Chapter 65 - Mysterious Token
The auction continued with the items of the second wave. Here there were many varied disputes with continuous price increases. The medium and large sects were interested in the objects and had the capital to contend it. However, even the small sects didn’t give up since each object was fundamental for the growth of their pupils. After all, they could only rely on the younger generation if they wanted to increase their status.
The sect leader and the elders continually talked to each other. They needed to select carefully which resources to buy and which to leave to others. Even if they had a high capital, they had to keep it as much as possible for the next wave's items. With the elders' personal disciples who were approaching the sixth stage, it was better to start preparing for their elemental conversion.
However, the sect leader and the elders didn't know what kind of element their disciples would learn once they reached the sixth stage. Nevertheless, they could make more or less precise forecasts by examining the elements of their closest relatives. Those from the same family all tended to have the same element, although there were exceptions from time to time. But the statistics were favorable enough to take a gamble with such predictions.
As a result, it was predicted that Zan would have the fire element as his father, the first elder. Li the wind element as his brother, the second elder. Mei, the wood element as the sect leader. Cao Su the earth element as his father, the sixth elder. Ying Yue the water element as her grandfather, the seventh elder.
There was also a rumor that elemental essences would be put up for auction. Those would produce a significant increase in the elemental conversion of the martial artist, even increasing their combative power.
Among the items of the second wave, there were also few spirit beasts. Since they were already mature spirit beasts ready to fight, the quarrel between the beast tamers was intense.
Hei ended up buying a Javan Rhinoceros, a Pygmy Hippopotamus, and a pair of birds known as Hoatzin. Among the exposed animals, these had the highest potential, and the couple of Hoatzin, in particular, was sold at a high price since it was male and female, therefore with the possibility of creating a progeny of spirit beasts.
The second wave ended, it was the turn of the third wave, and once again, the atmosphere became heavy. It was time for the highlights of the auction. Each of these objects was considered a treasure for the martial artists of the kingdom. And in fact, the third wave started immediately with a bang, bringing an elemental essence of lightning.
As soon as the auctioneer started the bids, there were waves of increasing offers from the public. Even those who didn’t have that particular type of element were interested. After all, elemental essence would still be usable in production jobs or, simply, as exchange objects for an elemental essence of their element.
Hei carefully observed the various objects on display; even if he wouldn't buy any of this, they were still valuable to get his attention. And in the succession of this frenzy, finally came the highlight of the auction as regards the spirit beasts.
"Here is the surprise I mentioned earlier. It is a young spirit beast, but it has already demonstrated that it has awakened its spirit power. But its heritage is the most interesting aspect. Its parents are no less than two second-level adult spirit beasts." The auctioneer exclaimed in an excited voice.
Upon hearing this, the audience was left speechless. How had the hunters stolen a young elephant from two second-level spirit beasts? It was like kidnapping a personal disciple before two spirit soldiers elders. But the way didn't matter much, what mattered was that it was still young, and with such potential, it would be a great setup that could be easily controlled.
Even the sect leader and the elders of the Flower Sect looked astonished at the appearance of the spirit beast in question. It was a Giant Forest Elephant, a species that was already difficult to tame without spirit power, let alone a specimen of spirit beast. But its power was undeniable. Just a single giant forest elephant spirit beast was enough to cause an uproar in the battlefields.
"This giant forest elephant baby, in addition to having a high potential, comes with an object attached. That is the place where it was captured. The hunter team managed to kidnap the young elephant after enormous efforts, but they failed to kill any of the parents. Although it is impossible to tame such spirit beasts, if you manage to kill the two parents, you will gain a great fortune. I hope you will take this into account during the offers."
The auctioneer launched another bombshell. Were the parents still alive? If they thought about it with a cool head, it was reasonable that they were alive, given that they were second-level spirit beasts. But all the buyers couldn't help but wonder even more about how the hell the hunter team had kidnapped the baby.
But in any case, the existence of two second-level spirit beasts meant the presence of second-level spirit cores. Every spirit beast possessed within itself a spirit core that represented the very essence that made the animal a spirit beast. And as the level of the spirit beast increases, the spirit core would have more exceptional properties if used in alchemy or the creation of weapons or artifacts, even creating an incredible object in the eyes of anyone.
"Hei, tell me something. Would you be able to tame the parents of that spirit beast?" At a certain point, the sect leader asked with difficulty. Her throat had dried up at the thought of what had come into her head.
Upon hearing the question of the sect leader, the first and second elders couldn’t help but blink their eyes and turn to Hei, who didn’t appear at all surprised by the question of the sect leader. After a quick consultation with his mother, Hei replied.
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"Yes, it is possible. If I were to return their baby and warn them of the dangers they risk and offering them to come with me, I'm sure they would follow me. Although I don't like the word tame, I could get a degree of obedience similar to Shui’s, my albino buffalo," Hei calmly explained, not at all upset that they were talking about second-level spirit beasts.
Hearing his answer, the sect leader and the two elders frowned. Dealing with two second-level spirit beasts would have been difficult even if they had joined forces. Yet Hei was talking as if it wasn't a problem. Even though he had in mind to return their baby, it was still risky. If they didn’t have adequate strength, they would risk death. Therefore, he was implicitly saying that the thing that protected him was able to guarantee his safety.
