"Clan Leader Xiao, your hairline has receded further as compared to last year."
"Oh my, I'm sure you needn't worry about it, Clan Leader Yan. Your bald head is as lustrous as ever."
Sparks flew in the air as two middle-aged men glared at one another, controlling themselves from erupting into a fight. Of course, they had fought on multiple occasions but had resulted in a draw every time.
They formed two of the four Clans that dominated their city--Red Spirit City.
The two parties glared at one another before taking their respective seats in the front. The front-most seats of the auction were relegated to the four Clans that controlled the city: Yan, Xiao, Han, and Shi.
Following it were seats for the Elders from the four Clans and other people of power in the City, including those from the other guilds.
Behind it were the younger generation of the four Clans and other powers and at the very back were the commoners that came to bask in the excitement of the atmosphere.
"I hope your ribs are fine." Xiaoan cupped his fists respectively when chancing upon Yanyuan.
In response, Yanyuan snorted and walked away, respectfully taking Gahrat to her seat in the second row.
"Who's she?" Xiaoan frowned in response, feeling it was suspicious that Yanyuan treated her with so much respect while not even reacting to his taunt.
"She's a mere Grade 2 Inscriptionist. The Yan Clan must have spent a fortune to invite her, but it's of no use. Given a year, you'll surpass her." His master's voice resounded, filled with derision.
"It might be worth it to look at their swollen faces when that time comes," Xiaoan smirked as he took a seat among the younger generation of his Clan.
Of course, Gahrat's senses were trained on Xiaoan all along, observing that he was treated with disdain by his Clansmen. The only exception seemed to be the girl named Cheur, but she wasn't being open about it.
'So, it's at that stage.' Nodding in response, Gahrat calmly waited until the auction began.
Luosha, the Red Spirit City Inscription Guild branch director arrived on stage, smiling at the audience as she said, "Since we had a great item to sell today, we collaborated with the other guilds to increase the number of auction items and make this more interesting."
"Here's to hoping everyone has fat enough purses to last until the end." Grinning by the end, Luosha waved her hand, watching a couple of staff push forth a trolley. There was a bowl at the top, covering the item inside.
She set aside the bowl, lifting up the flask inside as she said, "This is a Grade 2 Artifact, the Water Flask. It can store up to two hundred litres of water inside. It has also been installed with a Grade 1 Array to keep the water cool and fresh for extended durations. And best of all, this can be stored in a spatial ring."
"Starting price is 60 Mystic Crystals! Each increment should be a minimum of 10 Mystic Crystals." She announced the beginning of the auction.
"80!"
"90!"
People began to bid for it immediately just for fun, knowing very well that such an item would fall into the pockets of the rich. They just wanted to embark on the hype train.
'This would be plenty useful when I travel across the land later.' Xiaoan thought, but he couldn't bid for the item. After all, he didn't have any money.
"Idiot, just quote a price. The director would take care of your costs." His master's voice resounded in his ears right at this time, "The only other Grade 4 Inscriptionist in this guild branch is the director herself. So, she values a Grade 4 Inscriptionist. And, making a favour for you is the best way to make your master owe her."
In this case, the master he was referring to was Xiaoan himself, or rather, the Grade 4 Inscriptionist he disguised himself as.
"With another Grade 4 Inscriptionist in her guild branch, the branch's status would rise, leading to more benefits for her. So, just buy whatever you want. She'll take care of the costs. Just ensure to not exceed 28,000 Mystic Crystals, which might be the selling price of our Grade 4 Inscription. Until then, she'll cover all your costs."
"Alright," Xiaoan nodded as he entered the auction, startling his Clansmen, making them wonder how he had so much money.
"250!" Xiaoan quoted.
'Hmm, the maximum worth of this Artifact is 490 Mystic Crystals.' Thinking as such, Gahrat took out an inscription that she activated, communicating with Yanyuan to whisper in his ears, "Bid for it but stop at 490 Mystic Crystals. Force Xiaoan to outbid you."
"Granny Kiyo?" Yanyuan was surprised to hear her voice before breaking into a smile, 'I don't know what is happening. But since Xiaoan is being targeted by her, I'll gladly do it.'
'Strange, did Xiaoan get the backing of an Inscriptionist?' Just as he thought as such, Yanyuan noticed a bracelet appearing on his hand out of nowhere as Granny Kiyo's voice resounded in his ear.
"Keep it on you at all times. That'll protect you."
For a moment, he wondered why Granny Kiyo was helping him all of a sudden, but as he noticed Xiaoan actively participating in the auction, he gradually came to an understanding, 'So, Xiaoan became the apprentice of an Inscriptionist. And, they might be someone Granny Kiyo dislikes. So, she's using me to teach them a lesson.'
Only that made sense as he knew for a fact that Xiaoan didn't have any money. At this thought, he became excited, 'This means that if I do well, Granny Kiyo might accept me as her disciple.'
What Yanyuan wasn't aware of was the fact that when he thought about Xiaoan, the Mental Energy stream he generated flowed into the bracelet on his hand, being stored there. This prevented the enemy System from catching onto his plan.
Following that, Xiaoan and Yanyuan engaged in a bidding war, unaware of the schemes being enacted by the entities behind them respectively.
