The air was thick with tension as the sects continued their bidding for access to the Azure Dragon Echoing Caves. Madam Frost, with a look of determination etched on her face, added another 2,000 Grade 4 spirit stones from her personal savings to the Clark Sect's vessel. Elder Ring contributed an additional 1,500, their efforts a testament to their commitment to their sect.
Prince Ethan, not to be outdone, boldly tossed in 3,000 spirit stones. "We will not go down without a fight," he declared, his voice resonant with resolve.
Observing the Clark Sect's steady rise, Sen Vinci, elder of the Vinci Sect, issued a command to his disciples. "Add more," he ordered, his tone laced with urgency. "We cannot let the Clark Sect overtake us." His disciples and fellow elders, heeding his call, threw in an additional 10,000 spirit stones by emptying their storage rings, pushing their total to a formidable 30,000 and securing their fourth place among the bidding sects.
The Clark Sect disciples, spurred by a collective sense of purpose, began contributing their own spirit stones, a sacrifice that went beyond Madam Frost's initial bid. Their vessel slowly filled, reaching a total of 18,000, including the 10,000 provided by their sect head. Yet, they remained in seventh place, a daunting 12,000 spirit stones short of the Vinci Sect's bid.
The Vinci Sect disciples, confident in their position, mocked the Clark Sect's efforts. Their laughter echoed across the valley, adding to the already palpable stress.
Prince Ethan, in a desperate bid, approached other sect elders for aid. "We seek your assistance in this matter, this prince will remember your aid." he implored, his pride set aside for the sake of his sect. However, his pleas fell on deaf ears, as no one wished to involve themselves in the longstanding rivalry between the Clark and Vinci Sects.
The Dany Sect elder, observing the proceedings, announced, "Few more minutes, and we will conclude the bidding." This statement sent a ripple of urgency through the gathered sects, intensifying the competition for the coveted fourth spot, now only a mere 1,000 spirit stones away for the sixth and fifth place sects.
Madam Frost turned to her disciples, her expression a mix of frustration and resolve. "We have given our all," she said solemnly. "Whatever the outcome, know that your dedication to our sect will not be forgotten."
As the final minutes ticked away, the sects scrambled to increase their bids. The clink of spirit stones against crystal filled the air, each addition a symbol of hope and desperation.
The Vinci Sect, confident in their position, watched with smug satisfaction, unaware of the last-minute changes occurring in the rankings.
The tension outside the Azure Dragon Echoing Caves was palpable as the bidding war drew to a climax.
Amidst the anxious crowd, Richard, the wealthy core disciples who is carrying a grudge on Ria from the spirit forest, seized an opportunity to belittle Ria.
"Ria, don't have any spirit stones?" he called out, his voice dripping with mockery, drawing the attention of those around him.
"Even if she has any, it's not her problem," a girl chimed in scornfully. "Look at her, only at the first stage of core formation. She has plenty of time to come here before reaching the ninth stage."
Their comments sparked a wave of derision, as others joined in, ridiculing Ria for her perceived lack of contribution. Elder Ring, noticing the growing commotion, quickly stepped in, urging the disciples to maintain their decorum.
Amidst the noise, Ria's eyes found Eric, standing at a distance with the skinny old man. Their gaze met, and in his nod and smile, she found a silent encouragement. She turned back to face the crowd, her expression calm despite the flurry of insults.
Taking a deep breath, Ria reached into her spirit ring and pulled out a small pouch, its contents meagre compared to the wealth being flaunted by other sects. She started walking towards the crystal vessel designated for the Clark Sect.
Richard's laughter rang out again. "Haha, look at her. She's adding a tip to our bill," he jeered, his voice loud enough for all to hear.
"She's just poor, leave it," another disciple added dismissively, while a female disciple remarked, "She should've kept silent instead of donating her small savings. Haha, she won't be having meals for a few days."
The mockery continued unabated, even as some within the crowd began to feel uncomfortable with the escalating cruelty. "Stop... can't you see? She's mocking us," one disciple interjected, trying to diffuse the situation. "Look around; all the sects are watching us like we're fools."
Ethan, standing amidst his fellow disciples, remained silent, a complex mix of emotions crossing his face. Even he, the Crown Prince, couldn't find the words to defend Ria's act, feeling a pang of shame at her humble offering.
Madam Frost, however, accepted Ria's pouch without hesitation. With a swift, decisive motion, she tossed it into the Clark Sect's crystal vessel. The small pouch seemed insignificant in the grand scheme of the bidding war.
But in the next instant, as the contents of the pouch cascaded into the vessel, something unexpected happened. The crowd fell silent, their mocking laughter dying in their throats, eyes widening in shock at the sight before them.
The crystal vessel reacted to Ria's contribution, but the nature of that reaction was left hanging in the air, a suspenseful pause that held the entire valley in its grip. What had seemed like a futile gesture by Ria had turned into a moment of profound significance, the implications of which were yet to be fully understood.
As the sects looked on, the Clark Sect disciples, the Dany Sect elders, and even the Vinci Sect members waited with bated breath.
The empty vessel immediately changed into red colour and the Dany sect elder immediately came running towards the crystal vessel to see if something went wrong.
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