"Dear guests, please remain calm."
As if anticipating some people's reactions, Princess Jiujiu spoke softly to reassure them.
"You must be very curious as to why the final centerpiece item at our Starlight Auction House is a living little girl. Some of you may have already guessed."
"As everyone knows, in the world of soul beasts, when a soul beast's cultivation surpasses 100,000 years, it faces two paths.
The first is to continue cultivating in its soul beast form, but this path is slow, and every 100,000 years, it must endure a heavenly tribulation. Failure means death. The current Top Ten Fierce Beasts of the continent have all taken this path."
"The second path is to choose to take human form at the 100,000-year mark, cultivating in the guise of a human. Soul beasts that choose this path lose their original power and become as fragile as humans.
Only after reaching level 70 can they fully transform into humans. Before that, any Titled Douluo can easily discern whether they are human or not."
"After saying all this, I believe our guests already have an idea. That's right, the little girl before you is a 100,000-year soul beast that has taken human form.
Her true body is the overlord of sea soul beasts, the Demon Spirit Great White Shark. She was accidentally discovered and captured by one of our Star Luo Empire's Guardian Doulou along the coast."
"Everyone knows that the Demon Spirit Great White Shark tribe is a water-attributed soul beast, but she is different. Her attributes have mutated, granting her the ice attribute.
A juvenile transformed soul beast, I'm sure you all understand her value."
"Transformed soul beasts that choose the path of human transformation are already exceedingly rare, let alone one captured by humans before reaching maturity.
Ladies and gentlemen, I dare say that few on the entire continent have ever seen a transformed soul beast, am I right?"
As Princess Jiujiu spoke these words, silence fell over all the private rooms. Yet, everyone's eyes burned with desire as they stared at the blue-haired girl on the soul screen.
Before a transformed soul beast breaks through to Soul Sage (level 70), it remains a soul beast. If killed, it will produce a 100,000-year soul ring and a 100,000-year soul bone.
This young blue-haired girl was essentially a walking 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone!
Xiao Hongchen and Ma Rulong, among others, stared at the screen with fervent eyes.
After all, in the Sun Moon Empire, not a single Rank 9 soul engineer possessed a 100,000-year soul ring.
And now, a 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone were right before them. Who wouldn't be tempted?
As for the fact that the transformed soul beast took the form of a human girl, what did that matter?
A soul beast was a soul beast. Humans hunting soul beasts for their soul rings was the natural order of this world. Were they supposed to defy the laws of nature?
Even Liuxing's eyes lit up. Though the attributes weren't a perfect match, 100,000-year soul beasts were far too rare.
Originally, he and Liuying had planned to absorb soul rings from 80,000 to 90,000-year soul beasts for their fifth rings, then rely on the Life Sharing Ritual to elevate them to the 100,000-year level.
But if a ready-made 100,000-year soul beast was available, that would be even better!
Not to mention the 100,000-year soul bone.
As everyone's attention was fixed on the blue-haired girl, Gu Yuena and Xue Nu's expressions darkened simultaneously.
Especially when they saw Liuxing looking interested, the coldness in their eyes was almost enough to freeze the air.
"Huh? Why does it feel a bit cold?"
Liuxing frowned, shrinking his neck slightly. This didn't make sense. His body, inherited from Liuying, shouldn't be able to feel cold!
Liuying blinked in confusion, sensing the faint killing intent emanating from Gu Yuena and Xue Nu.
She didn't understand why, but since the hostility wasn't directed at anyone in the private room, she paid it no mind.
"Dear guests, a 100,000-year transformed soul beast is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Demon Spirit Great White Shark is one of the overlords of the sea, and the soul ring and soul bone it provides are guaranteed to be of the highest quality."
"Now, we will give everyone thirty minutes to rest and admire the item. After thirty minutes, the final auction will begin. Our auction house allows bidding through collateral exchange.
We will evaluate pledged items fairly, but a 20% handling fee will be charged for cash conversion. This is a rare opportunity not to be missed, this transformed soul beast can create a supreme powerhouse."
Princess Jiujiu smiled sweetly, her words dripping with temptation.
Liuxing glanced at the two black cards in his hand and, for the first time, felt poor.
Four million gold soul coins, he had originally thought there was nothing he couldn't afford.
But then that Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone was snatched away by some lunatic at an outrageous price, and now this transformed soul beast appeared, something he couldn't possibly afford either.
It was obvious without even thinking, this transformed soul beast would cost at least hundreds of millions. A 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone were already incredibly rare. Many Titled Douluo didn't even possess a 100,000-year soul ring, let alone a soul bone. There was no doubt that the competition for this would be fierce beyond imagination.
