Upon speaking to here, the smile underneath his mask grew wider as he lifted one finger and stretched his hand out towards the audience and spoke once more, “One hundred thousand middle-grade essence stones!"
Instantly, his voice resounded throughout the room which was followed by a defining silence. After a while, the influences or rather the parties that resided in the bottom-most layers started a commotion.
"Middle-grade essence stones! Are you kidding me?" A fierce looking bald head man exclaimed in surprise.
"How are we supposed to afford this?" Another individual said with a look of sadness on his face.
However, one cannot blame them, as, like weapons, pills, and artefacts alike, essence stones are divided into separate tiers each tier signifying a different weight representing an entirely different class. These tiers are mortal, earth, heaven, mystical and supreme, the essence stones equivalent being low-grade, middle-grade, upper-grade, top-grade and lastly, ultra-grade.
They are converted as follows:
One middle-grade essence stone - 10 low-grade essence stones.
One upper-grade essence stone - 100 middle-grade essence stones.
One top-grade essence stone - 1000 upper-grade essence stones.
One ultra-grade essence stone - 10000 top-grade essence stones.
Legend speaks of a tier that exists beyond that of the known tiers, but that is yet to be proven.
Feng Yu, Dai Lin, and Hui Ying looked at the scene with excitement in their eyes.
"Who will win?" Feng Yu curiously asked as he looked at the scene before him. Soon, there was a bid that came from the top class above the third layer.
"The Rain Sword Sect offers one hundred and fifteen thousand middle-grade essence stones!" A man dressed in light blue clothing said.
"The Dark Sky Pavilion offers one hundred and thirty thousand middle-grade essence stones!" A woman in dark clothes said.
"The Midnight Temple offers one hundred and fifty thousand middle-grade essence stones!" The mysterious figure with a dark bamboo hat said.
"The Molten Axe Sect offers one hundred and seventy thousand middle-grade essence stones!" A gorgeous woman dressed in red said.
"The Tang Family offers one hundred and eighty thousand middle-grade essence stones!" The man from the Tang Family said.
"Che! The Xin Clan offers one hundred and ninety thousand middle-grade essence stones!" Old Zhu said as he glared at the Tang Family.
******
Xuan Bei and Madam Xuan were about to make their move when suddenly a voice transmission message was sent directly to their eyes, shocked they both looked up at the highest layer. Upon seeing the figures of the man with flame engraved pendant as well as the long-bearded skinny man. A look of excitement shone deeply within their eyes as they no longer decided to make their moves.
As the top-class influences continued their struggle for the Ancient Dragon Chart, a few parties that remained silent were now beginning to make their move.
Hui Ying noticing the change in the atmosphere spoke in a soft voice, "It looks like it's about to begin truly..."
"Un! They're making their moves!" Feng Yu said as he looked at the group from the top layer.
A man seated beside Ji Weng raised his betting plate and spoke loudly, "The Western Shengyin Kingdom Imperial Sheng Family offers two hundred thousand middle-grade essence stones!"
As he said this, the skinny man beside the man with flame engraved pendant looked towards the man from the Western Shengyin Kingdom and sneered before casting a side glance at the group from the Golden Dragon Empire, seeing them not taking any action he then made his bid.
"The Bright Flame Kingdom's Imperial Xuan Family offers two hundred and fifty thousand middle-grade essence stones!"
The audience hearing the names of these influences were shocked.
"The Imperial Family Clans have sent top figures apart from the Genius Ji Weng and Prince Xuan Bei!" A minor figure said in shock as he looked towards the top floor.
"I didn't think the major players of both the Imperial Family Clans within the empire would make their move so soon!" Old Zhu said as he frowned.
"Uncle Fei, are we going to keep bidding now that the imperial clans have started to take action?" Tang Wu asked as he looked towards the man beside him.
"...." Uncle Fei did not respond to his question but cast his vision towards the mysterious man with the bamboo hat.
