Duo Bao Pavilion, Auction Hall
"This coffin has no starting bid. Feel free to offer," Cheng Bi announced, her gaze sweeping the hall. She was confident the price wouldn't disappoint—the allure of "primordial" was too potent for old monsters to resist, or Duo Bao Pavilion wouldn't have held it for a decade.
"50 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones," a Peak Nascent Soul cultivator bid promptly, setting a bold tone.
"This old man offers 70," an Early-Stage Spirit Transformation elder countered leisurely.
Lan An bided his time, waiting for the right moment.
After several bids, Yan Clan's elder, Yan Feng, pushed the price to 200 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones.
"So many rich folks. An unknown coffin fetching such a price?" Chen Jiang muttered, awed by a sum beyond his wildest dreams.
"The word 'primordial' justifies it. Even I'm tempted," Qin Meng Ying said seriously, her Void Refinement curiosity piqued by the unknown.
"Don't compete with me. I want this," Lan An said, shaking his head with a smile. Surpassing Spirit-Grade, the coffin was beyond even a Void Refinement expert's ability to unlock, but with the System's mission, he trusted it held the key.
"You're interested in it?" Qin Meng Ying raised an eyebrow. Lan An had ignored countless fine items thus far.
"Indeed, very much so," he nodded, unapologetic.
"Hmph, I'll yield for the Beauty Nurturing Pill's sake, but you mentioned a gift. Was it the pill?" Qin Meng Ying probed, her eyes sly.
"No, something else," Lan An grinned mysteriously, frustrating her.
"This old man bids 300 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones," a robust voice boomed from Suite 2, tensing the crowd.
Spirit Transformation cultivators paled, whispering, "A Void Refinement expert."
Many swallowed their bids. A Void Refinement cultivator, near the continent's apex, loomed over millions. Few dared challenge such a titan.
Lan An was undeterred. "400 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones," he called loudly.
The crowd stirred. A 100-stone leap from a VIP suite? Was the coffin truly worth it?
In Suite 2, a gaunt elder with blood-red hair scowled. Xue Chang, Third Elder of the Eighth-Grade Blood Spirit Sect, couldn't discern the coffin's origins. Stuck at Early-Stage Void Refinement, he sought a breakthrough via the coffin's mystery. His raspy voice carried a threat: "450 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones. I, Xue Chang, hope this friend gives face, lest rashness breeds regret."
The crowd paled, recognizing Xue Chang. Blood Spirit Sect, an infamous evil sect, was ruthless, though not as apocalyptic as the legendary Blood Slaughter Demon Monarch. Its clan exterminations for cultivation were notorious. Rumors tied it to the Demon Monarch's legacy, prompting probes by the Ninth-Grade Ice Mysterious Empire and Heavenly Mountain Immortal Realm, but no proof surfaced.
"550 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones," Lan An bid calmly, ignoring Blood Spirit Sect. The prize came first.
Xue Chang's face purpled with rage. Ignored outright, he felt humiliated. His voice dripped venom: "600 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones. I hope you can keep bidding!"
"Haha, Friend Xue, why intimidate? This poor monk feels fated with the coffin. 650 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones," a gentle voice from Suite 1 countered, dispelling Xue Chang's killing intent.
"Who?" Xue Chang's face darkened. The speaker's cultivation matched his.
"This poor monk is Fan Kong. The coffin belongs to its fated owner. Friend Xue's resentment is heavy. Visit our Fan Yin Temple for purification. After seven sevens—forty-nine days—you'll lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha," the voice replied, measured yet infuriating Xue Chang.
"Fan Yin Temple! Heavens, another Eighth-Grade power, and a Buddhist sect!"
"Fan Kong's among Fan Yin Temple's top monks, just below the Vice-Abbots and Abbot."
"Truly the grandest auction. Big shots from every faction are here!"
The crowd buzzed. Lan An ignored them, bidding, "700 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Hmph, it's yours. Hope you live to keep it," Xue Chang sneered, his threat blatant. Unable to fathom the coffin, bidding higher was too risky.
"This friend, could you yield? The coffin is fated with our Buddhist sect. 710 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones," Fan Kong said, his pious tone unwavering.
"800," Lan An snapped, dismissing him. The coffin outshone even Heaven-Grade items now.
"You're stubbornly deluded. This poor monk yields, but the coffin is fated with our sect. It will return. Those who cling to delusion face grim ends. Amitabha," Fan Kong said, his gentle words laced with menace.
Lan An's silver eyes blazed with suppressed fury. These threats for a fair bid? If not for his weaker cultivation, he'd silence them. Blood Spirit Sect, Fan Yin Temple—he etched their names in his heart.
Sensing his rage, Bai Su Mei gently clasped his hand, her heart aching. Her master's humiliation stung, her powerlessness galling. She memorized the insult.
"Angry?" Qin Meng Ying, silent till now, asked softly.
Lan An said nothing, calming himself.
"To avoid this, grow stronger. I could vent your anger, but that's fleeting. A true man faces hardship, endures setbacks, and finds drive to rise," she said, her hand gripping his, spiritual energy soothing his fury.
