The door opened, with a bang again and the same guard stepped in. He said, "Come out. Come out. It's time for the auction. You're gonna be sold. And we get money." He grinned, showing his yellowed, cracked teeth. Leo just nodded and followed along.
He had decided to go along with the flow and serve quietly in the house of whoever bought him. Once he gets some insight and creates a Path, he will escape and live his own life.
But he was still slightly confused about Paths and creating them.
As the slaves shuffled along in a line, the unwilling whipped forward by the guards, he thought, System, can you explain to me what a Path is?
[Sure, host!]
[A Path is a structured system, similar to cultivation, which allows its user to gain a form of energy, and control that energy for use. With a Path, its user can continuously improve and increase his power, with his limit and speed of advancement depending on his talent in that Path]
[The Path Of Cultivation allows user to gain Qi, and depending on the quality of one's Qi Root, they can cultivate with various speeds. Currently, in this world, there is only one Path, which is cultivation.]
[A Path also needs to have a power-level structure, like the realms of Body Refining, Root Opening, Qi Accumulation, Core Forging, Golden Core, etc. and their division into 9 stages each, in the Path Of Cultivation.]
[However, Paths are not restricted by these rules. There are many unique Paths which do not follow power-levels, or do not require gaining energy, etc.]
[In a vague sense, you may create any way to become more powerful, and that can be called a Path]
Leo took some time to digest the information. He instinctively brought up and compared the different systems of power he had seen in different novels and anime in his past life. Chakra in Naruto. Mana in magic worlds. Haki in One Piece. Rei-energies in Bleach.
It almost felt absurd that he was thinking about anime logic while being sold as a slave — but it helped him think. There were thousands of examples and inspiration in anime and fiction he could draw upon to create. But all these Paths required a form of energy present in the world beforehand. That was a problem. If there was any energy in this world other than Qi, then people would have created a Path for it long ago.
Anyways, Leo thought, as the slaves were gathered in a hall with a door leading to the auction stage, I'll find something that can be made into a Path. I have
---
Slaves were called one-by-one, or in groups, to be sold to the highest bidder. Leo could hear the auctioneer showcasing the slaves, and the bidders loudly shouting bids. It sounded more like a flea market than an auction.
"Hey! I'll pay 10 gold for those four bulky men!"
"5 gold for that accountant!"
"50 gold for that little girl!"
"60 gold for the girl!"
"Hey! You dare bid against me!"
"Customers, please do not fight. Bidding is fair. The highest bidder wins. Any dispute can be settled after the auction!"
"Alright! 70 gold!"
Leo stood speechless for a few seconds. It was nothing like the dignified and solemn auction he had imagined being in a cultivation world.
But then again, this is a slave auction, with no pills, cultivation techniques, Qi skills or spiritual treasures. Only a bunch of poor, homeless Body Refining slaves for sale. What can I expect?
Some time later, after almost all the slaves were sold, Leo was called up, alone.
As he walked onto the platform, he took his time observing the auction chamber. It was a large, circular room, mostly made of stone. It was almost like a mini arena. Stands circled all around the central platform, with one large door on a side leading outside, and a smaller door opposite to it through which Leo walked through. Above the stands were rooms with black glass fronts, clearly for VIPs.
"And now I give you", the auctioneer shouted, "a mortal! This slave here was born without a Qi Root, and to those who don't want a slave who will secretly cultivate and stab them in the back, he's perfect. Also a rather handsome male, I might add. Opening price is 20 gold."
Leo expected a random wealthy person will buy him for a few gold. But little did he know, he was in for a large surprise.
A feminine, ethereal, yet aloof voice drifted from one of the VIP boxes. "I'll give a Qi Crystal for this one. I believe it be sold for a 1000 gold."
Leo's eyes widened in shock and surprise, just the auctioneer rapidly struck the mallet thrice and shouted excitedly, "Sold! This slave now belongs to…"