Chapter 16: Auction End

As the guards started their demands for invitations, Medicine Master reached into his lab coat pocket and pulled out 2 invitations, and handed both of them to the guards guarding the entrance. After checking the invitations, the guards let both Soren and Medicine Master through, and they both walked to the main venue, only to see hundreds of rich looking old men, while only some were young, and all these rich people were being escorted by cultivators of the Second Stage True Masters, or the rare Third Stage Battle King, but to both Soren and Medicine Master's eyes, they were too weak.

[So if this is a place to lure Cultivators, then why are normal people being let in?]: soren

[Well it's for their money, obviously… These people will end up drinking the offered drinks, and then they will be forced to deviate their wealth to the Huang Family]: medicine master

[Oh, okay… And why do they need money? Can't they just use their cultivation base to get whatever they want?]: soren

[They could, but with time, the eras have changed, it's not as common to cut down your enemy like it was back in the day… Everyone has placed their faith in the law to protect them, and while a cultivator may not be completely tied down by the law, it would be a pain to be put in the spotlight… That's why powerful cultivators like our group want to stay hidden, while the cultivators accompanying these rich people are just trying to exploit themselves for fame, but they will never go past the Third Stage]: medicine master

[I see… So killing isn't as common as I thought here]: soren

As Soren spoke out loud, Medicine Master overheard him, and began pondering on where Soren had come from for him to talk like that, but thought it would be a bother to ask, and left it at that. Soren and Medicine Master then took their seats and began waiting for the auction to start, and over the course of waiting, Soren and Medicine Master were offered numerous drinks, but declined, making the ones behind the scene anxious about who they were.

[Hey!... Who the hell are those two!?... Why are they declining the drinks?]: ???

[Sir!... They don't seem to be wealthy, so we assume they are cultivators, but we don't know who they arrived with to find out any further information]: ???

[Tch!... Fine! Just leave them be… If they do end up buying anything of value, we will kill them after they receive the item]: ???

Soon, the auction had started, as a beautiful woman wearing a long sparkling red dress walked on stage with her long straight black hair put up in a bun with 2 needles forming an X shape through the bun. Her skin was fair and white like the snow, and she had curves in all the right places, making herself appear to be made by the heavens themselves, and when everyone caught sight of the woman, all the attention was brought to her, and soon she spoke through a mic, showing off her elegant and soft tone.

[Hello!... My name is Huang Ling, and I'll be the host of this Auction tonight!... Now, without further adieu, let's start the night with something quite special!... What we have here is a rare herb known to cure any disease through ingestion… Let's start the bidding at 100,000 and only increases of 50,000 or more will be accepted!]: ling

When Huang Ling finished speaking, everyone in the auction house began bidding, but it only stayed below the million range for just a few bids before it began exceeding 5 million due to some desperate fool. And soon the bidding came to an end with an astonishing 15 million having been placed, and an old man who seemed to be on death's door had a big smile appear on his face.

'So I guess he needed that herb, but sadly it's a fake, and the most it could do was instantly cure a cold, or a virus, but it could do nothing about diseases': soren

Soren's vast experience in the pill refinement field could easily decipher something of so little in value, and looking over to see what Medicine Master thought about the price for the purchase, Soren could tell that he thought the same. Soon, the auctions continued, with prices only getting higher and higher for items, while Soren and Medicine Master were waiting for the true treasure, as the whole reason they were holding out on bidding, was due to keeping as much money as possible. Soon, the auction's miscellaneous items were all sold, and now it was time for the main event, as 12 lightning blue grasses were brought to the stage in pots, while they radiated a great amount of Spiritual Energy, filling the room, and invigorating any of those who were close enough to breathe the same air as the plants.

[Seems like this is the stuff… So how should we do this?... I bid on what I can, then you bid on the rest?]: soren

[Sounds good… Then I'll hold out until then]: medicine master

Soren had never been to an auction before, and tonight was his first time bidding on something, so he didn't really know the calls, but after observing the audience, he could roughly grasp the concepts.

[Now, for the main attraction of tonight's event!... These here are Spirit Grasses, they are filled with the Energy cultivators used to cultivate, and rumor has it that if a normal human were to ingest this plant, he or she would soar through the mortal plane and become a cultivator!... Now isn't that wonderful!... We will be auctioning off 1 plant at a time, as to give everyone a chance to win one… Now, let's start with the first plant… Bidding starts at 1 million, and can only be increased by 2 million or higher per bid… Good luck!]: ling

Soon, Soren raised his hand and placed the first bid, and when everyone saw this, they began bidding to raise the price, and soon, the price went up to 30 million, a price far out of Soren's budget.

[Don't worry Soren… I'll get it for you]: medicine master

When Soren heard this, an idea popped into his head, and he quickly stopped Medicine Master from raising the bid any further.

[What's wrong?... Don't you need 10 of them?]: medicine master

[I do… But I have a plan… Just let this one sell, I'll get the next ones all by myself]: soren

When Medicine Master heard this, he was interested in how Soren planned to win all of the bids, and did as he said, and sat back to watch, and soon, the next pot of spirit grass was going to be auctioned off.

[1 million!]: soren

Soren called out the price, and before anyone else could up the price, Soren immediately let out a terrifying aura that encompassed the entire auction house, and put everyone present under a suffocating presence, making them unable to bid, as well as made them lose the will to bid against him.

[Any who dared to bid against me will die… Auctioneer Ling, continue the auction]: soren

When Medicine Master saw what Soren was doing, he was surprised, as it took quite the balls to pull off such a stunt, as such a move may not be illegal or against the rules, but it was majorly frowned upon, and could call the attention of someone of higher power.

