BTTH: Starting With Auctioning Green Lotus Core Flame

These words immediately silenced the crowd.

Most of the people sitting on the first floor were at the Dou Spirit realm, with few above that. The loud reprimand silenced their previous complaints, although internally they continued to grumble to themselves, perhaps to ease the earlier embarrassment.

Ya Fei smiled and nodded, "Everyone, please calm down. You all know the value of a storage ring. Even a small ring with a few cubic meters of space worth ten thousand gold coins, let alone a high-level ring with a thousand cubic meters."

"The starting bid of thirty million gold coins is already the lowest price. If no one is interested, the ring will be withdrawn and will no longer be auctioned."

Yuan Yi, the leader of the Eight Gates, stood up and scolded the group on the first floor, "If I hear any more disrespectful remarks from you, don't blame the Eight Gates for being impolite. If you can afford to bid, then bid. If not, get out. Otherwise, after the auction, the Eight Gates will personally deal with you!"

This statement shut up the previous complainers, and some quickly left, fearing that they might face ruthless retaliation from these powerful figures after the auction.

As an owner of an auction house himself, Yuan Yi understood the seriousness of this situation. Any doubts about the auction items would reflect poorly on both the auction house and the auctioneer.

Medicine Emperor Han Feng raised his paddle and declared, "In that case, I bid thirty-three million gold coins."

"Boy, you already have a high-level storage ring. This Long You Storage Ring is mine."

Zhai Xing stared coldly at Han Feng from the third floor. While the storage ring wasn't indispensable, it was incredibly useful for carrying special items, especially one of this caliber.

"Forty million gold coins."

Seeing Zhai Xing bid forty million gold coins, Han Feng couldn't help but twitch his mouth. He realized the old ghost was not going to let him have the ring, so he decided not to continue bidding, considering he already had a high-level ring.

Zhai Xing smirked when he saw Han Feng give up. This kid knew how to pick his battles and back down when necessary. Continuing to bid against the Hall of Souls would be seen as disrespect, something no faction would risk lightly.

The Hall of Souls was backed by one of the ancient eight clans, the Soul Clan. Their leader was a peak nine-star Dou Saint, commanding respect from even the most powerful families.

However, Tang Zhen had no intention of letting the Long You Storage Ring fall to the hands of the Hall of Souls without a fight. "Sorry, Zhai Xing, but I like this ring as well."

"Forty-five million gold coins."

Hearing this, Zhai Xing's gaze snapped to Tang Zhen, his expression furious. "Tang Zhen, you know the force behind me, yet you still dare to compete? Do you think the Hall of Souls is powerless?"

"Hall of Souls is indeed strong, but the auction has its own rules. Do you intend to go against them?"

Others might fear the Hall of Souls, but Tang Zhen did not. He had no qualms about challenging them at the auction.

The founder of Burning Flame Valley, like Xiao Xuan, Gu Yuan, Hun Tiandi, and Pill Tower Ancestor, was one of the five supreme powerhouses in ancient times. What was more impressive, even without the Dou God Bloodline unlike Xiao Xuan, Gu Yuan, and Hun Tiandi, Burning Flame Valley Ancestor reached the peak Nine-Star Dou Saint purely through his own effort. Moreover, he had a close relationship with Xiao Xuan, so much so that Xiao Xuan left his self-created Skyfire Three Mysterious Change in Burning Flame Valley.

Zhai Xing's expression changed slightly as he looked at Tang Zhen's arrogant demeanor, wondering internally.

Could it be that Burning Flame Valley still has a Dou Saint expert? Logically, after their ancestor's fall, the strength of Burning Flame Valley significantly declined. Now, their strongest is only Tang Zhen, a five-star Dou Venerate...

However, the truth was more complicated. To outsiders, it seemed that the most powerful individual in Burning Flame Valley was indeed Tang Zhen, a five-star Dou Venerate. But the valley also had a hidden Dou Saint expert. This Dou Saint expert was the valley's Supreme Elder, known as Ancestor Huoyun!

In the vast Central Plains, anyone even remotely connected to the "Saint" level could practically walk sideways with impunity. After all, these ancient clans often had old monsters at the half-saint level guarding them.

Initially, Ancestor Huoyun was indeed at the half-saint level. However, due to his long seclusion, the outside world assumed he had perished. Given his age, Ancestor Huoyun was much older than other half-saints from other factions.

But contrary to everyone's expectations, Ancestor Huoyun was not only alive but had also broken through to the Dou Saint level. Tang Zhen knew that if a sect had a Dou Saint, it would inevitably draw the attention of the Hall of Souls.

Thus, Burning Flame Valley had always kept a low profile, knowing that if Ancestor Huoyun revealed himself, the valley would quickly surpass other major powers, becoming the third strongest faction after the Hall of Souls and the Alchemy Tower. This was something the Hall of Souls would not want to see. Tang Zhen was well aware of the Hall of Souls's backing by the ancient Hun Clan, whose clan leader was a peak nine-star Dou Saint.

Seeing Tang Zhen's determination to acquire the Long You Storage Ring, Zhai Xing couldn't help but speculate. "Could it be that the old fellow from Burning Flame Valley has revived?"

"Humph," Tang Zhen snorted coldly. "While my Burning Flame Valley may not be as powerful as the Hall of Souls, it doesn't mean I fear you."

Zhai Xing breathed a sigh of relief. If Burning Flame Valley had a Dou Saint, Tang Zhen wouldn't be speaking like this; instead, he would be cursing and challenging him directly.

With a Dou Saint in their ranks, a sect wouldn't need to mince words. Knowing that Burning Flame Valley didn't have a Dou Saint, Zhai Xing felt more at ease.

"Jie jie jie, Tang Zhen, I wanted to give you some face, but it seems you don't deserve it!" Zhai Xing laughed coldly.

Protector Wu, standing beside him, couldn't help but ask, "Heavenly Venerate, could it be that Burning Flame Valley has some strong support?"

Zhai Xing replied confidently, "From his demeanor, it's clear he's just been blinded by the desire for the Long You Storage Ring. He's nothing more than a pitiful man struggling to survive in this world."

"Bid freely. I don't believe that a fallen Burning Flame Valley can compete with my Hall of Souls!"

With this reassurance, the bidding resumed. Tang Zhen, undeterred, continued to bid against Zhai Xing. The auction continued with heightened tension as these two powerhouses vied for the coveted Long You Storage Ring.