Chapter 332: Puppet Substitution Tribulation Technique
When the people within the auction hall heard the words “Super-tier Potion,” they immediately understood that the very first auction item was already beyond their ability to compete for.
Just as everyone expected, after Luo You finished introducing the information regarding the auction item, the Transcendent Experts within the VIP rooms immediately began bidding.
“Eleven thousand.”
“Twelve thousand.”
……
After only a few rounds of bidding, the price of the Heart of Lava Potion directly surpassed fifteen thousand Source Crystal Coins.
“What a pity it’s a Super-tier Potion that increases affinity toward fire-element energy particles.”
Inside the VIP room, Zhou Ming watched the many experts competing over the Heart of Lava and could not help sighing at his poor luck.
If it had been a potion that increased affinity toward shadow energy particles, he would definitely have entered the competition against the many Transcendent Experts.
Zhou Ming’s path centered around bloodlines, and his ability to control shadow energy particles was an ability derived from his bloodline. If he could increase his affinity toward shadow energy particles, his strength would undoubtedly rise considerably.
Since the Heart of Lava was of little value to him, Zhou Ming did not pay it much attention.
However, the fact that White Bone City could casually produce a Super-tier Potion meant there was most likely a Potion Master behind them. Thinking of this, Zhou Ming immediately developed some interest.
After all, even at the Alliance Headquarters, Potion Masters capable of refining Super-tier Potions were not easy to encounter.
“Hong Luan, does your White Bone City possess a Potion Master capable of refining Transcendent Potions?”
Zhou Ming’s tone was calm, as though he were merely asking casually.
“Lord Ten Thousand Snakes, I am temporarily unaware of this matter.”
Seeing no unusual reaction from Hong Luan, Zhou Ming did not continue questioning her.
After all, considering the importance of a Potion Master, such information was not something someone of Hong Luan’s status could casually know.
While listening to the price of the Heart of Lava continue to rise, Zhou Ming also silently considered whether he should spend some time learning the art of potion refinement himself.
Within the Alliance, once Beast Tamers advanced to the realm of Transcendent Masters, their own strength generally became difficult to improve further.
As a result, they usually chose to study several special skills.
Relying on their strength and access to large amounts of resources for practice, they would generally achieve at least some gains.
Of course, the primary purpose was to attempt learning the knowledge of other paths in hopes of breaking through their own bottlenecks.
While Zhou Ming was thinking, the auction for the Heart of Lava had already concluded.
The final transaction price was twenty-eight thousand Source Crystal Coins.
This was mainly because the Heart of Lava had a relatively limited target audience, causing its final price to fall short of expectations.
“The second auction item: one liter of Lord-level Ferocious Beast, Spineback Iron Dragon Essence Blood.”
“Whether used for refining potions, crafting Transcendent Equipment, or nurturing Beast Tamers’ beasts, it possesses extremely excellent effects.”
“Starting price: three thousand Source Crystal Coins. Each increase must not be lower than one hundred.”
Compared to the first auction item, the Heart of Lava Potion, the Spineback Iron Dragon Essence Blood was clearly not on the same level.
However, this situation was normal. If every item were treasures like the Heart of Lava, then the Professional Beast Tamers would have no reason to attend this auction.
Thus, the moment Luo You finished speaking, people within the auction hall immediately began bidding.
After the price steadily rose beyond four thousand five hundred Source Crystal Coins, and almost no one remained willing to continue competing, Zhou Ming suddenly raised the price directly to five thousand Source Crystal Coins.
The reason he was interested in the Spineback Iron Dragon Essence Blood was mainly because of Su Mei.
With the help of the Earth-Walking Dragon Bloodline Essence he had refined for her, she had successfully advanced into a Professional Beast Tamer. However, her strength had remained stuck at the Entry-level Professional Rank until now.
Furthermore, due to Zhou Ming’s casual decision back then, Su Mei had chosen the wrong path, preventing her from fully utilizing the advantages of a Beast Knight. Her strength was much weaker compared to Beast Knights of the same level.
Additionally, with Su Mei’s current status, Entry-level Professional Rank strength no longer matched her position.
That was why Zhou Ming participated in the bidding for the Spineback Iron Dragon Essence Blood.
It could also be considered a reward for Su Mei’s wholehearted service over the years.
Once Zhou Ming, a Transcendent Expert, spoke, and directly called out five thousand Source Crystal Coins, no one continued bidding against him.
The Spineback Iron Dragon Essence Blood was smoothly won by him.
After the second auction item concluded, the auction continued.
The next several auction items were too ordinary for the many Transcendent Experts, so none of them participated in the bidding.
However, although the Transcendent Experts did not participate, it did not affect the popularity of the auction in the slightest.
Rare high-quality Transcendent Equipment, potions capable of increasing Spiritual Power, strange Spiritual Materials with special effects—
Under the fierce competition of the many Professional Beast Tamers, the prices all rose far above normal market value.
As time slowly passed, the thirteenth auction item once again attracted the interest of many Transcendent Experts.
Fifth-tier Spiritual Material, Seaheart Liquid.
This was a special Spiritual Material nurtured within the deep sea, possessing the unique effect of tempering Spiritual Power.
For example, if a Beast Tamer had consumed too many potions, causing their Spiritual Power to become unstable or contaminated with too many impurities, this item could be used to purify their Spiritual Power.
Beast Tamers who could no longer rely on potions to increase their Spiritual Power would then be able to continue consuming potions while still obtaining maximum effects.
Even Beast Tamers like Zhou Ming, who rarely used potions to increase Spiritual Power, could use this item to temper their Spiritual Power and thereby deepen its materialization.
For this kind of resource that could indirectly increase one’s strength, almost every Transcendent Expert present participated in the bidding.
As bid after bid rang out, the price of the Seaheart Liquid directly surpassed thirty thousand Source Crystal Coins.
Seeing the endless stream of bids, Zhou Ming participated in two rounds before ultimately choosing to give up.
With the “rent” Little Pink Mushroom provided every month, this kind of treasure was not worth spending an exorbitant amount to obtain.
After all, he had previously used Extreme Cold Jade Marrow, and after consuming the mysterious liquid provided by Little Pink Mushroom, he had not experienced any sensation of unstable Spiritual Power.
In the end, the Seaheart Liquid was sold for forty-three thousand seven hundred Source Crystal Coins.
As the auction continued, the quality of the subsequent auction items grew increasingly higher, and the Professional Beast Tamers within the auction hall gradually became mere spectators.
“The fifty-ninth auction item: High-tier Secret Technique, Puppet Substitution Tribulation Technique.”
“This is a special secret technique that allows one to refine a special puppet through the secret art, enabling it to substitute for fatal injuries or curses.”
“First, I must clarify that the materials required to create the puppet are extraordinarily rare. After refinement, it must also be nourished for several years using one’s own blood and Spiritual Power.”
“Of course, there are several alternative methods. For example, one may use their own limbs or even their Beast Tamer beasts to cast this technique, though the effects will be significantly worse.”
“One more reminder: subordinate beasts of the Shepherd System cannot be used to cast this secret technique.”
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood that in order to use the Puppet Substitution Tribulation Technique, one had to rely on something closely connected to oneself.
However, despite the harsh requirements for using the Puppet Substitution Tribulation Technique, every Transcendent Expert present developed intense interest in it.
Anything that could serve as a life-saving trump card had always been highly sought after by powerful experts.
Even if Transcendent Experts could no longer advance further, their lifespans were still several times longer than those of ordinary people. No one wished to perish midway due to unforeseen danger.
At this moment, Zhou Ming had already risen to his feet.