The first hour of the auction proceeded with mechanical predictability. Lots one through thirty-five sold at prices Su Chen considered inflated but reasonable given the competitive environment. The Thousand Year Ice Lotus went for two hundred and thirty thousand Origin Stones to a representative from an ice-attributed sect. A set of Heaven-Forged throwing knives sold for four hundred thousand to a concealed bidder. Spirit herbs, weapon materials, formation diagrams—all fetched prices that mapped precisely to what Su Chen's research had predicted.
He didn't participate in any of these early bids. Instead, he observed, cataloguing behavioral patterns and identifying which participants had deep pockets versus those operating near their resource limits. The Fire Country delegation bid aggressively on fire-attributed materials, driving prices up through sheer stubborn persistence. The demon beast representatives focused exclusively on items that could enhance bloodline purity, showing no interest in human cultivation techniques. The Buddhist cultivators from Western Paradise pursued anything with purification or enlightenment properties.
"Lot thirty-six," Elder Zhen announced, gesturing as a sealed jade box materialized on the display platform. "A complete set of Foundation Establishment pills, crafted by Master Alchemist Qing Yun. Guaranteed purity exceeding ninety-five percent. Suitable for cultivators attempting breakthrough from Body Refinement to Foundation Establishment. Starting bid: one hundred thousand Origin Stones."
Bibi Dong leaned closer to Su Chen, her voice pitched to carry only within their privacy formation. "This would be a good item to bid on. Foundation pills are universally valuable and establishing our presence now will make our later bids seem less suspicious."
Su Chen nodded, appreciating her political instincts. Appearing suddenly as a major bidder during the high-value lots would draw unwanted scrutiny. Better to establish themselves as consistent participants throughout the auction.
He activated their box's communication formation, his bid appearing on the central display. "One hundred and twenty thousand."
The price increment was aggressive but not unreasonable—showing confidence without appearing reckless. Several other boxes registered competing bids in rapid succession, the price climbing steadily. Su Chen bid twice more before withdrawing, allowing a representative from a mid-tier sect to claim the pills at three hundred and ten thousand Origin Stones.
"Well played," Esdeath observed. "You established that we're willing to compete without revealing how deep our resources actually run."
"Lot forty," Elder Zhen continued, "brings us to something more unique. This is a cultivation technique scroll—the Iron Mountain Body Refinement Method. A complete manual covering cultivation from initial practice through the Engravement Realm. Verified authentic, recovered from the ruins of the Iron Mountain Sect. Starting bid: three hundred thousand Origin Stones."
This drew more intense interest. Complete cultivation methods were rare enough that most sects guarded them fanatically. Finding one on the open market suggested either desperate circumstances forcing a sale or provenance from archaeological excavation. Su Chen's dual pupils analyzed the scroll as it was displayed, his enhanced perception penetrating the preservation formations to read the actual contents.
The technique was legitimate, though nothing revolutionary. It focused on earth-attributed body refinement, slowly transforming the cultivator's physical form into something approaching living stone. Powerful for pure defense, but limited in versatility. Still, for a sect specializing in defensive combat, it would be invaluable.
Bidding was fierce. The price climbed past half a million, then approached seven hundred thousand as three major bidders refused to back down. Su Chen noted that one of the competing bidders was the mysterious box from the Upper Realm—the Celestial Palace representatives apparently saw value in acquiring Lower Realm cultivation methods, perhaps for research purposes.
Eventually, the Celestial Palace's bid of nine hundred and fifty thousand Origin Stones silenced the competition. No one else was willing to escalate further, and Elder Zhen declared the lot sold.
"Interesting," Xiao Yi Xian murmured, her silver eyes tracking the spiritual signature of the successful bid. "They're not bidding for personal use. The aura patterns suggest they're acquiring materials for study rather than cultivation."
Su Chen agreed with her assessment. The Upper Realm's interest in Lower Realm techniques implied some kind of research program, possibly attempting to understand how cultivation methods had evolved differently in the separated realms. That suggested the Celestial Palace might be interested in his primary targets as well, which could complicate acquisition.
The auction continued. Lot forty-seven arrived—the World Tree fragment. The moment it was displayed, the entire chamber fell silent. Even through preservation formations, the fragment radiated an aura of primordial vitality that made every cultivator present instinctively recognize its significance.
"This fragment," Elder Zhen's voice carried unusual gravity, "was recovered from a dimensional rift that briefly connected our realm to an unknown location. Analysis suggests it originates from an entity of truly cosmic scale—what ancient texts refer to as a World Tree. The fragment measures approximately thirty centimeters in length and possesses inherent spatial expansion properties. Starting bid: one million Origin Stones."
