The office was rather charming for someone of her nature. Of course, Kent wasn't focused on that. His eyes wandered over various things as he entered the office.
"Master Kent, once again, thank you for choosing the Silver Leaf Auction House," Manager Alina said. Although the pill was just Tier 0 and not particularly grand, its purity was what intrigued her.
Kent understood this. The pill was quite beneficial for many cultivators. A 75% pure pill could enhance cultivation speed by 30 times for five hours. It wasn't much, but in the world of cultivation, even a single level-up was something many cherished.
Advancing in cultivation didn't just bring more power; it also extended one's lifespan, making even minor progress highly valued. So, despite being a Tier 0 pill, it was still superior to most. Of course, the 91% pure pill would last seven hours and increase speed by 50 times.
A 95% pure pill would work for nine hours, enhancing speed by 55 times, while a 99% pure pill could sustain 24 hours of cultivation at a speed 60 times greater than normal.
This meant that if your normal cultivation speed was already high, the pill would amplify it even further. It was a powerful pill and slightly challenging to concoct, but Kent had pursued it regardless.
Of course, if the tier of the pill were higher, its effects would increase progressively. The same applied if the pill achieved 100% purity, which, in the alchemy world, was referred to as the "perfect pill."
A pill without even an atom of impurity—that was Kent's ultimate goal.
"No need to be so formal, Manager Alina. Just call me Kent, and I'm happy to be working with your auction house as well," Kent said with a calm smile.
Manager Alina returned his smile and said,
"Although this might sound a bit unofficial, I'd like to purchase your pills personally. Of course, I wouldn't be paying the standard rate. Since this would be a back-channel purchase, I'd inflate the price by 20% so you could benefit more."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "I would have loved to include these in one of our weekly auctions, but since this week's auction is nearly over, I'd prefer to buy them directly from you."
"Okay," Kent said without hesitation. He didn't even need a moment to think it over. He wasn't particularly fond of the purity level he had achieved anyway. Selling anything less than a perfect pill felt like an insult to his status as an alchemist, so he didn't mind skipping the auction altogether.
"Really?" Manager Alina was surprised by how casually he accepted her offer.
"I don't mind you buying them directly from me," Kent said with a gentle smile.
"Thank you," Manager Alina said.
Kent nodded as she pulled out a sheet and began reviewing it. It listed the buying and selling rates for pills traded at the Silver Leaf Auction House.
"According to the auction house's approved purchase rates," she began, "the 75% pure pill sells for 30 spirit stones, the 91% for 80 spirit stones, the 95% for 100 spirit stones, and the 99% for 150 spirit stones."
"With the 20% increase I promised, the prices I'll pay you are as follows," Manager Alina continued. "The 75% pill will be 36 spirit stones, the 91% pill will be 96 spirit stones, the 95% pill will be 120 spirit stones, and the 99% pill will be 180 spirit stones."
Kent handed over his pills. He had one 75% pill, one 91% pill, two 95% pills, and four 99% pills.
Manager Alina calculated the total. "For the 75% pill, it's 36 spirit stones. For the 91% pill, 96 spirit stones. The two 95% pills come to 240 spirit stones, and the four 99% pills total 720 spirit stones."
She smiled. "That's a grand total of 1,092 spirit stones. I'll have it prepared immediately."
Kent nodded calmly. "That works."
She smiled and entered an inner office to retrieve the spirit stones.
"Looks like alchemy sells well," Kent muttered, smiling at Unity, who was gazing back at him.
"Indeed. The richest and most powerful people I know are all alchemists," Unity replied. "Especially those who have joined the alchemy sects and hold official alchemy badges."
Kent raised an eyebrow at that.
Kent wanted to ask Unity where he could find such a badge since the information was already included in the pill records he received from the alchemy tower. Alchemists were expected to carry a badge that indicated their grades, which directly reflected their skill and power.
Currently, Kent was just a normal alchemist. In alchemical rankings, he was considered a mere Alchemy Adept. The hierarchy began with Adept, followed by Master, Grandmaster, King, Emperor, Sage, and more.
Although many addressed him as "Master," he had not yet earned that title. To officially claim it, he needed to concoct at least a 50% pure Tier 1 pill.
Before that, however, he would have to register with an established alchemy guild or sect to receive a badge. Such a badge would grant him access to numerous privileges, and, over time, he could accumulate enough power that even kings might bow before him.
"I guess I'll find a sect and join it to get one of those badges. Then I can start making plenty of money to spend on you and the sisters who will join you in the future," Kent said with a playful smile.
"Is that why you were staring at Manager Alina's ass when we were coming to her office?" Unity asked, smirking mischievously.
"She has a cute ass; no doubt about that," Kent admitted with a grin, knowing he'd been caught despite his attempts to be subtle.
