Empire Auction

"Master! Please don't do anything to me," Yu Chen mumbled, curled up on the bed beside her, his eyes fluttering in half-sleep.

"Just stay quiet and sleep," Mai Lin replied softly, not even glancing his way.

Yu Chen was helplessly trapped between her soft, ample breasts, struggling to breathe as if caught in a warm, silky storm. He gasped softly, shifting slightly to escape the smothering embrace of her chest. His hand, perhaps unintentionally, drifted downward and landed squarely on her firm backside.

He whispered under his breath, "Damn, Master... you've got some nice ass."

Her eyes opened lazily. "Will you sleep now?" she said, her voice calm but clearly not amused.

"Yes, yes, sleeping!" he squeaked, quickly withdrawing his hand and curling up again. She let out a soft chuckle and closed her eyes.

---

Early the next morning...

Mai Lin stirred first. The room was filled with the golden haze of dawn filtering through the windows. She blinked her eyes open and stretched slightly—then noticed a distinct bulge under the blanket near Yu Chen's waist.

Her eyes widened slightly. "That's... huge," she thought.

"Oi! Wake up," she nudged him.

Yu Chen groaned lightly, opened his eyes, and smiled groggily as he saw her. "What a beauty…" he muttered, then shot upright, realization dawning. "Master! What are we going to do now?"

She sat up calmly, brushing her long hair over her shoulder. "Since you have access to Pure Foundation Realm pills, we'll auction them at our sect. Not right away—we'll notify them first. The auction will happen in a week."

"So what do I need to do before that?"

"You'll need to awaken your spiritual energy," she said, adjusting her robes.

"And how do I do that?"

"It's simple. You buy the Pure Qi Refining pill, swallow it, and use a cultivation technique to guide your breakthrough."

"Where can I get a good cultivation technique?" he asked earnestly.

Mai Lin gave a thoughtful look. "I have one. It's powerful—but not easy. It's called the Devouring Technique. It requires double, sometimes triple the energy and effort compared to a standard method. But it can create a stronger foundation."

"I'll take it," he said without hesitation.

---

As he began practicing the Devouring Technique, a dark aura coiled around his body like mist. Mai Lin watched quietly from the side.

"It's working," she whispered, a pleased smile on her face.

His skin began to crack and peel away like molting scales, revealing a glowing, purified layer of fresh skin underneath. A powerful pulse of energy burst from his body, and an explosion of black sludge—impurities—splattered around him.

Without a word, Mai Lin flicked her finger, lifting him with her spiritual energy and tossing him straight into the nearby pond.

Yu Chen sputtered, then began swimming, his skin radiant and smooth. As he emerged from the water, droplets running down his face and chest, Mai Lin's breath caught in her throat.

"He's... hot," she thought, averting her gaze.

[Qi Refining Realm – Stage 1: Achieved]

He walked over casually. "Master! Don't eat me with your eyes," he teased, pulling on his robe.

She tried to act unfazed but turned away to hide the blush.

---

Inside her home again, Mai Lin pushed him onto the bed and straddled him.

"Now... I want Pure Foundation Pills. As many as you have," she said, not even trying to hide her eagerness.

"Master! I need coins in exchange," Yu Chen said, raising a brow.

"How much for one?" she asked, her tone serious.

"About 60—no, 80,000 for one," he said confidently.

Her eyes narrowed. "Really? You're not trying to scam your master, are you?"

He grinned. "How could I cheat my beautiful master? But... if you don't move soon, I'm going to break my underpants."

"What?" she asked, feeling something stiff beneath her. Her cheeks flushed as she shifted slightly—her hips pressing into it. A faint moan escaped her lips. "That's... good."

"Master!" Yu Chen exclaimed, flustered.

She blinked, snapped back to reality, and quickly stood aside. "Right. The pills. How many do you have now?"

He opened his system interface, pretending to be serious and dignified. "I have ten."

"Just give me three," she said.

"That'll be 240,000 coins," he replied.

A moment later:

> [You have received 250,000 Coins]

[You have spent 150,000 Coins on Pure Foundation Pills]

[Balance: 120,944]

He grinned from ear to ear.

Mai Lin took the pills and stepped out. After some time, she returned.

"Yoo! Let's go. There's a competition today between Outer Sect disciples. I want to watch it."

"Master, how can you fly if you haven't broken into the Golden Core Realm?" Yu Chen asked, puzzled.

"I have powerful soul energy," she said calmly. "That's why I'm stuck. My cultivation can't advance until my soul evolves."

"Soul power?"

She shook her head. "Too complex. I'll explain another time. Let's go."

He got on the sword and gently held her waist—this time, she didn't stop him.

He leaned his head on her shoulder and inhaled softly. "Master… your skin is so smooth."

People below were gawking.

"What the hell are they doing out in the open like that?"

They arrived at the sect's Combat Arena. Mai Lin led him to a high viewing tower reserved for peak elders.

As he took a seat beside her, an old man from the Sword Peak frowned. "You're letting a disciple sit next to a peak elder?"

Mai Lin turned toward him, serious. "He's the Saint of the sect. The system chose him. His status outranks yours now. Accept it."

Another elder from Cultivation Peak chuckled. "So someone's getting rich off these Pure Pills."

"Do you have a problem with that?" she asked sharply.

"Not at all. Just wondering when you'll make a Pure Golden Core Pill and finally break through."

She scowled, her expression falling. "I lack the soul power. Soul treasures are nearly extinct. Without one, I can't progress. Cultivators like me are treated as worthless over time."

Yu Chen turned to her.

"Can't you buy something to increase your soul power?"

She looked at him with sad eyes. "No one knows how. Not even the top sects have a solution."

"Master... what about a Soul Nourishing Pill?" he offered gently. **"Wouldn't that help?"

She gave a bitter smile. "Don't joke with me, Yoo. This is my greatest shame. Don't pretend it's so easily fixed."

"Sorry, Master," he said, voice low.

"It's alright," she replied, turning back to the competition.

But Yu Chen had already opened his system silently.

> [Soul Nourishing Pill (Foundation Realm): 50,000 Coins]

I'll surprise her. Not now. But soon...

He tapped on his balance:

> [Balance: 120,944]

[You have spent 25,000 Coins – Coin Rate Upgraded to 2048 Coins/Day]

[You have spent 75,000 Coins – Coin Rate Upgraded to 4096 Coins/Day]

[Congratulations! You have unlocked Uncommon Teir Memory]

[Balance: 20,944]

He smiled subtly.

The tournament below roared with battle cries as young disciples fought for entry into the inner sect.

When it concluded, Peak Masters descended to select their new disciples. But Mai Lin ignored it all. She simply grabbed Yu Chen's hand and flew them back home.

---

Back at her peak...

She handed him a sword. "Boy, take this. You're going to master it."

Yu Chen stared at it like it was a foreign object.

"Master... I don't even know which side is the sharp one. And you want me to master it?"

She smirked. Then, she flicked her fingers and granted him a system-linked permission.

"Use this to access the Sect Library. Choose the techniques you want. Only take powerful ones."

"Can't I just buy them from the system?" he asked casually.

She blinked. "What are you talking about? The system doesn't allow direct purchase of techniques through integration. Who told you that?"

Yu Chen froze for a second, then chuckled. "Just joking, Master. I'll go to the library now."

Phew… That was close. So they really can't buy techniques like me. That makes me… unique.

He glanced at his system again, smirking at the technique options only he could access.