His 40 million thrown into the bidding would likely disappear without a ripple.
Maybe I should just… rob someone later with Liuying.
Liuxing shook his head. Using Sam, their trump card, just for a 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone wasn't worth it.
Without the supply of Path energy, Sam could only rely on backup reserves, which were limited. More importantly, Sam was Liuying's life-support pod. If her "Entropy Loss Syndrome" flared up again, she would need to lie inside Sam to stabilize her condition.
Such an essential lifeline shouldn't be wasted on a transformed soul beast. Besides, with the Life Sharing Ritual, they still had ways to obtain a 100,000-year soul ring. As for the soul bone… that would depend on luck.
Once he dismissed the idea of robbery, Liuxing lost interest in the transformed soul beast.
Though the blue-haired girl looked pitiful, she was still a soul beast. And in the Douluo Continent, wasn't this how soul beasts were always treated?
For humans, hunting soul beasts wasn't a crime, and killing a transformed soul beast was perfectly justified.
---
"Elder Ma!"
Xiao Hongchen's eyes burned with fervor as he turned to Elder Ma. He was determined to get this transformed soul beast.
A 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone? Even his grandfather, Mirror Red Dust, didn't possess such treasures.
"I understand. But we don't have enough cash, we'll have to sell some soul tools."
Elder Ma took a deep drag from his pipe, his expression grave.
Even if Xiao Hongchen hadn't spoken, he would have gone all out for this. In the Sun Moon Empire, 100,000-year soul beasts were exceedingly rare, and those that could be hunted were even fewer.
If they could bring this transformed soul beast back to the Illustrious Virtue Hall, no price was too high.
Without hesitation, Elder Ma turned to the waiting auctioneer and began negotiating the sale of soul tools.
---
Meanwhile, in VIP Room No. 1…
"Brother, they've taken the bait. They're selling soul tools for cash, they're definitely going all-in."
Princess Jiujiu smiled triumphantly.
Xu Jiawei chuckled. "Just as I expected. The Sun Moon Empire lacks soul beast resources compared to us. A 100,000-year transformed soul beast, if used properly, can nurture a supreme powerhouse. There's no way the Illustrious Virtue Hall would let this opportunity slip."
"I've already investigated. Among the Sun Moon Empire's talents, only Mirror Red Dust's grandchildren, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, have the qualifications to absorb a 100,000-year soul ring. But for them to reach a level where they can safely absorb it… that'll take at least ten years."
"Ten years is more than enough for many things to happen."
"Three months after the auction, issue a bounty, 100 million gold soul coins for the recapture of that transformed soul beast."
A 100,000-year soul ring wasn't something just anyone could absorb. Just like how Soul Kings could theoretically absorb 10,000-year soul rings, but many still settled for 1,000-year ones.
Similarly, Titled Douluo were the only ones who could attempt a 100,000-year soul ring, yet most only dared to absorb 10,000-year ones.
Why?
First, 100,000-year soul beasts were too rare. Second, the risk was too high, even Titled Douluo could fail.
And given that Sun Moon Empire's soul engineers relied heavily on drugs to boost their cultivation, their chances of successfully absorbing a 100,000-year soul ring were abysmally low.
So Xu Jiawei wasn't worried about the transformed soul beast being killed anytime soon.
"Hehe, Brother, you're getting more and more devious."
Princess Jiujiu giggled.
Xu Jiawei's expression darkened slightly. "If possible, I would have kept this transformed soul beast for you. But according to my intel, the Illustrious Virtue Hall has made a major breakthrough in soul tool technology.
With the merging of worlds, this continent will be turned upside down within ten years. My plan is simply to weaken the Illustrious Virtue Hall by pitting them against other forces."
"If we were strong enough, if we were prepared… we wouldn't have to give up the transformed soul beast just to incite conflict."
Princess Jiujiu consoled him, "Brother, it's not your fault. You've done your best. Soul tool research isn't easy, and there's so much opposition.
Among the three empires outside the Sun Moon Empire, our Star Luo Empire is already ahead in soul tool technology."
Xu Jiawei waved his hand. "I've already made contact with the Star Luo Empire from the other world, but their strength isn't as great as I'd hoped. We need stronger allies, Shrek Academy is a good choice."
"That world's Star Luo royal family… are they really of the White Tiger lineage? Could it truly be the Douluo Continent from ten thousand years ago?"
Princess Jiujiu's expression turned curious as she asked.