Ye Feng, Xiao Xiao, and Yue Miao moved with considerable speed. After dealing with a few stray Blood Clan members they encountered, the trio returned to the auction house.
However, Yue Miao did not join Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao, choosing instead to find a spot to sit by herself.
In Ye Feng's hand, there was now a heavy black bag, vaguely shaped like a human.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the auction is drawing to a close. Please take a short break. In 3 minutes, we will present the ultimate auction item!"
After speaking, Xue Ba on the auction stage left on his own.
As Xue Ba's words faded, the already chaotic scene erupted. Clearly, they were fanatical about the ultimate auction item.
Time flew by quickly, and the 3-minute break passed. The boisterous auction hall fell completely silent, with many holding their breath, all eyes fixed on the center of the hall.
At this moment, a square object covered by a black cloth had appeared there.
"Now then..."
Xue Ba, wearing mask number 8 and a blood-red cloak, surveyed the auction hall and spoke slowly, "What we are about to present is the last item of this auction, the legendary... Angel!"
As he finished speaking, Xue Ba pulled away the black cloth beside him, revealing the square object beneath.
It was a red cage, covered in intricate, strange runes. Within the cage, a figure with pure white wings was hunched in a corner, head bowed.
Although Ye Feng had received news beforehand, his pupils still contracted in astonishment when he saw it with his own eyes.
Because what was confined within the red cage was indeed an angel.
The angel's armor was heavily damaged, and her entire body was stained with blood, with multiple wounds bleeding.
Her hands, feet, and neck were all bound by thorny rune chains, the other ends of which were attached to the red cage.
"Big Brother, I can't see the angel's face clearly from this angle. I wonder if it's Sister Ling Xi!"
At this moment, Xiao Xiao, who was observing with binoculars, whispered into Ye Feng's ear.
"You big idiot, hurry and save Qiao Ying! Oh, wait, there are so many powerful people here, be careful yourself!"
Before Ye Feng could respond, a strange female voice echoed in his mind.
And by the end, it trailed off as if losing power, becoming very faint.
"This... this voice..."
Ye Feng was greatly shocked.
Because this was not the first time he had heard this strange female voice!
It had appeared before when he passed through the dangerous underground passage in the City of Despair, urging him to leave quickly. It had also appeared when he awakened his Arcane energy and attracted lightning that locked onto him. And now...
"Hey, who are you? What's going on?"
"Hey, System, what was that strange female voice just now? Is it yours?"
Ye Feng couldn't help but inquire in his mind.
However, neither the mechanical voice of the System nor the strange female voice spoke again.
"This strange female voice... seems to only appear at crucial moments..."
"Qiao Ying... is the angel imprisoned in the blood-red cage called Qiao Ying?"
Looking at the angel within the eerie blood-red cage at the center of the auction hall, Ye Feng couldn't help but frown deeply.
"Big Brother, what's wrong?"
At this moment, seeing Ye Feng staring blankly at the auction stage, Xiao Xiao couldn't help but remind him.
"No... nothing... something just happened!"
Ye Feng waved his hand, snapping back to attention.
With the appearance of the angel, the entire auction hall, which had been silent, once again became boisterous, with bidding calls rising one after another.
The price of the angel had already soared from the starting bid of 10,000 Arcane Yuan Coins to 50,000 Arcane Yuan Coins...
"Xiao Xiao, let's go, let's get closer and take a look!"
Ye Feng frowned slightly and said to Xiao Xiao.
"Oh, okay!"
...
A short while later, Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao had navigated through the exceptionally crowded hall, having knocked out several individuals who tried to ambush them or pierce the black bag in Ye Feng's hand.
"The secrets of the Angel civilization really hold a strong appeal for these guys..."
Arriving at the front of the auction house and listening to the fervent bidding sounds around him, Ye Feng narrowed his eyes slightly.
According to Yue Miao, the major powers were participating in the auction for the angel because of the potential secrets of the Angel civilization. After all, obtaining a living angel directly would be far easier for understanding the ultimate secrets of Angel civilization than studying one of many Hope Stones...
"80,000 Arcane Yuan Coins, 80,000 Arcane Yuan Coins! The City of Arcane offers 80,000 Arcane Yuan Coins. Are there any higher bids?"
At this moment, Xue Ba on the auction stage spoke, and the auction hall quieted down considerably.
After all, such a sum of Arcane Yuan Coins was beyond the reach of ordinary factions, and more factions were already contemplating how to ambush the buyer and rob them on their way back after the auction...
Following Xue Ba's gaze, Ye Feng turned his head and saw that the person who had bid 80,000 Arcane Yuan Coins was the group in purple cloaks he had seen before.
"80,000 Arcane Yuan Coins, first call, 80,000 Arcane Yuan Coins, second call..."
"100,000 Arcane Yuan Coins!"
Just as Xue Ba was raising his wooden hammer to strike, Ye Feng spoke his bid.
As Ye Feng's voice fell, the entire auction hall instantly fell silent, and all eyes turned to him.
"Guest number 500, these bids are not to be taken lightly. 100,000 Arcane Yuan Coins. May I know which faction the guest represents?"
Xue Ba looked at Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao and spoke slowly.
Not only Xue Ba, but everyone present cast doubtful glances, especially the major powers like the City of Arcane and Desert Storm.
"An ordinary adventurer..."
Ye Feng's voice was steady as he walked onto the auction stage. "But I do indeed have 100,000 Arcane Yuan Coins... because... I captured Ye Feng!"
"What?"
Upon hearing this, the two scarlet eyes visible through Xue Ba's mask flashed with obvious surprise.
"I recall your wanted posters stated that capturing either Ye Feng or Xiao Xiao would net 100,000 Arcane Yuan Coins, right!"
Ye Feng, wearing a tin mask, said slowly to Xue Ba.
"If it is indeed the living Ye Feng, it is worth 100,000 Arcane Yuan Coins!"
After speaking, Xue Ba looked at the black bag Ye Feng was carrying in his left hand. Because the bag was vaguely shaped like a person, he had a rough idea.
"Good! That's good then!"
Ye Feng nodded, placed the black bag on the ground, and unzipped it. Inside, a person lay with their mouth taped shut and wearing a hood.
"Hiss!"
Suddenly, Xue Ba moved with lightning speed, pulling off the hood of the person inside the black bag.
"This guy, so fast!"
Xue Ba's speed surprised Ye Feng.
"He looks exactly like the one on the wanted poster... and he's indeed alive... has he been injected with a large dose of sedatives?"
After a brief examination, Xue Ba looked at mask number 10 not far from the stage. "Hey, Xue Shi, it's time for you to use your specialty!"
...