Chapter 160: Drifting Cloud Auction
Cloudrise City was alive with energy.
Though it was still early morning, the streets already pulsed with activity as if it were midday. People from all walks of life filled the roads—some dressed in luxurious silks that shimmered beneath the sun, others clad in martial robes, weapons slung across their backs: spears, bows, swords, halberds, and more.
A few wore plain, weathered clothes, marking them as commoners. They weaved through the crowd with baskets on their heads or trays in hand, their voices loud and eager as they hawked their wares. Merchants lined the roads—some calling out from carefully arranged stalls, others spreading mats on the stone pavement, hoping to profit from the rising tide.
The air was rich with mingling scents—blooming flowers, sizzling street food, freshly brewed tea, and burning incense—fusing into a fragrance that made the whole city feel vibrant and alive.
At the centre of the city stood a massive Martial Arts Arena, a grand open space where young talents from Cloudrise and beyond gathered. Some sparred for reputation, others to sharpen their skills. But all of them shared a common hope—to gain recognition and perhaps catch the eye of a prestigious master.
And all of this excitement could be traced back to a single event—the Drifting Cloud Auction.
Today marked their annual Grand Auction. A once-a-year spectacle, and whenever it occurred, treasures of heaven and earth were bound to surface. Spirit herbs, rare artifacts, ancient scrolls—anything was possible.
Naturally, this drew not only the city's elite but powerful figures from surrounding regions as well. No one wanted to miss such an opportunity.
It was precisely because of this that Cloudrise City had become a sea of people. Young geniuses, wealthy merchants, veteran cultivators, and even hopeful commoners had all gathered—for fortune, for power, and perhaps for a better fate.
---
Su Tianhao moved through the streets with quiet interest, his expression calm and steady.
'Wow... I never expected the Drifting Cloud Auction to draw such a crowd,' he thought, golden eyes sweeping across the vibrant scene.
It was the first time in his life seeing a city so lively. And no matter what else he carried—whatever burdens, whatever ambitions—Su Tianhao was still a youth, and the joy of being young didn't elude him.
Though outwardly composed, he burned with quiet enthusiasm, his gaze lingering on the streets as if trying to press the moment into memory.
One of the Rogue Laws he had created in the past came to mind: Enjoy the little things.
Life had been hard back then. Every job was a gamble—never certain he'd live to see the next day. He had made that rule at nine years old, and even now, after everything, it still held.
But while he savoured the moment, he didn't forget the true purpose of the day—the Drifting Cloud Auction, and the materials he needed.
Every step brought him closer.
---
The Drifting Cloud Auction House was a towering structure nestled in the city's inner district. From afar, it looked less like a building and more like a pavilion pulled straight from a cultivator's dream—refined, graceful, and quietly imposing.
The rooftops curved elegantly, lined with shimmering jade tiles. Faint spiritual patterns pulsed along the outer walls, marking formation arrays woven into the very foundation.
Above the entrance hung a massive plaque carved from spirit wood, the characters Drifting Cloud Auction etched in flowing imperial script. Just below it, a floating projection flickered gently—the auction's insignia: a drifting cloud split by a silver brushstroke. Simple yet elegant.
Outside, a steady crowd flowed in and out—nobles in decorated carriages, rogue cultivators mounted on tamed spirit beasts, merchants, commoners, and disciples from all walks of life.
They had come for one reason.
Opportunity.
But not everyone would be allowed inside.
---
Su Tianhao joined the stream of people at the entrance, positioning himself near the back to observe how things operated. Ahead of him, hundreds pressed forward—yet only a fraction were granted entry. The majority were turned away without ceremony.
The guards stationed at the doors looked more like monuments than men. Both radiated the cultivation of Peak-stage Martial Soul Realm experts—a fact that stopped Su Tianhao cold.
Standing there in absolute stillness, they resembled heavenly judges deciding who was worthy and who was not.
'Peak-stage Martial Soul Realm experts... as door guards?!'
He steadied himself quickly.
Such figures commanded genuine respect in any Great Clan. Standing independently, they could lead mercenary guilds, factions, or organisations of considerable size. Most small cultivation clans didn't even have a Peak Martial Soul Realm expert as their protector.
As the saying goes—where gold is common, jade becomes the measure of worth.
In Longzhou Country, powers were ranked according to military strength and the cultivation level of their foremost experts.
First-Rate Forces were exceedingly rare—only the Imperial Family of Longzhou and a handful of hidden powers held that rank, each of them had the backing of a Martial King!
Below them sat Second-Rate Forces, led by Martial Lords. The Three Great Sects of Longzhou Country, the Blood Shadow Assassin Group, and a few others fell into this category.
