Absolute Cheater

The auction continued, and more individuals were brought onto the stage—each possessing unique and powerful bloodlines. Asher observed with an impassive gaze, waiting for something truly exceptional.

A young woman with a Phoenix Bloodline was presented next. Her crimson eyes glowed faintly, and despite her restraints, there was an undeniable pride in her posture. The crowd erupted into a bidding war, but Asher silenced them with a single call:

"15,000 Astral Stones."

No one dared to challenge him. The auctioneer, barely containing his excitement, struck the gavel.

One after another, individuals with rare lineages were brought forward—descendants of ancient warriors, offspring of forgotten sects, and even those with mutated bloodlines that held unpredictable potential. Each time, Asher bid decisively, claiming them for himself without hesitation.

Valeris smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "You're really going all out."

"My wife needs maids," Asher said casually.

Valeris chuckled. "Generous."

Then, the atmosphere changed.

A set of armored guards carried in a small figure, bound in reinforced spirit-sealing chains. Unlike the others, this one barely struggled. His frail form trembled, and his silver hair fell over his face, concealing his expression.

The auctioneer cleared his throat. "And now, we present a rarity among rarities—a child born with a Soul Heart."

The room fell into a stunned silence.

A Soul Heart was an anomaly, a phenomenon that defied logic. Those born with it possessed the ability to cultivate at an unnatural rate, wielding their soul as a weapon and defying even the natural laws of mortality. Some could ascend to divinity, while others became terrors that no force could contain.

A noble dressed in golden robes immediately raised a hand. "20,000 Astral Stones!"

"30,000!" Another voice rang out.

"50,000!"

The bidding skyrocketed in an instant, the room filled with voices competing to claim the child.

Valeris watched the commotion with mild interest. "You going for this one too?"

Asher leaned forward, his eyes locked onto the child. He wasn't just bidding for some rare talent—he saw the potential. With proper guidance, this boy could ascend beyond mere mortality, perhaps even rival Asher himself one day.

"500,000," Asher said, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The entire auction hall fell silent.

Even the auctioneer took a moment to process the number.

The previous bidders hesitated, unwilling to match such an absurd sum.

"500,000 going once… going twice… Sold!"

A resounding thud of the gavel finalized the deal.

The child, still barely reacting, was dragged off the stage to be processed for his new owner.

Valeris exhaled through her nose. "You just casually spent enough Astral Stones to buy a small kingdom."

Asher smirked. "Worth it."

The auction continued, but by now, everyone in the room had realized one thing—no one could outbid Asher.

And by the end of the night, he had acquired more than just rare bloodlines.

He had finally secured a way to cultivate his soul as well. Now, he just needed to study the Soul Heart and recreate it perfectly using his Eternal Creation ability.

But the auction wasn't over yet.

After the common items that had been sold up until now, it was time for the twelve most valuable treasures to be revealed.

Asher sat back, waiting to see what these final twelve items would be.

The auction hall dimmed as the final and most coveted items were about to be revealed. A sense of anticipation filled the air as a woman draped in silver ceremonial robes stepped onto the stage. She was the Appraiser, the one who would verify the authenticity and potential of each treasure before the bidding began.

Her piercing golden eyes glowed faintly as she raised a slender hand. A soft pulse of energy spread across the stage, activating a massive, rune-covered pedestal. The first item was brought forth.

1st Item: The Automaton Core of the Forgotten Era

A metal sphere, no larger than a human head, hovered in mid-air, spinning slowly within a containment field. Faint, ancient runes flickered along its surface, and a rhythmic hum echoed through the chamber.

Appraiser's Analysis:

Name: Automaton Core of the Forgotten Era

Type: Artificial Intelligence Construct

Effects: Contains remnants of an ancient battle AI, capable of controlling golems and mechanical constructs. Grants vast battlefield coordination abilities.

Defect: Core is damaged; requires restoration to function at full capacity.

The crowd murmured in awe. Items from the Forgotten Era were rare, as most knowledge of that time had been lost to history.

"Starting bid: 8,000 High-Quality Astral Stones!"

The moment the Automaton Core of the Forgotten Era was unveiled, the auction hall buzzed with excitement. Ancient relics from the Forgotten Era were priceless, as the knowledge of that time had mostly vanished, leaving only scattered remnants of unparalleled craftsmanship.

