Douluo Continent: I ushered in this era

People started bidding one after another, and soon the price reached 30 million.

"Forty million," Chu Ci immediately raised the bid by ten million, hoping to win the auction outright.

But, "Forty-five million," another voice came.

The beautiful auctioneer's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Forty-five million! Anyone else want to raise the price?"

“Fifty million,” Chu Ci continued without changing his expression.

"Fifty-five million," the other party continued to raise the price.

"Sixty-five million,"

"Seventy million,"

Upon hearing the price offered, Chu Ci's hands, which were resting on her thighs, clenched tightly, and she began to hesitate about whether to raise the price further.

Chapter 17 The Deal with Mu Chen

It's not that they can't afford anything over 70 million, but the premium is indeed quite significant. Didn't you see the beautiful auctioneer on the stage almost unable to suppress her smile?

Although the Twin Crystals of the Sun and Moon are extremely precious, they are ultimately just a piece of metal. Without the right means to utilize them, they are nothing but scrap iron. In theory, 40 million Federal Credits should be the limit.

The fact that the other party is willing to pay such a premium indicates that they are extremely confident in realizing the value of the Sun and Moon Twin Crystals. Therefore, their profession is very likely related to metals, in addition to their wealth.

As it happened, there was such a person in Donghai City. A glint flashed in Chu Ci's eyes. That person was none other than the Saint Craftsman Mu Chen.

The people standing nearby exchanged bewildered glances as Chu Ci's expression gradually darkened.

"Xie Xie, do you think Chu Ci will continue to raise the price?" Tang Wulin whispered to Xie Xie.

"I don't know," Xie Xie said, spreading his hands to indicate that although his family was wealthy, even his father wouldn't dare to raise the price by millions or ten million.

"Yes, I didn't expect Chu Ci's family to be so rich." Tang Wulin stuffed a piece of dessert into his mouth with trembling hands to calm his nerves.

"Wu Lin,"

Hearing Chu Ci call his name, Tang Wulin quickly swallowed the dessert in his mouth and replied, "What is it, Chu Ci?"

"Do you have Senior Mu Chen's contact information?" Chu Ci asked.

Tang Wulin was somewhat puzzled, but he still nodded.

"Wu Lin, help me contact Senior Mu Chen. I suspect that the person who was bidding against me just now was Senior Mu Chen."

Tang Wulin was somewhat incredulous upon hearing Chu Ci's words, but after hesitating for a moment, he still dialed Mu Chen's number.

The call was answered quickly, and Mu Chen's voice came through, "Little guy, what's up?"

Tang Wulin first asked Mu Chen if he was at the auction. After receiving an affirmative answer, he breathed a sigh of relief and then tactfully explained that it was his classmate who had been bidding against him.

"Wu Lin, give me the phone," Chu Ci said, taking Tang Wu Lin's phone. "Hello, Senior Mu Chen, I'm Chu Ci, Wu Lin's classmate."

“Little Chu Ci, I know you want me to give up the bidding.” Mu Chen’s leisurely voice came through the receiver, “But you should know how precious this metal is to the blacksmith.”

“I am well aware of the preciousness of the Twin Crystals of Sun and Moon, but…” Chu Ci revealed a confident smile, “However, if I can acquire the Twin Crystals of Sun and Moon, I can offer you a cooperation that you cannot refuse.”

"Heh," Mu Chen laughed as if he had heard something funny. "Boy, aren't you being a bit too arrogant? I am a dignified master craftsman. What kind of cooperation can I refuse?"

"Senior, don't underestimate me. I'll send you a blueprint for you to take a look at." Chu Ci said to the wristband, "Taiyi, send the V1 blueprint of the Spirit Artifact Project to Senior Mu Chen through Tang Wulin's soul message."

"Yes, Young Master Chu Ci." Taiyi's mechanical voice sounded, and an electronic version of the drawing was instantly sent to Mu Chen.

On the other side, Mu Chen opened the blueprints, preparing to use them to properly educate Chu Ci on the meaning of humility for a junior.

