Sheo’s energy flowed smoothly within his body, harmonizing with every pulse and breath. It was subtle at first—like a quiet ripple across a calm lake—but gradually, the sensation intensified, sharpening his senses beyond their natural limits. Without even opening his eyes, he could feel the spatial threads around him, like strands in an invisible web. Every object, every movement within his range resonated with a faint impression in his mind.But bending space… that was still beyond him.Despite that, there was progress. His control over the Nine Path Movement Technique was now far more precise. With his spatial awareness expanded, he could define the exact points and routes to maneuver through—circling, flanking, and surrounding his opponent with almost no room for error. Trees, rocks, uneven ground… they no longer obstructed his view or his intent. His movement was beginning to transcend mere speed; it was becoming art.As the first light of dawn spilled across the room, warm and golden, Sheo finally opened his eyes. The world looked the same, but to him—it felt different.He stood, washed his face with cold water to shake off the lingering intensity of his training, then changed into clean clothes. After pulling the hood of his black robe low over his face, he stepped out into the hallway.The inn was still quiet, save for the soft creaking of old wood and distant footsteps.In the main hall, he found Elisa and Luzi preparing to leave. Luzi adjusted her gloves with purpose, while Elisa calmly checked the dagger strapped to her thigh.Sheo approached them.“Where are you going?” he asked, his tone calm but slightly curious.Elisa glanced at him. “To the auction,” she said simply.Sheo sighed lightly, as if he'd expected the answer. “I’m going too.”Elisa raised an eyebrow, a brief flicker of surprise crossing her otherwise unreadable face. But she said nothing more—just nodded.And so, the three of them left the inn together, stepping into the growing morning bustle of Teromi.Within minutes, they reached the auction hall. The towering structure loomed ahead—ornate, bustling with life, and framed by elaborate carvings along its wide archways. But as they approached, they were met with a scene of chaos: a long, winding line of people stretching beyond the gates, murmuring and shouting, hoping to gain entrance.Elisa stopped, eyes narrowing. “At this rate… we won’t be getting in today.”Just then, a slurred voice cut through the crowd.“Hey… hey lady! You wanna come to the hall with me?” A drunken man near the front of the line stumbled toward Luzi, his eyes glazed, a foolish grin on his face. “I’ll buy ya whatever you want!”Luzi’s face flushed with fury. Her fingers curled into fists, trembling as she took a step forward.But a gentle hand landed on her shoulder. Elisa.“Let’s leave,” Elisa said quietly, though her voice was like frost.Luzi hesitated—but just then, Sheo spoke.“Follow me.”No emotion. No explanation.And yet, both of them obeyed.Sheo stepped forward, calmly making his way past the long line and straight toward the VIP entrance. Murmurs rippled through the crowd as people noticed. Some called out. Others laughed, thinking him arrogant. A few began hurling casual insults and mocking comments.But Sheo didn’t so much as glance back. Elisa and Luzi followed close behind, their confusion growing.At the gate, two guards moved to block the way—but before they could speak, Sheo flicked his hand. A small token, shimmering faintly with a deep purple hue, arced through the air and landed in the guard’s hand.The guard froze.His eyes widened as he looked at the token—then back at Sheo—then at the token again. His face drained of color.“Sir… p-please, right this way,” he said quickly, bowing and returning the token with trembling fingers.A hush fell over those close enough to witness it.Purple.A VIP token.Even Elisa looked mildly taken aback. She glanced at Luzi, who was just as confused.They followed Sheo into the auction hall without another word.Inside, the world changed.The VIP box was luxurious—walls lined with velvet, soft lanterns casting a golden hue across polished furniture. From here, they could see the entire auction floor, where people were still slowly filtering in.As they settled into their seats, Elisa turned to Sheo. “You managed this in one day?”