CHAPTER 66
News spread rapidly throughout the Red Light District.
Only a few hours had passed since the incident, yet rumors had already traveled from tavern to tavern, gambling halls to brothels, and from the streets to the territories controlled by the five Lords of the Underworld.
Cai Yok Tan, the Pig King, had suffered a brutal defeat. His right side had been cut off by the mysterious outsider known as Maladeva.
Some claimed that Maladeva had deliberately challenged one of Tianyu's Underworld Lords without knowing who Cai Yok Tan truly was. Others whispered that the stranger had grown arrogant because he was an outsider who did not understand Tianyu's rules.
There were even more ridiculous rumors.
Some people wondered whether Maladeva had grown a tail because he was an outsider of Tianyu. Others claimed he must have been completely ignorant of the hierarchy governing the Red Light District.
But beneath all the gossip, one fact remained clear.
Maladeva had crossed the Pig King's territory, defeated him, and walked away.
And that was enough to make the other four Underworld Lords take notice.
Within hours, Ryu Shion Meilin had called upon the other Lords for a private meeting.
Deep within a secluded chamber, far away from the noise and filth of the Red Light District, five figures sat around a large circular table.
None of them revealed their true appearances.
Their bodies were concealed beneath black silhouettes, their individual features completely hidden from one another. Only their voices remained visible clues to their identities.
They did not use their real names either.
They addressed one another only by their titles.
The atmosphere inside the chamber was heavy.
Nobody spoke for several moments.
Then a voice belonging to one of the figures finally broke the silence.
"What should we do with this Maladeva in your turf, Queen Spider?"
The voice was calm, but there was an underlying warning behind it.
Ryu Shion Meilin remained seated, one leg crossed over the other. Her fingers rested lightly against the table as she listened.
"First off, it was Cai Yok Tan who entered my turf and caused trouble," she replied.
Her tone was almost casual.
Cai Yok Tan immediately slammed his hand against the table.
"Trouble?!" he roared. "OINK! He cut off my fucking right ear, for crying out loud!"
His voice echoed throughout the chamber.
The Pig King's silhouette shook with anger as his fist tightened. His breathing became heavier, and the table trembled slightly beneath his grip.
Before the argument could escalate any further, another figure moved.
"ENOUGH!"
THUD!
A cane struck the floor.
The sharp sound immediately silenced the room.
The Raven's voice carried a quiet authority. She was a woman, and although her face remained hidden beneath the black silhouette, her presence alone was enough to make the others stop.
"My birds have access to the sky freely, in case you forgot," she said coldly.
The Raven slowly turned her head toward Cai Yok Tan.
"Not only that..."
Her purple eyes, barely visible through the darkness surrounding her silhouette, shifted toward Ryu Shion Meilin.
"You, Spider Queen, knew he was an adventurer, and yet you allowed him to build a restaurant in your territory. You even made a challenge with him?"
Ryu Shion Meilin gave a small, amused smile.
"You know I like to bet," she replied.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"But not on that dirty-ass pig's turf."
Cai Yok Tan's silhouette immediately twitched.
"You..."
Before he could say anything else, another voice interrupted him.
"Spider Queen."
Everyone turned toward the Wolf Lord.
His voice was low and threatening.
The Wolf Lord was responsible for assassinations and weaponry throughout the Red Light District. Unlike Cai Yok Tan, who relied heavily on his brute strength and influence, the Wolf Lord had built his reputation through fear, information, and blood.
His silhouette leaned forward slightly.
"What are you playing at here?" he asked. "Are you trying to wage a war and spin the wheel of fate?"
Ryu Shion Meilin's smile faded.
"No."
Her answer was immediate.
"But there is something about Maladeva that gives off a feeling."
The Raven tilted her head.
"What feeling, Spider Queen?"
Meilin remained silent for a moment.
Her fingers slowly tapped against the surface of the table.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Finally, she raised her head.
"...Pride."
The Rat King spoke next.
