"As everyone knows," the auctioneer continued, "Dragonscale Fruits are normally light blue in color. However, this one is distinctly azure. That is why we have given it such a high appraisal."

She paused, then added regretfully, "Unfortunately, it was harvested too early. It no longer has the chance to evolve into a priceless ten-thousand-year purple Dragonscale Fruit. The auction will begin at a starting price of one million federal coins."

One million?

Ray's heart jolted.

Aside from the Frozen Grass, the previous spirit fruits had only started at a few hundred thousand. Why did this one leap straight to a million?

The calm he had painstakingly maintained shattered once again.

Can I really win this?

"One million one hundred thousand!" a bidder called out.

Ray clenched his fists. The auctioneer's words about this fruit being special had only deepened his unease.

The screen displayed the Dragonscale Fruit in detail. It was oval-shaped, still attached to a small branch to preserve its energy. Its surface glowed with a gem-like azure light, almost translucent. What truly stood out, however, were the faint golden veins running across it in jagged patterns, resembling dragon scales.

They looked eerily similar to the golden scales that appeared on Ray's right hand.

Just one glance made his heart burn with longing.

If I get it, I can definitely break the second seal!

"Your luck is quite good," Alfred whispered. "This Dragonscale Fruit truly isn't ordinary. The auctioneer wasn't exaggerating."

Those words, rather than reassuring Ray, only made his anxiety spike. Alfred wasn't the only one who could recognize its value.

"Two million."

Alfred calmly raised his bidding sign, skipping straight from 1.1 million to two million.

The hall fell silent for a brief moment.

Then another bid followed.

The price climbed rapidly. Two point three million. Two point six million. Nearing three million.

With every increase, Ray's chest tightened further.

What do we do…?

"Five million!"

The sudden shout thundered through the hall. Ray's vision briefly swam.

Five million?

It was the same bidder from the sixth private box, the one who had won the thousand-year Frozen Grass.

The entire hall went quiet.

The auctioneer frowned slightly. This was no longer pleasant surprise territory. The Dragonscale Fruit was valued at around six million. If this bidder continued to dominate, no one might dare contest further.

"Teacher…" Ray whispered anxiously. "What should we do?"

Alfred looked at him steadily. "We give up."

"Huh?" Ray's breath caught. "But—"

He couldn't accept it. This fruit felt as though it had been made for him.

"I need it," Ray said urgently. "Teacher, can you lend me some money? I'll pay you back when we return."

Alfred shook his head.

Before Ray could say anything else, a chill suddenly spread through the air. A cold shiver ran down his spine, instantly calming the storm in his heart.

The message was clear.

This price had already far exceeded the fruit's true value.

Ray closed his eyes. He forced himself to breathe. Disappointment gnawed at him, but he steadied his emotions. Compared to others his age, his temperament was already remarkably stable.

He chose restraint.

"Five million, going once… going twice… sold!"

The hammer fell.

Ray silently watched as the Dragonscale Fruit slipped away.

The auctioneer announced the result with professional composure. The auction house bore no resentment. This was simply how auctions worked. When averaging the Frozen Grass and the Dragonscale Fruit together, the house had already made an enormous profit.

Ray, however, felt hollow.

The rest of the auction proceeded smoothly. Items rose and fell in quick succession.

Alfred successfully secured two intermediate spirit ascension platform entry cards for a total of 2.6 million federal coins.

Ray barely reacted.

My Dragonscale Fruit…

His thoughts echoed endlessly.

"Next," the auctioneer announced brightly, "we have the final three items of tonight's auction. They are all battle armor components!"

The crowd stirred.

"Battle armor is usually reserved for the grand seasonal auctions. It was with great difficulty that we acquired these pieces. I believe everyone here understands their value, so please seize this rare opportunity!"

Battle armor?

Ray's eyes lit up instantly.

What does battle armor look like?

"Our first battle armor piece is a battle armor belt," the auctioneer said. "As everyone knows, the belt serves as the energy core of battle armor. It is closest to the mana core, allowing soul power to circulate efficiently throughout the entire set."

"This is a purple-grade battle armor belt. It can serve as the core for assembling a complete battle armor set. Please observe the screen."

A metallic belt appeared on the display, its surface gleaming with a deep purple light. Its craftsmanship was exquisite.

Ray's blacksmith instincts flared.

At a glance, he could tell it was forged from at least three metals, all of them Thousand Refined. Yet it was different from ordinary Thousand Refined metal. Strange grain patterns glowed faintly with purple light, flowing across the belt's surface.

So this is battle armor?

It was only slightly larger than a normal belt, but at its center was an unusual circular metal piece where the purple light was densest. Ray couldn't immediately discern its material.

Alfred explained quietly, "After forging, the metal is shaped according to mecha and soul circuit designs, then assembled and engraved. That is the work of a mecha craftsman."

"An excellent battle armor requires the designer and craftsman to be perfectly aligned. That's why secondary professions are so important. Of course, the most critical factor is compatibility with the user."

Ray barely heard the rest.

Battle armor…

Excitement washed away the lingering disappointment in his heart.

I'll definitely forge battle armor one day!

I may not know how to design soul circuits or engrave yet, but I can forge metal.

And I can already Thousand Refine.

Alfred concluded calmly, "Battle armor is a Soul Master's second life. A single high-quality piece can increase combat strength by thirty percent. Unlike mechas, battle armor is tailored to the user and their martial soul. It's true that ordinary people can now become Mecha Masters, and that support-type Soul Masters can gain considerable combat power through mechas. But the origin of true strength hasn't changed in the past hundred thousand years."

He looked straight at Ray.

"Only truly gifted Soul Masters can stand at the peak. That is why genuine Battle Armor Masters are all-powerful Soul Masters. Battle armor itself has no strength. It only amplifies what already exists."

"A six-ringed support-type Soul Master piloting a mecha is nothing more than cannon fodder before a six-ringed Soul Master wearing battle armor. That gap cannot be crossed. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" Ray replied, breathing heavily. "I understand!"

He had learned about soul mechas long ago. When they first appeared, many Soul Masters had doubted them. Mechas shortened the distance between Soul Masters and ordinary people and weakened the importance of martial souls. Soul Masters of the same rank could fight on nearly equal footing, regardless of talent.

But then came battle armor.

Everything returned to how it had always been.

The strong were strong, and the weak were weak.

Ray couldn't yet imagine the level of power a Soul Master wielded while wearing battle armor, but Alfred's tone alone made its status unmistakable. For Teacher Wu to speak of it with such gravity meant he had seen that power firsthand.

"The starting price is two million federal coins. Each bid must increase by at least two hundred thousand. Let the bidding begin."

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