The guests flooded into the Obsidian Treasury.
One after another, magnificent flying carriages descended upon the platforms surrounding the building. Enormous magical arks glided through the crimson skies of the Imperial City, their passengers accompanied by guards, servants, disciples, family members, advisors, and enough attendants to make a small army.
Kings arrived, Clan Heads arrived, Monarchs arrived, Patriarchs arrived. And behind them came even more people.
Some represented powerful sects from various regions, some even branch sects of those powerful sects in the Central Region.
Others represented ancient families that had existed for generations. There were wealthy merchants, renowned cultivators, influential alchemists, master craftsmen, and dignitaries from territories spread across the Quadrant.
The sheer number of important figures was ridiculous. In fact, it was to the point where entire royal families were being treated as the common rabble.
They were escorted toward the public seating area, without so much as the option of renting a private room.
Naturally, a few of them weren't particularly pleased. One particularly arrogant-looking young prince glanced toward the private rooms above and frowned.
"Our family has ruled our kingdom for three hundred years."
The attendant escorting him merely smiled. "Yes, Your Highness. I know this very well."
"And you're telling me we're sitting here, when there are better accommodations available?" The prince looked toward the enormous public seating area, then he looked toward the countless private rooms.
When he looked toward the highest level, his expression darkened. "Do they not know who my father is?"
The attendant's smile didn't change, "I'm sure they do. But do you know what manner of guests those rooms are reserved for?"
"Hmph," the prince folded his arms as he listened.
"The Scarlet Emperor will be attending today. One of those rooms is intended for him, while the others are for people no less powerful than even him."
The prince immediately shut his mouth. That was enough. The royal family quietly took their seats as there was little point complaining.
The Obsidian Treasury's reputation alone was enough to make most people cautious.
Lord Obsidian was mysterious, powerful and, perhaps most importantly, nobody truly knew just how powerful he was.
But today, there was another factor. The people occupying the most prestigious private chambers were figures whose names were enough to silence entire kingdoms.
The Scarlet Emperor. The Ghostlight Sovereign. The High Druidess. The Forge Masters. Representatives of the Magic Beast Society.
When such people were sitting above them, even the proudest monarch knew better than to make a scene over a chair. Soon, the enormous auction hall was filled.
The public seating was packed and most of the private rooms were occupied.
Servants moved between tables, delivering refreshments and ensuring that every guest was properly attended to. Behind countless privacy formations, powerful figures conversed quietly.
Some discussed business while others discussed their competitors. Some speculated about what Lord Obsidian might reveal and some simply waited.
Everyone knew that the Obsidian Treasury's main branch never held an auction without a reason.
Today's auction was no exception.
___________
High above the auction hall, Xiao Chen stood behind the transparent magical barrier. His obsidian mask reflecting the countless lights below.
Meng Lan stood nearby. Jin Huang was sneakily eating. Luo Ran was also present, though he had wisely chosen to remain seated.
One of the communication runes before Xiao Chen suddenly lit up.
"Lord Obsidian."
Xiao Chen looked toward it. "Speak."
"The final guests have been seated... and the mages have closed the Otherworld Gates."
Xiao Chen looked down. Every seat was occupied, every private chamber sealed.
The guards were in position and the attendants were ready. The stage was prepared. Everything was exactly as it should be.
Xiao Chen raised one hand, then he gave a simple wave. The lights throughout the auction hall dimmed.
Conversations immediately died down as a single beam of light descended upon the stage, two figures suddenly walking onto it.
The Liu sisters.
Liu Yue and Liu Ning stepped forward together, their obsidian-colored dresses catching the stage lights as they smiled toward the countless guests.
For a brief moment, neither spoke. They simply looked across the enormous hall, allowing the silence to become absolute.
Then Liu Yue smiled. "Good morning, distinguished guests."
Her voice carried effortlessly throughout the entire auction house, amplified by the magical formations embedded within the stage.
"Welcome to the Obsidian Treasury's Imperial City Branch."
Applause erupted. Liu Ning waited for it to settle before stepping forward and glancing toward the public seating areas.
"We are absolutely delighted to see so many familiar faces, and quite a few unfamiliar ones as well. We do hope our first-timers know what they're getting into today."
Laughter spread through the crowd. Liu Yue nodded solemnly. "Some of you traveled thousands of miles to attend today's auction."
"And some of you apparently traveled only far enough to complain about your seating arrangements."