"Sister Vexthra says you're a pervert, but I think she might have underestimated you," Unity teased, her cheeks tinged with a blush.
"Two rounds of sex, and you're already this bold. I wonder what you'll be like after five more rounds," Kent said with a sly smile. He reached for her thighs, gently massaging them with his [Divine Pervert Hands] skill. The technique was as effective as ever, leaving Unity's body trembling.
But before things could escalate further, Manager Alina returned, leaving Unity in an awkward state. Her lower lips twitched involuntarily from the brief but potent stimulation.
"Here are your funds, Master… erm… Kent," Alina said, handing him a small pouch of spirit stones.
"Nice doing business with you, Manager Alina," Kent replied, extending his hand for a handshake.
Alina smiled, accepting the gesture. "You can just call me Alina, and the pleasure is mine."
Kent nodded and stood up. Unity sighed inwardly, summoning all her willpower to rise as well.
"By the way, Kent, the weekly auction started not long ago. There might still be some valuables up for bidding. If you're interested, you and your lovely lady are welcome to join," Alina said, giving Unity a knowing smile.
"Oh, I've never been to an auction. If it's alright, could we join this one?" Kent asked, though he already knew her answer.
Alina nodded. "Follow me," she said, turning and walking out of the office. Her hips swayed noticeably more than before.
[A cat has entered the trap, Master.] The tower teased.
<Yummy,>
Kent thought with a grin as he pulled Unity into his arms. Together, they followed Alina, his eyes glued to her swaying Ass.Alina led them up a staircase to a room labeled with the number 14. As they entered, the noise from outside abruptly vanished, leaving the space eerily quiet.
It was as if the room existed in its own little world—silent and isolated. Only Kent, Unity, and Alina were inside.
Alina smiled as she gestured around the room. "This is one of our VIP viewing rooms. It's designed for privacy and comfort."
She pointed to a large tinted glass panel on one side of the room. "That glass looks opaque from here, but with the press of this button," she tapped a small panel on the wall, "you can make it clear to watch the auction below."
The glass became transparent, revealing a large, elegant auction hall filled with people. On the stage, a finely dressed auctioneer was presenting a glowing red crystal. The sound of bidding filled the air.
"Speaking of privacy," Alina continued, "this room is equipped with noise cancellation. If you activate it, no one outside can hear anything from inside, and vice versa.
"It's perfect for discussions or if you simply want quiet." She pressed another button, and the noise from the auction suddenly disappeared. Pressing it again brought the sound back.
Alina walked to a small table in the corner. "We've also provided refreshments—wine, tea, and some light snacks. If you need anything else, just ring the bell, and a server will attend to you."
She turned to Kent and Unity with a smile. "Feel free to relax here and enjoy the auction. If anything catches your eye, just raise this token," she said, handing Kent a small silver plate with the number 14 engraved on it. "Our staff will handle the rest."
Kent nodded, examining the token. Unity, meanwhile, moved to the glass, peeking at the hall below. The auctioneer's voice echoed through the room.
"Next, we have an exquisite Tier 1 defensive talisman, starting at 50 spirit stones!" the auctioneer announced.
Kent smirked. "Looks like we got here just in time."
"Good luck on your first auction, Kent. Let me know if you need anything else," Alina said, lingering for a moment before leaving. It was clear she was reluctant to go, but Kent knew better than to rush things.
Now that contact had been made, he would make his move eventually. Whether he sought a new harem member or just a casual fling depended on what he wanted.
After Alina left, Kent stepped forward and sat down on the comfortable couch. Unity followed and sat beside him, only for Kent to casually pull her into his embrace.
He reached over to the panel, turning the glass opaque and activating the noise-canceling feature.
"Is everything okay down there?" Kent asked with a smirk. He could smell it—Unity was wet, her arousal betraying her.
"Are you seriously asking me that?" Unity glared at him, but the blush on her face gave her away.
"Sorry about earlier," Kent said with a mischievous smile. "How about I make it up to you by giving you a chance to have your revenge?"
Unity's blush deepened, but she raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Revenge, huh? And what exactly do you have in mind?"
Kent chuckled, gently brushing a stray strand of her hair back. "Simple. I'll let you take control this time," he said, his voice low and teasing. "Do whatever you want, and I won't resist."
Kent wasn't even down when Unity lunged at his shaft. She quickly unzipped his trousers, bringing out his divine rod.
"Oh," Kent smiled. "Hungry that much?"
Unity didn't mind him.
Unity quickly made her move, taking Kent's shaft into her mouth. She didn't hesitate, as she planned to drain him by the time the auction was over.
Soon, Kent's full length stretched, veins popping. Unity, of course, was more than happy to hold it with both hands as she moved her head, sending Kent to the moon.