"Pride? He's prideful?"
"No."
Meilin's expression became more serious.
"I mean our pride."
The room became noticeably quieter.
"Tianyu's pride."
Nobody interrupted her.
Meilin continued.
"Don't forget what happened thousands of years ago, before the Great War against the God and Demon Clans."
The Wolf Lord immediately stiffened.
"Don't bring up that fucking name, Spider."
His voice was colder than before.
"We know the history of that thing..."
"Who doesn't?" Meilin replied.
She leaned back in her chair.
"But back to the matter at hand."
Her gaze moved across the other silhouettes.
"The auction is in a day's time. I have already met with the auctioneer."
The Raven slowly nodded.
"Remember, you all, the Auction Tower is neutral ground. Whether you're poor, rich, a commoner, or a noble, anyone is welcome at the Auction Tower of the Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion."
Her voice carried a strange weight when she mentioned the name.
No one argued with her.
Everyone understood what the Auction Tower represented.
For one night, the hierarchy of Tianyu would be temporarily irrelevant.
The powerful and powerless could stand beneath the same roof.
"Hmph."
Cai Yok Tan leaned back.
"I heard a slave was put up for auction, and it's a she."
His voice became filled with anticipation.
"Heh. I'm gonna bet on that."
The Wolf Lord's silhouette turned toward him.
"Ugh. Spare me your perverted catastrophe, you sick fool."
The contempt in his voice was unmistakable.
Cai Yok Tan merely grunted.
The Wolf Lord stood.
His silhouette began to fade into the darkness surrounding him.
"I've heard enough."
The Rat King did the same.
"So have I."
Cai Yok Tan pushed himself away from the table with a heavy grunt.
"I'm leaving."
One after another, the silhouettes disappeared.
The Wolf Lord.
The Rat King.
The Pig King.
Soon, only two figures remained within the secluded meeting hall.
Ryu Shion Meilin.
And the Raven.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
The silence between them was different from the one that had filled the room before.
It was not hostility.
It was understanding.
The Raven slowly turned toward Meilin.
"You're confident."
Meilin's expression remained calm.
"You have every right to rank first among us, yet..."
The Raven paused.
She seemed to choose her next words carefully.
Meilin gave her a knowing look.
"I have my reasons."
Her voice softened.
"You, of all people, know my connections to that royal dynasty."
The Raven's eyes narrowed.
"And this..."
She paused.
"This Maladeva is the key?"
Meilin smiled.
It was a small smile, but there was confidence behind it.
"Have my hunches ever been wrong, dear?"
The Raven was silent.
Then she gave a quiet sigh.
"No."
She lowered her head slightly.
"Not even once over these past twenty years."
Meilin's smile remained.
The Raven turned away from the table.
"I should leave."
Her silhouette began to fade.
"Take care of this problem and..."
She paused for a brief moment.
"Stay safe, Meilin."
Ryu Shion Meilin watched her disappear into the darkness.
"You too."
The meeting hall became completely silent.
After the incident, Cai Yok Tan was given a fair warning and compensation for the trouble he had caused Dante.
The compensation amounted to 10,000 gold for the wasted food, the time lost, the wooden furniture destroyed, and the walls of the restaurant that had been broken during the confrontation.
A day had passed since the incident, and almost every shop and restaurant throughout the Red Light District had closed for the biggest event in Tianyu's history.
The New Year had arrived.
It was the Year of the Pig.
To celebrate the occasion, the Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion had opened its doors to welcome everyone, regardless of their status, wealth, race, or background. The only requirement was simple.
They had to pay.
Those who could afford it entered through the front doors. Those who could not were encouraged to take a loan.
And those who could neither pay nor borrow enough money were simply kicked out.
Outside the magnificent structure, Dante and Kaen walked together toward the enormous staircase leading to the Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion.
Kaen's ears stood upright the moment she saw the tower.
"Nya..."
Her eyes widened with amazement.
The Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion towered over the surrounding buildings, its enormous structure reaching high into the sky. It was considered the second-tallest structure in all of Tianyu, surpassed only by the Dynasty Castle itself.
"So tall and big, nya."
Kaen tilted her head backward as she tried to see the top.
Dante glanced at her and chuckled.
"You can say that, Kaen. Are you sure you want to come? The poison is out of your back, but you still need rest."
There was genuine concern in his voice.
Kaen looked at him and puffed out her cheeks slightly before giving him a smug smile.
"Hihi. Don't worry about Master. I'm a Sha'karr. We feline beastmen heal fast."
"Of course you do."
Dante shook his head with an amused smile.
The two continued up the stairs until they finally reached the entrance.
The moment they stepped inside, Kaen's eyes began darting from one side of the enormous hall to the other.
The interior was just as extravagant as the outside.
Hundreds of people had gathered inside the pavilion. Merchants, nobles, adventurers, commoners, gamblers, and wealthy aristocrats all wandered through the enormous hall.
Several areas had been prepared specifically for gambling.
Some people were betting on small rocks, hoping to uncover emeralds, jade, diamonds, or other valuable stones hidden inside them.
Kaen's eyes immediately became fixed on one of the displays.
Dante noticed her expression.
"You want to try one, Kaen?"
Kaen's ears twitched.
"I... I shouldn't. I mean, I would, but..."
She hesitated, looking at the rocks with obvious enthusiasm.
Dante looked at her.
"Kaen."
She looked back.
"Yes or no?"
Kaen's ears lowered slightly.
"Yes. But I..."
"Doesn't matter."
Dante reached into his clothing and pulled out a pouch.
The moment he opened it, Kaen's eyes widened.
Inside were hundreds of gold coins.
"Nya?! When... how?!"
Kaen stared in shock as Dante placed the pouch into her hands.
Dante gave her a small smile.
"You may be my slave, Kaen, but you're still a person to me. Go and have fun. The pavilion is open to everyone."
Kaen's expression immediately brightened.
"Master is so kind!"
Without wasting another second, she hurried toward the rock gambling area.
Dante stood aside and watched her with a faint smile.
"Heh. You're like an old man despite being seventeen, kid."
Kilamahi suddenly appeared beside him.
She was invisible to everyone else in the pavilion, her presence concealed from the surrounding crowd. Only Dante could see her.
Dante glanced sideways at her.
"Oh, please. I died when I was twenty-five in my last life. A lot of toddlers called me Uncle back then. I didn't mind them. They're just kids in the end."
He looked toward Kaen, who was enthusiastically examining the rocks.
"But Kaen here is a child too. She's practically my age in this life."
Kilamahi folded her arms and gave him an unimpressed look.
"Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that, kid."
Dante sighed.
Kilamahi leaned closer with a mischievous smile.
"Don't forget. Tonight, after all this is over, I'm teaching you a technique in the mindscape."
Before Dante could respond, Kilamahi vanished back into him.
Dante shook his head before returning his attention to Kaen.
She had already picked out several rocks.
After examining them carefully, she eventually purchased five.
The workers cut each one open while Kaen watched with increasing anticipation.
The first contained nothing.
Neither did the second.
The third was another disappointment.
The fourth contained a worthless stone.
Then the fifth was finally opened.
Green jade glittered beneath the cut surface.
Kaen's eyes lit up.
"Nya!"
She quickly sold the valuable stone and managed to receive roughly 120 gold in return.
She hurried back toward Dante, holding the coins with both hands.
"Nya, Master, look!"
She proudly showed him her earnings.
"I got this back from getting that jade! Why don't you pick one?"
Dante looked toward the rows of rocks.
He slowly walked forward, scanning each one.
Most were clean and polished.
Others had already been selected by countless gamblers.
But then Dante noticed something sitting near the corner.
It was a large, ugly rock.
Mold covered part of its surface.
It looked as though nobody had touched it for years.
Dante stopped.
He pointed toward it.