“I just came to place some items for auction,” he replied casually.Elisa frowned slightly but said nothing. Her gaze lingered on him a moment longer, then returned to the stage.The room dimmed.From behind the curtain, a spotlight illuminated the center of the stage.Then she appeared.A woman, poised and elegant, walked with practiced grace to the center of the platform. Her attire shimmered like flowing starlight, and when she opened her mouth, her voice—soft and confident—commanded the entire room’s attention.“Ladies and gentlemen… welcome.”A pause. Silence fell over the crowd.“Today, our auction house brings to you a selection of rare and exceptional items. Each one—personally verified by our esteemed appraisers. Some… you may have only heard of in legends.”Her lips curled into a slight smile.“Let the auction… begin.”As the soft hum of conversation filled the dimly lit hall, a spotlight illuminated the center of the stage. The room quieted. Jennie stood at the center, bathed in a soft white glow, her elegant figure cloaked in a silk dress of deep crimson, embroidered with golden thread."Ladies and gentlemen," she began, her voice sweet and commanding, effortlessly silencing the remainder of the hall, "welcome to the Moonveil Grand Auction. Today, we have prepared a series of rare and powerful items for your discerning eyes and bold hearts. Let us begin."She clapped once, a sharp, crisp sound. A maid stepped forward with a silver tray, carefully carrying a sealed scroll. The room leaned forward in unison."Our first item of the night—one of five mysterious techniques recovered from an ancient ruin in the Northern Glacier Wastes. The origin of each technique is unknown, but their energy signatures suggest powerful lineage. This one, however," she paused, her eyes lingering on the scroll, "has yet to be deciphered even by our best appraisers. Bidding starts at 200 stargems. Increments of 20."The bidding began slowly—200... 220... 240...Then, Sheo, resting in a shadowed corner of the luxurious VIP booth with Elisa and Luzi, opened his eyes. A strange tingle danced at his fingertips. Lightning. Faint, nearly imperceptible—but definitely there. That scroll held something tied to his sword art."400," Sheo called out.A few heads turned. Some scoffed. But when they saw the purple token by his seat, silence fell."Sold!" Jennie declared with a smile. "To the honored guest of Booth Three."Clap. The next scroll arrived.The second mysterious technique went to a middle-aged man with greying hair and sharp green eyes—Master Rohan of the Burning Talon Sect.The third, to Lady Marien of the Glass Cloud Pavilion, a tall woman in a sheer jade robe.The fourth was claimed by young Lord Tsan of the Emberhall Dynasty.The fifth—Elisa raised her hand."340 stargems," she said firmly.There were counter bids, but Elisa’s secured it at 420.Another clap.The next item was placed on the pedestal: a mid-level axe infused with strong earth energy."Starting bid: 200 stargems. Increments of 30."Bidding soared quickly. A red-bearded man from the Stone Fang Mercenaries claimed it at 410.Then came a half high-level spear—shimmering, slim, and wrapped in swirling wind energy."A fine weapon for those attuned to the wind path. Starting at 500."Luzi’s eyes locked onto it."500," she called."550!" yelled a youth from the Silver Flame Order."600," Luzi replied.The numbers climbed. 700. 750. Luzi hesitated at 800, her hand twitching."850," Sheo said, casually, not even lifting his eyes.Luzi turned sharply. "I don’t need—""We need to be at our best," he said flatly. "You’ll take it."Luzi clenched her fists but said nothing. Just nodded.Jennie smiled. "Sold."Next came the first batch of life cores. The maid wheeled out a crystalline chest, glowing softly."50 Half Nemesis-level Life Cores. Starting at 50 each. Increments of 5."These sparked lively bidding. A coalition from the Twin Horn Hall grabbed the lot for 3,750 stargems.Next: 40 Rising Nemesis-level Cores. They sold for 4,200 to Lady Qi'en of the Violet Thunder Clan.20 Nemesis-level Cores? A brutal bidding war broke out between three elder representatives from the Obsidian Moon Order, Stormshade Domain, and the White Tiger Pavilion. They finally sold for 3,600 stargems to Stormshade.Then came the big one.A single core floated on a pedestal—radiating a pulsing, silver-gold energy."Saint-Level 5 Gene Life Core," Jennie announced. The room tensed. "Starting at 1,000. Increments of 100."