Suddenly, Feng Yu opened his eyes; a felt a feeling of weariness overcoming his body. He moved his hand to his neck trying to catch his breath, as beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.
"Haa... haa..." As he regulated his breathing, he looked around the room only to see Hui Ying and Dai Lin looking towards his hand holding the tablet with excitement.
"Brother Yu! It seems you have succeeded in cracking the language behind this strange Sword Tablet, look the sword is about the come out!" Hui Ying said as he observed the Ancient Stone Tablet break apart piece by piece.
Dai Lin looked towards Feng Yu and asked with concern, "Young Master, are you feeling alright?"
Hearing Dai Lin's words Hui Ying moved his vision to Feng Yu only to see something strange, an odd purple marking appeared on the left side of his forehead for a moment, but quickly it disappeared after a flash of green light.
Feng Yu feeling a bit better now wiped the sweat off his forehead as he replied, "I'm... I'm fine now... let's check out this sword."
Crumble! The moment the sword tablet broke to pieces the rusty crimson sword Feng Yu saw in his dream soon appeared within the room, it floated in the void for a short period before making its way to Feng Yu who then grabbed its hilt.
Rumble! The Mystery Pavilion started to shake as an unknown aura filled the space, soon this aura spread across the entire town, which then expanded further covering the kingdom, the empire, and eventually, the outer continent.
∞ ∞ ∞
In a distant land, a young man sat in crossed-legged posture as he looked towards the sky. As if sensing something strange he furrowed his brows and spoke, "This Aura? How odd? Why is his presence here?" As he said this, he pondered for a moment before no longer paying any attention to the strange change.
"It doesn't matter even if you arrive here, destiny will not change..." Xiang Fang said as he closed his eyes and fell into a state of deep sleep. If one were to look closely at this scene, they would see that surrounding his body was a strange star like formation diagram. It glowed with flashing lights occasionally which gathered star like auras from the heavens themselves towards his form.
∞ ∞ ∞
The sea became chaotic as ripples of waves spread across the endless ocean, and clouds that were as dark as night blanketed the sky. The sound of thunder could be heard, as green colored lightning dancing amongst the clouds crashed about indiscriminately. It was a dreadful storm which only could be found in this strange region beyond land.
Within this storm was a small boat, it was no more significant than the rafts used for fishing, but oddly enough, it remained firm and steady within this dangerous, deadly storm that could destroy the hopes of any man.
Inside of this boat was a man with braided hair who wore a straw-like bamboo hat, as he laid on his back with both legs crossed over each other, dressed in a simple loose-fitting shirt and shorts along with sandals on his feet. If one looked carefully on his face, they would see a stubble of beard and eyes that gave off a sharp light, resting on his chest was a strange looking blade with dark spatial runes on its edges.
As this strange man relaxed on his journey into the unknown, he was soon disturbed by an unusual presence. He lifted his head and looked towards a specific distant part of the sky as if piercing the sky to see through the dark clouds and arriving at the place that gave of the unique aura.
"Oh? Purple Rose Sword Exault, Interesting, I never thought I'd see the day this aura once more came into being..." The man said as an interested glimmer shone deeply within his eyes. Vaguely, the direction of the small boat changed slightly as it slowly made its way across the distant treacherous seas towards an unknown distant land.
∞ ∞ ∞
Within the Mystery Pavilion only a few powerful individuals looked up towards the sky, but none of them could pinpoint the location of the strange aura. WhiteMask who was currently observing the bidding of an item looked towards the sky with a strange light in his eyes; soon a smirk became visible underneath his mask as murmured, "Destiny has found its path!"
Inside of the VIP Booth, Hui Ying and Dai Lin looked towards Feng Yu in surprise, as they saw the strange sword hover in the air for a moment before resting in Feng Yu's hand. However, after that happened, there was no apparent change in the sword as it seemed like nothing more than a simple rusted sword.
Hui Ying frowned, he looked towards Feng Yu and asked, "Brother Feng! Is this sword any good? Why does it seem like it’s nothing special?"
