Chapter 272: Deep Blue Barrier
“Platinum Cross, rare-grade special Transcendent Equipment. Its effect is to amplify the user’s Spiritual Power for one minute.”
“Depending on the user’s level, the increase ranges between 5%–20%. If the user’s strength is too great, it will have no effect whatsoever.”
“In addition, after using this Transcendent Equipment, the mind will fall into a weakened state. It is best used in conjunction with potions that restore Spiritual Power.”
As this was an auction, the flaws of the item had to be disclosed. Otherwise, the bidder had the right to demand a refund.
Thus, the auction house thoughtfully informed everyone how to avoid the side effects brought by using this Transcendent Equipment.
“Starting bid: 1,500 Source Crystal Coins. Each raise must be no less than 100 Source Crystal Coins.”
When the auction host called out the base price, it was not like before where bids flew out one after another. Quite a few people began whispering among themselves.
The equipment had obvious limitations in use, yet at critical moments it could play a decisive role. Many were hesitating over whether to spend a large sum to compete for it.
Faced with such a situation, the auction host did not appear anxious.
Although the Platinum Cross had side effects, it could not conceal its special effect of increasing Spiritual Power. At crucial moments, it could save a life.
For example, during a fierce battle when Spiritual Power was nearly exhausted, one could rely on this equipment to cast a powerful spell and decide victory in a single blow.
It should be known that the power of a spell depended not only on the spell’s own rank, but also on the strength of the caster.
“1,700 Source Crystal Coins.”
After only a brief pause, a bidder took advantage of the crowd’s hesitation and directly raised the price by 200 Source Crystal Coins, seemingly intending to seize a bargain.
Unfortunately, there were never few clever people. As soon as someone called out a bid, others immediately followed with higher offers.
As the bidding voices increased, the auction once again regained its earlier liveliness.
“2,300.”
“2,500.”
When the VIP Auction Rooms began to call out prices, Zhou Ming finally joined the bidding.
The price of 2,500 was clearly not enough to secure the Platinum Cross.
In less than a moment, the price of the Platinum Cross broke past 3,000 Source Crystal Coins.
“3,500.”
Seeing that three VIP Auction Rooms were bidding, Zhou Ming knew that increasing bit by bit was meaningless. He decisively raised the price to 3,500.
This time, no one continued to bid. After all, there were still seven rarer auction items yet to appear.
The bidding for the twenty-third item concluded, and the next auction item was presented on stage.
Just as Zhou Ming was focused on the auction, the door to his VIP Auction Room was knocked upon.
“Honored guest, this is the Platinum Cross you purchased.”
An auction supervisor entered with a female staff member. The Platinum Cross rested on the tray in her hands.
“May I inspect it?”
“Of course. That is your right.”
Zhou Ming did not waste words. He immediately picked up the palm-sized cross, entirely platinum in color, with four differently colored crystals embedded upon it.
When Spiritual Power surged from between his brows into the Platinum Cross, the information left behind by its creator surfaced in his mind.
However, this did not mean the equipment was exactly as described.
From his years of experience, Zhou Ming knew that some unscrupulous ordinary Forgemasters would deliberately leave false information to inflate the value of equipment.
Those who were careless would end up paying dearly.
Only after activating the Platinum Cross with his Spiritual Power and sensing the slight enhancement did he feel reassured.
“Here are 3,500 Source Crystal Coins.”
Neatly arranged Source Crystal Coins appeared upon the Tea Table in the VIP Auction Room, radiating dazzling brilliance.
“Thank you for supporting our business.”
With payment and goods settled, the auction supervisor gave a slight bow before departing with the Source Crystal Coins.
After they left, Zhou Ming’s attention returned to the auction.
A high-grade potion capable of significantly enhancing the Spiritual Power of a Professional Beast Tamer was now being auctioned.
Given Zhou Ming’s current condition, he no longer had use for it. Yet the competition at the auction was extremely intense.
Ordinary high-grade potions might be purchased with Alliance Coins at a high price, but potions that enhanced Spiritual Power were not so easily obtained.
As expected, amid the fierce bidding, the potion quickly surpassed the 3,000 Source Crystal Coin mark.
What Zhou Ming had not anticipated was that the final transaction price of the high-grade potion reached 4,300 Source Crystal Coins.
“It seems that the changes within the Alliance in recent years have caused the prices of strength-enhancing resources to skyrocket.”
Looking at the crowd in the auction hall, Zhou Ming knew that these individuals all had significant backgrounds and must have learned of the secret that Tamu World was devouring Blue Star.
In the future, the changes upon Blue Star would only intensify. Strength was the guarantee of continued survival, so resources that enhanced power would naturally become more expensive.
After a brief sigh, Zhou Ming shifted his focus to the subsequent items.
Though the later auction items were valuable, most were targeted at Beast Tamers of the three mainstream profession systems. None particularly interested him.
However, when the final auction item appeared, Zhou Ming once again felt the urge to bid.
“The final item: a one-time-use water-attribute defensive scroll—Deep Blue Barrier.”
“Its effect is to withstand a single Transcendent-level attack. Its value is comparable to outstanding-grade Transcendent Equipment.”
As soon as the host finished speaking, the auction hall erupted. Even many guests who lacked the qualifications to participate began discussing excitedly.
There were currently four grades of Transcendent Equipment: ordinary, rare, outstanding, and legendary. The gap between each grade was enormous.
Even with money, one could not necessarily purchase higher-grade equipment. Beast Tamers capable of crafting such items were exceedingly rare.
Without special channels and connections, even wealth was useless if one did not know where to buy them.
The moment they heard that this item was comparable to outstanding-grade equipment, everyone’s desire to purchase was instantly stirred.
“Defensive scroll Deep Blue Barrier, starting bid 5,000 Source Crystal Coins. Each raise no less than 100 Source Crystal Coins.”
Perhaps because it was a one-time Transcendent item, the starting price was not as high as imagined. Yet it was already the highest starting price among all the auction items.
“5,500.”
“5,600.”
……
As soon as the host’s voice fell, someone immediately bid—it came from the VIP Auction Room next to Zhou Ming’s.
When the bidding price of the Deep Blue Barrier broke past 10,000—
Zhou Ming looked at the scroll radiating dazzling blue light upon the auction platform and directly raised the price by 2,000.
“12,000 Source Crystal Coins.”
Such a price increase instantly caused the auction hall to fall silent.
It was not that no one could bid higher, but that they were calculating whether it was worth it. After all, it was a consumable item. Facing a Transcendent-level existence did not guarantee survival.
In the end, with no one continuing to bid, Zhou Ming successfully obtained the Deep Blue Barrier scroll.
With payment and goods settled, Zhou Ming, who had no interest in the Blood-colored Fortress, immediately set off toward the Endless Forest Sea.
As for whether anyone would covet him, such situations were rare.
Spending over ten thousand Source Crystal Coins already spoke volumes.
Those who were greedy lacked the strength to provoke the powerful. Those who had strength would not invite trouble over a single item.
In this era where the strong reigned supreme, anyone capable of producing such a vast sum of Source Crystal Coins was either powerful—or possessed extraordinary backing.
There were many fools, but among those qualified to participate in auctions requiring vast amounts of Source Crystal Coins, fools were rare.