182: A grand auction attracts a gathering of powerful figures.

The following night, Tianbei City seemed to be injected with new vitality.

The magnificent building of Wanjin Pavilion was brightly lit, like the most dazzling pearl on an ice plain.

Countless carriages, Demonic Beast mounts, and even figures flying directly through the air converged here from all directions.

Powerful Auras rose and fell, adding a sense of solemnity and gravity to the city's night.

Guided by Hoper, Li Ao and Medusa entered a luxurious private room on the second floor of the auction house via the VIP passage.

In front of the private room was one-way crystal glass, allowing them to clearly overlook the massive circular auction hall below, while the outside world could not glimpse anything inside the room, ensuring excellent privacy.

The hall was already packed, teeming with people.

Rough Northern Region mercenaries, gorgeously dressed Family disciples, solitary travelers with chilling Auras, and representatives clearly from other major powers were all gathered together.

The noisy sounds surged like a tide, and the air was filled with various complex emotions—anticipation, greed, and calculation.

Li Ao's Soul Power, like invisible tentacles, quietly spread out, instantly grasping the general situation of the entire auction house.

He "saw" Hong Chen, whose face was still somewhat pale and whose eyes were sinister, located in the private room opposite.

Beside him sat a middle-aged man with a powerful Aura and a face somewhat similar to Hong Chen's, who must be the head of the Hong Family, a Three-Star Dou Zong.

At this moment, the head of the Hong Family was coldly sweeping his gaze over their private room, clearly having been informed of the events of the previous day.

He also "saw" the people of the Han Family occupying the best seats in the front row of the hall.

The leader was an elegant-looking Elder whose eyes were sharp as an eagle's.

His strength had clearly reached Five-Star Dou Zong; he was the head of the Han Family.

The Han Family members appeared relatively composed and did not pay much attention to the other private rooms.

In another inconspicuous corner, Li Ao sensed a group of people wearing silver robes with lightning patterns embroidered on their cuffs.

The leading Elder had white hair and beard, and faint flashes of lightning flickered in his eyes when he opened and closed them.

His Aura was immense.

He was precisely the Wind and Thunder Pavilion branch Elder Hoper had mentioned—Lei Luo, a Peak Five-Star Dou Zong cultivator, only a step away from the Dou Venerate realm.

He seemed indifferent to everything around him, resting with his eyes closed, but Li Ao could feel a subtle Soul Power covering the entire auction house like a spider web, clearly probing for something.

Besides this, Li Ao also detected several deeply hidden Soul fluctuations carrying a chilling Aura, lurking in the crowd like poisonous snakes, extremely similar to the Aura of the Hall of Souls members.

They were not gathered together but were scattered, like ghosts.

"As expected, they all came."

Li Ao retracted his Soul Power, a faint curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

This auction was destined not to be peaceful.

Medusa sat quietly on the soft chair beside him, her purple eyes sweeping over the hall below.

She showed no reaction to the powerful Auras, as if she were merely watching a play unrelated to her.

Just then, the lights suddenly focused on the high platform in the center of the auction house.

A woman in a form-fitting red gown, with a graceful figure and alluring beauty, swayed her slender waist and stepped onto the platform.

She did not deliberately release her Aura, but the mature, seductive charm and the confidence to control the entire venue instantly captured everyone's attention.

"Esteemed guests, good evening.

I am Jin Ming, and I have the honor of hosting this auction."

The woman's voice was charming yet clearly audible throughout the auction house, indicating her considerable strength.

"Welcome everyone to the Wanjin Pavilion Quarterly Auction.

Without further ado, let us present the first item!"

The auction officially began.

The initial items were mostly precious Medicinal Materials, high-grade Demonic Beast Cores, fine weapons and armor, and some niche Dou Techniques.

Although these attracted competitive bidding and created a lively atmosphere, they were merely appetizers for the true big shots in the private rooms on the second floor.

Li Ao and Medusa simply watched quietly and did not make a move.

Their goals were clear; unless there was an item they specifically needed, they would not waste their energy.

During this time, Li Ao noticed that Elder Lei Luo of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion successfully bid for a rare lightning-attribute movement Dou Technique.

The high price demonstrated his substantial financial resources.

Time slowly passed, and the auction gradually entered its climax.

After the "Soul Nurturing Jade," an item capable of temporarily enhancing Soul Power, was bought by the Han Family for an astronomical price, the smile on the face of the red-robed host, Jin Ming, became even more alluring.

