Soul Emperor Awakening

Fifteen million. The price was so explosive that even Tuo Yunhai beside him was left dumbfounded. The cost to buy one’s freedom from the mines was one million Primordial Stones per person. In other words, Lin Xuan’s fifteen million could get fifteen people out.

Adding the price of the Chi Dragon Heavens Rod he’d bought earlier, he could have freed seventeen people. To earn those seventeen million Primordial Stones, it would take them a combined total of over three hundred years—an average of twenty years of mining per person.

For Lin Xuan to spend what would take others hundreds of years to earn on just two items was simply terrifying.

"Now, will those who have purchased items please come backstage to settle your accounts," Sister Ya announced from below the auction stage.

Everyone who had made a purchase stood up and headed backstage to pay. Anyone thinking of running would get to take a nice long dip in the Demon Sea outside.

Lin Xuan stood up and led Tuo Yunhai out. He had just opened the door when he nearly ran into someone.

"My apologies, my apologies!" Lan Sheng’s Attendant quickly backed away, apologizing profusely to Lin Xuan, but his eyes kept scanning them. When he saw Tuo Yunhai, he gave him a second look, a peculiar glint in his eyes.

"Is there a problem?" Lin Xuan frowned, displeased to see the Attendant.

"My apologies, I seem to have the wrong room. Please excuse the disturbance," the Attendant said, bowing apologetically.

Two formidable Guards then walked over and gestured for them to follow to settle their bill.

With such an exorbitant price, where would they find them if they ran? They had to be personally escorted; there was no way they could be allowed to slip away.

Lin Xuan nodded. He obviously couldn’t run, so he could only follow obediently. His mind raced, preparing various excuses and trying to calculate how many Primordial Stones he had left in his Storage Ring, wondering how much he had left.

The Attendant behind them stared as they walked away. After they were at a distance, a look of excitement appeared in his eyes, and he hurried back to his master’s room.

He returned to the room and approached Lan Sheng. Rubbing his palms together, he said, "Young Master, I’ve discovered something very peculiar! I’m not sure if my guess is correct, and if I misspeak, I beg your forgiveness!"

Lan Sheng scowled. "What is it? Spit it out! If you’re just going to fart around, then get out and do it elsewhere! Stop beating around the bush. Did you figure something out?" He was furious that his prize had been snatched away. If he had run into someone he couldn’t afford to offend, he would have had to just accept his bad luck.

The Attendant bowed and scraped. "Young Master, the ones in the Third Celestial Level private room are two youths. In my humble opinion, one of them is definitely an escaped slave from the mines! His clothes are new, but he walks strangely. It’s obvious he wore shackles for a long time, which is why his gait is so odd. As for the other one, the slightly older one, he has an extraordinary air about him—though not as much as you, of course, Young Master. He also seems formidable. To be at the Peak of the Spirit Refining Stage at such a young age, he must have incredible talent. But again, he’s nothing compared to you, Young Master!"

"You’re saying they escaped from the mines?" Lan Sheng’s eyes lit up. If what the Attendant said was true, it was highly likely this was the Phoenix-riding youth with the highest bounty on his head!

"Yes. If my judgment isn’t mistaken, he’s the Phoenix-riding youth from the bounty notice! Of course, this is just my assessment. According to the information, that youth made off with a great deal of Primordial Stones before he escaped!"

"They seem to have a lot of Primordial Stones now, or they never would have dared to bid so high... And most importantly, I’ve definitely never seen them before. They’re not from the Tu Family or the Zeng Family! Anyone who can pull out that many Primordial Stones must have a high status, and it’s impossible for me to have never met someone of that standing."

This Attendant was sharp-eyed and had correctly deduced the identities of Lin Xuan and Tuo Yunhai. When Lin Xuan and his companion entered, they had already changed their clothes. Their old ones were tattered and not fit to be seen by anyone.

Tuo Yunhai, in particular, had worn shackles for years. He couldn’t change his walking habits overnight. He shuffled along rather than walking normally.

"Hmph. If he’s the boy from the bounty, we’ve hit the jackpot! If I capture him and bring him back, Father will definitely reward me. We’ll go check it out right now. If it really is the boy from the bounty, what a wonderful surprise! And if it’s not, it’s still a surprise, because once he leaves this place, those two items will be mine anyway!" Lan Sheng let out a sinister laugh. No matter the outcome, he would come out on top!

When Lin Xuan and Tuo Yunhai were led backstage, the audience members hadn’t left. All eyes turned to Lin Xuan, looking them up and down, their gazes filled with shock.

They wracked their brains but couldn’t figure out which prominent family these two youths belonged to. They certainly never expected them to be so young!

"Are they from some prominent family? I don’t recognize them at all!"

"His cultivation isn’t low, so his talent must be high. But I have no idea who he is. Could they be outsiders?"

"If they really are outsiders, then the Lan Family is in for a windfall. They’ll get those items without spending a single Primordial Stone!"

...

Everyone knew which private room the Lan Family was in; they had known from the start. That was why they thought the guests in the third private room were incredibly powerful to so blatantly disregard the Lan Family. But now, it seemed they had been overthinking things. It was just two greenhorns with no guards. Once they left this place, they were sure to be robbed.

Nothing would happen to them on Gathering Spirit Island, but that didn’t mean they’d be safe once they left—unless they never left for the rest of their lives. Besides, the Lan Family had its methods. As long as they negotiated with the Island Master of Gathering Spirit Island and offered a reasonable price, they could still have Lin Xuan captured!

Although it would tarnish his reputation, faced with a huge temptation and the power of the Lan Family, the Island Master might still choose to compromise. Of course, the Lan Family wouldn’t act before making an official offer, because everyone in the entire Demon Cloud Sea knew what kind of person the Island Master of Gathering Spirit Island was.

He had a foul temper. An incredibly foul temper. In the early days, someone had disobeyed the rules and was slapped to death by the Island Master with a single blow. The Lan Family was no exception. One of their members who violated the rules here was thrown out to feed the fish!

The Lan Family was utterly disgraced by this and even went to war with the Island Master, only to be defeated and forced to retreat. Unless they were willing to launch an all-out assault, they would only suffer losses. In the end, they chose to compromise, which only served to emphasize the Island Master’s overwhelming dominance.

"The Lan Family..." Lin Xuan’s brow furrowed. It seemed he had provoked the Lan Family. Thinking back to the attendant from before, his expression changed slightly. ’Have I been discovered?’

Whether he had been discovered or not, he had no choice but to follow them and pay. If he really had been found out, he was in serious trouble. No, it was more accurate to say he was in trouble regardless. Anyone who could run a mining operation so cruelly was definitely not a kind-hearted person.

He wasn’t worried for himself, but for Tuo Yunhai beside him. It would be difficult to fight with him around.