The atmosphere had changed.
What began as caution… had become hunger.
---
Ren Kairo could feel it clearly now.
Not through sight.
Not through sound.
But through the market itself.
---
Every flicker of greed.
Every pulse of desire.
Every silent calculation—
Flowed into him.
---
So this is what it means… to control a market.
---
Below, the four figures stood in uneasy silence.
But their eyes—
Never left the stage.
---
The newcomer flexed his fingers slowly, as if testing his body.
A faint, beast-like aura still lingered around him.
Unstable.
But powerful.
---
The Nascent Soul elder glanced at him briefly.
Then back at the stage.
"…continue," he said.
---
Ren didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
He raised his hand slightly.
---
The entire hall dimmed.
---
[Market Rule Update Initiated]
---
A low hum spread through the space.
Dark symbols began to form in the air—
Circling.
Binding.
Watching.
---
The Core Formation man stiffened.
"…what now?"
---
Ren's voice echoed.
Calm.
Controlled.
---
"Before the next item…"
A pause.
---
"New rules will be established."
---
The air grew heavier.
---
"From this moment forward—"
---
"Every transaction will require a secondary price."
---
Silence.
---
The woman frowned.
"…secondary?"
---
Ren continued.
---
"Spirit stones… are not enough."
---
The symbols in the air began to glow faintly.
---
"Each bidder must offer something… of true value."
---
A long pause.
Then—
"Lifespan."
"Memories."
"Cultivation."
"Body."
"Or… something else you cannot easily replace."
---
The Core Formation man's face went pale.
"You expect us to just—just give that up?!"
---
Ren's tone didn't change.
---
"You already did."
---
The man froze.
---
His eyes slowly shifted—
Toward the Nascent Soul elder.
---
Toward the missing arm.
---
Silence crushed the room again.
---
The woman spoke next.
"…and if we refuse?"
---
Ren's answer came instantly.
---
"You may leave."
---
A pause.
Then—
"And never return."
---
That…
Was the real price.
---
Because now—
They understood.
---
This wasn't just a place to gain power.
---
It was a place you could be cut off from forever.
---
And once you left—
You would always wonder…
What you could have gained.
---
The Core Formation man clenched his fists.
His breathing uneven.
---
The woman closed her eyes briefly.
Thinking.
Calculating.
---
The newcomer simply laughed quietly.
"…good."
---
All three looked at him.
---
"Power should have a cost," he said.
---
The Nascent Soul elder nodded faintly.
"…agreed."
---
And just like that—
The rule was accepted.
---
Ren watched silently.
They adapted faster than expected.
---
Good.
---
"Then we continue," he said.
---
The stage shifted again.
---
This time—
No physical object appeared.
---
Instead—
A faint, translucent flame floated into existence.
---
Small.
Unstable.
Almost fragile.
---
But the moment it appeared—
The Nascent Soul elder's eyes widened.
---
"…that's impossible."
---
The woman stepped forward unconsciously.
"…a soul flame?"
---
The Core Formation man looked confused.
"…what is that?"
---
Ren spoke softly.
---
"Fragment of a Nascent Soul."
---
The Core Formation man froze.
---
The elder's gaze sharpened.
"…you're selling a soul fragment?"
---
Ren didn't answer directly.
---
"Absorbing it… can strengthen one's own soul."
---
A pause.
---
"Or… repair damage."
---
The elder's eyes flickered.
Just slightly.
---
Ren noticed.
---
There it is.
---
Even someone like him—
Had weaknesses.
---
"Begin," Ren said.
---
Silence lasted only a second this time.
---
"Two hundred thousand," the Core Formation man said immediately.
---
"Three hundred," the woman added.
---
The newcomer tilted his head.
"…five hundred thousand."
---
The elder didn't speak.
But his aura—
Shifted.
---
Ren leaned forward slightly.
---
"Remember," he said quietly.
---
"There is always a second price."
---
This time—
No one hesitated.
---
"…ten years of my lifespan," the Core Formation man added quickly.
---
The woman's eyes narrowed.
"…fifteen."
---
The newcomer chuckled.
"…twenty."
---
The elder finally spoke.
---
"…fifty years."
---
Silence.
---
Even the newcomer paused.
---
Ren's eyes glinted.
He needs it.
---
The flame flickered softly.
---
Waiting.
---
"Fifty years…" Ren repeated.
---
Then—
"Plus your cultivation… reduced by one minor realm."
---
The elder's gaze snapped upward.
---
For the first time—
True hesitation appeared.
---
Because this…
Wasn't just a cost.
---
It was a setback.
---
A risk.
---
A weakness others could exploit.
---
The hall held its breath.
---
Seconds passed.
---
Then—
The elder closed his eyes.
---
"…accepted."
---
The market responded instantly.
---
The flame vanished—
And reappeared before him.
---
At the same time—
His aura dropped.
Just slightly.
---
But it was real.
---
The cost had been paid.
---
[Transaction Successful]
[High-Value Exchange Detected]
[Market Authority Increased]
---
Ren's entire body shook.
---
This time—
The surge was massive.
---
His cultivation broke through—
---
From Mortal Foundation…
To Qi Gathering.
---
In an instant.
---
He exhaled slowly.
Steady.
Controlled.
---
But inside—
Everything had changed.
---
Below—
No one spoke anymore.
---
Because now—
They understood the truth.
---
This market…
Was not just dangerous.
---
It was absolute.
---
And Ren Kairo—
Sat above it all.
---
Growing stronger—
With every price they paid.