The silence following Su Chen's bid stretched for what felt like an eternity. One hundred million Origin Stones was not merely wealth—it was economic power sufficient to reshape entire regions of the Lower Realm. It represented the kind of strategic resources that ancient clans accumulated across millennia, the treasuries of kingdoms, the concentrated power of civilizations.
Elder Zhen, despite his centuries of experience conducting auctions, visibly struggled to maintain his composure. His hand trembled slightly as he gestured toward the display showing Su Chen's bid, his voice carrying an edge of disbelief. "The Stellar Void Pavilion has bid one hundred million Origin Stones. Do I hear—"
The Celestial Palace's formation blazed to life before he could complete the sentence, their spiritual pressure erupting with such force that the auction house's protective arrays flared in response. The privacy formations surrounding their box shattered momentarily, revealing three figures within—two men and one woman, all dressed in robes that seemed woven from starlight itself, their cultivation bases radiating the overwhelming presence of Spirit Transformation Realm experts at minimum.
"One hundred twenty million," a cold feminine voice declared, the words cutting through the chamber with the precision of a blade.
Su Chen's dual pupils focused on the revealed occupants. The woman who had spoken stood at the center of the group, her features sharp and aristocratic, her eyes containing depths that suggested ages of cultivation. She was not merely powerful—she was ancient, her existence stretching back to eras when the Upper and Lower Realms had still been connected. This was a true power, someone who had survived the Cataclysm and adapted to the separated realms.
The unidentified bidder's formation pulsed with renewed energy, their previous hesitation apparently overcome by the crystal's overwhelming value. "One hundred fifty million."
That bid caused the entire chamber to erupt in shocked conversation. The price had climbed fifty million in three bids, establishing a pace that suggested the final sum would be truly incomprehensible. Several viewing boxes began withdrawing their participants entirely, recognizing that they had no place in a competition of this magnitude.
Bibi Dong leaned close to Su Chen, her voice barely audible even within their privacy formation. "Lord Su Chen, at this rate, we're approaching prices that will be difficult to justify through conventional means. Even with the infinite duplication capability, liquidating sufficient resources to cover hundreds of millions in Origin Stones will draw investigation into how we acquired such wealth."
Su Chen nodded, acknowledging her concern. She was correct—there were practical limits to how much wealth he could deploy before attracting the wrong kind of attention. But he had prepared for this possibility.
"Activate contingency protocol seven," he instructed. "Contact Saya aboard the fortress. Have her begin preparations to liquidate the reserve stockpile—the dragon blood vials, the high-grade spirit herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and the duplicate soul rings. Package them as emergency collateral if payment negotiations become complicated."
Xiao Yi Xian's silver eyes widened slightly. "Those resources represent months of accumulation. You're truly willing to commit everything to this single acquisition?"
"Divine energy from beyond our realm is worth any price," Su Chen replied. "The Origin Mirror can copy material objects, but it struggles with purely conceptual energies like divinity. If I can acquire this crystal, analyze its fundamental nature, and then copy it successfully, we'll have access to unlimited divine power. That capability alone justifies emptying our entire treasury."
He activated their communication formation. "Two hundred million Origin Stones."
The bid doubled the previous offer in a single stroke, a declaration of absolute intent that made even the Celestial Palace's representative pause. Her eyes—now visible through the shattered privacy formation—narrowed as she focused her attention on Su Chen's viewing box, attempting to penetrate their concealment to identify who dared challenge the Upper Realm so directly.
"You test our patience, mysterious cultivator," the woman's voice carried clearly across the chamber, no longer filtered through communication formations. "The Celestial Palace has claimed this crystal. Continued interference will be considered an act of hostility toward the Upper Realm. I suggest you withdraw while you still can."
It was a naked threat, delivered with the casual confidence of someone accustomed to being obeyed. In normal circumstances, such a declaration from an Upper Realm power would cause instant capitulation—no one wanted to invite the attention of entities who could call upon resources and experts from higher planes of existence.
But Su Chen was not a normal cultivator, and circumstances had long since ceased being normal.