But after just one glance, Mu Chen jumped up from the sofa, startling Mu Xi who was next to him.

"Boy, did you do this?" Mu Chen asked sternly.

Chu Ci smiled, the fish had taken the bait. "That's right, and this is only the first version."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone before Mu Chen's voice came through, "Alright, kid, the Twin Crystals of Sun and Moon are yours. Let's meet and chat sometime."

He hung up the phone after saying that. At that moment, the auctioneer was calling out, "Seventy million, second time! Are there any other customers participating in the bidding?"

“Seventy million and one hundred thousand,” Chu Ci said.

"Seventy million, one time,"

"Seventy million, one hundred thousand, the second time,"

"Seventy million, one hundred thousand, sold for the third time! Congratulations to the distinguished guest in Box 9 for winning the Twin Crystals of Sun and Moon!" the auctioneer announced loudly.

"Sigh," Chu Ci sighed. Today's expenses were a bit high. He guessed his father would scold him for being wasteful again.

"Wu Lin, is there something you want at the auction today?" Chu Ci asked.

Tang Wulin understood the purpose of Chu Ci's question and quickly waved his hand, saying, "No need, Chu Ci, I can buy it through my own efforts."

“I’ve already spent so much today, your little bit won’t make a difference,” Chu Ci replied with a hint of domineering, then softened her voice, “Besides, you just did me a huge favor, so I should repay you.”

“But that was just a small favor,” Tang Wulin said, still hesitant, because he thought about how he still owed you a hundred-year-old soul. “In that case, I would owe you far too much.”

"It's alright, you can pay me back slowly. It's better to owe me than to owe other people," Chu Ci said, waving his hand.

Tang Wulin thought about it and realized that it was true. Since he would have to borrow money to buy rare and precious materials anyway, it was better to borrow from Chu Ci than from outside. He could help Chu Ci forge materials and pay back the money slowly in the future.

After thinking it through, Tang Wulin finally revealed that he wanted a hundred-year-old Ice Crystal Fruit, a hundred-year-old Crimson Flame Fruit, and ten drops of blood from a hundred-year-old soul beast with dragon bloodline.

After Chu Ci gave the order, two waiters quickly entered the private room, each carrying a large box.

"These are the items you ordered, Mr. Chu, and the items you just placed an order for. Please check them."

Bai Tianzhe stood up and took the large box. Chu Ci opened one of the boxes and put away the Autumn Spirit Grass and the Twin Crystals of Sun and Moon inside.

Then he picked up the Heavenly Net Protection and handed it to Gu Yue, saying, "Gu Yue, this Heavenly Net Protection is for you."

Xie Xie and Tang Wulin started cheering and making a fuss after hearing this.

Gu Yue was initially surprised, but then a blush spread across her face.

“Gu Yue, I was really worried when the Light Dragon tried to grab you a few days ago, so I bought the Heavenly Net Protection and gave it to you so that you can protect yourself in times of danger.” Chu Ci said gently, looking at Gu Yue’s evasive eyes.

"Hmm," Gu Yue said shyly, lowering her head as she accepted the Heavenly Protection.

"Oh..." Xie Xie's teasing grew louder and drawn out when he saw this.

Gu Yue was immediately enraged and conjured an ice spike, which she then threw at Xie Xie.

With a "whoosh," Xie Xie jerked his neck back as the ice pick grazed his hair.

Xie Xie, still somewhat shaken, shouted, "Gu Yue, you almost killed me just now!"

"Hmph, who asked you to keep making that noise? How boring!" Gu Yue retorted without any politeness.

Chu Ci watched this scene helplessly. He knew that Xie Xie and Gu Yue had always disliked each other.

Chu Ci handed another box to Tang Wulin, who accepted it and thanked her repeatedly with gratitude.

Chu Ci nodded, pulled up Gu Yue who was still bickering, and said, "Let's go, I'll take you back."

