"Senior Yun Shan, regarding the origin of this Rank 7 Monster Core... allow me to keep you in suspense for just a moment longer," Primer Tengshan said, bowing slightly toward the Yun Lan Sect's suite. "Once the auction concludes, the Primer Clan has a momentous announcement to make. However, I can offer one ironclad guarantee: whoever purchases this core will face no 'trouble' from beast kin. Should any loss occur, the Primer Clan will shoulder the responsibility entirely!"
Tengshan's voice carried a mysterious confidence. It was clear that the "announcement" was the true grand finale, inextricably linked to the core's source.
Even Yun Shan was taken aback. While he had heard whispers from Hai Po Dong about the core, the mention of a follow-up announcement was news to him. The same confusion rippled through the suites of the Imperial Family and the Alchemist Association.
One thing was certain: the news was massive. A secret concerning a Rank 7 beast—the equivalent of a human Dou Zong—was a strategic asset. In the Northwest Continent, a Dou Zong was the "ceiling" of power. Even in the Central Plains, such a powerhouse could lead a first-rate sect.
Xiao Lin leaned back, stroking his chin. The Primer Clan is playing a deep game, he thought. The core is just the bait. The real prize is the information. This is getting interesting.
As Tengshan signaled the start, the heavyweights finally stopped observing and began to strike. Only three entities in the empire had the liquid capital to even dream of possessing a Rank 7 core.
"2.5 Million Gold!"
The voice of Fa Ma, President of the Alchemist Association, boomed from Suite No. 3. He didn't bother with small increments; he immediately slapped an extra 500,000 gold onto the starting price.
The sheer "arrogance" of the Alchemists was breathtaking, but logical. Alchemy was the most lucrative profession in existence. Between the high cost of medicinal ingredients, the "three-sets-of-materials" rule for custom refining, and the massive markup on finished pills, the Association sat on a mountain of gold that rivaled—and likely surpassed—the Imperial Treasury.
"2.7 Million Gold," countered Jia Xing Tian, the Guardian of the Imperial Family. As the ruler of the nation, the Emperor's coffers were deep. Their refusal to scavenge the minor assets of the fallen Intel Clan earlier was proof enough of their vast reserves.
"3 Million Gold!"
Yun Shan finally joined the fray. As a Nine-Star Dou Huang, he was the closest to the Dou Zong realm. This core represented a genuine hope for his breakthrough. However, of the three, Yun Shan was the most anxious. While the Yun Lan Sect was the strongest in terms of military might, their "cash flow" was significantly lower than a government or a merchant-alchemist guild.
The Breaking Point
"3.5 Million!" Fa Ma barked, another 500,000-gold jump.
The audience below sat in a collective, numbed silence. To them, these weren't numbers anymore; they were abstract concepts of power.
"3.7 Million!" — Jia Xing Tian. "4 Million!" — Yun Shan. "5 Million!" — Fa Ma.
In the blink of an eye, the price had doubled. To Fa Ma, gold was just a cold sequence of digits. To secure a Rank 7 core—a dream ingredient for any high-level refiner—he was willing to bleed the Association white.
Jia Xing Tian and Yun Shan both frowned. The price was rapidly approaching their psychological limits. They shared a moment of silent, gritted-teeth determination before making one last push.
"5.5 Million!" shouted the Emperor's Guardian. "6 Million!" roared the Sect Leader.
Fa Ma didn't even blink. "7 Million Gold!"
The robust, unwavering tone of Fa Ma's voice echoed through the hall like a death knell for the other bidders. A heavy silence followed, punctuated only by two faint, resigned sighs.
Jia Xing Tian and Yun Shan knew when they were beaten. While they technically had more gold, Fa Ma's aggressive stance signaled that he would go to 10 million if necessary. It was better to concede and keep their dignity—and their gold for other needs.
Thwack. "7 Million Gold once!" Thwack. "7 Million Gold twice!" Thwack! "Sold! The Rank 7 Monster Core belongs to the Alchemist Association!"
Xiao Lin watched the spectacle with a faint smile. He had seen the world's wealthiest men fight over a bone, and now it was time for the main event. He straightened his robes, his Heavenly State Soul alert.