"The Midnight Temple offers three hundred thousand middle-grade essence stones!" The mysterious man with the bamboo hat casually said.
A few individuals seated on the top platform looked below in surprise as saw the mysterious individual in a bamboo hat.
"This Midnight Temple, why have I never heard of their names?” A common figure on the top layer said to himself.
The man from the Bright Flame Kingdom Xuan Family looked towards the third layer with a solemn gaze as he said, "They can't be?"
The Western Kingdom's Sheng Family emissary also cast his vision towards the form below while remaining silent.
The man with the Golden Dragon Emblem on his robes looked down towards the form with a strange light glowing in his eyes as he muttered, "Midnight Temple, or is it Midnight Hall... Interesting, it looks like we can’t remain silent any longer it's time to bring an end to this auction."
As he said this he slowly began to rise from his seat and walked towards the edge of the layer while the bidding was growing more and more intense. Soon, his figure became visible to many individuals that were paying attention towards the top layer.
It's as the saying goes, 'if the tiger is not on the mountain, the monkeys will believe themselves to be king,' The moment these individuals noticed the presence of the man that spoke along with his group that sat down on the top layer. All forms of competitiveness had instantly died down as they looked towards the figure with reverence.
The man seeing this smiled as he spoke, "The Golden Dragon Empire offers five hundred thousand middle-grade essence stones! Will fellow Daoists give this man face?"
The man from the Sheng Family, Madam Xuan along with Xuan Bei, the Tang Family, Xin Clan and many of the powerful influences upon hearing this man’s words all became apprehensive.
"Damn! What are they doing here so soon?" A man from the Sheng Imperial Clan cursed in anger, looking towards the man.
"Well, Old Zhu it seems that today's auction has been decided!" Tang Fei said as he sent a voice transmission to Xin Zhu.
"Indeed so, sigh..." Xin Zhu said with a slight loss of spirit.
Madam Xuan and Xuan Bei looked towards the man with flame engraved pendant and saw that he shook his head wearily, soon, they became depressed.
As Feng Yu, Dai Lin and Hui Ying saw this scene they couldn't help but sigh to themselves inwardly.
Feng Yu looked on for a moment before removing his vision and getting up from his seat as he spoke, "Brother Ying, Dai Lin, it seems that the situation is as we've expected to unfold. No one will challenge the prestige of the empire that governs them, it's about time we head back. I'm eager to test out this new sword of mine," As he said this, he placed both swords on his back. Black-Lightning was placed on his left with Crimson-Ember on his right.
"Yeah, no point staying here any longer, heh, I've gotten a few great things as well," Hui Ying said.
"Un," Dai Lin replied who followed behind Feng Yu as they made their way towards the exit, but just as soon as they were about to leave the room, there was a change.
"I'm sorry fellow Daoist but the Southern Wasteland does not care about face, we offer one hundred thousand upper-grade essence stones!" A man seated beside the young man from the southern wasteland said, he was wrapped from head to toe with strange garments and looked as if he had travelled from the deepest part of the desert.
As soon as his voice ended, there was a strange scene, as all influential parties looked towards the man in shock. The man from the Golden Dragon Empire frowned as he looked towards the odd-looking figure seat
ed a layer below him.
WhiteMask seeing this scene smiled as he thought to himself, "Hehehe! How fascinating! I didn't think they'd travel from so far to partake in this empire's affairs, but who am I to judge, I'm here too after all."
The man with the flame engraved pendant shook his head as he viewed this scene he looked towards skinny man beside him and spoke solemnly, "No matter what the means we must keep some degree of control. Fei Tan! Relay my message to the knights, gather at Machen Town at once!"
"As your Excellency’s command!" Fei Tan replied who then vanished with a ‘swish’ of his body.
Noticing that there was no longer any bids WhiteMask laughed to himself as he spoke, “One hundred thousand upper-grade essence stones!"
"Going once! Going twice!"