He deactivated his viewing box's privacy formation, allowing himself to be seen for the first time. The gesture was deliberate—a statement that he did not fear identification, that he stood behind his actions without concealment. His form, still flickering occasionally with the residual effects of the Kun Peng's transformation technique, appeared simultaneously as solid human and as something transcendent, a being that existed in multiple states at once.
"I appreciate the warning," Su Chen replied, his voice carrying the same amplification as the Celestial Palace representative's. "However, this is an open auction, not a private sale. All legitimate bids are equally valid regardless of the bidder's origins. If the Celestial Palace wishes to claim this crystal, they are welcome to continue bidding."
The chamber held its collective breath. No one challenged the Upper Realm so openly. The woman's expression transformed from casual authority to genuine anger, her spiritual pressure spiking dangerously. For a moment, Su Chen thought she might abandon all pretense of civilized auction participation and simply attempt to seize the crystal through force.
But Elder Zhen stepped forward, his own cultivation base flaring as he activated the auction house's defensive formations. "Honored representatives," he interjected carefully, "the Sacred City Merchant Alliance maintains strict neutrality in all proceedings. Violence within these walls is absolutely prohibited regardless of the participants' origins or status. I must ask that all parties conduct themselves according to established protocols."
The reminder carried weight. The Merchant Alliance's neutrality was enforced not through moral authority but through practical reality—attacking them would unite every faction that depended on their services. Even Upper Realm powers hesitated to disrupt the delicate balance that allowed cross-realm trade to function.
The Celestial Palace representative visibly restrained herself, forcing her spiritual pressure back under control. "Two hundred fifty million," she declared coldly.
The unidentified bidder, who had been silent during the confrontation, suddenly spoke. Their voice was distorted through formations, but Su Chen detected underlying tones that suggested multiple speakers talking in unison. "Three hundred million Origin Stones. Additionally, we offer three World-Shaking Pills as supplementary consideration."
That caused gasps throughout the chamber. World-Shaking Pills were legendary treasures, each one capable of forcing a breakthrough from Spirit Transformation to Formation Arrangement Realm with near-certainty. Offering three of them represented value approaching one hundred million Origin Stones by itself—the total bid effectively stood at four hundred million.
Su Chen's analytical mind worked rapidly. The unidentified bidder had revealed crucial information through that offer. They possessed extremely rare pills but were running low on liquid currency, forcing them to supplement with alternative payment forms. That suggested they were operating near their absolute resource limit.
More importantly, their willingness to make such an extreme offer indicated they understood something about the Divine Source Crystal that other bidders might not. Perhaps they knew its specific origin, or they possessed techniques that could utilize divine energy in ways others couldn't. Either way, they clearly considered this acquisition mission-critical.
The Celestial Palace representative's expression tightened. World-Shaking Pills complicated the mathematics—Elder Zhen would need to assess whether to accept mixed-value bids or require pure Origin Stone currency. The auction house's protocols technically allowed alternative payment forms, but typically only for items where standard valuation proved difficult.
Elder Zhen consulted briefly with advisors who materialized through spatial transportation, rapid discussions occurring in hushed tones. After thirty seconds, he turned back to address the chamber.
"The auction house will accept the supplementary offer. The current bid stands at effectively four hundred million Origin Stones equivalent value from the..." he paused, clearly uncertain how to identify the mysterious bidder.
"The Void Scripture Temple," the distorted voice supplied, finally revealing their identity.
Su Chen's mind immediately accessed the information he had compiled on Lower Realm powers. The Void Scripture Temple was an extremely reclusive sect, one of the few organizations that predated the Cataclysm and had survived the separation of realms. They specialized in void-attributed techniques and spatial manipulation, which explained their interest in the Divine Source Crystal—divine energy could be used to push void techniques to unprecedented levels.
They were also known for their paranoid secrecy and their tendency to hold grudges across generations. Competing against them directly risked creating a long-term enemy, but Su Chen had long since accepted that accumulating enemies was inevitable when pursuing power aggressively.
"Four hundred million is a substantial bid," Su Chen acknowledged. "However, I would respectfully point out that mixed-value bids introduce valuation uncertainty. To ensure clarity, I will maintain pure currency offers."
He paused, allowing anticipation to build, then delivered his counter-bid.
"Five hundred million Origin Stones. Pure currency, no supplementary considerations, payment guaranteed within twenty-four hours of auction conclusion."
