Lu's calm voice lingered over Beiluo Lake.

  Not loud, serene—like the neighbor boy whispering casually.

  Yet every flower boat, every cultivator perked necks, stared at Little Yinglong's tray.

  This auction: long-awaited.

  White Jade Capital's: how not?

  In cultivation world, White Jade Capital: authority; enigmatic, unfathomable Young Master Lu—curiosity abounded.

  Items: anticipation.

  White Jade Capital's offerings: no ordinary.

  Many boats.

  Overlord squinted, poured wine calmly.

  Tantai Xuan breath quickened, palm pressed table hard.

  Tang Xiansheng near-soil, but slit eyes sharp—curious, expectant.

  Lu no suspense; burned cloth.

  Soul sense strengthened; Heavenly Mystic, Bone Nether fires masterful.

  "First item: Qi Gathering Pills."

  Calm voice.

  Tray: jade bottle sat.

  "Five pills."

  "First-grade; gathers three patterns. Low tier, but excellent for Qi Core."

  Lu explained.

  Words fell; air stifled seconds, then buzzed.

  "Qi Gathering?"

  "Heard... Young Master's maid eats like candy?"

  "Heh, White Jade Capital strong, but maid's candy auction—underestimates us?"

  Boats: whispers endless.

  Many vowed no buy.

  Faces to lose—bidding maid's sweets?

  Empress's boat.

  Lips curved, laughed branches shaking; hand ruffled Ni Yu's head wildly—Ni puffed dissatisfied.

  Candy how?

  Earned refining—candy fine?

  Cheap? Old Jing licks one half-year!

  Lu ignored murmurs.

  "Five pills: one spirit stone start."

  Silence long...

  Weighed.

  Stones limited; Tantai first five, most bottom five.

  Clan heads hesitant.

  Soon: "Young Master, one stone!"

  Blue-robed elegant, gritted—like major decision.

  Heads turned.

  "Dongyang Zhou Clan!"

  "Dongyang has gate, but dragon rampages—death. Fewer cultivators..."

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "Zhou foundations for young."

  Heads bright, smiled, analyzed.

  Lu wheeled, fingers tapped: "More?"

  "No? Count three—no bids."

  Words.

  Murmuring heads bid.

  "Gather or not—love sweets... two stones."

  Opened; boats exploded.

  Zhou head furious glared.

  Humphed, sleeved sat—boat rocked ripples.

  Others no compete.

  Bottle to second head.

  Lu dialed; bottle floated steady.

  Man smiling received, bowed.

  Lu took two stones unceremoniously.

  One: 100,000; two: 200,000.

  Smile calm, heart bleeding.

  Five pills... 200,000; 40,000 each!

  Gold dearer!

  Zhou's taken; atmosphere grave, competition sensed.

  Lu lips up—desired.

  Tapped; Little Yinglong splashed in, gone.

  Soon: elegant second tray.

  Burned cloth.

  "Second: Forging Master Gongsun Yu's low yellow-tier artifact... knife."

  Words; boats boiled.

  Artifacts familiar.

  Channel qi, amplify—weapons.

  Lu's board, Jing Yue's sword...

  "Knife?"

  "No name... casual."

  "Low yellow—no name worthy."

  Heads exchanged speaking eyes.

  Distant: Ye Shoudao sipping, eyes fluctuated interest.

  "Young Master's artifact... our magic tool."

  Knife interest.

  Cloth burned; blade gleamed radiant—interest vanished.

  "Ninth-grade... boring."

  Poured, drank.

  Nie's Dragon Slayer interesting; ninth beneath Infant.

  But heads exploded.

  Tantai, Mo Ju exchanged.

  Pills skippable—dragon gates.

  Artifacts... none.

  Miss: no next.

  Unknown next auction.

  "Knife: two stones start."

  Lu.

  Instant bids.

  Tantai: "Three."

  Overlord glanced amused.

  No bid—dislikes knives.

  To him: artifact depends user.

  Bids continued.

  Tantai no deter; soon five.

  500,000 knife...

  Worth?

  Hesitant; even Tantai stop.

  Unknown better next.

  Tang Xiansheng tea; Tang Yimo beside.

  "Yimo, bid."

  Hoarse.

  No hesitate: "Six."

  Four-stone head red-eyed—500,000; add?

  Human?!

  "Seven!"

  Gasps.