"Excuse me, what's that one in the corner?"
The worker followed his finger.
"Ah, this, my friend?"
He walked over and examined the rock.
"That's just been sitting there for a while. The other rocks keep getting picked, but nobody wants this one. It's covered in mold and looks ugly."
Dante stared at it for several seconds.
Then he smiled.
"Interesting. I'll buy it."
The worker blinked.
"Sir?"
"I said, I'll buy it."
The worker shrugged.
"If you say so."
A nearby noble overheard the exchange and laughed.
"Hah! Look at this loser. He must be new."
Dante ignored him.
He simply reached into his pocket and placed a single copper coin onto the counter.
"One copper for this massive hand-sized rock. Cut it for me, please."
The worker picked up the ugly stone and carried it toward the cutting station.
Kaen followed closely behind Dante.
She tilted her head, clearly confused.
"Nya, Master. You chose a rock so moldy. Why?"
Dante looked at her.
His expression softened.
"Once, there lived an ugly duckling."
Kaen blinked.
Dante continued speaking as the worker positioned the rock beneath the cutting blade.
"His parents were disgusted by how ugly he was. Nobody wanted him, so he left. He wandered around, wondering if his life was a mistake."
Kaen listened quietly.
"He cried, until he grew up and found out that he was never ugly."
Dante's eyes shifted toward the rock.
"He was simply misjudged by his appearance."
The cutting blade descended.
CLANG!
The rock split apart.
For one brief moment, nobody reacted.
Then the worker's eyes widened.
His entire body froze.
"B... blo..."
He leaned closer.
His face turned pale.
Then his voice exploded across the hall.
"BLOOD DIAMOND!!!"
A bell rang loudly throughout the pavilion.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
People nearby immediately turned their heads.
"What did he say?"
"Blood diamond?"
"The rarest of all?!"
"Shit, it's real!"
"So beautiful!"
The crowd began rushing toward the cutting station.
The worker carefully held the exposed gemstone, his hands trembling as the deep crimson diamond reflected the light around it.
It was magnificent.
The blood-red gemstone seemed almost alive beneath the pavilion's illumination.
Kaen stared at it with her mouth slightly open.
"Nya..."
Dante merely smiled.
The worker turned toward the growing crowd and pointed directly at Dante.
"He's the owner! If you want to buy it, talk to him!"
Immediately, several wealthy nobles pushed their way forward.
"You! I'm willing to pay thousands!"
"Get out of the way! I'll pay tens of thousands!"
Dante remained completely still.
He looked at the nobles fighting over the gemstone.
Then he turned toward Kaen.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"See that, Kaen?"
He pointed toward the blood diamond.
"Once lived the ugly duckling."
His crimson eyes softened.
"Its ugliness is no more."
More and more people crowded around Dante, their eyes fixed on the blood diamond in his possession.
Some were fascinated by its beauty.
Others were already calculating how much they could offer.
Several wealthy nobles pushed forward, while merchants and adventurers tried to get a closer look. The once orderly gambling area had quickly turned into a gathering of people desperate to see the gemstone that had been hidden inside an ugly, mold-covered rock.
Dante raised one hand.
"Sorry, folks. I'm not selling this."
The crowd immediately fell silent.
Dante calmly took the blood diamond and placed it inside his universal storage ring.
The gemstone disappeared without a trace.
Several people stared at his hand in disbelief.
"Hey!"
"Wait!"
"How much do you want for it?"
"At least give us a price!"
Dante ignored the shouting.
He simply turned around and walked through the crowd, leaving the people behind him scrambling to follow his movements.
His decision was simple.
He had no interest in selling the blood diamond.
Money was useful, but there were some things Dante valued beyond their price.
Besides, the 200 gold coins he had given Kaen were nothing compared to the wealth he carried within his universal storage ring. Dante had accumulated enough resources throughout his journey that spending large sums of gold was not something he needed to fear.
He simply had no reason to waste money without purpose.
The blood diamond was different.