The number was so staggering that even Elder Zhen, who had witnessed centuries of high-stakes auctions, looked genuinely shocked. Five hundred million Origin Stones represented wealth on the scale of empires. It was the kind of sum that could fund wars, construct fortress cities, or sustain entire sects for generations.
Saeko turned to look at Su Chen, her expression carefully controlled but her eyes showing concern. "Master, even with our resources, five hundred million will require liquidating virtually everything in our reserves. If complications arise requiring emergency expenditures, we'll have no fallback capital."
"Then we ensure no complications arise," Su Chen replied simply. "The divine energy in that crystal is worth the risk. Besides, we've never encountered a situation that couldn't be resolved through sufficient application of force. Resources can be re-accumulated. Opportunities like this cannot."
The Celestial Palace representative stared across the chamber at Su Chen, her ancient eyes evaluating him with an intensity that felt almost physical. She was clearly trying to understand what kind of entity would commit such resources, what possible gain justified this level of expenditure.
After a long moment, she spoke. "Six hundred million Origin Stones. The Celestial Palace will also provide formation diagrams for a Divine Tier protective array as supplementary consideration, valued at one hundred million Origin Stones. Total effective bid: seven hundred million."
The offer was brilliant strategy. By mixing currency with a unique item that the Merchant Alliance would find difficult to properly value, she had created a situation where Elder Zhen would need to make judgment calls about equivalency. And by offering something as specific as Divine Tier formation diagrams, she had signaled that the Celestial Palace possessed resources beyond merely accumulated wealth—they had access to knowledge and techniques from the Upper Realm itself.
The Void Scripture Temple's formation pulsed erratically, their spiritual pressure fluctuating as furious internal debate presumably occurred. They had already committed their World-Shaking Pills. Escalating further would require liquidating core resources, possibly weakening their sect's foundation.
After nearly a full minute, their formation stabilized. "We withdraw from bidding. The crystal is no longer worth the price being offered."
Their concession left only two remaining competitors—Su Chen and the Celestial Palace. The entire chamber watched with rapt attention as the two powers prepared for what was clearly the final stage of this unprecedented bidding war.
Bibi Dong activated a private communication formation that connected directly to the Black Dragon Fortress, speaking rapidly with Saya. Su Chen could hear fragments of the conversation through their team's psychic link—discussions of reserve stockpiles, liquidation protocols, emergency fund access. After two minutes, Bibi Dong turned back to him with a carefully neutral expression.
"Saya confirms we can cover up to eight hundred million in pure currency if we liquidate everything—all duplicate resources, all stockpiled treasures, everything except the core infrastructure and personnel equipment. Beyond that, we would need to begin selling actual unique items from your personal collection."
Su Chen nodded slowly, processing the information. Eight hundred million was his effective ceiling for pure currency bids. If the Celestial Palace pushed above that threshold, he would be forced to either withdraw or match their strategy of offering supplementary considerations.
The question was whether to escalate incrementally or attempt to end the competition with a single overwhelming counter-bid. Incremental escalation preserved resources but prolonged the conflict and gave the Celestial Palace more information about his limits. A massive counter-bid might end things immediately but could also trigger escalation if misread as desperation rather than strength.
Su Chen made his decision.
"I will offer one billion Origin Stones in pure currency," he declared. "Additionally, I will provide the complete corpse of a Void Leviathan at the Spirit Transformation Realm, suitable for materials harvesting or bloodline extraction. I will also include three Sovereign-Grade Psychic Enhancement Pills, capable of elevating mental capabilities to Sovereign-tier consciousness levels. Total supplementary value: two hundred million Origin Stones. Combined bid: one point two billion Origin Stones equivalent."
The chamber erupted into absolute chaos. One point two billion was not a sum that existed in normal economic discourse. It was a number so vast that it transcended practical meaning, entering the realm of pure abstraction. Entire cultivation world economies operated on annual flows smaller than what Su Chen had just offered for a single crystal.
The Celestial Palace representative stood abruptly, her spiritual pressure no longer restrained. "You dare offer void beast materials and consciousness enhancement pills? Those items should not exist in the Lower Realm! Where did you acquire such treasures?"
