The Auction

Few days had gone since, Amden had talked with his family. Finally, it was the day of the auction.

A luxurious black car had left the Vantistart manor complex and speeding towards the auction venue. The branch of the Moonfox consortium and its auction hall was located in the eastern part of the Azalia town and was not far away from the Vantistart manor complex.

Since, the destination was located in Azalia town only, Amden had no extra security with him. Cilia was driving the car while Amden had taken up the front passenger seat.

Cars in this fantasy world was vastly different from Amden's previous world. Unlike his previous world, where the cars ran on petroleum and its other products, the cars in this world derived their energy from monster cores or spiritual energy crystals, the latter being a purer source of energy.

Not only cars, most of the machined in this world, derived their energy either from the monster cores or the spiritual energy crystal.

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After a ride of around 15 minutes, the duo arrived in the auction hall. Knowing, Amden's preferences of remaining lowkey, Cilia avoided any fanfare which would have been generally accompanied by the arrival of heir of an elite family.

She had made prior arrangement and had booked a VIP room in the hall from which to attend the auction.

After their arrival, they simply arrived in their room without causing any disturbance.

Amden comfortable took his seat on the large sofa placed in the room while Cilia sat next to him. The room had been lavishly decorated suited for someone's status who could afford the VIP room.

Amden's VIP room along with all the other VIP room was on the 1st floor of the auction hall. The ground floor had the general sitting area and the auction stage.

The VIP rooms had one way glass windows which gave the perfect view of everything happening in the hall below. A small balcony also extended from the VIP room if anyone wanted could stand on it. A screed had also been attached on the right wall of Amden's room which broadcasted the live images of the stage and the items being auctioned.

Few minutes later, it was the time for the auction to kick start. A matured lady dressed in flowing red outfit arrived on the stage. The lady was beautiful and had all the charisma to make people place their bids higher than they normally would.

"Welcome my dear guest," she announced with a stunning smile. "I am the host of today's auction and without any further delay let us begin for what we all have gathered here."

With her announcement, the auction was officially started and item after item were sold. These were mostly low levelled items- battle techniques to weapons.

Amden had no interest in these items.

It was the 6th item which had been brought on the auction stage. A sword. The sword had a rusty appearance and looked nothing more than a rusted metal scrap.

The presence of the sword caused the participants of the auction to frown.

The lady giggled witnessing their reaction, "I know this sword had caused a lot of questions. But let me explain."

"Well, I admit that our consortium had not been able to find anything special in this sword," she continued. "But…"

"But no matter what method we used, we have not been able to put a single dent on the sword and neither it could have been melted," she informed and this caused a small uproar in the crowd.

"I don't now but probably this sword might have a high research value… or someone might get lucky and turn this scrap into a proper treasure."

Although her words were a bit over exaggerated, she was not totally wrong. People getting lucky… was an important path of cultivation.

"Now if your interest has been arisen, then please place your bids. The initial price is set up at 100 D Rank spiritual crystal," the lady announced.

Hearing the price everyone's jaw dropped.

The conversion of One C Rank spiritual crystal was equivalent to 10 D Rank one. One B Rank was equal to 10 C Rank. Similarly, all spiritual crystals had a conversion of 10.

Although, this did not mean that the spiritual energy contained in spiritual crystals were 10 times more than the lower rank one.

The rate of conversion took many things into account, mainly the spiritual energy purity contained in the crystal.

Higher the rank of the crystal, higher would be the purity of spiritual energy and easier and more efficient to absorb.

On the other hand, Amden had turned extremely excited on seeing the sword. That reason because, the sword had accomplished what he had trying and failing for the past 3 months- get a reaction from the black cube inside his consciousness.

The moment the sword had been brought up on the stage, the cube inside his consciousness had started to vibrate as if telling Amden to acquire the sword fast.

Amden was just about to place his bid when an arrogant voice interrupted him.

"100 D Rank spiritual crystal," echoed the voice. The voice had come from the VIP room which was opposite to Amden's room, at the other side of the hall.

In this room present was Trot Wilson, one of the heirs of the side branch of the Wilson family. He had been accompanying 3 beautiful girls and for Trot Wilson spending a little bit of wealth was one of the easier methods to impress the girls.

Even so the girls with him were giving side glances to another man seated in the same room but that man had no interest in these girls. Even so, Trot Wilson had neither guts nor wish to say anything to that man.

That man was Ravien Carter. 21 years of age and was already at peak E Rank of cultivation. He had been considered a genius from his awakening and his identity was no less splendid.

Ravien Carter was the heir of the Carter family, another elite family, on the same level as that of Vantistart.

Ravien was sitting in the room with his eyes closed, like an emperor, as if everything was beneath him and not worthy of his attention.

Trot was about to boast to the girls when Amden's calm voice cut across the auction hall, "130 D Rank spiritual crystals."

Trot's face turned ugly.

He gritted his teeth in frustration and yelled, "135."

He then swaggered to the balcony connected to his room.

"Friend," his voice boomed.

"I am Trot Wilson," he said with extra emphasis on 'Wilson'. "Let me have this sword and I will owe you a favour."

Although his words were polite, the threat in Trot's words were as clear as daylight.

Amden did not show any reaction.

"150," his calm voice echoed inside the hall.

Being ignored made Trot Wilson rage in fury. He felt humiliated.

He yelled in anger, "Do you want to make an enemy out of Wilson?"

Trot then turned towards his guard and gave a small nod. The guard accompanying him, was used to Trot's antics. He without any delay released his C Rank spiritual pressure towards Amden's room.

While all this was happening, which was clearly broking the rules of Moonfox consortium, a man with peak A Rank cultivation was sitting in one of the rooms.

He was the protector of this Moonfox branch. He should have stopped Trot from threatening anyone or making a move in the auction house but knowing that a Carter- that too Ravien Carter, was also in the room he decided eventually against it. As long as no one was murdered things would be fine.

As Amden had arrived silently, unlike Ravien who came with a lot of fanfare, no one knew that in the other room was a Vantistart. The true and the only overlord of the Azalia town.

Trot, on the other hand was about to laugh and mock Amden when all the spiritual pressure released by his guard vanished in an instant.

"Act one more time and I will have your head," a feminine voiced but laced with extreme chill echoed in the hall.