It was rare.
It was beautiful.
And now it belonged to him.
Dante entered the enormous hall where the main event was about to begin.
Several floors above him, two familiar figures stood overlooking the crowd.
Cai Yok Tan narrowed his eyes.
Beside him stood Gui Myeong Kage, the Rat King.
"Hmph."
Cai Yok Tan clenched his remaining hand.
"A blood diamond. Why, I ought to..."
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Pig King."
Gui Myeong Kage interrupted him.
His voice remained calm as he watched Dante disappear into the main hall.
"The pavilion is neutral ground. No blood may be spilled here. It is open to everyone, citizens of Tianyu included."
Cai Yok Tan scoffed.
His face remained filled with irritation, but he knew better than to cause trouble inside the Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion.
Without another word, the Pig King turned away and walked toward the main hall.
The Rat King followed shortly afterward.
Soon, the remaining members of the Underworld arrived as well.
The five Lords took their respective booths, each separated from the others.
Curtains concealed their identities from the public, preventing ordinary guests from seeing their true appearances.
But they were not the only important figures present.
Nobles, sect leaders, martial artists, merchants, wealthy citizens, and even members of the royal families had gathered within the enormous auction hall.
Everyone had come for one reason.
To bid.
The lights inside the hall dimmed.
A young woman walked onto the stage and smiled toward the enormous crowd.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion's New Year Auction!"
Her voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Every guest has been provided with a number. Please use your assigned number whenever placing a bid. Remember, all transactions made within the Auction Tower are protected under the rules of the Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion."
Assistants moved throughout the hall, distributing the numbered plates.
Dante received his.
Number 30.
He stared at it for a moment.
"Heh."
A small chuckle escaped him.
Thirty.
It was familiar.
His birthday in both of his lives had been January 30.
Dante Ruthwilfer.
And Shan Abhay.
Two different lives.
Two different identities.
Yet the same number remained connected to him.
Thirty.
Dante leaned back in his seat.
"Interesting."
The first item was brought onto the stage.
The host introduced it as a scroll containing the Tiger Fist Technique.
It was not an ordinary version.
The scroll contained the original technique, unlike the many altered and incomplete versions that had circulated throughout Tianyu over the years.
The bidding immediately began.
"Five hundred gold!"
"Seven hundred!"
"One thousand!"
"Two thousand!"
Several guests raised their numbered plates.
Dante remained completely still.
He had no interest in the technique.
From one of the secluded booths, Ryu Shion Meilin watched him carefully.
Her violet eyes remained fixed on the young man.
She slowly opened her fan.
Come on, boy.
What will you bet on to become the highest bidder in Tianyu?
The auction continued.
One item after another was brought onto the stage.
Some sold quickly.
Others were abandoned because nobody wanted them.
A few caused fierce bidding wars between wealthy nobles and sect leaders.
Dante remained silent throughout it all.
He did not raise his number even once.
He simply watched.
Time passed.
Then, suddenly, Kilamahi's voice rang inside his mind.
"Kid! Bet on the upcoming one!"
Dante nearly jumped out of his seat.
"God, don't do that!"
He placed a hand against his chest.
"You almost gave me a heart attack."
Kilamahi's voice immediately returned.
"Stop complaining and pay attention!"
Dante sighed.
"What is it?"
Before Kilamahi could answer, several workers pushed an enormous covered object onto the stage.
The object was large enough that several workers had to push it together.
The host stepped forward.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce this exquisite item."
The crowd quieted.
The host placed one hand upon the enormous cloth covering the object.
"This artifact comes from an age long forgotten."
She paused.
"An age that existed before the hundred-thousand-year war against the God and Demon Clans."
Murmurs spread throughout the hall.
Even several of the older sect leaders leaned forward.
The host smiled.
"And now..."
She pulled away the cloth.
The enormous object was revealed.
"The Canine Tooth of Calamithus!"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Everyone stared.
Eyes widened.