Her own anger at his brazen threats matched anyone's, but this young man was a gem to be honed. She used this to spur his growth.
"To be a true powerhouse, your heart's state matters. Mere threats rile you this much? What if worse befalls you? Will rage blind your reason, losing yourself?" she lectured.
Lan An, no fool, nodded gratefully. His recent battles, won too easily, had bred arrogance. Today's humbling showed he was peerless among equals, but old monsters like Xue Chang or Fan Kong wouldn't spare a youth. Outside Duo Bao Pavilion, they'd likely strike.
"I must be the strongest, no matter my foe's rank or age!" Lan An vowed, gripping Qin Meng Ying's hand.
His spirit lightened, gloom lifting. His soul seemed to ascend, his heart's state transforming.
"You're hurting me," Qin Meng Ying pouted playfully, her Void Refinement strength belying any pain.
Lan An met her gaze, not releasing her. To everyone's shock, he pulled her startled form into his chest.
Embracing her lithe waist, inhaling her intoxicating scent, he yanked off her veil, revealing her scarred face. Caressing it, he grinned confidently, locking eyes with her. "You've shown me the true path. I'll grow stronger. The day I surpass you, I'll claim you as my little wife, scars or beauty be damned. If I want you, none can stop me!"
"Hmph, empty boasts," Qin Meng Ying huffed, cheeks flaming, her Void Refinement aura vanishing. Her heart raced, yielding to his firm embrace.
Lan An laughed, his anger purged, his heart's elevation freeing his feelings. Lifting her smooth chin, he leaned to kiss her thick lips.
"Sorry… I seem to have come at a bad time," Cheng Bi's sultry voice, tinged with shock, interrupted.
Her heart roiled. Was this the domineering woman she knew, now a blushing maiden in a youth's arms?
"Ah!" Qin Meng Ying, caught red-handed, shoved Lan An to the floor, facing Cheng Bi with forced calm. "Why you? Where's the staff?"
"This deal's significant, so I handled it," Cheng Bi replied, composure regained.
"Fine, the coffin?" Qin Meng Ying extended her hand, tossing a spirit stone pouch, ignoring that she paid for Lan An's purchase.
Cheng Bi's face twitched, inwardly roaring, You didn't buy it! But she handed over a storage pouch containing the coffin.
"I'll take my leave," Cheng Bi said, then noticed Bai Su Mei. Surprise flickered as she smiled at Lan An. "Young Master's truly blessed."
"Heh, my good fortune," Lan An accepted proudly, basking in his beautiful companion.
"How's your Young Mistress?" Qin Meng Ying asked Cheng Bi.
"Thanks for asking. She's well, often mentions you," Cheng Bi replied ambiguously, departing.
"Duo Bao Pavilion's Saintess?" Lan An perked up.
"Yes, their Saintess. Cheng Bi's one of her maids," Qin Meng Ying explained.
Lan An smacked his lips. A maid with such influence—what was the Saintess like?
"Hmph, who said you could grab me? So embarrassing!" Qin Meng Ying tossed the coffin's pouch to Lan An, glaring, teeth clenched.
Lan An caught it, storing it in the Spirit Blossom Orb for safety.
Keng, mission [Seize the Coffin] completed. Reward: One random summon.
Grinning at Qin Meng Ying's mock anger, Lan An said innocently, "You were too alluring. I couldn't resist."
"Silver-tongued rogue," she huffed, her heart sweet as honey.
"Here's the gift I promised," Lan An said, summoning a garment.
A flowing purple robe appeared, accented with golden trim at collar and sleeves, its ethereal design mesmerizing, dreamlike, and mysterious.
Everyone was captivated, even Chen Jiang fantasizing about wearing it.
Qin Meng Ying's eyes sparkled, heart-shaped. She took it, caressing its cool, silken texture, itching to don it.
"It's called Dreamheart Robes. From our first meeting, I knew only you were worthy," Lan An said warmly, her joy infectious, justifying the Prestige Points spent.
"Mhm," Qin Meng Ying murmured, clutching the robes, nestling into his chest. In her long life, no man had gifted her thus, nor had she accepted such from another.
Bai Su Mei, stroking her Immortal Lovers' Fate Robes, recalled Lan An's gift to her, her heart warming as she leaned into his other side.
Chen Jiang, awestruck by Lan An's dual embrace, vowed to learn his flirting secrets.
Lan An smiled, ignoring the ongoing auction, commanding the System: "With beauties by my side, let's do the random summon!"
Keng, countdown begins: 1600, 1590…
Lan An nearly leapt up. The longer the countdown, the greater the prize. Summoning the Taboo Immortal Genesis Scripture took 3600 seconds; this, at nearly half, promised something near-Taboo.
He fidgeted, losing interest in the auction, holding his women close, eyes shut.
He'd expected a Spirit-Grade item at best, but this hinted at far greater. How could he not anticipate?
Jin'er appeared unnoticed, save by Lan An, drawn by the summon's magnitude.
Seconds ticked by, Lan An counting silently.
"5, 4, 3… 1."
Keng! Congratulations, Host, you've received…