Chapter 36: The Auction Begins – Part Two

Chapter 36: The Auction Begins – Part Two

The room was still, yet the air was thick with tension as the auctioneer stepped forward, his hand gesturing toward the levitating scroll bathed in a soft, golden glow. All eyes were on him, waiting for his words.

"The next item," he began, his voice calm yet resonating with authority, "is none other than the Celestial Dragon Ascendant Technique, a Level 7 Heavenly Grade Technique. This is not a mere mortal technique; it has been forged with the essence of the heavens themselves."

Murmurs erupted throughout the auction hall, but the auctioneer raised his hand, silencing the crowd. He continued, "This technique is so powerful that the minimum requirement to begin practicing it is being in the mid-Soul Formation Realm. If you are at the peak of the Soul Formation Realm, your chances of mastering it increase. However," he added, his gaze sweeping over the room, "even at these levels, it will be extremely difficult to cultivate without risk. The technique demands the mastery of celestial energy, and any misstep could result in grave injury... or worse."

The words hung heavy in the air. The allure of the technique was palpable, but so were its dangers.

"Now," the auctioneer said, his tone shifting, "let us begin the bidding. The starting price is 5 million high-grade spirit stones."

For a moment, the room was silent, but soon the tension broke. Hands began to raise as the first bids were shouted.

"6 million!"

"7 million!"

The bids climbed steadily. The air buzzed with excitement, the crowd caught in the fever of competition. It wasn't long before the price hit 15 million high-grade spirit stones.

At this point, the young master from Mystic River City, who had been observing with a confident smirk, finally made his move.

"20 million high-grade spirit stones!" he declared, his voice booming with arrogance. He sat back, satisfied. In his mind, he was the wealthiest and most powerful person in the room, especially since no one from the Number One Private Room had bid yet. He assumed victory was inevitable.

"25 million!" another voice called out from a private room, barely acknowledging the young master's bid.

The young master's smile faltered, irritation flashing across his face. He couldn't stand being outbid by someone so casually. He clenched his fist and, in a bold move, stood up.

"50 million high-grade spirit stones!" he bellowed, his voice full of determination. The room went silent. Even the auctioneer paused for a moment, impressed by the drastic leap in the bid.

The young master sat back down, pride swelling within him. He scanned the room, fully expecting that no one would challenge him now. He was, after all, the wealthiest in Mystic River City. Who could possibly outbid him?

But his confidence was short-lived.

"70 million high-grade spirit stones!" came a voice from a different private room. The young master turned toward the source, his eyes narrowing.

"80 million!"

"90 million!"

The bids came fast, each one crushing the young master's hope. The silence that followed his initial bid was gone, replaced by the fierce competition of wealthy cultivators from cities like Azure Cloud City and Skyward City. These cities were known for housing some of the most powerful and affluent cultivators in the Heavenly Realm.

The young master gritted his teeth as the price soared past 200 million, his arrogance crumbling with each new bid.

"300 million high-grade spirit stones!" a voice called out, shaking the room.

By now, the young master's face was pale, his hands trembling. He couldn't believe it. He thought himself to be the richest, but these outsiders, these cultivators from other cities, were showing him the limits of his wealth. He had reached the point where he could no longer compete.

Then, from the shadows of the Number One Private Room, a single bid rang out.

"500 million high-grade spirit stones," a calm, deep voice echoed.

The crowd gasped. The young master's heart sank, knowing that no one in the room, not even the wealthiest in Mystic River City, could match that. But before anyone could react, the same voice called again.

"1 billion high-grade spirit stones."

The silence that followed was deafening. All eyes turned toward the Number One Private Room. Whoever was inside had just casually doubled the previous bid to a staggering 1 billion high-grade spirit stones.

The auctioneer himself was speechless for a moment before he regained his composure. "1 billion high-grade spirit stones!" he repeated, his voice trembling with awe. "Any higher bids?"

None came.

The young master sat there, utterly defeated, his pride shattered. He had been outclassed, outbid, and outdone by a figure he couldn't even see. But he knew, as did everyone in the auction hall, that the bidder was from Imperial City — the wealthiest and most powerful city in the entire Heavenly Realm. And the man inside that room was no ordinary cultivator. He was from one of the most prestigious families, and his cultivation level was rumored to be at the Spirit Sovereign Realm Level Five or higher, making him one of the most powerful figures present.

With no further bids, the auctioneer slammed his gavel down. "Sold! The Celestial Dragon Ascendant Technique goes to the esteemed guest in the Number Nine Private Room for 1 billion high-grade spirit stones!"

The crowd erupted into whispers. No one dared to speak aloud, but everyone was thinking the same thing: Who could that person be? To possess such wealth and power, he must be close to the one of the Top 3 Supremes, or even be one of the Supremes.

As the auction concluded, the young master slumped back in his seat, utterly humiliated. He had been so sure of himself, yet in the face of true power and wealth, he was nothing.

Meanwhile, in the Number Nine Private Room, the mysterious bidder remained silent, having claimed one of the most powerful techniques ever auctioned. With the Celestial Dragon Ascendant Technique in his possession, the world would soon know his Identity.