Su Chen met her gaze calmly. "The Stellar Void Pavilion has access to resources from... diverse sources. Our acquisition methods are proprietary. What matters is that we can deliver everything offered within the specified timeframe."
Elder Zhen moved quickly to defuse the tension. "Honored representatives, I must verify the offered items before accepting the bid. Stellar Void Pavilion, can you provide authentication for—"
Su Chen activated a spatial portal, and a carefully preserved section of the Void Leviathan's hide materialized in the auction chamber, contained within stasis formations. The beast had been one of his dimensional raid acquisitions from the Swallowed Star universe, killed during exploration of a collapsed dimension. Its corpse represented years of potential materials harvesting.
Simultaneously, he produced a jade bottle containing three pills that radiated psychic energy so intense that several cultivators in nearby viewing boxes staggered from the mental pressure. These pills were synthesized versions of Tatsumaki's psychokinesis principles combined with Perfect World cultivation alchemy—each one could genuinely elevate a cultivator's consciousness to unprecedented levels.
Elder Zhen examined both offerings with formation-enhanced perception, his expression transforming from skepticism to genuine amazement. "The materials are authentic. The Void Leviathan corpse is verified Spirit Transformation Realm quality. The pills... I have never encountered anything like these, but their energy signatures are unmistakable. They possess value beyond conventional assessment."
He turned to face the Celestial Palace representative. "The supplementary offerings are confirmed legitimate. The current bid stands at one point two billion Origin Stones equivalent value from the Stellar Void Pavilion. Does the Celestial Palace wish to counter?"
The woman's face had become a mask of barely controlled fury. She understood the trap she was in—Su Chen had offered items so rare and valuable that properly countering would require the Celestial Palace to reveal their own hidden resources, potentially exposing strategic capabilities they preferred to keep secret.
"You force us to show our hand," she said quietly, her voice carrying despite its low volume. "Very well. The Celestial Palace offers one billion Origin Stones in currency. Additionally, we provide access to the Celestial Library's restricted archives for one month—knowledge that includes cultivation techniques, formation theories, and historical records from before the Cataclysm. We also offer a fragment of the Heavenly Dao, suitable for comprehending law principles at the Divine Realm threshold."
The Heavenly Dao fragment was legendary even by Upper Realm standards. It was a crystallized piece of universal law, containing insights into fundamental principles of existence. Possessing one was like having a direct connection to the operating system of reality itself.
Elder Zhen's face had gone pale. "The Celestial Palace offers one billion in currency plus library access valued at... this is difficult to quantify. Knowledge of that scope could be priceless. Plus the Heavenly Dao fragment, which by itself might exceed one billion in theoretical value. The total bid approaches two billion Origin Stones equivalent."
Su Chen felt his team's tension. They had no counter for a Heavenly Dao fragment. Such items were not things that could be purchased or duplicated—they were manifestations of cosmic principles, extraordinarily rare even in the Upper Realm. The Celestial Palace had played their strongest card.
But Su Chen had one final option, something he had been holding in reserve precisely for this scenario. It was a gamble—revealing this capability would expose more about his true nature than he preferred. But the Divine Source Crystal was worth the risk.
He reached into his storage space and withdrew an object that made every cultivator in the chamber freeze in shock and recognition. It was a ring—not a spatial ring, but a Spirit Ring from the Soul Land universe. But this was no ordinary ring. It was a Divine Gold Ring, the kind that should only be possible from million-year spirit beasts, glowing with power that transcended normal cultivation entirely.
"In addition to my previous offer," Su Chen declared, "I include this Million-Year Divine Gold Ring. It contains the complete cultivation insights of a million-year spirit beast, suitable for any cultivation path. Its value cannot be measured in currency—it represents a complete inheritance from an entity that touched the threshold of true godhood."
The ring pulsed with power that resonated through the entire auction house, its energy signature so overwhelming that the building's formations strained to contain it. Elder Zhen stared at the artifact with an expression mixing awe and disbelief.
"That... that should not exist," he whispered. "Million-year spirit beasts are myths even in the Upper Realm. How did you..."
"My sources are my own," Su Chen replied. "What matters is authenticity. I invite Elder Zhen to verify the ring's legitimacy through any means available."
