Chapter 461: The Demon Auction House (IX)

The auctioneer returned to the center of the stage, and this time, even he seemed more serious.

"Honored guests, we have reached the final item of today’s auction."

The moment those words were spoken, the light dimmed, and several formations around the stage activated simultaneously.

For a moment, the entire room seemed to become quieter.

"Our final item was discovered within a sealed ruin beneath the eastern mountain range. Its exact origin remains unknown, but the appraisers who examined it unanimously agreed on one thing."

He paused.

"This is not an ordinary treasure."

Two attendants carried a tall black case onto the stage.

Unlike the other cases, this one had no decorations, instead, only a single seal had been placed across its center.

The auctioneer placed his hand against it.

The seal disappeared, and the lid slowly slid open.

Inside rested a small, translucent seed.

It was colorless at first glance, but when the light touched it, faint lines appeared within its surface.

Some were red while others were gold.

Others were so dark they seemed to swallow the light around them.

The seed was barely larger than a fingernail.

Yet the moment it appeared, every cultivation expert in the hall felt something.

A subtle pressure... not the pressure of a dangerous artifact or some sort, but something that actively resonated with their soul.

Something that seemed to touch the foundation of cultivation itself.

’What is that?’ Gray’s eyes narrowed.

The auctioneer spoke slowly.

"This is the Unformed Law Seed."

The entire hall erupted.

Several cultivators stood up.

One old demon abruptly rose from his seat, his eyes fixed on the stage.

"Impossible. Where did you obtain that?"

Another noble shouted from the opposite side.

"That item should not exist outside the ancient ruins!"

The auctioneer raised both hands.

"Please remain calm. The Crimson Vault has verified the authenticity of this item. While we cannot guarantee the exact nature of the law that will emerge from it, our appraisers have confirmed that the seed is genuine."

He paused before continuing.

"The Unformed Law Seed is believed to have been created when a cultivator at the Divine Realm or above died while attempting to comprehend a new law. Rather than leaving behind an ordinary inheritance, a portion of that cultivator’s unfinished understanding condensed into this seed."

Gray’s expression changed.

’A law seed...’

Even he understood the significance.

The auctioneer continued.

"Unlike a conventional law fragment, this seed does not possess a fixed attribute. It has not yet taken a complete form. Under suitable conditions, it may be nurtured by a cultivator and shaped according to their own understanding."

Several powerful demons were already leaning forward.

"For those who have not yet reached the Overlord stage, the seed offers a rare opportunity to study the principles behind higher cultivation. For those at the above, it represents something considerably more important."

The auctioneer’s voice became heavier.

"It offers a chance to establish their own Law Seed, greatly improving their prospects of crossing into the next realm."

The room fell into complete silence the moment those words were spoken. But... the silence was quickly broken, as the room instantly exploded shortly after.

"How can you sell something like this at auction?"

"Who verified its authenticity? I want to see the report!"

"Call the family head immediately. Tell him we need to participate!"

"An Unformed Law Seed... Is this a joke?"

Even the Crimson Moon Princess had stopped looking at Elira.

Her ruby eyes were fixed on the stage.

Elira’s expression was equally serious.

For the first time that afternoon, neither woman seemed interested in insulting the other.

They were both Monarchs.

And although their bloodlines were exceptional, crossing into the Ruler Realm was not something that could be achieved simply by accumulating more energy.

The difference between a Monarch and a Ruler was enormous.

A Monarch possessed overwhelming strength.

A Ruler began to establish authority over a law.

The breakthrough required more than resources.

It required understanding.

And an Unformed Law Seed offered precisely the sort of opportunity that countless geniuses spent their entire lives searching for.

Gray watched the reactions around him.

The old demon who had stood up earlier was trembling slightly.

A noblewoman had already taken out a communication talisman.

Several private balconies were opening, allowing even more powerful figures to observe the stage.

Gray slowly leaned back.

’Now this is what I’d call a treasure.’

The auctioneer waited for the room to calm down.

It took nearly a minute.

When he finally spoke again, his voice was firm.

"The starting price is one thousand Demon Gold."

For half a second, nobody spoke.

Then a voice came from a private balcony.

"Three thousand."

The entire room went silent again.

Gray turned toward the balcony.

