Chapter Eleven: The Enchantment of the Divine Beast

"Six hundred high-grade spirit stones!"

"I'll bid seven hundred high-grade spirit stones!"

"Then I'll offer one thousand high-grade spirit stones!"

...

"Five thousand high-grade spirit stones—who can top that?" a brazen voice rang out.

"Eight thousand high-grade spirit stones," another languid voice drifted from VIP Room Six.

The hall instantly fell silent. Eight thousand high-grade spirit stones—a staggering sum, enough to equal the annual income of a small sect or family.

"...Eight thousand high-grade spirit stones, third call. Sold! The ring goes to the guest in VIP Room Six," Bu Bailai announced, striking the auction hammer heavily.

A ring fetching eight thousand high-grade spirit stones left Tang Xiao grinning from ear to ear. The six people beside Tang Yi were equally exhilarated and excited. After all, each of them now wore a ring worth eight thousand high-grade spirit stones—how could they not be thrilled?

Encouraged by the guest in VIP Room Six, the last ring of the set was even snatched up by a guest in VIP Room Eight for the sky-high price of eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight high-grade spirit stones. Payment was made on the spot, and the guest immediately bound the ring. Joyful laughter echoed from Room Eight: "Coming to the auction house was truly worth it! With this ring, I'm like a tiger with wings—invincible!"

Within the room, the man tested the three formations embedded in the ring. Though the formations were of lower grade, in the hands of a true expert, even the slightest edge could tip the balance in a battle.

After Tang Yi's set of rings were auctioned off, Boss Bu announced a fifteen-minute intermission, promising even more treasures to come. Tang Yi collected the spirit stones delivered by the boss and settled in to see what other rare items would appear.

"Next, ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. The item up for auction is, as many of you may have heard—Divine Beast Enchantment Incense!" The moment these words left Bu Bailai, the crowd erupted with excitement. This was a truly coveted item.

Inside VIP Room One—

"Divine Beast Enchantment Incense? What exactly is that?" Tang Yi turned to the others and asked.

Who is this Brother Tang, anyway? To not know what Divine Beast Enchantment Incense is—could he truly be the legendary prodigy bumpkin? The same thought crossed the minds of all present.

"Zhenzhen knows best about this," Hua Shaojie piped up.

"Really? Sister-in-law Zhenzhen, tell me more," Tang Yi said, turning to Gu Zhenzhen. Her cheeks instantly flushed, but she still responded.

"Divine Beast Enchantment Incense is primarily used to capture spirit beasts. The supreme-grade incense can even be used to ensnare spirit beasts of the divine beast class!" Pausing, she pointed to the auction item on display. "In my judgment, this piece up for auction is likely a supreme-grade specimen."

"Oh? How can you tell?" Tang Yi asked.

"Don’t forget, Brother Tang, Zhenzhen is from the Gu Spirit Sect," Hua Shaojie interjected.

"I see—but don’t interrupt again, or I’ll revoke your speaking privileges for life!" Tang Yi shot him a glare.

The group fell silent.

"This Divine Beast Enchantment Incense weighs three taels. Our experts have confirmed it is indeed a supreme-grade specimen. Three taels are sufficient to successfully capture a juvenile divine beast-level spirit beast. We will begin the auction at eight hundred high-grade spirit stones. Please place your bids!" Bu Bailai announced in a clear voice.

The bidding quickly grew heated, the price soon climbing to nine thousand high-grade spirit stones—and still rising.

"Are they treating high-grade spirit stones like they're worthless?" Tang Yi grumbled.

"Brother Tang, do you want that incense too?" Liu Mingde asked.

"Frankly, of course I do!" Tang Yi jabbed a finger at the little Blackwind Scarlet Tiger beast cuddled in Gu Zhenzhen’s arms, which now looked like a kitten. "I want to get myself a divine beast even more impressive than my sister-in-law’s!"

...

"Ten thousand high-grade spirit stones, first call! Any higher offers? Ten thousand, second call..." Boss Bu was interrupted as Tang Yi placed his bid.

"Thirteen thousand high-grade spirit stones!" The bid, relayed through the sound stone, resounded throughout the hall—a sky-high price.

Without question, the supreme-grade Divine Beast Enchantment Incense was won by Tang Yi. Though the incense could indeed capture a divine beast, such creatures were exceedingly rare—encountering one would be a matter of luck. Most bidders only hoped to use it for rarer spirit beasts, and if they happened to come across a holy beast, so much the better. Ten thousand high-grade spirit stones was already beyond the limit; even the rarest spirit beast or holy beast wasn’t worth spending so much. Besides, once captured, one would have to raise it—a bottomless pit for spirit stones.

"Brother Tang, I’d say you’re the one treating high-grade spirit stones like they’re nothing. You’ve spent over eighteen thousand and are down to just five thousand left," Zhang Qiang remarked.

"I call it treating gold as dirt and spirit stones as pebbles. Understand? If not, follow me and learn a little," Tang Yi replied, putting the incense away after a quick inspection.

"Let’s go. I’ve bought all I wanted for now—if I stay longer, I might just go broke again." With that, Tang Yi led the group out of the VIP room.

On their way back to the Moon Gazing Pavilion, Tang Yi strolled and chatted, occasionally bursting into laughter and drawing curious glances from passersby. As the group walked past a restaurant, a sudden commotion on the second floor sent wine, dishes, bowls, chopsticks, tables, chairs, and benches flying out the window. Tang Yi reacted first, deploying an energy shield that deflected all the debris that would have hit them. The unfortunate result was that bystanders and those on the restaurant’s first floor were pummeled by the falling objects, leading to a chorus of curses. The brawl upstairs grew more intense.

"Let’s move along. Are you waiting to get hit?" Tang Yi said to a few hesitant onlookers.

The seven of them scurried to the far side of the street under the protection of the energy shield. Once across, Tang Yi dispelled the shield and began eyeing the street up and down, lost in thought.

The fight in the restaurant grew fiercer, with furniture and utensils still flying out the window. After watching for a while, Liu Mingde recognized one of the combatants. Not only did he know him, but his friend appeared to be fending off everyone alone—an alarming situation. He hurried over to tug at Tang Yi.

"What is it? Can’t you see I’m busy?" Tang Yi said impatiently.

"Tang Yi, my friend’s being mobbed—I have to help him!" Liu Mingde said urgently.

"If your friend’s getting beaten, what are you waiting for? Get in there! Take Zhang Qiang with you," Tang Yi replied without looking back.

"Qiangzi, Brother Tang says come with me! My friend needs our help—he’s the one being ganged up on." With that, Liu Mingde called to Zhang Qiang and dashed toward the restaurant’s second floor.