"Sold to the group from the Southern Wasteland!" He roared at the top of his voice as a brilliant light shone across the entire auction room.
"Wasteland! Wasteland! Wasteland!" His voice resounding throughout the entire auction room as well as the private room that Feng Yu and the guys were about the exit.
Feng Yu looked back in shock as he said, "How could I forget them? It seems that father was right about this group from the Southern Wasteland..."
As if continuing his statement, the man from the Golden Dragon Empire spoke from his position as he looked down at the man, "Is no ordinary influence...."
WhiteMask smiled as he spoke one final time, "I now announce the end of this Year's Mystery Pavilion Auction! Everyone, until the next time we meet!" As he said this, his figure blurred as he turned into a ball of white light and scattered across the room.
Leaving only an audience shocked into dead silence.
Chapter 44
__
The Arrival of the Sky Splitting Sword School, One with Sword!
Another day passes, as a new dawn arose in Machen Town. The events of the Mystery Pavilion's Auction naturally remained a 'mystery' to all, but rumors still flowed among the upper echelon’s grapevine. Now, only two days remained until the Talent Selection begins. The citizens and practitioners in Machen Town only got more excited as the battles in the arenas and activities increased.
However, as the mood increases, so does the changes in the atmosphere.
Inside of a luxurious hall, within a private mansion.
A beautiful woman in white priest-like robes with golden patterns sat on a chair; she had long black hair that was bounded into a ponytail reaching to the floor, her eyes were small and narrow but gave off a strange, alluring charm when viewed from any angle. As she looked out her window, she gave off a strange aura as if the world around her simply flowed according to her will.
She looked at the sky with a noble temperament as she spoke softly to the wind, "The eastern wind shifts, as the chosen are born when the destined dragon rises, and another's fate will start to see new changes..."
Knock-knock! As she was disturbed from her thoughts, she couldn't help but frown as she glanced at the door and spoke, "Who is it?"
"Young Lady Mingyun, the representative from the Xuan Imperial Family, seeks an audience with you," A man dressed in similar white robes said.
"I see, let them in then," She said as she once again turned her vision towards the sky observing the dazzling snow that fell upon the earth.
∞ ∞ ∞
At the entrance of Machen Town a few figures arrived, they wore shiny armour with bright flame-like capes that flowed in the wind, as they rode on top of black horses that had flame hoofs. It appears they were a walking sea of bright flames on the white snow that blanketed the earth.
Traveling at the center of these individuals were a group of men and women who seemed to be above the secular world, they wore similar sky-blue robes with a sword emblem adorned on their chests.
The citizens and wanderers who stood at the entrance of Machen Town looked towards these individuals in surprise.
"It’s the Bright Flame Knights!" A local individual exclaimed as he seemed to have recognized these individuals.
"What? The kingdom's knights are here too!" Another individual said as he looked at the knights.
"Wait! That group in the middle, the clothes they’re wearing aren't they..." A practitioner said as he looked at the group in the center of the Bright Flame Knights.
"Hmm, already arrived I see... it looks like this show is about to get started," The mysterious from the Midnight Temple said, as he looked at the group that was entering the town from a window in a nearby pub with a strange smile on his face.
∞ ∞ ∞
Inside a pub, within a private booth.
Tang Fie and Xin Zhu were currently having a loud conversation, as Tang Wu, and Xin Qing sat silently observing their new conflict.
Bang! "You’re an ungrateful cheat! Is this how you treat soon to be family, I demand compensation from your family!" Xin Zhu said as he smashed the chess board to pieces.
"Old Zhu, it’s not my fault that you're not good at chess. Look, since it is this way, as our families will be connected through Wu'er's and Qing'er's marriage. Why don’ we set a date for a rematch? I promise to try and stall more next time so that if you win. You'll earn more than enough to make up your loss today," Tang Fei said with a smile on his face as he mocked Xin Zhu.
"You shameless bast----" As Xin Zhu was about to vent his frustration once more, there was an interruption.
