Hengsheng stepped into the Golden Hall, one of the largest and most opulent buildings in the city. Owned by the Golden Sword Sect, it exuded an aura of prestige befitting the continent's overlord. Its grand design and intricate golden carvings were clearly intended to showcase the sect’s dignity and dominance.
Not long after Hengsheng entered, a staff member noticed his robe—a clear indicator of his status as a Lan Clan core disciple—and hurried over to greet him with a polite bow. “Young Master, please allow me to guide you to the VIP room,” the staff member said. Hengsheng nodded indifferently and followed.
The VIP room was a private and luxurious space designed for high-status guests. After ensuring Hengsheng was comfortable, the staff informed him that the auction would begin in an hour and excused themselves.
In truth, Hengsheng wasn’t particularly interested in the auction. He had only come to pass the time and break free from his monotonous routine. He hadn’t even brought many spirit stones with him, so he didn’t plan on bidding. What he really hoped for was some entertainment—perhaps a lively exchange of verbal sparring among bidders, turning the auction into a spectacle akin to a strategic game of chess.
As he lounged in the VIP room, Hengsheng couldn’t help but lament the lack of creativity in this world’s culture. Entertainment here was stagnant, with games and pastimes that had remained unchanged for millennia. "This world is so backward," he muttered to himself. Hengsheng promised that once he had enough power and influence, he would transform this dull culture into something vibrant and exciting, introducing innovations that rivaled those on Earth.
While waiting for the auction to start, Hengsheng closed his eyes and entered his mind space. There, in the endless expanse of white, he began working on his latest project.
With the knowledge he had recently gained about the Qi Gathering realm from the library, Hengsheng realized that once he entered that stage, he would have access to a near-unlimited source of energy by continuously absorbing spiritual qi from the environment. Unlike now, where his energy was limited and drained quickly, Qi Gathering cultivators could maintain a steady flow of energy, allowing for more proper systems not just piece by piece as he did now. However, efficiency would still be key—wasting energy could slow his cultivation progress.
To address this, Hengsheng conceived a new system: The Devourer System. Its purpose would be to enhance his qi recovery rate by absorbing qi from the environment and other sources at an accelerated pace. This system would form the foundation for his later techniques, ensuring he rarely ran out of energy while maintaining efficiency.
“I just need to make sure it doesn’t overburden me,” Hengsheng thought as he refined the concept in his mind space. He remembered a historical account of a demonic cultivator who had created a technique that absorbed qi from living beings, including mortals. The demonic cultivator’s method had left billions dead in his wake, resulting in an overwhelming accumulation of karmic sin that ultimately barred him from ascending to immortality.
"If someone could create such a technique, why can’t I design something similar, but better and without moral pitfalls?" Hengsheng smirked at the thought. His system wouldn’t rely on harming others but would still allow him to draw power efficiently. Confident in his idea, he began laying the groundwork, sketching out the framework for the Devourer System in his mind space.
The hour passed quickly as Hengsheng worked, and he opened his eyes just as a staff member returned to inform him that the auction was about to begin. "Let’s see if there will be any fun," he said with a faint smirk, standing and preparing to make his way to the auction hall.
Hengsheng followed the staff member through the luxurious halls of the Golden Hall, eventually arriving at the VIP section of the auction hall. The room was vast, with an extravagant design featuring gold-lined pillars and intricate carvings of mythical beasts. Rows of plush seats were arranged in tiers, ensuring that even those seated farthest back could see the central stage clearly.
Hengsheng took a seat on the outer edge of the front row in the VIP section, his gaze scanning the attendees. Most of them were cultivators, their auras faintly radiating power, a stark contrast to the lack of mortal presence. The Golden Hall wasn’t a place for ordinary mortals to conduct business; it was where cultivators came to bid on treasures, artifacts, and rare resources.
Moments later, a staff member walked onto the stage, his presence sharp and professional. With a polite smile, he addressed the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Golden Hall’s grand auction. Today’s items include rare cultivation treasures, high-grade materials, and unique techniques that may aid you on your path to immortality. Let us begin!”
The crowd settled, their attention focused on the stage as the first item was unveiled—a transparent crystal orb glowing faintly with golden light.
“Our first item is the Golden Vein Spirit Stone, a rare mineral imbued with pure metal qi. It is an excellent resource for metal qi cultivators, especially those in the Qi Gathering and Spiritual Foundation realms. The starting bid is 50,000 low-grade spirit stones.”
Immediately, the room buzzed with activity as cultivators began placing bids.
“55,000 spirit stones!”
“60,000 spirit stones!”
Hengsheng watched the exchange with mild interest. While the Golden Vein Spirit Stone was valuable, it wasn’t particularly exciting to him. He leaned back in his seat, observing the dynamics of the bidders. Most were lower-level cultivators, likely trying to secure resources to accelerate their breakthroughs.
The bidding war continued for a while before concluding at 120,000 spirit stones. The winner, a middle-aged man with a refined appearance, accepted his prize with a satisfied smile.
The staff member clapped his hands, signaling the next item. This time, a jade scroll was brought onto the stage, its surface glowing with faint runes.
“This is the Steel Tempest Sword Technique, a rare Heaven-grade sword technique that emphasizes speed and precision. It’s highly compatible with metal qi cultivators. The starting bid is 100,000 mid-grade spirit stones.”
Excited murmurs filled the hall. Heaven-grade techniques were not something commonly available, even in a place like the Golden Hall.
“120,000 mid-grade spirit stones!”
The bidding quickly escalated, with several cultivators competing fiercely. Hengsheng smirked. This was the kind of entertainment he had come to see. Watching cultivators vie for supremacy over treasures and techniques amused him, especially when their pride and egos got involved.
The scroll was eventually sold for a staggering 500,000 mid-grade spirit stones to an elder from a smaller sect. Hengsheng noted the elder’s pleased expression and chuckled to himself.
The auction continued, with various items presented one after another—mystic herbs, beast cores, and even a few low-grade spirit artifacts. While each item drew excitement from the crowd, Hengsheng also joined a bidding fight once for the mortal grade metal-type spirit beast egg he couldn't leave with the empty hand that would make people look down on his clan.
Finally, the staff member on stage clapped his hands again, and the room fell silent.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our final item for today’s auction is a true treasure. Behold—the Skybound Lotus, a rare Heaven-grade herb capable of enhancing cultivation speed and purifying one’s spiritual core. This herb is especially effective for those on the verge of breaking through major realms. The starting bid is 1,000,000 mid-grade spirit stones.”
The atmosphere in the hall shifted instantly. The Skybound Lotus was an extraordinary treasure, and the bidding reflected its value.
“1,500,000 mid-grade spirit stones!”
The bids climbed rapidly, with powerful cultivators joining the fray. Hengsheng leaned forward slightly, curious to see who would emerge victorious. The bidding war grew intense, with voices overlapping and a faint tension filling the air.
“5,000,000!” a young woman in a luxurious robe called out, her tone firm and commanding.
“6,000,000!” a burly man countered, his voice booming across the hall.
The price continued to soar until it reached an astounding 10,000,000 mid-grade spirit stones. At that point, most of the bidders had dropped out, leaving only two competitors—a regal-looking elder and a middle-aged man with a sly grin.
“15,000,000 spirit stones,” the elder declared confidently.
The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment before sighing and shaking his head. With no further bids, the elder claimed the Skybound Lotus, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
With the auction concluded, the staff thanked the attendees and began facilitating the distribution of items to the winners. Hengsheng, having enough fun from bidding, rose from his seat, stretching slightly.
“Well, that was entertaining enough,” he muttered to himself as he exited the hall, already thinking about his next plan.