Chapter 18: The Final Promotion Match

The following week, a typhoon hit Donghai City, and the promotion tournament was suspended.

Tang Wulin was overjoyed and quickly fused with the spiritual object to enhance his strength.

Chu Ci, meanwhile, was busy organizing the blueprints for the Spirit Artifact Project. It wouldn't be long before she and Mu Chen would most likely begin working on the project.

The afternoon classes quickly came to a close as the school bell rang. A large number of students and even teachers flocked to the playground to watch the final promotion match for first graders.

The four members of Chu Ci also arrived at the playground with the dance of Chang Kong to prepare for the competition.

Standing on the perimeter of the field, Class 5 of Grade 1 looked at the participating team members from Class 1 of Grade 1 and said with a smile to Gu Yue and the others, "Your opponents are hailed as the strongest freshman class in history."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xie proudly raised his head and said, "So what? With Teacher Wu's training, we are confident that we are no less than anyone else."

“That’s right,” Gu Yue said at this moment, “and the reason they are hailed as the strongest freshman class is because you didn’t make a move.”

Tang Wulin nodded in agreement, because he had obtained the spiritual object earlier, so he broke through the first seal yesterday and was not late like in the original story.

"It's good to be confident, but you still need to be careful about two people."

Chu Ci pointed to a tall, composed-looking boy in the first-grade class and a very thin boy on the other side of him, who looked like just a skeleton.

"Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi, they possess a martial soul fusion skill, and they pose the greatest threat to you."

"Don't worry, Chu Ci, we already finalized the plan yesterday, we're sure to win." Tang Wulin confidently patted his chest to assure him.

Dean of Students Long Hengxu had already stepped onto the competition stage. He first nodded to the homeroom teachers of the two classes, and then said in a deep voice: "Today's match is the fourth promotion match, between Class 5 of Grade 1 and Class 1 of Grade 1."

As Long Hengxu spoke, he noticed Chu Ci standing in the center of Class 5, Grade 1 out of the corner of his eye.

Long Hengxu had a good impression of this student because he had the highest soul power level among all the freshmen. He was originally assigned to Class 1, but the school board ordered him to be assigned to Class 5 before the start of the semester.

It's understandable that Wu Changkong is from Class 5, but why hasn't he participated in a single promotion tournament?

Long Hengxu watched the two teams of contestants take the stage and quickly put his thoughts aside.

"Both sides prepare,"

"start!"

With a loud shout from the head of the teaching department, the ultimate showdown between the first-year students finally began.

Xie Xie and Tang Wulin made the first move, unleashing their ultimate attacks simultaneously.

Xie Xie used his second soul skill, Light Dragon Storm, directly on Wei Xiaofeng in front of him.

Wei Xiaofeng was unaware that Xie Xie had advanced to a second-ring Great Soul Master, and misjudged his opponent's strength, catching him off guard. He only had time to use his first Soul Skill, Azure Shadow Flicker, to dodge backward.

After Xie Xie easily shattered the afterimage with the Light Dragon Blade, he forced Wei Yifeng aside and rushed towards Zhang Yangzi behind him.

On the other side, Tang Wulin manifested a golden dragon claw in his right hand. Wang Jinxi's Bone Dragon King Martial Soul became sluggish in the face of the golden dragon claw and was blasted away by Tang Wulin's punch.

Then, Tang Wulin took out a thousand-forged tungsten steel hammer and threw it at Zhang Yangzi.

Gu Yue manipulated the breeze to control Zhang Yangzi. Seeing that Zhang Yangzi had broken free by activating his martial spirit, Gu Yue used the fusion of light and fire elements to create golden flames, which burned towards Zhang Yangzi.

Zhang Yangzi was completely bewildered. Were these people crazy? Why were they attacking him so aggressively from the very beginning?

The three of them attacking Zhang Yangzi together was naturally a pre-arranged plan.

Tang Wulin and his two companions' plan was actually quite simple: by eliminating one of the two people who could use a spirit fusion skill, they could prevent the other from using it.