As the shadows deepened around the entrance of the underground auction, a gathering of figures clad in black cloaks began to form.
Everyone there was clad in hooded garments, the cloaks shrouding their identities in secrecy. Among them, the trio slipped into the line, their eyes scanning the dimly lit surroundings.
The entrance was guarded by two hulking figures, each standing an imposing seven feet tall and wielding axes nearly six feet long. The weapons exuded a dark, ominous aura that seemed capable of disabling anyone with a mere touch.
The guardians placed a mysterious, plate-like artifact before each entrant. This artifact had the uncanny ability to count the wealth of the person standing before it.
The entry requirement was steep: 10,000 gold coins. Each person stepping up to the artifact held their breath, knowing that failing to meet this requirement would mean instant dismissal from this shadowy gathering.
Their silent vigilance heightened the tense atmosphere as the crowd awaited their turn to prove their worth.
One by one, everyone moved through the line, the tension palpable with each step. Occasionally, a few individuals bypassed the process entirely, presenting their citizenship badges with a casual flourish.
These badges signified their high standing within the country and continent, granting them direct entry without the scrutiny that others faced. The contrast was stark, highlighting the hierarchy that governed even this clandestine auction.
Everyone possessed these badges, yet only a select few carried the elite-level insignia that marked them as individuals of exceptional status within the place.
These elite badges were rare, a symbol of power and prestige, and their holders strode confidently past the line, their presence eliciting hushed whispers and envious glances from the others.
After entering the auction, the trio found themselves in a magnificent hall, whose beauty and meticulous upkeep were a stark contrast to the shadowy entrance.
The hall featured two distinct seating areas: the upper floor, where the elite sat in numerous small private rooms, each with windows offering a clear view of the auction, and the lower floor, where the masses gathered, filling the spacious area with buzzing anticipation.
The grandeur of the setting left Alec, Sasha, and Harry momentarily awestruck as they took in the scene.
The trio settled in a corner, their anticipation palpable as they observed the bustling activity around them.
They knew there were fifty items to be auctioned that day, with one special item among them, as they saw on the auction list. Of particular interest to them was the body-strengthening potion, slated to be the 17th item up for bid.
After a few moments, the auctioneer stepped onto the stage, commanding attention with an air of practiced authority. The auction began with a flourish. The first item presented was a Tier 5 rare herb, red ginseng, with its roots still intact.
The crowd buzzed with excitement as the auctioneer extolled its virtues, noting that it had the potential to grow into a Tier 8 herb.
The bidding was fierce, but it finally sold for an impressive 5,000 gold coins.
Though it had the potential to grow up to Tier 8, the conditions required for such growth were very demanding.
As a result, most of the attendees on the lower floor didn't linger on it for long, ultimately allowing someone from one of the upper floor rooms to secure the purchase.
The auction was off to an exhilarating start, and the trio leaned forward, eager to see what came next.
After a series of items were auctioned, the much-anticipated tier 6 body-strengthening potion was finally put up for bid.
The auctioneer announced with a flourish, "The initial bidding price is 2,000 gold coins, with a minimum increment of 100 gold."
As Alec observed the unfolding situation, the price steadily climbed, reaching 6,800 gold coins after a series of competitive bids.
It became apparent that no one from the upper floors was interested, likely because they had their own sources or access to personal alchemists, as was common among prominent families, institutions, or groups.
Seizing his moment, Alec shouted with determination, "7,000 gold coins!"
The man who had bid 6,800 gold made a desperate final attempt, his voice strained with anxiety: "7,200 gold coins!" His desperation was evident on his face.
Alec, undeterred and resolute, raised his bid: "7,500 gold coins!" The auctioneer's gavel fell, and Alec secured the potion, leaving the crowd in stunned silence at his decisive move.
The task of acquiring the potion was completed, and the trio was elated. Their minds were awash with a mix of triumph, relief, and excitement.
However, their focus quickly shifted to another coveted item on the list: a skill book of advanced barrier techniques.
This book was a treasure trove of knowledge, offering insights on how to conceal one's presence, remove restrictions from any barrier, install restrictions and barriers, and master numerous other techniques related to barriers.
Such skills were essential for those aspiring to become formation masters, a profession revered for its strategic and mystical prowess. The trio's anticipation grew as they eagerly awaited the auction of this invaluable tome.
