The middle-aged man maintained a serene smile as absolute silence dominated the circular hall.
He appeared ordinary at first glance. Amiable face, upright posture, hands crossed behind his back. However, the subtle pressure emanating from his body made it clear to any specialist present. That was not soone who could be ignored.
His eyes slowly swept across the three floors.
"Allow to introduce myself."
His voice echoed softly yet firmly, sustained by invisible formations that carried each syllable to the most distant corner of the hall.
"My na is Shan Mu. Today, I will have the honor of conducting this centennial auction."
A faint murmur passed through the first floor. So recognized the na. Others rely felt the controlled aura and remained silent.
Shan Mu slightly inclined his head toward the private rooms on the third floor.
"The House of Clouds thanks the presence of the distinguished guests... and also those who traveled long distances to be here."
His eyes then turned to the common audience.
"Without further delay."
The smile on his lips beca a little sharper.
"Let us begin."
As soon as the words fell, the formations on the ceiling shifted.
The soft lighting that filled the hall dimd abruptly. The spiritual lanterns went out one by one, plunging the environnt into controlled gloom.
A brief instant of darkness.
Then...
At the center of the stage, a circular formation shone in deep blue.
Aquatic runes began to rotate slowly, emitting a soft sound, like the distant flow of a river.
From the heart of the formation, sothing began to rise.
A jade platform slowly erged from the ground, enveloped by a thin bluish mist.
Upon it... rested a spear.
As soon as it beca completely visible, a light ran across its tallic body. The blade at the tip reflected crystalline blue tones, as if it contained water in constant motion. The shaft, long and elegant, bore finely carved spiritual inscriptions.
Even from a distance, it was possible to feel its fluid energy.
Shan Mu raised one hand.
"Ladies and gentlen... the first item of the day."
He walked around the platform without touching it.
"A spear classified as a mid-level Earth Treasure."
A more intense murmur spread through the hall.
Earth Treasure.
That classification alone was enough to heat the blood of countless cultivators.
"This artifact was found three years ago in a newly discovered tomb in the southern coastal region of the empire."
The mist around the spear briefly intensified, responding to the presenter’s words.
"It belonged to a cultivator specialized in Water Qi, a specialist who, according to fragnted records, reached the peak of the Spiritual Awakening Realm."
So in the common section inhaled deeply.
A weapon used by soone at that level... was not sothing common.
Shan Mu continued.
"The spear contains internal formations that amplify water-attribute techniques by up to thirty percent. Furthermore, its fluid energy allows it to redirect impact, softening frontal attacks."
He made a strategic pause.
"In battles of life and death... it can be the difference between living and dying."
The silence that followed was dense.
Kyrian watched with a neutral expression. He felt the energy contained within the artifact but showed no interest. Beside him, i Li analyzed the inscriptions with curious attention. Yan Ling seed impressed but soon crossed her arms.
It was not what they had co for.
Shan Mu raised his hand again.
"The starting bid will be 15,000 mid-grade spirit stones."
For a second, no one moved.
Then...
"Sixteen thousand!"
The voice ca from the first floor, firm and eager.
"Eighteen thousand!"
"Twenty thousand!"
The numbers began to rise almost imdiately.
Jade plaques were raised. Qi was injected into them, causing golden values to shine in the air above their owners.
Shan Mu maintained his calm smile.
"Twenty-three thousand."
"Twenty-five thousand!"
On the second floor, the VIP section began to participate.
A figure dressed in gray robes discreetly raised his plaque.
"Thirty thousand."
The value hovered in the air, shining intensely.
A faint murmur crossed the hall.
Thirty thousand was no small amount.
On the first floor, so began to hesitate.
But the desire for an Earth Treasure spoke louder.
"Thirty-two thousand!"
"Thirty-five thousand!"
Kai leaned slightly forward.
"It’s rising fast."
Bai Zhu nodded in silence.
Shan Mu slowly circled around the platform.
"Forty thousand."
The voice ca from the VIP section again.
Now, the first floor practically fell silent. The dispute was clearly becoming one between those with deeper resources.
"Forty-five thousand."
The value shone from another VIP partition.
The eyes of many discreetly turned toward the third floor.
The ten private rooms remained completely still.
No reaction. No bid.
It was evident that, for the giants present there, a mid-level Earth weapon was not worthy of interest.
Kyrian noticed as well.
They were waiting for sothing greater.
"Fifty thousand."
The voice ca firmly from a corpulent man in the VIP section, adorned in noble dark-blue robes. His gaze was resolute.
A faint silence followed.
Fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
It was a fortune.
Shan Mu slightly inclined his head.
"Fifty thousand. Excellent choice."
He waited.
"Does anyone offer more?"
A brief pause.
Then...
"Fifty-five thousand."
Another noble, younger, with aristocratic features, raised his plaque without hesitation.
The corpulent man slightly frowned.
For a few seconds, he remained still.
The hall held its breath.
Then he raised his plaque again.
"Sixty thousand."
The number exploded in golden light above him.
A collective gasp spread through the hall.
Sixty thousand.
Now, even so in the VIP section began to reconsider.
The young aristocrat hesitated. His fingers tightened around the edge of the plaque. But after a few monts, he slowly lowered his arm.
Shan Mu observed everything attentively.
"Sixty thousand mid-grade spirit stones."
He raised his right hand.
"Going once."
Silence.
"Going twice."
No movent on the third floor.
No reaction in the nearby partitions.
"Going three tis."
His hand descended lightly.
"Sold."
The word echoed clearly.
The formation beneath the platform shone once more. The spear was enveloped in blue mist and slowly descended, disappearing into the interior of the stage.
Servants were already moving discreetly to arrange delivery to the winner.
The corpulent noble maintained a firm posture, but his eyes revealed contained satisfaction.
To hold an Earth Treasure in one’s hands was more than status. It was security. It was power.
It was a decisive advantage in future battles.
The hall began to murmur again, the tension montarily dissipating.
Shan Mu crossed his hands in front of his body.
"An excellent beginning."
His eyes once again swept across the three floors.
"But..."
His smile beca more enigmatic.
"That was only the warm-up."
User Comments
0 comments from readers