💎𝔸𝕌ℂ𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 💎

【You have received a mission】

【Steal the artifact and leave without your identity being revealed】

Rewards: 3000 points

Keiichi looked at the sudden system warning with a stunned expression. He hadn't expected to be given a mission so suddenly. However, he was excited.

"I would have to do it anyway."

Keiichi arrived at the spot Yato had shown him. The entrance to the auction was in a deserted alley. In a certain corner of the alley, a man was surveying the surroundings.

"A watchman?" Keiichi watched the man from the top of a building. Waiting a few minutes, he saw some people handing tickets to the man. After checking the tickets, the man opened a secret passage in the wall for people to enter.

"Looks like you need tickets to get in." Keiichi didn't have a ticket, he didn't know how to get it either. He could try to steal someone's ticket or use the invisibility ring.

"The invisibility ring can be used for escape. I'd better get a ticket from someone." Keiichi watched the place for a while longer and noticed that some people had different tickets. The color of these tickets was golden.

"Vips." He speculated that these people would be VIPs.

"I better get a regular ticket." Keiichi noticed that the lookout knew the VIP visitors, meaning they were people who had some fame among cultivators. Keiichi didn't have any fame at all, so it would be suspicious if he had VIP tickets.

Keiichi scanned the area for a while for possible Cultivators. When he managed to spot a man at a safe distance from the scene, he used mana to hide his presence and knock the man out. Keiichi wasn't good at concealment, but he knew the basics. It was enough to deceive people who didn't have good insight. He stole the man's ticket and placed his body away from the scene.

"Well it wasn't that hard." He found it very simple to get the ticket, the problem would be to steal the item and leave the place. He had analyzed the general power of these people and it wasn't very high. Of the cultivators Keiichi analyzed, almost all are much stronger than normal humans, yet they are still far from his level.

"Anyway, you better be careful."

-

"Ticket." The lookout looked at Keiichi with a slightly confused expression. He couldn't feel any spiritual energy coming from Keiichi, so he found the situation strange. There are a few possible situations that explain this, the first would be that Keiichi was much stronger than him.

'This guy seems to be very young…' He already had dozens of years of cultivation, so he found it difficult for Keiichi to be stronger than him. Only young geniuses can evolve into cultivation very early. The watchman knew some young geniuses who were invited; however, all these young geniuses are from some noble cultivation family, and Keiichi didn't seem to come from any of those families. There was a possibility that Keiichi had some concealment artifact, so the lookout looked at Keiichi's body for any artifact.

Keiichi noticed the lookout's strange look and got a little apprehensive. He released the pressure to intimidate the watchman. He didn't want to overdo it, so he used just a little of his power.

'That…' The watchman was a little shocked when he felt a suffocating pressure drop over his body.

'Is this kid a cultivation genius?!' The watchman felt that he had found a rare gem. He thought he could tell his boss that, so his boss could take Keiichi to the Sect.

"You can enter." The watchman said.

"Thanks."

-

Keiichi entered the auction and sat in a chair. There were already hundreds of people at the auction. Some people were in VIP rooms on the second floor. Most people couldn't see who the VIP visitors were because the room was closed off by a glass that prevented people from outside from recognizing them.

"Welcome everyone." The auctioneer appeared on stage and greeted all visitors. The auction was about to start.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that today we will start another auction of the Shijiao Sect." The auctioneer said.

*Applause!* *Applause!*

Visitors applauded with respect. The Shijiao Sect was one of the largest sects in this country. Despite not being as strong compared to the main sects, its main business is the trade of items. Many other sects attend the auction in search of new artifacts, especially young geniuses.

'This place is quite luxurious, maybe the owners are high-ranking people?' Keiichi thought. The auction interior was filled with expensive and luxurious ornaments.

"Well, this auction is going to be a little special. We've invited a lot of talented young people because, in this particular auction, we're going to be auctioning off items that can help them reach a new level of strength." Visitors were excited when they heard the auctioneer's words. Young people from wealthy families didn't mind spending a lot; however, some other visitors came here to try their luck.

"Let's start the auction." The auctioneer presented the first item to the public.

"This is a spiritual potion. As you know, it can increase your cultivation speed for a certain amount of time. The starting bid is 10 spiritual stones."

"15 spiritual stones."

"20 spiritual stones."

…

'Spiritual stones? Do they use it as currency?' Keiichi didn't know the exact value of these stones, but he could deduce that the value of the first item wasn't too expensive, as many were bidding. After a few minutes, the bidding stopped. Someone managed to buy the potion for 50 spiritual stones. The auction continued and the auctioneer presented other items such as swords, herbs, artifacts, etc. The most expensive items were sold for over 10,000 spiritual stones.

Keiichi analyzed each item but didn't find any of them interesting.

'The system is much better.'

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now selling the main event item. I present to you, the Prime Elixir." After the auctioneer presented the item, the audience was silent.

"50,000 spiritual stones!"

"70,000 spiritual stones!"

VIP visitors started bidding high.

'What is that? Why are they so excited?' Keiichi didn't know what that potion was for, but he was sure this was the item he needed to steal.

"150,000 spiritual stones." A loud voice came from one of the VIP rooms.

The crowd was silent when they heard the move. Everyone looked at the VIP cabin with an expression of envy. They didn't know who made this move, but they were sure it was some rich young woman.

"250,000 spiritual stones!"

"500,000 spiritual stones." The same voice made another absurd move.

"Shit, has this woman gone crazy?" The public found the bids absurd.

"What a great deal. No one else? The Elixir will go to the VIP in Room 2. Congratulations on your purchase! You will be able to pick up the item at the end of the auction"

*Applause!* *Applause!*

'Tsk! I thought they would deliver the item now. Looks like I'll have to act.' Keiichi thought. This was the only time he could get his hands on the item.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have completed another aucti- Who are you?!" The auctioneer looked at the young man in front of him with a confused expression.

*Bam!*

Keiichi knocked out the auctioneer with a blow to his neck.

"Unfortunately for you, this item will be mine."