The opening bid's magnitude caused multiple viewing boxes to withdraw immediately. One million Origin Stones represented the total annual revenue of a mid-sized sect. Only the major powers could even consider participating.
Su Chen activated his communication formation. "One million two hundred thousand."
His bid appeared on the central display alongside three others that had registered simultaneously—the Fire Country delegation, the Celestial Palace representatives, and an unidentified box whose privacy formations were nearly as powerful as the Upper Realm attendees.
The Fire Country immediately escalated. "One million five hundred thousand."
The Celestial Palace countered smoothly. "One million eight hundred thousand."
The unidentified bidder responded with cold precision. "Two million."
Su Chen smiled slightly. The price was climbing faster than he had anticipated, but he had prepared for exactly this scenario. "Two million three hundred thousand."
Silence descended across the chamber. That price had crossed a threshold—it was no longer merely expensive, but rather represented strategic-level resource commitment. Several viewing boxes that had been considering participation withdrew, recognizing they lacked the capital to compete.
The Fire Country hesitated, then their formation flared. "Two million five hundred thousand." The bid carried an edge of desperation—they were approaching their limit but refused to withdraw gracefully.
The Celestial Palace didn't counter immediately. Su Chen could sense calculation happening in that mysterious box, weighing the fragment's value against other priorities. When their bid finally came, it was conservative. "Two million six hundred thousand."
The unidentified bidder struck back instantly. "Three million."
That eliminated the Fire Country delegation—Su Chen saw their formation flicker and die as they withdrew from bidding. The chamber now held only three active participants for this lot, and everyone present understood that the final price would be extraordinary.
Su Chen made his decision. "Three million five hundred thousand."
The bid was aggressive enough to signal serious intent without revealing his true resource depth. He could go higher if necessary—the infinite duplication glitch meant his practical limit was only constrained by how much he was willing to liquidate from his storage—but showing too much wealth too early would mark him as a target for robbery or worse.
The Celestial Palace countered. "Three million eight hundred thousand."
The unidentified bidder paused for the first time, their formation flickering as internal discussion presumably occurred. When they finally responded, Su Chen detected reluctance. "Four million."
Su Chen analyzed the situation rapidly. The Celestial Palace had bid confidently, suggesting they had deeper resources available. The unidentified bidder had hesitated, indicating they were approaching their limit. If he escalated aggressively now, he might eliminate both competitors in a single stroke.
"Five million," he declared, his tone carrying absolute finality.
The chamber erupted in whispered conversation. Five million Origin Stones was a sum that even ancient clans would struggle to mobilize on short notice. It suggested either truly extraordinary wealth or complete irrationality.
The Celestial Palace's formation flared brightly as heated discussion occurred within. Su Chen's enhanced hearing picked up fragments despite their privacy formations—phrases like "excessive expenditure" and "alternative acquisition methods" suggested internal conflict about whether to continue.
The unidentified bidder's formation simply died, their withdrawal from the contest unambiguous.
For thirty seconds, the Celestial Palace deliberated. Then their formation pulsed one final time with what Su Chen interpreted as frustrated acceptance. They had withdrawn.
"Lot forty-seven sold," Elder Zhen announced, unable to completely mask his amazement at the final price, "to the Stellar Void Pavilion for five million Origin Stones. Payment arrangements can be finalized after the auction concludes."
As the World Tree fragment was secured and removed from display, Su Chen felt the weight of attention focusing on their viewing box. He had just announced to every major power in the Lower Realm that the Stellar Void Pavilion commanded resources comparable to ancient clans. That would bring opportunities, but also dangers.
"You've made us highly visible," Bibi Dong observed quietly. "Every intelligence network in this chamber is now trying to identify who we really are."
"Let them investigate," Su Chen replied calmly. "They'll find only carefully constructed misinformation. The Stellar Void Pavilion exists only in fabricated records and false trails. By the time anyone realizes we're ghosts, we'll have completed our acquisitions and departed."
The auction continued, but the atmosphere had changed. Several previously confident bidders now approached subsequent lots with more caution, aware that an unknown power with extraordinary resources was present and willing to compete aggressively.
Lots forty-eight through eighty-two sold at varying prices. Su Chen participated selectively, winning three minor items—a set of spatial formation diagrams, a collection of rare spirit herbs, and a weapon refinement manual. Each purchase reinforced the impression that the Stellar Void Pavilion had broad interests and deep pockets, while none were valuable enough to trigger renewed bidding wars.
