Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Auction
Vahn remained firm in his decision not to accept Seraphina’s offer of Spirit Stones, however generous it was. His refusal wasn’t about misplaced masculine pride; it was about independence and strategic necessity. He already had a method for earning the necessary capital, one that didn’t involve the slow grind of traditional assignments or, worse, resorting to "bootlicking those Holy Lands top dogs."
There were also ways to earn Spirit Stones by completing certain tasks set by White Lotus, but Vahn’s refusal was absolute. He and White Lotus were enemies; he had never forgotten that core truth. It was only because he was weak that he had to keep up the act of their obedient dog. And that act would soon end.
There would be a day when he would take the White Lotus’ precious flower (Seraphina) away from them and build his own legacy.
But until then, every resource he gained needed to be earned under his own terms.
Vahn and Seraphina’s journey was swift thanks to the Transportation Jade Slip. In a flash of light, they arrived in Radiant City, the bustling Imperial capital of the Holy Light Empire.
The city was a magnificent expanse of white marble and gold architecture, radiating an aura of prosperity and ancient power that was entirely different from the rough mountains surrounding White Lotus.
Seraphina paused on a wide, sun-drenched avenue, her features composed.
"Vahn, I must head toward the Imperial Palace now to assess the Emperor’s condition. The auction should begin this evening. Be careful, Vahn, and remember what I said about keeping a low profile."
"I will," Vahn assured her confidently. "You go and save the Emperor. I’ll make sure to secure what I need before you finish."
With a nod, Seraphina ascended into the air, quickly moving toward the towering structure of the Imperial Palace.
Vahn, meanwhile, headed in the opposite direction, his destination set: the famous Auction Hall known as Twin Moon Commerce. He had only a few hours to earn the massive fortune required to bid on a legendary Lightning Seed.
Vahn arrived at the imposing entrance of the Twin Moon Commerce auction house. The building was a magnificent dome of crystal and white stone, its scale hinting at the immense wealth that passed through its doors daily.
Before entering, Vahn wore a simple black Clown mask he had procured.
The mask wasn’t meant to be menacing, but simply to obscure his distinctive features and age. What he was about to do required absolute anonymity; attracting the wrong kind of attention would be disastrous.
He approached the reception desk, where a young woman with a crisp, professional air was waiting.
"Excuse me, I have something to sell," Vahn informed her while keeping his voice deliberately low and neutral.
The receptionist glanced up, her eyes quickly assessing Vahn’s slight, youthful build and commoner’s robes beneath the strange mask. Her expression held a hint of polite dismissal.
"Welcome, sir. If you have any common spiritual herbs or basic cultivation pills, you can proceed to counter three for quick processing."
Vahn ignored the imperceptible condescension. He reached into his waist pouch and retrieved a small golden bottle.
It was small, nondescript, and contained a faintly glowing viscous liquid.
He placed the bottle on the counter.
"I believe this requires the attention of an appraiser. It is a Heaven Grade Body Tempering Liquid."
The receptionist started to wave him off, assuming it was a low-grade item with an inflated name. Then, she registered the word Heaven Grade and, more importantly, the faint but unmistakable spiritual pressure radiating from the golden bottle.
Her eyes snapped wide open. A Heaven Grade Body Tempering Liquid was a priceless treasure, something even the great Holy Lands dreamed of obtaining to forge a perfect foundation for their Holy Sons and Saintesses. It was a fluid rumored to create an infallible base, preparing the body to withstand the stress of higher cultivation.
Such items were notoriously difficult to develop; legends claimed only Medicine Gods could create them consistently, making the demand astronomical.
The receptionist’s face turned pale instantly. She scrambled backward, knocking her chair slightly.
"P-please, one moment!" she stammered.
Vahn was quickly escorted down a silent, luxurious corridor and into a small, secret chamber furnished with heavy, soundproof materials. Within minutes, a silver-haired Appraiser, whose cultivation base Vahn judged to be quite high, rushed in, his demeanor utterly serious.
With trembling hands, the Appraiser carefully examined the golden bottle. He removed the cork and inhaled the complex, heavenly scent, then tested a tiny drop against a specialized jade slate, which immediately glowed with an ancient, validating light.
The Appraiser then looked up at Vahn with awe and disbelief.
"It is authentic! A flawless bottle of Heaven Grade Body Tempering Liquid!"
The Appraiser, regaining his composure, swiftly ushered Vahn to a larger, private chamber where the owner of the Twin Moon Commerce auction house soon arrived. The owner, an older gentleman with a shrewd, calculating gaze, barely spared Vahn’s masked figure a glance, his entire focus fixed on the golden bottle of Heaven Grade Body Tempering Liquid.
"This is an item of unmatched quality," the owner stated smoothly. "We will gladly feature this in our main evening auction. Your payout will be cut by 5% upon the completion of the sale."
"No. I can go as high as 1%," Vahn countered, not wanting scammed easily.
The old man’s also shot back,
"3% is final, young man. Don’t bit more what you chew."
"Old man, I have seen enough to be intimidated by your threat. 1% is final. Otherwise I can always look for better Auction Hall."
"Young man, no one can match our reputation and honesty. But since it such a precious treasure, I can go for 1.5%. We can’t lower than that."
"That is acceptable," Vahn replied, his voice muffled by the mask. "However, I require a Spirit Contract to govern this transaction."
The owner’s brow furrowed. Standard contracts were sufficient for most sellers, but a Spirit Contract was an ancient and potent form of agreement, sealed with a portion of the signees’ spiritual energy.
"A Spirit Contract?"
"Yes," Vahn affirmed. "The terms are simple: Both the seller and the auction house must abide by the agreed price and payout. If either party attempts to breach the contract, such as underreporting the sale price or attempting to seize the item or the funds unjustly, the penalty is death."
The owner bristled at the demand, which implied a profound distrust of his establishment. However, the value of the Heaven Grade Body Tempering Liquid was so astronomical—guaranteeing the auction house a massive commission and prestige—that he couldn’t afford to walk away.
After a tense moment, the owner relented.
"Very well. A Spirit Contract it is."
A shimmering, complex diagram of light materialized in the air. Both the owner and Vahn—who signed under the alias "Shadow"—pricked their fingers, letting a drop of blood fall onto the diagram. The contract pulsed, binding them with an inviolable spiritual vow.
With the security of the contract signed, Vahn was set to enjoy a bountiful swarm of Spirit Stones.
---
Vahn returned to the Twin Moon Commerce Hall just as the sun was setting. He was shown to a private, soundproof viewing box, perfectly situated to observe the main auction floor without being seen.
He settled into his seat, watching the prestigious auction begin. The items were valuable, but Vahn’s attention was fixed on the upcoming lot. He needed to see exactly how high the bid for his Body Tempering Liquid would go to calculate his spending power for the coveted Lightning Seed, which was scheduled for later in the evening.
He was confident the profits from the Heaven Grade item would be enough, but just in case, he had a backup plan.
He still had the remaining bottle ready to bring out just in case.