dared not cause any more trouble.

After all, if they truly dared to cause a scene again, their heads might really have to move!

Inside the private room, Jiang Donghua witnessed everything, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Interesting. It seems the authority of Heavenly Serpent City is more unchallengeable than I imagined."