"Now, for our sixth treasure of the night…"
The next pedestal was revealed, and the crowd leaned forward once more.
6th Item: The Abyssal Warplate
As the veil over the next pedestal was lifted, a black suit of armor was revealed, floating slightly above the stand. Dark ethereal mist seeped from the joints, and the moment it was unveiled, a heavy killing intent spread across the room. The armor exuded an ancient aura, as if it had once stood on countless battlefields, drinking in the blood of warriors.
Some of the weaker cultivators shivered, instinctively wanting to move away. Even powerful bidders narrowed their eyes at the ominous presence of the Abyssal Warplate.
Appraiser's Analysis:
Name: Abyssal Warplate
Type: Cursed Relic Armor
Grants immense physical defense, resisting both physical and energy-based attacks.
Passively absorbs killing intent and battle energy, strengthening the wearer over time.
Enhances reaction speed and battle awareness, making the user deadlier in combat.
The armor is sentient and has an insatiable hunger for blood.
Prolonged use may cause the wearer's mind to erode, turning them into a battle-thirsty berserker.
The auctioneer let the tension settle before raising his hand. "Starting bid: 150,000 High-Quality Astral Stones!"
The Bidding War Begins
A deep, rumbling voice spoke first. "200,000."
The bid came from a hulking warrior with grey skin and fiery red eyes, his muscles barely contained within his ceremonial battle robe. His presence alone made it clear—he was a chieftain of a warrior tribe, and the Abyssal Warplate suited his kind perfectly.
A grizzled man clad in blood-red armor leaned forward, his gaze sharp. His insignia marked him as a General from the Crimson Thunder Army, an elite mercenary force that specialized in high-risk war campaigns.
A young man in silver and black robes smirked as he raised his bid. The crest of the Abyssal Blade Sect gleamed on his chest—a faction notorious for training ruthless, unrelenting assassins.
The numbers continued to climb, each bidder weighing the risk against the potential of wielding such a powerful armor.
The tribal chieftain's expression darkened. He had the physique to withstand the armor's bloodlust, but the price was reaching dangerous levels.
The Abyssal Blade Sect disciple clicked his tongue in annoyance, considering whether to raise the bid further.
Asher Joins the Bidding
Just as the auctioneer prepared to finalize the sale—
Asher's calm voice cut through the murmuring crowd like a blade.
All eyes turned toward him.
The tribal chieftain clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with irritation, but he did not raise the bid. The mercenary general muttered something under his breath before leaning back.
Even the Abyssal Blade Sect disciple hesitated, his hand twitching before he eventually let out a sigh.
They had all felt it—that wasn't just wealth, that was dominance.
"500,000 going once… twice… SOLD!"
The deal was finalized, and Asher relaxed slightly.
Valeris chuckled beside him. "A cursed armor? Didn't take you for a berserker."
He smirked. "I won't be wearing it. I'm going to study it."
His Eternal Creation ability could break apart the Warplate's structure, remove the curse, and reconstruct it into a perfect form. A set of armor that granted all of its strengths—without the insanity.
And that was a weapon worth investing in.
The auction continued, but by now, there was an undeniable shift in the hall.
Many bidders had stopped looking at Asher as just another rich competitor.
Now, they were trying to determine exactly who he was.
"And now… we move on to the seventh item of the night."
The next pedestal was revealed, and the room once again fell into silent anticipation.
"But there are surely many influential figures" Valeris said as he nodded, "its normal, its is an annual Auction and Auction house make sure there is something that each sect definitely wants"
" poor them, you are sweeping all of it for yourself" she laughed as Asher just nodded.
As the next veil was lifted, a brilliant golden-red feather hovered inside a containment field. It radiated immense heat, making the air shimmer around it. The sheer pressure of its energy caused nearby weak cultivators to sweat instantly, some even stepping back instinctively.
Those well-versed in ancient beast lore immediately recognized it—
A true Phoenix Feather.
Not the diluted kind left behind by lesser fire spirits or hybrid creatures, but a genuine remnant from a divine Phoenix, one of the Primordial Beasts said to have mastered eternal rebirth.
Even Valeris, who had been lounging comfortably, sat up slightly, intrigued.
Appraiser's Analysis:
Name: Everburning Phoenix Feather
Type: Divine Beast Relic
Grants immense fire affinity, drastically enhancing flame-based techniques.
Contains true Phoenix essence, allowing it to aid in powerful rebirth rituals or enhance longevity.
Can be refined into a Phoenix Blood Pill, capable of purifying fire cultivators' bloodlines.
Impossible to refine unless one has a high-level fire affinity or a suitable bloodline.
Mishandling may trigger a Phoenix Soul Echo, which could summon dangerous attention.
A stunned silence filled the room.
Phoenix Feathers were exceedingly rare—most vanished into flames upon a Phoenix's death. The fact that this one remained intact meant it was an artifact of extreme value.
Even those not aligned with fire cultivation understood how priceless it was.
The auctioneer cleared his throat before speaking.
"Starting bid: 500,000 High-Quality Astral Stones."
The first bid came instantly.
The speaker was a woman clad in flowing crimson robes, her body wreathed in gentle flickering flames. A noble of the Scarlet Sun Sect, a fire-based clan known for their Sunfire Cultivation Arts.
A middle-aged man in orange-gold armor followed, his voice deep and commanding. His insignia marked him as a high-ranking Elder of the Vermillion Flame Pavilion, another prestigious fire cultivation sect.
A foreign cultivator, his aura sharp and powerful, likely from the Blazing Sands Empire, where the Desert Phoenix Tribes resided.
The bidding quickly shot past a million, as multiple elite factions fought for the relic.
Even the Celestial Spirit Pavilion disciple, who had lost the previous bid to Asher, seemed tempted but eventually backed out—Phoenix Flames weren't aligned with their arts.
"1,500,000." This chapter is updated by Novel~Fire. (n)et
The Scarlet Sun Sect woman's voice was sharper now, her desire for the feather evident.
The Vermillion Flame Pavilion Elder hesitated but countered immediately.
A few rogue bidders tried to keep up, but by 2,000,000, only two contenders remained—the Scarlet Sun Sect noblewoman and the Vermillion Flame Elder.