"You hail from different realms of the Eternal World—some from the ends of the heavens, others from opposite corners of the cosmos, separated by countless light-years. You may never have met in your lifetimes, never had a chance to cross paths. But now, here you are, gathered under one roof. This, too, is a great fate. I hope all of you can treasure this encounter."
"The seats here from this day forward are yours alone. If you fall, your seat will vanish. But if you live on, your throne shall forever remain in this auction house. Before we begin, each of you may choose a code name—this will be your identity in the auction house. Choose wisely."
"Before the auction starts, take a moment to acquaint yourselves. The Mysterious Auction House allows only ten entrants each year, and every trade occurs once per year. Next year, ten new mysterious tokens will be issued. I hope you all value this opportunity."
Yi Tianxing spoke slowly, first explaining the rules of the auction house.
"I'll be called Mirror Spirit."
The Queen of the Mirror Spirit said with a soft smile, her beautiful eyes scanning the void with curiosity. She noticed her power was restricted by some mysterious force in this space. Though not sealed, she couldn't use her abilities—clearly, no one could fight here.
It was the highest form of safety assurance.
Since she had arrived, she had no intention of leaving immediately.
"Cat!"
The golden fat cat rolled its eyes. Even if they didn't share a language, they could still communicate here—no speech necessary. Thoughts alone sufficed.
"Blood Dragon."
The blood-red dragon pondered briefly before speaking. He found this space strange—his chains were gone, and for the first time in years, he felt truly free. Though unsure what would happen afterward, he relished the moment.
"Crippled Sky!"
"Drunkard!"
"Demon Wing!"
"Vine!"
"Old Oak!"
"Golden Armor!"
"Divine Eye!"
The others also announced their code names. Though "code names," they felt eerily aligned with their true nature, as if drawn by some unknown force. No one picked anything outlandish.
Yi Tianxing watched, nodding inwardly.
Then he said, "I am the master of this Mysterious Auction House. From now on, you may call me... Emperor Sovereign."
"Emperor Sovereign?"
Everyone's eyes locked onto him with a mix of scrutiny and curiosity.
To claim such a title required immense confidence. Any name carried karmic weight—calling oneself "Emperor Sovereign" without the strength to back it would only harm one's fortune. Like a mortal king proclaiming himself Heavenly Emperor—he wouldn't last long.
To take this name seriously, one had to be either powerful beyond measure or a fool.
But judging from what they'd experienced—being summoned across the cosmos into this mysterious space—they leaned toward the former. None dared assume this man was a nobody. The more they thought about it, the higher they ranked him in their minds.
But with no face visible, all they could do was speculate.
"Greetings, Emperor Sovereign."
Blood Dragon and the others greeted him formally, their respect for Yi Tianxing rising again.
"Very well. Since we are gathered here by fate, let's begin. The Mysterious Auction House opens only once a year. Miss this round, and you'll have to wait until the next."
"Here, anything can be auctioned—divine weapons, treasures, pills, herbs, spirit fruits, talismans, intelligence, cultivation techniques, and even slaves. Trades proceed in rotation. When it's your turn, offer your item and announce what you want in exchange. You can accept Eternal Coins or barter for goods. If bartering, specify the type of item you're seeking. The auction house takes no commission. Its sole purpose is to provide you a platform—an opportunity to change your fate."
Yi Tianxing explained further.
This auction house did not focus on competitive bidding in the traditional sense—it sought resonance, allowing people to obtain what they truly desired.
With no transaction fees and few restrictions, its appeal was immense. Wealth meant nothing to Yi Tianxing—he craved treasures, the kind money could never buy. This auction house was his net, cast across the cosmos to gather them.
Everyone's eyes gleamed with understanding. This was a trading paradise.
"Since I initiated this auction, I'll lead the way. Let's see if anyone finds value in what I offer."
Yi Tianxing smiled and waved his hand. Ten exquisitely crafted wine jars appeared before him, each sealed tightly. Ancient seal script spelled out two words: Du Kang. The jars radiated a unique divine charm.
Each jar contained ten catties of wine—one hundred catties total.
"This is a spirit wine, the Du Kang Immortal Brew, handcrafted by the ancestor of wine himself, Du Kang. Also known as the Worry-Free Immortal Brew—'What can relieve sorrow? Only Du Kang.' These jars have aged three hundred years. If you're interested, make an offer. No money—only bartered treasures. All ten jars are sold as a set. Heavenly materials, divine herbs, artifacts, anything rare may qualify."
These wines had been stored within the Heavenly Emperor Pagoda, their aging accelerated by time enchantments. Their aroma and power were peerless. To a wine connoisseur, they were priceless.
Du Kang was the divine founder of winemaking. His brew held supreme prestige in all realms.
"Wine... Du Kang's Immortal Brew!"
Crippled Sky's eyes lit up. He loved wine—having been born disabled, he found solace in drinking. For him, Du Kang's wine was like sacred nectar.
"It's the real thing! Brewed by Du Kang himself! Aged three centuries! Absolutely priceless!" the Drunkard cried, his eyes glowing. Any hint of inebriation vanished in his excitement. Next to Du Kang, all other wines were trash.
Of course, not everyone felt the same. Some showed no interest.
"The auction will proceed as sealed bids. One bid per person, no changes allowed. Interested parties, submit your offer now," Yi Tianxing announced with a smile.
Crippled Sky offered a piece of cloth—not ordinary cloth, but woven from ice silkworm threads spun by millennium-old ice silkworms. A rare material for crafting divine robes with potent defensive power.
Drunkard presented a combat technique scroll and a spirit herb.
The scroll intrigued Yi Tianxing most.
Drunken Immortal Moonstep – a superior movement technique. Allows flight, enhances combat power under moonlight, and features unpredictable footwork and endless variations.
The herb was a Millennium He Shou Wu—a rare and potent elixir material.
Both were highly valuable. Either item could spark bloodshed if placed in the open world—especially the combat technique, which the Great Yi Dynasty had never acquired before.
"Wine has its price, but knowledge is priceless."
Yi Tianxing made his decision at once.
"These spirit wines go to Drunkard."
With calm certainty, he concluded the deal. The scroll and herb became part of his personal collection.
"Alas…" Crippled Sky sighed and stored his ice silkworm cloth away. Some trades might look unbalanced, but if both sides are satisfied, then it's the perfect exchange. It all came down to need.
Just like that, the first transaction concluded.
Next, it was Mirror Spirit Queen's turn.
With a wave of her hand, a mirror appeared before her...