"What are those buildings floating on the ocean?" Silvermoon asked, pointing toward a cluster of unusual structures in the distance.
"Those are the ocean resorts," Rowan explained. "They're one of Reno Port's signature attractions. Visitors can stay directly on the water and enjoy a genuine ocean vacation experience."
"We should try that next time," Silvermoon said eagerly.
The spacecraft slowly descended onto the designated landing platform, bringing their long journey to an end. The moment they stepped outside, a warm sea breeze washed over them, carrying the faint scent of the ocean.
"The air here is amazing," Silvermoon said, taking a deep breath. "It doesn't feel artificial at all."
"Reno Port's environmental control systems are among the best in the galaxy," Rowan agreed. "Their technological standards are truly exceptional."
A luxury hovercar, specially assigned for hotel guests, was already waiting for them.
"Guests of the Blue Star Grand Hotel?" the driver asked politely.
"That's right," Rowan confirmed.
"Please, get in. I'll take you there," the driver said warmly. "Along the way, I can introduce you to Reno Port."
Seated comfortably inside the hovercar, the two enjoyed the scenery outside while listening to the driver's explanation.
"Reno Port is divided into five major districts," the driver explained as he navigated through the city. "The Central Business District, the Shopping and Entertainment District, the Residential District, the Industrial District, and the Port District. Your hotel is located in the Shopping and Entertainment District, which is the liveliest area on the planet."
"How many tourists visit every day?" Silvermoon asked curiously.
"On average, around five hundred thousand," the driver replied proudly. "During holiday seasons, the number can exceed one million. Reno Port has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the galaxy."
"That's truly remarkable," Rowan said.
Outside the window, crowds of people filled the streets. Intelligent lifeforms of every appearance and background walked together peacefully, creating a vivid display of galactic diversity.
"What's that?" Silvermoon asked, pointing toward a towering structure in the distance.
"That's the Reno Tower, the city's landmark," the driver explained. "It's over two thousand meters tall and serves as the center of the planet. There's an observation elevator inside that offers a panoramic view of the entire world."
"We absolutely have to visit it," Silvermoon said excitedly.
Twenty minutes later, the hovercar arrived at the Blue Star Grand Hotel.
The elegant seaside structure featured flowing architectural lines that blended perfectly with the surrounding ocean environment.
"Welcome to the Blue Star Grand Hotel," the doorman greeted them enthusiastically. "Your ocean-view suite is ready."
While checking in, the hotel manager personally came to greet them.
"Mr. Rowan, Miss Silvermoon, it is our honor to serve you," he said politely. "We've prepared our finest suite for your stay. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to contact us."
"Thank you. Your service is excellent," Rowan replied.
After taking the elevator to the top floor, they opened the suite door and were immediately stunned.
The enormous floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the endless blue artificial ocean. Sunlight reflected off the water, scattering shimmering patterns of light throughout the room. The interior was luxurious yet warm, equipped with every imaginable convenience.
"It's beautiful," Silvermoon whispered as she walked toward the window. "Just looking at this view makes all my stress disappear."
"Agreed," Rowan said with satisfaction. "We definitely made the right choice. We can enjoy this rare vacation properly."
After resting briefly, they decided to take a walk along the hotel's private beach to experience Reno Port's famous coastline.
As they stepped onto the soft artificial sand, listening to the rhythmic sound of the waves and watching the sunset paint the horizon gold, all the pressure of work seemed to melt away.
"You know," Silvermoon said while strolling along the shore, "this is the first time in a long while that I've truly relaxed."
"I feel the same way," Rowan admitted. "Our work is meaningful, but moments like this are necessary too."
"Then starting tomorrow, let's enjoy this beautiful planet to the fullest," Silvermoon said happily.
"Of course," Rowan replied with a smile. "This is going to be a perfect vacation."
The next morning, Rowan and Silvermoon enjoyed breakfast in the hotel's luxury restaurant.
Located at the top of the building, the restaurant featured a massive transparent dome, offering a breathtaking view of Reno Port at dawn. The artificial ocean shimmered beneath the morning sunlight, while the distant skyline appeared and disappeared through the light mist.
"The breakfast here is incredible," Silvermoon said as she sampled dishes from various civilizations. "I never imagined one place could offer so many different cuisines."
"That's the charm of Reno Port," Rowan replied while cutting into an alien dish resembling steak. "Different civilizations blend together here, creating a unique culture."
As they ate, a lively discussion at a neighboring table caught their attention.
"Have you heard?" one extravagantly dressed alien merchant asked excitedly. "There's a major auction at the Galactic Auction House this afternoon."
"What kind of items?" another person asked.
"High-grade cultivation resources, cutting-edge technology products," the first merchant replied mysteriously. "I heard they even have fragments of a Stellar Core."
"Stellar Core fragments?"
Everyone at the table looked shocked.
"Those are priceless treasures!"
Silvermoon glanced at Rowan.
"That sounds interesting. Should we go?"
"An auction?" Rowan considered it briefly. "Why not? It would be a good opportunity to experience Reno Port's business culture. Though, given our current strength, most of the items probably won't be very useful."
"That's fine," Silvermoon said enthusiastically. "I'm curious about all those strange treasures."
"Then let's check it out after breakfast."
After finishing their meal, they visited the hotel's concierge desk to ask for details.
"The Galactic Auction House?" the concierge manager replied enthusiastically. "It's Reno Port's most famous auction venue. They hold major auctions every week, but today's event is especially large."
