"Armor capable of withstanding a Soul Sage's attack…"
If this had been an ordinary set of armor, people might have dismissed it as exaggerated marketing. But if it truly came from the hands of a divine smith, then such defensive power might very well be real.
In the current era, Lou Gao, a recognized divine smith, had already forged the Eightfold Ruyi Soft Armor, capable of defending against a sixth soul skill from a power-attack type Soul Emperor. And Lou Gao was only a Soul Sage himself—smiths with even greater soul power in the past would certainly have been capable of crafting even more powerful armor.
"Five hundred ten thousand gold soul coins!"
A loud voice from below shattered the silence.
If the armor could block a Soul Sage's attack, then this treasure held great value to many. After all, not everyone would reach Soul Sage level in their lifetime, and many of the auction attendees were well aware of their limits.
Items crafted by divine smiths enjoyed widespread trust. Coupled with the Heaven Dou Empire's official backing of the auction, there was little worry of it being counterfeit.
As soon as someone broke the silence, the bidding began to heat up.
"Five hundred twenty thousand!"
"Five hundred thirty thousand!"
"…"
The bidding rang out in waves throughout the hall, and with each new offer, the tension in the room climbed higher. Many guests fixed their eyes on the ancient, radiant armor, their expressions resolute and eager.
When the bidding reached six hundred thousand, even the VIP guests seated above began to join in.
"Six hundred twenty thousand!"
An elder in regal robes called out, his voice carrying an undeniable weight—like a noble visiting in person. The atmosphere surged to a fever pitch.
"Heh, how stingy, old man!"
Someone teased from the VIP seats, twirling a feather fan with a playful smile.
"Six hundred fifty thousand!"
A young aristocrat called out lazily, matching his taunt with a casual raise in price.
"Hmph! Young man, don't overestimate yourself!"
The elder snorted coldly, clearly irritated by the provocation. "Do you even understand the value of this armor? Six hundred sixty thousand!"
The young noble waved his fan with a smirk. "Oh? Since the old master values it so much, how could I not show respect? But then again, I shouldn't be too stingy either… six hundred seventy thousand—what do you say?"
Their back-and-forth pushed the auction into an intense standstill. All around them, guests held their breath, watching closely for any shift in momentum.
From the crowd, Yun Yibai remained silent but focused. His eyes locked on the armor as he calculated silently.
"Six hundred eighty thousand gold soul coins!"
The elder's voice rang again, full of unshakable resolve.
The young noble seemed briefly surprised, but quickly regained his calm. "Since the elder insists, this junior will accompany you to the end. Six hundred ninety thousand!"
Just then, Yun Yibai took a deep breath and finally spoke:
"Seven hundred thousand gold soul coins!"
Though his voice was calm, it was firm and clear, instantly drawing the attention of the entire hall. Heads turned toward the young soul master who had just entered the bidding.
Both the elder and the young noble were startled. They hadn't expected a new contender to jump in at this critical moment—and with such a large increase.
The elder narrowed his eyes, giving Yun Yibai a probing look, as if gauging his strength and background.
"Hmph, young man, do you even know what you're getting yourself into?"
The elder's tone was threatening.
But Yun Yibai met his gaze without flinching. "Of course. I'm bidding for a piece of armor that can withstand a Soul Sage's full strength. A treasure like this… is worth any price."
The young noble dropped his playful demeanor and turned serious. "If you insist on winning, then I won't stop you. But you'd best be sure—such treasures are not something just anyone can wield."
Yun Yibai responded calmly, "You don't have to worry about that. If I dared to bid, I came prepared."
This experience sparked his interest in divine smiths even more. After all, Wujie Academy would eventually need its forging division, and now he had a good idea of who the right leader might be.
"Teacher, I didn't expect such a piece of armor to cause this level of competition," Xue Qinghe said in a low voice from the VIP section.
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly, his deep gaze fixed on the armor on stage. "Qinghe, this armor isn't just valuable because of its defensive power. If it can truly resist a Soul Sage's attack, then it must have been forged using divine-level craftsmanship, or perhaps even unknown rare materials."
"To us, it may be just a defensive tool, but for blacksmith soul masters, such an artifact is priceless."
"Even though soul masters are the main focus of this world, they're still a minority. Other professions have their place too."
"There are only three living divine smiths in the current era: Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect, Titan of the Power Clan, and Lou Gao of Gengjin City."
"Their creations are far beyond ordinary weapons."
Xue Qinghe nodded, thoughtful. "That's true. Armor that can block a Soul Sage is of immense value to most soul masters. And beyond that, its appearance might drive the soul master world to explore divine smithing and rare material alchemy more deeply."
Ning Fengzhi gave a slight nod of approval. "Exactly. That's why this armor is causing such a stir. What intrigues me more is who the creator might have been, and what rare materials were used in its forging."
Xue Qinghe raised an eyebrow curiously. "Teacher, do you have any guesses as to who the smith might be?"
Ning Fengzhi paused for a moment, then shook his head. "It's hard to say. Throughout history, few divine smiths have been properly documented, and each one had their techniques and styles. The craftsmanship here is exquisite, but even I can't identify its origin. Regardless, this proves that true artisan skill and spiritual heritage still exist in the soul master world."
Soon, the bidding rose to eight hundred thousand gold soul coins.
This wasn't Gengjin City—this was Heaven Dou City, the imperial capital itself, filled with nobles and wealthy families. It was a financial and political hub.
If Lou Gao's Eightfold Ruyi Soft Armor—capable of withstanding a Soul Emperor—were being auctioned here, it would surely fetch far more than fifty thousand.
"Nine hundred thousand gold soul coins."
Finally, Ning Fengzhi raised his bid.
His voice was warm, yet carried an authority that brooked no opposition.
In the end, the armor capable of resisting a Soul Sage's assault was claimed by Ning Fengzhi.
When it came to wealth and power, few could match the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Though Yun Yibai felt a tinge of regret, he wasn't disheartened. The reason he didn't win the armor was simple: he wasn't strong enough yet—not powerful enough, not rich enough.
This would only make him more determined to grow.