The auction continued, with the Demon Race taking out more and more treasures from the Ice-Snow World Cluster to be auctioned off.
"It seems the Demon Race's invasion of the Ice-Snow World Cluster really did strip it bare of almost all its treasures. That's utterly ruthless!" Hun Lao couldn't help but transmit his thoughts to Ye Yunfei.
"The Demon Race is like the Demon Beast race—brutal by nature. For them, the concept of 'ruthless' doesn't exist. Moreover, acts of burning, killing, and plundering probably happen every day across the Chaotic Void Sea," Ye Yunfei replied, shaking his head.
"That's true. In fact, for most living beings, the path of cultivation is paved with blood and bone," Hun Lao sighed.
"I never thought you, a Chaos World Tree, would have a compassionate side," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Of course!
Our Chaos World Tree race is one of the most ancient divine trees in the Chaos. It's said that our kind existed even before most other races were born.
One could say that our Chaos World Tree race has personally witnessed the evolution of many races in this world to their current prosperous and flourishing state, as well as the decline and fall of numerous others.
Having witnessed too many rises and falls, we deeply understand that the rise and development of every race is no easy feat. That's why we naturally cultivate a sense of compassion for all living things," the Chaos World Tree replied.
"That's indeed true. Your race is far too ancient," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Ye Yunfei knew that as his strength continuously improved, Hun Lao would awaken more and more racial memories, and the things he knew would also increase.
At this moment, the auction on the platform at the center of the plaza was still ongoing, with one treasure after another from the Ice-Snow World Cluster being auctioned off.
"Every single one of these treasures would be extremely useful for Da Bing. If I could get them all and give them to him in the future, it would be a tremendous help," Ye Yunfei thought. He did not continue participating in the bidding for these treasures, but watching those precious items being auctioned off one after another made his eyes burn with envy.
This was because these treasures originally did not belong to the Demon Race; they were plundered. Now the Demon Race was auctioning them off—a deed that would make many living beings' eyes red with greed. However, due to the overwhelming strength of the Demon Race, no one dared to voice any objections.
"What's the matter?
Do you fancy those treasures?
If you do, let's just snatch them outright. They don't belong to the Demon Race anyway. If the Demon Race can rob the Ice-Snow World Cluster, then we can rob the Demon Race!" The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm guessed Ye Yunfei's thoughts and immediately transmitted his voice.
"Don't be hasty. Let's wait and see.
Although the Demon Race plundered these treasures from the Ice-Snow World Cluster, once they are auctioned off, they will belong to different owners. If I were to snatch them then, I would offend even more factions," Ye Yunfei replied after some thought.
"What's there to fear? You dare to provoke major factions like the Demon Race, the Demon Beast race, the Dark Faction, and the Heavenly God Hall. What difference does a few more make? When you're deep in debt, one more lender doesn't matter; with many lice, the itching isn't worse," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said with a laugh.
"Let's wait and see for now," Ye Yunfei replied casually.
"I heard there is a hetero-flame in the Ice-Snow World Cluster called the Ice Spirit Flame, listed among the Terrestrial Fire Rankings. Did your Demon Race not obtain the Ice Spirit Flame? Why isn't it being auctioned?"
At this moment, from a remote corner of the plaza, a figure entirely cloaked in a black hood spoke up. His voice was hoarse, clearly deliberately concealing his identity.
"He's an alchemist!"
Ye Yunfei sensed the cloaked figure and couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart, immediately identifying the person's profession.
This was because a rich scent of medicinal pills emanated from the person's hands—a lingering aura from long-term pill refining and contact with many ordinary types of medicinal herbs. This aura was extremely faint, easily detected only between fellow alchemists.
"Oh?
You are indeed knowledgeable, sir, to actually know about the Ice Spirit Flame. However, what gets auctioned and what doesn't is for our Demon Race to decide. If something isn't on the auction block, sir, you shouldn't dwell on it further," the Demon Race member in charge of the auction on the platform glanced at the black-cloaked figure and replied in a deep voice.
"Ice Spirit Flame, a hetero-flame from the Terrestrial Fire Rankings."
Ye Yunfei's heart stirred. During this period, Ye Yunfei had been revisiting alchemy, so he naturally paid more attention to hetero-flames.
Although Ye Yunfei already possessed four hetero-flames, for an alchemist, the more hetero-flames one mastered, the more choices available during pill refinement.
