Chapter 8: Azure Cloud City

The trip out of the Black Mist Forest took another day.

When the group finally came out the other side, the sun was already beginning its descent.

Ao Kuiba stopped at the edge of the forest.

Before him stood Azure Cloud City.

The city took up an enormous plain, surrounded by walls several hundred meters high. Blue spiritual light ran across the walls, forming complex defensive formations that covered the entire city.

Cultivators entered and exited through several huge gates.

Some rode flying swords.

Others rode spiritual beasts or luxurious carriages.

The streets behind the gates began to glow with spiritual lamp light.

Ao Kuiba observed everything carefully.

Elder Gu stood beside him.

"This is Azure Cloud City."

Ao Kuiba nodded.

"Who controls it?"

"The Azure Cloud Sect oversees the city, although several large clans hold considerable influence in the area."

"How strong?"

Elder Gu was hesitant.

"The City Lord is said to be at the Nascent Soul Realm."

Ao Kuiba’s eyes remained on the city.

"Just Nascent Soul?"

Elder Gu looked at him strangely.

"Only?"

Ao Kuiba said nothing.

There was no need for an explanation.

He walked towards the city.

The others followed.

At the gate, the guards immediately noticed him.

Their eyes lingered on his silver hair and golden pupils.

One guard looked at the faint scales around Ao Kuiba’s neck.

His expression changed.

"Beast race?"

Ao Kuiba glanced at him.

"Dragon."

The guard froze.

Even Elder Gu’s expression tightened.

The term carried weight.

Dragons were not common in the Lower Realm.

They were powerful bloodline creatures, and even the less powerful dragons were treated with caution by human cultivators.

The guard quickly moved aside.

"Please."

Ao Kuiba walked through.

He didn’t bother to hide himself.

There was no need.

Inside the city, the streets were bustling with activity.

Merchants shouted from their stalls.

Bargains were struck between cultivators.

Weapons and talismans hung from shop fronts.

Flying swords flew overhead the buildings.

Ao Kuiba’s eyes scanned everything.

The city wasn’t impressive.

But it was useful.

That was enough.

He suddenly stopped.

His hand pulled towards his waist.

There, hidden under his outer robe, he found a black ring.

It had survived the spatial rift.

Ao Kuiba stared at it for several seconds.

His spatial ring.

One of the few things that had survived with him since everything collapsed.

He immediately opened his spiritual senses and entered the ring.

The space inside was enormous.

His expression slightly changed.

It was still there.

His treasures.

His weapons.

His cultivation resources.

His ancient books.

His pills.

His formation materials.

His numerous spiritual stones.

Even some treasures he forgot he had.

The spatial rift had ruined several storage compartments, but the ring had survived.

Ao Kuiba released a quiet breath.

At least one thing had gone right.

He examined the contents.

Most of the treasures were useless to his current situation.

Not because they lacked value.

Because the Lower Realm could not properly use them.

But the spiritual stones were different.

They could be exchanged.

He withdrew several low-grade spirit stones.

Then stopped.

There was no reason to expose his wealth yet.

He closed the spatial ring.

Lin Yue noticed.

"You have a spatial ring?"

Ao Kuiba looked at her.

"Yes."

"Was it with you when you arrived?"

"Yes."

She nodded.

Clearly, she wanted to ask more.

Ao Kuiba had already turned away.

He went into a nearby marketplace.

For the next hour, he browsed several shops.

He bought some basic necessities.

Clothing.

Spiritual herbs.

A few pieces of formation material.

A map of the Eastern Wilds.

Several cultivation manuals.

He did not care for the manuals themselves.

He wanted to understand how cultivation was currently practiced in this region.

Eventually, he found a shop that sold information.

He bought a detailed map and several records concerning the major sects and clans.

Only then did he leave.

As evening approached, a large building caught his attention.

There was a golden plaque above its entrance.

Azure Cloud Auction House.

Ao Kuiba stopped.

A crowd gathered outside.

An attendant stood near the entrance, announcing the upcoming auction.

"Tonight’s auction will start in one hour!"

"Among the treasures being offered are a third-grade Earth Flame, a hundred-year Blood Jade Ginseng, three Foundation Establishment pills, a defensive spiritual artifact, and several ancient cultivation treasures!"

The crowd immediately became excited.

Ao Kuiba listened.

Then the attendant continued.

"And finally, the auction house will present a rare Void Crystal recovered from an ancient ruin!"

Ao Kuiba’s eyes changed.