An elderly demon sat there, dressed in a simple dark robe. His cultivation was difficult to judge, but even from this distance, Gray could feel that he was far above the Monarch stage.

A Great Ruler, at the very least.

The auctioneer swallowed.

"Three thousand Demon Gold from the northern balcony."

Another voice immediately followed.

"Four thousand."

A young noble from one of the ancient clans raised his hand.

"Five thousand."

"Six thousand."

"Seven thousand."

The numbers climbed with frightening speed.

The earlier items had been expensive.

This was different.

No one was bidding for luxury.

No one was bidding simply to strengthen an ordinary technique or improve a weapon.

They were bidding for a chance to change the direction of their cultivation.

A single Law Seed could save years, perhaps decades, of effort.

For a genius who stood at the threshold of the Overlord Realm, it could mean the difference between advancing and remaining trapped at Great Ruler for the foreseeable future.

And for an ambitious clan, it could help produce another Overlord.

That alone was worth a fortune.

The Crimson Moon Princess raised her hand.

"Eight thousand Demon Gold."

Elira followed immediately.

"Nine thousand."

The Crimson Moon Princess looked toward her.

"You’ve already spent a great deal today."

Elira didn’t take her eyes off the stage.

"And you haven’t?"

"I bought something useful."

"So did I."

"Then why are you bidding again?"

"Because this is more important."

The Crimson Moon Princess’s jaw tightened.

For once, she had no clever response.

She looked back toward the stage.

"Ten thousand."

Elira immediately raised her hand.

"Twelve thousand."

Several nobles stared at her in disbelief.

The Crimson Moon Princess turned toward her.

"Are you serious? You cannot possibly spend that much without consulting your family."

Elira smiled coldly.

"I received permission before leaving home. Did you assume I came here with an ordinary purse?"

The Crimson Moon Princess’s expression stiffened.

Gray glanced at Elira.

’She planned for this.’

The Violet Moon Princess had come to the auction looking for several materials, but she had also prepared enough money to compete for something of much greater value.

The Crimson Moon Princess clearly had similar intentions.

However, neither had expected the other to bid quite so aggressively.

"Thirteen thousand," the Crimson Moon Princess announced.

"Fourteen thousand."

"Fifteen thousand."

"Sixteen thousand."

The auctioneer’s voice was nearly shaking.

Every new bid drew more attention.

People were whispering frantically.

A few nobles withdrew as soon as the price crossed ten thousand. Others remained seated, their expressions growing increasingly grim as their financial limits came into view.

Then a voice from another balcony interrupted.

"Twenty thousand."

The entire hall fell silent.

The Crimson Moon Princess turned toward the speaker.

A tall demon in dark golden armor stood behind the balcony’s railing, his face partially hidden beneath a mask.

Even the auctioneer hesitated before announcing the bid.

"Twenty thousand Demon Gold from the western balcony!"

Elira slowly leaned back.

Her expression had become unreadable.

The Crimson Moon Princess stared at the masked demon for several seconds, and then lowered her hand.

Gray glanced toward her.

"You’re withdrawing?"

She did not answer immediately.

Finally, she spoke quietly.

"I can afford more."

Gray waited.

"But I won’t spend an absurd amount merely to prove something to Elira. The Violet Moon Family has its own needs, and there are other ways to improve my chances of reaching Ruler."

She looked toward the stage again.

"If the price becomes unreasonable, I’ll stop."

Gray nodded.

That was the first sensible decision either princess had made since the auction began.

Elira, however, had no intention of stopping.

"Twenty-two thousand."

The masked demon turned toward her balcony.

"Twenty-five thousand."

Elira narrowed her eyes.

"Twenty-seven thousand."

"Thirty thousand."

The auctioneer gripped his hammer.

His voice rose.

"Thirty thousand Demon Gold! Does anyone wish to continue?"

Elira remained motionless.

For several seconds, it looked as though she might raise her hand again.

"Dammit..."

She slowly exhaled, closing her eyes.

"...I withdraw."

The masked demon did not react.

The auctioneer gave the room one final opportunity.

"Thirty thousand Demon Gold, going once..."

Silence.

"Going twice..."

The masked demon stood without moving.

BANG!

"Sold! The Unformed Law Seed has been sold for thirty thousand Demon Gold!"