Just like the Evil Demon Killer Whale, the Demon Soul Great White Shark was one of the ocean's top overlords. Not only were their bodies powerful, but their spiritual strength was also exceptional. Some even possessed innate soul skills of spiritual attack type.
It was precisely for this reason that the Demon Soul Great White Shark race was able to avoid being completely suppressed, even though they were naturally restrained by the Evil Demon Killer Whale.
The soul bone before them came from a Demon Soul Great White Shark of nine thousand years' cultivation. Though its age was slightly lacking, its quality was unquestionable. Not only was the bone itself extremely well preserved, but as Zhu Yao had introduced earlier, the soul skill attached to it had already solidified.
In the world of soul masters, there was a common saying: soul bones with attribute requirements or solidified soul skills were always especially powerful.
A soul bone that required a specific attribute in a martial soul might only suit a small portion of soul masters, but once fused with the right one, its effect far surpassed bones without attribute restrictions.
As for solidified soul skills, they were considered the greatest of advantages. Only bones produced from extremely powerful soul beast races might carry such a skill. After all, most martial souls of soul masters could not compare to the noble bloodlines of those top-tier soul beasts, so when fusing with an ordinary soul bone, the skill within would usually transform according to the martial soul.
But if a soul master could fuse with a soul bone containing a solidified skill, then it was equivalent to perfectly reproducing that top-tier soul beast's innate ability.
In the top VIP room, Yaoyang studied the soul bone with a thoughtful look, then slowly walked up to Xu Zihuang and asked seriously:
"Zihuang, though the Demon Soul Great White Shark that produced this bone was only nine thousand years, its attributes and the solidified soul skill within should suit you very well. If you're interested in it, I can get it for you."
His words carried confidence and ease.
With the wealth he had accumulated from years of operating in the Yuenan Archipelago, purchasing this bone would not be difficult. At most, it would mean further offending the pirate groups with whom relations were already strained.
"No need, Brother Yang. Honestly, this soul bone seems fairly average to me—it's not worth troubling yourself over." Xu Zihuang smiled meaningfully, meeting Yaoyang's gaze. "Besides, Brother Yang, you must have brought this soul bone to auction despite offending the Crocodile Pirates in order to sow discord among the five pirate groups, didn't you?"
"That's right, that was indeed my intention." Yaoyang gave Xu Zihuang an approving look.
He had only briefly explained the situation in the Yuenan Archipelago, yet Xu Zihuang had already seen through his thoughts at a glance.
Of course, if Xu Zihuang had truly desired the bone, he would have abandoned that plan and helped him acquire it.
"In that case, let's sit back and enjoy the show together." Xu Zihuang stretched lazily, then turned his gaze toward the other VIP rooms opposite. His deep violet eyes grew especially profound.
Logically, a head soul bone from a nine-thousand-year Demon Soul Great White Shark should have driven the bidders into a frenzy. Yet in reality, only four parties bid—four of the pirate groups, with the Silverfin Pirates abstaining.
Within just a few minutes, the price had already soared to 1.8 million gold soul coins.
Unlike the thousand-year Evil Demon Killer Whale before, while the audience of bidders also coveted this soul bone, reason told them it was beyond their reach.
This was not the Sun Moon Empire, nor one of the three former empires of the Douluo Continent. This was the Yuenan Archipelago, a place far more chaotic. Without sufficient backing, even if one managed to win the soul bone, survival afterward could not be guaranteed.
Unless they stayed forever in Yuexu City. For Yuexu City was directly governed by Viscount of Yuenan, and guarded by five hundred city soldiers. Even the five great pirate groups dared not cause trouble here.
The one who had just bid 1.8 million was Jing Gu, leader of the Whale Shark Pirates. True to the name of his group, his martial soul was a Whale Shark—also a very powerful sea soul beast.
This nine-thousand-year Demon Soul Great White Shark head soul bone perfectly suited his martial soul. He was determined to win it.
In the neighboring VIP room, Zi Jing, leader of the Purple Snake Pirates, twirled a lock of her purple hair around slender jade fingers, then pressed the raised metal plate on her table. In a charming, flirtatious voice, she said:
"Since Brother Jing has already bid such a high price, it seems this little sister has no choice but to withdraw."
The metal plate in front of her was a sound-transmission soul tool connecting the VIP rooms. Once infused with soul power, it transmitted her voice.
In the top VIP room, Xu Zihuang and the others naturally heard Zi Jing's words as well.
"My thanks." A low, curt voice sounded in the room—the reply of Jing Gu, who was clearly a man of few words.
But in another room, the expression of Crocodile Pirates' leader E'luo turned instantly dark.
Beside him, the once-arrogant gleam in E'cheng's eyes was long gone. Clenching his fists, he looked anxiously at his grandfather.
"Grandfather…"
Because of his turbulent emotions, his originally brown-yellow eyes suddenly changed. One iris turned icy blue, the other fiery red. Waves of extreme cold and searing heat spread outward from his body.
E'luo merely cast him a cold glance, making E'cheng sit upright at once in fear.
"Don't worry. This soul bone can't be taken by others. What's yours will be yours."
As he spoke, he raised the price again—to 1.9 million gold soul coins.
"Two million."
Seeing E'luo's renewed bid, Jing Gu's face darkened, but he gritted his teeth and increased the price once more.
"Hmph!"
E'luo pondered for a moment, his single brown-yellow eye glinting coldly. Then he slammed his wide palm heavily against the table before him.
Countless fine cracks silently spread across its surface, and after two breaths, the thick marble table crumbled into dust.
"Back to the ship!"
E'cheng rose in a daze, but quickly realized his grandfather's meaning. Ecstatic, he walked with a swagger, casting a contemptuous glance at the bidders in the hall.
Do you know what the greatest difference between me and all of you is? It's that whatever I desire—I can obtain.
Because the gulf between us is birth itself.