Three days had passed since the clan tournament.
The excitement surrounding Jian Chen's victory had gradually begun to settle, but his name was still being discussed throughout Moonriver City.
The newly appointed Young Patriarch of the Jian Clan had become one of the most talked-about young cultivators in the city.
Yet before the attention could completely fade, another piece of news swept through Moonriver City.
The Treasure Hall was holding an auction.
And it would begin in several days.
The announcement immediately attracted attention from every corner of the city.
The Treasure Hall rarely held large auctions.
Whenever one was announced, the various clans would inevitably make preparations.
This time, the auction would feature four major categories.
Weapons.
Medicinal pills.
Spirit herbs.
Spiritual fruits.
That was enough to make the entire city restless.
Inside a crowded teahouse, several cultivators gathered around a table.
"I heard the Treasure Hall has obtained a large number of spirit herbs."
"Spirit herbs are nothing. I heard there are many spiritual fruits this time."
"Do you know what kind?"
"No."
The cultivator sighed.
"Then we'll have to wait until the auction."
Another man laughed.
"Even if you knew, could you afford them?"
The table fell silent for a moment.
Then several people laughed.
The auction was exciting.
But everyone understood one thing.
Good resources required Gold Coins.
And most ordinary cultivators did not have enough.
The major clans of Moonriver City reacted very differently.
Within the Zhao Clan, several elders gathered in the clan's main hall.
The moment they received the auction announcement, their attention went directly to the weapons.
"Prepare enough Gold Coins."
The Zhao Clan Patriarch's voice was firm.
"If the Treasure Hall presents a high-grade weapon suitable for our younger generation, we must obtain it."
An elder nodded.
"Our strongest disciples are already approaching the limits of their current weapons."
"Then this auction came at the right time."
The Zhao Clan had always placed great importance on combat strength.
To them, a powerful weapon was worth spending heavily for.
The Wang Clan had a different priority.
Medicinal pills and spirit herbs.
Inside the Wang Clan's meeting hall, an elder carefully examined the auction announcement.
"Forget the weapons for now."
Several people looked at him.
"Our priority should be medicinal pills and spirit herbs."
He tapped the announcement with one finger.
"If we can obtain resources capable of supporting our cultivators, the benefits to the clan will last far longer than purchasing a single weapon."
The other elders nodded.
The Wang Clan was wealthy.
But even their wealth had limits.
They would not waste Gold Coins simply because they could afford to spend them.
The Ye Clan was more cautious.
"We cannot compete with the Zhao and Wang Clans in terms of wealth."
An elder sighed.
"Then don't compete with them."
The Ye Clan Patriarch calmly folded the announcement.
"We only purchase what we actually need."
"What if another clan raises the price?"
"Let them."
His expression remained calm.
"We aren't going to empty the clan treasury for an item we don't need."
The reaction from the Qin Clan was far more aggressive.
Several younger members were already discussing what they wanted.
"I heard there will be spiritual fruits."
"I want one."
"You'd better prepare your Gold Coins first."
An elder standing nearby glanced at them.
"Don't mistake desire for qualification."
The room immediately became quiet.
"The auction will attract the strongest clans in Moonriver City. If you want something, be prepared to compete for it."
The younger cultivators nodded.
Their excitement did not disappear.
Instead, it became anticipation.
The Luo Clan had much less confidence.
They were a smaller clan with limited resources.
After hearing about the auction, several elders gathered to discuss their options.
"We cannot compete for the most expensive items."
"We shouldn't try."
"Then why attend?"
The oldest elder smiled faintly.
"Because expensive doesn't always mean useful."
The others looked at him.
"If we are fortunate, we may find something within our means."
No one argued.
Even a small opportunity could be valuable to a smaller clan.
The Lin Clan also began preparing.
Unlike the Luo Clan, the Lin Clan possessed considerable wealth.
Their elders immediately began discussing how many Gold Coins they were willing to spend.
"Keep the budget under control."
"We shouldn't underestimate the other clans."
"Especially the Zhao Clan."
The elders exchanged glances.
Moonriver City had several powerful clans.
If two clans wanted the same item, the final price could rise dramatically.
No one wanted to be caught unprepared.
As the various clans made their preparations, the Treasure Hall remained unusually quiet.
They had announced the categories.
Nothing more.
The exact items would only be revealed closer to the auction.
That secrecy caused even more speculation.
Some expected rare spiritual fruits.
Others hoped for valuable medicinal pills.
The younger generation cared more about weapons.
Merchants saw opportunities for profit.
And ordinary cultivators simply hoped to find something they could afford.
For the next several days, the auction became one of the main topics of conversation throughout Moonriver City.
Inside the Jian Clan.
Jian Chen sat quietly in his courtyard.
A thick auction catalog rested in front of him.
He slowly turned the pages.
The first section contained weapons.
Swords.
Sabers.
Spears.
There were weapons of different grades, each accompanied by a brief description and starting price.
Jian Chen glanced through them without much interest.
He already possessed an iron sword that was sufficient for his current needs.
Unless something particularly valuable appeared, there was little reason for him to waste Gold Coins on another weapon.
He continued turning the pages.
The next section contained medicinal pills.
Healing pills.
Recovery pills.
Pills that supported cultivation.
Pills that strengthened the body.
Jian Chen's eyes became slightly more focused.
Some of them could indeed be useful.
But usefulness alone wasn't enough.
The price mattered.
He continued reading.
Then came the spirit herbs.
There were many varieties.
Some could strengthen the physique.
Some could assist cultivation.
Others were primarily used to restore energy or heal injuries.
Jian Chen studied each description carefully before moving on.
The final section contained spiritual fruits.
There were many different varieties.
Some restored spiritual energy.
Some strengthened the body.
Others possessed unique medicinal effects.
Jian Chen's gaze lingered over several of them.
A few caught his attention.
But he did not immediately make a decision.
He closed the catalog.
His fingers lightly tapped the cover.
"I can't buy everything."
As Young Patriarch, Jian Chen possessed a considerable amount of Gold Coins.
But considerable was not the same as unlimited.
The Jian Clan was not a wealthy clan.
Its resources were already stretched thin.
If he spent everything at this auction, what would he use afterward?
Cultivation was not something that could be supported by a single purchase.
He needed a steady supply of resources.
Therefore, every Gold Coin had to be spent carefully.
Jian Chen opened the catalog again.
This time, he looked through it with a different purpose.
Not everything that appeared valuable was useful to him.
He would only purchase something if its effect justified the price.
Otherwise, he would keep his Gold Coins.
Outside the Jian Clan, Moonriver City continued to grow livelier.
More merchants arrived.
Several clans began sending people to the Treasure Hall to inquire about the auction.
The streets surrounding the Treasure Hall became increasingly crowded.
Even cultivators who could not afford the more expensive items planned to attend.
After all, no one knew what might appear.
One person's treasure could be another person's useless object.
The auction would determine the value through competition.
That evening, Jian Chen stood in the courtyard with his iron sword.
The setting sun cast a faint golden glow across the ground.
He practiced quietly.
One strike.
Another.
His movements were controlled and precise.
After finishing his final strike, Jian Chen lowered the sword.
His gaze drifted toward the auction catalog on the table.
The auction was still several days away.
There was no need to rush.
For now, cultivation remained his priority.
The auction was simply another opportunity.
If he found something worth buying, he would take it.
If not...
He would walk away without regret.
Jian Chen returned the iron sword to its sheath.
Several days remained before the Treasure Hall opened its doors.
By then, the various clans of Moonriver City would gather under one roof.
And Jian Chen intended to be among them.
Not to compete for everything.
Only for what was truly worth his Gold Coins.