CHAPTER 797: CHAPTER 490 BIBO DRAGON EMPEROR_2

The island’s lakes and rivers were also teeming with dragons and sea beasts swimming about, all heading in the same direction as the dragons in the sky.

A moment later.

A majestic building appeared on the eastern coast of Donghuang Island, merely tens of kilometers away from the Canglong Family. It was a circular lake connected to the ocean, with several rivers from the island flowing into the middle, forming a bay.

Surrounding the lake, which was over one thousand five hundred meters in diameter, platforms were built layer upon layer from low to high, the outermost layer reaching more than three hundred meters.

Each layer of the platform was evenly divided into separate sections, resembling seats.

These open-air platforms, spanning hundreds of square meters, were adorned with simple stone chairs and some green plants, and nothing else. Each platform had a prominent number that could be seen by others.

This was the site of the Cangming Auction.

At the moment, at this auction site resembling a gigantic sports stadium, there were already many people on the tens of thousands of terraces.

More mutants kept arriving ceaselessly.

From the sky to the sea, dragons, mounts, and sea beasts were everywhere, their large sizes making it impossible for them to land on the terraces. Instead, they squeezed together outside, occasionally engaging in conflicts and biting each other.

"Magnificent!"

Ji Xinghuo exclaimed.

With a casual glance upward, he saw thousands of dragons.

Even after so long in the True Dragon Dynasty, he still couldn’t identify all the dragon species. An island several kilometers away had been flattened to serve as a "parking lot," also filled with a vast number of dragons and war pets.

The Cloud Sea Dragon landed at one side of the auction site.

Its appearance attracted many gazes; some were drawn by Cang Ya, famed as the number one beauty of the Bibo Dragon Domain, still a significant attraction.

Some were looking at the Cloud Sea Dragon, a rare sight of a Sky Dragon species.

However, when they noticed Yunhuo Xiao on top of the Cloud Sea Dragon, many changed their expressions, recognizing his identity and daring not to stare further.

"I’ll go in first."

Yunhuo Xiao’s body flashed with a burst of fire and disappeared.

The next second, he was already on one of the terraces in the auction site, located at the outermost high platform. The number was only two digits, which offered a broad view, overviewing the entire venue, with flying prohibited above. Food and fruits were already prepared, and servers were immediately at his service.

That was the VIP area, especially prepared for the Shepherd Star Saint and honored guests, allowing them entry without any formality.

Others had to check their cards to enter.

Cang Ya was all prepared.

Being a core member of the Canglong Family, she had received a front-numbered card early on. After the verification, Ji Xinghuo followed her into the auction site. The terrace location was excellent, high enough, but without server service.

The two sat on the stone chairs of the terrace. Since it couldn’t accommodate the Cloud Sea Dragon, they allowed it to fly to the nearby Canglong Family.

"We’re number 249?"

Ji Xinghuo picked up a white shell-shaped number plate, which had a number engraved on it matching the terrace’s.

"Yes," Cang Ya nodded, "just raise it when you bid."

This item had no technological content, just an ordinary shell.

Yet, this number plate, which could easily be picked up on the seashore, required a fee of ten Ether Crystals.

And a financial verification was necessary.

To qualify for the auction, participants must possess at least ten thousand Ether Crystal assets and pay three thousand Ether Crystals as a deposit to the Canglong Family. Anyone disrupting the auction would not only forfeit their deposit but also face further punishment afterward.

The auction rules were simple.

Each bid was made by raising the plate, with a minimum increment set. If one wanted to offer a higher price, they simply shouted it out loudly.

"Of course, our Canglong Family also has those high-tech auction methods, but we simply chose not to use them," Cang Ya explained softly, "The most primitive auction rules create the most intense atmosphere, leading to the highest prices."

Ji Xinghuo understood.

More mutants were entering, and out of over sixty thousand terraces, most were filled.

Just selling these number plates alone, the Canglong Family would earn over six hundred thousand Ether Crystals, astonishing indeed.

Ji Xinghuo spotted some familiar figures.

Cang Beiming, Jing Qin, Yin Doujian Ping, and Xingban Lan, these mutants who had clashed in the Sea Abyss, were core members of the True Dragon Family or individuals of exceptional talent who had made a name for themselves in the Bibo Dragon Domain, leading figures among the younger generation.