Ten minutes into her mouth game, Kent felt his load building. He could come anytime, but since Unity seemed to be enjoying it, he let her have her fun.
"I am coming dear," Kent said making sure she was ready. A few seconds later, his load rushed through his dick shooting down Unity's throat and painting her mouth with his juice.
Unity smiled through it all as she massaged his balls making sure he shot every last drop of his load. After the last drop came from all the massaging and squeezing of his dick, Unity gulped and smiled.
"Satisfied?" Kent asked.
"Yes... But I want it down there," Unity said, blushing.
"Then why sit there?" Kent reached for her, raising her onto his lap. He then gently lifted her and, using his finger to slide her pants sideways, positioned her tiny hole at the tip of his shaft. Slowly, he lowered her, making sure the full length entered her body.
Once he was sure she was alright, he began moving her hips. It took just a few seconds for Unity to adapt to the tempo. She then picked up the rhythm and began moving her hips, making her butt slap Kent's lap as she rode him.
Their moans filled the room, sealing everything in.
Unity kept moving her hips, making Kent's thick rod slide in and out of her lower lips. Her pace quickened, growing much faster—a clear sign of how aroused she had become, all thanks to a single technique.
The [Divine Pervert Touch] skill, now in use by Kent, began to reveal its true potential. Essentially, the skill allowed his hands to convey whatever he was thinking. It wasn't limited to arousal or making a woman desire him more within seconds.
No, the skill went deeper. It transferred his intentions directly to the recipient, meaning he could just as easily calm someone's body with a mere thought and touch if that was his goal. A versatile and undeniably overpowered ability, it quickly became one of Kent's favorites.
But for now, his focus was on Unity. He loved the juices pouring onto his lap as her hips twitched uncontrollably, her dam breaking again and again. Her moans echoed through the small VIP room, filling it with raw passion.
After 30 minutes, Kent decided it was time to climax as well. Not wanting to miss the auction entirely, he ensured Unity's satisfaction by making her climax four times in that half hour before finally blessing her with his juice.
It took them another ten minutes to compose themselves and rearrange their clothes. Once ready, Kent touched the glass, turning it transparent, and deactivated the noise-canceling feature, allowing the sounds from outside to fill the VIP box once again.
At that moment, the auctioneer was bringing in the next bid.
The auctioneer stepped forward, holding a tray covered by a velvet cloth. With a dramatic gesture, he revealed a shimmering blue dagger, its blade pulsing faintly with light.
Kent narrowed his gaze at the dagger, but he didn't have to do much since the Tower had already analyzed it and given him a report.
It was just a Mortal-grade Item with only one descent freezing effect. It wasn't anything fancy, so Kent immediately decided not to bid, but that doesn't mean he wasn't interested in those bidding.
====
[Items grading system: Mortal, Earth, Heaven, Legendary, Mystical, Immortal, Divine, Ancient...]"Next item," the auctioneer announced. "The Azure Frost Blade! A rare weapon capable of freezing anything it cuts. Starting bid: 100 Spirit Stones! Minimum increment: 10 Spirit Stones!"
The hall buzzed with energy. A man in the regular seating stood up, raising his token high. "110 Spirit Stones!" he shouted.
Another voice quickly followed, "120 Spirit Stones!" This time, it came from a young woman seated with a group in the corner.
From a VIP room, the number 8 token rose silently. The auctioneer's sharp eyes caught it immediately. "VIP Room 8, 130 Spirit Stones!"
Unity leaned closer to Kent, her voice soft. "That's Victor Giln, heir to the Giln Merchant Family. They control most of the trade routes in Caprath. Ruthless, but reliable."
Kent nodded, keeping his focus on the bids.
A loud shout interrupted the quiet VIP bidding. "140 Spirit Stones!" This time it was an older man in the front row, his tone firm.
Unity pointed discreetly to another VIP room as a token with the number 5 rose. "150 Spirit Stones from VIP Room 5," the auctioneer announced.
"That's Lady Seraphine, head of the Sylvan Merchant House," Unity murmured. "She has ties to two of the royal families. Watch her. She's dangerous."
The bids climbed higher as tokens rose in quick succession. "160! 170! 180!" The excitement grew, with voices overlapping and tokens flashing from all corners.
Another silent bid came from the VIP Room 9. The auctioneer's voice rang out, "200 Spirit Stones! VIP Room 2 takes the lead!"
Unity glanced at the room and then back at Kent. "That's from the Zarnoth Clan. They're not merchants, but they run Caprath's largest alchemy guild. Their resources are frightening."
The bids began to slow. The older man in the front row tried again. "210 Spirit Stones!" he called out.