The elders and the sect leader shuddered at the thought, but at the same time became excited. If Hei managed to tame the parents as he said, they would have power comparable to the addition of two elders, and if even his albino buffalo passed to the second level, that number would increase more. It meant that they would acquire a military strength superior to that of the other big sects, equaling the first place sect - the sect of the Mountain Kingdom, the Tremor Sect, which had as ten elders plus the sect leader.
"All right. Then we must buy that spirit beast. Your remaining third level stones will surely not suffice, but the sect will take the remaining sum. Let it be clear, however, that once the parents of the spirit beast are tamed, they will remain in the sect as guardian beasts. It's possible?"
"Yes, it is possible. If explained in the right way and you promise not to hurt them, then I can convince them."
What he said was enough for the sect leader in preparing herself for the offerings' battle that was about to begin. The price immediately jumped to the stars - all the most influential sects of the kingdom, including the most important military exponents, were interested in the young giant forest elephant. Even those who weren't beast tamers were launching offers; just the information about its parents was a gold mine.
In such chaos, suddenly, a clear but decisive voice resounded in the hall.
"100 third-level spirit stones."
Those present immediately looked up to see who had spoken and saw that it was the sect leader of the Flower Sect. What made their faces contracted was the Flower Sect was among those that had the most capital. But regardless of their status or power, the other buyers didn’t back down and raised the stakes.
The amount eventually came to 500 third-level spirit stones, offered by the Flower Sect. The sect leader was, in fact, relentless and firm in her offers, not bothering about the other competitors bidding. Not even the participation of Tree Sect was able to upset her, thus ending up winning the coveted prize.
The sect leader and the elders were happy, but they couldn’t help but swear at their rivals. Five hundred third-level spirit stones were a very high capital, even for one of the big five sects. And, even though they had bought enough resources for the five personal disciples and something for Hei and Lian, they were practically out of the game to contend for the last item in the auction.
The last item of an auction would always be the highlight of the entire auction, surpassing any previously sold valuable item, including the newly sold baby elephant.
After the heated contest for the baby elephant, it was finally time for the final item. Although the Flower Sect was outside the games, the Tree Sect and the other great influences of the kingdom remained.
"The final item of today's auction is a unique item prepared by the king. A big shot of the army committed the crime of treason. Therefore his belongings were confiscated, including today's object. Here is the big piece of the day. "
The auctioneer emphatically proclaimed as he stretched out his hand toward the object to be auctioned. On the usual cart, there was a refinedly elaborated jade box. Inside there was a rectangular golden token with symbols engraved on it.
Seeing this token, the sect leader and the elders jumped to their feet with confused and upset faces. It wasn’t only them, the sect leader and the elders of the Tree Sect also had the same reaction as did the other major influences present.
"How is it possible?! Do they really intend to make it public now? What the king had in his head when he put an object like that in the auction?” The first elder angrily exclaimed as he clenched his fists.
"Well, all the entities that can compete in the third wave are aware of this. Those who don’t know will think that it is some object of the past of which they have no knowledge. They won’t understand its true use and importance,” the second elder analyzed with a calm mind. But he too was clenching his fists in anger.
"Alas, unfortunately, I hadn’t foreseen such an eventuality. The purchase of the elephant, unfortunately, removed us from the games." The sect leader said in a dejected tone.
Listening to the major exponents of the sect and pronouncing themselves in that way, the Flower Sect members of the younger generation couldn’t help but be surprised and wonder what their words meant. Finally, Mei took courage and asked.
"Master, is that token really that important?"
The sect leader, listening to the question of her disciple, recovered from her thoughts in her mind, and answered.
"Yes, but it's still too early to reveal it. It would do nothing but put unnecessary pressure on you. The important thing you need to remember is that you have to do your best to get stronger."
The sect leader avoided answering the question posed by Mei and sat down again with the two elders to watch the progress of the sale for the last piece of the auction.
As expected by the second elder, the small sects and minor characters didn’t know what that token was. They simply listed it as an important ancient object. However, those who knew the truth literally clashed against each other with the offers. They came to ask for loans from their acquaintances at the auction. Eventually, the card was sold for 1000 third-level spirit stones by the Tree Sect, which became excited once the purchase was validated.
1000 third-level spirit stones. It was an exorbitant sum, and it was also the highest amount ever reached in an auction within the Forest Kingdom and even within the entire Rainbow Island. But the Tree Sect was willing to pay as if it was a small sum.
Just from this, it was possible to see the importance of that object. The minor sects were wondering why such a price. Was that object indeed worthy of being sold at that amount? But, unless someone revealed them the truth, all they could do was speculate on the token's origins.
With this, the auction prepared by the king ended in a climate of frenzy and excitement. Those who hadn’t withdrawn their possessions went to the back of the stage to get them. The others, instead, left the room to return to the lodgings prepared by the king. It was late afternoon, but there were still a few hours before the celebration, so they could give themselves some rest after this great auction.
Hei and Lian, accompanied by the sect leader, went to collect the spirit beasts that had been purchased while the first and second elders accompanied the five personal disciples to their lodgings. As regards the other items bought by the Flower Sect, they had already been delivered from time to time to every purchase made by the sect.