Chapter 34: The Auction House
Xiao Feng sat quietly, contemplating the intense fight scene he had just witnessed in his vision. The scale of the battle was far beyond anything he had ever seen, with powerful beings fighting across multiple universes. The black sword he had acquired was clearly connected to those events, but Xiao Feng understood one critical thing: in his current state, he was far too weak to wield its true power.
To use the mysterious sword, he would need to reach at least the Immortal Ascension Realm—a level of cultivation far beyond where he currently stood. Right now, Xiao Feng was only at Spirit Sovereign Realm, Level 1, and although that made him powerful by many standards, it was nowhere near enough to harness the strength of the black sword.
He would need to raise his cultivation level as quickly as possible, and that required vast amounts of cultivation resources. The process of advancing from the Spirit Sovereign Realm to the Immortal Ascension Realm would be long and arduous without proper resources, and Xiao Feng had no time to waste.
That evening, as night descended, Xiao Feng made his way to one of the most renowned auction houses in Mystic River City. The auction house was known for selling rare cultivation resources, techniques, and artifacts that could be invaluable to someone like him. More importantly, it was a place where he could sell the Heavenly Grade, Level 7 technique he possessed—a technique so rare that it could fetch a sky-high price.
Arriving at the grand entrance of the auction house, Xiao Feng was met by two imposing guards. Their eyes quickly assessed him, but it was clear from their dismissive attitudes that they didn't recognize his status.
"State your business," one of the guards growled. "The auction is not open to just anyone."
Xiao Feng said nothing. Instead, he allowed his Spirit Sovereign Realm aura to radiate outward, sending a shockwave of pressure through the guards. The powerful aura crashed over them, causing them to falter and step back in fear. Their faces paled as they realized they were standing before someone far beyond their level of comprehension.
Before the guards could react further, a figure appeared from within the auction house—an older man dressed in finely embroidered robes, his expression one of deep respect. He was the Auction House Owner, a man known for his influence in Mystic River City.
The Auction House Owner quickly bowed, his tone polite and reverent. "Esteemed guest, I deeply apologize for the behavior of my guards. Please, allow me to personally escort you inside."
The guards exchanged confused glances but did not dare speak. Xiao Feng merely nodded, letting the Auction House Owner lead him inside. As they walked through the auction hall, all eyes were on them. The crowd was filled with wealthy merchants, nobles, and cultivators, all of whom were taken aback by the Auction House Owner's deference toward this masked figure.
Whispers began to circulate through the room.
"Who is that man?"
"Why is the Auction House Owner treating him with such respect?"
"Could he be a powerful cultivator from a distant clan or sect?"
Xiao Feng paid no attention to the murmurs around him. He kept his face hidden beneath the mask and his robe wrapped tightly around him as he was led to the most prestigious room in the auction house—an exclusive room reserved for the wealthiest and most influential individuals.
Once they were inside, the Auction House Owner gestured for Xiao Feng to take a seat. "Please, esteemed guest, how may I be of service to you tonight?"
Xiao Feng's voice was calm and measured. "I am here to sell a technique and purchase cultivation resources."
The Auction House Owner's eyebrows rose in interest. "What is the grade of the technique you wish to sell?"
Without hesitation, Xiao Feng replied, "It is a Heavenly Grade, Level 7 technique."
The Auction House Owner's eyes widened, and for a moment, he was speechless. In the Heavenly Realm, techniques were graded by their rarity and power, and most techniques available to the public were at Heavenly Grade, Levels 1-3. Techniques of Level 4-6 were reserved for the rich and powerful, often handed down through generations of cultivators. But a Level 7 technique? That was something only a handful of cultivators in the entire Heavenly Realm could even dream of possessing.
"A… a Heavenly Grade Level 7 technique?" the Auction House Owner whispered, struggling to believe what he had just heard. "Such a technique is beyond rare, even in the Heavenly Realm. Only the most elite of cultivators have access to such power."
Xiao Feng remained impassive as he reached into his robe and pulled out a jade slip containing the technique. He handed it to the Auction House Owner, who took it with trembling hands. Activating the jade slip, the Auction House Owner's spiritual sense was immediately engulfed in the information contained within.
As the Auction House Owner examined the technique, his expression changed from one of curiosity to complete astonishment. His heart raced as he realized the immense value of what he was holding.
"It is genuine," the Auction House Owner breathed. "A true Heavenly Grade, Level 7 technique. This will undoubtedly fetch an astronomical price."
Xiao Feng nodded. "I need the best cultivation resources available. Prepare the auction, and let's begin."
The Auction House Owner quickly bowed. "At once, esteemed guest. I will personally see to it that your technique is presented as the highlight of tonight's auction. As for your request for cultivation resources, I will gather the most valuable items for you to review."
Xiao Feng watched as the Auction House Owner hurried off to make preparations. He sat in the private room, his thoughts once again turning to the mysterious sword and the immense power it held.
For now, his priority was raising his cultivation level. The sword was far too powerful for him to control in his current state, and until he reached the Immortal Ascension Realm, he could only admire its potential from a distance. But with enough resources, Xiao Feng knew he could ascend through the ranks of cultivation at an unprecedented speed.
The night had just begun, and the auction would soon be underway. This was the first step on Xiao Feng's path to unlocking the full power of the black sword and ascending to the heights of cultivation.