183: The struggle for cold iron is fraught with undercurrents.

"Twenty-one million!"

No sooner had Jin Ming finished speaking than an urgent voice rang out from the front row of the hall, coming from a lone traveler shrouded in a black cloak, exuding a chilling aura. The nine nether cold iron held too much allure for him, as he Cultivated a Cultivation Technique of the yin-cold attribute.

However, his bid was like a drop of water in a boiling oil pot, instantly igniting the entire venue.

"Twenty-three million!" Hong Li, the Hong Family Patriarch, spoke with a hint of suppressed anger. His gaze swept over Li Ao's private room; the humiliation of yesterday was still fresh in his mind. He urgently needed to enhance his Family's strength and was determined to acquire this piece of nine nether cold iron, while also harboring a desire to compete with the mysterious private room.

"Twenty-five million." Han Chi, the Han Family Patriarch, spoke with an unwavering calmness, yet his voice carried an undeniable firmness. The Han Family was renowned for its ice-cold Dou Qi, making this piece of nine nether cold iron even more significant to them.

"Twenty-eight million!" A cold voice came from the corner; it was the representative of the Profound Ice Sect, a stern-faced old woman.

The price, like a runaway wild horse, soared frantically under the contention of several major powers, breaking the forty million mark in a short while, with no sign of stopping. The weaker bidders in the hall were already dumbfounded, reduced to mere spectators; this level of bidding was beyond their participation.

Li Ao and Medusa watched this war of money quietly from their private room.

"This Hong Family is quite willing to spend," Li Ao said lightly, taking a sip of tea. Every bid from Hong Li carried a fierce determination, as if he wanted to vent all his frustration through the bidding.

Medusa's purple eyes were cold: "A trapped beast's struggle only reveals its shortcomings. Those with true strength would not be so impetuous."

Indeed, as the price climbed to fifty million, Hong Li's face had already turned extremely ugly, and the pace of his bidding visibly slowed. Although the Hong Family was one of Tianbei City's overlords, such a massive cash outflow was enough to severely impact them.

"Fifty-three million!" Hong Li gritted his teeth and called out a number; this was the limit of his psychological endurance.

"Fifty-five million." Han Chi remained calm, as if he wasn't calling out an astronomical figure, but just an ordinary bid.

Hong Li clenched his fists, his nails almost digging into his flesh, and finally slumped down, giving up the competition with a livid face. His resentful gaze once again swept over Li Ao's private room, only to find that the other party hadn't even noticed him, which made him even more stifled, almost to the point of spitting blood.

"Fifty-five million! Patriarch Han bids fifty-five million! Are there any higher bids?" Jin Ming's voice was filled with excitement as her gaze swept towards the Profound Ice Sect and the Wind and Thunder Pavilion.

The old woman from the Profound Ice Sect frowned, remained silent for a moment, then shook her head. This price also exceeded their expectations.

Everyone's gaze was now focused on Elder Lei Luo of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, who had not yet made a bid.

Lei Luo slowly opened his eyes, his lightning-flashing pupils sweeping over the nine nether cold iron on the stage, then glancing in Han Chi's direction, finally speaking, his voice like muffled thunder:

"Sixty million."

He directly raised the price by five million! This displayed the Wind and Thunder Pavilion's determination to win and its abundant financial resources.

On Han Chi's elegant face, his brows furrowed slightly for the first time. Sixty million gold coins was an extremely heavy burden for the Han Family, almost emptying most of their liquid assets.

He pondered for a full ten breaths, and the entire auction house became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard during this brief silence.

Finally, Han Chi slowly exhaled, shook his head, and gave up bidding. Gambling the Family's Foundation for this piece of cold iron was not worth it.

Jin Ming's face broke into an incredibly brilliant smile: "Sixty million! Elder Lei Luo of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion bids sixty million! Are there any higher bids? Sixty million first call... Sixty million second call..."

She deliberately drew out her words, sweeping her gaze across the entire hall, and after confirming that no one dared to bid again, the golden hammer in her hand came down heavily!

"Sold! Congratulations, Elder Lei Luo, this piece of nine nether cold iron belongs to the Wind and Thunder Pavilion!"

The entire venue erupted in a thunderous clamor, filled with both admiration for the Wind and Thunder Pavilion's financial power and emotion for the fierce bidding war.

Lei Luo's face showed little joy; he merely nodded faintly. For the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, obtaining this top-tier Materials was merely icing on the cake.

Li Ao understood the situation as he watched. The Wind and Thunder Pavilion acquiring this item might lead them to invite top Artifact Refiners from within the Pavilion or even from Central Plains to forge divine weapons, further enhancing their strength. However, this was temporarily irrelevant to him.

His gaze was more focused on the figures hidden in the crowd, exuding a chilling aura. The moment Lei Luo announced the sky-high price of sixty million and the deal was finalized, he clearly felt at least three hidden murderous intentions lock onto the area where the Wind and Thunder Pavilion was located.

The Hall of Souls people had indeed targeted the Wind and Thunder Pavilion.

The auction concluded successfully. Various forces began to leave with different moods. Some had reaped rich rewards, some returned empty-handed, and others were secretly plotting.

Li Ao and Medusa also rose, preparing to leave.

"Young Master Li, please wait." Outside the private room, Madam Jin's trusted maid was already waiting, whispering, "Madam requests that the two of you wait a moment; Young Miss is already waiting in the side hall."

Li Ao and Medusa exchanged glances, knowing that the escort mission was about to officially begin.

They followed the maid through a quiet corridor to a warmly decorated side hall. Inside, a young girl in a moon-white dress sat somewhat nervously.

The girl was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with an exceptionally beautiful and delicate appearance, skin so fair it was almost transparent, carrying an unhealthy fragility, like fragile glass. She had rare ice-blue long hair, cascading like a waterfall to her waist. Most striking were her light blue eyes, as pure as the water in the depths of a glacier, yet tinged with a hint of intractable melancholy and unease.

She was Madam Jin's daughter, Jin Ling.

Upon seeing Li Ao and Medusa enter, Jin Ling quickly stood up and bowed somewhat nervously, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum: "Jin Ling greets Young Master Li, and Your Majesty the Queen."

Li Ao could clearly feel the hidden, yet incredibly pure, ice-cold Bloodline Power within her, as well as the burden caused by that power not matching her own Cultivation. Her condition was indeed not optimistic.

"Young Miss Jin Ling, there's no need for such formality," Li Ao said gently. "Entrusted by your mother, we will escort you safely to the Ice Spirit Clan."

Medusa also nodded slightly; although still cold, she did not exude any oppressive aura.

Sensing their calm demeanor, Jin Ling's nervous emotions seemed to ease slightly, and she nodded softly: "Thank you, Young Master, thank you, Your Majesty. Everything... I'm grateful."

Her gaze involuntarily lingered on Medusa for a moment; as a fellow woman, she couldn't help but be astonished by the other's breathtaking beauty and cold elegance.

Just then, Madam Jin also entered. She looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with maternal love and reluctance, then turned to Li Ao and said seriously: "Young Master Li, everything has been arranged. Tomorrow morning, the caravan will depart from the West City Gate. This is the route map, and the token to contact the Ice Spirit Clan's reception party."

She handed Li Ao an ice-blue feather-shaped token and a map made of beast hide.

"This journey is perilous. My little girl... I entrust her to the two of you."

Li Ao took the token and map, solemnly saying: "Madam, rest assured."

Night had deepened, and the clamor outside Wanjin Pavilion gradually subsided, but beneath this calm, an invisible storm was quietly gathering, targeting the newly acquired nine nether cold iron and the Soon departing escort team.