"Golden Lion Thunder Beast!" The exclamation came from Elder Jin Shi of the Demon Blood Cult, carrying a trace of apprehension.
The many powerful figures in the other private rooms all frowned as well, as though the Golden Lion Thunder Beast had quite the reputation.
"Qing'er, where does this Elder Feng hail from? And what grade of demon beast is the Golden Lion Thunder Beast — do you know?" Yang Kai asked the young girl standing with her head bowed to one side.
Qing'er pressed her lips into a smile and replied softly, "To answer your question, Senior — this Elder Feng is an elder of Myriad Beast Mountain. The Golden Lion Thunder Beast is her life-bound demon beast, one whose life force is linked to her own. It is said to be an ancient variant species, a ninth-rank demon beast. In terms of strength, it is roughly equivalent to a Return to Void Stage Two expert — the same cultivation level as Elder Feng herself. However, if the two of them fight together, they should be no weaker than the Return to Void Stage Three experts."
"Myriad Beast Mountain?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow. He had long known that a faction on the Dark Star specialized in enslaving and commanding demon beasts — and that faction was Myriad Beast Mountain. He had even crossed paths with their disciples back in the Blazing Flame Sands. This sect appeared to be located near the Glazed Gate, and friction between the two powers was frequent.
As for the life-bound demon beast Qing'er had mentioned, Yang Kai had heard something about it. Myriad Beast Mountain's cultivation methods differed from those of ordinary martial artists. Every disciple of the mountain had their own life-bound demon beast, and their strength would rise in tandem with the beast's. Furthermore, if the beast broke through to a higher rank, the master would receive tremendous benefit — potentially enough to shatter their own bottleneck.
According to Qing'er, Old Woman Feng was already at Return to Void Stage Two. If her Golden Lion Thunder Beast received the assistance of the Mysterious Gold, there was a very high chance its power would surge. And as its master, she could break through to Return to Void Stage Three.
When that happened, the two of them fighting as one would likely mean that even an ordinary Return to Void Stage Three expert would be no match for her.
At this thought, Yang Kai immediately understood why Old Woman Feng was competing with Jin Shi for the Mysterious Gold. He couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. Both Old Woman Feng and Jin Shi had an intense need for the Mysterious Gold. The only way to make them give up would be to overpower them with sheer wealth.
"Young Master Ren, it seems your Treasure Tower doesn't just gather the world's treasures — when did it also take up the business of gathering and spreading information?" Old Woman Feng's voice carried a hint of irritation, clearly because Ren Tianrui had publicly revealed why she needed the Mysterious Gold.
Standing on the elevated platform, Ren Tianrui gave an awkward laugh and didn't dare say much.
"Hmph. Even so, I won't back down easily. That beast of yours needs the Mysterious Gold? I need it even more. Forty-two million!"
Before Old Woman Feng could raise her bid, a soft, alluring giggle suddenly drifted from another private room: "This junior would like to join the fun. Forty-three million!"
Yang Kai's expression froze for a moment, then the corner of his mouth curved upward in a strange smile.
Not because of anything else — he recognized that bidding voice. It belonged to none other than Yin Sudie of the Glazed Gate! Her presence here was no surprise. Dai Yuan had told Yang Kai the last time she visited Dragon Cave Mountain that Yin Sudie was the person in charge of monitoring the Imperial Garden's movements on behalf of the Glazed Gate.
However, the fact that she dared to bid now likely meant she had been directed by her sect's elders. After all, the Glazed Gate and Myriad Beast Mountain had always been on poor terms, and they certainly wouldn't stand by and watch Old Woman Feng obtain the Mysterious Gold and grow even more powerful.
This was a good opportunity!
Yang Kai had been deliberating over when to bid so as not to attract too much attention. Yin Sudie's price had actually done him a favor. With that thought, he bid without hesitation: "Fifty million!"
An uproar immediately erupted in the auction hall. Inside the private room, the young maid Qing'er gazed at Yang Kai with shimmering, wonder-filled eyes — she clearly hadn't expected his wealth to be so formidable.
Two unfamiliar voices joining the fray only made the already tense atmosphere grow even more peculiar.
"Good, good, good!" Old Woman Feng gnashed her teeth and let out a cold snort. "How interesting — any stray cat or mangy dog now dares to compete with this old woman for goods. Aren't you afraid of having the money but not the life to enjoy it?"
Her words carried a heavy threat. Standing on the elevated platform, Ren Tianrui's expression darkened into an icy gloom.
Treasure Tower had hosted countless auctions over the years. While it was common for powerful figures to grow furious over auction items — even engaging in deadly combat afterward — no one had ever dared to issue such a brazen threat in public.
Such words were, after all, a direct affront to the Tower's dignity and credibility. Ren Tianrui's face turned grim as he spoke: "Elder Feng, our Treasure Tower only wishes to hear such words once. Should there be a next time, Myriad Beast Mountain will be declared an unwelcome sect. I urge you to reconsider!"
Though Ren Tianrui's cultivation was modest, he was representing the Treasure Tower at that moment, and his words carried weight.
Old Woman Feng seemed to realize her earlier words had been somewhat out of line. She chuckled and said in her hoarse voice, "No need to be so tense, Young Master Ren. It was only a joke. After all, an auction is a matter of willing buyer and willing seller."
"Is that so?" A cordial smile suddenly appeared on Ren Tianrui's face. He waved his folding fan and said leisurely, "Then this junior was being rude earlier — please forgive me, Elder Feng. Now then, would you like to raise your bid on this piece of Mysterious Gold?"
"Of course. Fifty-one million!"