The auction was over. The "Secret of the Primers" was about to begin.
"Ahem! Honored guests, the auction itself has reached its conclusion. Announcements regarding the next grand event will be sent to your respective clans in due time."
After the Rank 7 Monster Core was delivered to the shaking hands of Fa Ma in Suite No. 3, Primer Tengshan cleared his throat. The noise of the crowd died down instantly. Every eye was fixed on the stage, remembering the "teaser" Tengshan had dropped earlier.
The Primer Clan had spent many sleepless nights debating this move. Ideally, they would have kept this secret buried for another century, slowly harvesting its riches. But a recent, violent "accident" had stripped them of their monopoly. Now, the choice was simple: share the meat with their countrymen, or watch a foreign power steal the entire carcass.
Hai Po Dong, the Ice Emperor, had made the final call: If we can't have the whole goose, we'll lead the hunt and take the best cut of the heart.
"I asked earlier how the Primer Clan obtained the core of a Rank 7 beast," Tengshan began, his voice dropping an octave into a tone of grave importance. "The answer lies in a secret we have guarded for several years. Many of you know our clan head, Hai Po Dong, recently broke through to the Dou Huang realm. But do you know how?"
The room went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"His breakthrough, and this Rank 7 core, both originated from the same source: A Hidden Ancient Realm (Secret Realm) discovered by our explorers!"
The word "Secret Realm" hit the hall like a lightning strike. In the Dou Qi Continent, these pockets of space were synonymous with ancient inheritances, Tier 6 medicinal herbs, and forgotten Qi Methods. The fact that it had already produced a Dou Huang and a Rank 7 core was proof enough of its staggering value. The audience's breathing grew heavy with greed.
However, Jia Xing Tian, the Guardian of the Empire, remained frosty. "If this realm is so bountiful, why tell us? Why not keep the treasure for yourselves? Is there a trap laid in these words, Tengshan?"
The crowd's excitement chilled instantly. Jia Xing Tian was right. No merchant—especially a primer—gives away a gold mine unless the mine is haunted.
Xiao Lin, sitting in Suite No. 6, nodded inwardly. Old Man Jia is sharp. A secret shared is usually a burden shifted.
Tengshan let out a bitter, helpless laugh. "We wanted to keep it. Believe me. But reality has forced our hand."
The Golden Goose and the Vulture
"A few months ago," Tengshan explained, "a wild Rank 7 beast discovered the seal of the realm. It attempted to force its way in. The resulting collision didn't just injure the beast; it caused the ancient warding arrays to crack, leaking a massive surge of ancient energy into the atmosphere."
Tengshan's expression turned grim. "That energy spike was detected by the Jin Yan Sect of the Luo Yan Empire. They have already mobilized."
The mood in the room shifted from greed to alarm. The Jin Yan Sect was the apex power of the neighboring Luo Yan Empire, and they were notorious for their aggression.
"Our Clan Head estimates the remaining seals will fully collapse in three months. Alone, the Primer Clan cannot repel the Jin Yan Sect. We are going to lose that realm to foreigners unless the Jia Ma Empire stands together. We are sharing the coordinates because we need your blades to keep the Luo Yan vultures at bay."
He paused, glancing at the Rank 7 core Fa Ma now held. "As for that beast? It was mortally wounded by the realm's backlash. Our Clan Head caught it while it was fleeing and finished it off. That is the origin of the core."
Xiao Lin finally understood the Primer Clan's frustration. They had been "slow-cooking" this realm for years, waiting for the arrays to naturally weaken so they could explore safely. Now, thanks to a suicidal monster and a nosy neighbor, the "slow cook" had turned into a "fire sale."
The Primer Clan was effectively hiring the entire Jia Ma elite as mercenaries, paying them in "potential loot" from the realm.
Three months, Xiao Lin mused, his fingers drumming on the armrest. A Rank 7 realm... even a few scraps from such a place could push the Xiao Clan's foundation to the next level. And if the Luo Yan Empire is coming, I might finally have a chance to test my real strength without the Imperial Family getting suspicious.
Xiao Lin began to draft a new plan. The auction was just the beginning; the real war was three months away.