The atmosphere within the underground auction hall was thick with tension, like a coiled spring ready to snap. Faint candlelight flickered from the walls, casting long shadows over the faces of powerful Gu Masters from various sects and factions. They came from different regions of the Central Continent, each with their own agenda, their own ambition, and their own schemes. Their gazes were cold, sharp, and calculating, a reflection of the world they lived in—ruthless, cunning, and predatory.
Hui Jian followed the Blue Lotus Sect into the hall, keeping his head low and demeanor humble. His heart beat steadily beneath his calm exterior, but his mind was as active as ever, absorbing every detail. The auction hall was grand yet suffocating in its opulence, designed to exude power while suffusing those inside with an air of unease. The vast room was filled with wooden seats arranged in tiers around a central stage, where treasures beyond imagination would soon be paraded for all to see.
The Blue Lotus Sect found their place, a modest row among the lesser-known sects and merchants. Hui Jian sat with them, eyes barely lifting from his own hands, maintaining the image of a hired guard. His goal was clear: to go unnoticed, to blend into the background while extracting what he needed.
All around him, whispers filled the air, and he listened intently, picking up pieces of information here and there. Sect leaders murmured about certain rare items they had heard rumors of—exotic Gu worms, refining materials, and ancient artifacts from long-lost civilizations. Merchants debated over which items would fetch the highest price and how to outbid their competitors. And then there were the wandering Gu Masters, like him, whose presence felt precarious. They lacked the power and wealth of the bigger players, but their eyes burned with the same hunger for advantage.
Hui Jian kept his gaze sharp beneath his hood. He wasn't interested in flaunting wealth or chasing after the rarest items. No, he had a simpler aim—to gather the lesser-wanted materials that others would overlook, those that could help him refine his Gu and solidify his foothold in this new, dangerous world.
As the first items were brought forward, the crowd grew silent, a palpable shift in the air. A glistening Rank 3 defensive Gu, shaped like a shell, shimmered under the lights. The auctioneer's voice echoed through the hall, explaining the Gu's protective abilities in battle. The bidding was fierce from the start. Sect leaders raised their hands without hesitation, each bid higher than the last. The price soared, and soon only a few key figures remained in the contest, their faces emotionless as they silently upped the stakes.
Hui Jian observed it all with quiet calculation. These were not the items he needed, nor were these the kinds of enemies he wanted to make.
When the bidding for the Rank 3 Gu finally ended, and the winner—a merchant from a distant sect—claimed his prize, Hui Jian turned his attention to the next items. As expected, the auction offered up several rare Gu worms and materials, each accompanied by an increase in tension as powerful factions competed for dominance. Every so often, Hui Jian caught glimpses of other minor players, like himself, joining the bidding fray for lower-value items. He kept track of these movements, gauging the strength of his competition without ever lifting his own hand.
Finally, the moment he had been waiting for arrived. A set of materials appeared, ordinary to the eyes of most in the room but invaluable to him. The auctioneer introduced the materials as "enhancement tools for lesser Gu," perfect for those refining low-level Gu worms and often overlooked by the more powerful bidders. The items were brushed aside by most in attendance, their eyes fixated on the grander prizes that would come later.
This was Hui Jian's moment.
He waited patiently, letting the price start low, then raised his hand, just enough to keep himself unnoticed among the many others in the hall. His bid was met by a few others—small sects and wandering cultivators who saw some value in the materials, but nothing compared to the chaos of earlier auctions. Hui Jian increased his bid slowly, keeping his moves subtle and precise. One by one, the competition dropped out, their attention drifting toward more lucrative prospects.
Finally, the materials were his.
The victory was small, but it was a necessary step. With these resources, Hui Jian could begin the process of feeding and refining his own Gu, particularly the Beast Strength Gu that had served him well so far. He allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction but remained vigilant, knowing that one mistake could undo all his careful work.
After the item was won, a subtle nod from Hui Jian indicated his readiness to collect. A shadowy figure approached his seat, carrying a small ledger. In whispered tones, Hui Jian was directed to a back room, where he would make the payment. The procedure was efficient and discreet. In this world, payment was often made in primeval stones, precious materials, or other Gu worms of equal value.
Hui Jian handed over the required primeval stones without question, his face impassive. Once the transaction was complete, the shadowy figure handed him a small pouch with the enhancement materials inside. Hui Jian didn't inspect it immediately—he knew these auctions dealt harshly with cheaters and those who tried to deceive their customers. The Blue Lotus Sect had vouched for him, after all. He could not afford any suspicion on his name.
The auction continued, more high-profile items being revealed, drawing the attention of the powerful Gu Masters present. Hui Jian kept to himself, watching as wealthier bidders competed for rare Gu worms and materials that could change the course of their cultivation paths. Yet, his mind remained focused on his own path, the one that kept him alive while others fought for glory and attention.
As the auction neared its end, and the grandest items were revealed, Hui Jian felt a slight shift in the room. Suspicion, faint as it was, began to grow. Perhaps it was the way the Blue Lotus Sect leader, Mu Xuan, glanced in his direction every now and then, or perhaps it was the unspoken tension that had begun to settle over the hall. Either way, Hui Jian knew he had to remain cautious.
The final item was displayed—a mysterious treasure sealed in a jade box, its nature hidden from view. The room buzzed with excitement as the bidding began. Yet Hui Jian stayed silent, his thoughts elsewhere.
The auction ended with a sense of growing tension, the players leaving the hall with their newly acquired prizes. Hui Jian, too, exited quietly with the Blue Lotus Sect, careful not to draw any attention. But deep within his mind, a new plan was already taking shape. His path forward was becoming clearer, and with the resources he had gathered today, he was one step closer to solidifying his power.
Yet he knew that danger loomed closer with every move he made. Here, in the heart of the Central Continent, there were no more shadows deep enough to hide in forever. Sooner or later, his presence would draw the attention of others, and when it did, he would need to be ready.
As they left the auction hall, the weight of his next steps pressed heavily on his mind.