By the time Yang Kai returned to the private box, it seemed another auction item had already found its buyer. He had no idea who had won it.
"Still no sign of the Dao Source Fruit as the grand finale?" Yang Kai asked in surprise after taking his seat.
Kang Siran shook his head and smiled bitterly. "There seem to be far more items at this auction than usual, but it should be soon."
Yang Kai gave a slight nod and fell silent, turning his gaze toward the elevated stage.
On the stage, the Old Drunkard once again wore that mysterious smile. He surveyed the crowd and announced in a booming voice, "The next item to be presented is no ordinary treasure, and it is exceedingly rare. It was not originally among the items prepared for this auction. Instead, a friend here submitted it on the spot. While this does bend the rules somewhat, the City Lord himself examined the item and confirmed that it is indeed worthy of auction. So, he has granted permission. Hehe—if any of you here have cultivated fire-element techniques or possess fire-element artifacts, you'll want to pay close attention."
As he spoke, he gestured behind him, and a serving girl immediately walked onto the stage carrying a round, bowl-shaped object in both hands.
In the auction hall, countless martial artists turned their gaze toward the bowl with great curiosity. Those among them who practiced fire-element techniques or owned fire-element artifacts showed particular interest.
The bowl was clearly some sort of restriction artifact. Seals flickered across its surface in waves of light, and occasionally tiny rune patterns the size of rice grains would drift across it, nimble as living fish.
Most of the martial artists present had sharp eyes and instantly realized that the item for sale was not the bowl itself, but whatever was sealed inside it.
"Interesting. I wonder what's locked away in there," Kang Siran said with a faint smile, focusing his full attention on the stage.
Yet the moment the bowl appeared, Yang Kai's brow furrowed deeply.
For reasons he couldn't explain, he felt a strange, inexplicable connection between the object and his own heart and mind. But the numerous restrictions layered on the bowl made this sensation incredibly faint—almost imperceptible. If not for the occasional tremor of restlessness and anxiety in his chest, even he wouldn't have been sure.
Yang Kai released his Divine Sense to probe it. But he couldn't breach the restrictions to discern what lay within, nor did he dare force his way through. All he could do was frown, over and over.
"Alchemist Yang, do you know what's inside?" Kang Siran noticed Yang Kai's troubled expression and asked curiously.
Yang Kai subconsciously shook his head, though his eyes remained fixed, unblinking, on the bowl.
By now, the Old Drunkard on the stage had begun his explanation. "This item was consigned for auction by a Dao Source Realm friend. This friend happens to cultivate a water-element technique, which directly counters the nature of this object. He had no choice but to part with it reluctantly—otherwise, he would never have put it up for sale."
"Vice City Master, stop keeping us in suspense! That doesn't suit you at all!" an impatient martial artist below the stage urged.
The Old Drunkard chuckled for a moment, then nodded. "Fair enough. I'm an impatient man myself—this drawn-out approach doesn't suit me either. But there are things that must be said. As you all know, a few months ago, rumors spread throughout Maple Forest City that a fire-element artifact spirit had appeared on nearby Yuqing Mountain. Many martial artists went to investigate, and it was ultimately confirmed that it wasn't a fire-element artifact spirit at all—it was a descendant of the Luan Phoenix. Our Maple Forest City martial artists fought viciously over this Luan Phoenix descendant, suffering heavy casualties, yet not a single one succeeded. In the end, the Sacred Spirit Luan Phoenix itself appeared. One blast of its World-Destroying Black Flame, and Yuqing Mountain has been burning ever since. The might of a Sacred Spirit—it truly is terrifying."
He sighed deeply, as though he had witnessed that World-Destroying Black Flame with his own eyes.
"Vice City Master! Don't tell me this auction item is... a Sacred Spirit descendant?!" The martial artists below erupted with excited guesses upon hearing the Old Drunkard's words.
Many shared this thought. In an instant, the breathing of numerous martial artists quickened, and their fiery gazes locked onto the round bowl.
The Old Drunkard let out a derisive snort. "A Sacred Spirit descendant? You people really dare to dream. If there were truly a Sacred Spirit descendant here, setting aside whether you'd have the nerve to bid on it, Maple Forest City would never put it up for auction. If we offended some Sacred Spirit, Yuqing Mountain's fate would become Maple Forest City's fate. When that happened and all living things were devastated, who would take responsibility?"
His words sent a chill through many. Thinking about it more carefully, they realized he was right. In all the world, who would dare put a Sacred Spirit descendant up for auction? That would be outright courting death.
"Then Vice City Master, what you just said about..."
The Old Drunkard curled his lip. "The point was never about a Sacred Spirit descendant—it was about the fire-element artifact spirit! I don't know how you people listen. Fine, I'll just show you what this auction item really is."
As he spoke, he formed a series of spirit seals with his fingers and continuously sent them into the bowl. With each flash of restriction light on the bowl's surface, a clear, piercing bird cry suddenly rang out from within. Immediately after, a beam of crimson light shot forth from the center.
Whoosh.
On the elevated stage, a strange bird roughly two zhang in length had suddenly materialized, its entire body wreathed in flames as though it were made of living fire. The creature bore a vague resemblance to the Sacred Spirit Luan Phoenix, yet was distinctly different. Within the flames engulfing its body, faint arcs of purple lightning flickered and danced.
This strange bird wielded the power of both thunder and fire.
Moreover, the aura emanating from within its body was far from ordinary—it had already reached the level of Void King Stage Three. Its body forged of flame was majestic and awe-inspiring, its plumage full and resplendent, impossibly beautiful.