Back to Fenlai City

"It seems I am truly too sheltered. I had no idea there were geniuses on the continent even more outstanding than myself."

"Linley, is it? I really would like to meet him."

Jonathan paused, his pitch-black eyes turning toward Wesport. "However, we are heading to Fenlai City. That is the holy capital of the Light Church."

"Rest assured, as long as we travel openly and aboveboard, they won't do anything to us."

"After all, our two factions are currently in a state of equilibrium, with no intention of fighting to the death. If they were to kill me, it would only smear their own reputation, and secondly, it would trigger a massive war between our forces."

"I understand. The more high-profile we are, the less likely they are to make a move!"

"Smart!" Wesport laughed heartily.

"When do we depart?"

"Today."

Fenlai City.

Wesport and Jonathan rode in a carriage traveling along Champs-Élysées Avenue.

Because they were so high-profile, Clyde and the Light Church had discovered them long ago; someone had even reported them when they passed through the border where troops were stationed.

However, since Wesport had stated his purpose and arrived in a grand, open manner, they had no reason to deny them entry.

After all, it was not wartime, and things were not that strict.

Jonathan lifted the carriage curtain, looking at the bustling scene outside the window.

Wesport said, "What, feeling curious? Fenlai City is one of the top five super-cities on the continent. In terms of prosperity, it is several grades higher than Black Phoenix City."

"My lord jests. I am devoted to cultivation; why would I care about such things?"

"I merely felt that someone was monitoring us in the shadows, so I took a look outside."

Wesport laughed heartily. "That is perfectly normal. If the Light Church sent a team to my Dark Alliance, we would also have people watching them at all times."

"Your strength has increased quite a bit. Those monitoring us are at least of the seventh rank or higher."

Jonathan smiled faintly.

"The auction begins today. Let's head straight to the Proulx Auction Hall."

"As you wish, my lord."

The Proulx Auction Hall had three levels. The first floor consisted of ordinary seats, hundreds of them, with each seat priced as high as one hundred gold coins.

The second floor contained individual private boxes, totaling over a dozen. Each box was reserved for high-ranking nobles and wealthy merchants, and the price for each was frighteningly expensive.

They ranged from one thousand to ten thousand gold coins.

As for the third floor, it contained only one very large lounge with extremely luxurious decor. It was generally not open to the public and only hosted those whom the Proulx Guild held in high regard.

Due to the promotion by the Proulx Guild, many nobles attending this auction had come from outside the Holy Union, so this auction could be considered open to the entire continent.

They were all people who were not short on money, so even the prices for ordinary seats were bid up to an exorbitant level that sounded absurd to commoners.

It was just a seat; was it really necessary?

Commoners naturally would not understand; these people only cared about face.

"I have reserved a box on the second floor. Let's go."

Wesport, Jonathan, and several gray-robed priests entered the auction hall, went straight to the second floor, and walked toward box number three.

At the same time, in the third-floor lounge.

A group of people was looking down at the second and third floors.

They were Linley, Yale, the Proulx Guild master Maia, Clyde, Gilmer, and Lampson.

"They really did come," Lampson said.

Maia asked, "Bishop Lampson, who are you referring to?"

"People from the Dark Alliance. That is Wesport, the black-robed archbishop of the Dark Church. The young man beside him should be Jonathan."

Gilmer said, "It is him. I have seen him in Fenlai City before."

Linley was also sizing up Jonathan and the others on the second floor, feeling a slight shock in his heart. "He has been to Fenlai City before?"

"However, as long as they don't cause trouble in Fenlai City, we won't deal with them."

Maia smiled slightly. "You two lords are truly broad-minded."

Jonathan glanced at the glass on the third floor, whether intentionally or not. This glass was specially crafted by alchemists; looking from the outside in, one could see nothing, but looking from the inside out, the view was crystal clear.

This item was extremely expensive to produce, which is why the Proulx Guild only used it on the third floor.

Linley happened to meet his gaze. For a moment, he felt as if the other party had seen him, but he quickly looked away.

At this moment, Jonathan glanced at the first-floor hall. Among the hundreds of seats, he immediately spotted a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties wearing a loose robe.

Almost the moment he looked over, that person swept his gaze over as well.

The two of them smiled faintly.

The person in the first-floor hall was none other than Hesai.

Hesai had two great hobbies: women and stone sculpting.

"Dream Awakening" was comparable to the work of a master sculptor, and since it depicted a woman, he was naturally very interested. He had come to see it during the last exhibition and had praised it endlessly.

This kid actually came, and he's with a Great Black Robe from the Dark Church. To think he's mixing with them—who knows what he's up to?

Whatever, that little ingrate won't let himself suffer.

Not long after, the auction officially began.

The auctioneer emphasized Linley's identity to boost the value of the "Dream Awakening" sculpture, making many people even more interested.

The starting bid for "Dream Awakening" was one million gold coins, with each increment no less than one hundred thousand gold coins.

This made the members of the Debs family furious, especially Kalan, who was about to marry Alice.

As the auction price climbed, Bebe, who was in Linley's arms on the third floor, poked his little head out to look down.

"Boss, from now on, can I eat all the roast chicken, roast duck, and wine I want?"

Linley patted Bebe's head affectionately. "No problem."

Bebe was very excited, stretching his neck to look down, hoping the price would go even higher.

Jonathan asked, "Lord Wesport, should we bid on this sculpture to do a favor for Linley?"

"That is exactly the plan, though it doesn't look like it will be easy."

"I heard the Light Church hasn't fully recruited him yet, so they will definitely spare no cost to curry favor with him."

"And the Fenlai royal family as well."

Jonathan glanced at him and thought to himself, What a pity, it's all a waste of effort!

As Hesai spoke up, the Light Church, the Dark Church, and other super families quickly took notice of him.

"That madman is actually here too!"

Seeing Wesport's expression change slightly, Jonathan asked, "Do you know him, my lord?"

Wesport nodded. "It seems we won't succeed this time, but the Light Church won't have any chance either."

Jonathan feigned ignorance.

"Your level isn't high enough yet, so you don't need to know too much. Just know that he is someone you cannot afford to provoke. Even our Dark Church and the Light Church would avoid crossing him if it weren't necessary."

Jonathan felt a chill in his heart.

In the end, just like in the original story, the "Dream Awakening" sculpture was purchased by Delia, who had a secret crush on Linley.

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