Dai Lin looked at the sword puzzledly.
Feng Yu hearing their responses smiled as he gently stroked the sword and he replied, "This sword is different, but not everyone will be able to release that. Its name was faded when I received its legacy as it was called "R--------H. However, I'm sure the further I grow with this sword the more of its secrets I will be able to unearth."
Dai Lin and Hui Ying looked at each other with a strange expression, but soon they decided to ignore his statement and asked another question.
"Then Brother Yu, since you do not know the name of this sword. What will you be calling it?" Asked Hui Ying.
"This sword? Hmm..." Feng Yu replied as he sunk into thought after a short while he lifted the sword towards the ceiling before Dai Lin's and Hui Ying's gazes. He looked at the rusty crimson sword that was giving off an invisible prestige that only he could currently feel and spoke in a soft voice that resounded within the room.
"I call you! Crimson Ember..."
Chapter 42
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The Auction's Finale!
Inside of the Mystery Pavilion, within the Auction Room, the auction was beginning to grow further intense as more and more top-class influences were starting to take part in the bidding war for the various items being auctioned. Currently, there was a pair of ancient-looking shoes that had golden feather wings attached to its edges. It gave off a noble aura as if it was above the standard of rare graded treasures while it floated silently above the exhibition platform.
The auctioneer WhiteMask looked at the audience as he spoke of this unique pair of shoes, "Guests and Honoured Guests, our 30th item for auction today was created by a Grandmaster Level craftsman from craftsman empire Margerum. It is an artefact that can gift its user the ability of primary flight but only for a short period. While it is not comparable to actual flying, it could still prove to be useful for anyone below the realm of great True Soul realm experts!" As he said this, he waved his hand, and a series of recorded images began to display in front of the audience of the item being used by an individual.
The audience seeing these images were surprised some of them started to make a commotion.
"I must have this item at all costs!" An individual from the bottom layer said as he looked at the shoes with greed.
"If I have his Treasured Artefact, it should be able to increase my chances of exploring the upcoming mystic realm," Ji Weng said as he looked at this artefact with fire in his eyes.
Seeing the look in Ji Weng's eyes, Xuan Bei frowned as he looked towards Mistress Xuan, upon seeing his look Mistress Xuan sighed as she nodded her head giving him the go ahead.
"Hmm, this items grade must at least be that of upper-rank earth tier for it to be capable of utilizing the fragments of the natural laws that govern flight," An expert from the fifth layer said in slight admiration as he looked at the floating shoes.
"Great! Introductions are now over, the starting price for this item is five hundred and fifty thousand low-grade essence stones!" WhiteMask said as the competitors immediately began to bid once more with even more outrageous prices.
"The Molten Axe Sect offers six hundred thousand low-grade essence stones!" An influential individual from the sect said.
"I Ji Weng offers six hundred and fifty thousand low-grade essence stones!" Ji Weng said as he raised his auction plate.
"I Xuan Bei offers seven hundred and fifty thousand low-grade essence stones!" Xuan Bei said.
The crowd who were observin
g the proceedings started to chatter as they heard these two characters competed.
"The Western Genius versus the Eastern Prince, hmm, this should make for quite an entertaining bout," A man seated on the second layer said.
Tang Wu and Xin Qing looked at the two in surprise, but soon they came to realize why they were bidding for the item. Tang Wu looked at the pair of floating shoes and shook his head while saying, "It's pointless to waste money for such an artifact, after all, even if one could fly for a short time inside of the mystic realm who's to say there won't be unexpected dangers in flight."
Xin Qing who share a similar idea also observed the two betting with a look of mockery on her face as she thought inwardly, “Hmph! Such big dummies! I wonder what they do if they found that getting such item only increases the risks they will face?"
As the auction continued Feng Yu, Dai Lin, and Hui Ying had also been paying attention towards its proceedings. Currently, the two swords were resting on Feng Yu's legs, bounded together as if trying to achieve resonance.
