Chapter 980: Bidding for the Scourge Dragon

"Because I was one of the mutated ones myself in my previous life, I understand how much pain they are enduring. If possible, I hope you can buy it. Call me selfish, but I want you to help it find release. For it, death might be the best outcome. In any case, it would be much better than enduring endless torment and insanity."

While Crystalline spoke to Tang San, the bidding price surpassed ten thousand amethystine coins.

Spending more than ten thousand just to buy a Scourge Dragon and bring it back for euthanasia? That seemed a bit much. Ten thousand amethystine coins was a fortune! But Tang San could sense Crystalline's sorrow. Clearly, whatever experiments she had endured must have come with unimaginable suffering.

"I promise, it won't be completely useless. I can replicate its destructive energy and help you in future battles. The attribute of its energy is very special and powerful."

"You keep saying 'destructive' this and that, but you're not exactly correct,"

Tang San said softly.

"Its energy attribute is not just destruction but annihilation, the opposite of creation."

Crystalline was momentarily stunned. She had not expected Tang San to tell her something new about one of her own fellow dragons.

"Annihilation, you say?"

"Yes. You are right that your kin is special; annihilation energy isn't something that just randomly pops up. It's something exclusive to divine realms and in principle it shouldn't even exist in a mortal plane. By all rights, it should have long since destroyed this dragon's body from the inside. Yet it endured and survived, which is truly incredible. If I could bring it back to my divine realm, it might truly regain its sanity and be able to live properly. I have to tell you this: this Scourge Dragon's will to survive might just be the strongest I've ever seen. It really doesn't want to die. Otherwise, it would have been the easiest thing in the world for it to end its own life. It's just that it can't control its annihilation power. I can bid for it and try to help it. At the very least, I could ease some of its pain. When I regain my full strength, I can consider taking it back with me."

Annihilation was one of the most fundamental forces in the cosmos, coexisting on the same level with creation. In any divine realm, creation and annihilation were always at the core of the world's growth and evolution. In spite of what seemed obvious, if a divine realm lacked this force to erase what was useless and temper growth, it could not endure for long, much less for all eternity.

In Tang San's divine realm, there existed both a God of Life seat and a God of Annihilation seat, and both the Goddess of Life and the God of Annihilation were God Kings in their own right. If this dragon that could control annihilation energy could be brought back and entrusted to the God of Annihilation for care, it would benefit the divine realm quite a bit.

As for this dragon's exact condition, Tang San had to take his time to carefully observe it and see whether he could offer any help.

But it was clear that no low bid would secure this creature.

"Eleven thousand amethystine coins from VIP Room One." The Scorching Sunflowers placed another bid. As the foremost bloodline researchers in the Solstice Empire, how could they not be intrigued by such a unique bloodline?

"Eleven thousand one hundred amethystine coins." Yet another bid from outside the VIP rooms.

"Twelve thousand amethystine coins from VIP Room Eight."

The sudden leap in price brought a momentary hush over the Ancestral Court's grand auction hall. Everyone shared the same thought:

Him again?

Yes, once more it was Tang San.

How was it always him? Many of the bidders couldn't help but curse in their hearts.

This guy is a bottomless money pit!

Twelve thousand amethystine coins marked the second time in this auction such a high bid had appeared, and both times from VIP Room Eight! What was he trying to prove? Was he just burning money for fun?

The Blue Gold Tree clan didn't even have an Emperor, and the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had already said it was best for such powerful bids to come from clans with Emperors for safety's sake.

Yet Jin Miaolin was still bidding without hesitation!

"Twelve thousand one hundred amethystine coins, VIP Room One."

"Thirteen thousand amethystine coins, VIP Room Eight."

It now seemed obvious to the participants that the Blue Gold Tree clan had deeper roots than the Scorching Sunflowers, yet at the same time they were growing rather crooked.

A familiar angry voice sounded from VIP Room One. "Without an Emperor, how can you subdue it?"

Oh my, if it isn't my old friend!

Tang San's lips curved in a faint smirk. Back in the Firedawn clan's city, the Scorching King had lost to him once, and now they were clashing again. Of course, the result would be the same.

On the auction platform, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's face darkened.

"Do not disrupt the auction!"

A white light enveloped VIP Room One.

He had only

advised

that bidding should be reserved for clans with Emperors; this was by no means a rule. The Scorching Sunflowers' anger was clearly out of line. Even the Radiant Dragon King hadn't spoken during his heated bidding for the Radiant Dragon Spear.

Eh, whatever. Just let them rage if they want.

Tang San didn't care. As long as the Sunborne Nymph Emperor didn't interfere, he wasn't worried about these nymphs. In fact, judging by the Sunborne Nymph Emperor's attitude, he didn't seem to think highly of this clan either. After all, any mutated bloodline's birth was a matter of life and death. They definitely felt some amount of kinship; Crystalline's reaction was direct proof.

"Thirteen thousand amethystine coins, first call. Due to VIP Room One's violation of auction rules, it is now barred from further bidding on this item," the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said coolly.

As the master of the Ancestral Court, he had just been slapped in the face in front of all these participants. It had been clearly stated at the beginning that fairness was paramount, and that meant

fairness was paramount, period

. Otherwise, how could weaker bidders stand up to powerful clans? Would anyone have the guts to bid?

In any case, with the Scorching Sunflower out of the competition, no one else continued bidding. Thirteen thousand amethystine coins was already an extremely high price. Moreover, the dragon's volatility still worried many.

"Thirteen thousand amethystine coins, going twice."

"Thirteen thousand amethystine coins, third call. Sold!"

Tang San had once again secured a record bid. Just the last two records—the Scourge Dragon and the Radiant Dragon Spear—had already cost him twenty-five thousand amethystine coins, the official amount he'd earned from selling the Blue Gold Fruits.

"Clan Leader, can we really control this dragon?" the Great Elder asked worriedly.

Tang San smiled slightly. "Maybe, maybe not. But even if we can't, do you think the Ancestral Tree can't? If anyone can restore its sanity, it's surely the Ancestral Tree."

Hearing this, the Blue Gold Tree elders' eyes lit up. If this dragon could regain its sanity and cooperate, it would become a mighty guardian for the clan. A creature with a supreme dragon's physique and strength approaching an Emperor's.... What a high return on investment that would be!

Once more, the elders looked at Tang San with newfound admiration.

The enormous auction platform slowly sank, and the now-slumbering dragon vanished with it, awaiting final settlement.

The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's gaze swept across the VIP rooms. The white glow covering VIP Room One faded.

"Next, we will auction the final five items. I can tell you right now that each of these is a true treasure of heaven and earth, the absolute highlights of this entire auction, so ready your amethystine coins. Bring out our first crown jewel!"

At his command, the auction hall suddenly darkened, as if midday had given way to night.