Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

Dugu Bo's words left both Cheng Xiao and Dugu Yan stunned. Neither of them had expected that someone as aloof as Dugu Bo would say something so inspiring.

"Is there a way to help these ordinary people without spirit power become Spirit Masters?" Cheng Xiao asked thoughtfully.

Dugu Bo chuckled in response. "You want to change their fates? A noble idea, but too unrealistic. If people could cultivate and become Spirit Masters without innate spirit power, many would still resist the idea."

"As much as I dislike Spirit Hall's methods, I have to admit that without them, the number of ordinary people enslaved by nobles would only increase."

"The process of awakening a Spirit is expensive. While the two empires can afford it, they see no reason to cover the cost. Nobles control most of the wealth within the empires, and if they choose to obstruct the process, even emperors can't fully resolve the issue."

"That's why most Spirit Masters aspire to join Spirit Hall. Without them, people wouldn't even have the chance to awaken their Spirits."

"As for gifted Spirit Masters who don't join Spirit Hall, they often get eliminated. With Spirit Hall's ruthless nature, they won't tolerate forces they can't control growing strong enough to oppose them."

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Xiao gained a clearer understanding of Spirit Hall's methods. However, he also knew that the current Pope of Spirit Hall was nothing more than a madwoman intent on destroying the institution.

What was Bibi Dong thinking? With her status, she could have found any man she wanted. Yet, she chose that person. It must be said, in some ways, the Grandmaster really is a rare talent.

At that moment, the crisp sound of bells echoed across the auction hall. On the glittering crystal stage, an elderly man with white hair appeared, smiling warmly at the audience.

"The auction has begun. If you see anything you want, don't hesitate. Just bid as you like," Dugu Bo said nonchalantly, glancing at Cheng Xiao.

The murmurs of the crowd quieted as the elderly man took the stage.

The audience members, all affluent individuals, turned their eager gazes toward the stage. For them, attending the auction without buying some rare or curious item would be more painful than anything. After all, their wealth existed to be spent—and what better opportunity to flaunt it?

The elderly man, dressed in luxurious robes, beamed at the crowd and cast a subtle glance toward the VIP seats in the front. With years of auctioneering experience, he knew well that the real spenders were the nobles and major powers seated up front, while many of the so-called wealthy individuals in the back were more show than substance.

"Let's bring out the first item," the auctioneer announced, clapping his hands.

Suddenly, a radiant beam of light burst from the crystal platform. As the light slowly faded, a set of light-gray armor appeared on the stage.

"This armor is called 'Fuqing.' It was acquired by a Spirit Douluo through sheer luck. Our appraisers have verified that it's made of top-quality materials. Tests have shown that the armor can withstand a full-power strike from a Spirit Emperor without breaking, though its exact upper limit remains unknown."

"If any of you are interested, don't hold back," the old man said with a smile. "The starting price is 30,000 gold spirit coins. Let the bidding begin."

Immediately, several voices called out their bids, eager to acquire the rare armor that could resist a Spirit Emperor's attack.

Cheng Xiao, however, remained indifferent, not even glancing at the armor. He found little value in it. With his mastery over shadow power, he could shape it into weapons or armor at will. Compared to relying on external items, Cheng Xiao preferred to solve problems using his own strength.

While Cheng Xiao was uninterested, Dugu Yan was intrigued. For an average Spirit Master, having life-saving armor was always desirable. Although the armor's upper limit was unknown, the fact that it could withstand a Spirit Emperor's strike was reason enough to value it highly.

After several intense minutes of bidding, Dugu Bo won the armor with a final bid of 100,000 gold spirit coins.

The price could have gone higher, but when the other bidders recognized Dugu Bo, they wisely backed off. His reputation wasn't one to be taken lightly—provoking him could mean disaster not only for themselves but for their entire families.

"Grandfather, do we really have that much money?" Dugu Yan asked worriedly.

Dugu Bo chuckled. "Don't worry. I can afford it. If I can't manage a mere 100,000 gold spirit coins after being a Titled Douluo for so long, that would be embarrassing."

He added with a sly grin, "Besides, my relationship with Prince Xue Xing of the Heaven Dou Empire is quite close. Money has never been a problem for me."

With the first auction item successfully sold, the auction continued. A dazzling variety of items appeared on the stage—rare weapons, herbs, treasures, spirit beast eggs, and fragmented treasure maps. However, Cheng Xiao remained disinterested in these curiosities.

It wasn't until the second-to-last item that something unusual happened. A young girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, was led onto the stage. Though still a child, her figure was surprisingly developed, and fear was evident on her delicate face.

The moment she appeared, the men in the audience were captivated. Their desire ignited, they began bidding fervently, raising the price to 200,000 gold spirit coins in no time. However, just as the bidding seemed to slow, Ning Fengzhi, the master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, made a final bid of 300,000 gold spirit coins, winning the auction.

The crowd was left in shock. Today's auction was truly filled with surprises—not only was Dugu Bo present, but even Ning Fengzhi, leader of one of the most powerful sects, had attended. It was a surreal experience for many.

"Ha! Ning Fengzhi is a sly fox," Dugu Bo chuckled, rubbing his chin. "But judging from his actions, it seems he bought the girl with good intentions—to rescue her."

Cheng Xiao leaned back in his chair, glancing at the disappointed men who had failed to win the girl. They wore expressions of regret and frustration, revealing their base desires. Ignoring them, Cheng Xiao continued to wait patiently for the final auction item.

He hoped the last item would be something truly interesting. Ending the auction without anything worthwhile would feel like a wasted opportunity.