Soul Emperor Awakening

The Cloud Return Technique was the Lin Family’s ultimate Heart Method. Only those possessing the purest of Lin Family blood could cultivate it. It once represented the absolute honor of the Lin Family, but now it lay silently on the auction block. Anyone with enough money could simply take it away to cultivate.

Lin Xuan was overwhelmed by a complex mix of emotions, but sorrow was the most prominent. The appearance of these two items, one after the other, was proof of too much. ’At the very least, it means the Lin Family’s situation, even if we haven’t been completely annihilated, is dire enough to be considered so. Otherwise, how could these two heirlooms possibly appear at an auction?’

’More than anything, I want to know who it was that took these two heirlooms to sell them!’

Sister Ya’s words sent a stir through the crowd, as many in the audience were unfamiliar with the Lin Family. The Lin Family was not native to the Demon Cloud Sea, so it was perfectly normal for most people here not to know of them. However, they were very clear on what a Super Race was. The experts possessed by a Super Race were terrifying; they would have several masters at the Core Formation Stage, and even some with higher levels of Cultivation.

And as an item from the Lin Family, this Heart Method was undoubtedly a top-tier treasure.

"There’s no need for suspicion, everyone. This item truly belonged to the Lin Family. And what’s more, it is the absolute original—not a mere hand-copied manuscript!" Sister Ya announced, dropping another bombshell.

The difference between an original manuscript and a hand-copied one was immense. An original was written by an expert who had mastered the technique, and it contained a sliver of their Realm, allowing one to become more easily immersed in the art. A hand-copied version, on the other hand, was merely a transcription, containing almost none of that Realm. While one could cultivate using either, the difference between them was as vast as that between heaven and earth; it was no exaggeration.

To give the most direct analogy: who learns faster, someone with a master’s personal instruction, or someone without? The answer is obvious. Having a master provide personal demonstrations is infinitely better than having no master at all. Even a peerless genius would grasp the basics more quickly under a master’s tutelage!

The same principle applied to the original manuscript versus a copy. Reading the original allowed one to cultivate much faster! And, of course, their respective values were also worlds apart.

Lin Xuan closed his eyes. He could have remained calm if it were just a hand-copied manuscript, but the original... he truly could not keep his composure. Veins bulged on the hand gripping his long rod. His heart was a storm of not just anger, but an even more profound sorrow.

"Brother Lin..." Tuo Yunhai began, but said no more, simply watching quietly from the side. This was the second time Lin Xuan had shot to his feet in shock. No one would react like that unless the item was of immense importance to them.

"I’m fine." Lin Xuan sat back down, his expression terrifyingly grim. "But I must have that Heart Method!" He never imagined that the final treasure of the auction would also be an heirloom of his own Lin Family.

’This trip to the Demon Cloud Sea... it was absolutely the right decision to come.’

"Since this is an original manuscript, the price is steeper. The starting bid is five million Primordial Stones, and each raise must be no less than five hundred thousand! Let the bidding begin!" The moment Sister Ya announced the price, most of the crowd wilted. To them, five million was as unattainable as fifty million; they simply couldn’t afford it.

This was to be expected. How could the price of an original Celestial Level Heart Method possibly be low? In terms of value, a Heart Method was far more precious than Martial Arts. A Heart Method was like the Elemental Power within the body; without Elemental Power, how could one possibly execute any Martial Arts?

"Ten million!" Lin Xuan’s solemn voice boomed out.

A voice finally came from the Third Celestial Level private room, instantly shocking the entire audience. He had jumped directly from five million to ten million. Everyone wondered if the person in the Third Celestial Level room had been kicked in the head by a donkey to double the price in a single bid. Even if you were rich, you didn’t just throw money away like that, right?

"The mysterious fool with more money than sense finally shows himself! A clean double! Does he really have that many Primordial Stones?"

"He must, right? Who would dare to make a false bid like that, especially from a Celestial Level room? He’s definitely some big shot!"

"Whatever. We’re just here for the show. Let’s just watch them bid. That price is just Heaven-Defying."

...

The crowd erupted into a clamor. The mysterious guest in the Third Celestial Level room had finally made another move, and it was with another explosive bid. Only then did they recall that this was the same person who had won the Chi Dragon Heavens Rod. Wouldn’t the Cloud Return Technique be a perfect match for it? Thinking about it that way, the purchase didn’t seem so unreasonable after all.

Little did they know that Lin Xuan’s strategy was to declare such a high price precisely to discourage others from bidding any higher. By increasing the bid in such a brutal fashion, he had cowed the competition. ’That bidder is obviously a big shot with deep pockets. I could never win it, so there’s no point in competing.’ That was the thought running through everyone’s minds.

Bidding in small increments would only drag things out, waste time, and possibly drive the final price even higher. By intimidating everyone from the start, he could ensure the item would be his.

"Eleven million!" Lan Sheng followed with a bid, his voice heavy. He seethed, "How have they not found out who that good-for-nothing is yet? Why does he keep snatching the things I want? I use a long rod, too! A Heart Method perfect for me finally shows up, and if he snatches it away, how can I ever show my face again!"

"Fifteen million!" Lin Xuan shot back with a higher price without the slightest hesitation. Others were raising the bid by a million at a time; he was raising it by five million. Now *that* was the mark of a truly rich man!

In reality, he wasn’t even sure if he had that many Primordial Stones in his ring. At this moment, only one thought consumed him: ’I must win this, no matter the cost!’

"Damn it, that’s insane! Raising the bid by five million at a time..."

"That’s terrifying... Now *that’s* a real tycoon!"

"I really want to meet the person in that Third Celestial Level room. Who on earth are they?!"

...

The display was so stunning it left many people speechless. They had never seen such an aggressive bidding style. It was as if the bidder wasn’t treating Primordial Stones like valuable currency, but like common rocks!

CRASH!

Lan Sheng slammed the expensive cup at his side to the floor, shattering it. He roared, "Damn it all! Who the hell is that person?! How dare they play me like this—they’re courting death! Why isn’t that good-for-nothing back with information yet?! Who is it? Could it be someone from the Tu Family? Or the Zeng Family?!"

He didn’t dare to continue bidding. The price was simply too high, and he couldn’t go on. Eleven million had been his limit. Bidding any more wouldn’t be worth it, and his family would undoubtedly have his hide.

Even Sister Ya’s heart was trembling. The price was simply too high. While it wasn’t the highest price in history, it was definitely a record price for a Celestial Level Heart Method!

"Fifteen million! Is there any higher bid?" Sister Ya scanned the surroundings, hoping to hear another voice from the major Celestial Level private rooms. Unfortunately, the occupants of the other Celestial Level rooms were not qualified to compete; they had no chance to even participate in this game.

After a moment, Sister Ya could only bring her gavel down with a heavy THUD. "This Cloud Return Technique," she declared, "goes to the master of the Third Celestial Level private room!"

Inside the private room, Lin Xuan finally let out a sigh of relief. If the price had been pushed any higher, it could have easily reached twenty million. But forget twenty million... it looked like the combined total in all of his rings might not even be enough to cover fifteen million!

This was going to be trouble. The penalty for making a false bid was a miserable death...