The grand double doors to the VIP room swung open with a soft creak, revealing a lavish chamber that overlooked the bustling auction hall below.

  The room was dimly lit by glowing crystals embedded in the ceiling, casting a soft blue hue over the plush velvet seats, carved wood panels, and an enormous viewing mirror that spanned the entire front wall.

  From here, Jin Yu could see everything—but no one could see him.

  “Wow,” Min Li muttered as he peeked out over the viewing mirror like a nosy neighbor spying on their richer neighbor's garden. “We can see everyone, but they can't see us. This is the dream, master. True peak living.”

  Haozi gave him a side-eye but said nothing, choosing instead to stand dutifully behind Jin Yu.

  Jin Yu, meanwhile, made himself comfortable in the seat that practically swallowed him whole. “So this is what nobles do for fun,” he muttered, brushing a finger across the velvet armrest like a connoisseur pretending he knew what luxury was.

  Rainbow swayed lightly from his wrist, changing to a calm green as she peered at the glittering hall below.

  Below them, rows of nobles gathered, their outfits ranging from refined to outrageously flamboyant. One man wore a robe that sparkled so much, Jin Yu half-expected it to shoot lasers. Another lady had an entourage fanning her with peacock feathers while she examined a glass of wine like she was judging its soul.

  The announcer—a noble-looking lady draped in a flowing red and gold robe—stepped gracefully onto the high podium. Her face was warm and inviting, adorned with a practiced smile, but a mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes as she scanned the crowded auction hall like a predator wearing perfume.

  Two young girls followed her. They looked delicate, almost childlike, with round cheeks and wide, innocent eyes—but their clothing and posture said otherwise. Dressed in tight-fitting dark silk and silver belts, they looked more like charming assassins than auction assistants.

  The kind who might smile sweetly while slipping a dagger between your ribs. Each of them held a black tray, both veiled with red silk that pulsed faintly with spiritual energy—concealing whatever lay beneath from any probing senses.

  The noble lady raised her arms theatrically. Her voice rang clear and grand across the hall, echoing with flair.

  “Welcome to the Divine Ascension Auction! Tonight’s treasures will test your fortune, your courage and perhaps your ancestors’ savings!”

  Laughter rippled through the nobles below, rich and smug.

  From the shadows of his VIP room, Jin Yu watched the scene unfold with mild interest.

  Min Li leaned over with a glint in his eyes. “Master, this is our moment. When you see something shiny, you raise that hand like it owes you money!”

  On cue, one of the girls stepped forward. The noblewoman placed a manicured hand on the red veil covering the tray and gave the crowd a tantalizing smile. Then, with a delicate chuckle, she whipped the veil away—revealing a silver ring glowing faintly with spatial energy.

  The crowd leaned forward.

  “I guess we all know what this is ...a low-grade spatial ring!” she announced. “Starting bid: 200 spirit stones!”

  Excitement filled the lower room as people whisper in awe.

  “Two hundred and fifty!” a voice rang out almost immediately

  “Three hundred!” barked another.

  Jin Yu, half-sunken in his plush chair, raised a brow. “Low-grade? Is that a compliment or a polite insult?”

  Min Li froze for half a second, his brain buffering. Then he quickly straightened. “You are correct, young master. These scraps are meant for low-level nobles—mere appetizers to stir the crowd "

  “I thought as much. Will they auction a high-level ring later?”

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “They should, master,” Min Li replied, choosing his words carefully. “But… only cultivators who’ve reached the Nascent Soul Realm can actually use mid- or high-grade spatial rings.”

  Jin Yu frowned, visibly confused. “Really?”

  “Yes, young master. Below Nascent Soul, one cannot channel spiritual qi deeply enough to activate a ring. That’s why most use spatial pouches instead—like this one.” Min Li gently lifted the small leather pouch hanging from his waist.

  “Ohhh…” Jin Yu gave him a slow, thoughtful nod. “I thought you were just too poor to buy a ring.”

  Min Li face flushed. “…I am, young master.”

  “Oh.”

  Rainbow turned a soft red, then flashed a pitying blue before curling up like she was embarrassed for Min Li too.

  “But you are wise, master. Very insightful.” Min Li forced a respectful smile. “Even if I reached Nascent Soul, I wouldn’t be able to afford a ring. My total wealth barely adds up to a hundred spirit stones. This pouch alone took half of that.”

  Jin Yu gave him a look. “Hmm. You wear it well.”

  “Thank you, master.”

  By now, the bidding on the ring was heating up.

  “Seven hundred!”

  “Eight-fifty!”

  “Eight hundred and eighty-eight!”

  The crowd buzzed with energy. But then

  ....

  “1,000 spirit stones,” came a voice—hesitant, trembling, full of hope. The man practically whispered a prayer under his breath.

  Silence fell. No one else dared speak.

  The announcer peered around, her smile still sweet but growing strained. “A thousand spirit stones! A generous offer! Anyone else willing to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?”

  Silence.

  “Going once!” she sang.

  “Don’t miss your chance! What’s ten more stones in the grand scheme of fate?” she coaxed with a gleaming smile.

  Some nobles fidgeted. Others clenched their fists.

  “Going twice!” she cried. “Add just a little more! For glory! For your wives and concubines!”

  A nobleman with twitching eyebrows finally snapped. “One thousand and ten!”

  The announcer lit up like fireworks. “One thousand and ten spirit stones! Going once!”

