15. The Tattered Pages of Magic

"The next item for auction is a martial art manual, 'Crimson Flame Battle Aura.' Practicing this technique allows fire-element warriors to increase the explosive power of their battle aura by about ten percent compared to ordinary methods. The starting bid is fifty thousand gold coins, with each increase not less than one thousand," the auctioneer, Master Mo, continued introducing the next lot.

"I bid fifty-five thousand gold coins," someone quickly called out.

"Sixty thousand!"

"Seventy thousand!"

In the end, the 'Crimson Flame Battle Aura' was won by a warrior in the hall with a bid of one hundred thousand gold coins.

Although this battle aura technique did enhance a warrior's explosive power, the increase wasn't significant, so it didn't attract the attention of true powerhouses. The final price was fair, roughly matching the manual's actual value.

Some secret manuals could greatly amplify strength—like the Berserker transformation unique to the Minotaur Clan, which could double their power. Of course, such skills were exclusive to their own race. Skills with such dramatic effects would surely trigger a bidding frenzy.

To someone like Mo Fei, a true cultivator, these ordinary martial arts held little appeal. The auction proceeded, with various martial techniques, cultivation methods, tier-six magical beast cubs, rare minerals, and more being sold off, yet none piqued Mo Fei's interest.

"Up next is the seventh item—a mage’s staff. This staff is crafted from the heartwood of a thousand-year-old iron camphor tree, inlaid with the magic core of a tier-six wood-element beast. It can enhance a wood mage’s affinity with magical elements, speed up spellcasting, and boost magic power by about thirty percent. Starting bid: three hundred thousand gold coins, with each increase no less than ten thousand," announced Master Mo.

This staff was undoubtedly the most valuable item to appear so far. Both the ancient iron camphor wood and the tier-six magic core were treasures in their own right. Earlier, Mo Fei had won a longsword for Vivian; this staff would make the perfect gift for Mona. As for Hughes and the other men, Mo Fei had no inclination to buy gifts for them.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand gold coins! VIP Box Three bids three hundred and fifty thousand! Any other offers?" Master Mo loudly announced as soon as Mo Fei made his bid.

"Three hundred sixty thousand," a middle-aged man dressed as a mage in the hall called out.

"Four hundred thousand gold coins! VIP Box Three bids four hundred thousand!" Mo Fei immediately raised the bid after the mage’s offer.

Seeing the determination of the bidder in Box Three, coupled with his earlier extravagant bid of two hundred thousand for the first item, many potential competitors lost heart. Even Harry Dering, in the neighboring VIP Box Four, who had intended to bid, hesitated.

"Four hundred thousand, once. Four hundred thousand, twice. Four hundred thousand, three times—Sold! Congratulations to VIP Box Three for winning this item." Seeing that Mo Fei had the highest bid, Master Mo quickened his counting, clearly showing favor toward Mo Fei.

Mo Fei’s expression remained unmoved as he saw the staff sold for four hundred thousand. To him, these coins meant little—as long as he could buy the things he wanted, the price was irrelevant.

Although the following lots were even rarer treasures, none captured Mo Fei’s interest. No matter how precious, could they rival the items in Mo Fei’s storage pouch? The things in his pouch would cause a sensation even in the cultivation world, let alone in this backward land. After all, he was a once-in-a-millennium genius of his sect.

When Master Mo announced the thirteenth item, the crowd fell silent. Those who frequented auctions knew that each grand auction would select fifteen items, with the final three being the most valuable, reserved as the grand finale. Everyone held their breath, awaiting Master Mo’s introduction.

"The thirteenth item is a pet egg, and it serves as the first highlight of today’s auction. Its value needs no exaggeration—simply knowing that it is the egg of a tier-eight Thunderclap Dragon is enough. It was discovered by a tier-eight mercenary group during an expedition in the Magic Beast Forest. To acquire this egg, over half of their two hundred elite fighters were lost, barely escaping the Thunderclap Dragon’s wrath. Enough talk—the starting price for this dragon egg is two million gold coins, with each increase not less than one hundred thousand."

A hush fell over the audience as they drew sharp breaths. After all, once this tier-eight magical beast matured, its strength would rival that of a Grand Swordmaster or an Archmage.

Mo Fei couldn’t help recalling his own encounter with a bounding rabbit in the Magic Beast Forest. If he’d run into the Thunderclap Dragon instead, he might not have even left a trace behind! There were dragons in the cultivation world as well, but whether they were stronger than those in this world was anyone’s guess.

