Four million superior spirit stones!
This price from Heaven Box One was like a boulder thrown into an already surging lake, causing greater shock and uproar. Everyone's gazes focused on that mysterious Heaven Box One, guessing who the mysterious occupant could be, possessing such boldness and financial resources.
Inside Shadow Snake Pavilion's Heaven Box Three, that icy aura violently fluctuated—this unexpected bidding completely disrupted their plan. After brief silence, that icy voice spoke again, carrying:
Four million two hundred thousand.
Added two hundred thousand directly, showing Shadow Snake Pavilion hadn't given up, but the bid increase was clearly not as fearless as before. Prices above four million, even for Shadow Snake Pavilion, were definitely not numbers to casually spend.
Four million five hundred thousand. Heaven Box One's voice remained plain and gentle yet carrying undeniable firmness, raising significantly again by three hundred thousand!
The auction hall's atmosphere nearly froze. This was no longer merely a contest of wealth, but a competition of momentum!
Xiao Qi gripped his fist tightly, palms sweating. He both hoped Heaven Box One could suppress Shadow Snake Pavilion, yet worried this fragment would ultimately fall to another unknown powerful force—consequences unpredictable. His earlier bidding was mostly to raise prices and disrupt; truly letting him produce four or five million spirit stones was impossible.
Shadow Snake Pavilion's box fell silent again, internally discussing. Qian Buduo counted down, voice carrying an unnoticeable trace of anticipation: Four million five hundred thousand, first call... four million five hundred thousand, second call...
It seemed Shadow Snake Pavilion was determined to get this item at any cost! Xiao Qi's heart grew anxious. If Shadow Snake Pavilion succeeded, their plan to seize soul crystals and strengthen control over father would advance greatly!
Can't wait any longer! Must stop them!
Competing by wealth was impossible; forcibly grabbing was suicide. Xiao Qi's gaze turned sharp; a bold idea flashed through his mind.
He took a deep breath, adjusting his state to peak, spiritual sense, not probing, but slowly drawing out that most core power within him—the purification source!
He didn't release it outward, but sent a thread of extremely pure spiritual consciousness containing purification and calming intent, like the finest spider silk, carefully, avoiding all possible spiritual detection, spreading toward Shadow Snake Pavilion's Heaven Box Three.
This process was extremely dangerous, like walking on a over an abyss. Once detected by the other party, it would immediately bring. Xiao Qi was completely focused, maximizing the purification source's characteristics, making it carry no attack whatsoever, only a pure, calming and peaceful aura.
His goal wasn't attacking Shadow Snake Pavilion representative's soul, but interference! At that decisive moment, interfering with their judgment, disturbing their—
This was his counterattack, fighting fire with fire, using their own chaotic thoughts to distract them!
Time seemed to stretch; every second felt like a year.
Inside Shadow Snake Pavilion's box, that icy aura suddenly became disorderly, waves of restlessness seemingly emerging within. The representative's calm, cold mental state—already challenged by the auction's repeated price increases and the mysterious Heaven Box One's appearance—finally cracked at this moment!
Four million eight hundred thousand! The icy voice came, but the addition was clearly lacking the previous determination and calm. The number was raised by only three hundred thousand, showing hesitation and unease!
Four million nine hundred thousand. Heaven Box One's plain voice responded almost instantly.
In that instant between Shadow Snake Pavilion's bid and Heaven Box One's response, that thread of purification spiritual consciousness that Xiao Qi had sent—having successfully interfered with the Shadow Snake Pavilion representative's mental state—completed its mission and dissolved.
From the outside, no one noticed this hidden spiritual battle. They only saw prices continuing to rise, Shadow Snake Pavilion seemingly becoming increasingly hesitant, while Heaven Box One remained steady, eventually obtaining this precious Four Symbol Soul Crystal Fragment at five million five hundred thousand spirit stones!
Shadow Snake Pavilion actually... gave up? Liu Yun watched in disbelief, whispering to Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi didn't answer; his gaze was profound. He knew very well—his spiritual interference had played a role, but the crucial factor was that mysterious Heaven Box One occupant. They had terrified Shadow Snake Pavilion with their presence alone, making them unable to act rashly. Whoever that was, they were definitely not an ordinary figure!
The auction concluded with everyone in shock. As cultivators dispersed, Xiao Qi noticed—through the box's observation window—that Shadow Snake Pavilion's representative left the box extremely quickly, their aura, completely different from the calm before.
They would definitely investigate and retaliate! But these thoughts could wait. Right now, Xiao Qi was more concerned about that Heaven Box One occupant. Who were they? Why did they help today? Coincidence, or... were they also connected to the Four Symbol Soul Crystals?
The clouds parted; the moon emerged. Xiao Qi and Liu Yun left the auction house, stepping into Qingrong City's night. The auction's storm had passed, but new undercurrents were quietly churning beneath the surface.
That mysterious figure, those Four Symbol Soul Crystals, Shadow Snake Pavilion's investigation... all pointed toward an even larger tempest.