Short Of Money

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Sanz Kingdom's auction starts now!" The auctioneer said, his hands clapping, bringing everyone's attention to him. He wasn't in the Second, but the Third Step. Just looking at him made Heian Ciemnosc feel somewhat suffocated. It was much different than when he was in the Crimsonbreaking Carrier. Arla became quiet and 'ordinary' even though she was still on his lap as the auctioneer continued. "This auction will only last for today, so don't worry. There will be many things everyone here might be looking for, especially those rising powers, heh heh."

"Let's start with something simple," the auctioneer announced as his hands were raised. A wooden pillar with an object on top began rising from the ground as if it had just passed through without obstruction. The auctioneer walked backwards until he stood beside the pillar and commenced. "This is an Earth grade edged weapon, the Tibushark Tooth. It is made with the designs of a saber but the ferocity of any sword. It can temporarily elongate using Neutral Energy, up to 8 meters, with its width diminishing.”

“The starting price will be… 100 Star Stones!” The auctioneer directly said after briefly explaining the edged weapon’s characteristics, not wasting another second in explaining what everyone could tell with their Spirit Sense. The auctioneer stopped everyone with his palm showing as he added, “Every bid must at least be of 10 Star Stones, and you can only bid with the current money you have without relying on any other. Begin!”

“I bid 200 Star Powerful Stones!” - “I bid 220!” - “...I bid 400 Star Neutral Stones!” - “I bid…”

The shouting process was as Heian Ciemnosc expected, only louder and with more people chipping in. It wasn’t just Second Step cultivators who could read what was on stage with their Spirit Sense, unlike any First Step cultivator with their Spirit Sense not maxed. He looked around and saw Arla’s pensive mind about the weapon. After making a mental note, Heian Ciemnosc kept observing as the blade was sold at 1,300 Star Powerful Stones.

It was bought by an Obsidiafying realm cultivator whose face was delighted as he saw the blade end up in his hands, a sense of achievement dwelling inside him. However, the Second Step cultivators stopped bidding when the price reached 700 Star Neutral Stones. But that wasn’t something the young cultivator could care about as he directly left the auction hall after receiving and paying up.

“Next, let me present to you a rare Fauna!” The auctioneer was content with the first auctioned item’s price and smiled at everyone in the different ‘bleaches’ before walking to the center as a small cage rose from the ground covered by a brownish-orange mantle. It wasn’t longer than a 10-year-old’s height. When the auctioneer grabbed it from the top, he smiled again and announced before pulling up all the way up. “I present to you… this baby Jelly Dog!”

“WOOOAH!” - “It’s so cute!” - “I need one of these! I need it!” The crowd went wild when they saw the little blue puppy in the middle of the cage, looking slightly sad but still excited. When it was allowed to look beyond the mantle, seeing so many humanoid beings with different appearances made it feel apprehensive, so it wagged its tail. A fin wagged left and right dexterously, it had a few harmless spikes made of pure skin, and its fin-like ears occasionally flapped. Its three tongues came out as he lightly panted.

Everyone knew what these things were helpful with. They had no Water element, or of any kind for that matter. But they could aid one’s cultivation if they had an affinity with the Water element. It was one of the many must-haves for those who aspire to grow stronger with their potent Elemental affinity. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t have anyone on his side who was adept at the Water element for the moment, so he wasn’t interested as the auction continued.

“The prize will start at 500 Star Stones. Any further bid must add at least 25 Star Stones. Begin!” The auctioneer announced as the puppy got on its 4 legs and looked at the bleaches before it, the ordinary ones. As soon as the bidding face-off began, the crowds became crazed with the goal of obtaining this little fella! “I bid 600 Star Powerful…” - “I will bid 800!!” - “I…”

In the end, the bay Jelly Dog was sold at 2,200 Star Neutral Stones, amazing Heian Ciemnosc with how easier it was to be a caretaker stealing people’s babies left and right and then place the rare ones in some auction while the rest would remain with him until they are trained and ready to be sold or something. Feeling like he wasted his time not rearing Creatures other than his dumb bird, Heian Ciemnosc became pensive as the auction continued.

