The moon hung over Vermillion City like a patient guardian—its silver light spilling across red-tiled roofs and quiet courtyards. The grand city slept, but within one small chamber of the eastern manor, a young cultivator sat cross-legged, his breath calm and even.
Li Shen's eyes were closed, his mind adrift between wakefulness and silence. The events of the day replayed in fragments—steel clashing, blood spraying, the screams of both guards and foes. The weight of it all pressed against his chest.
I helped those merchants out of kindness… yet it almost cost us everything.
His hands curled into fists. His pulse quickened. He remembered the faint look of fear in his companions' eyes when the ambush began. If not for Xu Wen and the Vermillion Guard, they might have perished in that forest.
"What if no one came?" he whispered to himself. "What if next time, I can't rely on anyone else?"
The still air did not answer him, but the silence itself was instructive.
He opened his eyes, calm but resolute. Then I must become stronger.
The decision settled deep into his heart, firm as carved jade. He was no longer cultivating merely for advancement or prestige. Strength was responsibility—the power to protect, not just to survive.
He sat upright, focusing his breath.
Five hours later.
Verdant qi flowed through his meridians like liquid emerald light, threading through every fiber of his body. The Verdant Core Sutra pulsed rhythmically, its flow harmonizing with his heartbeat.
Qi Density: 84.768 → 91.8 Q Units
Verdant Core Sutra (Tier III): [Proficiency: 10.25% → 10.50%] [Efficiency: 20.6%]
Sweat beaded down his temples. The familiar warmth of cultivation filled his dantian, bright and alive. His qi cycle stabilized, thicker and denser than before. Only nine more units separated him from the Meridian Opening Realm.
When he exhaled, a faint shimmer of green mist escaped his lips.
He reviewed his battle arts mentally:
Verdant Rhythm Blade (Tier II) – [Proficiency: 11%] [Efficiency: 19%]
Windstride Steps (Tier III) – [Proficiency: 13%] [Efficiency: 22%]
True battle had sharpened them beyond what meditation alone could achieve. So the elders were right, he thought. Only through real struggle can one polish the edge of the heart.
His breathing slowed. The room filled with serenity once more.
After resting briefly, the familiar chime of the system echoed within his mind.
Ding! Mental Energy replenished (120/120).
"System," he murmured softly, "convert all mental energy to Verdant Core Sutra."
Processing…
Verdant Core Sutra (Tier III): [Efficiency: 20.6% → 21.68%]
As the surge of insight flooded his consciousness, his perception of qi deepened—the currents of spiritual energy in the courtyard, the faint hum of the city's grand array beyond the walls, even the gentle pulse of his companions' auras nearby.
He meditated once more.
Qi Density: 91.8 → 92.064 Q Units.
Just a week more… and I will break through.
Satisfied, he stood and practiced his sword technique. The Verdant Rhythm Blade flowed like a dance, the hum of the sword resonating with the rhythm of his breath.
Verdant Rhythm Blade (Tier II): [Proficiency: 19% → 19.5%] [Efficiency: 11% → 16%]
By the time dawn painted the sky in amber hues, his body moved with newfound grace and precision.
A knock interrupted the silence.
"Honored guests, breakfast is served," came the soft voice of a servant.
The group gathered in the courtyard pavilion. Morning light filtered through bamboo screens, painting their table in shifting gold. Dishes of steamed buns, spirit tea, and pickled roots filled the air with a subtle aroma of herbs and warmth.
Wei Shan was already halfway through his third bowl of rice. "This food… it tastes like it's made with spiritual herbs. Even the porridge feels like it's nourishing my meridians."
Mu Qing chuckled. "You say that every time you eat something you like."
Hao Lin leaned back, grinning. "Let the man eat. He fought harder than any of us yesterday."
Lan Xue sat silently, sipping her tea, though a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The morning light reflected softly against her raven-black hair.
Feng Yao set down her cup. "So, what's our plan for today, Leader Li?"
Li Shen thought for a moment. "We rest and explore the city. The Vermillion Lord's servant said we'll receive instructions tomorrow. Until then, see what this city holds. There's much to learn even outside cultivation."
Hao Lin thumped his chest. "Finally, a day without someone trying to stab us."
Everyone laughed lightly. The tension that had gripped them since the battle began to melt away.
Vermillion City in daylight was a world of wonder.
They passed through bustling streets where mortal craftsmen worked beside cultivators. A blacksmith's hammer rang out—each strike infused with a faint glimmer of fire qi. Merchants shouted prices of goods, from common grain to spiritual jade. Street performers manipulated qi to make small orbs of light dance through the air, entertaining laughing children.
A towering pagoda stood at the city's center—the Hall of Flames, where the City Lord held council and judged disputes. Beyond it lay open plazas, spirit beast stables, and meditation gardens where qi flowed freely through sculpted streams and lotus ponds.
"Look at this," Mu Qing murmured, examining a stall of array diagrams. "Their script is a hybrid of Vermillion sigilwork and Azure Dominion runes. This could increase my flag's stability by ten percent."
Lan Xue stopped beside a perfumer's shop, drawn by the faint scent of spirit plum. Feng Yao haggled for a map of the southern territories, while Wei Shan marveled at a shop selling giant hammers, muttering about how even he couldn't swing half of them.
After two hours of wandering, they agreed to separate and meet again near the Vermillion Fountain—a grand monument at the city's center.
Li Shen strolled alone through the streets, the hum of life around him vibrant and alive. Near the plaza, he overheard two cultivators discussing an event.
"…they say the Vermillion Auction is happening tonight.
