Evan Lin stared at the hundred-million figure blazing on the screen, feeling as if he were floating on air. "This time, there's no way anyone can fight me for it. In the Immortal Realm, who can possibly compare to my stash of Immortal Stones? Let them try! Now I can finally enjoy some peace." He couldn't help but mutter to himself, a smug grin creeping across his face as the sense of dominance and relief washed over him.
"One hundred million Crystal Coins, first call!" The old man’s voice screeched through the hall, shrill and grating—like a pig being slaughtered, making everyone wince.
"One hundred million Crystal Coins, going once! Going twice! Sold!"
Congratulations to the master of Second-class VIP Room 16 for winning the Immortal sword! Who would have thought the very first item would spark such fierce bidding? Next up, the second lot: a Five-Element Gold Fruit.
Absorbing the Gold Fruit’s metal energy can greatly boost your strength. I’m sure everyone knows its value, so I won’t belabor the point. Starting bid: one million Crystal Coins, minimum increase of a hundred thousand. Bidding begins now...
Evan Lin had zero interest in the Gold Fruit. He turned to Lotus and said, "Shut off the screen for now. I really don't want to hear that old man's voice. Turn it back on when the energy crystals appear."
Lotus smiled, sending out a beam of white light. Instantly, the auction screen vanished from the wall, returning the room to its original quiet.
Meanwhile, the gossip in the VIP rooms was running wild about Evan Lin's crazy bid for the fire-attribute Immortal sword. "Is Room 16's guy out of his mind? Who the hell throws that much Crystal Coins at a sword?!"
That's a hundred supreme-grade Immortal Stones! That sword's only upper-grade—it's not even close to being worth that much," scoffed a middle-aged man to the nearly naked young woman sprawled in his arms, barely glancing at her as she moaned softly.
If he's willing to blow a hundred supreme-grade Immortal Stones on a sword, that guy must be drowning in stones. I bet he'll bulldoze everyone when the real treasures show up," someone else muttered in another VIP room.
Inside this VIP room sat three people: a young woman, a middle-aged man, and an elder whose ethereal bearing made it impossible to gauge his strength.
"How dare anyone compete with me for the fire sword! If I find out who you are, you'll know exactly how terrifying I can be!" roared the naked youth in Room 3, his face twisted with rage as he pinned a bruised, unconscious girl beneath him.
"Little Moon, if you see anything you like, just tell Daddy—I'll buy it for you. It's your first trip out since you came back, so don't look so gloomy, alright?" the middle-aged man said to the girl beside him, his tone doting.
"If something catches my eye, I’ll bid for it myself—no need to worry, Daddy," the girl replied, her voice calm. But inside, a storm of longing swirled: 'Evan Lin, will you come to this auction? Maybe you can't make it—getting in here takes a mountain of Immortal Stones. Even Logan Vaughn would struggle, and you must have burned through countless stones to cultivate all these years. What realm have you reached now? I miss you so much...'
Even Logan Vaughn’s Immortal Stones aren’t enough to get into the inner hall, and you must have used up a fortune over the years. What realm are you at now, Evan? I really miss you.
The auction continued, but Evan Lin sprawled out on the bed, pretending to sleep and ignoring all the other lots. He’d told Lotus, "Only open the screen when those energy crystals come up—and make sure to mute that old man’s pig-slaughtering voice. I can't stand it."
As time passed, Lotus managed to bid for a decent offensive artifact for herself, always offering the minimum increment. She didn’t dare spend Evan Lin’s Immortal Stones carelessly, but her cautious approach still drew plenty of attention.
Since Evan Lin was the first to win an item—and with such a shocking bid—everyone remembered Room 16. Now, seeing Lotus bid so little, many assumed Room 16 was running out of Immortal Stones and couldn’t keep up.
Evan Lin was completely oblivious to all the rumors swirling outside. He wasn't really asleep—he was locked in a silent conversation with his Immortal Infant. The Immortal Infant's tone was grave: the last time you unleashed Stellar Power, the backlash was so fierce that my injuries haven't healed yet. The seal won't break easily this time.
It would take at least five days—four and a half at best—to unseal the Chaos Immortal Force. Only one day had passed, so Evan Lin would remain vulnerable until half a day after the auction ended. His Immortal Infant urged him to stay cautious and avoid being targeted.
Though frustrated, Evan Lin could only endure. Just then, Lotus hurried over: “Young master, the energy crystals you wanted have appeared. They’re no longer priced in Crystal Coins—the bidding’s switched to Immortal Stones, though only low-grade ones for now.”
“Got it. What’s the current bid?” Evan Lin asked.
“It’s already up to five million low-grade Immortal Stones—that’s five hundred supreme-grade stones. If you don’t act soon, someone else might win it,” Lotus said anxiously.
Just then, in another VIP room, the girl tugged her father's sleeve. "Daddy, please bid for that Waterglass Crystal—I really need it."
Her father glanced at her, puzzled. "Little Moon, what do you want the Waterglass Crystal for? You don't have a water attribute—it's not really useful for you."
“Just buy it for me, Daddy. If I say it’s useful, then it is,” she insisted, knowing the Waterglass Crystal could help Evan Lin reach the second layer of Watershift.
"Come on, Xander, just buy it for her. She's been so down lately—it breaks my heart," said the beautiful woman beside them, her voice full of concern.
He laughed. "Did I ever say I wouldn't buy it? For Little Moon, I'd spend any amount of Immortal Stones. That Waterglass Crystal is ours!"
Meanwhile, Evan Lin told Lotus, “Raise the bid by a thousand supreme-grade Immortal Stones. I don’t want anyone else fighting me for the Waterglass Crystal—it’s crucial for my cultivation. You know what I mean.”
Lotus nodded. “A thousand supreme-grade Immortal Stones is ten million low-grade ones, young master. If you bid that much all at once, won’t some people resent you?”
“Don’t worry about them. Just follow my instructions—bid when it’s time,” Evan Lin said.