Chapter 8: The Strong and the Weak
After Sayru took out the Spiritual Core of a level eight beast, its overwhelming pressure flooded the room.
"L-L-L-Level 8! I fear even the full wealth of the Merchant Guild couldn't afford it!!"
While the tower master was still stunned, Sayru's plans were moving forward exactly as intended.
"Who said you need to buy it?
Just put it up for auction and let the current take its course."
Sayru tossed the Spiritual Core toward the tower master.
He was so shocked he almost dropped it.
'His aura is crushing, and he handles a level 8 core like it's nothing… Who exactly is this person?!'
"I would be honored if someone like you would join our Merchant Guild as one of our VIPs. We will certainly place the core in the auction, but I can't promise it will sell for the price you expect. What do you think, Great Expert?"
Though the tower master spoke with formal clarity, his voice was clearly trembling with fear.
"Hm. Fine. Let's go."
Sayru replied calmly, having already entered the tower like a ghost, without making a sound.
The tower master led him to the top floor and into a luxurious chamber reserved for VIPs.
Sayru sat down in a spot overlooking the auction stage.
'I can sense several somewhat powerful individuals among the bidders… I can make use of them.'
His thoughts made a sly smile form on his face.
"Hey you—what's your name?"
Sayru asked the tower master, who was still standing respectfully behind him.
"My name is Lao Yun, Great Expert," the man replied.
"Lao Yun… good. How about a bet?
Put the core in the auction. I doubt anyone can afford it anyway.
Set the starting bid at three million gold coins.
Here's the wager: if someone buys it, I win, and you'll give me double the sale price.
But if no one buys it, you win… and I'll give you the core for free."
Lao Yun was shocked by Sayru's proposal, but lacked the courage to refuse directly.
"I… I mean, it's an exciting offer, sir, but I don't dare accept.
Even a core like this wouldn't sell for the price you're asking."
Sayru smirked—his trap had been sprung.
He then pulled out another Level 8 Spiritual Core.
"What about one more?"
Lao Yun was stunned. Sayru had brought out another core as if it were nothing!
Feeling confident, he finally accepted the wager.
After a series of rare items were sold, it was finally time for Sayru's core to appear.
Lao Yun looked pleased.
He believed none of the auction's guests would have enough wealth to buy it.
"Ladies and gentlemen!
Now for the final item of today's auction, courtesy of the Merchant Guild!
Prepare yourselves…
A Spiritual Core from a Level Eight Magic Beast!"
The crowd erupted in shock.
"Silence, please.
As you all know, Level Eight beasts are extremely rare.
When one appears, it usually means disaster is near."
The host looked up toward the tower master, who signaled him to continue.
"Ahem… Now then, we'll begin the bidding at three million gold coins!"
The room fell into disbelief.
That amount of money was more than what Cloud City could collect in twenty years.
"Impossible! That's way too much—even we nobles couldn't gather that much!"
"Let's just give up. It's hopeless."
Murmurs of surrender echoed throughout the hall.
Lao Yun smiled, believing the core would soon be his.
"Well then… if there are no bids, I'll declare the auction—"
Before the host could finish his sentence, an old man's voice interrupted:
"Four million!"
Gasps filled the room. The voice was strong, resonating throughout the hall.
The speaker was a ragged old man sitting among ordinary Martial Artists.
His pale face and white hair with a single red streak made him stand out.
"Uh… sir, are you sure you can pay that amount?" asked the host.
"Do you doubt the words of this poor old man?"
The moment he spoke, an invisible pressure filled the hall.
Several low-level Martial Artists fainted on the spot.
And upon sensing that pressure, a devilish smile crept across Sayru's face.
'There you are!'
…
After the auction ended, Sayru followed the tower master to collect his earnings.
Lao Yun, visibly shaken, now owed Sayru double the sale price—eight million gold coins.
"Just looking at you makes me feel bad.
Forget the bet," Sayru sighed.
"Forgive me, sir, but I won't back down from our wager.
Give me one month, and I'll bring you the eight million.
For now, here are four million gold coins—the price of the core."
'He took the bait perfectly. Now all I have to do is wait, and their entire fortune will be mine!'
Sayru left the tower and headed to find lodging.
He chose one of the city's most expensive inns for the sake of privacy.
He paid for a month in advance and headed to his room—or rather, his private suite.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Sayru entered a meditative state.
"Now that I'm inside the city, I'll suppress my spiritual presence to lessen the pressure I've been intentionally releasing.
They probably think I've reached some high refinement level,
but since people here can't distinguish between spiritual power and mana,
they assume I'm powerful just because of my Sacred Soul."
After a few moments, he began the suppression process.
"Alright… now I need to focus on three goals:
First: Gather a massive amount of mana at every stage before I break through.
Second: Collect rare ingredients—immortal herbs and organs of sacred beasts.
Third: Obtain the Black Mana!"
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Currency Tiers:
Iron Coin
Copper Coin = 10 Iron Coins
Silver Coin = 100 Copper Coins
Gold Coin = 1,000 Silver Coins
Crystal Coin = 1,000,000 Gold Coins