The elderly auctioneer approached cautiously, deploying every analysis technique at his disposal. Minutes passed in tense silence as he examined the ring from multiple angles, probed it with spiritual energy, and consulted with formation masters through spatial communications.
Finally, he turned to address the chamber, his voice carrying absolute conviction. "The ring is authentic. It contains complete inheritance knowledge and spiritual energy from an entity that cultivated for at minimum one million years. Its value... I cannot quantify this in Origin Stones. It transcends normal economic valuation."
He faced the Celestial Palace representative directly. "The Stellar Void Pavilion's combined offer now includes: one billion Origin Stones, a Void Leviathan corpse, three Sovereign-Grade Psychic Pills, and a Million-Year Divine Gold Ring. Against the Celestial Palace's offer of one billion Origin Stones, library access, and a Heavenly Dao fragment. Both bids effectively exceed two billion in total value."
The woman from the Celestial Palace stared at Su Chen with an expression that had moved beyond anger into something approaching respect. She recognized what he had done—forced a bidding war to heights where even Upper Realm powers struggled to compete, then revealed capabilities that suggested origins far more mysterious than a simple Lower Realm sect.
"You are no ordinary cultivator," she said slowly. "Your resources suggest connections that span multiple realms, possibly multiple realities. The Celestial Palace acknowledges that continuing this bidding war serves no purpose—we would be forced to commit resources that would cripple our other operations. The crystal is yours."
She paused, then added with deliberate emphasis. "But know this—the Celestial Palace will be investigating the Stellar Void Pavilion thoroughly. If you have obtained these treasures through methods that violate Upper Realm law, we will return to claim what is rightfully ours. You have won this auction, but you have also drawn attention you may come to regret."
Su Chen inclined his head in acknowledgment, accepting both the victory and the veiled threat. "The Stellar Void Pavilion conducts all operations within legitimate bounds. We welcome investigation, though I suspect you will find our origins more... elusive than anticipated."
Elder Zhen, clearly eager to conclude before the situation deteriorated further, raised his hands. "Lot one hundred fifty-eight, the Divine Source Crystal, is sold to the Stellar Void Pavilion for a total bid exceeding two billion Origin Stones equivalent value. Payment arrangements will be finalized immediately following the auction's conclusion. This concludes today's Harvest Moon Auction. All participants are requested to proceed to the settlement chambers for transaction completion."
The chamber erupted into conversation as privacy formations reactivated and participants began discussing what they had witnessed. Su Chen deactivated his own formation, concealing his team from view once more as they prepared to handle the complex logistics of actually paying for their acquisitions.
"We've made enemies today," Xiao Yi Xian observed quietly. "The Celestial Palace, the Void Scripture Temple, and likely half the Lower Realm's powers who will resent our monopolization of the premium lots."
"Enemies were inevitable," Su Chen replied. "Power always attracts opposition. What matters is that we secured our objectives. The Divine Source Crystal, the World Tree fragment, the Thunder Bamboo, the cultivation manual, and the sealed spatial ring—all are now ours."
Esdeath's smile was sharp as a blade. "And now the real entertainment begins. How many of our new enemies do you think will be foolish enough to attempt ambushes as we leave the city?"
"All of them," Bibi Dong answered before Su Chen could respond. "We've demonstrated wealth that makes us the most lucrative target in the realm. Every bandit, mercenary, and opportunistic cultivator within a thousand kilometers will be converging on the Ancient Sacred City, planning to rob us before we can transport our acquisitions to safety."
Su Chen's expression remained calm, but his dual pupils flickered with anticipation. "Then we'll provide them with an education about the difference between wealth and power. Saeko, contact Lin Que. Have her position the Black Dragon Fortress in low orbit directly above the city. If anyone proves genuinely troublesome, I want overwhelming firepower available on demand."
He stood, gesturing for his team to follow as they prepared to navigate the settlement process. "Today, we spent two billion Origin Stones. Tomorrow, we begin recovering that investment by harvesting resources from those foolish enough to attack us. The Lower Realm is about to learn that the Stellar Void Pavilion is not merely wealthy—we are lethal."
The auction had concluded. The real battle was about to begin.