But a token rose from VIP Room 8 once more. "220 Spirit Stones!" the auctioneer announced.
The older man sighed and sat down, shaking his head. The auctioneer waited for a moment before raising his gavel. "Going once! Going twice! Sold to VIP Room 8 for 220 Spirit Stones!"
Kent remained silent, observing the power plays between the bidders. Unity smiled softly.
"See how they move? That's Caprath's upper circle, always maneuvering for the best position. They'll be useful to know later."
"I guess I would have to rely on you more, my love," Kent said, holding Unity's hand. He wasn't using his skill this time, but he could tell from the way she squeezed his hand that she felt good.
"Then I will do my best to be useful," Unity replied with a blushing smile.
After the dagger was sold, the next item was presented—a Tier 1 pill recipe. The auctioneer's voice boomed as he described its details. "This is a recipe for the Body Strengthening Pill A staple for any alchemist beginning their craft. Starting bid: 100 Spirit Stones!"
The moment the auction began, the alchemists in the hall came alive. Voices rang out from the regular seats, and tokens rose from the VIP rooms in rapid succession. The bids escalated quickly, despite the recipe being for a basic Tier 1 pill.
Kent, however, remained still. The Tower had already advised him against participating, so he focused on something else instead.
He leaned back and turned his attention inward, bringing up his system interface to review the rewards he had received from completing two recent quests involving Unity.
***
[Congratulations on completing the quest: Pleasure on the Road. Your reward is in Tower Storage.]
Kent mentally accessed his Tower Storage, retrieving a cylindrical disc that appeared deceptively ordinary. Yet, as he held it, he felt the untamed, violent aura that pulsed from within.
[Instant Killing Disc]
[Grade: Heaven]
[Effects:]
- Lethal Strike: Instantly eliminates a target when thrown, as long as the target's strength does not surpass the user's by two major realms.
- Return Function: Automatically returns to the user after activation.
- One-Time Recharge: Can be recharged using 5000 Spirit Stones or equivalent energy.
***
Kent examined the disc with interest. A tool to instantly kill someone on the same strength level as him or not two major stages above him. That is a deadly tool. In situations where he wanted not to raise his sword, he would just throw a disc.
[This tool isn't that simple Master. If your soul strength is stronger than your opponent's, even if they are Three stages above you, it can still kill them. And the current you can recharge an energy equivalent to 5000 spirit stones within 5 minutes.
So this means you can use it every five minutes]
"Impressive," Kent muttered to himself, smirking. He could already think of a few ways to use it. Meanwhile, the sound of escalating bids for the pill recipe continued in the background, drawing him back to the present.
Unity, noticing his slight distraction, leaned closer. "What is it?" she asked softly.
"Just something new," Kent replied with a smirk, slipping the disc back into storage. "Something very useful."
Unity nodded, and Kent returned his focus to the Tower Storage, retrieving another item. This time, it was a skill book. The title on its cover read [Appraiser's Eye] in bold, golden lettering.
Without hesitation, Kent tapped the book to his forehead. A flash of light enveloped him as the knowledge from the book was absorbed directly into his mind. The book disintegrated into specks of light and vanished.
Unity blinked, clearly startled. "What did you just do? Where did the book go?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Kent smirked. "I learned the skill directly. The book was just a medium, and once I absorbed the knowledge, it was no longer needed."
Her eyes widened. "You mean... you didn't even have to read it?"
"Exactly. This husband of yours is no simple person you know" Kent replied casually.
"I know, you have a goddess as your first wife after all" Unity smiled recalling her skepticism when Kent told her about Vexthra.
Looking back the past hour, she would have hated herself if she had continued with her simple thinking of not wanting to tarnish Kent's image by becoming his woman.
Her life was changed within hours. Now, she has the means to become her own powerhouse, and for one, she had Kent, the stranger she decided to give her purity to thank.
He glanced at the Tower interface to confirm his new skill.
---
[Appraiser's Eye]
[Grade: Rare]
[Rank: SS]
[Effects:]
- Allows the user to analyze the value, origin, and hidden properties of any item with a glance. It also works on people. It allows you to see their worth and potential to a certain extent.
- Can detect forgeries and identify true worth.
- Consumes Spiritual qi passively when in use.
***
Unity tilted her head, intrigued. "So, what does this skill do?"
"It lets me assess the true nature of items. No tricks, no forgeries. Perfect for places like this," Kent explained, gesturing to the auction below.
"Now I can see through anything they bring out here, no matter how well they try to hide its flaws or secrets."
She smiled softly. "That's… impressive. You'll never get cheated having such a skill."
"That's the plan," Kent said, smiling. Now, he wouldn't have to rely solely on the tower to know some of the important things.
