108: The Auction of Myriad Realms, the First Appearance of the Divine Prison

The immense success of the open trial week was like a cultural bomb dropped across the Star Sea, generating a centripetal force and influence far exceeding expectations. The threshold of Void Academy was almost trampled by applications for study from all the myriad realms, and the scale of the Star Sea Market had to expand again. Cloud Court had already become the undisputed cultural, economic, and power center of this Star Domain.

Riding on this momentum, Cloud Court Media and the Star Sea Market Management Office jointly announced that they would host an unprecedented "Myriad Realms Auction"! At that time, Cloud Court would bring out some of its inventory of rare resources, non-core cutting-edge products developed by the Curiosity Institute, and some special Materials "collected" from abyssal demons, pirates, and even spatiotemporal anomaly points for auction. At the same time, all planes were welcome to provide their own rare treasures to participate in the bidding.

As soon as the news broke, the myriad realms were shaken! This was no longer just a transaction, but a feast of power display and exchange!

On the day of the auction, the specially constructed circular auction house, capable of accommodating hundreds of thousands of people, was packed. Participants from different races and civilizations emitted various energy fluctuations, and their exotic costumes were dazzling. Huge holographic projection screens floated in the air, ensuring that every corner could clearly see the auctioned items.

Nie Li personally presided, Yun Hao and Yun Qiao were seated in the VIP section, while Yun Feng was still in the Star Gazing Hall, his Divine Sense covering the entire venue.

The auction atmosphere was lively, with climaxes one after another.

A "Flowing Fire Burning Heaven Sword," forged by the Curiosity Institute combining Chaos runes with Lava Realm forging techniques, attracted frantic bidding from fire-element cultivation civilizations; a bottle of "Chaos Marrow Cleansing Liquid," personally concocted by Yun Qiao, capable of purifying Bloodline and enhancing potential, caused many races who valued Bloodline Legacy to almost come to blows; a piece of "Sand of Time," recovered from a spatiotemporal anomaly point and containing chaotic time Law, even attracted the attention of several mysterious existences, including Divine Realm envoys.

Every item put up for auction by Cloud Court, without exception, fetched sky-high prices due to its excellent efficacy or unique research value, fully demonstrating its profound heritage and technical strength.

However, as the auction progressed to the latter half, when a final item from a neutral small plane was presented, Yun Feng, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.

It was a broken piece of armor, only palm-sized, dark gold all over, covered with countless fine cracks, as if it could shatter at any moment. It exuded an extremely ancient, extremely faint, yet unyielding and righteous aura that could suppress all evil!

"This item was accidentally obtained by my clan's ancestor in an ancient battlefield ruin. Its Material is unknown, it cannot be destroyed, nor can it be refined. Its only characteristic is that it can automatically absorb and purify faint negative energy. Starting bid, one million standard energy crystals," the Elder who provided the item introduced, his tone not holding much hope.

Some whispers arose in the venue, but there were few bidders. After all, a broken piece of armor with only the function of purifying faint negative energy had too low practicality.

Just as the auctioneer was about to declare it unsold, a cold, hoarse voice, like metal rubbing, came from the shadowy corner at the very edge of the auction house:

"Ten million."

Everyone was in an uproar, turning to look at the speaker. It was a figure completely enveloped in a large black robe, with an expressionless white mask on his face. His aura was cold and dead, completely out of place with the righteous Qi emanating from the armor piece.

"It's someone from the Divine Prison!" a knowledgeable person whispered in alarm, his voice tinged with fear.

Divine Prison, an organization even more mysterious and terrifying than the Dark Guild. Legends say they specialize in hunting, imprisoning, and studying all kinds of beings with special Bloodline, Physique, or forbidden powers. They act without bottom lines, their strength is unfathomable, and even some powerful planes are unwilling to easily provoke them.

Why would this Divine Prison Walker be interested in this seemingly useless armor piece?

"Eleven million." Another clear, cold voice sounded, coming from Elder Mu Chen of the Green Source Star Realm. He frowned slightly, obviously also uneasy about the appearance of the Divine Prison, his intuition telling him that this armor piece was by no means simple.

"Twenty million." The Divine Prison Walker's voice was devoid of emotion.

Elder Mu Chen pondered for a moment, then shook his head and gave up. It was not worth it to openly conflict with the Divine Prison for a fragment of unknown use.

