The private room or rather, the VIP room was located on the second floor of the auction house, offering a clear view of the auction platform through its windows.
From auction house manager Zhou Xun, they learned that second-floor VIP rooms were typically reserved for wealthy nobles, influential figures, or powerful soul masters.
Vast Sea City's proximity to Sea God Island meant soul masters from there occasionally came to purchase supplies. Thus, VIP rooms were often prepared for them though not exclusively.
For instance, high-ranking land soul masters sometimes visited for sightseeing and shopping at auctions.
"Do Sea God Island soul masters come to Vast Sea City often?" Ning Rongrong recalled Sea God Island had strict rules prohibiting casual departures.
"Once every year or two." Zhou Xun shook his head.
"The last visit was two months ago. They usually buy daily necessities or browse the auction house occasionally."
"I see." Ning Rongrong pondered. Soul masters were still human they needed food, drink, and couldn't completely isolate themselves. The isolation was relative.
This suggested that while nominally under Heaven Dou Empire's jurisdiction, Vast Sea City functionally served as Sea God Island's extension.
"I've heard these waters have many pirates. Doesn't Sea God Island manage them?" Remembering the original story, Ning Rongrong inquired reflexively.
Zhou Xun froze momentarily before smiling wryly at the trio. "Many pirates are descendants of Sea God Island residents."
"Sea God Island supposedly enforces an extreme rule those failing cultivation by age eighteen get exiled regardless of survival."
"Vast Sea City must have many former Sea God Island residents then?" Ning Rongrong sought deeper understanding.
"Indeed." Recognizing the delicate-looking girl as the actual decision-maker among them, Zhou Xun explained after brief consideration:
"Exiled residents either settle in Vast Sea City or become pirates."
He paused before continuing:
"The most notorious pirate crew is the Purple Pearl Pirates, led by someone called Purple Pearl."
"Her parents allegedly got discarded from Sea God Island for lacking spirit power, becoming pirates."
"But Purple Pearl herself possesses formidable spirit power nearly Soul Emperor-level while young, having established fearsome maritime reputation."
"Actually, she could've taken Sea God Island's trials but refused, seemingly resistant toward the island."
"Young?" Dugu Yan blinked curiously. "How old is this Purple Pearl?"
"About twenty-seven. Her crew claims she's around fifty-seventh or fifty-eighth rank."
"That... is impressive." Dugu Yan clicked her tongue.
At nineteen, she was only forty-eighth rank. Reaching near-Soul Emperor by twenty-seven was achievable but with what advantages?
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spoon-fed her resources medicinal baths, immortal herbs, everything.
Purple Pearl? From Zhou Xun's account, she was just a pirate.
That seemed absurd.
"Interesting." Ning Rongrong contemplated briefly before shifting focus back to the chatty manager.
"Manager Zhou, do you have any ten-thousand-year whale glue here?"
Zhou Xun smiled bitterly. "Rarely. Almost never appears."
"Whale glue benefits soul masters enhancing strength. Millennium-grade specimens hardly get sold, let alone ten-thousand-year..."
"Frankly, even Soul Emperiors struggle extracting glue from ten-thousand-year whale spirit beasts."
He explained oceanic spirit beasts underwater surpassed sea soul masters in ferocity.
Average ten-thousand-year oceanic beasts could overwhelm Soul Emperiors.
Additionally, most traveled in groups. Killing one required immediate departure blood attracted predators or enraged kin.
Thus, hunting marine spirit beasts proved extremely difficult, especially for ten-thousand-year whale glue.
"I see." Ning Rongrong changed topics. "Do you have marine charts? Specifically marking spirit beast territories, preferably ten-thousand-year ones."
"Those we have." Zhou Xun responded swiftly, deducing their purpose from context while maintaining professional distance.
"Cost?"
"One thousand gold spirit coins." He ventured cautiously.
"Acceptable." Ning Rongrong tossed him a money pouch.
Recognizing their affluence, Zhou Xun added:
"Later we're auctioning an ancient soul tool relic. You might find it interesting."
"Ancient soul tool?"
"Yes " As Zhou Xun prepared details, a doorbell chimed. "Manager, auction's starting your presence is required."
"Understood." Nodding, Zhou Xun bowed apologetically. "Forgive me I must appraise auction items now."
He hurried out, calling back: "Someone will deliver the charts shortly."
The VIP room door closed again.
"Hmph. Scheming fellow."
"What's wrong, Grandpa?"
"That manager timed his 'ancient soul tool' remark perfectly probably viewing us as extravagant spenders." Dugu Bo chuckled.
Dugu Yan: "..."
Ridiculous. Yet the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda did fit that profile.
Ning Rongrong gazed outside where crowds gathered below the still-empty auction platform.
Soon a young auctioneer ascended the stage, first presenting the pills Dugu Bo had provided.
"Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!"
"Welcome to our weekly auction..." After generic greetings, he introduced the three pill bottles (twenty-nine pills each) as a bundled lot.
Having tested one pill each earlier with Dugu Bo's permission, he elaborated on their effects prompting excited murmurs.
While not supremely potent, their life-saving potential healing, detoxification, spirit recovery made them essential sea voyage gear.
Though effectiveness dropped sharply above fortieth rank, they functionally served as portable support soul masters.
The set ultimately sold for five thousand gold spirit coins, though many buyers seemed more interested in production methods.
Ning Rongrong paid little heed, while Dugu Yan purchased several items money being no object to her.
Ding-dong
The doorbell drew their attention.
"Honored guests, the manager sent these marine charts."
Accepting the charts, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan examined them together.
"Hmm, black dots mark ten-thousand-year spirit beast zones, red dots hundred-thousand-year?" Dugu Yan muttered, reading the legend.
"Likely indicating areas with groups of similarly-aged beasts rather than individuals."
"So we'd still need caution." Ning Rongrong noted dozens of black dots just within surveyed regions unexplored areas probably held more.
Suddenly, the auctioneer's amplified voice echoed through the room:
"Ladies and gentlemen, witness this next marvel!"
"We present an ancient soul tool relic from antiquity!"
Drawn to the window, the trio watched curiously as the auctioneer dramatically unveiled the much-hyped "legendary ancient soul tool."