100: Chapter 100 The Crazy Auction
As one auction item after another was sold, the atmosphere in the venue gradually heated up.
Rare high-level soul crystals, soul guidance devices capable of amplifying Soul Skills, and several bottles of special high-level Soul Power potions all fetched impressive prices.
However, what everyone was truly waiting for with bated breath was the Cultivation Technique.
"Coming up next is a work from the mysterious Great Master, 'Kind-hearted Citizen Old Wang Who Wishes to Remain Anonymous' — the [Qianyuan Soul Gathering Technique Version 0.5] Soul Power Cultivation Technique."
As soon as the female auctioneer's voice fell, a beautifully bound booklet slowly rose in the center of the display stand.
Under the spotlight, the Soul Power route map drawn on the pages seemed to come alive, faintly shimmering with flowing light and exuding an arcane aura.
"Confirmed by professional appraisal from the Martial Soul Association, this Cultivation Technique is compatible with all types of Martial Souls, and the Cultivation speed is 1.5 times faster!"
"Boom!"
These words were like a thunderclap, and the scene instantly erupted into chaos.
"What? 1.5 times the speed?!"
Someone stood up abruptly from their seat, their face full of disbelief.
"I originally thought it would be good enough if there was a 1x speed technique today, I didn't expect a 1.5x speed one to appear directly!"
"It's just that this Great Master's pen name is a bit too... I pray this Great Master doesn't live next door to me..."
"Damn it! I didn't bring enough money! A Cultivation Technique of this level will probably start at least at 15 billion!"
Those who hadn't prepared enough funds slapped their thighs in anxiety, wishing they could go home and sell everything they owned right then and there, their faces full of annoyance and unwillingness.
They only hated that their pockets were too empty, causing them to miss the Opportunity before them.
In a box near the front, a middle-aged man in a formal suit clapped his hands and laughed: "Haha, coming here today was the right choice! If a 1.5x speed Cultivation Technique can only be used as a warm-up, then the work of Master Yu as the grand finale must be at least 1.5x speed or higher, right?"
A young man beside him quickly stepped forward to agree: "Uncle is wise! It seems that today, our Family should also add a work by Master Yu to guard our clan!"
If Lin Mo were here, he would certainly recognize that this young man was none other than Vice Squad Leader, whom he had deceived since childhood.
The middle-aged man nodded with satisfaction, "You're a good kid. If we secure Master Yu's work, I will personally approve your Cultivation when the time comes."
"Thank you, Uncle!" Vice Squad Leader's eyes lit up.
"Hmm..." The middle-aged man cast his gaze toward the glowing booklet on the stage, but his eyes held a hint of disdain.
Works from such "nobodies" could never grace the halls of high society; how could they compare to Master Yu's golden reputation?
Perhaps after bidding for Master Yu's work, he could even strike up a relationship with him...
Meanwhile, the incredibly lofty Master Yu in his heart was currently glaring with wide eyes, staring fixedly at the display stand on stage, his face turning alternating shades of green and red.
His Disciple, Tang Shan, was also completely dumbfounded.
"1.5 times the speed! This, how is this possible!"
Master Yu Daruan clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, and the teacup on the table rattled as he squeezed it.
He had originally thought that his 0.8x speed "Three Elements Soul Gathering Technique" was already the best in the venue.
He hadn't expected this unknown "Old Wang" to be able to bring out a 1.5x speed Cultivation Technique, and one that was compatible with all attributes at that!
"Fake! This must be a forgery!"
Master Yu Daruan roared in a low voice, his tone full of disbelief and irritability.
"Are the appraisers at the Martial Soul Association just eating rice? 1.5x speed? Do they think this is a vegetable market where you can label the price however you want?"
Tang Shan's face turned pale, and he mumbled, "Teacher, but... but this is endorsed by the Martial Soul Association, it shouldn't be possible for it to be fake..."
"Endorsed my ass!"
Master Yu Daruan slammed the table, and tea splashed all over the table.
"It must be a piece of junk pieced together! Compatible with all attributes? That's simply a joke! The key points of conflicting Soul Power attributes haven't been solved; practicing it will lead to Qi Deviation at best, and at worst, exploding to death!"
