The darkness didn't stay silent for long.
A low hum spread through the hall, like something ancient waking up. The cracked walls of the ruined market dissolved into shadows, stretching outward into a vast, dim chamber lit by flickering blue flames.
Rows of seats formed from nothing.
A stage rose at the center.
And above it all—
A ceiling that looked like a starless void.
Ren Kairo stood at the highest point, overlooking everything.
"…so this is the market," he said quietly.
[Temporary Auction Hall Established]
[First Auction Will Begin Shortly]
[Invitations Sent: 3]
"Only three?" Ren frowned slightly.
[Market Rank Too Low]
"…figures."
Still, three was enough.
For now.
Ren closed his eyes for a moment, thinking.
Three people… unknown strength… possibly dangerous.
He wasn't strong enough to control them by force.
So he would do it another way.
Control the situation.
His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest that had formed behind him.
"System," he said calmly, "can they see me?"
[Host Visibility: Adjustable]
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Good."
[Setting: Host Presence → Hidden]
The air around him distorted, his figure fading into the shadows.
From below, the throne now looked empty.
Only a faint, unreadable pressure remained.
---
A ripple tore through the entrance.
The first guest arrived.
A tall man stepped forward, cloaked in dark robes. His aura was sharp, like a blade barely contained.
He looked around once—
And immediately tensed.
"…what is this place?"
His voice echoed, cautious.
Ren watched silently.
Strong, he noted. At least Core Formation.
The second ripple came moments later.
This time, a woman appeared—her presence cold and composed, eyes scanning everything with calculated calm.
She said nothing.
But her gaze lingered on the empty throne.
As if she could feel something watching her.
Sharp, Ren thought. Dangerous.
Then—
The third arrival.
The air distorted violently.
A heavy pressure filled the hall as an older man stepped through, his robes marked with faint golden patterns.
The moment he appeared—
The other two instinctively moved back.
Nascent Soul.
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
…that's higher than I expected.
For a brief second, even he felt pressure.
But then—
[Market Authority Activated]
The pressure vanished.
Replaced by something deeper.
Something that didn't belong to any cultivator.
The old man's expression changed.
"…interesting," he murmured.
---
All three stood in silence.
No one spoke first.
No one dared.
Because this place—
Was wrong.
---
Then, a voice echoed.
Calm.
Distant.
Untraceable.
"Welcome."
All three instantly looked toward the throne.
But saw nothing.
"…who's there?" the first man demanded.
Ren didn't answer immediately.
Silence stretched just long enough to create tension.
Then—
"You were invited," he said.
"Whether you stay… depends on your courage."
The woman's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…an illusion? Or a formation?"
The old man chuckled softly.
"No," he said. "This is neither."
His gaze sharpened.
"This place… is real."
---
Ren leaned back slightly, observing them.
Good. They're cautious.
That meant they'd think before acting.
And that gave him control.
---
Without warning—
The stage lit up.
A single object appeared at its center.
A small, black box.
The same one Ren had opened earlier.
Instantly, all three locked onto it.
Their instincts screamed.
Danger.
Value.
Opportunity.
---
"The first item," Ren said calmly, "will now be presented."
No introduction.
No explanation.
Only mystery.
The box slowly opened.
And the moment the ring inside was revealed—
The air changed.
The Core Formation man's breathing grew heavier.
The woman's eyes sharpened.
Even the Nascent Soul elder leaned forward slightly.
"…that aura," he muttered.
---
Ren spoke again.
"Soul-Bound Devouring Ring."
Silence.
Then—
"It absorbs spiritual energy from the dead," Ren continued.
"Improves cultivation speed."
He paused.
Just slightly.
Then added—
"…at a cost."
No details.
No explanation.
Only enough to hook them.
---
"How much?" the first man asked immediately.
The woman glanced at him, annoyed.
Too eager.
---
Ren smiled faintly in the shadows.
Perfect.
"There is no fixed price," he said.
"This is an auction."
The lights dimmed slightly.
The pressure in the room deepened.
"Bid," Ren said.
"Or leave."
---
A long silence followed.
Then—
"Ten thousand spirit stones," the first man said quickly.
The woman scoffed.
"Pathetic."
She stepped forward.
"Fifty thousand."
The air grew tense.
---
The old man said nothing.
But his gaze never left the ring.
---
Ren watched carefully.
Not the bids—
But their reactions.
Their greed.
Their restraint.
Their fear.
---
"Seventy thousand," the first man said through clenched teeth.
"One hundred thousand," the woman replied instantly.
---
Still, the old man remained silent.
---
Ren tapped his finger once.
The lights flickered.
"Is that all?" he asked softly.
---
The old man finally moved.
"Two hundred thousand," he said calmly.
Silence fell instantly.
The other two froze.
---
Ren's eyes glinted.
There it is.
Power.
Confidence.
Authority.
---
But this wasn't enough.
Not yet.
---
"Two hundred thousand…" Ren repeated.
Then—
"Plus your right arm."
The room went completely still.
---
The first man stepped back.
"…what?"
The woman's expression changed.
Even the old man's eyes narrowed.
---
"This market," Ren said calmly,
"does not deal in simple currency alone."
---
Silence pressed down on them.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
---
"Everything… has value."
---
For the first time—
None of them spoke.
---
And in the shadows above—
Ren Kairo smiled.
Because now—
They understood.
This wasn't just an auction.
It was something far more dangerous.
---
And this…
Was only the beginning.