Li Shen's curiosity stirred. An auction, huh?
He followed the flow of people until he reached the Vermillion Auction Hall—a vast structure of white jade and gold trim, adorned with phoenix motifs.
Inside the foyer, an attendant in crimson robes greeted him. "Honored guest, do you possess an invitation token?"
Li Shen shook his head. "I heard of the auction only today."
The attendant's expression turned polite yet distant. "I'm afraid entry without—"
"Li Shen?" a familiar voice interrupted.
Turning, Li Shen saw Captain Xu Wen approaching, still clad in his signature vermillion armor, though less formal this time. The guards behind him carried themselves with the practiced grace of disciplined warriors.
"Captain Xu," Li Shen greeted, clasping his hands.
Xu Wen's stern face softened slightly. "You're here for the auction? Come with me. You'll enter as my guest."
The attendant blanched at once, bowing deeply. The sight of the usually cold-faced captain showing respect to a young cultivator left no room for doubt. "O-of course, honored guest. Please, this way."
Inside, the Vermillion Auction Hall was magnificent—a circular chamber layered in gold and crimson. Spirit crystals embedded in the walls glowed softly, illuminating hundreds of seats arranged around a central stage. The air buzzed with spiritual energy and murmured excitement.
Xu Wen gestured for Li Shen to sit beside him. "Auctions here are more than commerce," he said quietly. "They are tests of wealth, pride, and power. Observe closely—the way people bid can reveal more than the items themselves."
Moments later, the auctioneer appeared—a dignified woman in flowing red robes. Her voice carried easily across the chamber, clear and melodious.
"Honored guests," she began with a graceful bow, "welcome to the Vermillion City Grand Auction. Tonight's offerings are drawn from the far reaches of the Emerald Sky Dominion. May fortune favor your bids, and may wisdom guide your choices."
The first item: a Flame Serpent Core, sealed within a crystal orb.
"This is the beast core of a Qi Refinement Flame Serpent, slain near the Fireveil Mountains. Its essence can fortify fire-type cultivation arts."
"Starting bid: 500 low-grade spirit stones!"
Instantly, the crowd came alive with bids. A burly man from the Burning Blade Pavilion raised his token.
"Six hundred!"
A serene woman in blue robes countered calmly. "Seven hundred."
Xu Wen leaned closer. "That's the Rainflow Valley Sect. They specialize in water arts—one of the few who can challenge Burning Blade Pavilion's dominance in the west."
Li Shen observed quietly. The two sects' disciples glared at each other—embodying years of rivalry.
Rainflow Valley, known for its Azure Torrent Techniques, prized precision and control. The Burning Blade Pavilion, on the other hand, honed destructive sword techniques born from flame and fury. Their two elders, Master Qiu Yan and Elder Ren, were once disciples under the same teacher—until ambition drove them apart.
The auctioneer raised her hand. "Eight hundred! Nine hundred! …sold to Burning Blade Pavilion!"
The man smirked as his sectmates applauded quietly. The woman from Rainflow Valley only smiled faintly, as though promising retribution next time.
More treasures followed—each with its own allure:
A Spirit-Gathering Lotus, capable of nurturing qi in one's cultivation chamber.An Earth Dome Stone, rumored to contain fragments of an ancient earth-attribute technique.A Feather of the Sky River Crane, resonating faintly with wind qi—an item that made the Sky River Sect's disciples whisper excitedly among themselves.
Xu Wen explained each in turn, his tone that of a seasoned soldier who'd seen the value of every resource. "Auctions are the arteries of power, Li Shen. Wealth moves, sects compete, alliances form. Sometimes, what is sold here decides the next decade's balance in the Dominion."
Li Shen nodded slowly, his gaze scanning the crowd. The banners of Tier I sects fluttered—Rainflow Valley, Burning Blade Pavilion, Sky River Sect, Earth Dome Sanctuary… and one more.
At the far end of the chamber sat three monks draped in pristine white robes, embroidered with golden cranes. Their eyes were calm, almost ethereal. Even seated, they exuded the quiet dignity of profound cultivation.
"White Crane Monastery…" Xu Wen murmured. "They rarely attend auctions. They must be after something special tonight."
Li Shen's curiosity stirred again. The White Crane Monastery was known for their mastery of spiritual refinement—monks who walked the fine line between ascetic devotion and transcendent cultivation.
The auctioneer raised her hand once more.
"For our next item," she announced,
The chamber fell into hushed silence.
From beneath the stage, attendants carried forth a jade box sealed with three talismans. Faint spiritual light leaked from the edges—calm, pure, and vast, like the morning sun breaking through mist.
"Inside this box lies an artifact discovered in the ruins of an Ancient Empire… an unknown spirit relic, still pulsating with unrefined qi."
Gasps spread through the crowd.
"Starting bid: 10,000 low-grade spirit stones."
Even Xu Wen's expression hardened. "An unknown relic from an Ancient Empire? That could be anything from a cultivation manual… to a weapon forged by the ancients."
Li Shen leaned forward unconsciously, eyes reflecting the jade glow that spilled from the box.
The crowd erupted in bids—sect tokens rising like waves in a storm.
"Eleven thousand!"
"Twelve!"
"Thirteen thousand!"
The monks of White Crane Monastery remained silent—but their eyes gleamed with quiet resolve.
Xu Wen frowned. "Whatever that is, the Monastery won't let it slip away easily."
The air grew heavy with tension and spiritual pressure.
And as the auctioneer raised her gavel, her voice rang like a bell—
"Next bid—?"
The gavel descended.
Bang!
"Thirteen thousand, going once—going twice—"