While he was cursing, he was panicking inwardly.
If this Cultivation Technique were real, wouldn't his reputation as a "Great Master" accumulated over many years be trampled underfoot by a nobody today?
What made him most embarrassed was that he had requested his own Cultivation Technique to be the grand finale.
The more he thought about it, the hotter his face felt.
He even had the urge to run away immediately.
On stage.
The female auctioneer had a beaming smile on her face.
She even glanced at Master Yu Daruan's box out of the corner of her eye.
She then tapped the wooden gavel in her hand.
"Ahem, respected guests, please be quiet. I know you are very eager, but don't be in a rush yet; I still have more to say."
The venue immediately quieted down.
"Since there is more than one work from this mysterious Great Master Old Wang today, at the request of this mysterious Great Master, the starting price for each copy is 5 billion, and each bid increment must not be less than 100 million."
"Furthermore, this Great Master also offers everyone a piece of kind advice: just act according to your means, and there is no need to bid the price of the Cultivation Technique too high."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was another uproar at the scene.
"Holy crap, this Great Master Old Wang has more than one work! Doesn't that mean everyone has a chance today?"
"That's not the point; the point is that this Great Master even told us to act according to our means and not to bid too fiercely!"
"This Great Master Old Wang is truly a good person!"
"Damn, just for this Great Master's magnanimity, I'm going to show some support today no matter what."
"Dong, dong, dong!"
The gavel sounded again.
The female auctioneer began to speak: "Everyone, we are now beginning the auction for the first work from the mysterious Great Master 'Kind-hearted Citizen Old Wang Who Wishes to Remain Anonymous' — [Qianyuan Soul Gathering Technique Version 0.5]. Starting price: 5 billion. Please begin your bidding."
"5.5 billion!"
Someone in the front row immediately raised a paddle, their voice filled with uncontrollable excitement.
This was a 1.5x speed all-attribute Cultivation Technique; never mind 5 billion, it would be worth it even if the price doubled!
"6 billion!"
"7 billion!"
The price skyrocketed like a snowball, and in just a moment, it broke through the 7 billion mark.
Those Family representatives who had originally sneered at the "nobody."
At this moment, they were already red-eyed, wishing they could pull out all their Family assets on the spot.
Vice Squad Leader's uncle, Zhao Kun, changed his expression slightly. Looking at the numbers constantly jumping on the screen, he frowned: "This Old Wang's Cultivation Technique is actually so popular... But that's fine, let them fight over it; we will focus on waiting for Master Yu's grand finale."
He said this, but he couldn't help but mutter inwardly.
Could Master Yu's Cultivation Technique really exceed 1.5x speed?
Vice Squad Leader, watching from the side, felt his heart itch and couldn't help but say: "Uncle, why don't we grab one too? This 1.5x speed looks really powerful..."
"Nonsense!" Zhao Kun glared at him, "Master Yu is a pillar of the nation; how can his work be compared to this kind of wild path? When Master Yu's Cultivation Technique is auctioned off in a moment, I will show you what true foundation is!"
Meanwhile, in Master Yu Daruan's box, the atmosphere had already dropped to freezing point.
"12 billion... These lunatics!" Master Yu Daruan looked at the bidding screen, his fingers almost poking into it, "They dare to spend so much money on the work of an unknown Great Master?!"
Tang Shan said with a trembling voice: "Teacher, why don't... why don't we withdraw the 'Three Elements Soul Gathering Technique' from the auction?"
If this continues, it's going to be humiliated in public when it comes out as the grand finale later.
"Withdraw?" Master Yu Daruan turned his head abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, "Where would I put my face?!"
On stage.
The first Cultivation Technique finally settled at 12.5 billion.
Because many people knew there were more to come, they chose to continue observing.
"Haha, thank you everyone, the Wu Family of the East Sea finally has a 1.5x speed Cultivation Technique!"
In a certain box, a white-haired old man let out a hearty laugh.
"Congratulations to the guest in VIP68 for winning the [Qianyuan Soul Gathering Technique Version 0.5] for 12.5 billion dragon soul coins. Next, we begin the second work, also from the mysterious Great Master Old Wang — [Taiji Soul Condensing Formula Version 0.5]..."