MC POV
The items began to be auctioned.
At the center of the space stood a young man and woman—both beautiful and exuding a strong seductive energy. Their hair was medium-length, dark brown, and adorned with elegant jewelry.
Their role was clear: to enhance the atmosphere and charm of the event, attracting both men and women regardless of their preferences.
I looked at them with indifference. Sure, they were attractive—but in the world of cultivation, beauty is far from rare. Compared to them, my brothers... or Leo, were far more appealing.
Soon, they presented the first item.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our first item! Said to be discovered in an ancient ruin near a wind-wrapped mountain, this is believed to be a cultivation manual rooted in the wind element. The one who masters it may ascend to become a god of wind."
What appeared was a green manual. Its cover was beautifully designed but heavily worn with age. From a distance, I could make out the figure of an eagle on the cover. The power of the wind was evident—so much so that a swirling wind vortex formed around it, enveloping it in sharp, spinning air currents.
"For those unsure about acquiring this manual or concerned about its effects later on, it's said to reach up to the Soul Realm. Its potential is immense. Unfortunately, we cannot gather more information, as the wind energy surrounding it prevents anyone from approaching unless recognized by the manual itself. Even force proved ineffective."
Hearing this, my eyes lit up with curiosity. If it truly reached the Soul Realm, then its capabilities could very well extend to at least the Nascent Soul Realm—and that's the bare minimum.
My attention was briefly captured, but the item was too far for either me or Artie to properly inspect it. Still, I used my wind affinity to sense it from afar. I could indeed feel its power and rarity. But I soon withdrew my focus.
Compared to my Genesis Manual, this one was clearly inferior. After all, mine is of an extremely high rank and allows cultivation into realms far beyond, using not only elemental mastery but also a foundational base of all six elements.
"The opening bid is 100 low-grade spirit stones!"
"150…"
"300…"
"400…"
"One mid-grade spirit stone and 400 low-grade spirit stones… Going once, going twice… Sold to the guest in Box 3."
I looked toward Box 3, but I couldn't see the buyer clearly. It was likely a noble or a high-ranking guest.
"For our next item: an epic-grade weapon with power nearing the peak of the Golden Core Realm. Crafted by a powerful blacksmith from a sect beyond these lands…"
What was brought forth next was a large battle axe. It was visually striking, made of a rare and resilient alloy. It had runes engraved on it, showing signs of enhancement by a skilled craftsman. The weapon gave off an aura that felt like it could pierce the body and soul—and it emitted a rare cursed Dao energy, a path typically associated with demonic cultivators or particularly rare individuals.
However, some blacksmiths and formation masters were capable of infusing runes with similar effects.
I looked at the weapon with interest, but axes weren't my preferred type. Swords matched my combat style much better.
…
"The third item…"
"The fourth item is a rare-grade plant, almost epic, capable of being used in potions effective up to the peak of the Mortal Realm—possibly even the Soul Realm…"
"For this next item, we have a fire-based combat technique. Not much is known about it," the woman presenting said, pausing for a moment.
"Honestly, very few have ever been able to use this book. It's said to contain more than one technique, but the rest remain illegible unless the first is properly cultivated. The main issue is that it requires a very high affinity with both the fire and light elements."
"We all know how rare it is for someone to have affinity with the light element—and it's even rarer to pair it with another element. Especially with fire, which is so unstable and offensive, while light is associated with support, purification, and beauty."
She was right. The Dao of Light and Darkness are extremely rare, and to have affinity with one—plus another element—is even more uncommon. Light users, if they do align with another element, typically pair with water, earth, or sometimes wind.
As I looked at the scorched-looking book, I felt something stir within me. The elements of fire and light in my Dantian began to scream, as if begging me to claim that book.
As soon as the auctioneer announced the sale, I joined the bidding.
After several rounds, I managed to win it for 800 low-grade spirit stones. The conditions to use it were too specific, and the book itself looked poorly maintained—making it less desirable to most bidders.
Shortly after, one of the assistants handed the book to me personally.
With it now in my hands, I opened it.
There was no clear title on the cover, but on the first page was the following message:
"Those who attempt to master this technique without the light and fire elements shall never reach its true power. Reflect on the path that lies beyond, and the union of flame and radiance."
I slowly infused my Qi into the book. Light energy in my right hand, fire in my left. As the elements touched the book, it resonated with me—glowing brightly, enveloped in flame and light.
The old, tattered book transformed into a brand-new one.
Its cover was beautiful and captivating. Several techniques became readable—but I also noticed many were still sealed, as if warning me: "You are not yet worthy."
I ignored that and read the first two techniques. One was a punching technique called "Dragonfire Claws", and the other seemed quite interesting: "A Thousand Bodies of Light."
...
Dragonfire Claws
Mode I: Close combat
Mode II: Mid to long-range
Description: Envelop your hands in fire and strike with the force of a mighty fire dragon. Initially, you must use one hand at a time. With enough mastery, your claws may rival those of a real dragon.
....
A Thousand Bodies of Light
Description: Create a light-based clone to deceive opponents and launch light-element attacks. Its stealth and illusion capabilities are excellent for covert operations.
Legend says that those who master it can summon an entire army of intelligent light clones—but of course, that's just a myth… or is it?
...
Though the descriptions ended with what seemed like mystery or jest, they still demonstrated the techniques' vast potential. I was eager to use them—especially since they aligned with my "official elements." And as always, the real power of a technique doesn't lie in its description, but in the user's ability to awaken its true potential.
For now, I stored the book and continued to follow the rest of the auction.