He quickly retrieves the last reward he got, a nice card with the name Spirit Stones Multiplier Bingo Card written on it.The words Spirit Stones Multiplier Bingo Card were neatly inscribed on its surface in elegant, golden letters. Just looking at them exudes luxury and money.
Kent turned the card over in his hand, inspecting it closely. Unity leaned in, curious as ever. "What's that?" she asked.
"A bingo card, apparently," Kent replied, holding it up so she could see.
He wasn't worried about Unity knowing some of his secrets. Vexthra had lovingly warned her about some of the dangers and rewards of being with Kent. Essentially, she cautioned her against entertaining any funny ideas.
But that was just Vexthra being overprotective. Kent had no fear of the women he placed the seal on betraying him. While it wasn't a slave seal, it prevented them from uttering a word of betrayal without catastrophic consequences.
Even without the seal, Vexthra had already ensured that her technique included an additional safeguard. If Unity dared to betray Kent, and the Harem seal somehow failed, her Anti-Betrayal seal would activate.
Essentially, the goddess wanted to ensure that no harm could come from those Kent trusted to be part of him on his journey to the top. She was determined to help him live a good life surrounded by trustworthy lovers.
Unity was now one of them. She belonged to Kent—body, heart, and soul. She wouldn't betray him, even under threat. Then again, with her sister being a goddess, anyone daring to threaten her would quickly learn the consequences.
"But it's not just any bingo card. Let me check the details."
***
[Spirit Stones Multiplier Bingo Card]
[Grade: Legendary]
Effects:]
- Grants the user a chance to multiply Spirit Stones through a game of bingo.
- Each square represents a task or challenge. Completing a row, column, or diagonal activates the multiplier.
- Multiplier varies depending on the number of lines completed, ranging from 2x to 20x.
- Unused after 30 days, the card self-destructs.
***
Kent raised an eyebrow as he read the description. "Interesting… This could turn out to be extremely useful—or a complete waste, depending on the challenges. But still, 2 times is better than nothing. No lost here"
Unity chuckled softly. "I guess Big Sister Vexthra didn't say all those things for nothing. You really are a mystery. Makes me wonder what I would've done if I'd chickened out when you wanted me to become your woman.
Thank you."
Her gaze reflected genuine emotion, her feelings clear and heartfelt. Unity was indeed very happy at that moment. Her decision to take such a bold step, despite knowing the societal downsides, had proven to be a great one.
"Hey, listen to me. You are now my woman, so I don't want to see you acting inferior to anyone. You deserve all the love and care now, so be proud instead.
"Plus, I currently don't have any achievements, so basically, I'm a nobody. But by the time people start to recognize me, you'll also become a powerhouse. And I doubt that even if people knew your background, they'd dare to mock you.
"But even if they do, it'll just give me a reason to cut them down," Kent said with a cute smile. Yet Unity knew he meant every single word.
"Then don't slack off. Make me happy so I can make you happy too," she grinned.
"Oh, I see..." Kent smiled and returned his attention to examining the card. Unity continued to stare at him, lost in thought. Suddenly, a voice entered her head.
< You're happy now, aren't you? > Vexthra's voice spoke, causing Unity's eyes to widen for a moment.
< Big sister, how are you contacting me? I thought we had already exhausted our five minutes, > Unity asked. The five-minute telepathic connection between her and Vexthra had been used up, so how was she contacting her now?
< I am a goddess, little sis. Although, for some reason, I couldn't connect with Kent, when I tried it on you, it worked. Now, we can talk all day long. >
< This is good. I guess Kent's going to love to hear this, > Unity smiled.
< Yeah, but for now, don't tell him. Let this be our little secret until I figure out a way to include him, > Vexthra said, making Unity nod slightly.
Although she didn't know how Vexthra managed to contact her, Unity knew she had to trust her, even though keeping such a secret from Kent didn't sit well with her.
< Don't worry, Unity. I just need a few days. If it doesn't work out, you can tell him. Maybe he can take advantage of it. He's already found a loophole, so I bet he could come up with something too. > Unity smiled, this time genuinely.
At least she wouldn't have to hold the secret for long.
"You can tell Vexthra I said hi." While Unity was doing her best to hide her expressions so Kent wouldn't see them, his voice suddenly entered her head, making Unity pale slightly.
< Shit. > Unity transmitted to Vexthra.
< He found out, didn't he? > Vexthra asked, an amused expression playing on her face as she sat in a hot tub in the god realm.
< Yes... I guess I wasn't sneaky enough, > Unity said, casting Kent a guilty but cute smile.
"You don't actually think I wouldn't notice something like this, do you?" Kent said with a teasing smile.
Just like Vexthra, he had tried using his connection with Unity to tap into her connection with Vexthra to gain some extra minutes, but something was preventing him.