"Lot eighty-three," Elder Zhen announced, and Su Chen felt his team's attention sharpen. "Three stalks of Nine Heavens Thunder Bamboo. This legendary material is renowned throughout the cultivation world for its ability to conduct and amplify lightning-attributed attacks. Each stalk is approximately two meters in length and has been verified as authentic. Starting bid: eight hundred thousand Origin Stones."
This was one of Su Chen's primary targets. The Thunder Bamboo could be integrated into the Black Dragon Fortress's weapon systems, dramatically enhancing the power of electromagnetic railgun attacks. More importantly, he could copy it with the Origin Mirror, providing unlimited material for future applications.
He waited through the initial bidding, allowing others to establish the price trajectory. The Western Paradise showed no interest—lightning and Buddhist cultivation rarely mixed well. The Fire Country bid cautiously, having depleted much of their resources in the earlier failed attempt. The demon beast representatives bid aggressively, as thunder-attributed materials were valuable for certain bloodline cultivation paths.
When the price reached one million two hundred thousand Origin Stones, Su Chen entered the competition. "One million five hundred thousand."
The demon beast representatives immediately countered. "One million seven hundred thousand."
Su Chen escalated. "Two million."
That eliminated the Fire Country, but the demon beasts persisted. "Two million three hundred thousand."
Su Chen could sense their determination—for them, this was likely the auction's primary objective. Thunder bloodlines among demon beasts were rare and powerful, and materials that could enhance such bloodlines were pursued with single-minded focus.
He decided to end the competition decisively. "Three million."
The demon beast representatives' formation flickered wildly, their spiritual pressure spiking with what Su Chen interpreted as frustrated rage. They had been outbid twice now by this mysterious pavilion, and their resources were clearly insufficient to continue. After several tense seconds, their formation died as they withdrew.
"Lot eighty-three sold to the Stellar Void Pavilion for three million Origin Stones," Elder Zhen declared.
Su Chen now held two of his primary targets, having spent eight million Origin Stones in the process. The real question was whether his aggressive acquisitions would affect bidding on the remaining high-value items. If other participants concluded that the Stellar Void Pavilion intended to monopolize the auction's treasures, they might form temporary alliances to drive up prices or even coordinate to prevent him from winning further bids.
Lots eighty-four through one hundred and three passed without incident. Then Elder Zhen activated formations that caused the central platform to glow with unusual intensity.
"We now approach the auction's premium offerings," he announced. "Lot one hundred and four—an Ancient Sect's Complete Cultivation Manual, predating the Cataclysm that separated the Upper and Lower Realms. This manual covers cultivation from Foundation Establishment through Quasi-Divine Realm, representing a complete cultivation path to the threshold of true divinity."
The chamber erupted with shocked exclamations. Complete cultivation manuals of this scope were virtually priceless—most sects possessed fragmented knowledge, forcing their disciples to piece together cultivation methods from multiple sources. A unified path from beginning to near-godhood was the kind of treasure that could elevate a minor sect to major status within a generation.
The manual materialized on display, sealed within a crystalline case that prevented direct examination while still allowing its authenticity to be verified through spiritual resonance. Su Chen's dual pupils penetrated the preservation formations, rapidly scanning the visible portions of the text.
What he saw made him recalculate his assessment of the manual's value. This wasn't merely a cultivation method—it was a philosophical treatise on the nature of power itself, containing insights that transcended specific techniques. The manual's author had been someone who understood fundamental principles rather than just practical applications.
More significantly, the cultivation path described incorporated elements from multiple different systems, synthesizing them into a unified framework. It was exactly the kind of comprehensive knowledge that Su Chen could use to optimize his own chaotic collection of abilities.
"The starting bid," Elder Zhen continued, his voice grave with the weight of what he was announcing, "is ten million Origin Stones."
The number was so staggering that half the viewing boxes immediately withdrew from consideration. Ten million Origin Stones represented the accumulated wealth of a major sect across multiple generations. Only the most powerful factions could even contemplate bidding.
Su Chen felt his companions' tension. They had already spent eight million on two items. Committing another substantial sum would stretch even their considerable resources. More importantly, it would definitively mark them as one of the Lower Realm's great powers, inviting scrutiny they might prefer to avoid.
But the knowledge contained in that manual was too valuable to pass up.
Before Su Chen could activate his communication formation, the Celestial Palace struck first. "Twelve million."
