Damian grinned as he looked at his bid, but suddenly, another voice came from a different private room.

"Fifty-five Mid-Rank Spirit Stones."

The disciples below immediately became more interested, never expecting someone else to compete for this talisman formula.

Damian raised an eyebrow and looked toward the other room. "Oh?"

Raika’s expression changed slightly. "Hah? Someone else wants it?"

Damian smiled. "Looks like it." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

But just as he was about to raise his token again, Raika immediately stopped him and said seriously, "Damian, just stop. I can buy it myself. There is no need for you to buy it for me."

Damian turned toward her with a grin. "Like I said before, this is revenge, so I won’t let you buy it. I want it. But of course, you can counter-bid me."

Raika frowned as the fingers holding her teacup tightened slightly. After all, she had heard about Damian’s money, and it had already beaten hers.

Without any hesitation, Damian raised the bidding token again. "Seventy Mid-Rank Spirit Stones."

The hall became noisier.

After all, this was the Heavenly Sword Sect. Talisman masters were truly a minority here, so many people were surprised to see this price.

Inside the room, Akane covered her mouth and laughed while Raika stared at Damian. "You raised it too much."

Damian leaned back lazily. "Did I?"

Raika nodded. "Yes. The value should not be that high."

Damian nodded. "Maybe... but this is my money, not yours, so I don’t care."

Raika frowned slightly.

Meanwhile, the other private room did not stop and bid again. "Seventy-five Mid-Rank Spirit Stones."

Damian heard it and did not even hesitate to bid again. "One hundred Mid-Rank Spirit Stones."

The hall instantly quieted.

Even the female deacon on the stage paused for a moment before smiling brighter.

Raika’s eyes widened slightly. "Damian."

Damian turned toward her. "What?"

Raika narrowed her eyes at him. "What the hell do you really want from me?"

Damian smiled teasingly and said, "Huh? What do you mean? I don’t understand."

Raika kept her gaze on him and said, "I know that you bought it and plan to gift it to me later, but I never thought you would give something to a woman without a price. Just tell me what the price is."

Damian was surprised upon hearing that, but he only smiled teasingly. "Raika, oh Raika, didn’t I tell you before? I like to gift women just because they are beautiful. No price needed."

He put his hand over his heart. "So don’t worry. Although I act like a shameless rich young master trying to impress a certain beautiful thunder genius... I am an honest man."

Raika’s ears turned red again.

Akane finally laughed out loud. "Raika, your face."

Raika immediately glared at her. "Akane."

Akane looked away, still smiling. "I said nothing."

Raika turned back to Damian. "You are doing this on purpose."

Damian nodded openly. "Of course."

Raika’s eyes narrowed. "You admit it?"

Damian spread his hands. "Why deny the truth? I am bullying you a little, flirting a little, and helping you a lot. Very balanced."

Raika stared at him in silence.

For once, she seemed unable to find a good reply.

The other private room became quiet for a while.

The deacon on the stage smiled and asked, "One hundred Mid-Rank Spirit Stones. Is there a higher bid?"

A few breaths passed.

No one answered.

The deacon raised her hand. "One hundred Mid-Rank Spirit Stones once."

Raika looked at the jade slip again.

Damian noticed the faint desire still hidden in her eyes, and his grin became even more obvious.

"One hundred Mid-Rank Spirit Stones twice."

Raika did not know what to say anymore, feeling like she had been beaten by Damian this time.

Damian simply looked at her expression with a smile, completely ignoring the bid because he already knew he had won.

"One hundred Mid-Rank Spirit Stones, sold!"

The deacon’s voice rang through the hall.

The Thunder Net Locking Talisman formula officially belonged to Damian.

Raika looked at him for a long moment.

Damian picked up his tea and smiled shamelessly. "Congratulations."

Raika frowned. "Why are you congratulating me? You bought it."

Damian grinned back. "Didn’t I already tell you? This is for you. Oh, come on, Raika, don’t be like that."

Raika stayed silent, but the greed in her eyes remained the same.

Damian laughed a little when he saw her expression.

---

Not long after the deacon announced the sale, a servant from the auction hall entered the private room.

She bowed politely. "Young Master, the Thunder Net Locking Talisman formula has been prepared. Please pay the spirit stones, and the item will be delivered."

Damian nodded and casually took out one hundred Mid-Rank Spirit Stones.

The moment the bright stones appeared on the table, Raika’s eyes moved slightly.

Damian noticed it and grinned.

He pushed the spirit stones toward her. "Go claim it."

Raika froze. "What?"

Damian smiled lazily. "Go claim the jade slip yourself. That’s my gift to you."

Raika frowned. "I told you, I didn’t ask you to buy it."

Damian nodded seriously. "True. You didn’t ask. I bought it because I wanted to."

Raika’s fingers tightened slightly. "I can pay you back."

Damian waved his hand. "No need."

Raika stared at him stubbornly. "I don’t like owing people."

Damian leaned back and sighed. "Oh well. If you don’t want it, I guess I can use the jade slip as a back scratcher."

Raika’s eyes widened. "Oh no, you don’t."

Damian rubbed his back with a thoughtful expression. "A Top-Rank Profound Grade talisman formula should be pretty sturdy, right?"

Akane immediately covered her mouth and laughed.

Raika’s calm expression finally cracked. "Damian."

Damian looked at her innocently. "What? You said you don’t want it."

Raika glared at him.

Damian pushed the spirit stones closer. "Then take it."

Raika frowned deeply.

For a few breaths, she looked like she wanted to argue again, but her eyes still kept drifting toward the jade slip outside.

Finally, she clicked her tongue and picked up the spirit stones. "Fine."

Damian’s grin widened. "Good girl."

Raika instantly turned back. "What did you say?"

Damian calmly picked up his tea. "I said good choice."

Raika stared at him coldly.

Akane laughed even harder.

A short while later, Raika returned with the sealed jade slip in her hand. Her expression was still calm, but the faint happiness in her eyes could not be hidden.

Damian smiled and said nothing.

"One treasure chest successfully gifted."