"And now, everyone! The final item of this auction!"

After the Stardevouring Staff sold for even more than the Darkgold Rampage Bear King, Liya flashed a subtle smile toward VIP Room 6. Though the staff was an "Imperial Relic," its price still exceeded her expectations. "I know you’ve all been waiting for this moment! Focus closely now—our grand finale~"

I stifled a shiver as my wings were gently kneaded. On stage, Liya’s lips curved into an elegant arc. With a flick of her jade-like fingers, she snapped.

The snap echoed through the auction house. Light pouring from the ceiling deepened instantly, casting sharp shadows from the eight icy glow-pillars at the corners. Like ethereal blue flames, the shadows danced across the air—converging in a flash into Liya’s palm.

There, a ring materialized. It shimmered with mithril luster, pure as winter’s first snowflake, bright as moonlight on a clear night, warm as the first drop of milk from the herd. Its flawless white surface wrapped the band like a mother’s hand-stitched farewell robe—radiating quiet tenderness. Even the blue flames dimmed beside it.

"Wow!"

Beside me, *that person* and I gaped with the crowd. The ring’s craftsmanship was breathtaking—like a bride’s sacred veil, beautiful and untouchable.

"Our grand finale—the Ring of Holy Purity!" Liya announced. "Forged by the dwarven master Plic! Beyond its beauty, it holds an eighth-tier ice-elemental magic beast’s core. Its power? A five-second invincibility shield! Cooldown: seventy-two hours!"

*Five seconds of invincibility?*

My heart jolted. Books said invincibility artifacts were vanishingly rare on this continent—even one second could spark bloody bidding wars. In Contract Beast battles, a single second decided life or death.

This ring granted *five* seconds. And it wasn’t single-use. Clearly, it would shatter all previous records. Neither the Darkgold Bear nor the Stardevouring Staff could compare. Even at Levi Ling Auction House, such a treasure appeared only once every few months.

*Crap—*

I noticed *that person* sigh quietly, tilting her head toward me.

"Uh..." She flashed an awkward grin. A bad feeling shot through me.

*She’s out of money?*

"Hey, Little Yiyi," she whined, "when bidding for that Stardevouring Staff... this lady got carried away. Now I’ve only got fifteen thousand gold left. Ugh—spending so much on a staff that merely doubles magic power? Little Yiyi really doesn’t know how to shop."

She crossed her arms, feigning irritation as if that justified her words.

*You’re the one who drove the price up...*

I bit back a sigh. The Contract bound my tongue.

Unaware of our money troubles, Liya beamed. "Starting bid for the Ring of Holy Purity—five thousand gold! Minimum raise: five hundred! Bidding begins—now!"