"Young Master, do you not want anything more for yourself?" Dai Lin asked who was now playing with a sparkling black gauntlet with his hands. Vaguely, a spark of blue electric current would flow over the hard edges on its surface.
Feng Yu looked towards Dai Lin and replied, "I'm fine, I've already gotten what I've set out to acquire, now I only need to wait and see if this final auction item is actually as special as what is listed in the catalogue."
He then placed on a sly smirk when he saw the gauntlet in Dai Lin's hands and spoke once more, "Heh, Dai Lin it seems you've taken quite a liking for those gauntlets."
"Haha! Of course, these fist weapons are very suitable to my combat style I can't wait to try it out in actual combat," Dai Lin replied as a look of confidence came over his face.
"Hmm, then why not we have a match when we head back to the Manor? I'd like to test my swords as well," Feng Yu said with a teasing look in his eyes.
"Eh? Young Master is joking! I... I've only just gotten the items, I think I'll need to consolidate my cultivation base and train the new members of Dawnwing a bit..." Dai Lin who was now feeling a bit flustered said nervously.
Hui Ying seeing his laughed as he added, "Hahaha! Brother Feng, looking to bully your retainer why not add me to the fun?"
"The more the merrier!" Feng Yu said as his eyes boiled with fighting spirit.
After a while of talking Hui Ying then asked Feng Yu, "Brother Yu, what do you think of the final item in the catalogue?"
As Feng Yu heard this, he was about to reply, but suddenly there was a change in the auction room.
Slam! WhiteMask slammed the cane in his hands onto the ground and looked towards the audience and spoke, "Sold to the genius of the western kingdom!"
"Damn! That bastard!" Xuan Bei cursed as he looked towards Ji Weng with hatred visible in his eyes.
"Heh! Brother Xuan, you're still too early to be challenging me at betting games," Ji Weng said in a voice that reached only Xuan Bei's ears.
Clap-clap! Suddenly, WhiteMask clapped his hands together, and the lights within the auction began to change.
Flash. Flash. Flash.
Soon, a collection of multiple different lights collected on the exhibition platform, creating an even more colorful scene as WhiteMask stood silently within the center of the stage. He looked towards the audience as raised his hands and spoke in a loud voice.
"Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests. We have approached the end of today's auction; I'd like to introduce our final item today, that I'm sure many of you will find rather interesting. In fact, it is the very item that many of your esteemed individuals have come to today's auction to claim. I present to you..." As he said this, he snapped his fingers causing a change to occur on the stage once more.
Phew! With a bright blinding light soaring from the center of the sage to the ceiling an ancient and old looking piece of paper soon quickly appeared on this paper was a series of locations, each mapped out in an incredibly detailed and specific order. The article had an image of a dragon that coiled itself around its edges, seemingly to be alive.
As the influential individuals saw this scene, they couldn't help but feel excited, most individual at the most top layer of the betting room had also begun to grip their betting plates firmly.
Feeling that the time was right, WhiteMask smiled underneath his mask and spoke once more.
"I present to you... the Ancient Dragon Battlefield Chart!" WhiteMask shouted as is voice resounded throughout the room.
As Feng Yu and Hui Ying saw this item, the two of them couldn't help but feel surprised.
"So, it was actually a chart of the mystic realm. No wonder it didn't clearly describe what the item was in the catalogue, as it would have alarmed even more terrifying individuals into struggling to partake in this auction!" Hui Ying exclaimed as he looked at the item floating on the platform.
"Indeed, this is going to be one fierce battle," Feng Yu said as he looked towards this item.
"Brother Yu, does your family want this item? I don't think you'd be able to snatch it away from the noses of these individuals," Hui Ying said as he looked towards Feng Yu curiously.
"Ha! You're mistaken Brother Ying; I never intended to compete with these guys for the unknown item related to the Ancient Dragon Battlefield from the very beginning," Feng Yu said.
"What!" Both Dai Lin and Hui Ying replied as looked at Feng Yu with surprise.
"Then why did you still bother to stay after acquiring your sword?" Hui Ying then asked puzzledly.
