Douluo: Law of Heaven and Earth

Notting City, Central Plaza.

City Lord Xiao and Deputy City Lord Romanyak had already constructed a temporary stage here to display the soul bone to be auctioned:

A head soul bone from a Moo Spring Ox.

Soul masters and members of minor clans had crowded around.

It had only been three days since news of the soul bone auction spread, yet Notting City had become incredibly lively. Many soul masters from nearby cities rushed over during this time, eager to catch a glimpse of the soul bone and perhaps take advantage of the chaos.

Notting City's patrol units and the guardian knights from the Spirit Hall branch had surrounded the stage's outer perimeter to maintain security.

Meanwhile, Zhou Qing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Romantina, and other spirit masters from the Notting Adventurer's Guild stood watch near the stage, constantly alert to the soul masters around them.

Tang San stood near Zhou Qing, scanning the crowd beyond the stage, and sighed, "The students and teachers of Notting Academy combined with the adventurers from the guild number less than a hundred. Yet this one soul bone has drawn over five hundred soul masters here, and more than twenty of them have spirit power above Rank 30."

"We really underestimated the value of a soul bone."

This was Zhou Qing's first time feeling just how precious a soul bone truly was. Even at the hundred-year level, it had drawn soul masters from other regions.

Had there been more time for word to spread, even Soul Sects or Soul Kings might have come.

After all, soul bones in this Soul Land I era were incredibly rare—even Title Douluo usually had only one.

Title Douluo might not personally absorb a hundred-year soul bone, but seeing one could still stir a desire to seize it.

After all, soul bones could enhance a family or sect's foundation!

"Welcome, soul masters from Notting City and surrounding regions, to the Notting City Soul Bone Auction."

Romantina's father, Romanyak, ascended the stairs on the left side of the stage and stood center stage, just behind the head soul bone on display.

"This soul bone dropped when my daughter was assisting someone in hunting a soul beast. Fortunately, there were no tragic consequences… However, for various reasons, this soul bone isn't suitable for me or my daughter, so we've decided to auction it."

After a brief explanation, he could tell the soul masters below were growing impatient, so he shouted:

"Let's skip the formalities. The soul bone auction officially begins!"

"Starting bid: 200,000 gold soul coins!"

The moment the words fell, a soul master called out, "210,000!"

"220,000!"

"250,000!"

Excited voices rang out one after another.

Tang San asked Zhou Qing beside him, "The city lord initially offered you 500,000, right?"

"Yes." Zhou Qing nodded. "Judging by how excited they are, this soul bone could sell for over a million. After deducting expenses and the 'tribute' to City Lord Xiao, Romanyak might net 700,000 to 800,000 gold soul coins."

At that moment—

The bid had already reached 820,000.

"900,000!"

The shout came from Dales, the City Lord of Falling Star City, who raised the bid by 80,000 in one go.

The entire plaza instantly fell silent.

To most commoner soul masters, even 200,000 gold soul coins would take a lifetime to accumulate. For minor clans, their total savings rarely exceeded 700,000 to 800,000.

Once the price exceeded 500,000, only a dozen or so wealthy clan-affiliated soul masters continued to bid.

Above 800,000, only three factions remained:

Marshal Matthew Nuo, head of Notting City's Spirit Hall branch.

City Lord Xiao of Notting City, who, though one of the auction hosts, had secretly arranged for his subordinates to bid under false identities.

Dales from Falling Star City—a declining noble from the Star Luo Empire, but even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse. He was still rich.

"900,000, going once!"

Romanyak struck the auction gavel once, hoping to raise the price further.

Matthew Nuo had already dropped out.

City Lord Xiao gave a subtle signal to his subordinate on stage, who raised the bid by another 20,000.

"920,000."

"970,000."

Dales cast a cold glance at the black-cloaked figure bidding against him, then looked toward Romanyak and City Lord Xiao. He sneered, "An increase of 50,000. No one else can match this. Let's end it already."

Romanyak looked over at City Lord Xiao.

"City Lord Dales," City Lord Xiao smiled cheerfully, "you and I are both city lords. In situations like these, fairness is essential." He subtly signaled his man to keep bidding.

Old friends are for scamming, after all.

You're the lord of Falling Star City under the Star Luo Empire, and I'm the lord of Notting City under the Heaven Dou Empire. We can work together, but we can't appear too friendly. Isn't that right?

"Sigh~"

Zhou Qing let out a light sigh and said to Tang San, "City Lord Xiao is getting greedy. He thinks that because he and Dales are 'kindred spirits,' he can make him swallow a small loss. But now's not the time to be taking small advantages."

Tang San, after spending enough time with Zhou Qing, had picked up on these unspoken truths.

He also caught the implication behind Dales's earlier words—he had already recognized that the black-cloaked bidder was Xiao's planted shill and was warning him not to get too greedy.

But City Lord Xiao?

Maybe he realized it, but assumed his good relationship with Dales meant the man would accept a small loss, since they were "kindred spi—

"…rits…"

Tang San's expression turned subtly resentful as he muttered to Zhou Qing, "Can you not give perfectly normal idioms such bizarre and twisted meanings?"

He was now regretting teaching Zhou Qing so many four-character idioms—Zhou Qing had learned them well… and warped them even more.

And now—

These idioms had taken on meanings far beyond their original definitions.

Sometimes creepy.

Sometimes goofy.

Sometimes hilariously absurd.

But frustrating—lyaccurate in real-life application.

Absolutely speechless.

"Life needs humor," Zhou Qing flashed a white smile and laughed, watching the black-cloaked man raise the bid to 1,000,000 gold soul coins.

Ten seconds passed.

Dales didn't bid again—he merely stared silently at Romanyak, who held the auction gavel on stage...

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/XenTronix