Young Master Peng

A day passed and the widely anticipated Auction was about to take place. Many influential figures filled the entrance, creating a massive line and in this line, a couple of figures who seemed almost transparent to these people also made their way to the front of the line.

At the entrance, one person paid a sizeable amount to enter. The amount separated the common people who tried sneaking their way in, from the actual fairly wealthy cultivators. Two masked figures were identified on the side of the fairly wealthy cultivators.

Inside the Auction House was a large space filled with many seating. There were hundreds of cultivators on the first floor alone. Taking the stairs, one would go up to the second floor where the V.I.P. rooms were located.

To enter those Higher classed rooms, the amount of Spirit Stones needed to be much higher as well. Paying for one of these rooms was akin to paying for thirty people at the entrance of the Auction House.

In one of these rooms, two figures sat on the exquisite stone chairs as they looked out of the glass and below where the lower wealthy class cultivators of this city resided. The white-masked figure turned its gaze toward the black-masked one.

"Your master spoils you. The number of Spirit Stones you've got is just too much." Saying this, Blade felt jealousy once more. If only Astral was half as useful as Athena's master... Oh! Life would have been soo much better.

"Yes, it's a pity that I left her soo soon. Maybe I should have sucked her wealth dry first... I would have been more useful to you!" Athena said with a tone tinged with disappointment. A missed opportunity on her part.

Chuckling, Blade was about to tease this girl again but, on the stage, a few figures carried boxes as the figure in the lead, a young beautiful woman, smiled at the audience.

"Welcome! Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your patience. After I go over the rules, the auction will begin right away..!"

The young woman then began explaining the rules.

"Firstly, if you want to bid on an item, you must bid at least 100 Spirit Stones of the item's current price. If that item exceeds 10,000 Spirit Stones, then the minimum bid will be increased to 1,000 Spirit Stones!"

"Secondly, the money must be paid in full after winning the bid and given to you immediately after the payment. If you wish to pick up the item after the auction, that can also be arranged."

"And finally, there is to be no arguments and definitely no killing inside this Auction!"

Suddenly, at one of the tables nearby, the cloth blocking the treasure dropped. What was revealed was a glowing red juicy-looking fruit that, upon appearing, released waves of heat.

Smiling, the auctioneer said. "This is the final treasure. Though we weren't able to understand its origin, I'm sure all of you here can comprehend that it is something very special..."

Revealing the final item at the beginning... It was a smart strategy, especially when the final treasure was soo enticing.

Now, all the rich upper echelons would have enough time to send word back to their higher-ups, enough time to get more Spirit Stones and prepare for a bidding war with the other major powers when this item begins to be auctioned!

"This treasure, my Gu family wants it very much!" Suddenly, silence descended as a voice escaped one of the rooms on the second floor. Immediately, those below understood that this treasure wasn't going to be there's...

"Hohoho! I do admit that I understand how important face is but, I'm sure you'll be magnanimous and understanding... There isn't a way for my Luo family to sit down and watch you take this thing."

A voice escaped another room on the second floor. Though they weren't able to claim this treasure as theirs, a least they'll be able to see the inevitable show.

"Luo family! You dare stand against my Gu family?!" The first voice shouted as the latter replied almost immediately, "Please, Gu should not twist my words. How could I ever dare stand against the Gu family...?"

Though the auctioneer had just warned about arguments, these two individuals began arguing at the very beginning of the auction but, right after, another voice resounded. This one hushing everyone present, including the two superfamilies.

"Oh my, it seems you people don't place this young master in your eyes...? I came for an auction, not to watch a squabble between two old fogies."

Silence...

Hearing this voice, many had already identified who it was. Young Master Peng! The most influential and mighty figure under the City Lord. The Peng Clan was the strongest of all the clans in the city and had an inseparable relationship with the Martial Lord who was the City Lord.

The relationship was inseparable due to the reason being, the Peng Clan's Master and the City Lord were the same. With the Young Master's words, both parties closed their mouths, not daring to anger this young master.

"Now, I'll introduce the first item..."

With young master Peng's intervention, the beautiful auctioneer regained control of the Auction House without worry.

...

...

"It seems that the fruit-looking treasure they're fighting over is the fire attribute treasure that we were looking for." Smiling, Blade glanced at Athena.

"How did you know that the Fire Attribute Treasure would've been in this auction...?" Athena was with Blade at all times during their stay in this city, so how did he know it'll appear here when she had no clue?

"Nothing more than reading the setting... Anyway, do you have confidence in claiming it?"

Athena clicked her tongue, replying. "Now that this young master Peng has entered the fray, I'd assume that he also wants this treasure. Even if he isn't a Fire Law Cultivator, the only change would be, he would not be desperate. But, things would become tiresome if he truly is a Fire Law Cultivator..."

"Yes, it'll be very troublesome indeed." Blade smirked and continued. "We might just offend him if you were to outbid him... After all, Young Masters find that saving face is more important than life. Well, that is if you can outbid him."

As they spoke, the auction had been going on. Multiple bids had taken place as many treasures had appeared. While speaking, Blade would glance at each new treasure seeking to find any hidden treasure that'll make his Fortune Detection Treasure excited.

Well, since they were all treasures, the item would naturally vibrate for them all but, perceiving the intensity of the vibration, Blade was able to identify the level of those treasures...

Sadly, they were all of a lower level, which confused him since the night before, even this morning, there should be a treasure in this city that was at least, equal to the Fire Attribute Treasure!

Like this, time passed. Throughout the whole auction, Blade didn't see anything worth his attention so even though Athena pestered him to no end wishing to get him a few treasures, he declined.

Even with these treasures, Blade's strength wouldn't improve by much, if at all. Finally, after an exhausting time for Blade, the final treasure once again appeared.

Instantly, the whole Auction House was silent. Even though they held no chance of claiming it due to the lack of Spirit Stones, these cultivators still stayed, wishing to see a splendid bidding war.

"It's time for the emergence of the final item of today's auction! Again, we are unaware of its origin as it was found by a cultivator who luckily stumbled upon it at the outer edges of the well-renowned Forbidden Land 029!"

"Unluckily for him, he wasn't a Fire Law cultivator... Though we aren't aware of what it is, from the mere aura, one can tell that it is priceless for Fire Law Cultivators!... The starting price is 35,000 Spirit Stones..!"

Shhhhhh!

Gasps resounded on the lower floor upon hearing the starting price. With the auctioneer once more reminding that each bid must be at least 1,000 Spirit Stones, the bidding war finally began.

As the bidding war between the Gu and Luo families began, any sliver of hope the lower floor cultivators had was instantly devoured.

At the same time, inside a room on the second floor, with his legs folded and leaning back on the stone chair, a certain young master Peng had a cold smirk as he listened to the bids these two families made.

Glancing at the two standing figures next to him, he said. "These families lack the elegance of an influential family. When I become City Lord, all of them will go. I'll personally send them to the otherworld... For now, I'll let them understand that, inside this city, I alone have absolute power!"

Upon hearing the bid from the Luo family that reached all the way up to 90,000 Spirit Stones, momentarily sending the Gu family quiet, the Peng Clan's young master's voice resounded throughout the Auction House.

"This young master places 150,00 Spirit Stones on the table...!"