"That's simple! Apart from my objective, I was given one more task to accomplish while attending the Mystery Pavilion's Auction, and that was..." Feng Yu once more responded as he looked through the window at the forms seated on the topmost layer.
Soon, a few individuals could be seen seating themselves at the center of the top layers influences, the influential individuals who sat around them adopted a more docile and passive attitude.
Seeing these individuals seated among these forms Hui Ying looked at Feng Yu in shock as he stated, "Aren't those the three individuals from the last time?"
"Un! That's right, and they are most likely the strongest party that has gathered here in Machen Town. My task was to gather as much information as possible about the hidden influences gathered at the auction. Now that they have made their appearance my duty is now complete, as that symbol gathered on that man's chest says it all," Feng Yu said as he pointed towards the man seated by the three familiar individuals from their last encounter.
Hui Ying following gesture looked at the symbol on the chest of the man; it was a golden dragon embellished with delicate golden threads from of unknown materials.
"That symbol, so they were actually from there..." Hui Ying said with a tone of surprise.
"The Golden Dragon Empire's group..." Dai Lin said as he looked towards them with a bit of reverence.
Feng Yu looked at the figure of the young man seated among the individuals with a sharp look in his eyes as if sensing something the young man looked towards the wall directly staring at Feng Yu's position.
However, he soon moved away from his vision after furrowing his brow slightly.
"We meet again, mysterious youth..." Feng Yu murmured as his voice faded away into the commotion taking place.
Chapter 43
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Dominant Display, End of the Auction
The scene in the auction room was a picture similar to that of a battlefield, as all influential parties were at 'daggers-drawn' glaring at each of their competitors fiercely. The Bright Flame Kingdom, Southern Wasteland, Western Kingdom along with a few hidden parties each began to prepare themselves for the battle to go down.
The auctioneer WhiteMask smiled to himself as he observed the mood of the atmosphere with interest, momentarily casting his gaze towards the group that just appeared in the most top layer of the auction room. Quickly, he clapped his hands together once more waking each of the in
fluences from their moods.
"Honoured guests, as most you can already guess. The item before you is precisely the chart that was used by practitioners in the age of Pre-Calamity when exploring the exploring the Ancient Dragon Battlefield. The Mystery Pavilion has preserved it as a keepsake of the past era, but now, things are different, as we are willing to auction this item in the hopes of contributing to the appearance of the Mystic Realm," WhiteMask said with a sincere tone.
"Hmph! It's no wonder they called an auction at this time. It seems they've noticed the changes in this region and want to use our aid along with the Divine Prophet's information to find the entrance to the mystic realm," A man garbed in decorated robes said. He was seated at the topmost layer and had a pendant necklace around his neck was with an engraving of a flame that shone across a vast mountain range.
"Your Excellency! It is as you say, even the emissaries of the Golden Dragon Empire have made their way here. We may not be able to claim the leading position even in our own hosted gathering at the selections," A skinny looking man said who wore dark-colored ancient formal wear, with a beard that reached down to his knees, and sharp cunning eyes.
"Indeed so, it's no surprise that they would get involved, they didn't even bother to enter the VIP rooms, as if they didn't care to make their presence known to the top class. It's a pity that only a few individuals have noticed thus far," The man with the flame pendant said.
Madam Xuan who was observing the item smiled as she spoke to Xuan Bei, "Bei Child, we must claim this item no matter the cost, it is the only way to ensure that we are another step ahead of the foreign influences."
"You don't have to tell me twice! I know that!" Xuan Bei replied in annoyance as he looked at the Ancient Dragon Chart with flames in his eyes.
Ji Weng, Tang Wu, Xin Qing along with the Southern Wasteland and Hidden Influences looked on in silence as the tension in the atmosphere grew thicker. As WhiteMask saw that each of the influences were ready, he then waved his hand causing a bright light to cover the Ancient Dragon Chart as he spoke once more, "The bidding will now commence; the starting price is..."
Dual Sword God Box Set Page 28