Of course, the Tower had said it was the laws governing the world. This meant that, at his level, he wouldn't be able to penetrate those laws.
However, he knew Vexthra could, and the only reason she was able to do so was because of the tower tattoo mark under their bellies. Unlike Kent's women, he didn't have the tattoo, which was understandable considering he was the one giving them out.
But what he didn't know was that the moment he added two women to the harem, their souls were linked. Since they both possessed the same essence—the yin essence—so Vexthra used this bond to weave through the laws, giving her direct contact with Unity.
"You are not mad we tried to hide something this important from you?" Unity asked.
"Why would I be? This is a good thing. You can now talk to your sister any day. This also means if I need something, I can just ask you to tell her. It's a win for me, and since she is a goddess, you can benefit greatly by consulting her on your cultivation.
"So from the way I see it, this would be less work for me teaching you and more time for other things," Kent said with a perverted smile.
Unity leaned in and hugged him. "From me and Big Sister," she muttered before turning away and beginning to converse with Vexthra.
Kent smiled and then decided to focus on the auction. At that moment, another item was sold for 400 spirit stones. Then the next item was brought in.
It was an old sword sheath with no beauty to it, but the moment Kent saw it, thanks to his Appraiser's Eye skill, he recognized its worth.
He immediately made up his mind to buy this sword sheath no matter what.The auctioneer stepped forward, holding the old sword sheath in his hands. He looked at the crowd with a smile, though there wasn't much to say about the item.
"Next up, we have this... sword sheath," the auctioneer said, his voice uncertain. "It looks ordinary, but it is said to have been found in a ruined battlefield by a group of adventurers.
"They discovered it among the wreckage of ancient weapons. As far as we know, it's just a simple sheath, but who knows what secrets it may hide? The bid starts at 150 spirit stones, with 50 spirit stones increments. Let's begin!"
Kent's eyes narrowed. He knew exactly what it was. The sheath wasn't ordinary at all. Hidden within the simple exterior was a mechanism tied to an ancient artifact, one that could unlock great power when paired with the right sword.
He could see it. The sheath's true value. Kent wasn't about to miss it specially, since he doesn't have a sheath just yet.
The crowd remained quiet at first, unsure of the sheath's true value.
"200 spirit stones," a voice called from the back.
"250," someone else immediately replied.
Kent raised his token bidding 300 spirit stones.
"350," another bidder called.
Kent's gaze remained locked on the sheath. He would not let it slip away. "400 spirit stones." He bid again
"450," a voice in one of the VIP booths called out. They have the option just to raise their tokens, but this figure called out the bid instead. Kent turned slightly, sensing the challenge.
"500," Kent said, his voice firm.
"550." This time, the voice was feminine.
It came from VIP room 2. Kent's eyes darted toward that room. Of course, he couldn't see inside since the glass was opaque, but the noise-canceling barrier had been lowered.
He couldn't see the person, and when he used his divine sense, he felt blocked by something. Of course, he immediately recognized the presence of superiority. But was he going to back down? A big no.
"600," Kent raised the bid again.
This did not sit well with people who recognized the voice from VIP room 2.
"Wasn't that voice familiar... I feel like I've heard it before," one person in the regular stands muttered.
"I know... It sounds like someone we should know," another person said.
"I get it now. That is the Sword Saintess from Divine Palace Sect... Sword Saintess Selene!" Suddenly, the first person exclaimed, stunning those around him.
The realization spread quickly through the crowd. Murmurs filled the air as people turned to each other in disbelief.
"Sword Saintess Selene?" someone whispered, eyes wide with recognition.
"She's famous," another muttered. "One of the strongest sword users in the kingdom. And she's bidding on this? There must be something special about it."
As the name settled in, some in the regular stands began to grow uncomfortable, especially those who had been bidding before Kent. They had hoped to win the sheath without competition, but now they saw an expert like Selene entering the fray.
Kent, however, remained focused. He wasn't about to back down, no matter who was bidding.
"650," Kent raised the bid again, his voice steady.
From VIP room 2, Selene's voice followed immediately. "700."
A voice came from another VIP booth, this time from room 5. "750." It was the voice of some arrogant heir, clearly trying to fuel the tension.
"800," Kent called out, his determination unwavering.
"850," Selene countered, her voice calm but firm.
The bidding war continued. Kent could feel the eyes of the crowd on him, some silently cursing his persistence. They saw him as just a newcomer, daring to challenge someone of Selene's reputation. The murmurs in the stands grew louder.
"Why does he keep bidding?" someone complained. "Doesn't he know who he's up against?"
"He's just making a fool of himself," another said, shaking their head. "Doesn't he realize he's outclassed?"
But Kent ignored them all, his eyes locked on the sheath. He wouldn't let it slip away. He would win this.
