172: Embers of the Evil God

In the center of the stage, the spotlight was as bone-white as a corpse.

Several attendants wearing gas masks slowly entered, pushing a fully enclosed metal cart.

The wheels rolled over the carpet, making a tooth-grinding grinding sound.

Triple chains as thick as wrists were wrapped around the cart's body, every link engraved with dark red, twisted runes.

"Everyone, this thing is a bit fierce."

The clown host restrained his frantic smile and stepped back two paces. "Please concentrate and protect your consciousness. Don't blame me for not warning you; we are not responsible if you go mad!"

Click!

The chains snapped open, and the black cloth was whipped away.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, nor any blinding light.

There was only an aura.

An ancient, decaying aura that nonetheless carried a supreme majesty.

At that instant, every Awakened Ones felt their heart skip a beat.

The energy flow within their bodies became sluggish and stagnant, as if subjects meeting a monarch, instinctively wanting to kneel and worship.

In the center of the container floated a mass of dark red, gelatinous substance.

It pulsed slowly like a heart; with every contraction, the surrounding space faintly distorted.

"Is this... a Divinity...?"

Inside the private box, Chen Du's fingers tightened sharply around his wine glass.

Boom!

Deep in his mind, the [sacrifice notebook] suddenly rioted.

The pitch-black scales on the cover opened and closed frantically; the pages flipped rapidly on their own, rustling without any wind.

Lines of crimson handwriting, like fresh blood seeping from a wound, bled through the paper:

[Hungry!]

[Eat it! At any cost!]

[This is the residue of an Old Evil God... the kindling to ignite a divine fire! Eat it!!]

That gluttonous intent almost overwhelmed Chen Du's reason.

Suddenly, a cool little hand covered the back of his hand.

"Chen Du?"

Xia Mo's voice was as cool as a spring, quenching the feverish heat in Chen Du's heart.

She was leaning very close.

The faint, cold fragrance from her body drifted into his nostrils. Her beautiful eyes were full of worry, and a hint of... vigilance?

She stared vigilantly at the container as if it were some vixen trying to seduce her man.

"Whew..."

Chen Du took a deep breath and turned his hand over to grasp Xia Mo's smooth little hand.

He gave it a gentle squeeze.

"I'm fine, I just saw an interesting toy."

By now, his golden eyes had narrowed into vertical slits, suppressing the urge to rush down and seize it.

He leaned back, sinking into the soft sofa.

He took the opportunity to scoop Lin Keke into his arms, resting his chin on the girl's fluffy head.

"This is somewhat interesting."

Chen Du smiled lazily. "Since the notebook wants it, even if it's a god's bone, I'll have to boil it into soup for it."

"Ouch! Captain, you're pressing on my twin tails!"

Lin Keke complained verbally, but her body honestly burrowed deeper into Chen Du's embrace.

She even found a comfortable position to nuzzle against him.

"What is this? It looks like a piece of expired jelly. Is it really valuable?"

"I don't know if it's valuable, but someone is definitely going to go crazy for it."

Xia Lai was sitting on the armrest on the other side, looking at the stage with a playful gaze. "Listen, the barking is about to start."

Sure enough.

The clown's voice on stage became hoarse and straining, filled with extreme provocation:

"Everyone! This is tonight's trump card—the [Living Divinity Container]!"

"It was stripped from the corpse of a fallen Evil God! Its function is incredibly powerful—Forced Deprivation!"

"With it, you can forcibly strip and store the talents of others... and even devour them to evolve! This is a shortcut to breaking the Genetic Locks and reaching higher tiers!"

Boom—!

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue erupted into a frenzy.

Countless greedy eyes stared fixedly at the container, their breathing heavy.

In this post-apocalyptic world where strength was paramount, what did being able to plunder others' talents mean?

It meant divine authority! It meant being the GM in this damned game!

"Starting price—1.5 million black gold coins!"

As soon as this price was announced, 90% of the people were discouraged.

After all, not everyone was like Chen Du, selling fuel as if it were water.

But that didn't stop the remaining 10% of gamblers and madmen.

"Two million!"

"Two and a half million!"

The speed at which the price soared was staggering.

The neighboring box.

Wang Ce gripped the railing tightly, his nails digging into the wood, his face a mask of hideousness.

He needed this thing too much!

As long as he got this container, he could trample that high-and-mighty man under his feet and ravage him! He would snatch away all the beauties that should have belonged to him!

"I must get it... with it, I can turn the tables!"

Wang Ce tremblingly pressed the bidding device and roared, "Three and a half million!"

The whole place went silent.

This price already represented the entire liquid capital of many medium-sized organizations; some would even have to sell their blood and equipment to afford it.

Wang Ce panted heavily, looking around with a fierce gaze like a stray dog guarding its food.

Just then.

A light, airy voice rang out from across from him.

"Four million."

Chen Du took a sip of red wine, busy eating a grape fed to him by An Nuonuo.

"Mmm... this grape is a bit sour..."

He mumbled, even licking An Nuonuo's finger along the way.

If Wang Ce were to see this scene, he would probably have a brain hemorrhage on the spot.

"Chen Du!!"

Wang Ce suddenly looked up, staring at the white figure above, his teeth grinding audibly.

It was him again! Why was it always him!

Before he could lash out, Lin Keke, who was lying on Chen Du's lap, suddenly poked her little head out.

The demon horns on the girl's head bobbed playfully. Holding the black gold card that had just been sent by Wang Ce, she smiled radiantly:

"Oh my, Young Master Wang, don't get so excited~"

"Thanks to the five million 'tea money' you just gave us, otherwise our Captain wouldn't have had so much pocket money!"

"Using your money to bid on the thing you want... this feeling, tsk tsk, is simply superb!"

Lin Keke made an extremely punchable peace sign.

Pfft—!

This blow was too ruthless.

It was truly a heart-piercing move!

Wang Ce felt a tightness in his chest, nearly spitting out a mouthful of old blood.

If that five million was still there... he could have bid ten million right now!

But now, that was Chen Du's bargaining chip! He was using Wang Ce's hard-earned money to slap his face!

"Increase it! Increase the bid! I'm going to kill this pair of dogs!" Wang Ce roared at the butler behind him, his eyes nearly bulging out.

The old butler's face was ashen. He held onto Wang Ce's arm tightly, nearly kneeling down. "Young Master! Calm down! Our liquid capital is about to run dry! Any more and we'll have to mortgage the Master's assets in Blackgold Harbor! The Master will break your legs if he finds out!"

"Aaaaaah!"

Wang Ce raged impotently, grabbing a goblet by his hand to smash it.

He realized he had already smashed them all, so he could only kick the sofa viciously.

He had lost.

He had lost completely, down to his very underwear.

"Four million once!" The clown was flushed with excitement; he was making a killing on commission this time.

"Four and a half million!"

Just then.

Another coarse roar rang out.

It was Thunder Shock.

The bald brute was also drenched in sweat at this moment.

He hadn't yet reclaimed the face he lost from being blasted away earlier.

If he could just win this, he could get back the dignity he had just lost, and maybe even kill this pretty boy in reverse.

"You with the surname Chen! Don't think you're the only one with money!"

Thunder Shock spoke through gritted teeth, the veins on his neck writhing. "Follow if you have the guts! Let's see how much money you really have!"