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The starting bid for this Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone was twelve million gold spirit coins.
Though it seemed like a large sum, it was actually an extremely low price. After all, in the original storyline, during Tang Wutong's participation in Shrek Academy's Treasure Appreciation Meeting, a ten-thousand-year light-attribute earth dragon soul bone sold for ten million.
However, to the true upper echelons of society, money was just a number. Wei Na casually raised her hand and bid fifteen million.
Most of the guests present held immense reverence for Ye Wen and understood that this soul bone was essentially predestined for Huo Yu'er. Thus, no one dared to make an inappropriate bid.
But not all the attendees were from the original three kingdoms of Douluo. Representatives from the Sun Moon Empire were also present, as ignoring them would have sparked international disputes—after all, they were a power on par with the Douluo Continent.
Unlike those from the Douluo Continent, however, the Sun Moon Empire showed no respect for Ye Wen. Moreover, in such a purely monetary setting, these unspoken rules couldn't be voiced aloud.
Although the Sun Moon Empire didn't value soul bones as highly as those on the Douluo Continent, they still regarded them as rare treasures. Especially given the unique nature of this Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone, it was considered an exceptionally high-quality material. If possible, they wanted to secure it.
Thus, the bidding became a direct showdown between the Sun Moon Empire and Princess Wei Na.
The price skyrocketed, and the Sun Moon Empire eventually bid twenty-nine million.
Ye Wen frowned slightly, realizing this couldn't continue. It would drag on endlessly and waste even more money.
Though everything in this auction house was specially designed—even restricting excessive use of force—who was Ye Wen? He was a man who commanded spatial powers.
Quietly opening a spatial rift that led directly to the Sun Moon Empire's booth, an overwhelming aura instantly enveloped the bidder.
"Don't get too carried away in another nation," Ye Wen's voice was calm, but the warning was unmistakable.
Jing Hongchen's back was already drenched in cold sweat. He hadn't expected this Supreme Douluo to act so shamelessly, directly issuing a warning.
Behind the facade of order lay pure violence. Jing Hongchen knew that if he continued to push his luck, Ye Wen—a man capable of breaking the rules—would surely take action.
A Supreme Douluo could not be humiliated.
In the end, Wei Na secured the soul bone with a bid of thirty million.
When the server brought the auction item in, Wei Na joyfully accepted it and presented it to Ye Wen like a precious treasure.
Ye Wen smiled as he accepted it and praised Wei Na. After all, she was still just a little girl at heart and ate this kind of flattery up.
After fiddling with the soul bone for a moment, Ye Wen put it away. He couldn't help but marvel that even with him present, the soul bone had still fetched the same price as in the original storyline.
Such is fate…
However, Ye Wen was now more curious about what could possibly replace the Snow Empress from the original story.
At this moment, the auctioneer's voice rang out again. Perhaps from speaking too much, her voice had grown hoarse, but her passion remained undiminished.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please pay attention. The final item of today's auction will now be presented."
Only then did Ye Wen notice that, at some point, the auctioneer who had been wearing a red gown had changed into a golden one.
Seeing Ye Wen's puzzled expression, Xu Jiujiu explained:
"Master, at our Starlight Auction House, the auctioneer's attire signifies the value of the items being auctioned. If she wears a red gown, it means the highest-value item is worth tens of millions of gold spirit coins. But once she changes into this golden dress, it signifies that the final item is valued at over a hundred million."
Ye Wen clicked his tongue. A hundred million gold spirit coins—that was enough to buy an entire large city!
Though he would soon learn what the final item was, Ye Wen couldn't help but ask:
"Jiujiu, what is the final auction item?"
"A carving knife, Master."
Ye Wen was momentarily stunned.
A carving knife? Even if it were the top-ranked carving knife, how could it possibly sell for hundreds of millions?
Just as Ye Wen was pondering this, the item was wheeled out, and the auctioneer's voice began to resonate.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please behold—the final item of today's auction.
Allow me to build a bit of suspense first.
As you all know, a carving knife is an essential tool for all soul engineers. A good carving knife is crucial for achieving mastery as a high-level soul engineer.
The carving knife before you cannot simply be described as 'good.' Calling it a legendary carving knife would not be an exaggeration.
In the world of soul engineering, carving knives have rankings. The most elite carving knives are almost exclusively in the hands of top-tier soul engineers. You may have heard of the term 'Ranked Carving Knife'—it refers to knives that appear on the Carving Knife Rankings.
On the Douluo Continent's Carving Knife Rankings, only the top one hundred knives are recorded. Unfortunately, more than two-thirds of them are in the possession of the Sun Moon Empire.
This is one of the key reasons why the Sun Moon Empire has so many powerful soul engineers. And what you see before you is one of those top hundred ranked carving knives—a Ranked Carving Knife, as I mentioned earlier."
At this moment, all the booths fell into an eerie silence. Jing Hongchen glanced at the carving knife, now encased in a protective soul-guiding barrier, with a flicker of disdain in his eyes. He even yawned.
After all, the top ten Ranked Carving Knives were all in the hands of the Sun Moon Empire.
Still, a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes. Even the top-ranked Ranked Carving Knife wasn't worth hundreds of millions.
Had the Star Luo Empire gone mad? Or were they desperate for money?
At this moment, the auctioneer's voice continued.
"Of course, everyone knows that even the highest-ranked carving knives are worth no more than fifty million.
But I can say without exaggeration that this Ranked Carving Knife is special. Whether in its utility as a carving knife or in other aspects, its value far exceeds one hundred million—it truly offers unparalleled value."
The auctioneer's words finally captured the attention of the guests in the booths, drawing their gazes toward the seemingly unremarkable carving knife on the auction stage.
"First, let me introduce the unique qualities of this carving knife. It originally ranked ninety-ninth on the Ranked Carving Knife list and is known as the Soul Devouring Carving Knife."
With this statement, many knowledgeable soul engineers turned pale with shock.
Those unfamiliar with soul engineering might not understand, but just as jewelers dealing in jade could describe stones in intricate detail, every accomplished soul engineer was intimately familiar with the Ranked Carving Knives.
After all, among the hundred Ranked Carving Knives, this one was the most infamous. Known as the Cursed Blade, it was said that whoever possessed it was doomed to die.
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