Chris nodded slightly and left the mission hall. Just as he stepped outside, a carriage pulled up to the entrance. A woman stepped down-none other than Jane Clarkson.
Jane Clarkson had come to Sandsworth to preside over the upcoming auction. When her gaze fell on Chris’s retreating figure, she paused in surprise. She hadn’t expected to see him here.
Previously, in Flameforge, Jane had merely thought of Chris as a promising talent. But subsequent events had proved that her initial assessment had grossly underestimated him.
Chris had single-handedly infiltrated the Great Lyria battlefield, charging into their camp alone. He had slain over a thousand Great Lyria warriors, including hundreds of Aetherbinding practitioners. Not long ago, he had stormed the Great Lyria capital, Silver Crown. There, he not only crippled Thorne Steelhart but also killed hundreds of practitioners and gravely injured Ethan Stone. Enraged, the Great Lyria High Sovereign had dispatched an army of 100, 000 soldiers to hunt Chris down, even placing a bounty of 100, 000 Essence Stones on his head.
Ethan Stone’s master, the fearsome Shadowmire Wraith, had personally pursued Chris. Yet even the mighty Shadowmire Wraith had returned empty-handed. Frustrated, he offered a staggering bounty of 500, 000 Essence Stones for Chris’s capture, luring countless Great Lyria practitioners to hunt him. Despite this, Chris had escaped the clutches of Great Lyria unscathed and journeyed to Sunnyvale-now arriving in Sandsworth. It was almost unbelievable.
Jane Clarkson smiled faintly. She speculated that Chris’s presence here might be tied to the auction.
—
The next day, the annual Sandsworth auction began. This event attracted every major faction from Sunnyvale, making it one of the grandest gatherings of the year. As such, the mission hall served as the venue, temporarily closed to the public to accommodate the auction.
The hall could seat over 10, 000 people, and it wasn’t long before it was packed to capacity. To ensure safety, the mission hall deployed a sizable force of practitioners to maintain order.
Early in the morning, Chris and Lindsay Windson left their inn. Lindsay, brimming with curiosity, asked, “Mr. Shelby, I’ve heard this auction is exceptionally lively?”
Chris smiled. “Indeed. Representatives from every major faction in Sunnyvale will be attending.”
Lindsay’s eyes widened in astonishment. The auction would span two days due to the sheer number of participants and the volume of items up for bid. However, not just anyone could attend. An entry fee of 1, 000 Essence Stones was required-an astronomical sum for most Aetherbinding practitioners. Many ordinary practitioners couldn’t bear to part with such a fortune, thus limiting attendance to the elite.
Chris and Lindsay paid the 2, 000 Essence Stones and entered the bustling auction hall. The seats were already filled with representatives from major factions, prominent families, and high-level practitioners. Chris observed that almost everyone present was at least a Pinnacle-level Aetherbinding practitioner. Even Solstice-level practitioners, a rarity, were in attendance.
The auction offered rare treasures that were hard to find elsewhere, drawing in a vast crowd. Chris and Lindsay found seats in a quiet corner and sat down. As Chris surveyed the hall, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the number of people gathered.
As the auction was about to begin, the crowd gradually quieted. Chris sensed the presence of numerous powerful practitioners stationed around the hall-clearly members of the mission hall tasked with maintaining security.
Soon, a striking woman stepped onto the stage. Chris froze for a moment. It was none other than Jane Clarkson, the head of the Flameforge mission hall. He hadn’t expected to see her here again, let alone as the auction’s host. Clearly, her standing within the mission hall was anything but ordinary.
Jane scanned the crowd with a smile. “Welcome, everyone, to the annual auction hosted by the mission hall.” After a brief introduction, she declared, “Let’s not waste any more time. Let the auction begin! Bring out the first item.”
At her cue, a maid stepped forward, carrying a tray covered with a red cloth. Jane lifted the cloth to reveal a gleaming Heartstone.
“This,” Jane announced, “is the Heartstone of a Fifth Grade sea beast, the Sharpfin Shark. The Sharpfin Shark is equivalent to a Pinnacle-level practitioner.”
Lindsay turned to Chris with wide eyes. “Mr. Shelby, is this Heartstone yours?”
Chris smiled and nodded. It was indeed his. He had obtained it after slaying the Sharpfin Shark during a battle at sea. The previous day, he had entrusted the Heartstone to the mission hall for auction. Now, he was curious to see how much it would fetch.
The Heartstone immediately caught the attention of many Pinnacle-level practitioners in the audience. Though the Sharpfin Shark was only a Fifth Grade sea beast, killing one was no small feat. Moreover, its Heartstone was highly valuable to Pinnacle-level practitioners, enhancing their cultivation significantly.
Jane smiled and announced, “The bidding for this Sharpfin Shark Heartstone starts at 1, 000 Essence Stones. Each bid must increase by no less than 100 Essence Stones. Let’s begin!”
Since this was the first item of the auction, it wasn’t expected to be overly valuable. Yet, as soon as the bidding opened, the crowd erupted.
“1, 000 Essence Stones!”
“2, 000 Essence Stones!”
“3, 000 Essence Stones!”
…
“5, 000 Essence Stones!”
Eventually, the bidding reached 5, 000 Essence Stones, and the room fell silent. The Sharpfin Shark Heartstone, while valuable, was still a Fifth Grade item, and its worth capped at around 5, 000 Essence Stones. With no further bids, the Heartstone was sold for that amount.