[My respect for you has gone up by quite a lot, Soren… You'd fit right in within our Chat Croup]: medicine master

[Thank you… Hehe, your words are far too kind]: soren

Soon, the auction was called, and Soren had won one of the Spirit Grasses at an astoundingly low price, and when Huang Ling had to call the bid at such a price, she felt anger start to well up within her, as Soren was trying to pull a fast one on her family. Soon, Huang Ling continued to auction off the Spirit Grass while putting the situation involving Soren aside for later, as he would need to come and collect his items from her family, and just like the first one, Soren bid the 1 million, and used his aura and cultivation base to suppress anyone who dared to bid against him. Soon, Soren had bought all 11 Spirit Grasses, as he might need to use the extra one at a later date, and in total he would be spending 11 million, so after everyone began leaving, while secretly being controlled to place their wealth in a specific bank account, while the cultivators were heading to a designated place for the Huang Family, Soren and Medicine Master went to collect the 11 Spirit Grasses.

[Hello, sir!... You must be here to pick up your items, no?... Who is your friend? He didn't bid at all tonight]: ling

[He is just a close friend… As for why I'm here, yes, I would like to collect my items]: soren

[I'm sorry, but we can't just let you take these, so I'll give you a chance… Leave, and never return here, or die here]: ling

When Soren heard this, he almost couldn't hold in his laughter, and was about to fall on his back laughing, but he kept a straight face as he let ouf some of his aura.

[So you plan to steal from me, little girl?]: soren

When Ling felt Soren's aura, she felt like she could feel all the souls that have been killed by Soren, as it amounted in the hundreds, and even though it wasn't much compared to someone who had lived his life on the battlefield, but for some sheltered girl who is just reaching the prime of her life, even 10 would be too much death for her.

[Y-You can't scare me!... My great great grandfather is a Sixth Stage True Monarch!... The second he gets here, you'll both be dead!]: ling

As Ling spoke, Soren released the pressure that was building around her, giving her a sense that she had won, but soon the sound of laughter filled the room, and the cause of this laughter was none other than Soren.

[Hahahahaha!... You think that some Sixth Stage True Monarch will be able to help you keep what belongs to me?... Even a Ninth Stage Tribulation Immortal shall bow down and kiss my feet, let alone a Sixth Stage True Monarch… Piss off, girl, and give me what belongs to me, or…]: soren

As Soren was about to finish his sentence, he pulled out his Zanpakuto from his storage, and when the room felt the pressure emanating from its black blade, it was suffocating them, as not even Medicine Master was spared from the pressure, even if Soren wasn't trying to include him into the situation.

[Or else you will die here and now, and I will take not only my Spirit Grasses, but all of the Huang Family fortune as well… Now choose!... Your life along with your entire fortune, or the Spirit Grass that I rightfully purchased… Choose quickly, as I'm not a patient man]: soren

When Soren spoke, it seemed to be an obvious answer, but Huang Ling was adamant about not giving anything to Soren, and she was just buying time for her great great grandfather's arrival. Soon, Soren felt another presence enter the building, and in the next second, a middle aged man appeared in a set of black robes like the ones from cultivation novels, and had a weapon sheathed with him, on his side.

[What's going on here!... Who are you, and what are you doing to my great great granddaughter!]: old man

[Ahh… You must be Old man Huang… Since you are here, I guess it's right for you to know that your granddaughter here is trying to scam me out of what is rightfully mine… So if you don't make her hand them over, I'll make sure to end the Huang family's reign of power here]: soren

As Soren spoke, he motioned his Zanpakuto towards the old man.

[You little!... How dare yo-... Wait!... How do you have such a weapon!]: old man

When Soren heard the old man's words, he seemed confused, and looked to his Zanpakuto as a questioning look appeared on his face.

[What's so special about my weapon in your eyes, old man]: soren

Soren knew his weapon was special, as it was the only one in existence, but he wanted to know what this man saw.

[This is a Heavenly Divine Ranked Weapon!... No… It's even higher than that!... Tell me! How much do you want for it! I'll even give you the Spirit Grass as well!]: old man

When the old man spoke, Soren could tell he was just someone who sought out power, and he would attain it in any way possible, even if it meant throwing his pride in the mud.

[I'm not selling this… I'll just be taking what I bought, and then I'll be leaving, but if you try to stop me, or refuse to give me what's mine, I'll be destroying the entire Huang family here tonight]: soren

When the old man heard Soren's words, he quickly looked to his granddaughter and spoke in a hurried tone.

[You stupid girl!... Hand this man his items!]: old man

The old man was trying to court favor from Soren, as he could tell Soren was powerful, and the way he spoke, as well as having the knowledge of who stood before him, Soren didn't hesitate to stand strong, so the old man thought that carrying favor form Soren could help him progress passed his bottleneck. Soren was then given the 11 Spirit Grasses, and then he placed his Zanpakuto back into his inventory, once again shocking the old man as he spoke.

[Ninth Stage Tribulation Immortal!... Only a Tribulation Immortal can open and close pockets of space like that!... Please! Teach me to soar passed this bottleneck]: old man

When Huang Ling heard her grandfather praise Soren, she was shocked and felt helpless, as her only hope in getting her anger out on Soren, was now bowing and asking for guidance from the man she wanted to take her frustrations out on.

[I do not have any Disciples, and I'm not currently looking for one, as I'm on a bigger path than you could ever imagine… I'll be leaving for now, and if I ever need to buy something, I know where to come]: soren

Soren then left with Medicine Master following not too far behind him, and soon the both of them had left the Auction house, as Soren then spoke.

[So… Do you still want to watch me refine the pills?... All it's gonna cost you is 11 million, hehe]: soren