Even as more exciting things, such as the first 2 lots, were just the beginning and more appeared as the auction continued, Heian Ciemnosc identified many parties who remained still and quiet all this long, just like his Academy student group. There were other ‘items’ such as maids that are picked up from homeless zones or actually from organizations or families wishing to latch onto someone’s thighs, including butlers ready to hus any sheen, to more Earth grade weapons and even pieces of armor that sold for at least a few thousand Star Stones.

There were also a few Artifacts, but their features were limited and even worse than Heian Ciemnosc’s Golden Array Snakes, which was only focused on entrapping an enemy and any happenings within its area. Nor Elena, Arla, Sakura, or anyone from their teams - were interested in these. Besides, if they could get their hands on something as precious as Elena’s Colorful Claw, that would be enough. Besides, the price wouldn’t be too big as it is now with competition.

With Heian Ciemnosc, even if he didn’t sell his goods at a much lower price, they would still be much better in quality than the items auctioned here. They could ask him for any unique properties they wanted their Artifact or Mortal weapon to have. Besides, even though he couldn’t make Earth grade weaponry or armor… who is to tell he wasn’t already learning? Or that he simply needs to attain his Soul to start creating them?!

Time passed, 2 hours went by. Everyone watched, and most participated as more than 100,000 Star Stones went into the Featherface Pavilion’s pockets when an item that made Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes sparkle as Arla wriggled her bum to comfort him some more finally appeared.

“Ladies and gentlemen, now that the auction is nearing its end, let me present you the last item. This is the Self-Void! This is a puppet. It used to be one of the most acknowledged and helpful items in the world before the Great Sage’s Change. One of the Lords’ organizations had become proficient in creating these items, which are now scarce and, for most, useless. Indeed, this is the item that, it is said, if it can be once again mass-produced, will shake the world’s stability as everyone will want it for themselves and no one else!”

“Its starting price will be 100 Star Stones, and… every bid must increase it by… 10 Star Stones!” It could be noticed how unconfident the auctioneer was when this item was put up for auction. It was incomparable to the Jelly Dog from the beginning. Its cuteness would make many waste hundreds of Star Stones for it, let alone a few thousand, and its aid to those who had Water element affinity.

“... 110 Star Powerful Stones,” after almost 10 seconds of sudden silence from the noisy crowds, Heian Ciemnosc finally bid his money on this item. A few seats to his right, Fera turned her head at him and cutely smiled before looking down and facing the stage. The auctioneer mentally sighed in relief without planning to let this opportunity go, “Here we have 110 Star Powerful Stones. Does anyone want to compete for it?!”

“Haheh, I’d like to see what kind of person would want something like this?” This time, after 2 seconds, a person from the groups that had been silent all along spoke out. He raised his hands and declared with an uncaring tone, “300 Star Vigor Stones.”

‘Third Step…’ Heian Ciemnosc’s eyes didn’t narrow or look down. He continued at the stage and at the child-like but adult-height, clean wooden puppet. Without caring about the ‘apprehension’ someone of his Step should have… he raised his right hand. “I will bid 500 Star Powerful Stones. I’m not sure how practical such an item, useless even for a Second Step cultivator, is to a mighty Third Step figure like you to bid for it. But I am a person who needs it.”

“Hm,” the person who had bid was a slightly tall, bulky fellow who seemed to be grunting over his bid being overrun. The Auctioneer was about to fan the flames, but there wasn’t a need. Heian Ciemnosc’s rival spoke, “I bid 3,000 Star Vigor Stones.”

Murmur, hush~...

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“...” Heian Ciemnosc’s eyes became slightly ultimately cold. Without wanting to mess with this individual for longer than necessary, he increased his numbers… But so did his rival. “I bid 5,000 Star Powerful Stones. “- “5,700 Star Vigor Stones!” - “7,000 Star Powerful Stones.” - “9,000 Star Vigor Stones.” - “9,100 Star Powerful Stones.” - ”Hahaha! 11,000 Star Vigor Stones!!”

“I will bid 11,500 Star Powerful Stones,” Heian Ciemnosc said, his eyes finally narrowing 11% down. His rival grinned smugly and turned around, his face pronounced a dull orange-skinned reptile with humanoid features on his face. “I don’t know why you must be so unwilling to understand your place, but I’ll help you! How long can you keep going?! 13,000 Star Vigor Stones!”

