Chapter 53: Auction Begins

The Tian Dou Auction Hall runs a continuous 24‑hour bidding cycle, with no breaks, and a constant flow of treasures.

The auction center feels like a grand hall, with a circular podium at the center and concentric rows of seats arranged radially around it.

Overall, it is divided into five major sections.

The three rows of seats nearest the podium are red; moving outward they are black, purple, yellow, and white.

Tang San and the others sit on the outermost ring.

At this moment, a soul‑guide device on the podium has sold for 123,000 gold soul coins.

That amount is more than any ordinary person could earn in a lifetime, yet more than half of those below find the auction dull.

Nevertheless, they have to wait quietly below, hoping to catch the one who will reset a ten‑thousand‑year‑old Soul Beast.

"Next up for auction is a rare treasure; interested parties, please pay attention," the auctioneer on the podium announced, holding a megaphone with a professional smile.

The crowd below instantly perked up; many sat up straight, gripped the railings, looking as if they were about to spring up.

The host felt the overwhelming pressure, but signaled the floor, and three hulking men pushed a cart onto the stage.

The cart was covered with red cloth, hiding its contents, though its outline suggested a square iron cage.

"Is it here?" several people fixed their gaze.

Below, Tang San, wearing a mask and a bamboo hat, breathed sharply and stared intently at the red‑covered cart.

Beside him, a towering figure extended a massive hand from under his hat and pressed it onto Tang San's shoulder.

"Xiao San, don't rush. Something's off; I don't sense Xiao Wu's aura, it's not Xiao Wu inside," Tang Hao's voice whispered beside Tang San, without alerting anyone nearby.

Tang San relaxed his body, striving to stay calm.

But the others could no longer sit still.

A man suddenly leapt onto the stage, yanked the red cloth off the cart and shouted, "Enough dithering, we came here for something—don't you get it?"

The red cloth was lifted, and just as the Title Douluos were about to rush in, they all froze.

Inside the cage was not the girl depicted in the promotion, but a maiden whose upper body was human and whose lower half was a white, coiling snake tail.

The girl's body was mostly bare, with only the essential parts covered by thin gauze, heightening her allure.

Upon closer inspection, both the snake woman's looks and figure could be called a masterpiece.

In the white auction seat, Bai Yuan paid no attention to the snake woman; instead he asked, "Na'er, did you sense who moved just now, and where are the weakest among them?"

Gu Yue Na was not present in body, but her spiritual consciousness remained the strongest in the hall; no one could detect her probing.

Gu Yue Na pinched the cheek of Bai Yu, who sat on her lap, and replied, "To your left, there are five people with Three Rings; they just emitted a strong emotional surge."

"Five with Three Rings?" Bai Yuan murmured to himself.

The Shirick Seven Freaks, Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu were already in his grasp; now only five remained, and if they are those five, they have all reached Three Rings for sure.

However, logically, Tang San should still be wanted by the Spirit Hall, so he couldn't be with the others.

Otherwise, it would likely implicate them.

Bai Yuan glanced to the left, but with his current strength he couldn't pierce the layers of concealment.

On the platform, the man who had gone up returned; no one said a word, not even the auctioneer.

The auctioneer, after seeing him sit down as if nothing had happened, continued, "Everyone, look closely. This is a rare snake woman; she suffered an accident during martial soul awakening, resulting in permanent lower‑body mutation. Coupled with this pitiful face and flawless figure, she is truly a masterpiece among masterpieces."

The auctioneer paused, then said, "The opening bid for the snake woman is 100,000 gold soul coins; each increment must be at least 10,000 gold soul coins. Esteemed guests, you may place your bids."

Bai Yu stared blankly and asked, "Master, are humans really this cruel? She's clearly a pitiful human, yet others treat her as merchandise."

Bai Yuan was momentarily at a loss for a reply.

After thinking, Bai Yuan instructed, "In any group, once there are enough members, you get all kinds. Humans have good and bad people; among Soul Beasts there are also those who revel in killing, not just beasts that only seek to be fed."

Bai Yu nodded lightly without further comment, merely watching the snake woman in the cage with a hint of pity.

Gu Yue Na gave Bai Yuan a silent glance.

The auction began.

This time, those in the white seats could barely afford to bid, and the red‑seat patrons showed little interest.

Later, many from the black and purple seats placed bids, making it quite lively.

After all, they came today to see the one who would reset a ten‑thousand‑year‑old Soul Beast; encountering a coveted item, how could they not bid?

Before long, the snake woman's price rose to 130,000, 140,000, 160,000, 170,000…

Suddenly, a figure from the red seats placed a bid, jumping straight to 200,000 gold soul coins.

"Is that him?" Bai Yuan asked, slightly surprised.

Even with the mask and hat hiding him, Bai Yuan recognized him instantly—his cultivation was low, and his aura containment was poor.

This person was none other than Ning Fengzhi, the Head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Jade Sect, whom Bai Yuan had been waiting for a year in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Undoubtedly, the snake woman was obtained by Ning Fengzhi.

Bai Yuan, seeing this, smiled and stood up.

At first no one paid attention, but when he crossed the yellow‑seat area, then the yellow, black, and red seats, and reached the platform, everyone's gaze fell upon him.

Bai Yuan calmly said, "The previous auction ends here; next we will proceed to the auction of the ten‑thousand‑year‑old Soul Beast, the Soft‑Boned Rabbit."

The words sparked agitation among everyone present.

Yet many Title Douluos frowned deeply, finding the voice oddly familiar, as if they'd heard it before.

Bai Yuan, unfazed, lightly clapped his hands twice.

At once, Xiao Wu, her whole body wrapped in vines and her mouth blocked by them, materialized here.

The scene startled the crowd; hearts that were about to stir were doused like with a bucket of cold water.

This tactic, even beyond ordinary Title Douluos, is rare among those above ninety‑five levels.

Tang San, however, watched with eyes blazing, his irises split with rage.

Even such a method failed to intimidate him.

Gu Yue Na turned her head and glanced at Tang San, murmuring: "Is this Bai Yuan's goal?"

(End of chapter)