The opening counter-bid was aggressive, clearly intended to discourage competition. Su Chen appreciated the tactic—by immediately jumping two million above the starting price, they signaled both deep resources and serious intent.
However, the unidentified bidder who had competed for the World Tree fragment responded instantly. "Fifteen million."
That dramatic escalation caused gasps throughout the chamber. Fifteen million Origin Stones was not merely wealth—it was strategic power, the kind of resources that could wage wars or topple governments. Whoever occupied that mysterious box commanded truly frightening capital.
The Celestial Palace didn't hesitate. "Eighteen million."
The unidentified bidder countered immediately. "Twenty million."
Su Chen watched the exchange with cold calculation. The two competitors were locked in a bidding war that had already exceeded rational pricing. They were no longer bidding based on the manual's actual value, but rather on pride and the refusal to be publicly defeated.
He could exploit that.
"Twenty-five million," Su Chen declared, his bid cutting through the chamber like a blade.
Shocked silence descended. The price had jumped five million in a single bid, demonstrating either supreme confidence or complete insanity. Every viewing box now focused their attention on the Stellar Void Pavilion's location, trying to understand who would commit such resources.
The Celestial Palace's formation blazed with what Su Chen interpreted as genuine anger. They had been maneuvering to eliminate their rival through attrition, and now a third party had disrupted the entire dynamic. Their response came after nearly a full minute of internal discussion.
"Twenty-eight million."
The unidentified bidder's formation flickered erratically, suggesting intense debate within. When their counter-bid finally came, it carried an edge of desperation. "Thirty million."
Su Chen smiled coldly. Both competitors had now committed resources far beyond the manual's intrinsic value. They were trapped by sunk cost fallacy—having invested so heavily, they felt compelled to continue rather than accept the loss. This was the moment to strike.
"Forty million Origin Stones," he declared. "Final offer."
The chamber exploded with shocked conversation. Forty million was not a bid—it was a declaration of dominance. It was a sum so vast that even Upper Realm powers would need time to mobilize it. And Su Chen had declared it his final offer, simultaneously showing willingness to walk away if the price climbed higher.
The Celestial Palace's formation pulsed weakly, their spiritual pressure fluctuating as what must have been furious argument occurred within. They had been publicly challenged and forced to either commit truly staggering resources or accept defeat.
After three full minutes—an eternity in auction terms—their formation died as they withdrew.
The unidentified bidder lasted thirty seconds longer before their formation also flickered out, their withdrawal carrying an aura of frustrated defeat.
"Lot one hundred and four," Elder Zhen announced, his voice slightly shaky from witnessing such extraordinary bidding, "sold to the Stellar Void Pavilion for forty million Origin Stones."
Su Chen leaned back in his seat, ignoring the weight of hundreds of gazes fixed on their viewing box. He had now spent fifty-one million Origin Stones, establishing the Stellar Void Pavilion as unquestionably the auction's dominant participant. The next question was whether anyone would dare to challenge him for the remaining premium lots.
Saeko spoke quietly, her tone carrying unusual concern. "Master, we've drawn significant attention. Multiple hostile spiritual signatures are now focused on our location. I count at least thirty distinct killing intents."
"Expected," Su Chen replied calmly. "Displaying this level of wealth inevitably attracts predators. Let them plot. They'll find we're far more dangerous than they anticipate."
Esdeath's smile was predatory. "Should I demonstrate what happens to those who harbor ill intent toward us?"
"Not yet," Su Chen cautioned. "Violence within the auction house would get us expelled and blacklisted. Wait until after we've completed our acquisitions. Then you can handle the inevitable ambush attempts however you see fit."
The auction continued, but the atmosphere had fundamentally changed. Su Chen's aggressive bidding had established a new hierarchy—the Stellar Void Pavilion sat at the apex, with all other participants forced to operate in their shadow. Several viewing boxes began coordinating through discrete spiritual communications, forming temporary alliances in hopes of collectively challenging the mysterious pavilion's dominance.
Su Chen observed these coalitions forming with detached amusement. They didn't understand that he wasn't competing for pride or status. He was simply acquiring resources, and he possessed effectively unlimited capital to do so. Their attempts to drive up prices through collective bidding would only enrich the auction house while depleting their own reserves.
"Lot one hundred twenty-six," Elder Zhen announced, "is perhaps the most mysterious item in today's auction. This is a Spatial Ring of Unknown Origin, recovered from ruins that predate known history. Analysis suggests internal storage capacity of at least ten thousand cubic kilometers, but the ring cannot be opened through any conventional means. Multiple Inscription Masters and Formation Grandmasters have attempted to access its contents without success. The ring is sold as-is, with no guarantees regarding its contents or whether it can be opened at all."