Their strength and status were also reflected in the number tags at the auction.

Although the front row terrace positions were closer to the auction items and offered a clearer view, the further back one sat, the higher the position which allowed one to overlook the entire venue and watch the other attendees, a preference by the stronger participants.

Those mutants who could sit at the highest outer layer of the terrace were either incredibly strong, immensely wealthy, or held high status, or perhaps all three.

Xukun Tianlin had also arrived.

His position was directly opposite Ji Xinghuo, and their eyes met briefly across the distance of more than a thousand meters before looking away.

Some people noticed the interaction between the two and started whispering, not hesitating because of the Xukun Family’s presence, which reflected the decline of the Xukun Family. They were desperate to reclaim the Azure Sky Ring to regain their lost prestige.

But their repeated failures only made others think less of the Xukun Family.

Xukun Tianlin heard them too. He seemed calm, but his facial muscles twitched involuntarily, his expression dark as water.

Ji Xinghuo’s lips curled up in a smirk.

Suddenly, his expression froze.

"Why are they here?" Ji Xinghuo saw three familiar figures, Titanium Cobalt Lan, Titanium Cobalt Qingwei, and Titanium Cobalt Zhenhe; fortunately, their seats were on the other side, quite far away, and they hadn’t noticed this side.

Cang Ya also saw the three and shot Ji Xinghuo a look that reveled in disaster, "Do you want to go over and say hello?"

"No need."

Ji Xinghuo shook his head and looked away.

Cang Ya covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, no longer teasing, but her gaze frequently drifted to the Titanium Cobalt Family’s terrace, particularly resting on Titanium Cobalt Qingwei with a complex look in her eyes, hesitating as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.

As the time for the auction to start neared, most of the attendees had arrived.

The entire venue held over a hundred thousand mutants, the weakest of whom were Fourth Level, but the vast majority were Fifth and Sixth Rank mutants, all elites and top master of their respective ranks.

New figures appeared one after another, either flying in or appearing directly on the VIP terrace. Though they concealed their auras, the aura that they inadvertently revealed commanded awe; they were all Shepherd Star Saints.

Seventh Rank Dragon Lords, Dragon Warriors, Dragon Shepherds, various powerful advanced and ultimate professions, or even Dragon Kings!

Each was a superpower that dominated the Star Realm.

More than thirty had arrived today!

With so many Shepherd Star Saints gathered together, although they restrained their power, the slight leakage of their aura that mingled and collided created an indescribable oppressive aura that enveloped the sky above the auction, even triggering an Ether Energy storm.

"Terrifying..."

Ji Xinghuo was shocked and greatly longing.

This is what it means to be a Shepherd Star Saint!

The realm that countless mutants from the Galaxy and Star Realm sought after; reaching it meant achieving a monumental milestone on the path of life’s evolution, transcending worldly shackles, and true power returning to oneself!

The tens of thousands in attendance all turned their gazes toward the gathering of Shepherd Star Saints.

They mostly knew each other, some were friends, exchanged greetings and chatted for a bit; others were enemies, they coldly glared or sneered at each other; and some Shepherd Star Saints did not speak, remaining indifferent and composed.

Cang Ya also exclaimed, "This is the first time I’ve seen so many Shepherd Star Saints. At past Cangming Auctions, the most we’ve ever had was four or five."

"They must all be here for the Eclipse Species." Ji Xinghuo said.

The Eclipse Species was extremely precious even to Shepherd Star Saints, and not every one of them possessed an Eclipse Species.

Even with the flaw of "Multiple Personalities," its allure was immense.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

At that moment, a sonorous voice rang across the auction hall, causing everyone in the venue to stand up at once. Even the dragons, war pets, and various mounts in the distance quieted down and turned their gaze toward the center of the lake at the auction hall.

The calm lake water rippled, forming a whirlpool and rising in the center to form a platform hundreds of meters high.

A clump of water above it coalesced into shape, revealing an elegant figure.

The thirty-odd Shepherd Star Saints also stood up, leading the salute towards the figure on the water, shouting loudly, "Greetings to the Bibo Dragon Emperor!"