C16 Desolation Sword

"Pavilion Master Lan seems to have an abundance of questions today."

Su Ling narrowed his eyes, flatly refusing to answer Lan Yun's inquiries.

"Mr. Wu Chen's identity is shrouded in mystery, and I, Lan Yun, am naturally curious. I desired to learn more, but since Mr. Wu Chen is not fond of such questions, I shall refrain from asking in the future."

With a graceful smile, Lan Yun glided away with delicate steps, her alluring figure swaying as she exited the inner hall. "I wonder, Mr. Wu Chen, if you have any interest in the auction? You're welcome to join me and observe."

"Alright."

Su Ling nodded and followed her lead.

By the time Su Ling and Lan Yun reached the Auction Venue, the auction hall was bustling with attendees, and the spectator seats were completely full.

Lan Yun escorted Su Ling to the prestigious No. 1 Heavenly Room, which offered a prime view of the auction. Typically, this room was reserved for VIPs and was not open to the general public. Lan Yun's decision to bring Su Ling here spoke volumes of his significance to her.

"The auction is about to commence!"

No sooner had Lan Yun spoken than Elder Leng made his way leisurely onto the auction stage.

"Elder Leng, what treasures do we have today? Please, bring them forth!"

A muscular giant in the auction seats couldn't contain his excitement and called out to Elder Leng.

The crowd joined in, their shouts echoing through the hall. The auction was a thrilling hunt for hidden gems, where one might strike it rich by snagging an undervalued item, or conversely, overpay for a trinket of little worth. Ultimately, the auction was a gamble, with fortunes left to the hands of fate.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please, patience. The first item up for bid today is a Level Three Demonic Beast Core, starting at three thousand middle-grade Profound Crystals. Let the bidding begin!"

Elder Leng placed the lustrous Beast Core on the table, its crystal glow captivating the audience. This pristine Level Three Demonic Beast Core was undamaged and promised to fetch a handsome sum.

"This Level Three Demonic Beast Core is flawless and certainly worth the three thousand middle-grade Profound Crystals," Su Ling remarked casually, noting that the price equated to three hundred high-grade Profound Crystals—a fair asking price.

As anticipated, the bidding was fierce, and the Beast Core ultimately sold for an astonishing ten thousand middle-grade Profound Crystals.

"Paying ten thousand middle-grade Profound Crystals for a Level Three Demonic Beast Core—Hu the Butcher must have lost his wits along with his pigs," someone in the auction seats jeered with a sneer.

The man known as Hu the Butcher, his face marked with scars, shot a venomous look at the heckler and growled, "I wondered which dog was barking. Turns out it's the Zhang Family's—no, my mistake, the Zhang Family's steward."

"You!"

The steward's eyes darkened with fury as he glared at Hu the Butcher, seething, "Hu the Butcher, you'll regret this!"

Had it not been for pressing business at the auction, the steward would have never let such an insult slide.

"The enthusiasm is palpable tonight! Next on the block is an Earth Rank weapon, the Desolation Sword, reputed to have been wielded by an ancient powerhouse. This sword is razor-sharp, capable of slicing through iron as if it were clay. Bidding starts at ten thousand middle-grade Profound Crystals."

His voice modulated with precision, Elder Leng's expression was gravely serious as he masterfully controlled the auction's tempo. With great reverence, he placed a rusted iron sword on the auction table and declared, "Behold, the Desolation Sword!"

Su Ling, observing from the esteemed Room No. 1, shot to his feet at the sight of the rusted blade, his eyes wide with astonishment. It seemed inconceivable to him that he would encounter the Desolation Sword here, of all places.

"The Desolation Sword! In the battle within the Small Meru Realm, I unleashed the Heaven Demon Pearl, nearly obliterating the realm entirely. I had assumed the Desolation Sword perished then as well. To think it survived," he mused, his gaze locked on the sword, his heart pounding with shock. His demeanor turned solemn as he addressed Lan Yun, "Pavilion Master Lan, would you do me the honor of securing that sword for me?"

"Hmm?" Lan Yun paused, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. Aware of Su Ling's preference for discretion, she simply nodded in agreement, "If Mr. Wu Chen desires this sword, then I shall acquire it for you."

To Lan Yun, exchanging a sword for Su Ling's favor seemed a windfall.

"Elder Leng, surely you're not trying to deceive us? This looks like nothing more than scrap metal, not a treasure sword. And with so many notches in the blade, it probably couldn't even kill a pig!" Hu Tu scoffed upon inspecting the sword, familiar with such rusted relics in his own home.

"Ignorance," Su Ling uttered under his breath, his thoughts racing. "The Desolation Sword is a true Divine Weapon, capable of evolution. Despite its current state of disrepair, I have the means to restore it to its former glory. For centuries, it has fallen from a Sky-Rank weapon to a battered Earth Rank weapon, and now it faces scorn—all my doing."

Su Ling had watched the Desolation Sword's transformation from a Yellow Rank weapon to a Sky-Rank weapon centuries ago. The swordsmith who had created it, long since passed, had assured Su Ling of its potential to become a Divine Weapon—a rarity even in his past life of unrivaled power across the Nine Heavens and Ten Realms.

Divine Weapons were sentient arms!

"Hu Tu Fu, if you lack understanding, refrain from speaking. The Desolation Sword, though now an Earth Rank weapon, has suffered severe internal damage, rendering its restoration nearly impossible. Had it not been so, it would undoubtedly be a Sky-Rank weapon," a white-haired old man interjected, rising to his feet and regarding the sword with earnest. "Elder Leng, I offer 10,000 middle-grade Profound Crystals for this sword, to keep as part of my collection."

Elder Leng hesitated, on the verge of speaking.

Yet, the white-haired old man's claim was accurate; the Desolation Sword had once been a Sky-Rank weapon, but the great battle had ravaged its core, stripping it of its legendary might.

If that were not the case, the Desolation Sword would never have graced the auction block.

"Twenty thousand middle-grade Profound Crystals!"

A deep voice suddenly cut through the buzz of the auction hall.

All eyes turned to the speaker, a stately middle-aged man idly twirling a jade ring on his finger, who declared with a nonchalant air, "If there are no further bids, the Desolation Sword will belong to me."

"Who is this guy? How can he be so foolish?! To spend 20,000 middle-grade Profound Crystals on a weapon that's lost its power... has he lost his mind?"

"Who can say? He's probably from some wealthy clan. Only someone with deep pockets would throw away 20,000 middle-grade Profound Crystals on a useless weapon. The whims of the rich are truly beyond comprehension."

Murmurs of speculation rippled through the spectators.

The White-Haired Old Man had made it clear: the Desolation Sword, once a weapon of Sky-Rank, had suffered internal damage that stripped it of its past might. Now, it was nothing more than a collector's piece.

"Seeing as there are no new bids, the Desolation Sword will be sold to this gentleman for twenty thousand middle-grade Profound Crystals."

Elder Leng scanned the crowd, finding no one inclined to bid further, and made the announcement.

"Ten thousand High-Grade Profound Crystals!"

Just then, a deep voice echoed from the premier room.