  “Going twice! Don’t regret it!”

  “Going—”

  A loud voice suddenly exploded from one of the VIP rooms.

  “JUST GET IT OVER WITH, STUPID! YOU’RE KEEPING MY YOUNG MASTER WAITING!”

  Every head turned. The crowd gasped. The announcer flinched.

  Jin Yu lazily swirled the drink in his hand.

  Min Li stood with both hands behind his back, chin lifted proudly.

  Rainbow flared a dramatic crimson like a tiny flag of war,then pulsed bright yellow as anger filled the air.

  Ding!

  Influence +1,500 (Anger)

  Ding!

  Influence +1,800 (Humiliation)

  Ding!

  Influence +2,000 (Rage)

  Jin Yu smirked as more notifications chimed in his mind like sweet music.

  This was going to be a fun night!.

  The announcer cleared her throat, trying to recover her poise after Min Li’s thunderous outburst.

  “Ahem… sold! One low-grade spatial ring for 1,010 spirit stones!”

  Polite applause echoed in the hall. A few nobles muttered under their breath, shooting glares toward Jin Yu’s hidden VIP room.

  Min Li dusted his sleeves like he’d just cleaned up a mess. “Pathetic,” he muttered just loud enough for the room to hear. “Who wastes so much effort over crumbs?”

  Another tray was brought forward. The second assistant girl glided up the stage, lifting the red veil with a slow, theatrical motion. Beneath it sat a crystal-clear orb, swirling with traces of blue lightning.

  The noblewoman’s eyes sparkled. “Our next treasure—a Storm Spirit Core, harvested from a Rank 3 beast struck down in the Thunderfall Mountains!”

  The crowd buzzed.

  “A true gem for anyone cultivating lightning arts,” she added. “Starting bid: 3,000 spirit stones!”

  The bidding kicked off instantly.

  “Three thousand!”

  “Three two hundred!”

  “Three five—!”

  “Ten thousand,” Min Li’s voice rang out coolly, cutting through the air like a slap.

  The room went still. Heads turned. Murmurs flared again.

  “Who was that?”

  “Who bids like that from the start?!”

  Min Li pinched his sleeve and leaned forward slightly. “My young master liked the color,” he announced loud enough for all to hear.

  Ding!

  Influence +1,200

  Ding!

  Influence +1,500

  (Emotion provoked: Anger)

  The announcer smiled. “A generous leap! Ten thousand spirit stones offered from our distinguished guest in VIP Room Seven!”

  No one dared to raise the price, that has exceed the value.

  “Going once... going twice…”

  Min Li yawned dramatically. “If you waste our time again, we’ll buy the next ten items just to speed things up.”

  She replied almost immediately. “Sold!”

  If they bought the items like that, people might leave angrily.

  Jin Yu leaned over. “That one did look kinda cool.”

  Min Li beamed. “Master, your taste is beyond mortal comprehension. That orb alone is worth more than most of these nobles’ dowries.”

  Another assistant approached with the third item—a scarlet silk scroll tied in golden thread. The announcer untied it with care, revealing ancient characters glowing faintly with fire qi.

  “A mid-tier fire technique, Scorching Heaven Arts! A perfect inheritance scroll for rising fire cultivators. Starting bid—4,000 spirit stones!”

  A commotion rose instantly.

  “Four thousand!”

  “Four two!”

  “Four—!”

  “Ten thousand,” Min Li stated, like he was ordering tea.

  The hall practically gasped.

  Jin Yu froze for a second “Wait, that sounds expensive for a scrap.”

  Min Li didn’t miss a beat. “Master, this technique was beneath you, but your charitable heart simply couldn’t let these peasants fight over scraps.”

  Ding!

  Influence +2,000

  Ding!

  Influence +2,800

  Ding!

  Influence +3,000

  “I like your way of thinking,” Jin Yu nodded. “It makes being wasteful feel noble.”

  “Exactly, young master. You’re not showing off—you’re uplifting the lower realms.”

  The announcer could barely contain her smile. “VIP Room Seven has offered ten thousand spirit stones! Going once—”

  No response.

  “Going twice—”

  A desperate voice cried, “Eleven thousand!”

  Min Li raised an eyebrow. “Fifteen.”

  Another collective wince rippled through the hall.

  Jin Yu sipped his tea and muttered, “That’s a nice number. Odd, like me.”

  “Sold for fifteen thousand spirit stones!”

  Min Li sighed as if the scroll was a burden. “Honestly, master, we should donate it to the charity sects. Maybe it'll help someone with bad talent feel useful.”

  Rainbow turned orange with silent laughter, her tip wagging like a giggling tail.

  Hoazi's lips twitched slightly.

  Ding!

  Influence +2,000 (Anger)

  Ding!

  Influence +2,500 (Anger)

  Ding!

  Influence +5,000 ( Hatred)

  Jin Yu smiled, relaxing deeper into his chair.

  Hate me all you want, you can't bite me!

  “Shall we buy the next item too, young master?” Min Li asked with exaggerated reverence.

  Jin Yu thought for a moment. “Depends. Is it shiny?”

  “I'll make it shiny if it isn’t,” Min Li replied with a grin.

  Rainbow immediately flickered gold, doing a delighted twirl on Jin Yu's wrist.

  Haozi,who had been looking at all these, just shook his head, not knowing how to feel .