Below that were Third-Rate Forces, anchored by Martial Grandmasters. Ancient Families, Great Clans, Cultivation Sects, and other established powers occupied this tier—including the He family of the capital, the Wang Mansion, the Phantom Blade Faction, the Thousand Beast Pavilion, and the Drifting Cloud Auction House itself.
Within that tier, however, there were distinctions. The three Great Clans of Oakwood City sat at rock bottom—their Martial Grandmaster backers operating from the shadows rather than ruling directly.
Below all of this were Unrated Forces—those backed by Martial Master Realm cultivators or below. The lower class of the cultivation world who haven't yet stepped into the Great Divine.
But in that lower class, the weight a Peak Martial Soul Realm expert carried was unmistakable.
Su Tianhao absorbed all of this, his lips twitching slightly. Then he refocused.
---
Observing more closely, the guards were primarily turning away merchants and commoners who had come on the strength of hope alone. Rogue cultivators fared somewhat better—many were refused, but a select few passed without issue. The elites and nobles were a different matter entirely. Of every hundred who approached, ninety were welcomed in without question.
Su Tianhao understood without needing it explained.
This was a Grand Auction. Most of those turned away simply didn't carry enough wealth to compete for what was on offer. Merchants, commoners—what could they realistically bid in a gathering of cultivators? Their presence would only occupy space that belonged to more serious buyers.
The system was harsh—but effective.
---
Soon it was his turn.
Su Tianhao stepped forward—neither fast nor slow.
The guards looked down at him from above, their towering frames casting long shadows across his figure. Their gazes sharpened, probing.
Then confusion flickered across their faces.
They had attempted to read his cultivation—and their spiritual senses had bounced back as if striking tempered jade.
"You," one said, voice hard. "What's your cultivation base?"
His presence was clearly remarkable—but that only made it stranger. The young man before them looked no older than sixteen or seventeen.
"Peak Martial Adept Realm," Su Tianhao said, his expression unhurried.
In truth he was only at the 1st level Martial Adept Realm—but since they couldn't see through his concealment, there was no harm in a measured exaggeration. If pressed, he could demonstrate strength at that level without difficulty. Claiming anything higher would be another matter.
"Entry requires at least Martial Master Realm," one guard said firmly, eyes fixed on Su Tianhao as though daring him to push back.
"Is there no other way?" Su Tianhao asked, expression unchanged.
Another guard stepped in. "There is. A personal invitation from the auction house—or proof of at least one thousand spirit stones."
"One thousand spirit stones," Su Tianhao murmured.
He paused. "And how does one prove it? You're not expecting me to empty my wealth out here, are you?"
"Of course not," the guard said, with the faint shadow of a smirk. "We have a Spirit Verification Stone. Place your spatial ring or storage pouch against it—if the contents meet the threshold, the stone glows blue. Your wealth stays private."
Su Tianhao's eyes narrowed slightly. Even the Su family library had no records of such a thing.
The Spirit Verification Stone was a rare structure found in specific regions of spirit stone mines. Once extracted, it could be enhanced through inscription runes, giving it the ability to detect and respond to concentrated spiritual energy—the higher the energy signature, the brighter the glow. A precise and discreet tool for establishments that valued both security and discretion.
All of this came from his inherited memories. With nothing to fear, he nodded.
"All right."
The guard gave a slight look to his companion. Without a word exchanged, the second guard reached into his spatial ring and produced the stone—white and spotless as polished marble, roughly the size of two fists, exuding an aura that marked it immediately as something uncommon. He carried it forward with both hands.
"Place your spatial ring on it."
Su Tianhao glanced at the stone. Sure enough, intricate inscription runes lined its surface—subtle enough that most would miss them entirely, but not someone whose knowledge of inscription rivaled a grade 4 inscription master.
He removed the golden ring from his finger and set it atop the stone.
Almost instantly—
Whoosh.
The stone stirred. Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Then—a brilliant, steady blue.
Su Tianhao lifted the ring the moment the blue glow appeared, not allowing the scan to go further. The less others knew about the full depth of his resources, the better.
"I believe that's sufficient," he said with a faint smile.
The guard nodded and produced a jade token.
Su Tianhao received it with quiet interest. The number 657 was boldly engraved on the front, gleaming faintly in the morning light. On the reverse, the Drifting Cloud Auction's insignia—a drifting cloud split by a silver brushstroke.
"Good luck," the guards said, and turned their attention back to the line.
Token in hand, Su Tianhao stepped through the entrance.
'Drifting Cloud Auction... don't disappoint me.'