The Silver Moon Rest Inn was unusually quiet that morning. Then, the ground began to tremble.
From the main road, the rhythmic thunder of hooves and the heavy roll of carriage wheels approached, growing steadily louder.
Pedestrians halted mid-step, and guests at the inn leaned out of windows to witness the spectacle.
A luxurious black-and-white wagon, reinforced with rare spirit wood and engraved with golden crane patterns, rolled into view. A massive banner fluttered proudly from its rear—the unmistakable insignia of the Flying Crane Merchant Union.
Escorting the wagon was a squad of elite guards. Their footsteps were measured, their eyes scanning the rooftops with lethal intent. Anyone with a basic sense of Qi could feel the pressure they radiated most were Second-Rate Martial Artists.
The street fell into a hushed silence before erupting into frantic whispers.
-"It's the Flying Crane Union... look at those guards!"
-"So many Second-Rate masters just for an escort? Who are they fetching?"
The wagon halted before the inn. Han Soo-bin, Branch Manager Liang, and several senior merchants stepped down. Liang raised his hand, and the guards stopped in perfect unison.
Moments later, Jin Tae-Yun descended the stairs of the inn. Every gaze in the vicinity snapped toward him.
Soo-bin stepped forward with a bow. "Brother Jin, apologies for the disturbance. Please, allow us to escort you."
Tae-Yun glanced at the display of wealth and steel. "So this is how merchants display power here," he said, his voice level.
Liang chuckled softly. "Merchants survive by reputation, Sir Jin. And power is simply... reputation made visible."
The Auction Arena -
The auction arena loomed ahead like a stone coliseum, a fortress of commerce. As Tae-Yun stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. This wasn't just a marketplace; it was a pressure cooker.
The structure was a massive circular hall with stone seats cascading toward a central platform. The hierarchy was clear:
The Lower Tier: Small merchants and low-rank disciples sat shoulder-to-shoulder on stone benches.
The Upper Balconies: These private sections belonged to the giants. Each balcony had defensive formations, guard squads, and privacy barriers.
Liang led Tae-Yun to the Flying Crane balcony. Soo-bin leaned in close to whisper, pointing out the players on the board.
-"That's the Golden Crow Merchant Union."
Tae Yun observed calmly.
-"The man seated in the center is their branch overseer," Soo-Bin continued.
-"The one behind him—tall, scar on his cheek is a Second-Rate Martial Artist at the late stage their elite squad captain"
Soo-Bin's voice lowered.
-"And the thin man beside them… is a poison master."
-"He doesn't cultivate qi, but even First-Rate martial artists fear his methods."
Next, Soo-Bin gestured to the highest balcony, where the guards stood rigid, their presence heavy.
Dark blue banners fluttered there.
-"That is the Namgoong Sect," Soo-Bin said solemnly.
Tae Yun's eyes sharpened.
-"A high-rank sect from the mainland, directly from the capital ."
-"Their sect leader sent a peak master Namgoong Shuo as the representative."
Soo-Bin hesitated, then continued.
-"The sect leader's son… is eighteen."
-"A literary prodigy. He understands martial arts theory better than most elders."
-"But he was born with severed meridians."
"He knows everything—but can never cultivate."
-"This spirit medicine is their last chance."
Soo-Bin moved on to others information,
The City Lord's Balcony: The guards here were the most rigid. "The City Lord is a Peak master," Soo-bin whispered.
-"His wife has been in a vegetative state for a year due to a cultivation backlash. He is desperate for the spirit medicine."
Iron Mountain Sect: "Led by Elder Mu Tian, a Peak First-Rate master with a domineering aura. He sought the medicine to repair old battle wounds."
Mist Veil Pavilion: Represented by Lady Xue Lan. Her power was concealed, her gaze lingering on Tae-Yun with predatory curiosity.
Wandering Blade, Yan Luo: A silent First-Rate cultivator sitting in the mid-tiers, needing the pill to break a cultivation bottleneck.
Tae-Yun activated [Wise Man's Eye].
The world turned into a data stream. He noted the Auction Control Formations hummed with energy and the Emergency Suppression Arrays hidden in the ceiling.
-"They're ready for any kind of trouble," Tae-Yun thought, "just not openly."
Before the first item was called, Tae-Yun turned to Soo-bin.
-"Soo-bin."
-"Yes?"
Tae-Yun placed a white marble bracelet into the boy's palm. The lotus carving on it gleamed with a faint, ethereal light. "Wear this. Never remove it. Never show it."
The old appraiser, seated nearby, accidentally bit his tongue. He didn't feel Qi from the bracelet he felt something higher. Something ancient and pure that ignored the laws of realms. He instantly lowered his gaze, his back drenched in cold sweat.He thought
-"This... this is a treasure mortals shouldn't even look at."
Soo-bin, sensing the gravity, slipped it on.
"I understand, Brother Jin."
The Storm Gathers -
The bell rang, and the auction master took the stage.
The first items appeared: Rare Spirit Herbs, Hundred-Year Ginsengs, and Mid-Grade Weapons. Bidding wars broke out, but the atmosphere remained strangely restrained. The elite balconies barely participated.
They were all holding their breath. The gold was being saved. The blades were being readied.
Tae-Yun rested his chin on his hand, looking down at the City Lord, who looked distracted and weary.
"He's the most dangerous one here, The City Lord," Tae-Yun realized. "Desperation is a powerful fuel."
Then, a jade box was carried onto the stage by four guards. The air in the coliseum grew cold.
Soo-bin whispered, "Brother Jin... it's time."
Tae-Yun nodded, his eyes fixed on the jade box. "Let's see what this world is willing to sacrifice."