The Red Pine Auction House was far grander up close than it had seemed from the street.
When Chu Feng stepped through the massive double doors, the very air seemed to shift. Warmth, incense, and the faint aroma of spiritual herbs blended into an atmosphere of quiet luxury.
Inside, chandeliers made of spirit crystals bathed the hall with a shimmering glow. Velvet carpets dampened footsteps. Attendants in immaculate uniforms lined the entrance, bowing deeply to every incoming guest.
Chu Feng's gaze remained calm, but inwardly…
So this is an auction of the outside world… truly on a different level.
The Chu family's auction house back in Clear Dawn Prefecture was respected—esteemed, even. But compared to this place, it felt like a simple village marketplace. Red Pine Auction House could swallow a small town's wealth without blinking.
Yet his expression stayed unreadable beneath the plain mask covering his face, revealing nothing of the thoughts stirring behind it.
Jìn Bǎo, however, leaned close, awe leaking through every word.
"Brother Feng… if I could buy this building, imagine the business I could run…"
Yu Lianyan elbowed him."You can't even buy an outer courtyard, calm down."
"Ow—!"
Before their bickering grew louder, an attendant approached with a polite bow.
"Honoured guests, please present the entry fee."
Yu Lianxue nodded calmly and handed over the required spirit stones without the slightest hesitation. Chu Feng took note — such ease wasn't just confidence. It hinted at something… or at least careful preparation.
The attendant bowed. "Please follow me. This way to your private booth."
They were led through a corridor lined with glowing runes. Each booth door bore engraved restrictions that shimmered faintly.
Inside, their room was simple but elegant: cushioned seats, a jade table set with refreshments, and a viewing formation that revealed the stage below while keeping their identities hidden.
Jìn Bǎo slumped into a chair with a sigh."Putting on airs really does cost money…"
Yu Lianyan rolled her eyes.
Chu Feng sat quietly, gaze focused through the formation screen. The auction hall below was already packed — sect disciples in uniform robes, clan heirs with their entourages, wealthy merchants, wandering cultivators clutching their savings. All gathered, buzzing with anticipation.
It felt… volatile.
Like dried grass waiting for a spark.
Yu Lianxue sensed it too. "Remember, we are not here to make trouble or attract attention."
Chu Feng nodded.
Jìn Bǎo held up both hands with exaggerated solemnity. "No trouble. I swear on all my future riches."
Yu Lianyan scoffed."That vow is as reliable as a paper shield."
The Auction Begins
A beautiful woman in red robes stepped onto the stage, spiritual light subtly enhancing her presence. The murmuring hall quieted at once.
"Welcome, honoured guests, to the Red Pine Auction House," she declared, voice warm and elegant with just the right touch of allure. "Tonight, we have prepared an exquisite selection of treasures."
Her smile deepened, gaining the undivided attention of hundreds.
"The auction will now begin."
The first few items were standard — mid-grade medicinal pills, beast cores, and cultivation manuals of modest value.
Yu Lianxue shook her head. "We don't need those."
Then—
"Next, a beginner alchemy manual, discovered in an abandoned hut near the eastern ridge."
The hostess displayed a thin, old book. It was slightly burned at the edges.
"Though low-grade, it may hold value for those wishing to study the basics of alchemy."
Nobody raised a token.
The hall remained dead silent.
Even the wind felt embarrassed for the lonely book.
Jìn Bǎo coughed. "Well… it's cheap…"
Yu Lianyan lifted a brow.
Before he could reply
Quietly, Chu Feng raised his token.
Yu Lianxue blinked at him. "You want it?"
"It might be useful."
Truthfully, it reminded him of simpler days — when he used to sneak books from his clan's study.
"Sold!"
And the book was theirs.
Next came a pouch of mid-grade medicinal herbs.
"Useful," Yu Lianxue commented.
Chu Feng raised a token again.
"Sold!"
A few more minor items went under the hammer, and they bought nothing else — just enough to blend in.
But as the auction progressed, a subtle shift crept through the hall.
The crowd below grew sharper, more alert… more dangerous.
They all felt a shiver run down their spine. Killing intent leaked faintly from the high-tier booths. Hidden experts scanned rivals with practised precision. Some heir-level prodigies were already counting out their wealth, readying for battle the moment it began.
Yu Lianyan frowned. "Feels like someone's about to toss a match into a powder barrel."
Yu Lianxue's gaze swept the hall. "Don't stare at anyone too long. Pretend we're not here."
"I already pretend you're not here," Jìn Bǎo whispered.
Both twins glared at him simultaneously.
He silently turned into a statue.
The Treasure That Changed the Room
The lights dimmed.
A soft drumbeat echoed through the hall.
The hostess stepped forward once more, this time with unmistakable reverence. "Our next item is the highlight of tonight's auction."
Instantly, the air thickened.
Booths that had remained eerily silent flared with aura. Even elders hiding in the upper galleries stirred, leaning forward with sudden interest.
The hostess raised her hands.
Servants rolled out a long jade case, its surface carved with intricate seals that pulsed with faint, otherworldly light.
Chu Feng felt his cosmic soul tremble.
Yu Lianxue gripped her armrest tighter. "This… is not ordinary."
Jìn Bǎo swallowed audibly."I suddenly feel… poor."
Yu Lianyan's eyes narrowed, sharp as a blade."Something big is coming."
The hostess placed both hands on the jade lid. "Behold—"
She opened it slowly.
Radiance erupted like a tidal wave, flooding the hall with blinding brilliance.
Inside floated a slender crystal fragment, carved in the shape of a dragon. It pulsed with ancient rhythm, humming as though alive. Every cultivator in the room felt a faint slice across their consciousness, subtle yet undeniable.
"Why is my cosmic soul reacting?" Yu Lianxue murmured, unease threading her voice.
"Mine too…" Chu Feng whispered, his eyes narrowing. "What… is this?"
"Something like that exists?!" Jìn Bǎo squeaked, almost toppling from his seat.
Tension erupted throughout the hall, thick enough to choke. Whispers died mid-word. Even the wind seemed to hesitate, holding its breath.
Every expert present now knew: this was no ordinary treasure.