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As the auction progressed, the atmosphere in the venue became increasingly heated. Rare items were presented one after another, attracting bids from the crowd, with shouts of bidding rising one after another.
Finally, it's time for one of the highlights of this auction.
The auctioneer just high-fived lightly, and then several strong men slowly walked onto the auction platform carrying a huge iron cage.
The iron cage was covered with a huge black cloth, making it impossible to see what was inside.
"Dear guests, this next item is definitely a highlight of this auction!"
The auctioneer's voice was filled with passion, deliberately keeping the topic in suspense. "I'm sure everyone is very curious about what treasure is hidden under this black cloth."
Everyone off the field was whispering to each other, guessing what was under the black cloth.
Ning Rongrong also poked her head out curiously, her eyes fixed on the auction table.
"Now, let's unveil the mystery!" The auctioneer pulled the black cloth suddenly, and the scene in the iron cage was instantly revealed to everyone.
That's a catwoman.
She has short light green hair, Bai Xi's skin is like crystal jade, and her ears are triangular with slightly upturned tips, which are completely different from those of ordinary humans. They are obviously the characteristics of a cat's awakening martial spirit.
His eyes were like two sparkling sapphires, clear and bright, yet revealing a hint of vigilance and fear.
Her body was bound by a thin chain, her skin was as white as snow, and she was wearing only a tattered animal skin skirt, revealing her long and well-proportioned legs, with a pair of heavy shackles on her feet.
The host waved the stick in his hand and was just about to start the auction when the temperature in the entire auction hall suddenly dropped. A bone-chilling chill suddenly emerged, but dissipated in an instant, as if it had never existed.
Oh no!
Ning Fengzhi and his group's expressions changed slightly, and they all turned their gazes to the same target.
Xuan Ming's expression did not change, but the two dragons behind him had endless coldness in their eyes!
"If I remember correctly, there was a clause in the contract I signed with the seven major families that they would prohibit all human trafficking in the auction house." Xuan Ming turned his head and looked at Ning Rongrong.
"Did I remember it wrongly?"
Ning Rongrong opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
He's going to lose my temper! He's going to lose my temper!
"And His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Xuan Ming looked at Ning Fengzhi.
"I think we talked about this before, or am I remembering it wrong?"
Ning Fengzhi looked solemn and nodded slightly. He glanced at the trembling catwoman on the auction table and said in a deep voice, "The royal family and the seven major families have indeed issued relevant regulations prohibiting any form of human trafficking from occurring in auction houses, but..."
"So I'm not mistaken?" Xuan Ming's mouth curled up slightly, and his expression couldn't be seen.
Ning Rongrong and the others knew very well what this meant.
Laughing?
This is because I can't suppress my anger anymore!
"It seems that this auction house has blatantly violated the agreement."
Xuan Ming's voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard in every corner of the auction house, like an ice blade in the cold winter, making people shudder.
At this moment, the originally lively atmosphere in the auction hall suddenly dropped to freezing point, and everyone cast astonished eyes at Xuan Ming and his group.
The strong men were frightened by this sudden change and were at a loss as to what to do. They almost dropped the sticks in their hands.
The auctioneer who recognized Xuan Ming turned pale, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. He stammered, "This... this might be a misunderstanding. We... we just found out..."
"Don't be nervous, just keep going." Xuan Ming had a smile on his face that showed no problem at all. This was the smile that every student who had studied at Yuexuan had, polite and friendly.
However, this smile on Xuan Ming's face looked wrong no matter how you looked at it!
"Mr. Xuan Ming, we..."
"Do you need me to repeat it again?" Xuan Ming asked calmly, but his tone was filled with unquestionable majesty.
The host's expression froze, his lips trembled, but he dared not utter another word.
The guests present also recognized Xuan Ming, Ning Fengzhi standing beside him, and Sword Douluo Chen Xin. They all lowered their heads, not daring to look them in the eye.
The originally bustling auction hall was now extremely quiet. Even the breathing sounds were deliberately suppressed to the lowest level. Everyone was afraid that they would become the focus of attention.
"No one bids?" Xuan Ming glanced at the audience.
"Okay, I'll go."
"One hundred million gold soul coins!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience was shocked. Everyone widened their eyes and looked at Xuan Ming in disbelief.
The auctioneer's body trembled violently, and the hammer in his hand almost fell out of his hand. His voice was trembling as he stammered, "Mr. Xuan...Mr. Xuan Ming, you...you..."
"Isn't that enough?" Xuan Ming asked.
"Okay then, two hundred million!"
"Is that enough?"
"…"
The auctioneer collapsed to the ground, his face pale. How could he not understand what Xuan Ming meant!
But the boss behind the auction house will not admit this, and in the end all the responsibilities will be borne by these participants!
It's over!
They're finished!
…
The auction was interrupted and all the guests who participated in the auction quickly ran away. Even though many of them did not get their items today, it didn't matter anymore. They just wanted to get away from this place of trouble as soon as possible.