Inside VIP room 2, Sword Saintess Selene narrowed her gaze in Kent's direction. With Kent being a mere level 6 Root Blossom, she had no trouble seeing him. For someone of her standing, it took little effort to spot such a low-level presence.
When her eyes landed on him, a startled expression flashed across her face.
"This kid..." she muttered under her breath. Then, a small smile appeared on her face. It was a rare sight, and the glass between them kept her expression hidden from the rest of the room.
At that moment, the bid hit 1000 spirit stones. It was Kent who had raised it once again. Selene looked at his determined gaze for a few seconds, considering the situation. She could tell he was not going to back down, no matter the cost.
With a soft sigh, she decided to let him have it. There were other things she could pursue. The auction was just a distraction, after all.
In VIP room 5, the arrogant heir who had been fueling the flames with his bids suddenly stopped. He had just learned that the woman bidding against Kent was Sword Saintess Selene, one of the most revered figures in the kingdom. Hearing this, one of his subordinates whispered to him.
"Young master, that's Lady Selene... the Sword Saintess," the servant said quietly, his voice filled with awe.
The heir's expression shifted. He had no desire to clash with someone of her status. He knew when to pick his battles. With a scowl, he decided to back down.
Kent, however, was oblivious to the silent shift in the room. He had won the bid. The sheath was his.
The auctioneer's voice rang out, breaking the tension in the room.
"Going once… going twice… sold to VIP room 14!" he announced.
The crowd fell silent as Kent's victory was confirmed. The auctioneer looked toward the attendants, signaling for the item to be delivered.
A servant quickly moved toward the back of the stage, carefully retrieving the old sword sheath. The servant then made their way through the crowd and up toward VIP room 14, where Kent was waiting.
Upon arriving at the door, the servant knocked politely before entering. "VIP room 14," the servant said, bowing slightly before placing the sword sheath on the table in front of Kent.
Kent nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes never leaving the sheath. After a moment, he took out the spirit stones and handed them to the servant.
"Here," Kent said.
The servant bowed again, accepting the payment. "Thank you for your purchase, sir."
Kent smiled, satisfied. He had what he battled for. Now, it was time to see what secrets the sheath held.
Unity was leaning back, still conversing with Vexthra in her mind, so Kent didn't bother her. Instead, he retrieved his sword from the space ring he had taken from his dead master's body. Well, it wasn't theft—more like an inheritance, just like the sword itself.
He raised the sheath and slid the sword into it. A satisfied smile spread across his face, then he bit his finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the sheath.
The moment his blood touched it, the sheath vibrated slightly. Then, as if shedding its skin, the rusty, ordinary appearance faded away. In its place, a neat golden leather sheath appeared, decorated with intricate runic markings. Kent's smile widened as he ran his fingers over the markings, feeling the power coursing through it.
[Congratulations, Master, for winning a Soul item: The Nine Calamities Sword Sheath.] The Tower said
Inside VIP room 2, Sword Saintess Selene's eyes widened as she watched the transformation. She had seen countless items in her time, but this... this was different.
"This kid... I need to know who he is," she muttered to herself, her curiosity piqued.
Thirty minutes later, the auction ended. Kent, who hadn't bid on anything else, stood up with Unity, who paused her conversation with Vexthra until they returned. The two of them left the room, heading toward the herb store for the ingredients he ordered.Kent and Unity left the auction house and headed toward the herb store to claim the order they had placed there. However, before that, Kent went to bid farewell to Manager Alina.
Since Kent's purity level was nearing perfection, he was eager to quickly move beyond the Pill Adept stage and achieve the rank of Pill Master.
This would unlock the Primordial Pill Master Alchemy records from the tower, granting him access to Tier 1 and Tier 2 pills. It would also enable him to concoct advanced versions of Tier 0 pills, which he planned to sell to Manager Alina in the coming days.
His goal, however, was to amass enough money to start using the Bingo card he had won from the Destiny Changer quests given to him by the Tower.
Reflecting on it, the sex had indeed been a pivotal event. Unity had changed her destiny simply by sleeping with Kent, taking a decisive step toward a new future when she became the sister of a goddess.
One could argue that Kent's d*ck was, quite literally, a destiny changer.
"Thanks for your hospitality, Alina," Kent said to Manager Alina.
"You're always welcome to sell at my Silver Leaf Auction House," Manager Alina replied with a polite smile.
"Then we'll be leaving for today. I'll return in a few days to sell more pills," Kent said before walking away with Unity, leaving behind a calm yet contemplative Manager Alina.
For someone who had written numerous movie scenes involving men making moves on women, he knew exactly what he was doing. The lingering question, however, was whether he intended to make an official move on her or keep things as a casual fling.