“1100.”“1300.”“1600.”“2000.”Gasps echoed as the price soared.A man dressed in a deep blue cloak, crest of the Royal Beast Empire on his chest, called, "3000."“3500!” another shouted.“4000!”Silence. No further bids."Sold! To Prince Huron of the Royal Beast Empire."Jennie exhaled lightly. That sale alone was monumental.Another item arrived: a shimmering pill glowing like a nebula."Grand Inception Pill. Aiding insight during cultivation breakthroughs. Starting at 100. Increments of 15."Sheo bid and took it at 280.Then came the Artian Flame Gene Pill, crackling with internal energy.Bidding began at 700."900," Sheo called calmly.No one dared challenge him.Then the Cloud Stem—a translucent, living plant swaying in an unseen breeze. An alchemist from the Crimson Elixir Association took it for 1,500.Then...A single drop in a floating glass vial. Blood. Glowing, thick, ancient."One drop of Pure Ancient Dragon Blood. Starting at 10,000."The hall froze.“10,000,” said a cocky, smooth-voiced youth—Rell Varnith of the Sky Howl Sect. His father, Duke Varnith, ruled the largest province under the Celestial Empire.“11,000.”“12,000.”“14,000.” Rell smirked. “Mine.”And it was. No one challenged a capital family heir.Then came the final item.Jennie’s tone softened. "Twin Life Gene Pill. Rare beyond compare. Has the potential to revive one from the very verge of death. Starting at 10,000."The bids began.Two patriarchs of aging sects fought fiercely for it.“13,000.”“14,000.”“16,000.”"18,000!" declared Elder Marr of the Phoenix Shade Clan.“Sold.”With the final clap, Jennie smiled. "That concludes tonight’s auction. We thank you all. Please claim your items and settle your payments at the reception."Elisa gave Sheo a sideways look. "You certainly know how to make a quiet entrance."Sheo said nothing, staring into the space where the dragon blood had once floated.Tomorrow, they would leave for the cave mission.After the grand auction concluded, Sheo, Elisa, and Luzi quietly stepped out of the main hall. The energy of the crowd still buzzed behind them, but a maid approached swiftly and bowed.“Honored guests, please follow me,” she said politely, leading them toward a more secluded passage.They followed her through a side corridor that curved gently, illuminated by softly glowing crystal lanterns set in ornate sconces. Eventually, she stopped in front of a finely carved door and pushed it open.Inside, the room was elegantly furnished with silken drapes, a low circular table at the center, and cushioned seats placed around it. A faint aroma of rare incense lingered in the air. Sheo entered first—and the first thing he saw was a familiar figure standing near the table with a calm, welcoming smile.It was Jennie.She wore a deep violet dress that shimmered under the room’s soft lighting. Her expression was warm and composed, though the sharpness in her eyes told of a mind that missed little.“Please, take a seat,” Jennie said gracefully. “And welcome.”Sheo gave a slight nod and took a seat. Elisa and Luzi followed, though they seemed more cautious now, sitting beside him.Jennie turned her gaze to them and smiled gently. “You must be the companions Sheo mentioned. I’m Jennie, the chief executive of this auction house.”Sheo introduced them with a short nod. “This is Elisa, and this is Luzi. We came here to explore and to see what this place had to offer.”Jennie’s eyes sparkled, and she bowed her head lightly. “It was a pleasure having all of you. I hope today’s auction was satisfactory.”“It was,” Sheo replied with simple affirmation.Jennie then clapped her hands twice, and the door opened once more. A maid walked in, carrying a tray with several items neatly placed in velvet-lined boxes—each one matching the lots Sheo had purchased earlier.The maid also handed over a small, rectangular purple card to Jennie, who then passed it to Sheo with a smile. Embossed in gold along its side was a unique seal of the auction hall. Below it, the number 11,370 was etched in glowing script.