Next, the bidding for True-Tier, Ninth-Rank treasures began.

The first item rolled out was a slender spear forged by Chen Xing. The price instantly rocketed to two hundred units of primal origin, and the fight was confined to a handful of smith-masters

The lance was unusually thin; inscribing arrays on such a shaft would be fiendishly difficult. These smiths all wanted to take it home, study it, and replicate it.

Then came Liu Yuanyang’s fire-wolf puppet—crafted to defend against soul attacks. Once refined, it could be housed inside the sea of consciousness, both protection and offense, breathing searing flames

It fetched an even steeper price. Ye Liuyun joined the bidding, but the figure was driven to four hundred units of primal origin. A purely defensive item at that cost felt wasteful, so he dropped out.

“Still, Liu Yuanyang’s design is fresh. I’ll have to ‘invite’ him later.”

Ye Liuyun filed the thought away, planning to watch what caught Liu’s eye.

After a few more lots, Chen Lianyu’s gloves were brought forward. The smiths scrambled again, convinced the soft-metal artifact held secrets worth stealing

They pushed the price to three hundred units of primal origin. Then the tenfold boost to striking power lured martial cultivators, and the figure leapt to five hundred.

“Six hundred units of primal origin!”

The Ninth Prince himself bid. The hall fell silent; no one dared breathe, let alone counter.

“Master Lianyu’s work is meant for my private collection. Gentlemen, please—”

The prince began a practiced speech, courting Chen Lianyu while using his status to freeze the room.

“Seven hundred units of primal origin!”

The First Avatar—disguised as a demonic cultivator—cut him off mid-sentence

Every eye swung to him. Even the prince narrowed his gaze.

The avatar merely shrugged. “A treasure only proves its worth when used. Locking it away wastes the smith’s heart and skill.”

Chen Lianyu, embarrassed by the prince’s heavy-handed flattery, gave the avatar a grateful nod

Fearing further awkwardness, she seized the moment. “Exactly. Letting a creation fulfill its purpose is every smith’s wish.”

Even Master Huoyang nodded approval. The prince, outmaneuvered, could not press on.

“Very well. Since Master Lianyu wishes it, I shall not stand in the way.”

He smiled generously, inwardly marking the avatar for retribution.

Chen Lianyu offered a polite smile and turned away, uninterested in further pleasantries.

Other cultivators tried to raise the bid, but Ye Liuyun and the First Avatar acted in concert, driving the price straight to eight hundred units of primal origin

That sum rivaled the auction house’s record, and Ye Liuyun’s decisive tone discouraged further contest.

The Ninth Prince glanced at Ye Liuyun, noted his modest cultivation and two bodyguards, and dismissed him as no rival for Chen Lianyu’s favor. He let the gloves go.

Ye Liuyun paid eight hundred units, pocketed the gloves, and handed them straight to Dragon Girl. Her old pair had fallen behind her current needs; this upgrade fit perfectly.

Chen Lianyu had never expected such a price. She offered Ye Liuyun a courteous thanks; he returned a polite nod, nothing more.

Next came Master Huoyang’s flying shuttle. The Second Avatar opened with a thunderous bid: one thousand units of primal origin

The entire hall reeled in shock.

“It’s just a flying boat—why go that crazy?”

“The rich really do whatever they want!”

But once the crowd caught sight of Second Clone’s outfit, they figured he was loaded. Even the Ninth Prince, who’d been tempted, dropped the idea of bidding against him.

If he joined in, he’d have to tack on at least another hundred units of primal essence, and the price would skyrocket. Better to wait for another chance and have the Chen family forge one later.

After all, any treasure he wanted could be bought through the royal house’s connection with the Chen family—no need to fight the crowd here.

“Save my strength and use it to befriend these master weapon-refining master later!”

He was confident in what he planned to present shortly, so he let the current lots go.

As for Heming and Yao Feng, they traveled constantly and already owned swift flying boats. Their craft lacked defense and offense, yet no one dared target them; naturally they wouldn’t scramble for another.

Thus the boat went to Second Clone again.

Some mocked him for being a sucker—paying a thousand units of primal essence for a flying boat wasn’t worth it—but he only laughed. “Haha, treasures have no fixed price; if it suits me, it’s right. There’s no such thing as overpaying!” 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Master Huoyang glanced at him after that remark but said nothing.

The items Ye Liuyun had set his sights on were already in his hands; at least for this stage, his goal was met. The real test would be winning over the weapon-refining master next.

The next lot was the Void-grade war saber. The Ninth Prince’s financial muscle finally showed: three thousand units of primal essence, and the blade was his.

Such wealth wasn’t something ordinary folk could match. Ye Liuyun, for one, couldn’t bring himself to spend that much for a single weapon—he still preferred the natal weapon he’d nurtured himself.

Once every exhibit had sold, the Chen family’s inner-court elder announced, “The four master weapon-refining master beside me have each pledged to craft a single artifact for one honored guest today—provided you can move them.

Our Chen family has shown all we have; now it’s your turn.”

The moment he finished, excitement rippled through the hall. Those seeking a master’s work or hoping to befriend one began to stir.

Yet no one wanted to be first, unsure where to begin.

At that moment Master Huoyang rose to his feet. “Who holds a heaven-and-earth treasure that can boost vitality? If its effect satisfies me, this old man will forge for you.”