Chapter Fifty: A Warning?

“Number Four bids two hundred million gold coins! Any higher offers?” The middle-aged man shouted excitedly as he saw the number displayed on the auction stage. The astronomical price caused the auction hall to boil over once again.

He paused for a moment, and seeing that no one else raised the bid, the middle-aged man knew this was likely the highest price. He asked again, but when no one responded, he picked up the small gavel and began to count down.

“Two hundred million gold coins, once. Two hundred million, twice. Two hundred million, three times—sold!”

With a crisp sound, the gavel fell from his hand. In Room Twenty-Three, Wang Luo, who had been holding his breath, finally exhaled deeply, hugging the little white lion in a frenzy and shouting deliriously about the two hundred million.

“The next item up for auction is absolutely something none of you would expect—it is—” As the middle-aged man spoke, another ninth-grade magic crystal, almost identical to the previous one, slowly appeared on the stage. The crowd was taken aback, then erupted in astonished cries.

In Room Four, the middle-aged man’s face turned ashen as he watched the magic crystal rise. He roared, “That little brat from the Ruski family is getting more and more brazen, daring to toy with me like this. Bas, just bid two hundred million directly next time!”

Seeing the furious aura radiating from the man, Bas dared not provoke him and hurriedly agreed, though inwardly he was frustrated, cursing the damned Karl, that cunning fox.

“That little brat from the Ruski family is getting more and more devious. Margie, I hear he’s courting you these days—you’d better watch out!” In Room Three, an old man teased, and the girl named Margie pouted, shaking his arm and calling out coquettishly, “Third Grandpa!”

In Room One, the elderly man who had been resting with closed eyes opened them and said to the young man beside him, smiling, “Karl, I bet that old fellow from the Modery family is cursing you right now!”

Karl smiled indifferently. “That old fellow isn’t good at scheming, but he’s diligent in his cultivation. I hear he’s planning to go into seclusion to break through to the peak of the ninth grade. Second Grandpa, you’ve been at the ninth-grade peak for decades but haven’t broken into the Sanctuary. Is it really that difficult?”

“Difficult doesn’t even begin to describe it!” the old man sighed, then spoke earnestly. “Karl, your talent is excellent—already at the peak of the sixth grade and ranked third at Tianxuan Academy. But remember, the world is vast and there are many geniuses. Yet how many truly reach the summit? Don’t let your mind for business and intrigue make you neglect your cultivation!”

Hearing the old man’s guidance, Karl fell into thoughtful silence. Few in the family ever pointed out his shortcomings. Seeing this, the old man nodded in satisfaction. He was pleased with Karl—though a bit arrogant, what young man isn’t?

The auction continued. The ninth-grade magic crystal was immediately raised to two hundred million by Room Four; no one else bid, and in the end, both fire-element ninth-grade magic crystals went to Room Four.

“Four hundred million gold coins, heavens above, am I dreaming?” In Room Twenty-Three, the sound of the gavel sent Wang Luo into a wild, ecstatic shout. After a few deep breaths to calm himself, he hugged the three beasts close, focusing on the magic mirror—the auction of the Blood Soul Wood, his true target, was next. Now, Wang Luo felt much more confident.

A soft cough from the middle-aged man drew everyone’s attention. All knew the main event was coming. When every gaze was fixed on him, the man smiled and began to speak, his steady voice echoing through the auction hall.

“The next item for auction needs no introduction; everyone knows what it is. There is no reserve price—open bidding begins now!”

As his words fell, a piece of wood the thickness of three fingers and half an arm’s length, drenched as if soaked in fresh blood, appeared before the crowd. Everyone’s breathing grew heavier as they stared at it intently.

“Lot 1111 bids one million!” Someone on the first floor, perhaps hoping for a bargain or just joining the excitement, started the bidding. To the guests in the private suites, first-floor bids were mere child’s play. The price quickly soared to ten million, when a familiar number rang out.

“Lot 1008 bids two hundred million gold coins!”

All eyes turned toward number 1008. The magic mirror showed the figure—a person cloaked entirely in black, just like Wang Luo himself. Wang Luo remembered he was the one who had bought the eighth-grade magic crystal earlier.

The bid from the black-robed Lot 1008 immediately stunned the first-floor crowd. Many began looking expectantly at the private suites on the second and third floors, hoping for an earth-shattering new offer. Even if the bid wasn’t theirs, witnessing a historic moment like this gave them something to boast about.

“Number Three bids two hundred and fifty million!”

“Number Two bids three hundred million!”

Feeling the middle-aged man’s gaze, Wang Luo gritted his teeth and pressed the button forcefully. His heart ached with every press—the four hundred million in his hands was gone before he even touched it.

“Room Twenty-Three bids four hundred million gold coins—a stunning move! Any higher?” the man called out.

At that, every eye turned to the astonishing Room Twenty-Three, though nothing could be seen. That didn’t stop the speculation. Everyone began to wonder who the mysterious person in Room Twenty-Three could be.

“Second Grandpa, Room Twenty-Three is the one auctioning the magic crystals, also cloaked in black like Lot 1008—identity unknown,” Karl reported to his grandfather in Room One. He paused, his expression strange, and added, “And with some questionable habits.”

“The person in Room Twenty-Three is not someone we can afford to provoke,” the old man said with a helpless expression. Seeing Karl’s confusion, he continued, “The magical arrays in the private suites can block ninth-grade auras, but the presence of a Sanctuary-level expert is not something they can contain.”

“A Sanctuary-level expert in Room Twenty-Three?” Karl asked in astonishment.

“I’m not sure,” the old man replied, frowning. “But not long ago, a Sanctuary-level expert left the auction from Room Twenty-Three and, for reasons unknown, let slip a trace of their aura. I suppose it was a warning.”

“A warning? But Soul Springs are of little use to a Sanctuary-level expert, aren’t they?”

Karl asked, then as if recalling something, turned to his grandfather. “There were rumors recently that a Sanctuary expert appeared in Nicholas City—is it true?”

异界青龙50_Chapter Fifty: Warning? End of update!