“It’s your auction earnings, Mr. Sheo,” Jennie said smoothly. “Your cores, especially the Saint-Level Gene Core, attracted quite a storm today.”Sheo accepted the card wordlessly, tucking it into his robe. His eyes reflected calm, but there was a glimmer of satisfaction.Elisa also stepped forward and paid for the mysterious technique she had acquired. The maid retrieved a slim, dark tome wrapped in protective silk and handed it to her. She took it quietly, her fingers tightening around the fabric.As they turned to leave, Jennie called out softly, “Sheo. May I have a word in private?”Elisa and Luzi glanced at him briefly. He gave a slight nod to the girls, and without protest, they left the room and closed the door behind them.Jennie’s smile faded as she straightened her posture. Her tone shifted—no longer light or cordial, but serious.“Sheo,” she said, folding her hands, “are you planning to go to the capital city of Ruqio?”Sheo’s gaze narrowed. The name alone stirred memories. He had read about Ruqio—a once-glorious city, now infamous for its sudden and absolute destruction. Years ago, it had been leveled during a terrible war. Nothing was supposed to remain.But recently, he had heard whispers.“I’ve heard… strange things,” Sheo admitted cautiously.Jennie nodded. “Yes. The reports are more than whispers now. Rumors speak of mysterious entities appearing in the sky above Ruqio—massive, shapeless things that rained destruction on everything below. Even the major sects and forces near the capital were powerless to stop them.”She paused, her voice quieter now.“But then, a few weeks ago… someone appeared.”Sheo leaned forward slightly.“A man,” Jennie continued. “Or rather—a swordsman. No one knows where he came from. He appeared amidst the devastation and, with a single movement of his sword, he destroyed the entities… and split the sky open.”Her eyes locked with Sheo’s.“The entire region is in chaos now. The war continues, and the land there is… unstable. If you’re planning to go near it—be very careful.”Sheo was silent for a moment. Then he smiled faintly and nodded. “Thank you.”With that, he turned and exited the room. Jennie watched him go without another word.When they returned to the inn, night had already draped its curtain across the sky.Sheo and the others moved quietly through the courtyard, the cool breeze brushing past. Before they went to their rooms, Sheo turned and extended a long, narrow bundle wrapped in black cloth toward Luzi.She froze.“What’s this?” she asked.Sheo didn’t answer directly. He simply held it out. Slowly, Luzi reached forward and unwrapped the cloth—revealing the half-high level wind-element spear from the auction.Her eyes widened.She gritted her teeth. “I didn’t ask for this.”“I know,” Sheo said calmly. “But we need to be in our best condition for this mission to succeed.”Luzi held the spear tightly. Her jaw was clenched, but she said nothing more. After a moment, she nodded once, sharply.Elisa gave Sheo a quiet look but said nothing. The three of them then parted and headed to their rooms.That night, Sheo didn’t practice any new techniques.Instead, he sat quietly, cross-legged in the center of his room. The light of the moon filtered through the open window, casting silver ripples on the floor. He focused inward, allowing his energy to circulate through his meridians with perfect flow.His current level was now far more stable. The internal foundation he had built over the last few days had solidified. He was no longer simply touching the threshold.He was half a step away from Nemesis Level.A faint hum of power resonated around his body. But Sheo’s attention wasn’t on his level alone.His mind drifted toward his Sword Mind—that invisible force that guided his blade, shaped his instincts, and sharpened his will. Right now, it remained blurred—like a shape hidden in mist. His techniques, especially the Matrix and Nine Paths, had added layers to it. His perception, reaction speed, and mental clarity had grown immensely.But something still felt incomplete.The Space Heart technique. That was the missing piece. Once it fused fully into his Sword Mind, the next stage would begin.He took a slow breath.And so, beneath the quiet moon, he focused not on conquering, but on refining.Time passed.And the night slowly faded, one breath at a time.
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