Sou! A man with a hood over his head appeared with the room and knelt politely on the ground.
Seeing this man appear both Xin Zhu and Tang Fei became silent as they looked towards the man with a deep gaze. Quickly though, Xin Zhu waved for the man to stand before he inquired, "What do you have to report?"
"Reporting to Old Master Zhu, the emissaries of the Sky Splitting Sword School have just arrived at Machen Town, but some unexpected characters are escorting them," The man said.
"Oh! And who are these characters?" Tang Fei asked interestedly.
Tang Wu and Xing Qing also looked curiously.
"They are the kingdom's first guards, the Bright Flame Knight's." The man reported.
"Haha! It looks like the sudden appearance of the Golden Dragon Empire; the Southern Wasteland and a few other threatening parties has caused our king to feel nervous. I didn't think he'd go as far as sending out his prized troops," Xin Zhu said as he roared with laughter.
"Brother Tang, do you think the Xuan Imperial Clan is going to try anything during the Talent Selection?" Asked Xin Qing.
"I'm not sure, but even if they do, what could they possibly do against the group from the Golden Dragon Empire and the even more mysterious Southern Wasteland Group?" Tang Wu replied while looking out the window.
Tang Fei hearing Tang Wu's words nodded and replied, "Wu'er is right! Nothing can be done, and as for our forces, we only need to take advantage of the scene when there is any change. We need to guarantee our entrance into to the Mystic Realm!"
"Un," Xin Zhu said as he nodded.
∞ ∞ ∞
Inside of a vast room stood a few individuals.
Three of them were youngsters who were currently looking at the man seated at the center of the room. The young man who was holding a silver spear walked up and spoke to the man with the dragon emblem.
"Xun Yanshan, I came here to test my strength and prove myself amongst the gathered geniuses. Not to partake in some hare-brained scheme, even though you are the superior sent on this venture, I will not yield to your decisions!" As he said this, he walked outside of the room followed by the other two youngsters.
"Brother Zhang, wait up!" The pretty young girl said.
"These three brats... sigh, children are so troublesome. I guess I'll have to approach it with a different method. You there, did you find out any of their details?" Xun Yanshan said to a man who stood at the corner of the room.
"Reporting to Sir, the Southern Wasteland is too slippery, and we don't know any more details other than the fact that they came to our empire utilizing some unknown chann
el," The man in the corner promptly replied.
"Hmm, this won't do. I need you to get more information, deploy more of our forces and leave no stones unturned. I want to have as much information as possible about this group before the Talent Selection begins, for I must have a grasp on the entire situation do you hear me!" Xun Yanshan said as he looked towards the man with a sharp light his eyes.
"Understood!" The man replied as he bowed his head.
"Good, now go!" Xun Yanshan then commanded as he waved his hand before looked out the window towards a specific location.
"Sir, there is one more piece of interesting news," The man said in an odd tone.
"What is it?" Xun Yanshan asked, still looking out the window.
"It seems that the Sky Splitting Sword School has successfully arrived. However, the Bright Flame King has deployed the Bright Flame Knights to act as their escorts," The man said strangely.
"The Bright Flame Knights? Oh, well now, this is interesting..." Xun Yanshan said as he smiled and continued to look out the window unperturbed.
∞ ∞ ∞
Inside of the Feng Mansion, within a large open field.
The figure of a young man could be viewed standing in a field of snow; he was barefoot wearing only loose-fitting trousers and no upper clothing, within his hands were two swords; one pure black with dark lightning flowing around its edges, and the other bright crimson with rust all over its surface. A small hint of purple flame could be seen swirling around the rusted crimson sword.
As Feng Yu stood inside of the open field, his eyes remained closed as he became attuned with the forces of nature. Soon, his body started to experience changes; he felt as if he became nothing but a sword, as his mind vanished, and his sense of self vanished, leaving behind not a standing youth but what seemed to be a sword.
Dual Sword God Box Set Page 29