Bai Clan seat. Cloud Mist Treasure Palace main auction hall

The winner of the mace was the Ye Clan.

Bai Hua understood well the reasons they went for the mace. ‘The Ye Clan controls the road connecting this city to the southern towns and villages. Their guards are often facing down spirit beast incursions from the forest.”

Such a weapon, therefore, was a great addition to their arsenal. Bai Shun grumbled in disappointment as he watched the mace get wrapped up and taken away by a palace aide.

“Bah! I wanted that! That could’ve been my treasured heirloom!”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh shut up. We’re here for a task, not to give you a new toy to hurt yourself with.”

“We could’ve won it had you bid more aggressively. A mere three-hundred thousand! That’s an Earth-grade weapon! You can’t buy those unless-”

She set up her well-worn mental defences and ignored him again.

Her earlier bids weren’t an attempt to get the weapon; she deliberately stoked the competition to ensure one of her competitors wouldn’t have as much purchasing power for what was to come.

With the Ye Clan victorious, she could happily cross their names off the list.

‘Fools. Why get one weapon, when you can make -more-?’ she thought as she awaited the last item.

“And now, honored guests. The last item.”

‘Ah, the main star of the show finally appears.’

With all the ruckus this mystery item had caused, his curiosity of it had been peaked to the highest point. Even his two disciple friends were almost hanging off the balcony rails to get a closer look.

Another lavish table was brought in, this time surrounded by armed guards, bearing an old and ornately carved box. The hawkish announcer approached that box slowly, placing his hands on the lid and lifting it up to reveal the contents.

‘It’s a… scroll…’

“Within this scroll,” the announcer began. “Lies the secrets to the Divine Imperial Smithing Technique. A cultivation technique created by our Clear Sky Empire’s Imperial Weaponmaster”

Gasps of wonder resounded in the audience hall once more, with many shuffling at the edge of their seats just to get a little closer to listen. Even the curious Aryon, with his artificer experiences, was now paying close attention.

“The cultivation method is suitable for Metal, Earth and Fire spirit vein holders, with multiple spirit vein bearers gaining greater benefits. With this technique and the smithing arts within this scroll, one can increase his own cultivation and his own forging ability at the same time. With higher realms, also, comes higher-quality works. Imperial Weaponmaster himself, who was at the Reaching Divinity Realm, could never make a weapon below Earth-grade.”

‘Now that’s impressive. It’s as if I could increase my own magical potency by making items over and over again.’

“Everyone here should know Imperial Weaponmaster’s fame; that peerless smith who could forge Earth-grade weapons of the highest calibre in but a day. It was he who equipped Emperor Tang Heng and his generals, who then went on to conquer the empire.”

“He is gone now. But his legacy remains. His legacy is right here.” said the announcer. “The power this scroll can bestow on a person is as great as Heaven and Earth. And it can be yours… for the starting bid of two-hundred thousand spirit stones!”

‘Quite the starting sum! I do hope the sect’s pockets are deep enough for that.’

He wasn’t going to help them for petty reasons and good reasons. ‘They didn’t help me with my problems in the end. And if it came out that I made that mace… seeing how all those people are gunning for that smithing technique… ’

‘No. Best not to make noise; I’ve attracted far too much attention as it is.’

The true battle had begun.

“Two-hundred fifty! I have two hundred and fifty from the Bai Clan!”

“Three hundred seventy five from the imperial guest!”

“Do we have four hundred? Four hundred from Green Blade Forest Sect!”

“Five hundred fifty!”

“Seven hundred!”

Tang Heng was beside himself with rage. ‘How can some backwater clans have so much money?’

Eight hundred and fifty was already past his limit. If he did buy it at that price his future plans will be hampered, scroll or no scroll.

The fat governor that had long been silent behind him, Dongguan Baofeng, finally spoke. “Your highness, perhaps you should rethink this course...”

“Shut up.”

Tang Heng slumped on his chair, thinking. “Dai Yijun.”

“Yes, your highness.”

“The backup plan.”

“As you will, your highness.”

With that, the black-clothed man left the balcony. Tang Heng gave a venomous smile as he watched the proceedings. ‘Don’t blame me for your misfortune. You just had to get in my way.’

It was a hard battle from what Aryon saw, with the winner being no surprise for him.

‘She’s good. All that maneuvering makes my own loss to her a little bit palatable.’

The Ye Clan had spent a great sum early, and couldn’t keep up. The sect and the imperial fellow both ceased their bids when they realised the magnitude of the cost compared to their own wallets. To say nothing of the bidders below.

Only the Bai Clan could press onwards, winning the manual for a staggering eight-hundred and seventy-five thousand spirit stones.

‘All in all, it was a boring end.’

He looked to his disciple friends, who were bearing looks of disappointment at losing the auction. “Don’t be sad. It’s fine.” said Aryon to the sad boys. “I’m sure it’s nothing at all, losing this auction.”

They said nothing, and exited the balcony seat to head towards their clan members.

‘Excellent work raising morale there, your highness.’ he thought to himself.

___

Aryon didn’t leave with the sect, bidding the elders and his little aides to move back to the inn without him. After that, he slipped into his illusionary disguise and went to a secure room in the treasure palace.

Others were there before him; they were the winners of the rest of the auction. These people were now finalizing their payments and collecting their spoils from the clerks.

He waited for a long time for the last person to finish and leave the room before taking his turn. Showing an identification card, he received a jade tablet encoded with his winnings. 'Handy little thing, this tablet. We should get a similar system for gold in Tarminas.'

“May I ask where the Bai Clan people are?”

“Oh? They’re likely finishing the fine details of their purchase with the palace master.”

“Many thanks.” he said, turning to leave.

As luck would have it, Aryon met the very people he was asking for just leaving the palace lobby.

Aryon raised his voice. “Madam!”

“Yes?” said Bai Hua, stopping. Guardian Ji and her brother took to her sides while her guards stood back, eyeing him warily. “Who are you?”

“The man you cheated out of his crystal.”

“Ahaha. So it was lord Aryon.” she said. “I’ve heard of your disguising mystic art. Forgive me, lord; I never intended to slight you. I simply wished to have this crystal to gift to my honored father.”

“Is that so?” he said. “Perhaps I can give him a better gift. In exchange for the crystal, that is.”

“Lord is generous.” she said with a smile. “If lord so wishes, we can discuss this at our clan grounds. It’s late, and our talks might take a while, so lord might want to stay for the night, too.

“Done.” said Aryon without hesitation. ‘Let’s get this over with.’