The auction proceeded with two more items within half an hour.
"Secret medicine: Martyr's Blood."
"Quality: Absolute Prohibition."
"Effect: Temporarily ignites spirituality, burns life and soul, amplifies combat ability threefold. The cost is instant death upon use, with no way to reverse it."
This item's appearance sparked fervent bidding from many, driving the price to an astronomical fifty million.
But in the end, a director rang the bell and claimed it, as no one dared challenge him.
"Ancient relic: Heavenly Book Meteorite."
"Description: An ancient artifact unearthed from the Returning Burial Forest of the first layer of Qilin Immortal Palace. Suspected to be linked to a Primordial figure, the inscriptions may contain clues to an Ancient Forbidden Curse, making it exceedingly precious."
This item, however, was less desired since deciphering the meteorite relies heavily on chance.
In essence, it's like drawing cards.
If you draw it, you're striking gold.
But the key lies in whether you can comprehend it.
Nevertheless, it was still bid up to thirty million, eventually claimed by an elderly gentleman from Britain.
As for the next auction item, it was an essential material for advancing to the Fifth Rank in the Ghost Slayer Path.
It's said that this advancement material is extraordinarily rare, with stringent conditions and environments for its growth, leading to its limited annual distribution and subsequent resource shortage, making competition fierce.
Moreover, the Red King, as the leader of the Dark World, is himself a Ghost Slayer Path adherent.
This motivates countless fanatics to emulate him.
With Ghost Slayer Path Ascenders engaging in fierce bidding, such rare resources become even scarcer.
When the golden box containing the Moonstone Heart rose from the underground, the entire Holy Temple was engulfed in a thick, metallic scent of blood that sent chills down the spine.
"This is indeed a treasure; even the Ether Association only has two of these in its inventory."
Tang Ling crossed her arms and commented indifferently, "This is one of the reasons Ghost Slayer Path is relatively rare. Despite being a top-tier and overwhelmingly strong path, few choose it. First, it requires a sufficiently deep obsession to nurture killing intent; second, you need a sharp perception of space-time; and third, it's outrageously costly."
Gu Jianlin nodded slightly: "And what about the Sword Sect Path?"
Tang Ling tilted her snow-white jaw upward: "Similar story."
Gu Jianlin asked, "Why are you and Ji Xiaoyu, despite awakening early, still at Fourth Rank?"
"Because when you're young, your psyche isn't stable enough. Most of that time is spent building your foundation. Ji Xiaoyu, that little brat, is indeed talented—being the President's descendant—and has had immense resources at her disposal, which essentially allowed her potential to be prematurely squeezed out."
Tang Ling shook her head and explained, "Before I turned 18, my advancement wasn't fast either. Only around 18 was I at my peak. Different people have varying talents, which affects their later progression rate."
Gu Jianlin thought to himself, I see.
Comparatively, Moon Princess and Thunder should have similar natural aptitude.
If neither suffers setbacks.
"Sixty million, plus rare secret medicine."
"Seventy million, plus one material of the same rank!"
The first round of bidding almost immediately eliminated most attendees.
The remaining competitors were mostly directors, battling it out.
Eventually, it turned into a climactic duel between Third Master and Master.
After Mr. Liu from Third Master's side made one final bid, their opponent fell silent.
"Seventy million, plus one material of the same rank."
The stunning host softly announced, "First call, second call, third call, sold!"
The auction hammer fell.
The seating area fell silent as death; by custom, a director winning an auction item should be met with applause.
But everyone knew things wouldn't end so smoothly.
Sure enough, the sound of a bell ringing broke the silence.
From Master's private box came a raspy voice: "The old rules—best of five?"
It was the voice of the elder patriarch of the Si Family.
Mr. Liu was utterly unfazed and sneered: "Let's do it; make it quick!"
The tension was palpable.
The audience resembled sharks who had smelled blood, thrilled with anticipation.
The spectacle was about to begin!
In that instant, the previously mysterious and upscale auction hall lit up, and a massive Octagonal Cage rose from the ground. The low, primal drumbeat shattered the silence, reverberating through every soul present.
The seemingly polished and polite guests shed their disguises, revealing the brutality and savagery inherent in their nature—a primal instinct buried deep in their blood: survival of the fittest, kill or be killed!
"Go, seize the Moonstone Heart."
The Si Family elder did not appear, but his hunched yet formidable shadow spread against the light as he said indifferently, "Ye Hua, this is your only chance; do not disappoint me."
A woman draped in a hooded robe bowed slightly in acknowledgment. In the light, her face appeared sinister and cruel, marred by a bloody scar running across half her visage. Her eyes exuded venomous malice, and in her hand, she held a Yingzhou-style tachi, its scabbard carved with intricate patterns that glimmered coldly with unfathomable depth.
"With Moon Princess absent, the Moonstone Heart will surely be ours."
She turned and said, "Xingtong, Yue Tong, let's go."
Behind her trailed a pair of identical twins—also women—dressed in pale sacrificial robes. Their cascading black hair fell like waterfalls, their pallid faces eerily resembling corpses, adorned with disturbing smiles.