"Two million five hundred thousand—VIP Box Three bids two million five hundred thousand!" Master Mo, ever watchful, immediately announced Mo Fei’s fifty-thousand increase.

One jump of half a million—people had grown numb to the wealth of the mysterious VIP in Box Three. Still, two and a half million was clearly not enough for a pet that could become a tier-eight magical beast.

Sure enough, as soon as Mo Fei bid, other VIP boxes joined in. The price quickly soared to four million.

In Box Four, Harry Dering clenched his fists nervously. His family, the Derings, had come for two main items: this pet egg, and another finale item. The family’s orders were clear—bid up to four million for the egg and let it go if it rose higher; but the other item was a must-have. Now that the price had already reached four million, it was impossible not to be tense.

The family had entrusted him with such an important task; its outcome could determine whether he would one day inherit the family.

"VIP Box Three bids four and a half million! Any higher bids?" Master Mo didn’t keep Harry in suspense for long. As he announced Mo Fei’s new bid, Harry slammed his drink onto the table in anger.

Hearing the commotion from next door, Mo Fei extended his spiritual sense to observe. All this fuss for a pet egg—was it really worth so much anger? If you bid a bit higher, I’ll just let you have it, he thought.

"Colt, go find out who’s in Box Three. How dare they compete with me for this!" Harry Dering ordered his guard.

Mo Fei, who had nearly decided to let Harry have the egg, darkened when he sensed Harry’s intent to cause him trouble.

"You want to mess with me? Let’s see if you have what it takes," Mo Fei thought, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

Ultimately, the Thunderclap Dragon egg was won by Mo Fei for four and a half million gold coins.

At that moment, a server from the auction house brought a small porcelain bottle onto the stage. "The next item is contained in this bottle. Its greatest effect is to extend the user’s life by ten years. Many of you have likely guessed what it is. Indeed, this is the Elven Life Spring Water, unique to the elves. The starting price is three million gold coins, with each increase not less than one hundred thousand."

As Master Mo introduced the item, Mo Fei, still observing Harry Dering with his spiritual sense, noticed the man’s breath quickening and his expression growing increasingly tense.

"It seems he cares about this one," Mo Fei thought with a sly grin. "Since you want to cause me trouble, I’ll make you bleed a little first."

"VIP Box Four bids four million gold coins! Any higher offers?"

Harry was determined to have the Life Spring Water. The pillar of his family—a Grand Swordmaster patriarch—was nearing his lifespan’s end and desperately needed the water. The family had issued an order: this vial must be won at all costs.

So Harry immediately raised the bid by a million, signaling his intent to scare off competitors.

Mo Fei, seeing through his plan, had no intention of letting him succeed.

"VIP Box Three bids four million one hundred thousand," Mo Fei quickly responded.

"VIP Box Four bids four and a half million," Harry retorted without hesitation.

"VIP Box Five bids four million six hundred thousand."

"VIP Box Two bids five million."

Several others joined the competition. Only now did Harry realize the task was not as simple as he’d hoped. Steeling himself, he bid six million.

"VIP Box Four bids six million. Any higher?"

"VIP Box Three bids six million one hundred thousand."

"VIP Box Four bids six and a half million."

"VIP Box Three bids six million six hundred thousand."

"VIP Box Four bids seven million!"

"VIP Box Three bids seven and a half million!"

It was clear to the audience that the bidders in VIP Boxes Three and Four were locked in a fierce rivalry.

Inside Box Four, Harry’s face had turned ashen. The person in Box Three was truly out to oppose him. Furious, Harry keyed in eight million.

Just as everyone awaited a new bid from Box Three, the occupant appeared to back down, giving up the fight.

Harry finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had only brought ten million gold coins—had the bidding continued, the outcome would have been uncertain. Though the final price was higher than anticipated, at least he’d secured the Life Spring Water and could answer to his family.

"The final item for today’s auction is one whose value is difficult to estimate. It is a volume of magical notes discovered by an adventurer in a perilous place. After careful examination, we have confirmed it to be the notes left behind by the Archmage Ralph over two hundred years ago. However, some content is incomplete due to the passage of time. How much you can comprehend from it will depend on your own fortune. The starting bid is five million gold coins, with each increase not less than two hundred thousand."

At last, an item that interested Mo Fei. Recently engrossed in the study of magic, he was very keen to acquire fragments of magical notes left by someone lauded as a God of Magic in this world.

But he only had five million left; it was likely far from enough to win the notes. It seemed he would have to negotiate with Master Mo using something else in exchange.