Several people stood from their seats.
Even those who had initially been uninterested suddenly leaned forward.
"The Canine Tooth of Calamithus?"
"Impossible..."
"That name..."
"Is that really it?"
The locals of Tianyu knew that name.
Everyone did.
Calamithus.
The legendary monster whose existence had once brought the Dynasty itself dangerously close to extinction.
The enormous canine tooth rested upon the display platform.
It was massive.
Far larger than any ordinary beast's tooth.
It looked more like the fang of a dragon than the tooth of a canine creature.
Dante stared at it.
"A tooth, Kila?"
Kilamahi immediately responded.
"For fuck's sake! Just grab the thing and I'll explain later!"
Dante blinked.
"You really want this?"
"Yes!"
Her voice was unusually forceful.
"Buy it!"
Dante looked back at the tooth.
He could already tell from Kilamahi's reaction that this was not an ordinary auction item.
He leaned back.
"Fine."
The bidding began.
"Three hundred thousand!"
An elderly sect leader raised his numbered plate.
"My Oolong Sect shall have this. Anyone who tries to—"
"Three hundred and fifty thousand."
From the opposite side of the hall, another sect leader raised her plate.
She was an elderly woman with an imposing presence.
"My Quan Xuan Sect shall have it."
The old man immediately turned toward her.
"You dare, old hag?!"
The two sect leaders exchanged hostile looks.
A massive wave of mana began vibrating throughout the auction hall.
Several ordinary guests immediately felt pressure against their bodies.
Some swallowed nervously.
Others leaned away from the two sect leaders.
The host quickly raised both hands.
"Please refrain from causing trouble!"
Her voice became stern.
"The Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion is neutral ground, where every valuable guest has the right to cast their bid."
The pressure gradually subsided.
But the bidding continued.
"Four hundred and fifty thousand!"
Another numbered plate was raised.
This time, it belonged to a wealthy young noble from a powerful family.
The elderly leader of the Oolong Sect glared at him.
"You! You dare pit fresh meat against veterans?!"
The young noble smirked.
"I have every right, old man."
He raised his plate again.
"The new generation is rising. Someday, they'll take your place as sect leaders."
The old man's face darkened.
"Six hundred thousand!"
"Seven hundred and eighty thousand!"
"Eight hundred thousand!"
The three sects continued fighting.
The price climbed higher and higher.
All of it was for one tooth.
One ancient tooth belonging to the legendary Calamithus.
"One billion."
The entire hall went silent.
The atmosphere froze.
The three sect leaders stopped.
Cai Yok Tan's jaw dropped.
Ryu Shion Meilin's eyes widened.
Her fan slipped from her fingers.
It fell onto the floor.
Even the host stood frozen.
Her mind struggled to process the number she had just heard.
One billion.
Not one million.
Not ten million.
One billion gold.
The host's mouth opened.
Then closed.
She blinked several times before finally returning to reality.
"N... Number 30..."
Her voice trembled.
She raised one hand toward Dante.
"Number 30 has just cast a bid of one billion gold, ladies and gentlemen!"
The entire auction hall erupted into whispers.
Dante lowered the plate.
His expression remained calm.
He had finally entered the bidding.
And with a single declaration, Number 30 had raised the stakes to a level nobody in the hall had expected to encounter.
"Lies! There's no way someone like him has one billion gold coins!" the arrogant young noble shouted.
Dante merely shrugged.
He did not bother responding.
Instead, he leaned back in his seat and continued minding his own business, as though the accusation had nothing to do with him.
The two elderly sect leaders were equally caught off guard. Neither of them had expected a young man sitting among the commoners to casually throw out a bid of one billion gold.
The old man from the Oolong Sect narrowed his eyes.
The old woman from the Quan Xuan Sect stared at Dante with growing suspicion.
Neither could understand where someone so young could possibly obtain such an enormous fortune.
"Going once!" the host announced.
She raised her wooden bidding hammer.
The arrogant young noble gritted his teeth.
