C62 Dragon Pearls

Except for a rare few special spirit beasts, all creatures, whether more combat-oriented or supportive, must endure the lightning tribulation upon ascending to the king realm.

The more formidable the creature, the more fearsome the tribulation becomes.

Take the dragon species, for instance; an ordinary king or ferocious beast would collapse under its lightning tribulation.

The fact that this horned dragon retained flesh and blood after being struck is a testament to its immense power in life.

"If it was felled by the tribulation lightning, where's the Dragon Pearl?"

The question hung in the air, silencing the crowd.

A Dragon Pearl is the crux of a dragon's essence, encapsulating over half its energy.

With a Dragon Pearl, the worth of the flesh would instantly double.

"The Dragon Pearl exists, but it's severely damaged, retaining less than a third of its energy."

The elder gestured, and a pearl the size of an eyeball materialized from nowhere.

Sensing a familiar aura, Green scurried out from the Soul Contract space, fixating its large, round eyes ahead and incessantly rubbing its tail on Wang Yan's arm.

"Don't fret, I'll secure it for you," Wang Yan assured, stroking Green's sleek head before tucking it into his clothing.

"Starting bid for the five hundred jin of flesh and the Dragon Pearl is one hundred thousand!"

The elder's declaration was met with immediate bids.

"Two hundred thousand!"

"Three hundred thousand!"

"Three hundred and fifty thousand..."

The numbers soared, reaching one million in under ten seconds.

Wang Yan had no intention of engaging in a drawn-out bidding war. He quintupled the current offer.

"Five million!"

His bid echoed, followed by a hush.

A pristine Dragon Pearl and body would command no less than ten million.

Yet with the Dragon Pearl's energy diminished to under 30%, and only 500 jin of flesh available, fetching three million would be a stretch.

By vaulting the price well beyond the auction item's intrinsic value, Wang Yan deterred many potential bidders, causing those interested in the horned dragon's remains and Dragon Pearl to retreat.

The elder didn't mince words; after a brief inquiry, he made a swift decision.

"Coming up next, we have the twenty-fourth auction item: Osmanthus Wine, crafted by a Moon Beast."

"What? A Moon Beast? Could it be the one belonging to Wang Shu, the principal of M Province University?"

"I doubt it! Wang Shu is among the elite in the northern warzone. Frankly, she can have whatever she desires—people practically trip over themselves to offer her things for free."

"In that case, it's likely a descendant of Wang Shu's Moon Beast. Anyone with a Moon Beast is no ordinary individual. My bet is it's 99% likely they're out here getting a taste of life..."

The crowd buzzed with speculation, quickly zeroing in on Wang Yan.

Luckily, their gaze didn't linger long. Within seconds, they looked away, acting as if nothing had occurred.

Wang Yan: "..."

"Osmanthus Wine brewed by a Moon Beast? Such an exceptionally rare delicacy, unseen for millennia. To even catch a whiff of it would be a fortune amassed over eight lifetimes."

"Absolutely, just witnessing the Moon Beast's Osmanthus Wine makes my day worthwhile. No, not just today, but this entire year, my whole life, in fact."

The crowd's praises soared, and some, with their dramatic flair, even appeared teary-eyed.

If this kept up, there was a 99% chance they'd end up weeping and wailing uncontrollably.

"Have they lost their minds?"

Wang Yan's mouth twitched in annoyance. Their exaggerations were giving him a headache.

He understood their game; they were angling to make a good impression, hoping to forge a connection.

If they crossed paths again, they'd be on familiar terms.

Backed by powerhouses like Wang Yi and the principal, and with his own exceptional talent, Wang Yan's potential was boundless.

Perhaps this moment of sycophancy could be a lifesaver for them in the future.

"The bidding for one jar of Osmanthus Wine starts at 3,000!"

As the elder's voice fell, bids erupted from the crowd.

"Five thousand!"

"Ten thousand!"

"Fifty thousand!"

"Sixty thousand!"

"..."

The price soared, quickly surpassing half a million. Wang Yan was taken aback; he realized he had underestimated the principal's clout. The bidders weren't just vying for a jar of wine; they were chasing a sliver of hope that was nearly non-existent.

The Osmanthus Wine eventually sold for 800,000 yuan, while the 100 five-kernel mooncakes fetched a staggering five million yuan in total. For Wang Yan, this was an astronomical sum. Given Moon's pace and ample ingredients, at least 50 mooncakes could be produced each day, along with seven or eight jars of Osmanthus Brew.

However, Moon Beasts were exceedingly rare, with only two in existence. One belonged to the principal, a powerful and wealthy spirit beast whose creations never reached the public. The other was in the hands of Wang Yan, who was also well-off. This meant that these mooncakes and wine might become collector's items, never to be seen again without significant status.

"The twenty-sixth auction item is a Lord-grade, Rank 6 dragon species, the complete carcass of a Horned Dragon."

"Here we go!"

Wang Yan's heart skipped a beat at the elder's announcement. This was the seller he had previously contacted, who would only trade for strength-enhancing herbs or life-saving items.

A Rank 6 Lord-grade dragon species was formidable. The herbs needed to enhance a spirit beast or oneself were incredibly rare and valuable, rivaling the worth of the spirit beast itself. And as for life-saving items, they were mostly priceless, beyond the reach of mere wealth.

Predictably, the auction hall fell silent when the elder stated his terms. The corpse of a Lord-grade spirit beast was far less valuable than one might imagine. Its primary utility was to aid a similar spirit beast in ascending to king status. Yet, the scarcity of dragon species spirit beasts meant the market demand was minimal.

No matter how precious something is, what good is it if there's no buyer?

As Wang Yan had predicted, the corpses went unsold at the auction. It wasn't that the attendees lacked the means to purchase; rather, the corpse simply wasn't worth the investment.

The auction moved on, with many more desirable items coming up for bid. Wang Yan managed to acquire a few necessities. Once the event concluded, he and his companion, nicknamed Rice Bucket, made their exit.

"Thank heavens, no complications arose!" Wang Yan sighed in relief as they left the shadowy confines of the dark auction. His heart, which had been lodged in his throat, finally settled back down.

Recent events had left him on edge, with each situation escalating in severity and complexity. Wang Yan had even begun to wonder if he was cursed, a harbinger of disaster.

"May future endeavors unfold with such ease! Infinite Dao Venerate, Amitabha, Amen, may all the Gods be with me," he murmured, hands pressed together in hopeful prayer.

But in that instant, the space ten meters ahead twisted violently, and three figures in black robes and masks materialized from nowhere.

"This is bad! They're after me!" There was no time for Wang Yan to ponder; he whipped out his spatial converter, ready to flee. Yet, he was struck dumb by the ensuing spectacle.

A collar, a cage, and a pouch were hurled towards Rice Bucket. A barrage of Soul Attacking Methods detonated, unleashing a shower of sparks into the air.

In a blur of rapid movements, the assailants and Rice Bucket vanished without a trace, leaving Wang Yan standing there, his face the very picture of bewilderment.