The day of the Grand Auction arrived with a palpable sense of excitement that vibrated through the very stones of Sunken Treasure City. The streets were a river of cultivators, all flowing towards the city's central and most magnificent island, where the Sunken Treasure Auction House stood like a colossal, multi-tiered crown of coral and obsidian.
In their modest inn room, the atmosphere was not one of tension but of a quiet conspiratorial glee. The four of them were gathered around the main table upon which rested a single deep-blue pearl. It was the Heart of the Deep Sea, its pure profound energy filling the room with a calm oceanic aura.
"I still can't believe it," Hu Jian said, staring at the pearl with wide reverent eyes. "The mission is already complete. We have the treasure. Why are we even going to the auction?"
"Because our mission has changed," Li Yu said, his voice calm. He carefully placed the pearl back into its jade box and into his storage ring. "Our first objective was to acquire the Heart of the Deep Sea. Our new objective is to make sure our enemy, Jin Ao, pays an unforgettable price for the other one."
Li Yu wouldn't let a good opportunity to get back at his enemies go. They had been trying to come after him all this time, all because of whom he had taken as a master. He was the unlucky fish caught in their nets and he had suffered for it. Now, it was his chance to make them feel a bit of pain.
Brother Kai stroked his beard, a slow cunning smile spreading across his face. "You mean to let him bid against us for a prize we already possess? Junior Steward, that is a wonderfully vicious plan. He will empty his faction's coffers and humiliate himself in front of the entire city."
"Precisely," Li Yu affirmed. "He believes he can crush us with his wealth and status. Today, we will let him win."
He looked at his three companions, their faces now alight with a shared mischievous excitement. The pressure was gone. They had nothing to lose at this auction now.
Li Yu said with a nod. "Let's go. It is time for the show to begin."
The auction house was a marvel of wealth and power. They were escorted past the teeming, noisy common hall, where thousands of cultivators were finding their seats,and up a grand, spiraling staircase to the third level, reserved for private viewing rooms. Their room was an elegant, semi-circular balcony, shielded by a one-way privacy formation that allowed them to see the entire auction floor without being seen themselves.
This was the room that Elder Ning had acquired for them beforehand, thinking they would be bidding against other powers. The private room would at least make it difficult for others to know who they were when the bidding was over.
The auction began. The auctioneer, a charming, silver-tongued old man at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm presented the first few items with a theatrical flair. A set of Rank 5 beast-hide armor, a rare, thousand-year-old spiritual herb, a high-grade flying sword artifact. Each item sparked a flurry of bids, with spirit stones being thrown around in sums that made Lin Tao's eyes widen.
"Five thousand for a single sword…" he whispered in awe. "These people are insane."
"That is the wealth of a true major faction," Brother Kai murmured, his expression grimly appreciative of the spectacle. "It's a good thing we are not truly competing with them."
Li Yu remained silent, watching the flow of the auction. He had never been to an auction before so this was a grand event for him. He had only heard stories of them and now getting to experience it was a wonderful feeling. All the items up for bidding, the crazy bidding and some of the threats being shouted between those that knew each other. He was soaking it all in and not bidding at all.
Finally, after two hours the moment arrived. The auctioneer's voice boomed with a newfound excitement. "And now, esteemed guests, we present one of the three main treasures of this auction! A true heaven-grade treasure for our water-attribute cultivators! The Heart of the Deep Sea!"
A guild servant brought out a single, deep-blue pearl on a velvet cushion. It pulsed with pure energy, its light filling the entire auction hall. It was identical to the one resting in Li Yu's storage ring.
A wave of excited murmurs went through the hall.
"The starting bid," the auctioneer declared, "is fifty thousand spirit stones!"
"Fifty-five thousand," a voice called out immediately from the Blackwater Demonic Clan's room.
"Sixty thousand," the Myriad Beast Sect countered.
The bidding quickly escalated, the price soaring as the major factions vied for the treasure. When the price reached eighty thousand, Jin Ao finally made his move.
"One hundred thousand," his voice was lazy, dismissive and filled with an arrogant certainty. The bid was designed to crush the competition.
A moment of silence fell over the hall. Brother Kai looked at Li Yu, who gave him a nod.
It was then that Brother Kai, following Li Yu's instructions, spoke, his voice carefully laced with a hesitant determination. "One hundred and five thousand."
All eyes, visible and invisible, turned towards their room. Jin Ao, from across the hal, shot a look of pure venomous hatred in their direction. His master had told him this item was needed for his cultivation and he couldn't let others get it from him. He didn't think anyone would follow him after raising the price so much higher.
"One hundred and twenty thousand," he snapped, his voice losing its lazy tone.
Brother Kai waited a few moments, as if calculating his funds before replying. "One hundred and twenty-five thousand."
"You dare to steal this from this young master?" Jin Ao's furious voice echoed in the hall. "One hundred and fifty thousand!"
The price was already astronomical, far exceeding the pearl's actual market value. The other factions, seeing that this seemed to have become a personal grudge match, wisely withdrew, content to watch the show.
From another private room a new voice entered the fray. "One hundred and fifty-five thousand." It was Elder Quan of the Golden Sea Guild, playing his part perfectly, acting as a neutral third party to further legitimize the price. Li Yu had asked him to help him with this before the auction.
"One hundred and eighty thousand!" Jin Ao roared. He would not be outbid.
"Two hundred thousand," Elder Quan's calm voice replied, a clear challenge.
Jin Ao stood up in his room, his face red with fury. "Two hundred and fifty thousand!" he screamed, the price now reaching a level of absolute insanity.
Absolute silence.
"Sold!" the auctioneer, eager to conclude the sale, banged his gavel. "To the esteemed disciple of the Heavenly Jin faction!"
From across the hall, in the quiet room of the Green Mountain Sect, Li Yu watched, a small, cold smile on his face. He leaned back in his chair, his mission now truly complete. He had the Heart of the Deep Sea in his storage ring, he had fifteen thousand spirit stones left over from his master's budget and he had just watched his enemy pay a catastrophic price for the exact same treasure.