"One..."
He suddenly raised his numbered plate.
"One point two billion!"
A wave of shock swept through the hall.
The servant standing beside him immediately turned pale.
"Master!"
He grabbed his master's sleeve.
"That's the entire lifeline of the family!"
But it was already too late.
The number had been registered.
The young noble pulled his arm away.
"I don't care!"
His eyes remained fixed on the Canine Tooth of Calamithus.
"That canine tooth is worth my life!"
The old man from the Oolong Sect stared at him as though he had lost his mind.
"This brat is crazy."
His gaze then shifted toward Dante.
"And that unknown man is even crazier."
The old woman from the Quan Xuan Sect slowly shook her head.
"I agree. One billion gold is already more than my Quan Xuan Sect possesses."
She stared directly at Dante.
"So how do you have that much sitting in your pocket?"
Dante did not flinch.
He slowly raised his numbered plate.
"Two billion."
The words landed like a thunderclap.
"PUACK!"
The two sect leaders simultaneously spat blood in shock.
The old man's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
The old woman grabbed the armrest of her chair, her fingers tightening around it.
"Two... billion?"
The arrogant young noble's face twisted in disbelief.
"Are you fucking kidding me?! Who are you?! Which family are you from?!"
Dante slowly turned his head.
His crimson eyes met the young noble's.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Dante's expression became completely empty.
No anger.
No shouting.
No visible emotion.
Just a cold, murderous stare.
"You threatening me, brat...?"
His voice was quiet.
Yet every person in the hall heard it.
The young noble's body froze.
He instinctively took a step backward.
Then another.
A terrifying killing intent suddenly erupted from Dante.
It spread throughout the entire hall like an invisible storm.
The air itself seemed to become heavier.
Several people struggled to breathe.
The arrogant young noble's legs trembled beneath him.
The two sect leaders immediately reached for their weapons on instinct.
Neither of them had expected such overwhelming killing intent to come from the young man sitting among the commoners.
The five Underworld Lords felt it as well.
Behind their concealed curtains, several of them became completely still.
The nobles felt it.
The martial artists felt it.
Even the royal guests felt the pressure.
The Sage seated behind one of the royal figures narrowed her eyes.
She had felt this pressure before.
Somewhere.
Sometime.
But she could not remember when.
Dante's killing intent continued spreading for another moment.
Then he slowly closed his eyes.
He took a breath.
His shoulders relaxed.
The pressure disappeared.
The hall finally breathed again.
Dante lowered his hand.
"Host."
His voice was calm once more.
"According to the Pavilion's rules, threatening someone inside the main hall is considered an attempted threat and a violation on neutral ground."
He looked directly toward the stage.
"How will you handle this and compensate me for it?"
The host remained silent.
She stared at Dante for several seconds.
Then she calmly raised one hand.
Snap.
She snapped her fingers.
One second later, the arrogant young noble's head was cleanly severed from his body.
His body collapsed from his seat.
The entire hall went cold.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
There was no panic.
No screaming.
Only silence.
The rules of the Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion were absolute.
Neutral ground meant neutral ground.
Nobody, regardless of their wealth, bloodline, sect, status, or royal connections, was exempt.
The host calmly looked toward Dante.
"Satisfied, dear guest?"
Dante stared at her for a moment.
Then the corner of his mouth lifted into a satisfied smirk.
"I'm satisfied."
The host nodded.
"We, the Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion, extend our deepest apologies."
She lowered her head slightly.
"As compensation, you may bid on the next item, and we will return thirty percent of your gold."
Dante gave a small nod.
"Fair enough."
The host turned back toward the audience.
"Now, once again, does anyone wish to bid on the Canine Tooth of Calamithus?"
Silence.
Nobody raised a number.
Nobody even dared to speak.
The previous bidder was dead.
The two sect leaders had already admitted defeat for this round.
And nobody in the hall was foolish enough to challenge a man who had just casually raised the price to two billion gold.
