Ch 56 : Treasure Hunting

After a refreshing bath, Auron set out for the marketplace with a basket in hand. Winter had quieted the streets, leaving the market sparsely populated, as most people preferred the warmth of their homes over the biting cold outside.

Though he wore only a light coat, Auron didn't feel the chill. His body cultivation had reached a point where minor fluctuations in temperature didn't bother him.

"It's been a while since I've been here," he mused, taking in the familiar sights. "I'll buy what my mother needs first."

He strolled through the market, picking up fish, meat, and a few seasonings. The selection was limited, with many stalls closed for the season. Still, he managed to gather everything on his list.

"That's done. Now for a little treasure hunting." Auron smiled to himself. The Traders' Section was his next stop, where foreign merchants sold odd and interesting items. With his mystical eyes activated, he navigated the stalls, hoping to spot something valuable.

Many of the items were fascinating, but his eyes saw through them—nothing more than ordinary goods dressed up to appear exotic. "A lot of interesting trinkets, but no golden aura. Probably just cheap knock-offs," Auron thought, somewhat disappointed.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted it—a golden aura, faint but unmistakable, radiating from a stall selling crystal stones. His interest piqued, Auron approached and casually picked up one of the red stones.

"Sir, what is this stone? It has quite a striking color," Auron said, examining the stone. Its glossy red surface glistened under the light.

The merchant's eyes lit up. "Ah, an excellent choice! This is a perfect material for jewelry. I guarantee it'll make a masterpiece," he said with a wide smile, hiding his true thoughts behind his enthusiasm.

"An inexperienced kid. He doesn't know this is just crystallized wood resin," the merchant thought smugly.

"How much for this?" Auron asked, knowing full well the merchant planned to overcharge him.

"For you, I'll make it a special price. Just 50 silvers," the merchant said, his grin growing as he anticipated an easy profit.

"Fifty silvers? That's absurd." Auron internally scoffed. "Time to haggle."

"That seems a bit high, doesn't it?" Auron feigned hesitation. "How about 10 silvers?"

"Please, young man, don't make it hard for me. I'm just trying to make a living here," the merchant replied, putting on a show of desperation. "This is already a very good price."

Auron stood his ground, calmly countering the inflated price. The back-and-forth lasted for several minutes, with neither side willing to budge much. Finally, Auron turned to leave, which prompted the merchant to call out.

"Wait! Okay, 25 silvers. No less!" the merchant called, clearly not wanting to lose the sale.

Auron turned back with a smile. "Deal. But I want a freebie as well," he said, glancing at the stall's collection. His finger hovered over a few stones before settling on the one emitting the golden aura. "This one here."

"Sure, sure. Take anything you like," the merchant said, trying to hide his smirk. "That's just a piece of scrap anyway."

Auron paid the 25 silvers, securing both the wood resin and the true treasure. Satisfied, he moved on to the next part of the market.

"I'll examine the stone later. Seems like a good day so far," Auron thought as he walked. The merchant may have believed he had won, but Auron knew he had made the better deal.

Continuing his stroll, Auron arrived at the Blacksmith's Yard, where metal scraps were piled high. As a member of the Rune Inscription club, he had a good understanding of various metals, and this place was like a treasure trove for him, even without using his mystical eyes.

He browsed through the collection. "These swords look decent, and there are some quality knives too," he muttered as he sifted through the pile. His hand paused over a piece of metal. "Deep sea iron?" Auron was surprised. "That's rare. Why would anyone throw it away?"

He picked up the deep sea iron, making a mental note to have it forged into arrow shafts later.

Just then, his mystical eyes picked up another golden aura. Intrigued, Auron carefully dug through the pile, unearthing a strange cylindrical tube buried deep in the ground.

"A metal tube? Interesting. I'll figure out what it is later," he thought, adding it to his collection before continuing his search. After a final round through the Yard, finding nothing else of note, Auron headed home.

"I'm back!" he called out as he stepped through the door. He placed the basket of groceries in the kitchen and rushed into the living room, where his baby sister, Evelyn, was lying in her cradle.

Auron gently scooped her up, cradling her in his arms. He knew how boring it could be for her, confined to her cradle all day. Evelyn giggled as he tickled her tiny feet, her cheerful laughter filling the room.

Carefully, Auron allowed a small stream of celestial aura to radiate from him, enveloping Evelyn in its nurturing warmth. He had discovered that his celestial aura could help others, just as it had with Eliot when he assisted him in sensing mana. Now, he hoped it could nurture his sister's meridians and acupoints.

He watched closely with his mystical eyes, monitoring every subtle change in her tiny body. The celestial aura soothed her, and her giggles softened until her eyes fluttered closed, drifting off into a peaceful sleep, wrapped in the gentle embrace of Auron's aura.

With a contented smile, Auron whispered, "Sweet dreams, little one," before placing her back in her cradle, her breathing soft and steady in the warmth of his celestial aura.

After returning to his room, Auron sat cross-legged and prepared to meditate on the "Omniscient" fire heavenly rune once more. His mother, Sarah, was seated in another room, busy sewing fabrics. From the sheer number of pieces, it seemed like she had received a lot of orders recently.

"I need to focus," Auron thought, closing his eyes. "Let's make sure I understand enough to carve it onto my upper dantian."

He took a deep breath, clearing his mind before beginning the cultivation session. The concept of the Omniscient Fire was profound, representing ultimate truth and clarity. It was more elusive than the other fire types he had worked on, but Auron knew the benefits of mastering it would be tremendous. Once engraved in his upper dantian, it would sharpen his intelligence and deepen his insight, bringing clarity to his thoughts and expanding his comprehension.

Time slipped away as he immersed himself in the mysterious energy of the heavenly rune, his soul working to decode its intricate patterns.

Knock knock!

Auron awoke from his meditative state to the sound of gentle knocking on his door. His mother's voice called out, "Auron, it's lunchtime."

He blinked, disoriented for a moment. "Already lunchtime?" he muttered to himself, rising from his meditative posture. "Hours have passed, but it felt like only a few moments." He smiled to himself, feeling the mental progress he had made. "I've gained a deeper understanding. When I carve this rune onto my upper dantian, it'll definitely enhance my intelligence."

Satisfied, Auron made his way to the dining table.

"Come, have lunch with me. I made your favorite—beef stew," Sarah said warmly as she ladled the steaming dish into a bowl.

Auron's face lit up as he sat down to eat. He dug into the stew with relish, savoring the rich, hearty flavors. His mother's cooking always made him feel at home, no matter how intense his cultivation journey became.

As he finished his meal, Auron leaned back and smiled at his mother. "I had prepared some beef stew a while ago for Thyra and Alice. They said they want to learn how to make your stew. Could you teach them?"

Sarah's face brightened at the compliment. "Of course! Tell them to come by later, and I'll teach them everything. It'll be fun to share the recipe."

Auron nodded, grateful for his mother's willingness to pass on her skills. As they shared a peaceful moment at the table, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and gratitude—both for the nurturing comfort of home and the progress he had made during his cultivation session.