Mu Lingyao leaned closer, teasing. "Are you going to wear that?"
I snorted. "Of course not. It's for Yun Sha."
Mu Lingyao raised an eyebrow. "Oh my…"
The bidding began.
From the VIP room came a smooth, confident voice: "Fifty mid-tier spiritual stones."
A second cultivator from the right side called out, "Fifty-five."
I raised my hand. "Seventy."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
From above, the same VIP voice echoed again. "Ninety."
I narrowed my eyes. "Ninety-four."
Mu Lingyao and Feng Xuan turned to me with alarm.
"Do you even have that many stones?" Feng Xuan whispered.
I waved it off. "Relax. I've got enough."
The VIP room voice chuckled, then shouted, "One hundred!"
I replied instantly. "One hundred and two!"
"Hundred and four!" came the response again from above.
I smirked. "One hundred and fifty mid-tier spiritual stones."
The room went completely silent. Even the auctioneer paused for a breath.
Mu Lingyao leaned over and hissed, "Are you crazy? That's worth seventy to eighty at most!"
I shrugged. "I don't care. It's for someone important."
The auctioneer, regaining his composure, lifted the gavel.
"One hundred fifty mid-tier spiritual stones… once!"
"Twice!"
"Thrice!"
"Sold!"
Applause broke out, and a servant delivered the robes. I handed over a pouch containing the spiritual stones.
Feng Xuan looked at me with a stunned expression. "So… Brother Zhen Huan really does have money?"
I gave a sly grin. "I suppose I do. Killed a lot of cultivators lately."
Feng Xuan burst into laughter. "You're really something else. A true monster!"
The auctioneer raised his voice again. "Next item—an unknown red stone. Its origin is unclear, but it contains dense fire essence. Starting bid: one mid-tier spiritual stone."
I narrowed my eyes. The stone radiated a subtle yet potent fire aura.
Ding!
Item: Fire Element Stone
Type: Fire
Evaluation: Highly compatible with your disciple.
Beside me, Yang Kai's eyes lit up. "Master… I don't know why, but… that stone feels like it belongs to me."
I smiled. "That's because it does. I'll get it for you."
Feng Xuan leaned in. "What kind of stone is that?"
"I'll explain later," I said simply. Then raised my voice, "Five mid-tier spiritual stones."
The auctioneer blinked, surprised. "We have five spiritual stones. Any further bids?"
Silence.
"Once!
Twice!
Thrice!
Sold!"
The stone was delivered into my hands, and I placed it into my space ring. "I'll give it to you back in the room, Yang Kai."
"Yes, Master," he replied eagerly.
Two more items came and went—rare but of no use to me or my companions. Soon, the auction concluded.
As we stepped out into the setting sun, Feng Xuan caught a glimpse of Yang Kai's energy. His jaw dropped.
"Wait… What?! Yang Kai's in Foundation Establishment—Fourth Layer?! Already?!"
I smirked. "That's my disciple."
Feng Xuan began to fake cry, dramatically rubbing his eyes. "Why couldn't I be born under a lucky star too…"
We returned to the inn, and once in our rooms, I called Yang Kai over.
"Sit."
Yang Kai obeyed, cross-legged before me.
I reached into my space ring and brought out the Fire Element Stone. Its red surface pulsed gently.
"Absorb this," I instructed.
He grasped the stone. As his spiritual energy connected with it, flames burst around him, forming a cocoon of heat and radiance. The stone dissolved into his body like molten light.
Boom!
Foundation Establishment—Fifth Layer.
Boom!
Sixth Layer.
Boom!
Seventh Layer.
The fire cocoon vanished, revealing Yang Kai glowing with power.
I burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Very good, my disciple. You've reached Foundation Establishment—Seventh Layer! At this rate, you'll outpace us all!"
Yang Kai looked at his hands, awe and determination in his young eyes. "Thank you, Master. I'll never let you down!"