Chapter 94: Damian Bids For Revenge
The auction soon began.
A graceful female deacon walked onto the stage and smiled toward the crowd. After a few simple opening words, the first item was brought out.
It was a long sword.
The blade was bright, the edge was sharp, and faint spiritual patterns glowed along its surface.
The deacon introduced it with a clear voice. "First item, Top-Rank Profound Grade sword, refined by one of our sect’s blacksmith elders. Starting price, thirty thousand Low-Rank Spirit Stones."
The disciples below immediately became excited.
"Top-Rank Profound Grade!"
"Good sword!"
Soon, bids started rising.
Damian watched for a moment, but his expression slowly became strange.
After the sword, several more weapons appeared, and all of them were the same kind of Top-Rank Profound Grade weapons.
The disciples below kept bidding enthusiastically, but Damian only frowned. "Why only this?"
Akane turned toward him. "Only this?"
Damian pointed at the stage. "Aren’t we all Foundation Establishment cultivators? And this is the Heavenly Sword Sect. We even have blacksmiths in the sect, right?"
Raika calmly looked at him. "Yes."
Damian continued, "So shouldn’t Top-Rank Profound Grade weapons be normal? Why is everyone acting so excited? Why not Noble Grade weapons?"
The room became silent for a moment.
Akane and Raika both looked at him.
Damian blinked. "What?"
Akane smiled helplessly. "Damian, our sect is strong. Really strong. But that does not mean every disciple is rich."
Raika nodded. "Not every inner disciple has a Top-Rank Profound Grade weapon."
Damian’s expression paused.
Akane explained, "Most Foundation Establishment disciples use Mid-Rank or High-Rank Profound Grade weapons. Top-Rank Profound Grade weapons are already considered very good."
Raika added calmly, "Noble Grade weapons are usually for Golden Core cultivators, core disciples, elders, or disciples with powerful backing."
Damian rubbed his chin. "So that’s how it is."
Akane looked at him with amusement. "You probably feel this way because Elder Selvara gave you a Noble Grade sword directly."
Damian touched his dark-silver sword and coughed lightly. "I see. So Master spoiled me without telling me."
Raika glanced at him. "You only realized that now?"
Damian ignored her.
He looked back at the auction stage and muttered, "Still, this is an inner disciple auction, right? I thought there would be more amazing things."
Akane laughed softly. "This is not some legendary grand auction where ancient treasures appear every three breaths."
Raika said, "There should be Noble Grade items later, but not many. They will probably be the final items."
Damian’s eyes brightened slightly. "So there will be Noble Grade items?"
Akane nodded. "Most likely."
Damian leaned back in his chair and smiled again. "I see..."
His earlier boredom disappeared a little.
Top-Rank Profound Grade items were not too useful for him anymore, but for gifting, they might still have value.
Especially if the item matched the person.
If something suitable appeared, he could buy it and turn it into a proper gift.
That was why his grin widened.
Akane noticed his expression and narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why are you smiling like that?"
Damian looked innocent. "Me? I’m just enjoying the auction."
Raika said calmly, "You look like you are planning something shameless."
Damian placed one hand over his chest. "That accusation hurts."
Raika looked away. "Stop looking so guilty then."
Damian chuckled and turned back to the stage. "Fine, fine. Let’s see what good things appear first."
Soon, another item was brought onto the auction stage.
This time, it was not a weapon.
It was a thin jade slip placed carefully inside a small transparent box. Around the box, several small sealing talismans glowed faintly, protecting the jade slip inside.
The female deacon smiled and spoke clearly. "Next item, Top-Rank Profound Grade talisman formula."
The moment those words came out, many disciples below lost interest. After all, most people here were sword cultivators.
Weapons, sword arts, pills, and cultivation resources were useful to everyone.
But talisman formulas were different.
If someone was not a talisman master, buying this thing was almost useless.
However, the moment Damian heard those words, his eyes moved slightly.
Beside him, Raika suddenly froze.
Her calm expression changed for the first time.
Her bright yellow eyes locked onto the jade slip on the stage, and even her fingers tightened around her teacup.
Damian noticed it immediately, and a grin slowly appeared on his face.
The female deacon continued, "This formula is called the Thunder Net Locking Talisman. Once activated, it can form a thunder net to restrict an enemy’s movement. It is especially useful against fast opponents."
Several disciples below started whispering.
"Thunder attribute?"
"Too bad. I don’t know talismans."
"Even if it’s good, only talisman masters can use it properly."
The deacon smiled. "Starting price, thirty Mid-Rank Spirit Stones."
The room became quiet for a moment.
Raika’s eyes trembled slightly.
Akane also noticed and looked at her friend. "Raika?"
Raika did not answer.
Damian leaned back lazily and picked up the bidding token on the table.
Before anyone else could react, he raised it.
A formation carried his voice from the private room to the auction hall.
"Fifty Mid-Rank Spirit Stones."
The entire hall paused.
Many disciples looked up toward the private room.
Inside the room, Raika immediately turned toward Damian.
Damian looked back at her and grinned. "What?"
Raika stared at him silently.
Damian’s grin became even wider. "You want it, right?"
Raika opened her mouth but did not speak.
Akane covered her lips, trying not to laugh.
Damian clicked his tongue softly. "Come on, Raika. Don’t look at me like that. You’re making me feel like some heroic young master saving a beauty in an auction."
Raika’s eyebrow twitched. "I did not ask you to bid."
Damian nodded shamelessly. "True. I just guessed."
Raika looked away. "I can buy it myself."
Damian rested his chin on one hand and smiled. "Of course you can. But I’m buying it first."
Raika turned back to him. "Why?"
Damian’s eyes curved with amusement. "Because before, you kept testing me, attacking me with talismans, and acting all calm while bullying me."
Raika’s expression stiffened.
Damian leaned closer with a playful grin. "Now it is my turn."
Akane finally laughed softly. "Damian, you really are petty."
Damian placed one hand over his chest. "Wrong. I am generous and petty at the same time. A rare talent."
Raika stared at him for a few breaths.
Her expression remained calm, but the faint redness near her ears betrayed her, making Damian grin even more.