That question, of course, would be answered in the coming days.
"So, you bought a sword sheath. Very cute," Unity said, finally noticing the sheath in Kent's hand. She had been deep in conversation with Vexthra the entire time and had missed the battle over the sword sheath.
"Yes, I bought it after battling some lady for it. It's a nice sheath—a very good one," Kent said with a smile. While most people might overlook the true nature of the sword sheath, he could see its worth.
In fact, he knew that if they had understood its secret, it would never have been sold in a routine weekly auction. The Nine Calamities Sword Sheath was far too powerful to be sold for just a few spirit stones.
So far, the Tower had revealed two critical aspects of the sheath, knowledge that only surfaced after Kent formed a soul contract with it. While Kent had always known the sheath was highly valuable, he was still uncertain about the exact reasons for its worth.
That was where the Tower's vast reservoir of knowledge came into play. It unearthed two key features of the sheath. The first was something any swordsman would kill for—and in Kent's case, he would have massacred for it.
The sheath housed a mechanism that increased sword comprehension speed by an astonishing 100 times. Essentially, when comprehending sword techniques, simply being near the sheath would exponentially accelerate the process.
For Kent, who is practicing the first form of the Genesis sword technique, [Sword Mind], this was a game-changer. By immersing himself in the sheath's aura, his comprehension speed would actively increase while maintaining his connection to it.
Moreover, with the soul bond he had formed, Kent possessed greater control over this enhancement than anyone who might use the sheath as a mere auxiliary tool.
This meant he no longer needed to unsheathe his sword to delve into the mysteries of the sword path. As long as the sheath was with him, his comprehension would remain consistently strong.
Additionally, with the sheath by his side, wielding the sword would bring unprecedented clarity. It was a "broken" artifact that many would undoubtedly kill for.
But that wasn't all. The sheath also concealed a powerful sword technique. Now that Kent had bonded with it, he gained access to this hidden treasure.
The technique was called the [Nine Calamity Sword Strike], a Mystical-grade technique consisting of nine forms. Currently, Kent could only access the first form, known as the [True Despair Sword Arc].
This technique utilized sword aura to create arcs of radiant sword light. However, its true essence lay in its name: Despair. When the attack connected—or even approached—a target, it induced overwhelming despair in the recipient, often breaking their spirit before the strike landed.
This psychological edge was especially potent against those with weaker minds. To maximize its potential, Kent only needed to enhance his mental strength, making the attack exponentially more devastating.
Of course, Kent intended to give the technique to his goddess for further refinement once he began using it. Her adjustments would ensure its full potential could be unleashed when the time came.
Having a wife who was a goddess certainly had its advantages. Kent was intent on making the most of it. After all, during their year of intimacy in the god realm, Vexthra had repeatedly encouraged him to leverage their connection whenever possible.
"Welcome back, distinguished customers!" the store owner greeted them warmly as soon as they entered the herb store. They had been gone a little over the eight hours Kent had initially estimated.
"Sorry for being late," Kent said with a small smile.
"No need to apologize, distinguished customer. By the way, your order has been processed and is ready for collection," the woman said, extending her hand and presenting a space ring to Kent.
"Thank you," Kent said as he accepted the ring. "How much do I still owe?" he asked, knowing he had already paid 100 spirit stones in advance.
"You only have 85 spirit stones left to pay," the woman replied. Since the ingredients were merely Tier 0, they weren't particularly expensive.
"Here you go," Kent said, retrieving 100 spirit stones from his storage and handing them to her with a polite smile. "I'll be coming back in a few days to purchase Tier 1 and Tier 2 recipes, so consider this extra as a gesture of goodwill for our future deals"
The lady received the shiny spirit stones with a thankful gaze. "Thank you for doing business with me," she said warmly. "I'll be looking forward to our next transaction."
Kent nodded and left the store with Unity. The gazes of several women lingered on him as they made their way back to their carriage.
"How was your trip through the city, young master?" Uncle Drew, the carriage driver, asked as they approached.
"It was great, thanks for asking," Kent replied with a smile, noting the subtle shift in how Uncle Drew now addressed him. Receiving 50 spirit stones for simply driving a carriage all day was probably beyond anything a carriage driver would ever anticipate.
"We should head back," Kent added, helping Unity into the carriage before climbing in himself. Moments later, they were on their way back to the Alderford Family estate.
Since John Alderford had graciously offered Kent a place to stay for as long as he wanted, he saw no reason to refuse. For now, he planned to delay returning to his master's place until he had settled his affairs here—most notably, his plans to join the Divine Palace Sect.
The carriage began its journey out of the city and toward the Alderford mansion. However, only a few minutes into the ride, the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
Before Uncle Drew could say anything, an attack appeared right in front of his face.
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