“...” The crowd fell silent altogether. The highest price so far had been 7,000 Star Stones, nowhere as high as these 2 fellas, and these weren’t even the top items in the auction! But Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t giving up. He was just comforting himself with a few mental sighs inside his head. “Fourteen tho-”

“15,000 Star Vigor Stones!” Heian Ciemnosc’s rival spoke again, not letting Heian Ciemnosc finish. Heian Ciemnosc exhaled through his nostrils at once but felt pretty relaxed as he emotionlessly opened and moved his pale lips. “16,000 Star Powerful Stones.”

“A…” His rival was about to speak again. His mouth was already opened. But something seemed to strike him, and he fell silent before slowly turning around and remaining quiet. The auctioneer felt high up in spirits and waited almost a minute before Heian Ciemnosc gave him a notorious frown. At last, the auctioneer sweated, knowing he fucked up a little. “Th- this puppet is sold at 16,000 Star Powerful Stones by this gentleman! Congratulations!”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms. However, Eena grabbed his wrists and placed his arms around Arla’s waist, who became even more mellow and lovey-dovey as if she were Heian Ciemnosc’s only wife. After helping them up, Elena sat with her right foot on her left knee, continuing watching the stage as a maid came and delivered the puppet to Heian Ciemnosc. He paid with his Universal Conveyance as more than half his Star Powerful Stones disappeared into the maid’s Universal Conveyance.

After the maid left, Heian Ciemnosc directly passed the puppet to the right, where Elena threw it to Fera, who caught it like a little child receiving the toy they awfully cried in public just to get. The young girl was content as she thanked everyone in her heart. Afterwards, Arla kissed Heian Ciemnosc’s neck as if rewarding him like a good boy. Meanwhile, the auctioneer commenced with the auction’s last 3 lots.

“Next, I would like to show you a collection. These are all incredibly useful for supplying an organization’s First, Second, and even… Third Step forces!” The auctioneer's words finally gained the entire auction hall’s attention. The ‘boring ‘stuff was gone, leaving the last, best things to be finally fought for. As everyone wanted to see the bigshots battle each other in these bids, Heian Ciemnosc looked at the 200,000 Star Powerful Stones the Academy gave him to secure these items.”

“The first one is the simplest, a device to rapidly condense one’s processed materials ready to be struck, hammered, and hit into becoming a weapon. It is effortlessly used for any First and Second Step cultivator who would need only about 3 peak cultivators of their respective Step to create 3,000 Mortal grade weapons and 1,000 Earth grade weapons per year, and an addition of 500 full Earth grade armor. Due to its current fabrication level, it can only create 100 Supreme weapons yearly. But that would need 100 peak experts in the Third Step to work on it constantly, taking away large amounts of effort and time for such powerhouses.”

“The second device can mix flora into a mixture before being thrown into a cauldron, ensuring one can mass produce pills and everything about alchemy up to 100,000 pills, 10,000 potions, thousands of incense, and censers. One still depends on the communication between alchemist and flora. Do not forget that.”

“Lastly, there’s this fantastic item the Featherface Pavilion has kept stored in their storage for a million years! It is safe to say a better version has been found, so you have nothing to worry about this device. It’s complete and in a perfect state. With this, any pill of poor quality but that has a good enough connection with its alchemist’s nature can be merged into one top-notch pill. Only 7 are needed to merge into a top-notch pill if you are dealing with 7 poor quality pills added at once.”

“The number decreases with the quality of the pills, so anyone can put these pills here. Ensure a capable alchemist amends the rest of the pills’ nature, and everything will be ready!” The auctioneer said, his voice slightly low from the intense explanations he had just given. Looking at the crowd, the auctioneer smiled and asked the bleachers, giving them a surprise. “Now that these supreme treasures of the Sanz Kingdom have been, which one should we start with?”

The crowd was too stunned to react immediately. It was clear the third device was the most costly, but the first and second ones didn’t have anything to lose. They just needed much more people working together so they would work. The third item would allow one alchemist to amend hundreds of thousands of pills into top-notch pills. At this moment, Heian Ciemnosc simply said with his left hand raised, hugged by Arla’s hands.

