yes.
The answer formed silently in Fang Ming's mind.
For a brief moment, the world around him seemed to quiet down. The soft voices of the merchants, the faint creak of the Gu house, the footsteps of customers moving between counters—all of it became distant.
Then the cold sensation in his mind changed.
Copy initiated.
Estimated time: long.
Fang Ming's eyes did not move.
Long.
That single word was enough.
He had expected this. The Red Steel Relic Gu was a Rank two Gu, a level higher than his current cultivation. Even though it was a consumable Gu, it was still not something that could be copied in a few breaths.
If he stood here for too long, staring at one display, the merchant would notice.
No, perhaps he already had.
The staff member beside the counter smiled politely. "Young master, are you interested in this Red Steel Relic Gu?"
Fang Ming looked away from the crystal container and turned toward him.
"I have only heard of relic Gu before. This is my first time seeing one."
That was a reasonable answer.
An academy student being curious about a relic Gu was normal. A-grade or not, Fang Ming was still only a newly awakened youth in the eyes of these merchants.
The staff member nodded. "It is not sold directly. Tomorrow night, it will enter the anonymous auction. If young master is interested, you may come again to broaden your horizons."
"Anonymous auction?" Fang Ming asked.
"The bidder writes down the offered price and name, then places it into the bid slot. The current highest price will be displayed, but the identity of the bidder will remain hidden until the transaction is settled."
Fang Ming showed a trace of interest, like a young Gu Master attracted by novelty.
"I understand."
He did not stay much longer.
After glancing at a few other goods, he left the Gu house.
The copy had barely begun, but that did not matter. Tonight had already given him what he needed: confirmation.
The Red Steel Relic Gu was real.
It would remain here until tomorrow night.
And the auction would give him a proper excuse to stay near it for a long time.
The next evening, Fang Ming returned.
The Gu house was livelier than before. Adult Gu Masters filled most of the space, standing in small groups or moving between counters. Some wore Gu Yue clan clothing. Some belonged to the caravan. A few had unfamiliar accents and rougher appearances, likely travelers who followed the caravan route.
Near the sides, several academy students had also come to watch the excitement.
No one thought this was strange.
Young Gu Masters liked to see rare Gu.
Fang Ming entered quietly.
The Red Steel Relic Gu was placed at the central display. Its crystal container rested on a black wooden stand, and behind it was a wooden board showing the bidding price.
A merchant stood beside the counter and announced, "The Red Steel Relic Gu auction will begin now. Bids are anonymous. The starting price is eight hundred primeval stones."
The wooden board changed.
Current highest bid: 800 primeval stones.
Several students nearby inhaled softly.
Eight hundred primeval stones.
To them, it was a terrifying number.
Fang Ming watched calmly.
He took a bidding slip from the side.
On it, he wrote:
Gu Yue Fang Ming — 300 primeval stones.
Three hundred primeval stones was everything he could reasonably claim to have gathered through sponsorship, rewards, and savings.
For him, it was a huge amount.
For this Gu, it was a joke.
But that was exactly the point.
He handed the slip to the staff member.
The man looked at the number, then glanced at Fang Ming. His expression did not change, but the faint smile in his eyes was obvious.
"Young master wishes to participate?"
Fang Ming showed a slight embarrassment, mixed with stubborn expectation.
"I know it may not be enough. I only want to try."
The staff member accepted the slip without mocking him.
An A-grade youth backed by the Shi family was still worth basic politeness.
Fang Ming stepped back into the viewing area.
He had already placed a bid.
Now he had every reason to remain.
He moved with the spectators until he was close enough to the central counter.
Within one meter.
The cold sensation returned.
Target detected: Red Steel Relic Gu.
Copy initiated.
This time, Fang Ming did not leave.
The auction continued.
Before long, the board changed.
Current highest bid: 950 primeval stones.
Then again.
Current highest bid: 1,100 primeval stones.
The surrounding students whispered in shock.
The adult Gu Masters were much calmer. To them, the true competition had only just begun.
Fang Ming stood quietly, appearing no different from a young Gu Master watching a rare auction.
Inside, he waited.
Copy progress: 18%.
Other items were brought out during the auction. A healing Gu drew interest from several Gu Yue Gu Masters. A scouting Gu was sold quickly. A defensive Gu caused a brief competition before the price settled.
Fang Ming watched these transactions and silently adjusted his understanding of value.
The academy's rewards suddenly felt small.
Ten primeval stones.
Twenty primeval stones.
Thirty primeval stones.
Among students, such rewards were enough to cause envy and conflict.
Here, they were only scraps.
The board behind the Red Steel Relic Gu changed again.
Current highest bid: 1,350 primeval stones.
A few Gu Masters shook their heads and withdrew from the crowd.
Copy progress: 41%.
Time passed.
The auction became more serious as the price climbed. The room did not know who was bidding. Only the number changed, again and again, pressing down on everyone's hearts.
Current highest bid: 1,600 primeval stones.
Then:
1,850 primeval stones.
One academy student near Fang Ming muttered, "Who can afford this?"
An older Gu Master nearby heard him and laughed softly. "This is a relic Gu. For some people, saving time is worth more than saving stones."
Fang Ming remembered the words.
Time was a resource.
And for him, time was more precious than primeval stones.
Copy progress: 67%.
The Red Steel Relic Gu remained inside the crystal container. Its body was small and red, metallic and quiet. It did not look powerful. It did not look dangerous.
But this tiny Gu could shorten a Rank two Gu Master's cultivation path.
That alone made it priceless to many people.
Current highest bid: 2,000 primeval stones.
This time, even the adult Gu Masters became quieter.
Fang Ming lowered his gaze.
His three hundred primeval stone bid had long vanished beneath the water without a ripple.
Good.
That was exactly the image he wanted.
A young academy student had come, overestimated himself, placed an impossible bid, and stayed to watch the excitement.
Nothing more.
Copy progress: 83%.
The merchant waited patiently.
No one rushed him.
Anonymous bidding was a silent battle. There were no shouting voices, no visible opponents, no angry faces. Only the wooden board changed, each new number revealing that someone unseen had pushed the price higher.
A moment later, the board changed again.
Current highest bid: 2,150 primeval stones.
The merchant smiled. "Two thousand one hundred and fifty primeval stones. Are there any higher bids?"
The room remained silent.
Fang Ming's breathing stayed even.
Copy progress: 94%.
The merchant waited a little longer.
Still no change.
"Then this Red Steel Relic Gu will belong to the highest bidder."
Two caravan Gu Masters stepped closer to the display stand, preparing to cover the crystal container and move it away for settlement.
Copy progress: 99%.
Fang Ming's fingers moved slightly inside his sleeve.
One breath.
Two breaths.
The merchant placed his hand on the container.
Copy complete.
Red Steel Relic Gu obtained.
Fang Ming's expression did not change.
The crystal container was covered and carried away. Around him, the spectators began to discuss the final price. Some guessed which elder had won. Others thought it might have been a caravan Gu Master. Since the auction was anonymous, no one knew for sure.
Fang Ming stepped back with the crowd.
Outwardly, he was only a young Gu Master who had failed to win an auction far beyond his means.
Inside, he had already gained what he came for.
He left the Gu house not long after.
Outside, the caravan market was still bright with lanterns. The smell of wine, food, medicine, and beast sweat mixed in the night air. Merchants continued shouting, and children still ran between the tents.
Fang Ming walked through the noise quietly.
The Red Steel Relic Gu could not be used now. but when he reach rank 2 it may actully become his only way out from the clan exploitation.