"A nautical chart—it's a map of the seas within the Boundless Sea region, marking various landmasses and islands. Doesn't this mean that anyone who possesses this chart can navigate freely through the Boundless Sea with precise coordinates, without fear of getting lost at sea?"
"With such a map, I could leave my island and travel to other regions. This is the key to stepping beyond."
As soon as the Turtle Prime Minister spoke, countless cultivators' eyes burned with desire.
The value of this map was immense—so immense that anyone with ambition or a reason to venture out would not want to miss the opportunity. The chart even marked out some safe routes, which suggested they were approved by the dragon race and offered protection from sea monsters and other dangers in the ocean.
This alone caused the chart's value to skyrocket.
"We must secure one of these charts. The Da Yi Dynasty's momentum is becoming increasingly aggressive."
In one of the VIP seats, King Behemoth stared intently at the nautical chart, his heart already set. He had to obtain a copy—it could serve as a fallback route for the Myriad Beast Court or, more importantly, the Golden Behemoth Clan.
On land, the Da Yi Dynasty's influence was steadily rising.
Throughout the natural disasters, they had not only remained unscathed but had taken the opportunity to plunder surrounding alien tribes and forces, acquiring massive resources and growing stronger. Their expansion was the very definition of anti-fragile—thriving under chaos.
King Behemoth was no fool. The Myriad Beast Court was aware of the change.
But during the disasters, they were too overwhelmed to act. In fact, they had to buy food and supplies from the humans. They could only watch helplessly as Da Yi grew stronger by the day. It felt like a dagger piercing the heart, a mountain crushing the chest. On the land governed by Da Yi, every non-human race now regarded them with deep fear.
Now that the disasters had ended, all major races and tribes had suffered massive losses and needed time to recover. Meanwhile, Da Yi's army was strong, rested, and ready—waiting for the perfect moment to launch a lightning strike.
An invisible cloud of dread already hung over the heads of all the surrounding powers.
And now this chart had appeared. Without a doubt, it represented a way out. If they couldn't resist the coming storm, this map offered an escape—a last chance to preserve their race, their court, their heritage.
"For the dragon clan to release the charts now… They clearly have a larger scheme at play. These dragons are not to be underestimated."
Yi Tianxing's gaze grew deep as he looked at the charts displayed on the auction platform.
Was the map important? Of course. In strategic terms, it was a priceless artifact. With it, one could leave, explore other islands and lands, even conquer them and expand their territory.
For defeated factions, the map offered hope—a chance to rise again elsewhere. Even if revival wasn't possible, they could at least survive, grow stronger in time, and seek revenge.
This chart would connect previously isolated islands, inevitably leading to conflict and conquest, where the strong devoured the weak in bloody wars.
The Dragon Palace clearly wanted chaos. On the surface, they seemed benevolent, but their true intent was calculated.
Still, regardless of their schemes, the charts were now out in the open—and everyone would fight for them.
"Two million!"
Almost immediately, King Behemoth placed a bid, doubling the price.
"Two million three hundred thousand!"
"Two million five hundred thousand!"
"Two million eight hundred thousand!"
…
In an instant, the silent auction hall ignited into fiery chaos. One bid after another rang out.
Most of the bidders were leaders of major forces, for whom this chart held the greatest significance.
"So many want the chart… Father, isn't it too soon to release these maps?"
Ao Qi turned to the Boundless Sea Dragon King with concern.
"No. Now is the perfect time. The disasters just ended. The major powers are all wounded and desperate to recover—but what better way to recover than conquest? Wars and bloodshed will keep the chaos alive. Meanwhile, we dragonkin remain safe in the Dragon Palace. The Boundless Sea is, after all, our territory."
The Dragon King's gaze remained calm as he watched the frenzied bidding unfold.
"But Father… isn't this too hasty?"
Ao Qi hesitated.
"After the Cataclysm, the heavenly seals have weakened. Even those in the Nascent Soul and Yang Spirit realms can now leave and enter freely. The full unsealing is near. Send word to all: on the Ninth Day of the Ninth Month, the Dragon Gate will open. Any aquatic race that passes through the gate will inherit a thread of our dragon bloodline and be welcomed into our kin."
The Dragon King's tone was resolute.
The Dragon Gate was a sacred treasure, said to be forged by the Ancestral Dragon himself. The version within the Dragon Palace was a divine artifact, constructed from dragon bones, infused with dragon blood, and carried mysterious powers. Any aquatic creature that leapt through it would receive the blessing of dragon blood, becoming a dragon-kind being—even if faintly.
For instance, a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate might directly transform into a dragon.
Fish species were particularly receptive to dragon blood and had the greatest potential for transformation. Depending on their aptitude, they might become true dragons, flood dragons, dragon serpents, or other variants. Each transformation brought a massive leap in power and status.
Every opening of the Dragon Gate was a grand festival for the entire aquatic race—and a moment when the dragon clan's numbers would surge.
Meanwhile, the auction continued.
The price of the first chart kept climbing.
Until finally—
"Fifteen million!!"
Yi Tianxing made his move.
The previous bid had only just hit ten million. Yi's offer was a direct five-million leap, a display of dominance that silenced the auction hall.
"Damn it. Who the hell just did that?! That's completely unreasonable!"
King Behemoth frowned deeply, looking grave.
"Who dares bid like that? Do they treat Eternal Coins like dirt?"
A middle-aged man with golden hair muttered bitterly. He thought about bidding again, but in the end, held back.
There were ten charts. This wasn't the only one.
And in truth, a chart was just a chart. It could be priceless—or worthless. Fifteen million Eternal Coins was already well beyond most psychological limits.
Besides, this was only the first copy.
No one wanted to raise the prices too high—because in the end, they would have to pay for it themselves.
Fifteen million was already over the line.
"Alright, are there any more bids?"
"Fifteen million, going once!"
"Going twice!"
"Sold!"
The Turtle Prime Minister chuckled with satisfaction.
He was more than pleased with the price.
After all, the dragon clan could mass-produce these maps anytime. Of course, the market wouldn't last forever—buyers could simply copy the maps once they had one. But in the current climate of isolation and disconnection, the Dragon Palace still held a temporary monopoly.
Others wouldn't dare reproduce the charts without dragon clan permission.
Soon, with the Eternal Coins transferred, the chart was brought before Yi Tianxing.
Holding it in hand, he saw it wasn't just a simple topographical map. This was a magical treasure. The image was vivid, and divine sense could be poured into it—granting a god's-eye view of the entire Boundless Sea region.
Each island's size, shape, even mountains and rivers, were vividly detailed.
It was as if a real-world map had been shrunk down to scale.
Clear sea routes could be seen, with danger zones marked—places to avoid, and relatively safe passages that could be navigated with ease.
It was incredibly detailed. The entire Boundless Sea was covered. Where details were lacking, mist obscured the view—indicating unknown regions best left alone.
"What a magnificent chart. With this, the dragon clan's strength is evident. Are they truly content to remain hidden beneath the sea?"
Yi Tianxing felt a chill run through his heart.
To be able to create such a massive and intricate chart in just a few short years—the dragon clan's depth and capability were unfathomable. And the fact they had begun preparing this chart from the beginning clearly showed one thing:
They had long regarded the Boundless Sea as their dominion.
A thought that was, truly… profound and terrifying.
The auction continued.
The second chart was already up for bid, also starting at one million. Once again, the bidding war rose like wildfire.