Skill books were intricate artifacts meticulously crafted with the help of numerous runes. The author imbued these runes with enchantments, ensuring that only one person could learn from the book by using their mind consciousness.
Once read in this manner, the book would disintegrate instantly, leaving the reader with a beginner-level understanding of the skill.
Alternatively, one could choose to read the book once before using the quick learning method.
However, this approach came with a significant drawback: if the reader couldn't fully comprehend the knowledge within a day, they would forget everything they had learned.
This particular skill book was the creation of a renowned artifact creation master, Adele. Though barriers were his side profession, Adele was a Tier 8 mage who specialized primarily in pyromancy before delving into the arts of a formation master.
His name was synonymous with exceptionally crafted artifacts, and he had earned numerous merits for his participation in various small-scale monster wave battles.
Adele's illustrious background and expertise imbued the book with immense value, making it a rare and coveted item among similar artifacts.
This knowledge only intensified the trio's desire to obtain the skill book, knowing it was not just a collection of techniques but a masterpiece from a legendary figure.
This fleeting window of opportunity made the mastery of such skill books a daunting challenge, reserved for only the most determined and capable individuals. The trio knew the value and difficulty of such a book, heightening their anticipation and resolve.
That's when Alec felt a sharp, searing pain at his wrist. His bracelet artifact, which he had acquired earlier, began to draw blood once again.
His breathing got messed up as he forgot to breathe in those painful moments. Many sweat beads formed on his face as his complexion turned pale, like that of a sick person.
He tried to remove it, but it wouldn't budge. The twins, Sasha and Harry, noticed him struggling with the bracelet—an item he held dear and never allowed anyone to touch.
Concerned, they asked, "Alec, what's happening? Are you okay?"
Before Alec could respond, the pain suddenly subsided as quickly as it had begun, leaving him momentarily disoriented. It was as if the agony had never been there.
He calmed his uneven breathing, regaining his composure. With a faint smile to mask his suffering, Alec reassured them, "I'm fine. Let's focus on the auction. The book is about to be auctioned."
Sasha and Harry exchanged worried glances but nodded, turning their attention back to the stage, where the prized skill book was now being presented.
Many people had already left the auction, leaving only those interested in the skill book and the special item.
As the auctioneer announced the 50th and final item, excitement buzzed through the remaining crowd. "The starting price is 5,000 gold coins, with each increment at least 200 gold," he declared.
The room lit up with anticipation as the coveted skill book was presented. Whispers filled the air as people speculated who from the upper floor would bid first.
But to everyone's surprise, Alec was the first to bid, his voice steady as he called out, "5,000 gold coins."
The bidding war began in earnest. One by one, others followed Alec's lead, and the price swiftly climbed, reaching 15,000 gold coins.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, with every participant keenly aware of the book's immense value and the fierce competition it had ignited.
The bid of 15,000 gold was made from a room on the upper floors. Just as the auctioneer was about to seal the deal, Alec raised his bid to 16,000 gold coins.
Although the people sitting in private rooms on the upper floors have a high standing in society and are superior to the ones sitting on the lower floors, They can't take anything from the auction if they don't bid more.
Though no one could see the face of the young person who had bid 15,000 gold, they could feel an aura of anger emanating from his room.
Inside, his subordinates whispered urgently, "Young master, We're here for the special item. We shouldn't waste money on irrelevant things." This calmed his anger, and he did not bid further.
In this way, Alec won the book at the auction. But soon after, someone from the crowd called out, "Does he even have that much money?"
Alec couldn't see the man's face, as he wore a mask, but he remembered the voice and wanted to get back in the future.
The auctioneer and everyone in the room turned to Alec, their eyes filled with suspicion. However, the tension subsided when Alec explained, "We are a group of three, each with 10,000 gold."
This cleared the suspicion, and the instigator earned the disdain of the crowd, with many booing him for being a sore loser; he was the man who lost to Alec in a bid for potion.
The auctioneer quickly silenced the crowd and announced, "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for: the special treasure!"
The room buzzed with renewed excitement as the final, most anticipated item was presented.
Everyone paid the utmost attention to the stage, their gazes fixed on the table where the special treasure lay, covered in black cloth.
The air was thick with anticipation as the auctioneer prepared to unveil the final, most-coveted item of the night.