Void Crystal.

That name was enough.

He had encountered them before.

More importantly, the Supreme Yin-Yang System had identified Void Crystals as one of the materials required to unlock one of the deeper functions of his Mini World.

He looked towards the auction house.

"Interesting."

Elder Gu approached.

"Are you interested in the auction?"

"Yes."

"Do you have an invitation?"

Ao Kuiba looked at him.

"No."

Elder Gu frowned.

Before he could say anything, Ao Kuiba walked towards the entrance.

An attendant immediately stepped forward.

"Senior, may I see your invitation?"

Ao Kuiba looked at him.

"I don’t have one."

"I’m afraid only invited guests may enter."

Ao Kuiba’s expression remained indifferent.

He removed a small pouch from his spatial ring.

The pouch landed in the attendant’s hand.

The attendant opened it.

His eyes widened.

Spirit stones.

Enough to purchase several seats at the auction.

The attendant’s attitude changed immediately.

"Please."

He bowed.

"I’ll arrange a private seat for you."

Ao Kuiba walked inside.

Elder Gu stared after him.

Chen Mu whispered.

"Where did he get that much money?"

Lin Yue smiled.

"You didn’t see the ring?"

Chen Mu looked towards Ao Kuiba’s back.

His expression became complicated.

Inside the auction house, Ao Kuiba was led to a private room overlooking the main hall.

The room contained a table, several chairs and a spiritual screen that allowed the occupant to see the stage below.

Ao Kuiba sat down.

A servant placed a catalogue before him.

He opened it.

There were thirty-seven items.

He slowly read through them.

Most were ordinary.

Some were useful.

A few were genuinely valuable.

The auction began.

The first item was a third-grade spiritual herb.

Bidding started at five hundred spirit stones.

The price climbed steadily.

Ao Kuiba did not participate.

The second item was a defensive artifact.

He ignored it.

The third was an ancient sword.

Still nothing.

The fourth was a set of formation flags.

Ao Kuiba finally raised his hand.

"Three thousand."

Another bidder offered four thousand.

Ao Kuiba immediately withdrew.

Not worth it.

The auction continued.

Pills.

Weapons.

Herbs.

Talismans.

A beast egg.

A cultivation technique.

Ao Kuiba occasionally bid, but never more than necessary.

He wasn’t here to spend money.

He was here to acquire what he needed.

Nearly two hours passed.

Then the auctioneer smiled.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

The hall quieted.

"Our next item is something rarely seen even in the deepest ruins."

Two attendants carried a small jade box onto the stage.

The auctioneer opened it.

A black crystal rested inside.

It was roughly the size of a fist.

There was no visible spiritual energy around it.

Yet the space surrounding the crystal distorted faintly.

"Void Crystal."

The hall erupted.

Several powerful cultivators immediately became interested.

Ao Kuiba sat upright.

His eyes fixed on the crystal.

The System interface appeared silently before him.

[Required Material Detected.]

[Void Crystal.]

[Quantity: 1.]

[Additional materials required.]

Ao Kuiba closed the interface.

The auctioneer announced the starting price.

"Ten thousand spirit stones."

A voice immediately called out.

"Twenty thousand."

"Thirty thousand."

"Fifty thousand."

The price climbed rapidly.

Ao Kuiba remained silent.

He watched.

He had enough money.

He simply wanted to know how much the Lower Realm valued something he needed.

Eventually, the bidding reached two hundred thousand spirit stones.

Only three people remained.

Then Ao Kuiba raised his hand.

His voice carried through the private room.

"Three hundred thousand."

The hall became quiet.

Several cultivators looked towards his room.

The auctioneer smiled.

"Three hundred thousand from the mysterious guest in Room Seven."

A voice from another private room answered.

"Four hundred thousand."

Ao Kuiba leaned back.

His golden eyes narrowed.

He was not angry.

He was amused.

The Lower Realm was proving slightly more interesting than he had expected.

He raised his hand again.

"Five hundred thousand."

The auction house fell silent.

The next bidder had a choice.

Continue.

Or surrender.

Ao Kuiba waited.

The auctioneer raised his hammer.

"Five hundred thousand once..."

Ao Kuiba looked at the Void Crystal.

"...twice..."

He smiled faintly.

This was only the beginning.

"Five hundred thousand three times."

The hammer fell.

"Sold."

Ao Kuiba leaned back.

The Void Crystal was his.

And for the first time since entering the Lower Realm, he had obtained something that could genuinely help him build his new future.