"The next item will surely interest many distinguished guests."

She clapped her hands, and a maid presented a jade plate.

On the plate lay a silver crystal stone, about the size of a fist, shaped as an irregular polyhedral, inside which countless tiny spaces seemed to constantly appear and disappear.

"This item is a 'void crystal stone'!"

Jin Ming's voice carried a hint of excitement.

"It contains pure spatial energy and is an excellent Material for refining high-grade storage rings, spatial Jade Slips, and even certain divine weapons with spatial attributes!

The starting price is five million gold coins, and each bid must not be less than one hundred thousand!"

void crystal stone!

Li Ao's eyes lit up.

This was one of the auxiliary Materials he needed to recast the "silent ruin."

Although its quantity was less important than the nine nether cold iron, it was still extremely rare.

He hadn't originally expected to encounter it at this auction, but unexpectedly, it had appeared.

"Six million!" Someone immediately placed a bid.

"Six million five hundred thousand!"

"Seven million!"

The price quickly climbed, soon breaking the ten million mark.

The main contenders were several major powers needing to refine spatial tools and some Artifact Refiners.

When the price reached thirteen million, the bidding voices gradually diminished.

"Fifteen million." Li Ao finally spoke, his voice resounding calmly throughout the venue via the private room's transmission device.

This price caused many people below to gasp, and they all turned their gazes toward the private rooms on the second floor, guessing which important figure was inside.

The powers that had been bidding earlier hesitated, seeming to feel the price was already a bit too high, and ultimately chose to give up.

Jin Ming's smile intensified: "Fifteen million! Are there any higher bids? Fifteen million going once..."

"Sixteen million." A slightly aged voice rang out, coming from the corner where Lei Luo of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion was located.

Li Ao raised an eyebrow slightly.

This old fellow, it seemed, was also interested in spatial Materials?

"Seventeen million." Li Ao raised the price again, his tone still calm.

"Eighteen million." Lei Luo followed up without hesitation.

"Twenty million." Li Ao directly stated a round number.

The entire venue erupted in an uproar.

Buying a fist-sized void crystal stone for twenty million gold coins already far exceeded its inherent value.

Everyone could tell that the person in the private room on the second floor was determined to get it.

Elder Lei Luo frowned, opening his eyes.

His lightning-flashing pupils sharply scanned the private room where Li Ao was located, seemingly wanting to pierce through the crystal glass.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally shook his head and gave up bidding.

It was not worth making an enemy of an unknown, potentially powerful figure with a deep background, just for this crystal stone.

"Twenty million! Sold! Congratulations to this esteemed guest!" Jin Ming struck the gavel, announcing with an alluring smile.

Soon, a maid delivered the jade plate holding the void crystal stone to Li Ao's private room.

After paying the gold coins and placing the crystal stone, which pulsed with spatial fluctuations, into his storage ring, Li Ao felt quite satisfied.

Not only had he acquired the nine nether cold iron ahead of time on this trip, but he had also unexpectedly gained a void crystal stone; his gains were already substantial.

The auction continued, and several more sensational treasures appeared, making the atmosphere increasingly fervent.

But Li Ao and Medusa both knew that the real main event had yet to arrive.

Finally, when a finale Eighth Grade Pill was fiercely contested and sold, the atmosphere of the entire auction house reached its Peak.

Everyone knew that the final item, the rumored most precious centerpiece, was about to be unveiled.

Jin Ming took a deep breath, the allure on her face receding, replaced by solemnity.

She clapped her hands, and a display stand covered with red silk slowly rose in the center of the high platform.

"Esteemed guests, next is the final item of this auction!" She abruptly pulled back the red silk.

Instantly, a blast of extreme coldness and Evil Qi, as if originating from the depths of the nine nether, swept through the entire auction house like a storm!

Those with weaker cultivation even felt their Souls were about to freeze!

On the display stand, a piece of metal about the size of a human head, entirely dark and covered with natural Ice Crack patterns, lay quietly, emitting a heart-palpitating Aura.

It was—nine nether cold iron!

Although Li Ao already possessed one piece, seeing this nine nether cold iron officially brought out for auction, he could still feel its extraordinary nature.

This piece seemed slightly larger than the one he had obtained.

"nine nether cold iron, a top-tier Material for forging divine weapons!

Starting price, twenty million gold coins!

Each bid increase must not be less than one million!" Jin Ming's voice was filled with excitement as she loudly announced.

The real competition had just begun!