"Get started quickly, don't waste any more time!" Huyan Zhen leaned back in his seat and spoke in a slow, deliberate tone.
Seeing his expression, the host couldn't help but gulp nervously, though he could only smile helplessly in his heart.
"I apologize, Sect Master Huyan Zhen," the host said, cupping his hands respectfully in Huyan Zhen's direction.
He then glanced around the room and continued, "Everyone here knows how precious this recipe is, and we can guarantee its absolute authenticity. However, the owner of the cookbook has insisted that it must be warmed up for three hours before the auction can officially begin. I'm afraid you'll all have to wait a little longer..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell into silence.
No one had expected that even after Huyan Zhen revealed his identity, the host would still honor such a commitment.
Was this a testament to the host's integrity, or was it sheer foolishness?
After all, even if Huyan Zhen was only a Soul Douluo, the influence behind him was not much less than that of a Titled Douluo.
Was it really worth offending such a powerful and ruthless figure?
At least in the eyes of some smaller factions, it didn't seem worth the risk.
"What do you mean by this? Are you mocking me?" Huyan Zhen tapped his fingers on the table, producing a rhythmic thumping sound that immediately made the host break out in a cold sweat.
But just then, a cold voice cut through the tension.
"Sect Master Huyan Zhen, please mind your behavior. This is the property under the jurisdiction of the Hegemony. Do you wish to challenge his authority?"
The speaker was the young woman who had earlier received Xiao Tianyang.
However, there was no trace of a smile on her face now. Instead, her expression was icy, and the seven soul rings around her body floated up and down, radiating power.
"Damn, she's actually a Soul Sage? How did I not notice earlier?" Xiao Tianyang, seated in the white area, was shocked by the scene.
He had just been entertained by a Soul Sage moments ago...
No one knew what he was thinking at that moment, nor did anyone care.
All eyes were on Huyan Zhen, whose expression had shifted dramatically.
The arrogance on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a forced smile as the corners of his mouth twitched. "My apologies, I've never been to this place before and am unfamiliar with the rules. Please forgive my rudeness!"
This was Huyan Zhen, a man known for his domineering demeanor and haughty attitude, now speaking in such a submissive tone!
But then it dawned on everyone.
In the entire Soul Beast Continent, aside from Titled Douluo, no one else could claim the title of "Hegemony."
Though they had never heard of this particular Hegemony, it didn't diminish the power he represented.
After all, a Titled Douluo was not someone to be trifled with.
The young woman, being tactful, had only intended to intimidate Huyan Zhen.
She took the opportunity to defuse the situation, glancing around the room before announcing, "As I mentioned earlier, there's no need to elaborate on the value of this recipe. The highest bidder today will take it. The auction will begin in three hours."
"Of course, if anyone is unwilling to wait, they are free to leave at any time. The doors of the Heaven Dou Auction House are always open!"
With everything laid out so clearly, and the most powerful figure in the room effectively silenced, what could the others possibly say?
"Three hours is more than enough time for the news to spread throughout Heaven Dou City," Xiao Tianyang thought to himself, a sly smile forming beneath his mask. "Don't worry, this is just the appetizer. The real fun is yet to come."
He knew that the longer the delay, the more attention the recipe would attract.
Rather than passively waiting for others to come and threaten him, it was better to toss this hot potato into the open and let those who coveted it fight among themselves.
Moreover, the recipe he had brought out was merely the result of half a year's casual research with Tang San.
While the medicinal diet described in it did indeed enhance soul power, its effects were limited.
To put it simply, if the soul energy in this recipe was a small bowl of porridge, what Xiao Tianyang could prepare was a full banquet!
So, aside from the effort of setting this up, he had nothing to lose.
And he hadn't even revealed that this was only the first step of his plan.
If everything went smoothly, the big fish would soon take the bait, and things would get even more interesting!
As he anticipated, news of the Heaven Dou Auction House's sale of a soul power-enhancing recipe spread like wildfire throughout the city.
Representatives from various factions began to arrive, including the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the even Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the Elephant Armored Clan, and the Dai Clan!
The royal families also reacted swiftly.
Not only did the Heaven Dou Empire send representatives, but the Star Luo Empire also dispatched spies with vast sums of money to join the auction!
Finally, the Spirit Hall made its grand entrance.
And they went all out—sending none other than a Titled Douluo: Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan!
His appearance was not just a show of force but also a statement.
Under the banner of the Hegemony, others might not know who he was, but how could Yue Guan, a Titled Douluo of the Spirit Hall, not recognize him?
That was a Level 98 Super Douluo!
In the entire Spirit Hall, there were only two or three individuals who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
How could someone of his stature be intimidated by mere threats?
His presence here served as a clear declaration: the Spirit Hall was determined to secure this recipe!
"Hehe, today is quite the spectacle," Yue Guan said with a sly smile. "I never expected that a single cookbook could attract so many forces from across the continent."
Seeing this, Xiao Tianyang couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine beneath his mask.
"Good grief, this almost made me lose my breakfast..."
"It is indeed a rare sight," Yu Yuanzhen, the patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, remarked. "However, I didn't expect the Spirit Hall to send you directly. Don't you think this is overkill?"
"Hehe, if you think it's too much, you're free to leave. There's no need to stay," Yue Guan retorted with a cold smirk. "But remember, today's competition isn't about strength—it's about wealth. And in that regard, even if all of you combined your resources, you might still fall short against me."
His words struck a nerve.
After all, the Spirit Hall's wealth was unparalleled.
The development of the Soul Beast Forest alone had already entered a highly profitable phase.
Just the entrance fees collected annually were enough to allow the Spirit Hall to distribute golden soul coins to all soul masters without a second thought, with plenty left over for themselves.
Could such an organization ever be short on funds?
Moreover, this time, the Spirit Hall had come prepared, which made the situation even more challenging.
If they had been caught off guard, the other factions might have stood a chance.
But now, despite the seemingly equal opportunities, the Spirit Hall had already taken the lead.
In fact, if there were a "buy-it-now" price for the recipe, Yue Guan might have already claimed it outright.
…
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