Chapter 144 - 138: Probing
After the Ice Dog was sold, the atmosphere in the auction house livened up. The second item was quickly brought on stage and sold in no time, and the bidding was frantic.
As Demon Beasts were auctioned off one after another, it soon came time for the highly anticipated finale beast.
Yu Dahai’s expression turned serious. He suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, his face becoming grave without a single hint of what he was thinking. He took a deep breath and announced solemnly:
"Next up is the finale Spirit Beast everyone has been waiting for! A Nine-Colored Silver Fox, suspected to possess a trace of the bloodline of the legendary Qingqiu Nine-tailed Fox!"
"Everyone, I’m sure I don’t need to explain what kind of Divine Beast the Nine-tailed Fox is, do I?"
With a clap of his hands, Yu Dahai drew back a curtain, revealing a small, adorable, silver-white fox with enchanting eyes.
At first glance, it didn’t look much different from a normal Silver Fox. However, its aura was richer, and the air of enchantment about it was stronger. Strangest of all were its nine fluffy tails, which fanned up and down, their nine different colors captivating the minds of the crowd.
For a moment, many stared in a trance, their minds swaying under its spell.
"It really has nine tails! And I’m certain they weren’t implanted later using some technique. The nine tails all share the same origin—they’re completely natural!"
"It might be different from the legendary Qingqiu Nine-tailed Fox, but forget that—just based on its looks alone, showing it off would be enough to stun a crowd!"
"These days, even three-tailed foxes are extremely rare, but this one has nine! In any case, I have to win it first and think later. Even if it’s not as miraculous as they say, it’s definitely a worthy buy!"
"If one were to use it for Alchemy... to refine that divine bloodline from its body... then..."
A wave of discussion rose and fell through the crowd. Many people perked up, their gazes on the Nine-Colored Silver Fox burning with a heat like that of a man who’s been single for thirty years laying eyes on a naked woman.
Under their stares, the Nine-Colored Silver Fox instinctively drew its tails in, its eyes darting about in apprehension.
"It... it’s so adorable."
A soft murmur rose from the crowd. It was Sun Shihan, her eyes filled with adoration as she gazed at the Nine-Colored Silver Fox. She glanced at the people around her, whose stares burned with greed, and her face soured with displeasure. She turned back, her own gaze softening as she looked at the little fox.
"Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you home."
She naturally scoffed at the claim that the Nine-Colored Silver Fox possessed the bloodline of the Qingqiu Nine-tailed Fox. Still, she had to admit that the creature was indeed wondrous, a rare find.
’It might not do much to increase my power, but it’s so adorable and pitiable. Isn’t that enough?’
"The Nine-Colored Silver Fox! The bidding starts now! Starting price, one thousand Spirit Stones!"
"One thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!" someone called out immediately.
"One thousand two hundred Spirit Stones."
"One thousand three hundred Spirit Stones!"
...
Soon, the price soared to an astonishing two thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones. A price that made many shrink back, too short on funds to bid any higher.
"Two thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones, going once! Any higher bids?"
On the stage, Yu Dahai sat bolt upright, struggling to suppress his excitement as he struck the gavel once.
"I bid three thousand Spirit Stones!"
Just when everyone thought two thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones was the limit, a crisp, clear voice rang out.
All eyes turned to the source of the voice. It was Sun Shihan, who had gritted her teeth and offered the high price of three thousand Spirit Stones.
"Th-that woman is gorgeous, and so extravagant! That’s three thousand Spirit Stones! You can tell her family must be incredibly wealthy just by looking at her!"
Someone muttered, staring at Sun Shihan with an infatuated gaze.
"I’d love to be her kept man..."
"Are you nuts? Do you have any idea who that is? That’s Sun Shihan, the genius disciple from the Beast Taming Peak’s Outer Sect! She’s a goddess to many of the Beast Taming Peak disciples here!
"If you try anything with her, you won’t even know what hit you. Besides, rumor has it she’s already been accepted as a personal disciple by an Elder. Her backing is immense—you can’t afford to provoke her!"
The person next to him whispered the warning, extinguishing the greedy looks from a few others in the crowd.
Sensing several hostile glares from her side, Sun Shihan’s own gaze turned cold, but it wasn’t a good time to cause a scene. However, a number of fawning admirers voluntarily gathered around her, glaring angrily back at the offenders.
"Alright! Three thousand Spirit Stones going once! Three thousand Spirit Stones going twice! And three thousand Spirit Stones for the third time!"
"Sold!"
As expected, the Nine-Colored Silver Fox went to Sun Shihan.
After paying for her purchase backstage, Sun Shihan smiled at the Nine-Colored Silver Fox. She played with it for a moment before carefully putting it away and returning to the main hall.
Although she had no money left to continue bidding, as a Beast Master, she was still quite interested in the Spirit Beasts yet to come. Naturally, she wouldn’t leave early.
Yu Changsheng was a little surprised to see Sun Shihan win the Nine-Colored Silver Fox, but he kept his silence. He felt not a shred of guilt selling to a fellow disciple; in fact, he was secretly ecstatic.
’Selling a Spirit Beast for three thousand Spirit Stones just like that... The speed of making money is just incredible.’
After the Nine-Colored Silver Fox, the next item on stage was the Sun God Bird Three-legged Golden Crow.
To put it bluntly, it was just a creature Yu Changsheng had created through Bloodline Fusion using a Three Yang Bird and a Big-footed Bird. After a few special feedings, he had raised its Realm.
In truth, its only resemblance to the legendary Divine Beast was in appearance; their bloodlines were completely unrelated. However, its potential wasn’t bad. It was still a cut above your average Spirit Beast.
Few of the people who came here were fools. They naturally didn’t believe it truly contained a Divine Beast’s bloodline, but it was still well worth buying for research or just for show.
"The Three-legged Sunbird! Suspected to be a descendant of the Three-legged Golden Crow, its potential is unknown! The auction starts now, with a starting price of one thousand Spirit Stones!"
The moment Yu Dahai finished speaking, the bidding began.
After a fierce round of bidding, the price quickly soared to three thousand Spirit Stones.
The person who made this bid was a young-looking Cultivator, magnificently dressed and well-groomed. He wore an arrogant expression, his Cultivation at the Qi Refining Peak. He shot a glance at the people around him, and most of those who had intended to keep bidding fell silent, as quiet as cicadas in winter.
"Everyone," Chen Ronghua said calmly, "I, Chen Ronghua, have taken a liking to this Three-legged Sunbird. I would be most grateful if you would all do me the honor." After speaking, he even cupped his fists in a salute.
The words were polite, but the threat they carried was palpable.
"It’s Chen Ronghua. That guy is a ruthless one. Better not to cross him."
"Even if you win the bid... I’m afraid the consequences of offending him would be severe."
The crowd whispered amongst themselves, and for a time, no one dared to make another bid.
Of course, not everyone was afraid of Chen Ronghua. A small number of people watched the scene unfold in silence, a look of anticipation in their eyes.
Chen Ronghua himself wasn’t enough to make them overly cautious. But to be blunt, this group was full of people who were anything but pushovers. Most of them had their own ulterior motives, hoping to use this opportunity to test the Odd Demon Pavilion.