Chapter 981: The Lifebond Necklace

Beams of light shot forth from all directions, illuminating the central auction platform. A small pedestal slowly rose from below, erupting with dazzling brilliance. The entire massive hall was instantly enveloped in a cascade of dazzling light. The resplendent glow left everyone spellbound.

The source of all that brilliance was a necklace It appeared to be inlaid with numerous gemstones, all in varying shades of green, which formed a seamless gradient. They were shaped like leaves, some layered and others barely touching, and it evoked a strong sense of nature.

The leaf-like gems curved inward along both sides, ultimately converging into a single point where a sky-blue gemstone lay. Its color was as clear and pure as heaven itself, and it radiated a soft blue halo that shimmered with fantastical hues. The gemstone was diamond-shaped, with sharply defined facets that made clear its three-dimensional form and intensified the refraction of its inner light.

Nearly every bidder in the audience was instantly captivated by its beauty. Even without knowing its function, its aesthetics alone had already conquered the hearts of nearly all the women present.

"This is called the Lifebond Necklace. It is an exceedingly rare treasure, with a rather special function: mediating a contract. This contract must be formed by two individuals who are of one heart and spirit, and is called the Life-Link Pact. Once this contract is established via the Lifebond Necklace, the two individuals become inseparable, in the literal sense. They will thenceforth share one life; they will share all benefits that come from cultivation; they will share all pain and injury; and they can teleport to each other's side at will to offer mutual protection.

"With the Ancestral Court about to host an unprecedented and grand matchmaking tournament, this necklace has been brought forth especially for that occasion. I believe whoever owns this necklace will have a much better chance of winning the beauty's heart. More practically, it grants powerful protection in moments of breakthrough or peril.

"The Lifebond Necklace will start at ten thousand amethystine coins, and the minimum increment is five hundred. Bidding starts now."

Without a doubt, this was an extraordinary treasure, a genuine top-tier divine item. If used between two kindred spirits, it would essentially make them one entity. If two Emperors were to bind themselves with such a contract, the result would be unimaginably formidable.

Of course, there was also a caveat: In this world, how many beings could truly resonate heart-to-heart, living as if they were one soul?

Ten thousand amethystine coins was a sky-high starting price. Yet, in the context of the upcoming matchmaking tournament, its value was undeniable. This was precisely the kind of auction where such an item could fetch a record-breaking price.

Of course, to most powerhouses who prioritized their own strength, the Lifebond Necklace was more symbolic than practical. Otherwise, with so many Emperors in the Ancestral Court, why would it have gone unclaimed until now?

"Ten thousand amethystine coins, VIP Room Eight." Tang San made the bid almost without hesitation.

At that moment, he'd forgotten all about the Heart of Nature, Black Tortoise Shield, and all the other priceless items he had already won. He was completely certain that, as far as he personally was concerned, this Lifebond Necklace was the most crucial item in this entire mega-auction. Nothing else came even close. This necklace could bind his life to Mei Gongzi's, ensuring that the tragedy of losing her in their past life would never repeat. If they lived, they lived together, and if they died, they died together—inseparable in life and death!

Therefore, no matter the cost, he had to win this item.

Meanwhile, in VIP Room Eleven, Mei Gongzi also became visibly emotional upon seeing this item. She too felt it was of unparalleled importance for her and Tang San.

The matchmaking tournament was imminent. She could wait until the semifinals to participate, but Tang San would have to face a host of strong competitors from the very beginning. With this item, she could help Tang San shoulder injuries, and if danger arose, he could instantly return to her side. Moreover, their future path to Emperorhood and Tang San's goal of regaining his status as a God King would be fraught with peril. The Lifebond Necklace would be their ultimate safeguard.

But when the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor announced the starting price, Mei Gongzi's heart sank. Ten thousand amethystine coins was an astronomical sum, close to previous records. And if the starting price was that high, what would the final price reach?

As expected, VIP Room Eight, representing the Blue Gold Tree clan, made the first move. For a moment, she hesitated.

"Eleven thousand amethystine coins, VIP Room One." The Celestial Fox clan had entered the fray. They wouldn't dare do so without the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's approval, showing how much even they coveted this item.

And indeed, this necklace seemed tailor-made for the Celestial Fox clan. If one of their members could form a Life-Link Pact with a powerful warrior, it would be a massive boost to their survival chances.

Before reaching the tenth order, members of the Celestial Fox clan were extremely fragile, and fortune alone could not always protect them.

"Twelve thousand amethystine coins, VIP Room Two." The Scorching Sunflower clan joined the bidding.

The moment they did, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's expression subtly shifted.

To the Emperors of the Empyrean Dominion, it didn't matter who won the necklace... so long as it didn't end up in the hands of the Sunborne Nymph Emperor. If he were to pair with the Earthshade Nymph Emperor using this item, who could possibly stand against them? Of course, the likelihood of such a pact was slim, given their age. The necklace's ability could only be used once. Once activated, it couldn't be reused—at least, so far as he knew. Moreover, conflict between Emperors was rare, so using it would be somewhat of a waste.

"Thirteen thousand, VIP Room Six." Sky-Splitting City entered the competition as well.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Those who understood the necklace's true value knew exactly what was at stake. Using it to train a pair of top successors would yield exponential returns. It was best suited for grooming the next generation.

For example, if Ning Chen'en and Lan Moqian used this necklace, it would be a monumental boon to both the Behemoth and Golden Mammoth clans. It could even help them ascend to Emperorhood. With Ning Chen'en sharing her burdens and Lan Moqian's powerful offensive capabilities, they would hold an overwhelming edge in the Battle for the Throne.

"Fifteen thousand, VIP Room Ten." Even the dragon race had joined the bidding. Even though they hadn't been willing to pay this much for the Radiant Dragon Spear, they now made a bold bid, raising the price by two thousand at once.

The Radiant Dragon Spear had been a personal matter for Xu An'yu, maybe a clan matter at most, but the value of this necklace was clear to the entire dragon race. Its importance was on a completely different scale, and that allowed him to use resources that would've otherwise been out of his reach.

"Twenty thousand, VIP Room Eight."

When that price echoed across the hall, the entire auction house erupted.

He was back. The Blue Gold Tree clan leader, with his stupidly deep pockets and stupidly high determination, was back in business. Right on time to make some more noise!