“I bid 10,000 Star Powerful Stones for the third item.” Heian Ciemnosc’s voice demanded attention, and he received it. Even his previous rival looked backwards and stared at him, wearing a silently furious expression. The rival shouted as if he would be denominated as ball-less if he wasn’t loud and fierce enough, “I bid 50,000 Star Vigor Stones!!” - “I bid 60,000…” - “80,000…”

The crowd suddenly grew restless. Many other groups started bidding and getting in the middle of the bidding face-off, turning it into a battle. The number quickly reached the high number of 100,000. Everyone watched silently as fewer groups started fighting for it, feeling they had no chance and that the battle was only continue to grow heavier. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded, and they all looked at a pale young man with a beauty comforting him on his lap.

“150,000 Star Powerful Stones for the third device!” Heian Ciemnosc declared, his voice even sounding demanding, like an emperor stating his decree. But then came a voice that challenged his authority. It was his rival, and he spoke with overbearingness. “170,000 Star Vigor Stones for it!!”

“190,000 Star Powerful Stones,” Heian Ciemnosca calmly said, his voice low and nowhere as imposing as before, which had previously astounded even those he knew very well. Noticing Heian Ciemnosc’s chance, his rival immediately showed gloat, and he felt the impulse to kick while Heian Ciemnosc was down. He shouted with terrible satisfaction engulfing him and those hearing his second shout, “210,000 Star Vigor Stones!! I want to see if you can give more, kid. Show me!!!”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc fell silent and no longer bidded. The crowd and his rival himself started noticing what was going on. At this moment, someone started laughing. Even as he began and his noises were smallish, everyone looked in this person’s direction as he commenced to form a broad smile on his lips. “HahahahAHAHAhaHAhAhAhaHaA!!”

The person was crazily laughing as if this was rotundly stupid and improbable. He clutched his stomach amid a bunch of pale gray-clothed First Step cultivators, all of whom had indifferent expressions but began growing smiles as this person laughed. They weren’t showing any fear in this Upper Kingdom. “HAHAHAHA! I can’t believe it. You, a Sect Master, were played by a First Step cultivator? How nice! Hahahaha!”

Fera lowered her face, and Heian Ciemnosc saw the young man laughing and those around the latter having the same emblem as Fera’s. They were all from the Obscure Orb Sect, a Fourth Step organization! And it was indeed so that Heian Ciemnosc’s rival dared not say anything to the young man and simply paid the butler who came to deliver a small sphere with a complicated and heavy set of tube contraptions attached to its back with a hole in its upper middle.

“Then… next,” the auctioneer felt slightly awkward, but the show had to continue. As he looked at the crowd, he instinctively looked at Heian Ciemnosc’s spot, whereas the latter grinned from the left corner of his mouth and randomly bid. “I bid 5,000 Star Powerful Stones for the first item.”

“5,000! Going once, going twice…” The auctioneer wasn’t wasting time as he directly started counting down. At that moment, many voices were triggered. Each bid was at least 1,000 Star Stones, from Powerful to Vigor, and they weren’t mindful of each other as they bid up to 30,000 Star Stones.

“40,000 Star Powerful Stones.” At that moment, the voice sounded again, making many groan and say a few discontented words. “Ah, him again.” - “How many Star Stones does he have? Really!” - “He’s from the Wrath Nihility Academy. Wouldn’t they lose infrastructure with his much money sent away?!” - “Someone has to stop him!” - “He took the first item! Are you serious?”

“Sold!” After counting down with excitement, the auctioneer hurried a maid towards Heian Ciemnosc as he quickly paid for it and kept the device in his Covert Space bag. Arla and Elena looked at him as if they would be eating him until only his bones remained. They were this devoted to the Wrath Nihility Academy. If their man was this helpful, they would actually just let him do whatever he wanted to them.

“Now! This last item, I’m sure many are aware of its importance. With the previous bidding and taking into consideration everyone’s wishes… The starting price is 50,000 Star Stones. Each increase must be 5,000 Star Stones, not one less!” The auctioneer said, but before anyone could use their chance at being the first to bid, which was a smaller portion of the quiet groups, Heian Ciemnosc’s voice sounded yet again.

“100,000 Star Powerful Stones for the second item.”

“!!” Heian Ciemnosc’s rival, who was just about to bid that exact number, felt his body shudder. Inside his head, he thought, ‘Did this kid know I only had that much left? No! No… impossible!!’

Gritting his teeth, Heian Ciemnosc’s rival raised his hand and bid, “I bid 105,000 Star Vigor Ston-...”

“116,000 Star Powerful Stones,” Heian Ciemnosc declared again.

…