When refining pills of different attributes, if one possessed a hetero-flame corresponding to those attributes, the chances of successful refinement and the quality of the resulting pill could be better guaranteed.
"It would be great if I could obtain the Ice Spirit Flame. However, if a Demigod-level expert from the Demon Race participated in the attack on the Ice-Snow World Cluster, then the Ice Spirit Flame most likely already fell into the hands of that Demigod expert. Trying to snatch it would be too difficult. I'll act according to circumstances," Ye Yunfei thought to himself after hearing the name 'Ice Spirit Flame,' desiring to possess it but knowing the difficulty would be considerable.
Hearing the Demon Race member's words, the black-cloaked figure emitted a few piercing, cold laughs but said nothing more.
"Alright, everyone! Now begins the auction of the long-awaited Snow Maidens!"
At this moment, the Demon Race member in charge of the auction on the platform suddenly raised his voice and announced loudly.
Hearing this, many male beings immediately perked up, their eyes gleaming with desire.
The Demon Race auctioneer had mentioned earlier that over five thousand Snow Maidens would be auctioned, meaning many would have a chance to bid for one.
This was also one of the reasons why so many beings had come to participate in this auction.
"Everyone, the over five thousand Snow Maidens we are auctioning this time vary in quality, divided into three grades: Inferior Quality, Medium Quality, and Superior Quality.
The prices for Snow Maidens of different grades are also different. I will now first auction the Inferior Quality Snow Maidens. Bring out a batch of Inferior Quality Snow Maidens!"
The Demon Race auctioneer on the platform called out clearly.
Following his words, over a dozen beautiful maidens with snow-white skin, icy flesh and jade-like bones were brought onto the platform.
These beautiful girls all seemed to belong to the icy beauty type, possessing a cold aura, but their appearances were indeed excellent. Their figures, looks, skin, and temperament all perfectly qualified them as beauties!
"They truly are Snow Maidens! Hahaha…
These Snow Maidens were previously guarded very closely by the Snow Human Race, rarely seen by outsiders. Now we finally have a chance to see their true faces!"
"Not only do we get to see their true faces, but we also have a chance to bid for one and take her back to slowly appreciate and play with. What a delightful prospect indeed!"
…
Seeing the dozen-plus beautiful Snow Maidens on the platform, many male beings couldn't help but cheer and shout wildly. Quite a few almost drooled.
"Alright, everyone, no need to get too excited yet. These are only the Inferior Quality Snow Maidens. Later, there will be Medium and Superior Quality ones auctioned.
Of course, you get what you pay for. The higher the quality of the Snow Maiden, the more expensive the price naturally is. As long as you are willing to spend the money, you will have a chance to take them home.
If you don't have the money, then you can only look. Now, for the Inferior Quality Snow Maidens, there are a total of three thousand. The starting bid is five billion pieces of Heavenly Immortal-grade Immortal Crystals.
The auction begins now. Those who wish to participate, start your bidding! Rest assured, once the bidding concludes and you've paid the full amount, our Demon Race guarantees the Snow Maiden will be delivered to you!" the Demon Race member on the platform declared loudly.
*Hiss!*
Hearing the starting price announced, many male beings around the platform couldn't help but suck in a cold breath. Such a starting price was difficult for most to afford.
"Hahaha…
Not expensive, not expensive at all! Snow Maidens are rare treasures, of course they're worth this price. You paupers without money, step aside!"
A burly man with a tall, iron-tower-like frame pushed through the crowd, striding forward. The people in front of him were shoved aside like waves by his strength.
"I bid five billion five hundred million pieces of Heavenly Immortal-grade Immortal Crystals!" this burly man shouted.
"I bid six billion pieces!" someone immediately countered.
"What's the rush? There are thousands of Snow Maidens. Can't you leave one for me?
Raising the price so high right from the start, how are the later ones supposed to be auctioned!
I don't care! No one compete with me! Even if I go bankrupt, I'm going to win a Snow Maiden to take home!" the burly man roared angrily.
Then this burly man opened his mouth to bid again. Other male beings, infected by the atmosphere, also began to clamor excitedly. The scene was very lively.
Finally, after several rounds of bidding, the burly man successfully won a Snow Maiden.
The auction continued. As one Snow Maiden after another was auctioned off, the plaza maintained a fervent atmosphere.