After making the bid, Xuan Ming talked to Ning Fengzhi and left as well. As for the catwoman, Ning Fengzhi would take care of her.
He had no intention of causing a scene at the auction, as countless people would be vying to resolve this matter.
But since this kind of thing happened before his eyes, it meant that it had never stopped.
The seven major families played a joke on him, and the Tiandou royal family also played a joke on him.
He took the contract written in black and white seriously, and he was the only one who took it seriously.
"Dad, what's going on?" Ning Rongrong's face was full of worry.
"It wasn't..."
Ning Fengzhi sighed, "How can such a thing be eliminated so easily?"
Xuan Ming had no interest in the contract with the Great Soul Fighting Arena at first, but it was Xue Qinghe who mentioned this unintentionally that made Xuan Ming relent and willing to sign the contract and cooperate with the promotion of the Great Soul Fighting Arena.
However, the seven major families obviously did not take this matter to heart.
As for the Tiandou royal family, the two empires already had laws prohibiting the slave trade. Even if Xue Qinghe, as the crown prince, promoted it, it would not be achieved overnight.
"There is a market only when there is demand. For these things, as long as there are people who want to buy them, there will always be people who will sell them." Tang San said.
"Especially for these things that are openly banned, the profits contained therein are enough to make countless people take risks for them."
Ning Fengzhi nodded, "Indeed, if we want to truly eliminate this problem, we have to stop people from having this kind of thinking, but this is obviously impossible."
How many people can be restrained by the laws of the two empires?
Can it restrain the nobles? Or can it restrain those powerful soul masters?
Even the laws of the Spirit Hall cannot do this.
Because a large number of people who implement these laws are also involved in these things and profit from them.
While the rules prohibit things, they also create huge profit space for those who violate the rules!
"But, Xuan Ming..." Ning Rongrong was a little worried.
"I'm afraid this incident will cause quite a stir. I'm going to contact people from the seven major families, as well as the royal family." Ning Fengzhi said.
"Rongrong, you guys go back first. Xuan Ming won't do anything rash."
When we first met, Xuan Ming was indeed a very impulsive and naive child with too many naive ideas.
But after these years, Xuan Ming is no longer the young man he used to be.
He did not take action directly, but chose to bid 200 million gold soul coins, which meant that he wanted to hand the matter over to the seven major families and the Tiandou royal family to handle.
After all, taking action can only solve today's problem and may even cause more trouble.
…
Prince's Mansion.
Hearing that Xuan Ming had returned to Tiandou City from Sunset Forest, Qian Renxue dressed up specially, planning to call him over in the evening. Maybe she could even go out for a walk with him under the cover of night...
"Young Master, something happened."
Snake Spear Douluo's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door, breaking the tranquility and anticipation.
"What's wrong?" Qian Renxue asked casually while sitting in front of the dressing mirror.
"Xuan Ming just went to the auction house and happened to encounter a slave auction." Snake Spear Douluo said.
"Moreover, the one being auctioned... is a catwoman who, like him, has awakened her martial spirit and undergone a physical mutation."
Qian Renxue's expression froze, as if she had been struck by lightning, "What did you say?!"
Slave auctions and a mutated Catwoman?
Is this fucking dancing in the Xuan Ming's minefield?
"Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo were also present. Xuan Ming did not take action, but simply offered 200 million gold soul coins to buy the catwoman. Now the news has spread." Snake Spear Douluo said.
"Ning Fengzhi is coming this way. There should be news from the Emperor as well."
Bang!
Qian Renxue had a cold expression on her face and smashed the dressing table in front of her into pieces with one punch.
"Where's Xuan Ming?"
"He went to the Spirit Temple." Snake Spear Douluo said.
"Perhaps, he wants the Pope to intervene in this matter."
The person who sold Xuan Ming back then was a low-level patrol deacon of the Spirit Hall. Although Qian Renxue repeatedly emphasized that it was just an isolated case and did not represent the attitude and behavior of the entire Spirit Hall.
However, they all knew very well that if other people encountered this situation, facing the temptation of at least 100,000 gold soul coins, few people would not be tempted!
Moreover, such physical mutations usually occur when the spirit awakens, and the people in the Spirit Hall are the first to get the news.
There is an 80% chance that people from the Spirit Hall will be involved in Catwoman this time.
"Investigate!" Qian Renxue shouted coldly.
"Catch them all, one by one!"
"Young Master, I'm afraid this is inappropriate." Snake Spear Douluo asked.
"The secret slave trade has far-reaching implications, and the profit chain is deeply entrenched, involving a large number of nobles and spirit masters. It might even affect the Spirit Hall. If we act rashly..."
"Do you need me to repeat it again?" Qian Renxue asked coldly.
Snake Spear Douluo's expression froze, "I'll go right away!"
After saying that, Snake Spear Douluo disappeared outside the door.
Qian Renxue looked at the broken dressing table in front of her with a gloomy expression.
This is what Xue Qinghe promised Xuan Ming!
It was even Xue Qinghe who proposed it!
But now it has become like this!
How should she face Xuan Ming?