Chapter 10 - From Dirty Beggar to Master Dao Imprinter

After Lady Fatal Moon congratulated and glorified the young prodigies for their purchase, she stayed silent for some moments, letting the audience guess another surprise was about to come.

“Wise guests, the next auction won’t be for an item, but for an expert! Yes, you’ve heard correctly. The master Dao Imprinter who has created the imprints you all have admired would like to join a sect as a disciple. He wonders if any of the presents can offer conditions so favorable to move him to join a sect on the spot. Shout your proposal, if he’s interested he’ll answer. Of course you need to guarantee that your conditions get respected right here and right now. It’s not a usual bidding this one, so the master Dao Imprinter can also refuse to join one of your sects at the moment, anything is up to him”.

Many inferior and fourth rate sect elders or sect masters started shouting proposals, but no answer was heard. Albeit they were a bit frustrated, they understood that this was not their playground. The Earth Dragon Clan proudly stated “My Earth Dragon Clan is very generous towards wise experts. If master Dao Imprinter is willing to join my sect he’ll receive the same treatment the first 10 inner disciples enjoy, both in terms of resources and arts. We’re willing to provide him materials for Dao Imprinting and purchase his works at a pretty fair price. A seat as hall master or outer elder is also reserved regardless of his cultivation success”. Although the tone in which he spoke was a bit arrogant, and anyone understood what a pretty fair price actually implied, the proposal was actually quite appealing.

An older deafening voice resounded “Wise Master, the Desert Tribulation Sect is willing to give you the same treatment given to our elders, both in terms of resources and arts. You’ll receive our protection and full support, plus freedom. We’ll just charge a commission on each Dao Imprint you sell and we may put some restriction to the organisations you sell them, depending on their relationship with the sect. About the inner production of Dao Imprints, we just ask you to provide 2 advanced ones each month at production price, anything else will be up to you. Additionally, I’m willing to personally give you 100 commander crystals right now, to increase your budget for the incoming auction”.

A young voice came from the balcony where the master Dao Imprinter was supposed to sit “An interesting proposal indeed. At the moment I say that your Desert Tribulation Sect has offered the best bid, if nothing more suitable comes I’m going to oblige you then, senior”.

Before the young ones of the first rate sects could speak their mind, Lady Devil Destroyer of the Devil Slaying Sect stated “Young Master, I know my sect is a third rate sect and thus less rich than others here, but we’re the most ancient one. Our legacy comes from the eras in which humans rebelled against the Gods and were punished by the Heavens. Our sect has the protection of the Heavens, in fact we were not destroyed, ancient buildings of that era still stand in our sect. If you decide to join the Devil Slaying Sect you’ll receive the same treatment given to our core disciples, have access to every law and art and all the materials for Dao Imprinting will be provided by us. In exchange we ask you for selling us whatever Dao Imprinting you prefer at a friendly price, in a number per month we can arrange later, depending on the grade of the imprint. Additionally, in times of crisis, we ask you to put aside these established conditions and to go all out to help our sect thrive in the difficulties at the best of your possibilities. As a proof of sincerity, if you join us we’ll also give you 100 commander crystals for increasing your budget during the auction”.

This proposal was very enticing. Falven had wanted to join the Devil Slaying Sect from the beginning, he was just trying to ripe the most benefits during the process. Before anyone had the chance to make another proposal the voice of the youth echoed in the room, breaking the hopes of many “I accept the proposal of the Devil Slaying Sect!”.

From the higher balcony a retort arrived “Master Dao Imprinter, even if I cannot replace the Sectmaster of Everlasting City my words carry weight indeed. I can state any terms concerning my Crimson Sky branch, one of the four main branches of a first rate sect, I’m confident you can understand the implications and the benefits coming from this”.

“Crimson Sky Prince, I honestly thank you for your praise and courtesy. I can fully understand the great prestige that the Crimson Sky branch enjoys. Trust my words and sincerity when I say I don’t mean in the least to belittle your Crimson Sky branch, its name alone would bring havoc in the entire continent. Let me be clear to you all, I believe all the esteemed experts here deserve to know the truth. I can say to have karmic ties with the Unbroken Country and I was hoping to receive a profitable proposal from one of the powers here, even if it ends up being a little disadvantageous compared to other offers. Thus, listening to the terms that Lady Devil Destroyer has stated, I cannot help but to gladly sigh and accept that proposal right away. Please, proud seats, don’t get offended by this little one refusal, it doesn’t bare ill intent”.

The harmonious speech calmed the claims and protests of anyone who was thinking to offer better terms. Even the Crimson Sky Prince couldn’t help but accept it. Although he was suspicious about this karmic ties thing, he had no ground to question it.

The young maid called Clara reported Falven's situation to his balcony “Esteemed guest, subtracting the commission due to our Pavilion you have 910 commander crystals. Feel free to spend them during the auction”.

“Young seer, your speech just now has been very beneficial to your reputation, it’s better to not make an enemy out of the Crimson Sky Prince or the Desolate Tribulation Sect elder” Ruuko complimented. He was the man who managed the information gathering for Unbroken Fang and was vastly informed on the struggles in the continent, his expertise in evaluating the influence of a character was well grounded.

“You’re right Ruuko, for the grand schemes of things I cannot become a public enemy, not for the moment at least” An evil smile changed the expression of the youth, while he was projecting himself in a future only him could foresee.

“Venerable ones, let me remind you that this was just the very beginning of the auction. Many marvellous items await for your biddings, so let’s go on to the next one. Let me present you an ancient Ice Qilin Sword…”

Several items were auctioned, none of which attracted Falven’s attention. He wasn’t looking for particular weapons nor for longevity herbs and pills for higher stages. Although many believed it was worth to secure valid resources for the future cultivation stages, Falven had a different view. He was confident to get his hands on the best resources as long as he could increase his cultivation, thus he was dead set on procuring the most useful resources to use at the early cultivation stages.