Xu Jiujiu was dressed in an elegant, red gown, appearing no older than seventeen or eighteen. Her beauty was on par with Ning Tian's. Her figure was impeccable, and the red silk dress accentuated her snow-white skin, creating an impression of perfect beauty.
"Hello, Huo Yuhao. My imperial brother feared the auction house's hospitality might be lacking, so he specially sent me to take care of you."
As she spoke, she gave a sweet smile and performed a complex yet extremely graceful salute, gesturing with her right hand for them to enter.
Huo Yuhao cupped his fists in response, while Ning Tian returned the equally intricate courtesy. This made Xu Jiujiu take a second glance at her.
"As expected of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's heir. Let's go, please follow me inside."
Under Xu Jiujiu's guidance, Huo Yuhao and Ning Tian walked through a large door. Clearly, this was not the end of the corridor, as there were many similar doors ahead, with some leading down staircases that seemed to extend into unknown places.
"Today's auction is a special event for soul tools, but since only soul tools below the sixth rank will be auctioned, the specifications are relatively low. By our grading system, this is considered a fourth-rank auction. Our Starlight Auction House's levels range from one to five, with one being the highest tier. First-tier auctions take place in the main auction hall. This is Hall 12, designed specifically for fourth-rank auctions, and it can accommodate two people for simultaneous bidding."
Listening to Xu Jiujiu's explanation, Huo Yuhao nodded and said, "Thank you."
As they entered Auction Hall 12, the lighting dimmed abruptly. Everyone entering the hall received a mask, and the masks were color-coded. Huo Yuhao and the others were given white masks.
The colors of the masks represented the guests' status, following the same ranking system as soul rings.
The lowest tier was white, and above it were various colors, with the highest being gold, reserved for the auction house's top VIPs. Such esteemed guests usually didn't appear in the general seating areas.
"I apologize. Based on your status, you should have been given gold masks," Xu Jiujiu said apologetically. "However, because of my identity and the need to ensure security around us, we'll use white masks to conceal our identities."
Huo Yuhao nodded in understanding and gave the mask in his hand a playful look. He had participated in masked events like this in his previous life, but…
Well, let's skip the next 300,000 words.
Several comfortable chairs covered with dark blue velvet were arranged in a semicircle. Huo Yuhao and his group were placed in the front row, the closest to the auction stage.
"Welcome, esteemed guests, to the Starlight Auction House. I am Qing Ya, a purple-tier auctioneer at Starlight. Our auction will begin shortly, so please take your seats."
The auction hall gradually quieted down, and the already dim wall lamps grew darker, while the lights on the auction stage brightened.
A woman in a purple gown stepped onto the stage from the side of the auction hall. She appeared to be around thirty years old, with dignified and elegant features. Her well-fitted dress perfectly outlined her mature figure.
"Today's auction is a soul tool special, featuring items all below the sixth rank. These tools are suitable for soul masters and soul engineers at or below the Soul King level. To ensure this event is worth your time, we have a special mystery item to conclude the auction, so make sure not to miss it!"
"Our auction will now begin. Please bring out the first item!"
Two young women in red dresses pushed a cart onto the stage, revealing a black soul tool on top of it. The soul tool was rectangular, about a foot long, and engraved with intricate patterns.
Qing Ya smiled and said, "Our first item is a third-rank offensive soul tool, a common soul ray. Normally, such ordinary soul tools wouldn't be featured at our auctions, but this one, designed to be mounted on the right arm, is a special creation by a sixth-rank soul engineer. In the hands of this master, the soul tool has been simplified while its internal core array has been enhanced with a special effect."
"This soul ray comes with a paralyzing effect, so its proper name should be the 'Soul Paralysis Ray.' When hit by it, soul masters below the Soul King level will be affected, with the degree of paralysis depending on the target's cultivation level."
"We've tested it. This soul paralysis ray can paralyze a Soul King for about one second. Of course, this is assuming the Soul King is hit directly and isn't using a soul skill or a soul tool for defense. Against a Soul Elder, it can paralyze for over two seconds, and against a Soul Grandmaster, for three to four seconds."
"Please note, all our tests were conducted using assault-type battle soul masters as targets. Results may vary for soul masters of other types."
"This soul paralysis ray is simple to use but highly practical. It is a rare gem among third-rank soul tools. The starting price is 1,000 gold soul coins, with a minimum bid increase of 50 gold soul coins. The auction begins now!"
Starlight Auction House truly knew how to conduct business. Typically, soul tools around the third rank, even with special effects like paralysis, wouldn't attract much interest. After all, such items were practically useless for high-level soul masters, who would find them no more than a mild nuisance.
However, with the competition underway, many of the participants were soul masters at or below the Soul King level, making this tool appear far more appealing.
Thus, there was quite a bit of bidding for the soul tool, with even Wang Yan and other members of the Shrek Academy team joining in.
Huo Yuhao, however, wasn't interested in such trivial, low-level soul tools. His purpose for attending this auction was not to bid on these insignificant items.
"Princess Jiujiu, may I ask, which auction hall is currently bidding on this item?" Huo Yuhao asked Xu Jiujiumu as he opened the pre-auction catalog he had received earlier, pointing to a specific item.
"The Dragon Whisker Ice-Fire Fruit?" Xu Jiujiu was momentarily surprised, but then a smile appeared on her lips. "The Dragon Whisker Ice-Fire Fruit is highly beneficial for soul masters with dragon-type martial souls. It's a rare medicinal herb, currently being auctioned in Hall 3. Based on the timing, it should still be up for bidding."
"If you need this item, I can arrange for it to be brought over and offer it to you as a gift from the Star Luo royal family."
"Sorry, but I don't like accepting favors for nothing," Huo Yuhao chuckled, shaking his head with a glint in his eye.
It was clear that the Star Luo royal family was trying hard to win him over, but if the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hadn't erased his past, the Star Luo Empire would have uncovered his identity by now, and the Xu family would likely be doing everything they could to eliminate him.
His mother's death was an irreconcilable hatred! And the main culprit, the Duchess, was none other than a member of the Xu family from the Star Luo royal lineage!
In other words, to Huo Yuhao, the Star Luo Empire was an enemy!