The host waited several seconds.
No response came.
"Then it's settled."
She raised the wooden bidding hammer.
SLAM!
"Congratulations to bidder number thirty for obtaining the Canine Tooth of Calamithus!"
The audience remained silent.
Dante lowered his number.
Then he snapped his fingers.
A spatial portal suddenly opened beside him.
A golden light flashed from within.
Then...
BOOM!
A massive torrent of gold coins poured out of the portal.
"Kyaaa!"
The host barely had time to react.
The mountain of gold coins crashed toward the stage and swept her off her feet.
She disappeared beneath the enormous pile.
Moments later, her hand emerged from the mountain.
"Ugh..."
She pushed herself out of the gold coins, her clothes completely buried beneath the treasure.
Dante casually gestured toward the enormous pile.
"Happy now?"
He leaned back in his seat.
"Two billion gold coins, right in front of hundreds of witnesses."
Nobody answered.
The two sect leaders could only stare.
The old man from the Oolong Sect slowly tightened his grip around his armrest.
The old woman from the Quan Xuan Sect did the same.
Neither of them could deny it anymore.
Dante really had the money.
They had lost this round.
The enormous Canine Tooth of Calamithus suddenly began to glow.
A spatial distortion formed around it.
The massive tooth was slowly pulled into Dante's spatial storage.
Then the opening closed.
The tooth disappeared.
The workers immediately began gathering the mountain of gold coins.
It took several of them a considerable amount of time to collect everything and transport it away.
Meanwhile, the host eventually emerged from the pile of gold.
Her clothes were completely ruined.
She sighed.
After being escorted backstage, she returned several minutes later wearing a fresh set of clothes.
Despite everything that had happened, the auction continued.
"Now that all is settled, we move on to the final item in store. Brace yourselves, you little perverts out there. Don't think I didn't hear the rumors about a delicious treat awaiting you—including for someone in particular."
The host narrowed her eyes toward the Pig King, Cai Yok Tan, her expression carrying a hint of amusement as she clearly knew exactly what he had been waiting for.
The workers pushed a large steel cage onto the stage. The heavy wheels scraped against the floor as the cage was brought into the center of the auction hall. A thick cloak concealed the figure inside.
The host stepped forward and dramatically pulled the cloak away.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to Farah, the once-prominent Queen of Al-Rayan! Feast your eyes on her curves, her giant breasts, and, mmm... that ass for all the naughty ones out there!" The host grinned as the crowd reacted. "Begin bidding, and you can keep her for life!"
Cai Yok Tan immediately slammed his hand onto the bidding mechanism.
"OINK! Two hundred million gold coins!"
The entire hall fell silent.
Nobody seemed willing to challenge the Pig King. Everyone knew his reputation, and after what had happened previously, most people had no desire to provoke him.
"Hmph. Cowards and spineless fools. What a waste of this generation," the old Oolong Sect leader muttered with disappointment.
"I agree, old man. Come. A truce between you and me, and perhaps a nice hot tea by the mountain," replied the Guan Xuan Sect leader.
The two elderly leaders rose from their respective booths and left together. One after another, other martial artists and royal guests began departing as well. Even some of the commoners decided they had seen enough and followed them out.
The auction hall gradually became emptier.
Kaen finally stood from her seat and stretched her arms.
"Let's go, Master...?"
She turned toward Dante.
But Kaen immediately noticed something was wrong.
Dante had not moved.
His crimson eyes remained fixed on the steel cage.
His expression had changed completely.
The relaxed look he had carried throughout the auction was gone. His jaw tightened, his hands slowly clenched, and an unmistakable rage began to radiate from him.
Kaen followed his gaze toward the woman inside the cage.
Then she looked back at Dante.
"Master... do you perhaps know this woman?" Kaen asked cautiously.
Dante remained silent for a moment.
His eyes never left Farah.
Then, without even looking at Kaen, he simply replied,
"Yes, I do."
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Chapter 66 — End