  Blood capital.

  Tang smiled, sipped slow, eyes opened.

  "Low-key long... forgot my South Commandery?"

  "Short cash?"

  Yimo expressionless.

  Eight: took low yellow.

  Overflow vs. pills.

  Tantai leaned plank, twitched...

  True—South rich, cash no issue.

  Heads threatened.

  But... ways?

  Money: strength.

  ...

  Wolong Ridge.

  Nine eerie gates stood.

  Sky birds over—struck, fell.

  Xiang Army sealed tight.

  But noise: uncontainable.

  Spies messaged new immortal realm.

  Birds flew.

  Army: unbelievers to First Prison.

  Less rejection than others.

  Center black stele: endless evil, dare not gaze.

  Resisted to gate.

  Pressure grew; many flung, coughed blood.

  But one touched edge.

  Pressure vanished.

  Sat gasping.

  Li away brothers fists clenched.

  Hope-bearer pushed bronze, entered.

  ...

  Beiluo lakeside.

  Gasps endless.

  Overlord cup hand shook, wine dripped.

  Lu announced third.

  "Fifth item: third-grade Body Tempering Pills."

  Lazy.

  "Qi Core peak: 100% Body Storage. Peak: aids tempering, boosts Golden Core Heavenly Lock chance."

  No probability—but storm.

  Known precious—Ni's refining drew tribulation; ordinary?

  Qi Gathering crushed.

  "Ten stones start."

  Words; breaths rushed.

  Du heard effects—moved.

  "Better than Tianyuan Foundation Pills."

  "Nonsense—Foundation for Foundation; Golden Core candy distaste."

  Empress.

  "Tempering aids Heavenly Lock... Ni and I flavored varieties—no effect loss. Ten stones expensive?"

  Lips up.

  Now: exchanging stones.

  "Ten!"

  Overlord low.

  Opened; heads silent.

  Xiliang King...

  Dare rob?

  Fame lingered.

  Tantai no yield: "Eleven."

  Tang squinted indifferent: "Twelve."

  Overlord blank: "Thirteen."

  Gasps.

  Xiliang, Great Xuan, South—silent clash.

  1.3 million...

  Not cheap.

  But start; clans joined—soon twenty.

  Sima boat; An Miaoyu red-caped quiet beside.

  Sipped.

  Glanced An's envying lips.

  Hand shook.

  "Want Tempering?"

  Soft.

  An stunned, blushed, waved.

  No... can't afford.

  Expensive.

  Sima smiled: "Like? Master risks life."

  Suddenly to Lu: "Young Master."

  Bids quieted.

  "Speak."

  Faint.

  Sima rose, embarrassed but bowed.

  "Young Master, trade painting for stones?"

  Serious.

  Around laughed.

  One stone 100,000; poor painter—value?

  Lu brow up, pondered, interested: "If worth, yes."

  Sima inhaled.

  Back box: long cloth-wrapped scroll.

  Drew, threw Lu.

  "Young Master, value?"

  Lu hand; scroll hovered, unrolled.

  Heads curious—ordinary?

  Du etc. felt unusual, indefinable.

  Lu rolled, kept, to Ning Zhao.

  "Store; him 100 stones."

  Ning stunned—hot.

  Painting: 10 million?

  Sima calm—knew value.

  Du etc. incredulous.

  Head: "Young Master... irregular?"

  "Painting... why 100?"

  Indignant.

  Family less.

  Lu wheeled, glanced, laughed: "Questioning me?"

  Words; unrest stopped.

  Head sweat, fear deep...

  Offended Young Master Lu?

  Petty known.

  Offend: doomed!

  Lu calm, tapped.

  World blur.

  Head's boat empty; shifted outside city.

  Outside.

  Back chilled, lucky.

  Slunk away.

  Dare enter? Legs broken.

  Sima's: no ordinary—Genesis Chart traced, Dao intent faint.

  Comprehend: intent.

  High price reason.

  100 to Sima; smiled, bid Tempering.

  Hot.

  High.

  Finally Sima: 50 stones.

  One: 5 million.

  Sky price—no over.

  Brought silver limited; next items.

  Fifth only.

  Others?

  Analyzed Lu style: low to high value.

  Thoughts vivid.

  Lu wheeled smiling opened.

  Head up, Wolong gaze, lips smiled.

  "Next: sixth..."

  "Special."