A wave of astonishment swept through the hall, even the three major families in the VIP seats were visibly shocked. Everyone's gaze turned to the corner of the room. After a moment, the man there slowly stood up, revealing a face marked with scars. With a cold smile, he looked at Long Aotian and said sternly, "Young Master Long, did you forget that I, Yin Xu, am also present?"
The mention of Yin Xu elicited scornful looks from the Li family elder and Mo Er Ye. They had thought Long Aotian was certain to win the Mid-Tier Zhuque Dou Technique, but Yin Xu's unexpected bid was a game-changer. Long Aotian's expression shifted before he finally conceded with a huff, acknowledging Yin Xu's determination.
Yin Xu chuckled lowly and thanked Long Aotian for not competing further. He then looked up at the auction stage and casually asked, "Old man, no one else is bidding, so this item is mine now, right?"
The auctioneer, unfazed by Yin Xu's tone, scanned the hall and, seeing no further bids, clapped his hands and declared, "The Mid-Tier Zhuque Dou Technique, Qingyun Hand, goes to Vice-Captain Yin Xu. Please come backstage to collect it after the auction."
Li Yi, rubbing his temples, remembered who Yin Xu was. A seven-crystal Fighter, Yin Xu led the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, a significant force near Wan Chao City, aside from the three great families. Legend had it that the group's leader, Yin Xu's father, was a peak Dou Master, and the group boasted several Dou Masters, making it a formidable force. The Blood Wolf Mercenaries, known for their life-and-death ferocity, were not a group anyone near Wan Chao City wanted to provoke. They were generally well-behaved, knowing their place in Wan Chao City and based themselves in a small town on the city's outskirts.
Li Yi found himself intrigued by the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, not for their reputation, but because their leader reportedly possessed a sixth-grade weapon steeped in countless battles and bloodshed.
Amidst the ongoing commotion in the VIP seats, the auction continued. Two attendants placed a large wooden box on the stage. "Now for the finale of our auction," the auctioneer began. "Although not as precious as the previous Dou Technique, this item will surely interest many."
He tapped the wooden box, which split open, releasing an intense aura of murderous energy. Li Yi was instantly alert, sensing the significance of this item. Even the voice of the Serpent Venerable in his mind expressed disbelief at the energy emanating from the box.
Amidst the flying wood shavings, an ancient-looking curved blade was revealed. The auctioneer's eyes gleamed with excitement as he carefully lifted the blade, announcing, "The Wolftooth Blade, a fifth-grade weapon!"
The hall erupted into even greater frenzy than before, the excitement surpassing that of the Dou Technique's appearance.
The reason for the fervor was simple: high-grade weapons, unlike cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, which require long practice to enhance one's strength, can instantly boost a fighter's power when wielded by a skilled person. Thus, while rare cultivation methods and Dou Techniques are valued, a fine weapon is not easily found.
Moreover, the key point was that the Wolftooth Blade, being a fifth-grade weapon, might not attract the interest of major families, giving smaller clans or individuals a chance to acquire it. Although it was unclear why the auction house chose this fifth-grade weapon as the finale, it was more accessible than the previously auctioned Qingyun Hand.
The excitement grew even more intense, but the auctioneer seemed to anticipate the crowd's thoughts. He explained, "Many might wonder why a fifth-grade weapon is our finale. It's not because of any special features of the Wolftooth Blade itself. The reason is that this blade... was the personal weapon of Blade Emperor Barin in his youth. Barin, with this very Wolftooth Blade, challenged numerous powerful opponents and ultimately broke through to become the first Dou Emperor of our Tianfeng Empire!"
The hall fell silent at this revelation. Blade Emperor Barin, a legendary Dou Emperor, was a figure all present looked up to with great respect. His youthful weapon indeed warranted the finale spot.
"To show respect to Blade Emperor Barin, we can't treat this blade as a common fifth-grade weapon. So, the starting bid will be 8,000 gold coins," the auctioneer said with a faint smile, setting a steep starting price. Normally, a new fifth-grade weapon might cost around 10,000 gold coins.
Despite being a used item, the association with Blade Emperor Barin kept the enthusiasm alive. Bidding started vigorously, quickly reaching 10,000 gold coins. The VIPs, however, showed little interest, merely observing.
Li Yi, slightly disappointed at the fifth-grade rating, whispered, "Old ghost, what do you think about this weapon..."
The Serpent Venerable's voice responded urgently, "The weapon's intense murderous aura is perfect for your practice of the Heavenly Demon Nine Transformations. You must obtain it, even if it means fighting for it."
Taking the urgency seriously and intrigued by the weapon's aura, Li Yi decisively bid, "20,000 gold coins!" The hall quieted down, stunned at the sudden jump in price.
Some even speculated whether Li Yi was a plant by the auction house, given his modest attire. The VIPs, surprised by this mysterious bidder, chose not to compete for an item of marginal interest to them.
Yin Xu, however, looked intrigued by Li Yi's bid and eventually countered with, "25,000 gold coins!" This price, shockingly high for a fifth-grade weapon, even made the auctioneer raise his eyebrows, as it was the price range of a sixth-grade weapon.
Li Yi inhaled sharply, barely glancing at Yin Xu before declaring, "50,000 gold coins!" This was the highest amount he was willing to offer.
His bid caused the members of the three major families in the VIP seats to twitch their mouths in disbelief. They had seen lavish spenders, but never to this extent. 50,000 gold coins were enough to purchase a seventh-grade weapon.
Yin Xu's expression grew even more curious upon hearing Li Yi's bid. Perhaps due to his years of living on the edge, Yin Xu had developed a keen intuition. He sensed that there might be something uniquely beneficial about the Wolftooth Blade. Even if there wasn't, the blade, once belonging to Blade Emperor Barin, seemed worthy of his stature. After a brief glance at Li Yi, he raised the bid to "60,000 gold coins!"
Li Yi stood up abruptly, casting a brief, indifferent look towards Yin Xu. He then smiled faintly and said, "The Wolftooth Blade is yours." Without turning back, he walked away.
The members of the three major families, observing Li Yi's departure, felt a strange sensation. As seasoned and astute individuals, they understood that Li Yi must be seething with anger inside. The Blood Wolf Mercenary Group had offended an enigmatic figure over a seemingly worthless weapon – an amusing turn of events for the VIPs, who were well aware that anyone invited to their seats was no ordinary individual.