At the main table.
"Master Tang."
Emperor Xue Ye spoke—
"I intend to adopt the Tang Sect Encyclopedia as the theoretical textbook for soul master academies."
"What do you think?"
What a great deal!
Cultivating followers starts from childhood, after all.
Tang Lan responded righteously, "To contribute to the empire is my duty!"
Emperor Xue Ye smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
Facing the audience, he announced, "Then, let the auction begin."
A spotlight beamed down.
It illuminated the luxurious auction stage, where a young girl in a blue-and-gold dress bowed to the audience.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the opening!"
"I am Dou Dou, an outer disciple of the Tang Sect, and I will be your auctioneer and match commentator tonight."
"The proceeds from this auction will be allocated to the winning academy as education funds."
"Now, let's take a look at our first auction item—"
A maid stepped forward, holding a tray as Dou Dou lifted the red cloth covering it.
A floating skull was revealed, entirely earthen yellow, exuding a weighty presence akin to solid rock.
It was a skull soul bone!
"I'm sure everyone can see it."
"This is a skull soul bone from a mutant Titan Giant Ape!"
"It lacks fire attributes, retaining only pure earth attributes, making it a perfect fit for earth-attribute soul masters!"
"Although it's only 3,000 years old, as a mutant Titan Giant Ape soul bone, it fully rivals a 10,000-year soul bone!"
"This item is provided by His Majesty Xue Ye, with a starting bid of 100,000 gold soul coins. Each bid increment must be no less than 10,000 gold soul coins!"
"The auction begins now!"
The audience's reaction was split.
The nobles, led by Prince Xue Xing, showed little interest.
Soul bones?
They weren't interested in cultivation—a beauty was far more appealing.
But the soul masters eager for progress stared at the Titan Giant Ape skull with burning eyes.
A soul bone!
Even if it was just 3,000 years old, it was still a Titan Giant Ape's soul bone!
Rivalling a 10,000-year one with ease!
"No one bidding?" Ning Fengzhi chuckled. "Then I'll start—200,000 gold soul coins."
An immediate 100,000-coin increase—extravagance at its finest.
"This soul bone is quite good. Apologies, Sect Master Ning." Education Committee member Zhi Lin spoke loudly, "250,000 gold soul coins."
And so, the bidding war began.
Some nobles with young heirs also joined in.
Ironically, Ning Fengzhi and Zhi Lin, who initiated the bids, fell silent.
This wasn't giving up.
They were waiting until the others slowed down—then they would strike with a decisive bid.
At the main table.
Emperor Xue Ye glanced at Tang Lan and said—
"This Titan Giant Ape skull bone grants a 30% increase in strength when manifested."
"The attached soul bone skill, Gravity Enhancement, allows the user to increase the weight of any object they touch by up to three times."
Such detailed stats...
Clearly.
This soul bone had a previous owner.
Tang Lan pondered.
A strength-type bone?
And a skull bone, no less?
Ridiculous!
3,000 years—not too much, but not too little.
Since it came from a Titan Giant Ape, it was still decently usable.
Why not…
Buy it for Tang San to absorb?
The year count was low anyway, so it wouldn't yield too many rewards.
If he never gave Tang San any benefits, their brotherhood would inevitably fall apart.
Besides…
Once Tang San absorbed this skull bone, it would occupy his "slot."
That meant he wouldn't qualify for the 50,000-year wisdom skull bone from the Elite Tournament rewards.
While other bones could be extracted and replaced—a skull bone?
Checkmate.
Dou Dou called out, "270,000 gold soul coins—twice! Any higher bids? This is a Titan Giant Ape soul bone!"
Ning Fengzhi and Zhi Lin exchanged glances, preparing to bid.
Tang Lan raised a hand. "300,000 gold soul coins."
Ning Fengzhi lowered his hand.
Lower-tier soul bones weren't rare—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had plenty.
What was rare were bones over 10,000 years or those perfectly suited to oneself.
Since Tang Lan wanted it, he could have it.
But Zhi Lin wasn't as easygoing.
—This brat shows up and immediately stirs up trouble at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, even snatching a guaranteed enrollment spot.
How could he tolerate this?
"350,000 gold soul coins!" Zhi Lin grinned. "Master Tang, the highest bidder wins—no objections, right?"
Tang Lan merely smiled, knowing he was being challenged.
Unfortunately…
He picked the wrong opponent!
Not to mention that Tang Sect was making money faster than mining gold—
Even the proceeds from this auction would all go to the winning team.
No need to worry.
—It's just a case of left hand to right hand.
"Hmm? Master Tang, are you not bidding anymore?" Zhi Lin feigned curiosity. "Shall we start the countdown then?"
On the auction stage, Dou Dou looked toward Tang Lan.
—After all, this was their sect master.
Tang Lan chuckled. "What's the big deal? 360,000 gold soul coins."
"Heh, only increasing by 10,000 per bid?" Zhi Lin scoffed. "400,000 gold soul coins!"
As a Soul Douluo and a Heaven Dou Royal Academy education committee member,
he was filthy rich.
Tang Lan ignored the taunts and bid again—
"410,000 gold soul coins."
"500,000 gold soul coins!" Zhi Lin sharply raised the stakes.
"510,000 gold soul coins."
"600,000 gold soul coins!"
"610,000 gold soul coins."
After a few more rounds,
Zhi Lin realized something was wrong!
This brat…
Why was he only increasing by 10,000 each time?!
Was he trying to piss him off?!
Furious, he roared, "I bid 10 million gold soul coins! That should be enough to renovate all of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's school buildings!"
Well, damn!
So this guy was also playing the 'left hand to right hand' game.
In that case…
Could Tang Lan afford to back down?
"I bid 10.01 million gold soul coins."
Zhi Lin was livid!
If not for Emperor Xue Ye's presence, he would've released his martial soul on the spot!
This brat was insufferable!
"I don't believe you can afford it!" Zhi Lin growled. "Do you even understand what 10 million gold soul coins means? You're just a brat running his mouth!"
His doubt was reasonable.
After all, Tang Sect's 'military business' was secretly monopolized by the Heaven Dou Empire, so very few people knew about it.
As for cellphones?
That was still under Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's management and currently classified as a royal tribute.
"Ahem."
Qian Renxue spoke up.
"Education Committee Member Zhi Lin, the Tang Sect does have the financial strength for this."
With the Crown Prince personally vouching, no one dared question it.
But Zhi Lin's eyes widened in shock!
Wait, no!
Your Highness!
We're on your side!
Why are you helping an outsider?!
With the situation at an impasse,
Emperor Xue Ye stepped in to mediate.
"This soul bone will be added as a tournament prize, along with the auction proceeds, and awarded to the winning academy."
A moment ago, Zhi Lin had been furious.
Now, he immediately put on a polite smile and bowed.
"As Your Majesty decrees."
Oh ho!
That face-changing speed was truly unmatched.
But Tang Lan wasn't the forgiving type—he wasn't about to take a loss.
He immediately took out a 6,000-year-old Feilian Silver Fox right leg bone and tossed it onto the auction stage.
"In that case, Tang Sect Academy will also contribute. This 6,000-year Feilian Silver Fox right leg bone will also be added as a tournament prize."
After all, the final victory was guaranteed,
so he could afford to be extremely generous.
Now, Zhi Lin was backed into a corner.
How could he just sit there and take this?
If this chapter ended with Heaven Dou Royal Academy being outshone by Tang Sect Academy in their own city,
that was unacceptable!
Absolutely not!
Since Heaven Dou Royal Academy was certain to win the tournament,
it was best to bring out some rewards in advance!
And so—
(End of Chapter)