"Are there any requirements to attend?" Silvermoon asked.
"Only identity verification and proof of financial capability," the manager answered. "With your credentials, there shouldn't be any issues. I can arrange a VIP suite for you."
"Please do," Rowan agreed.
Half an hour later, all arrangements had been completed. After verifying their identities and assets, the Galactic Auction House assigned them one of its highest-level VIP suites.
"The auction house is located in the Central Business District," the manager explained. "It's about twenty minutes away. The auction begins at two o'clock, though I recommend arriving thirty minutes early."
During the morning, they decided to relax at the hotel's spa center.
Combining therapeutic techniques from multiple civilizations with advanced relaxation technology, the spa provided a level of comfort beyond anything either of them had expected.
"This is incredible," Silvermoon sighed after her treatment. "I can understand why people become addicted to this kind of lifestyle."
"Occasionally enjoying it is fine," Rowan reminded her. "But we can't lose ourselves in comfort. We still have more important goals."
"Of course," Silvermoon laughed. "Cultivation and work still come first."
At one-thirty in the afternoon, they boarded a luxury vehicle provided by the hotel and headed toward the Galactic Auction House.
As they traveled through Reno Port's main boulevard, luxury shops and entertainment venues lined both sides of the street, showcasing the planet's immense prosperity.
"Look over there," Silvermoon said, pointing at an enormous building. "Is that the auction house?"
Rowan followed her gaze.
The building combined classical elegance with modern technology, creating an imposing yet sophisticated appearance.
"Yes," the driver confirmed. "That's the Galactic Auction House, one of the largest and most prestigious auction houses in the galaxy."
The vehicle stopped at the entrance.
"Welcome to the Galactic Auction House," the attendant said respectfully as he opened the door. "Are you VIP guests?"
"Yes. We reserved a private suite," Rowan replied, showing their credentials.
"This way, please."
Inside, the auction house was extravagantly decorated. The marble floors reflected light like mirrors, and priceless artworks adorned the walls. A massive chandelier hung in the center of the lobby, radiating soft golden light.
"The decor here is impressive," Silvermoon remarked.
"To attract the wealthiest individuals in the galaxy, it has to be," Rowan observed as he looked around. Most of the guests were clearly wealthy and influential.
After taking a private elevator to the VIP level, they were escorted into a spacious suite.
The room contained luxurious sofas, refreshments, and, most importantly, a one-way viewing window that provided a perfect view of the auction stage below.
"Distinguished guests," the attendant said respectfully, "if you wish to bid, please use this controller. Your suite number is A-7, and your financial credentials have already been verified."
"Thank you," Rowan said, accepting the controller. "Let's take a look at today's catalog."
The attendant handed them an elegant catalog containing detailed information on every item, including opening bids and estimated values.
Silvermoon flipped to the first page.
"Lot One: A thousand-year celestial mushroom from the Orion Nebula. Opening bid: one million credits. It supposedly extends lifespan."
"Useful for ordinary people," Rowan commented, "but not for cultivators at our level."
"Lot Two: A Starstone from the Andromeda Galaxy. Opening bid: five million credits. It enhances spiritual cultivation."
"Starstones are decent cultivation aids, but our spiritual power is already too advanced for something like that to matter."
Silvermoon continued reading.
"Lot Three: A fragment of an ancient cultivation manual. Opening bid: eight million credits. Wait, cultivation techniques can be auctioned?"
"Only fragments," Rowan explained. "And ancient ones at that. They may not even be compatible with modern cultivation systems. Truly valuable complete techniques would never appear in a public auction."
As they continued browsing, they discovered increasingly exotic items:
Gravity crystals collected near black holes, said to strengthen the body.
Ancient star-beast scales used to forge powerful armor.
Rare energy ores capable of creating advanced weapons.
Mysterious spatial rings with enormous storage capacity.
Countless rare herbs and medicinal pills with various cultivation benefits.
"They're all valuable," Silvermoon admitted, "but you're right. None of them would help us very much."
"To cultivators below the Stellar Rank, these would be priceless treasures," Rowan explained. "But we've already surpassed that level. Besides, the Virtual Universe Company's resources are far superior."
At that moment, the auction officially began.
The host was an elegant woman who appeared to come from an advanced civilization.
"Welcome, distinguished guests, to today's Galactic Auction," she announced. "We have prepared one hundred and eight exceptional items for today's event. We believe every one of you will find something worthy of your interest."
The auction hall was packed with wealthy individuals and collectors from countless worlds.
"Let us begin with our first lot," the host said. "A thousand-year celestial mushroom from the Orion Nebula. Having grown in an environment of intense cosmic radiation, it absorbed the essence of the nebula and possesses extraordinary medicinal properties. The opening bid is one million credits."
Almost immediately, bidding began.
"One point two million!"
"One point five million!"
"Two million!"
"The competition is fierce," Silvermoon observed.
"For wealthy people with limited personal strength, items like these are extremely attractive," Rowan analyzed. "They hope to improve themselves through external resources."
In the end, the celestial mushroom sold for three and a half million credits, more than triple its starting price.
The next several items also sparked intense bidding wars, with final prices far exceeding expectations.
"Lot Fifteen," the host announced, "a mysterious metal recovered from an ancient battlefield. It possesses extraordinary hardness and exceptional energy conductivity, making it an ideal material for forging top-tier weapons. The opening bid is twenty million credits."
The staggering price caused many people to gasp.
Yet despite the cost, bidders immediately began competing fiercely.
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