The silence that followed was different.
Heavier.
Not from fear alone—
But from realization.
---
Three transactions.
Three impossible items.
Three prices that no normal cultivator would ever agree to.
---
And yet—
They had all paid.
---
Ren Kairo sat in the shadows, unmoving.
But inside…
His thoughts were racing.
---
This is only the beginning.
---
The market pulsed faintly around him.
Stronger now.
Alive.
---
Below—
The Nascent Soul elder slowly exhaled, the faint glow of the soul fragment sinking into his chest.
His weakened aura stabilized… then deepened.
Not stronger—
But more complete.
---
"…worth the cost," he murmured.
---
The woman glanced at him, her eyes unreadable.
Then—
She turned back to the throne.
"…what are you?" she asked.
---
The Core Formation man stiffened.
The newcomer tilted his head slightly.
---
For the first time—
They weren't looking at the items.
---
They were looking at him.
---
Ren didn't answer immediately.
---
Instead—
He stood.
---
The shadows shifted.
---
For the first time—
A silhouette appeared on the throne.
---
Not clear.
Not fully visible.
---
But enough.
---
A figure cloaked in darkness.
Watching.
---
"I am," Ren said calmly,
"The one who assigns value."
---
The words echoed.
Deep.
Unavoidable.
---
No one spoke.
---
Because they could feel it.
---
This wasn't arrogance.
---
It was truth—
Within this space.
---
The woman's gaze sharpened.
"…and outside this place?"
---
Ren smiled faintly.
---
"That," he said,
"depends on how valuable I become."
---
Silence.
---
The answer wasn't direct.
But it was enough.
---
The newcomer laughed softly.
"…good."
---
The Core Formation man said nothing.
But his expression had changed.
Less fear.
More calculation.
---
And the elder—
Simply watched.
---
Ren sat back down.
---
"Final item," he said.
---
The stage darkened.
---
This time—
The air itself felt different.
---
Heavier.
More dangerous.
---
Even before the item appeared—
All four felt it.
---
A slow… creeping pressure.
---
Then—
It formed.
---
A black scroll.
---
Old.
Cracked.
Sealed with a faint, pulsating mark.
---
The moment it appeared—
The newcomer's body stiffened.
---
The elder's eyes narrowed sharply.
---
"…that seal," he muttered.
---
The woman took a step back unconsciously.
---
Ren's voice echoed quietly.
---
"Forbidden Technique: Devouring Heaven Art."
---
The name alone—
Was enough.
---
The Core Formation man's breath hitched.
"…devouring…?"
---
Ren continued.
---
"Absorb cultivation directly from others."
---
Silence.
---
"Refine it as your own."
---
The pressure increased.
---
"Limitless growth."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
"The cost…"
---
The scroll pulsed.
---
"…is everything."
---
No one spoke.
---
Because this—
Was different.
---
This wasn't a risky item.
---
This was a path.
---
A point of no return.
---
The woman whispered,
"…you'd become a target of the entire cultivation world."
---
The elder nodded slowly.
"…if you survive."
---
The newcomer's lips curled beneath his hood.
"…or rule it."
---
Ren watched all of them carefully.
---
This wasn't about bidding anymore.
---
This was about choice.
---
"What is the price?" the woman asked quietly.
---
Ren leaned forward slightly.
---
"For this…"
A pause.
---
"You don't bid against each other."
---
Confusion flickered across their faces.
---
"You bid," Ren said,
"against yourselves."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
He continued.
---
"Offer what you are willing to sacrifice."
---
"Your future."
"Your identity."
"Your path."
---
The scroll pulsed again.
---
"And I will decide…"
---
"…who is worthy."
---
The hall went completely still.
---
Because now—
There was no safe choice.
---
Only desire.
---
The Core Formation man stepped back.
"…this is madness…"
---
The woman closed her eyes.
Thinking.
---
The elder remained silent.
---
But the newcomer—
Stepped forward.
---
"…interesting."
---
His voice was low.
Excited.
---
"I offer…"
A pause.
---
"My name."
---
The air shifted.
---
"…and my past."
---
Everyone froze.
---
The woman's eyes widened.
"…you—"
---
But he continued.
---
"I abandon everything I was."
---
"From this moment forward…"
---
"I exist only for power."
---
The scroll trembled.
---
Ren's eyes sharpened.
---
That's… not normal.
---
This wasn't greed.
---
This was obsession.
---
The elder finally spoke.
---
"…I offer my sect."
---
Silence exploded.
---
The Core Formation man staggered back.
"…what?!"
---
The woman's expression cracked.
---
"You would destroy everything you built?!" she said.
---
The elder's voice remained calm.
---
"If this is real…"
---
"…then everything else is insignificant."
---
The scroll pulsed violently now.
---
Ren could feel it.
---
This decision—
Mattered.
---
Then—
The woman stepped forward.
---
"…I offer my future."
---
All eyes turned to her.
---
She didn't hesitate.
---
"I abandon ascension."
---
Silence.
---
"…I will never seek the Sovereign Realm."
---
Her voice was steady.
---
"But in exchange…"
---
Her gaze locked onto the scroll.
---
"I want absolute control over my current power."
---
The scroll glowed.
---
Ren leaned back slowly.
---
Three offers.
---
Three extremes.
---
All valuable.
---
All dangerous.
---
The market trembled.
---
Waiting.
---
For him.
---
Ren Kairo closed his eyes briefly.
---
Then—
Opened them.
---
Cold.
Clear.
Decisive.
---
"None of you," he said,
"are worthy."
---
The reaction was instant.
---
"What—?!" the Core Formation man blurted.
---
Even the newcomer went still.
---
The elder's eyes narrowed.
---
The woman frowned.
---
Ren stood.
---
"The price you offered…"
---
"…is incomplete."
---
The scroll pulsed once more.
---
Then—
Without warning—
It vanished.
---
And reappeared—
---
In front of him.
---
On the throne.
---
Silence.
---
"…you're keeping it?" the woman said slowly.
---
Ren looked down at the scroll.
---
His expression unreadable.
---
"No," he said.
---
"I'm buying it."
---
The entire hall froze.
---
Because for the first time—
---
The owner…
---
Was making a transaction.
---
[Self-Transaction Initiated]
---
The system's voice echoed.
---
[Price Required]
---
Ren didn't hesitate.
---
"I offer…"
A pause.
---
"…my future."
---
The market went still.
---
Even the system—
Paused.
---
Then—
[Condition Accepted]
---
The scroll dissolved—
Turning into pure darkness—
---
And entered his body.
---
Pain exploded.
---
Unlike anything before.
---
His veins burned.
His soul trembled.
His mind fractured—
---
But he didn't scream.
---
He endured.
---
Because this—
---
Was his choice.
---
[Forbidden Path Acquired: Devouring Heaven Art]
---
The hall shook.
---
Below—
No one spoke.
---
Because now—
They understood something terrifying.
---
The most dangerous person in the room…
---
Wasn't them.
---
It was the one above.
---
Ren Kairo—
---
The one who didn't just control value.
---
But was willing…
---
To gamble everything.
---
On himself.