Ever since antiquity, the changes of power have been the bloodiest and most cruel; the succession to the throne in the Star Luo Empire serves as the best and most realistic example, with brothers killing brothers and sisters killing sisters.
But now, in the main hall of the Spirit Hall, Miles was replaced silently, almost without a ripple, and was instead supplanted by a young man from who-knew-where.
No matter how you look at it, it's truly astonishing.
Either it's an absolute difference in strength, or an absolute suppression in status. Whichever it is, it signifies how extraordinary that young man standing before Hong Zhuang and the two black-robed bishops must be.
"It seems I must find an opportunity to pay a visit to this new Bishop!"
"And to determine, the future mode of interaction."
Ying Zhou murmured softly in his heart.
Knowing oneself and one's enemy is the key to invincibility. Perhaps he could use his experience to suppress the new power holder of the Spirit Hall and restore the City Lord's power to its peak!
Thinking of this possibility, Ying Zhou felt a surge of excitement, unconsciously licking his lips.
This scene also made Tang Lecai and Li Huai exchange glances. The former asked, "My lord, have you taken a liking to this mermaid?"
The sudden question caught Ying Zhou off guard. Mermaid? Taken a liking?
When his gaze fell upon the auction stage, he suddenly understood and chuckled, shaking his head. "You've misunderstood. What captured my interest wasn't this fish that can only be looked at but not eaten, but something else."
On the spacious auction stage stood a giant transparent crystal box, two meters in length, width, and height, filled with seawater. A slender figure was slowly swimming within.
Her long, sea-blue hair floated like seaweed as she swam. Her pretty face had a few scales near her eyes, complemented by her ocean-gem-like eyes, which lent her a bewitching, wild beauty. However, trapped in the crystal box, which resembled a fish tank, her face was filled with anxiety and frustration.
A sea-blue scale-like garment encased her exquisite body, revealing a flat abdomen that was incredibly alluring. But below her abdomen was a large fish tail.
"You damned humans, the Sea God will not forgive you!"
The slender figure slapped the crystal box walls, shouting loudly. However, the crystal box seemed to have a sound-insulating effect. The people in the auction hall could only see her opening her mouth to speak, but they couldn't hear any sound.
"Bastards, bastards, bastards!"
"The Sea Maiden City Lord is right; land soul masters are a bunch of scoundrels!"
"I saved them when they were drowning, yet they repaid my kindness with treachery, drugged me, and brought me here."
"Bastards, bastards! If I ever catch them in the sea, I'll make them pay!"
Thinking of what those people had done, A Die gritted her teeth in anger.
As someone favored and cherished by the Sea Maiden Douluo in Sea Maiden City, she had fallen into this predicament simply because she had ventured out of Sea Maiden City out of momentary curiosity and a fleeting act of kindness. She regretted it immensely.
"If I could go back, I wouldn't have saved you. I would have let you drown."
On the second floor, Wang Zhong's brow twitched slightly. Although the crystal box could block sound, it couldn't block sight. Through lip-reading, he clearly understood the words she was muttering, which were silent to others.
Sea Maiden City Lord!
This must be the City Lord of Sea Maiden City, one of the Seven Holy Cities of Sea God Island, a powerful Titled Douluo.
"This mermaid is actually a citizen of Sea Maiden City."
His gaze shifted slightly. Wang Zhong didn't speak, but his mind began to churn.
Hu Liena had once told him that on the entire continent, there were only three most powerful forces: the Spirit Hall, Sea God Island, and the Sacred Spirit Cult.
The Sacred Spirit Cult was beyond mention. Just encountering one Elder, the demon Ning Wudi, had nearly killed him. Such strength was only ranked fourth within the cult; the strength of the other Elders and the Cult Master could only be imagined.
As for the power of Sea God Island, Wang Zhong's knowledge stemmed more from a past recruitment war between it and the Spirit Hall, where nearly two thousand powerful Spirit Hall soul masters perished in the sea. This fact cemented its status as one of the three strongest forces.
However, the stepping stone that solidified its power was the Spirit Hall!
This made Wang Zhong quite uncomfortable.
How could the dignity of the Spirit Hall become a ladder for others to ascend?
"Thirty thousand gold soul coins!"
"Thirty-five thousand gold soul coins!"
"Thirty-eight thousand gold soul coins!"
"Forty thousand gold soul coins!"
...
As the auctioneer, with a lewd tone and a knowing expression, introduced the mermaid's virtues and advantages, the atmosphere in the auction hall reached a fever pitch. The calls for bids rose and fell incessantly.
Everyone participating in the auction felt their hearts burn and their lips dry, thinking of the mermaid's many virtues as described by the auctioneer, with many secretly swallowing.
"One hundred thousand!"
For reasons of personal consideration, Wang Zhong spoke up, announcing a price that instantly cooled the heated atmosphere.
Wang Zhong's bid also caused many people to turn their attention to him simultaneously. Upon seeing Hong Zhuang standing beside him, many who still wished to bid immediately withdrew their intentions, becoming silent.
The Spirit Hall. They couldn't afford to offend them, nor dared to!
Hong Zhuang and the two black-robed bishops beside him exchanged glances, their eyes holding an inexplicable meaning.
This new, seemingly very young lord appeared to be a lecher.
But then, they thought it was somewhat normal. Young men are full of vigor, and holding a high position, desiring beauty is also understandable.
The price of one hundred thousand was undoubtedly astronomical for everyone who wanted to participate in the auction, but for the auction house, such a large income should have brought them joy.
Yet, the auctioneer standing on the stage had an unusually grim expression, as if he had swallowed a fly, feeling utterly disgusted!
"One hundred thousand, this... esteemed guest, bids one hundred thousand."
"Are there any higher bids?"
"Are there any higher bids?"
"Esteemed guests, please think carefully. This is a rare mermaid from the sea. Without special means to bring her here, no one could ever see this precious maiden."
The auctioneer tried his best to persuade those with intentions to bid, hoping they would offer a higher price and suppress Wang Zhong's bid, his voice tinged with entreaty.
For items taken by the Spirit Hall, their auction house had never received a single soul coin, not even a copper soul coin!
The auction house had already suffered significant losses several times due to the Spirit Hall's participation, and they couldn't continue like this. Kuaishuge
But who dared to provoke the Spirit Hall?
The Blacksmith Association? Or that City Lord who was famous but without substance?
None!
After several repeated calls, no one dared to bid. The auctioneer, with a long face, reluctantly, and in a state of self-abandonment, brought down his auction hammer.
"Congratulations to this esteemed guest for acquiring the mermaid, an absolute impossibility to see on land, for the price of one hundred thousand gold soul coins!"