The sealed spatial ring materialized on display, floating within a containment field. Su Chen's dual pupils immediately locked onto it, and what he perceived made his pulse quicken with genuine excitement.
The ring wasn't sealed by formations or inscriptions. It was locked by something far more profound—a conceptual barrier that prevented anyone who didn't meet specific criteria from accessing its contents. The barrier wasn't designed to be broken; it was designed to be understood. Only someone who comprehended the principles underlying spatial manipulation at the deepest level could bypass it.
Fortunately, Su Chen had recently mastered the Kun Peng's transformation technique, which included comprehensive understanding of spatial principles. He could open this ring. The real question was what it contained that had been valuable enough to justify such extreme protection measures.
"The starting bid," Elder Zhen continued, "is five million Origin Stones. While this may seem high for an item of uncertain value, the sheer scale of the storage capacity alone makes it worth consideration, even if the contents prove inaccessible."
The initial bidding was tentative. Most participants viewed the ring as a gamble—potentially valuable, but just as likely to be a worthless curiosity. The price climbed slowly, reaching seven million before stalling as cautious bidders withdrew.
Su Chen waited, watching to see if any major powers showed serious interest. The Celestial Palace bid once, raising the price to seven million five hundred thousand, but their formation's energy suggested this was more a token effort than genuine commitment. The unidentified bidder showed no interest whatsoever.
When the price stalled at eight million, Su Chen made his move. "Ten million Origin Stones."
His aggressive counter-bid silenced the remaining competition. After his previous demonstrations of overwhelming wealth, no one dared challenge him over an item of uncertain value. The Celestial Palace's formation flickered briefly as if considering a response, then died as they withdrew.
"Lot one hundred twenty-six sold to the Stellar Void Pavilion for ten million Origin Stones," Elder Zhen declared.
Su Chen now held four of his five primary targets, having committed sixty-one million Origin Stones. Only the Divine Source Crystal remained, and that would undoubtedly trigger the fiercest competition of the entire auction.
The subsequent lots passed in a blur. Su Chen didn't participate in any of them, conserving his resources for the final confrontation. The other participants bid with varying levels of enthusiasm, but everyone understood that the real climax was yet to come.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Elder Zhen activated formations that caused the entire chamber to dim. Only the central platform remained illuminated, and even that light seemed somehow different—purer, more fundamental than normal illumination.
"We now present the final premium lot of today's auction," Elder Zhen announced, his voice carrying reverential awe. "Lot one hundred fifty-eight—a Divine Source Crystal, sealed and authenticated. This crystal contains divine energy of purity exceeding anything naturally occurring in the Lower Realm. Provenance suggests it originated from beyond our world entirely, possibly from the Upper Realm or even higher planes of existence."
The crystal materialized on display, and even through preservation formations, its presence was overwhelming. Divine energy radiated from it in waves that made every cultivator present instinctively recognize their own insignificance in comparison. This was power from a higher realm, energy that transcended the normal limits of cultivation.
"The divine energy contained within this crystal," Elder Zhen continued, "could be used for multiple purposes. Absorbed directly, it might allow a cultivator to touch the threshold of divinity. Used to enhance treasures, it could elevate artifacts to divine grade. Employed in formation arrays, it could power defensive or offensive systems of extraordinary potency. The applications are limited only by the user's imagination and skill."
He paused, allowing the full implications to sink in before delivering the final statement.
"The starting bid is fifty million Origin Stones."
The number was so astronomical that it transcended normal concepts of wealth. Fifty million Origin Stones represented the total accumulated treasure of most ancient clans across their entire histories. It was a sum that made even Su Chen's previous bids seem modest by comparison.
And yet, Su Chen knew with absolute certainty that the final price would climb far higher. This crystal was the kind of treasure that appeared once per generation at most. Powers that had been hoarding resources for decades would empty their vaults for a chance to acquire it.
The bidding was about to reach truly unprecedented levels, and Su Chen intended to emerge victorious regardless of cost.
He activated his communication formation and spoke with calm finality.
"One hundred million Origin Stones."
The chamber fell absolutely silent, as if reality itself had paused to process what had just been declared. Su Chen had opened with a bid double the starting price, a sum so vast that it redefined what anyone present had believed possible.
And the true battle for the Divine Source Crystal had only just begun.