"These Snow Maidens are all innocent. The harm war brings to ordinary, innocent beings is truly immense!" Ye Yunfei couldn't help but shake his head and sigh softly upon seeing this scene.
"Have you ever heard the saying, 'The Grand Ultimate forgets emotion'? Some true powerhouses, standing at great heights looking down upon the weak in the world, harbor no compassion.
Just as a lofty dragon looking down at a group of ants suffering on the ground would feel no sympathy.
So, by the same logic, for those major factions and powerhouses, they fundamentally don't care about the plight of these ordinary, weak beings. A way of thinking like yours is comparatively rare," Hun Lao replied upon hearing Ye Yunfei's sigh.
"'The Grand Ultimate forgets emotion'—of course I've heard that phrase. But is it truly the case that the stronger one becomes, the less one cares about the plight of ordinary people?"
Ye Yunfei was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I don't think it's necessarily so. At least for me now, it's still very difficult to ignore the suffering of ordinary people," Ye Yunfei added.
"Perhaps. But you don't need to care too much about such things. Every living being walks their own different path. As long as you follow your own heart.
Adhering to your inner self, not betraying your conscience, having your thoughts flow smoothly—that surpasses everything else," Hun Lao said.
"Do you know something?" Ye Yunfei couldn't help but ask upon hearing Hun Lao's words.
The Chaos World Tree was an exceedingly ancient divine tree; it was possible it knew the truth about the nature of all things in the world.
"It's hard to say. My memories are also fuzzy and unclear. We can continue exploring this question later if you're interested.
I feel that this auction before us might have unforeseen twists," Hun Lao suddenly replied.
"Oh? Hun Lao, what do you mean? What twists could this auction have?"
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but feel a stir, immediately releasing his Soul Power energy to sense his surroundings.
"I sense that there seem to be powerful individuals at a distance using their Soul Power to monitor this auction," Hun Lao said.
"What's strange about that? It's probably Demon Race powerhouses guarding this auction," Ye Yunfei said.
"No. I can feel that among those powerful individuals monitoring the auction, some have unstable emotions, as if they are struggling to suppress anger and might interfere at any moment," Hun Lao shook his head and replied.
"Such a thing?
Hun Lao, you can even sense their emotions?"
Ye Yunfei was somewhat surprised and hurriedly asked.
"I refined quite a few Divine Crystals during this period. Did you think it was for nothing? After refining those Divine Crystals, my strength has improved considerably, and I've also awakened some very useful racial inheritances," Hun Lao replied with a laugh.
"So that's how it is. That's wonderful!" Ye Yunfei was pleasantly surprised.
"Everyone! Now we auction the Medium Quality Snow Maidens. Starting bid: ten billion pieces of Heavenly Immortal-grade Immortal Crystals!"
At this moment, the auction of Inferior Quality Snow Maidens concluded, and it was time for the Medium Quality ones.
Immediately, a batch of about a dozen Medium Quality Snow Maidens was brought onto the platform at the plaza center for display.
"The Medium Quality Snow Maidens are indeed even more beautiful! This price isn't expensive!
It's worth it!
I must win one. Don't anyone compete with me!"
Seeing those Medium Quality Snow Maidens brought onto the platform, countless male beings around stared with transfixed eyes, shouting loudly.
It was at this moment that Ye Yunfei suddenly felt a stir in his heart. His gaze shifted to look at one specific Snow Maiden on the platform at the plaza center.
This Snow Maiden had just been brought up. She was of Medium Quality, with exquisite features, skin surpassing snow in whiteness, icy flesh and jade-like bones, a pitiful delicate appearance. Her cold, beautiful face was full of anger.
"What's the matter?
Master, are you also interested in those Snow Maidens?
Why not bid for one to take back?"
Hu Miao, seeing Ye Yunfei's actions, couldn't help but ask with a smile.
"No. Try sensing it. That Snow Maiden's aura seems somewhat familiar," Ye Yunfei shook his head and spoke.
"Somewhat familiar?
How is that possible? Master, this is our first time coming to this Ice-Snow World Cluster, and it's definitely our first time seeing these Snow Maidens. How could there be any sense of familiarity?" Hu Miao found it strange.
"True. Hearing you say that, there is indeed a sense of familiarity."
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Hun Lao immediately focused his senses on that Snow Maiden and then nodded.
"Hun Lao, you also feel that Snow Maiden is familiar?" Hearing Hun Lao's words, Hu Miao couldn't help but be taken aback.