Chapter 83: The Auction Begins
Soul bones were among the most precious treasures in this world. To soul masters, they were even more valuable than soul rings, because soul bones could be passed down for generations. When a soul master who had absorbed a soul bone died, the bone could be extracted and given to a successor, making it the ultimate heirloom.
For most people, even a century old soul bone was something they would hide and guard carefully, never revealing it. If word got out that someone possessed a soul bone, unless they were extremely powerful or had an unshakable backing, they would be hunted down by those seeking to kill and steal the treasure. Unlike soul rings, which could only be absorbed by specific individuals, soul bones could be used by anyone.
This showed just how rare and valuable soul bones were.
Yet now, someone was publicly auctioning soul bones!
And not just one but three, all of them 10,000 year soul bones!
When the Heaven Dou Auction House announced this, it caused a continent wide sensation in less than a month. Countless people gathered their wealth and rushed to Heaven Dou City.
It wasn't just soul masters from the Heaven Dou Empire even major powers from the Star Luo Empire traveled across borders to bid on these priceless treasures. Even if they couldn't afford to buy one, just witnessing such a rare event was an opportunity they couldn't miss.
In just one month, Heaven Dou City's imperial capital was flooded with strangers from all over. People eagerly awaited the day of the auction.
On the morning of the auction, Ye Cheng returned to Heaven Dou City with Zhu Zhuqing after a month of secluded training in the mountains.
As soon as they entered the city, they immediately noticed a stark contrast from a month ago. The entire imperial capital was filled with huge banners and advertisements promoting the soul bone auction at the Heaven Dou Auction House.
Not only that, but the number of soul masters in the streets had skyrocketed. It was clear that many had traveled great distances to be here. Some were simply following their elders to witness the soul bones in person, while others had darker intentions waiting for the perfect chance to ambush a successful bidder after the auction.
What Ye Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing didn't know was that as soon as they stepped into the city, countless hidden spies immediately reported their arrival. Practically every major faction was now tracking their movements Ye Cheng had no privacy at all.
This was the downside of being too famous.
When everyone recognized you, even random strangers could be turned into informants. And there was nothing Ye Cheng could do about it he couldn't just kill everyone who looked at him, after all.
Fortunately, his strength was unmatched. Even if his location was exposed, it didn't matter. He was so powerful that no one dared to provoke him. If anything, everyone else was terrified of accidentally offending him.
To these factions, Ye Cheng was like a walking nuclear bomb.
If someone from their group angered him, their entire organization might be wiped out.
That was why they kept a close eye on his movements not to attack him, but to make sure no one provoked him.
Ye Cheng ignored the countless eyes watching him and calmly led Zhu Zhuqing toward the Heaven Dou Auction House.
By the time they arrived at the main entrance, a group of people had already been waiting for them.
The leader was an elderly man Ye Cheng didn't recognize, but his soul power was at the Spirit Douluo level. The others were middle aged men, all of them Spirit Saints, including the auction house's manager Ye Cheng had met before.
Clearly, these were the top executives of the auction house.
"Greetings, Your Excellency!"
The Spirit Douluo stepped forward with a humble smile, bowing respectfully. "Your Excellency must be tired from your journey. The auction will begin this afternoon, and we have reserved our largest venue for the event. We have also prepared a private VIP room for you. If you wish, you may rest there until the auction begins."
His tone was extremely polite, and his attitude was impeccable.
Ye Cheng appreciated that they were being so considerate, so he nodded calmly and said, "Thank you for the arrangement."
"It is our honor, Your Excellency!" The Spirit Douluo waved his hands humbly, but in reality, his heart was completely unaffected. His submissive behavior was entirely an act.
Truthfully, if Ye Cheng had been just a regular Titled Douluo, these factions would have long since gathered their forces to kill him and take the soul bones.
After all, so what if someone was a Titled Douluo?
These powerful factions also had Titled Douluo, along with Spirit Douluo and Spirit Saints. If they launched a coordinated attack, even a Titled Douluo could be beaten to death.
Anyone who thought only Spirit Hall had hidden Titled Douluo was being naive.
Even though the public records showed that only a few Titled Douluo existed, in reality, many ancient noble families and royal factions had their own hidden powerhouses.
Otherwise, how could entire empires remain standing for centuries?
No intelligent faction would fully reveal its strength. They always kept secrets, misleading their enemies by hiding their true forces.
…
Finally, the auction was about to begin.
The auction venue was located on the second floor of the auction house.
From the main hall, there were eight staircases leading up to it.
The Spirit Douluo personally escorted Ye Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing to the auction hall.
And compared to the front entrance staff, the women serving inside looked far less professional.
They still wore white dresses, but the atmosphere had completely changed.
All the female attendants inside were tall, curvy, and stunning.
Their white dresses had deep plunging necklines, sleeveless designs, and short skirts that barely covered their thighs. With their high heels, they exuded pure seduction.
Their exposed cleavage, round hips, and long, flawless legs made them irresistibly enticing.
Out of sheer male instinct, even Ye Cheng couldn't help but glance twice.
Yes, just twice.
After all, he was a man of great discipline how could he be distracted by such simple temptations?
But the keen eyed Spirit Douluo elder noticed Ye Cheng's gaze.
Instantly, he smirked to himself
"Ah, I see! So that's what His Excellency likes."
As a fellow man, he understood immediately.
Now, he knew exactly what kind of 'gift' he should prepare for Ye Cheng after the auction.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/cortez10