Chapter 272: The Familiar Golden Card
When Ling Yun struck the auction hammer and brought the sale of the Essence of the Stars to a close, she gave the audience almost no time to breathe.
Raising her hand in a graceful motion, the crystal bottle was carried away by attendants.
Moments later, a brilliant golden light erupted at the center of the stage, immediately drawing every gaze in the room.
When the glow faded, a palm-sized golden card hovered quietly in midair.
Intricate patterns shimmered along its edges, and at its center glowed a faint martial soul silhouette—an image that seemed to depict a transformation, from a lower form to a higher one.
The card's gentle radiance concealed a pulsing power, akin to the energy released by the soul power and spirit ring enhancement cards from previous auctions—yet deeper, weightier, and far more mysterious.
"It's another golden card! Just like the previous soul power enhancement card!"
A few gasps broke out in the crowd. Eyes locked hungrily onto the card.
"But it's darker in hue than the last one, and that aura feels different. Could this be an upgraded version?"
"Hard to say. Every card from the Star Auction Pavilion has a unique function. The soul power card boosted cultivation ranks, and the ring enhancement card raised the age of soul rings. Perhaps this one does something entirely new?"
The room buzzed with speculation. Even the most reserved representatives of great powers straightened in their seats.
At Shrek Academy's VIP table, Mu En tapped the armrest of his chair, a sharp gleam flaring in his aged eyes.
"This energy... purer than the other cards, and it resonates directly with the essence of martial souls."
Elder Xuan gave a slow, grave nod. "If the Pavilion dares to present it right after the Essence of the Stars, it must be extraordinary."
Across the hall, the hooded figure of Zhongli Wu of the Holy Spirit Church leaned forward, his gaze blazing with greed. The elders behind him were already struggling to steady their breath.
The Holy Spirit Church had no shortage of gifted cultivators, but many were cursed by the limitations of their evil martial souls.
For their cult, the higher one's martial soul tier, the faster their cultivation speed—and the deadlier their destructive potential.
If this card truly held the power to improve martial soul quality, the Church would stop at nothing to obtain it.
In another corner, Ning Qitian of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's fingers rubbed idly against the armrest as his mind raced.
"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is already a top-tier martial soul… If the card cannot affect the pinnacle level, it may not be useful to us. But if it could raise an ordinary disciple's martial soul from mid-grade to high-grade… even that change would be revolutionary."
Meanwhile, Xu Tiannan of the Sun and Moon Empire smirked faintly, his hand pressing down on the golden armrest of his wheelchair until it creaked. "No matter what it does, if it strengthens my empire, it's mine."
As tension filled the air, Ling Yun finally spoke, her tone bright and melodic, cutting through the noise like crystal chimes.
"Everyone's eyes are sharp as always. This third auction item is indeed one of the Golden Cards—its name: the Martial Soul Rank Enhancement Card."
"Martial Soul… Rank Enhancement Card!?"
The entire auction hall erupted.
"It really upgrades the level of a martial soul?!"
"A martial soul is a soul master's foundation! The higher its grade, the greater the potential! This is practically rewriting destiny!"
Ling Yun lifted her hand to calm the uproar and continued.
"As its name implies, this card can raise one's martial soul rank by one tier. However, it has two clear limitations. First—it is ineffective on top-tier martial souls."
A few murmurs of disappointment rippled through the powerful organizations, but Ling Yun simply smiled and added,
"Second, the success rate ranges between fifty and one hundred percent. It cannot guarantee success every time."
"This limitation," she said smoothly, "is precisely why it is the third auction item on the list."
Though some lost interest, most of the audience appeared all the more eager.
Even if the odds weren't perfect, a chance to evolve one's martial soul was something beyond priceless—an opportunity to change one's life.
Ling Yun carried on, her voice poised and confident.
"To explain further: a low-rank martial soul can evolve into a mid-rank martial soul. A mid-rank martial soul can evolve into a high-rank one. And a high-rank martial soul—using this card—can directly evolve into a top-tier martial soul."
Gasps swept through the crowd.
From high-rank to top-tier—such leaps could shatter the bottlenecks that countless soul masters had faced for generations.
It meant that a faction in possession of the card could create a top-tier martial soul user overnight.
They could even give rise to future Limit Douluos.
At Shrek Academy's booth, Mu En's dull eyes burst into radiant light.
"To think such a wonder exists… Martial soul evolution. Not even in the God Realm have I heard of an item that can raise the very rank of a soul!"
Elder Xuan clenched his fists. His mind raced back to the looming Abyssal threat.
"We have to obtain it," he whispered sharply. "At any cost. Our academy needs new top-tier talents to stand against what's to come."
In the Holy Spirit Church's dark enclave, Zhongli Wu leaned forward, his voice low and fervent.
"One top-tier martial soul could transform our entire sect. We must have that card—no matter what price we pay."
At the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's seats, Ning Qitian's eyes burned with ambition.
"If our disciples with high-grade martial souls could evolve to the highest level… we could one day nurture successors rivaling the Seven Treasure Pagoda's heritage—or even birth another Nine Treasure Pagoda bearer."
He turned to his nearby elder, whispering, "This card is worth far more than the Essence of the Stars itself."
In the Sun and Moon Empire's corner, Xu Tiannan's face twisted into a hungry smile.
"To unite this continent, one must first command unrivaled talent. With this card, I could raise the entire empire's soul masters one rank higher! I'll pay any price."
The air in the grand hall became feverish—more intense than during any prior sale.
Even the mid-tier powers that had planned only to watch were now restless.
Even if they couldn't afford to bid, they had to witness which faction would claim the impossible.
Ling Yun's calm, professional smile never wavered. She had expected this reaction long before stepping on stage.
Clearing her throat, she raised her voice.
"The Martial Soul Rank Enhancement Card's starting bid is ten million gold soul coins. Each bid increase shall not be less than five million gold soul coins. The auction… begins now!"
"Fifteen million!"
Before the echo faded, Zhongli Wu of the Holy Spirit Church called out sharply, his voice cold and heavy with intent.
"Twenty million!"
Xu Tiannan's smooth, authoritative baritone followed almost instantly, unflinching in its challenge.
(END CHAPTER)
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