As the Heavenly Heart Fruit was auctioned, the emotions of everyone present were stirred.
The subsequent auction items also sparked heated discussions among the crowd.
For those seated in the auction stalls, their only hope of acquiring something useful lay in the ten private boxes remaining silent.
Here, different social strata were starkly reflected.
"The next item is called the Spirit Binding Lock!"
At this moment, a staff member brought an unusually shaped chain, about two meters long, to the auction stage.
Upon closer inspection, one could notice that strange patterns were carved all over the chain.
"I believe many of you are unfamiliar with this Spirit Binding Lock, so allow me to briefly introduce it!" The host picked up the chain, magnified it through a camera, and projected it onto the large screen. He said, "According to the mysterious individual who provided this item, this chain, as its name suggests, has the effect of binding spiritual energy."
Since most of the attendees were ancient martial artists, they naturally understood what the host meant by "spiritual energy."
In the ancient martial arts world, "spiritual energy" was a general term.
For instance, the *zhenqi* cultivated by ancient martial artists was a type of spiritual energy.
In addition, there were also types such as ghostly energy, resentful energy, dragon energy, and so on.
"Binding spiritual energy! Can it really do that?"
"Are they joking? If this Spirit Binding Lock were used on an ancient martial artist, wouldn't it directly render them powerless!"
"If it's true! Then it could also be used to suppress malevolent spirits, ensuring peace and security!"
"But since the Dawn Auction House dared to put it up for auction, they must have tested it."
"That's right! We just don't know the extent of its effectiveness!"
"..."
Everyone spoke in turn, their curiosity about the Spirit Binding Lock palpable.
At this moment, the host provided the answer they sought.
"Since everyone is curious about the specific effects of this Spirit Binding Lock, I will now share the test results from the Dawn Auction House as a reference!" The host took a deep breath, calming his excited emotions, and said, "According to our tests, even a Martial Emperor expert, if bound by this lock, would be unable to mobilize a single trace of their *zhenqi*. In other words, once restrained by it, anyone below the Martial God realm would possess no resistance whatsoever!"
"What?"
As this result was announced, everyone was stunned.
Even a Martial Emperor couldn't break free.
Keep in mind, that was a Martial Emperor!
That was a realm that most ancient martial artists could only gaze up at in awe.
Yet!
This small chain could render that awe-inspiring existence completely defenseless.
This was simply too unbelievable, too exaggerated.
At this moment, not only were the people in the auction stalls bewildered, but even those in the private boxes fell silent.
For them, Martial Emperors were the pillars of their respective clans.
But now, such a terrifying chain had appeared.
It had truly exceeded their expectations.
In Box Number Five.
Ye Ming looked at the chain, a faint smile gracing his lips.
"Boss, could this be your doing!"
Rainsensent, seeing that smile, immediately sensed that something was amiss.
Such a monstrous chain, in his understanding, was something only Ye Ming could create.
"Ye Ming! Did you really make this?"
Nangong Qianyu was also very curious.
"That's right!"
Ye Ming did not conceal it and said with a smile, "Actually, this chain itself is very ordinary. It's only because I carved a Spirit Binding Array onto it that it possesses such an effect!"
Similar to the Illusory Array on Nangong Qianyu's earrings, the Spirit Binding Array on the chain was something he had learned from the "Immortal Techniques Record" before he set foot into human society.
Aside from these arrays.
He had also studied techniques like artifact refining and alchemy.
As for how he had so much time to learn, that was perhaps a secret that could not be told.
...
In Box Number Two, a young figure was seated, with a man standing behind him.
If Dolisa were present, she would definitely recognize this man.
Indeed, this was the mysterious young man who had spoken to Dolisa at the airport.
As for the person behind him, it was the middle-aged man who had come to pick him up after he left the airport.
"This chain is quite peculiar!"
The young man stared at the magnified patterns of the chain on the large screen, his eyes filled with a hint of shock.
"Young Master! Have you discovered anything?" the man behind him asked.
"Not really!" The young man waved his hand and said with a smile, "I just feel that those patterns seem to be arranged in some kind of order!"
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man also looked closely at the patterns, seemingly noticing something hidden.
"Forget it! It's not important!"
The young man shook his head and averted his gaze. "Although this chain is somewhat interesting, it's just that, not worth worrying about!"
"What the Young Master says is absolutely right! For our clan, even if a divine artifact capable of sealing a Martial God were to appear, it wouldn't be worth your concern!"
If an outsider were to hear this, what would they think?
What kind of family was it that didn't even regard Martial Gods as important?
"Zhang Yi, how long have you been by my side?"
After hearing those words, the young man suddenly asked the middle-aged man.
His voice was no longer as gentle as before, and there was even a hint of coldness in his tone.
"Young... Young Master! I..."
Hearing the change in tone, Zhang Yi actually began to tremble.
He knew that his previous words must have displeased the Young Master.
"I asked you how long!"
The young man's voice grew even colder.
"Eight... Eight years!"
Zhang Yi replied in panic.
"Good! I hope this is the last time I have to ask you such a question!" The young man's gaze shifted, reminding him, "At the same time, I hope you don't forget, the reason our clan can be one of the Four Dark Clans is not because we possess any special qualities. Rather..." At this point, the young man's voice became much heavier: "It is because we have always been able to recognize our place!"
"Therefore, when we fail to recognize our place, we can be replaced at any moment!"
Whether the young man's words were meant to remind Zhang Yi or himself was unclear.
In any case, Zhang Yi's boastful remark had brought him back to a clearer state of mind.
"Young Master! I understand!"
Now, Zhang Yi realized the reason for the Young Master's displeasure.
He had indeed gotten a little carried away just now.
...
Returning to the auction hall, the bidding for the Spirit Binding Lock had already begun.
Considering this was a divine artifact capable of restraining Martial Emperors, and with the exception of the Four Dark Clans, even members of the Four Bright Clans were placing bids.
The Spirit Binding Lock, which had an initial bid of one hundred million Chinese currency, had already reached two and a half billion Chinese currency after several rounds of intense competition.
Just as the situation was once again at a stalemate, the most mysterious of the ten private boxes finally made a bid.
Box Number Ten:
"Three billion!"