A Bustling Day at Mittel Auction House

"I came here to make deals. Any kind of deal."

Lu Chuan spoke calmly.

"Then may I ask if you have a Sect-Breaking Pill?"

Jia Xingtian leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on Lu Chuan. A barely concealed urgency edged his voice.

The Jia Ma Empire had gone far too long without a new Dou Zong. A single Sect-Breaking Pill could change the balance of power across the entire empire.

"Not at the moment. But if you have the ingredients, I can have one refined for you."

Lu Chuan leaned back in the chair to the right, his expression unruffled.

He could not refine it himself, but Yao Chen could. He would simply take a cut as the middleman.

Jia Xingtian's pupils contracted, and his fingers clenched involuntarily.

Suppressing his shock, he pressed on. "What would you charge to refine a batch?"

"Two Earth Rank Dou Techniques, some medicinal ingredients that nourish Soul Force, and three sets of the basic ingredients for a Sect-Breaking Pill."

"Hiss..."

All three drew sharp breaths at once.

The ingredients for a Sect-Breaking Pill were already hard enough to gather, let alone rare Earth Rank Dou Techniques and ingredients that nourished Soul Force.

They would have to strip half the empire bare to pay that price!

Yun Yun's fingers tightened around her sleeve, bitterness filling her heart.

Her teacher had been stuck at the peak of Dou Emperor for years, secluded and longing for a Sect-Breaking Pill. If this man truly could refine one, it would be an extraordinary opportunity for the Misty Cloud Sect.

But the price was simply too steep. Everything they had in the original southern region amounted to no more than High Black Rank at best.

They could not afford it...

Jia Xingtian shook his head and said nothing more.

Lu Chuan glanced at their disappointed faces, then turned to Ya Fei.

"Since you can't pay the price, we'll leave it at that. Ya Fei, roughly how many people in Wutan City want to awaken their Martial Souls? Can Mittel Auction House hold them?"

Ya Fei quickly composed herself and suppressed her surprise. She stepped forward and answered respectfully.

"Lord Lu Chuan, the auction house's main hall is spacious enough. At full capacity, it can hold more than nine hundred people without a problem.

"And most of them are only coming to watch, so there will be plenty of room."

Lu Chuan nodded.

That made sense. Yellow Rank Dou Techniques might be low-level, but not everyone owned one. Most people with a sizable collection belonged to a clan.

"Good. Send word that we'll begin at noon."

"Yes."

Ya Fei bowed and hurried off to make the arrangements.

Noon soon arrived.

People streamed through the streets amid a constant swell of noise.

Xiao Yan strolled along with his hands behind his head.

"It really is lively. Even the Marketplace stalls are selling more than before."

He muttered to himself as his gaze swept over the endless flow of pedestrians.

Ever since he had started practicing the Fire-Control Technique, he had barely had a chance to wander the streets. With nothing to do today, he had come out for a stroll and to catch a glimpse of the visitors from the Imperial Capital.

Suddenly, people along the street began hurrying toward Mittel Auction House. Excited chatter broke out everywhere.

"Come on, hurry! Mittel Auction House announced that Martial Soul awakening starts at noon! We need to grab seats!"

"Hahaha! You can only watch, but I've got a low Yellow Rank Dou Technique to pay for my awakening! Jealous? Hey, what the hell! Which bastard stole my Dou Technique?! I even hid it in my crotch!"

"That's what you get for showing off. I'm going ahead before all the good spots are taken."

Brother Lu Chuan is back!

Delighted, Xiao Yan turned and followed the crowd toward Mittel Auction House. He wanted to see the awakening ceremony for himself.

Teacher, what kind of Martial Soul do you think Nalan Yanran will awaken?

Xiao Yan silently asked Yao Chen.

Yao Lao's teasing voice sounded in his mind.

What? Are you scared?

I'm not scared. I'm just curious.

Xiao Yan frowned and looked toward the auction house, continuing his silent question.

You saw how she looked when we parted last time. She wanted to tear me apart on the spot. What if she gets Spirit Rings just to beat me?

If her teacher finds out she can add nothing but hundred-thousand-year Spirit Rings once she reaches Dou Emperor, she'll probably come after me herself!

Yao Chen's voice sounded slowly in his mind.

If that happens, keep your head down and stay away from her. But as long as Yun Yun isn't a fool, she should stop her. We'll see when the time comes.

Xiao Yan shook his head and put the thought aside. He squeezed through the surging crowd toward the entrance of Mittel Auction House.

The place rang with voices as countless people fought to get into the hall.

By the time he finally pushed his way inside, Lu Chuan and the others were seated on the raised platform.

Xiao Yan, look up there. That female Dou Emperor must be Yun Yun. Want to go say hello?

Teacher, don't mess with me. I'm trying to avoid her!

He found a spot near the back and fixed his eyes on the platform, ready to watch what happened next.

Just then, Ya Fei stepped onto the auction stage.

"Quiet!"

The noisy crowd gradually fell silent, every gaze turning toward the stage.

Many craned their necks, faces bright with anticipation as they waited for the Martial Soul awakening ceremony to begin.

Lu Chuan sat casually in the place of honor on the raised platform, quietly watching the crowd below.

"I'm sure you've all come because you're curious about the remarkable cultivation system of Martial Souls.

"So allow me to explain Martial Souls in detail..."

Standing at the center of the stage, Ya Fei projected her voice throughout the hall.

She clearly explained Martial Souls and Spirit Rings to everyone present.

She described what Martial Souls were, how they were divided into Beast Martial Souls and Tool Martial Souls, and what powers awakening one could bring.

She also covered the purpose of Spirit Rings, the differences between rings of different ages, and how absorbing one granted a corresponding Spirit Skill. She laid it all out plainly.

The townspeople and cultivators listened in fascination. Many leaned toward their neighbors and whispered among themselves.

Yun Yun, Jia Xingtian, and Fa Ma listened just as intently. They exchanged glances, each deeply shaken.

Ya Fei's explanation was far more detailed than what they had heard in the Imperial Capital.

This entirely new path of cultivation was nothing like cultivating Dou Qi. Everything about it seemed extraordinary.

When she reached the part about Spirit Rings, the same thought struck all three of them.

If older Spirit Rings were better, couldn't they wait until they reached Dou Emperor before absorbing any, then make every ring a high-age one?

After finishing her explanation, Ya Fei changed tack.

"Without further ado, let the Martial Soul awakening ceremony begin! Everyone who wishes to awaken one, please come forward in order!

"And no duplicate or incomplete Dou Techniques!"