Chapter 597: A Surprise at the Auction

On the first day of the auction, Ye Feng also entered the auction hall. Although his main goal was to sell that peak-level spiritual treasure of a palace type, he also wanted to see what else was being auctioned at this main plane’s auction.
Half a month of preparation and extensive promotion made this auction much more lively than previous ones.
Seeing so many powerful individuals whose cultivation levels he couldn’t determine, Ye Feng felt immense pressure. It had been a long time since he had experienced such a situation where nothing was under his control. Indeed, in this main plane, he was truly just a fish or shrimp in the ocean, as Long Tian had said—completely unaware of where he was going or how many eyes were watching him as prey. He didn’t like this feeling.
In fact, Sikong Youlan also invited Ye Feng to the VIP lounge, but he declined. He didn’t want others to see him entering and leaving the VIP lounge, as those who were interested would surely investigate his background, inevitably linking him to that peak-level spiritual treasure of a palace type. Although he loved challenges, he was well aware that if he attracted the attention of star-domain-level powerhouses, he had no chance of winning. As for universe-domain-level powerhouses, he wasn’t sure if he could even fight them, as he had never seen them act before.
The auction proceeded smoothly. After all, Sikong Youlan’s auction hall had existed in Longquan for many years, and almost all powerful individuals knew the rules here, so they wouldn’t act recklessly. But no one could predict what might happen outside the auction hall, and that wasn’t something Sikong Youlan and the others were concerned about.
By the fifth item auctioned, nothing had surprised Ye Feng yet, and he began to feel disappointed. He thought that if this were considered a top-tier auction, he could easily organize one that was even better.
Just as he was grumbling to himself, the sixth item was brought out.
“The sixth item of the day—a substance with extreme attributes: the Soul of the Polar Regions…” Hearing this name, Ye Feng immediately raised his head, because this was something he had long dreamed of possessing.
“The Soul of the Polar Regions—everyone should know what it is. It’s an extremely rare soul-type substance with extreme attributes. Anyone below the star-domain level can use it to comprehend laws and achieve divine powers…” The auctioneer exaggerated the benefits of this item endlessly, never mentioning its side effects.
Of course, Ye Feng knew about its side effects, as he had researched it long ago.

The Polar Soul is a natural soul entity that arises in extreme attribute environments. Initially, it has no consciousness and drifts around aimlessly. Over time, it develops awareness and is born with the ability to launch soul attacks, and most importantly, these soul attacks carry specific attributes. If it forms in a frigid environment, its soul attacks will possess ice attributes; conversely, if it forms in a scorching environment, its attacks will have fire attributes.

Most critically, this entity is extremely difficult to absorb—among all soul-based extreme attribute materials, it is the hardest to absorb and also the most likely to backfire on its owner. According to star realm statistics, the success rate of absorbing it is less than 20%. Of those 20%, 40% suffer setbacks that lead to their demise, 20% lose all their cultivation skills, 10% go mad from obsession, and another 10% suffer severe injuries and need prolonged seclusion to recover.

This is why most people show grim expressions as soon as the name of this entity is mentioned.

“The starting bid is one hundred star crystals!” As soon as the name of the auction item was announced, the venue fell dead silent—everyone knew it wasn’t good news. The auctioneer, aware of its notorious reputation, grew slightly embarrassed. If no one bid, he would be in a huge mess.

“One hundred!” Ye Feng glanced around and saw that no one else was bidding. This was exactly what he wanted, so he immediately raised his bidding card without hesitation.

“It seems there’s still someone who understands its value,” the auctioneer said, relieved that someone had finally bid, sparing him further embarrassment. He cast a grateful look in Ye Feng’s direction. “Is there really no one willing to bid higher? This is an extremely rare soul-based extreme attribute material!”

Still, no one in the audience spoke. Many looked at Ye Feng with schadenfreude, believing there was no need to buy such an item at all. Moreover, only those below the star domain level could use it—surely the young man who bid was deceived by the auctioneer’s words.

Only one person, sitting not far from Ye Feng, watched him with a complex expression.

“One hundred star crystals, first time… one hundred star crystals, second time… one hundred star crystals, third time! Congratulations to this friend for obtaining this substance with extreme soul attributes.” The auctioneer clearly wanted to move on quickly. Without nearly any pause, he began introducing the seventh item: “Now, let’s take a look at the seventh item in this auction—a substance with extreme fire attributes: the Ice-Flame Crystal.”

Ye Feng hadn’t had time to rejoice yet when he heard about the seventh auction item, and he was stunned again. Looking up at the auction platform, he saw a cubic ice crystal, but inside it was an ice-blue flame that was flickering.

“This is the most peculiar type among substances with extreme fire attributes. That’s because there is only one kind of fire law derived from such substances, yet it’s also the most unique—one called Ice-Flame. Indeed, this frozen ice-blue flame gives rise to the only kind of cold flame in the universe.”

Ye Feng had certainly heard of Ice-Flame before. It was indeed very strange. Normally, flames should be scorching hot, but this one wasn’t—it was cold, yet it possessed most of the other characteristics of a flame. And in terms of elemental classification, it was indeed categorized as fire.

“The starting bid is one thousand star crystals, with each increase being no less than one hundred star crystals.” The auctioneer glanced at the eager crowd below. He knew this item would likely fetch a good price.

“One thousand one!” Voices immediately responded from the crowd.

“One thousand two!”

“One thousand three!” Bids kept coming in.

“One thousand five!”

“Two thousand!”

“Two thousand one!”

“Five thousand!” Ye Feng didn’t bother continuing to argue with them. He was determined to get this item.

The crowd was stunned, but soon someone else bid, “Five thousand five!”

“Five thousand seven!”

“Eight thousand!” Ye Feng raised the bid again, much to the auctioneer’s satisfaction. After all, ordinary auctions didn’t use star crystals as currency—only top-tier auctions did. But one star crystal was equivalent to one thousand star stones, which amounted to one million in star coins. Eight thousand star crystals meant eighty billion star coins—a truly enormous value.

“Eight thousand three!” Some people still refused to give up and kept bidding.

“Ten thousand!” Without waiting for anyone else to bid, Ye Feng raised the price even further.

After all, ten thousand star crystals were enough to buy an elite spiritual treasure. Most of the people present were already powerful beyond the star domain level, and they had no intention of spending so much money on such an extreme attribute substance for a junior. It would be better to simply give them an elite spiritual treasure instead.

After a brief silence, the auctioneer finally announced the owner of this Ice Flame.
“Next, let’s take a look at today’s eighth auction item…”