The crowd erupted. Several people immediately glanced around awkwardly. Even some of the private rooms seemed to carry faint laughter.
Liu Ning smiled sweetly. "Don't worry. We won't name names. Not yet, at least."
More laughter. The atmosphere had completely changed. Most of the guests had arrived expecting an imposing and perhaps overly formal auction.
Instead, the Liu sisters immediately put them at ease. They joked, teased and welcomed the various distinguished guests without ever becoming overly familiar. Within minutes, they had the entire hall listening to them.
Liu Yue eventually raised one hand. "And now…"
The laughter faded as her smile became slightly more mysterious. "We believe it is time to begin."
The lights above the stage shifted, a servant slowly emerging from behind the curtains.
In his hands was a small pedestal and upon it floated a perfectly spherical object. It appeared almost like a transparent glass orb, but inside it was something far more terrifying.
A massive, jagged scale, colored dark crimson. Its surface seemed to contain countless layers of ancient power.
Around it floated strands of deep-red blood, suspended within the sphere as though time itself had stopped.
The atmosphere changed instantly. Powerful cultivators throughout the hall narrowed their eyes.
Some stood as others leaned closer. A few even activated their spiritual senses.
Liu Ning gestured toward the object. "Our first item of the day is something that needs very little introduction."
Her sister continued. "An Infernal Dragon's Reverse Scale, accompanied by a portion of its blood essence."
A murmur swept through the hall. Even those who hadn't been interested moments ago were now paying attention.
"As I'm sure our guests know, Infernal Dragons are extraordinary demonic beasts that reside at the very bottom of the Great Chasm."
"The reverse scale is perhaps the most precious portion of their bodies, and the blood essence concentrated near it is even more valuable."
"I am sure our guests do not need to be informed of the possibilities."
Indeed, those possibilities alone were enough to make powerful figures take notice.
Liu Ning smiled. "For those unfamiliar with our auction rules, bids at this stage must increase by at least five hundred thousand gold coins from the current price."
She raised a finger and smiled playfully, "Of course, you may bid higher than that, but please don't insult us by offering three hundred thousand more."
A few people laughed, then the room slowly fell silent.
Liu Yue lifted her hand. "The bidding starts at…"
"One million, five hundred thousand gold coins!"
For one brief moment—
Silence.
Then a voice rang out from one of the public seating areas. "Two million! Two million gold coins!"
Another voice followed. "Three million!"
"Three million, five hundred thousand!"
"Four million!"
"Five!"
"Six million!"
The numbers began climbing. Fast. Far faster than most ordinary auctions could ever hope to manage.
Liu Yue's voice rang through the hall as she acknowledged bids and also coaxed the other guests into bidding further.
"Six million five hundred thousand!"
"Seven million!"
"Eight!"
"Eight million five hundred thousand!"
"Ten million!"
The entire auction hall erupted. People who had been sitting calmly moments ago were now leaning forward, shouting their bids.
Private rooms began participating. One after another, magical indicators illuminated above them, displaying their offers.
"Fifteen million!"
"Seventeen!"
"Twenty million!"
A stunned murmur spread throughout the public seating. The Infernal Dragon's Reverse Scale hadn't even been on the stage for very long.
Yet already the price had surpassed twenty million gold coins.
Liu Ning laughed as she looked at one of the private rooms on the top floor. "Ladies and gentlemen, it seems someone really wants that scale!"
Another bid immediately rang out.
"Twenty-five million!"
The crowd roared; Liu Yue's smile widened.
"Twenty-five million!"
She quickly looked across the hall. "Do I hear twenty-five million five hundred thousand?"
A voice answered. "Thirty million!"
The hall exploded.
Jin Huang's eyes widened. "Whoa."
Beside him, Luo Ran stared at the numbers appearing above the private chambers and licked his lips. "Boss…"
"Hm?" Jin Huang stared lovingly at a grape before swallowing it whole.
"Are these people insane?" Luo Ran wiped at his forehead and reached for his wine glass.
Jin Huang slowly grinned as he absently snatched the wine from Luo Ran and replaced it with a cup of water. "Not insane, Luo Ran. They're just rich."
Across from them, Xiao Chen watched everything unfold. Behind his obsidian mask, he smiled.
"Some of them aren't even that rich. They've merely brought out all of their life's savings for this event, hoping to get at least one item that they can use to change their destinies."