The bidding began immediately.

"8,000!" A sharp voice called out from the left side of the hall.

An older man with streaks of silver in his hair, dressed in deep blue martial robes, sat with an air of authority. His aura was steady, his expression one of deep calculation. The insignia on his sleeve marked him as an Elder of the Azure Forge Sect—a distant but well-respected faction known for their advanced puppetry techniques.

"10,000!" A younger voice rang out.

This time, it came from a confident-looking man clad in silver-lined black robes, his long hair tied back in a simple yet elegant fashion. The emblem of the Starfire Pavilion shone on his chest—a sect notorious for their obsession with forgotten artifacts. His eyes glowed with a sharp intelligence as he smirked at the competition.

The Azure Forge Elder narrowed his gaze but remained calm.

"12,000."

Another hand rose. This time, a woman in dark crimson robes, her face partially veiled. The faint presence of mechanical energy around her suggested she was from the Clockwork Dynasty, a sect that specialized in artificial constructs and automaton refinement.

"15,000!"

The Starfire Pavilion's young cultivator exhaled through his nose but raised his bid without hesitation. "20,000!"

The bids continued to climb, the three factions refusing to back down.

"25,000!" The Azure Forge Elder's voice remained steady, his fingers tapping lightly against his chair's armrest.

The woman from the Clockwork Dynasty hesitated for the first time but then raised her hand. "30,000!"

A murmur spread through the crowd. This was a high price for something that was still damaged.

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The young man from Starfire Pavilion frowned slightly but gave a confident smirk. "35,000."

His tone was casual, almost arrogant.

The Azure Forge Elder hesitated. His sect was skilled in puppetry, but even they would need decades to properly restore such an advanced artifact. Was it worth it?

The Clockwork Dynasty representative clenched her jaw. She had already stretched her budget thin—restoring the Automaton Core would take significant resources.

Silence filled the room.

The auctioneer raised his hand. "35,000 going once…"

The Azure Forge Elder exhaled and shook his head slightly. He would not waste more resources.

"Going twice…"

The veiled woman from the Clockwork Dynasty lowered her hand.

"Sold! To the honored guest from Starfire Pavilion!"

A quiet murmur spread through the hall as the young man leaned back, satisfied. He had obtained the Automaton Core, but at a steep price. Whether he could actually restore it was another question entirely.

Asher watched the exchange with mild amusement.

Valeris leaned over slightly. "Not interested?"

Asher smirked. "I could make a better one if I wanted to."

She chuckled. "Of course you could."

With the first item sold, the auction moved on.

"Next, we present the second treasure of the night…"

All eyes turned toward the stage as the next item was revealed.

2nd Item: The Twilight Serpent's Venom

A crystalline vial filled with a deep, swirling indigo liquid was placed on the pedestal. Even through the containment field, the venom radiated a suffocating aura.

Appraiser's Analysis:

Name: Twilight Serpent's Venom

Type: Lethal Poison

Effects: One of the deadliest known toxins. Causes instant nerve collapse upon contact and erodes the soul if ingested. Has alchemical applications.

Defect: Extremely volatile; improper storage may cause spontaneous vaporization.

A few assassins in the crowd leaned forward with interest.

"Starting bid: 12,000 High-Quality Astral Stones!"

As soon as the Twilight Serpent's Venom was revealed, the air in the auction hall grew tense. Even through its protective containment, the vial of swirling indigo liquid exuded a paralyzing aura, making weaker cultivators instinctively shrink back.

Poisons of this caliber were incredibly rare. This wasn't some simple alchemist's concoction—it was a natural venom, extracted from the mythical Twilight Serpent, a creature known to reside in the most treacherous abyssal swamps.

The auctioneer's voice rang clear.

"Starting bid: 12,000 High-Quality Astral Stones!"

A moment of silence. Then—

"15,000!"

The first bid came from a shadowy figure seated near the edge of the hall. Their presence was subdued, but their cold, calculating aura revealed them as an assassin. Judging by the snake emblem on their sleeve, they were likely from the Umbral Fang, an infamous organization of killers that specialized in poison arts.

"18,000."