Just as the auctioneer was about to drop the hammer—

"One hundred million."

A calm voice, amplified by the sound-amplifying Formation, resounded throughout the venue. The bidder was none other than Yun Qiao from the VIP section! Her eyes were clear, with a hint of determination. Just now, her Wood Spirit Physique, optimized by Yun Feng, clearly sensed a wisp of extremely pure Life Qi deep within the armor piece, which was of the same origin as her but far beyond her comprehension, along with the Law of purification! This item, for her and for Cloud Court, might be crucial!

The entire venue fell silent!

One hundred million energy crystals! This was the total annual income of many small and medium-sized planes! Cloud Court actually offered such a sky-high price for such a fragment?!

The Divine Prison Walker suddenly turned his head, his gaze beneath the white mask locking onto Yun Qiao like a venomous snake, his bone-chilling killing intent undisguised.

Yun Hao snorted coldly, and the Chaos Qi around him rippled slightly, instantly dispersing the invisible killing intent.

The Divine Prison Walker's body trembled almost imperceptibly. He took a deep look at Yun Hao, then swept his gaze around the entire Cloud Court. Finally, he did not bid again.

In the end, this mysterious armor fragment was acquired by Cloud Court for a sky-high price of one hundred million.

After the auction, the Divine Prison Walker silently disappeared into the shadows, but everyone knew that the matter would not end there.

Indeed, as Yun Qiao was returning to the core area of Cloud Court with the armor piece, the Void Realm suddenly twisted, and three figures dressed identically to the previous Walker appeared out of thin air, surrounding her in a triangular Formation. Powerful restraining force instantly sealed off the surrounding space!

"Hand over the sacred object, and you may keep your complete corpse." The leading Walker's voice was still cold.

However, they were facing a well-prepared Cloud Court!

"We were waiting for you!"

Yun Hao's figure appeared like a ghost in front of Yun Qiao. His long spear vibrated, and the Chaos spear light tore through the Void Realm, directly shattering the opponent's spatial Seal! Nie Li had appeared at a high point at some unknown time, and the Formation Plate in his hand glowed brightly. An invisible barrier instantly rose, isolating the battlefield from the outside. Yun Qiao quickly retreated, gently caressing the dark gold armor piece, trying to communicate with it.

The three Divine Prison Walkers were both shocked and enraged. They had not expected Cloud Court to react so quickly and with such sharp methods!

The battle erupted instantly! These three Walkers were extremely powerful, all reaching the Heavenly Mandate Rank threshold. Their methods were bizarre, and their cooperation was tacit, specifically targeting the Soul and Law.

But Yun Hao's Chaos spear light was unstoppable, and Nie Li's Formation was ever-changing, firmly controlling the rhythm of the battle. In less than ten moves, one Walker had his mask knocked off by Yun Hao's spear, revealing a lifeless face covered with strange runes, and he retreated, heavily wounded. The other two, seeing the unfavorable situation, tried to escape but were firmly blocked by Nie Li's barrier.

Seeing that they were about to be captured, a hint of desperation flashed in the leading Walker's eyes, and he suddenly crushed a black rune in his hand.

"Buzz!"

A terrifying will, far exceeding everyone present, like a sleeping Vicious Beast, suddenly descended a wisp from across the endless Void Realm! The entire barrier trembled violently!

"Divine Prison Judge..." Nie Li's expression changed slightly.

Just at this critical moment, a calm voice resounded in everyone's minds:

"Scram."

Just one word.

The terrifying will that had just descended, as if struck by an invisible giant hammer, let out a muffled groan and instantly receded like a tide, faster than it came! The crushed black rune also completely lost its luster.

The two surviving Divine Prison Walkers were dumbfounded, their faces filled with boundless fear. The Judge's will... was actually shouted back by a single word?!

Yun Hao seized the opportunity, his spear striking like a Dragon, completely subduing and Sealing the two of them.

"Take them down and interrogate them carefully." Nie Li descended, looking at the Sealed Divine Prison Walkers, his eyes cold, "Divine Prison... it seems we have new 'neighbors' to 'visit'."

In its first clash with the Divine Prison, Cloud Court once again declared its sovereignty inviolable with absolute strength and unfathomable trump cards. And that mysterious armor piece, worth one hundred million, also seemed to indicate that an ancient secret, long buried, was about to be uncovered.