The atmosphere in the auction hall was thick with tension, the air buzzing with the charged energy of powerful figures sizing one another up. No one dared break the fragile status quo—until Wei Xi, young but brimming with confidence, stepped forward to greet the opposing parties. His voice, though polite, carried a sharp edge.


    "Greetings, Uncles. Captain Nie," Wei Xi said with a slight bow. "I see you''re also here for the auction. Good luck with your biddings. We''ll be heading to our suite now."


    Yan Li, a middle-aged man from the Yan family, smirked as he responded, "Nephew, I won''t hold you back. But you should be more cautious of yourpany."


    Yan Jin, who stood at Wei Xi''s side, narrowed his eyes and replied calmly, "I see you haven''t lost your sense of humor, Yan Li. A snake calling another snake."


    The youngest of the Yan brothers, Yan Ming, bristled at the insult. His face flushed with anger as he barked, "How dare you speak like that to my older brother? You were just a ve to our family. So what if your uncle died? Riffraff like you can be disposed of anytime!"


    Yan Jin chuckled coldly, his lips curling into a smirk. "Hahaha! Little brother, you should be careful how you speak. You never know who could be disposed of next."


    Without another nce back, Yan Jin bowed slightly to the group before turning away, leaving them seething in his wake. Yan Ming clenched his fists, his face twisted with fury. Captain Nie, standing nearby, shook his head.


    "His aloof air really irks me," said the captain of the Golden Warriors. Yan Bai remained silent, his gaze fixed on the departing Yan Jin, his thoughts unreadable. But even he could feel the shifting dynamics, like dark clouds gathering on the horizon.


    Nie Li, captain of the Golden Warriors and a man with striking golden locks, let out a tired sigh. "I hope the auction has some interesting treasures. I need something to cheer me up. These new murder cases have been exhausting." He paused, ncing at hispanions. "Who would''ve thought a small town in the northern corner could cause so much trouble?"


    Ever since he tookmand, Pine City had be the stage for a series of brutal murders—or rather, bloodless murders. Bodies were discovered, drained of everyst drop of blood, their vitality and bloodlines seemingly sucked dry. The first case surfaced a month ago, and since then, more corpses had turned up in the same horrifying condition.


    Nie Li knew it was the work of a single, sinister individual. The garrison was on high alert, but he feared that chaos would erupt if the public learned of such a killer lurking in their midst.


    With a weary sigh, he led his group into the reserved suite for the auction.


    Inside Yan Jin''s suite, the mood was more rxed, though Yan Jin remained ever alert. He turned to Wei Xi with a curious expression. "Has anything exceptional happened in Pine City recently?"


    Wei Xi shrugged as he sat down. "Not that I can think of. Nie Li is keeping a tight ship. Even grandfather hasn''t been able to get any solid information."


    Yan Jin leaned back in his chair, pondering. "What treasures are you looking for, little brother?"


    Wei Xi grinned. "I''m hoping for a new spear. My old one feels too light now." Heunched into an animated discussion of spear techniques, his passion forbat evident in every word. Yan Jin listened with mild amusement, though his mind wandered elsewhere as the auction preparations reached their final stage.


    The auction hall itself was a grand spectacle. The walls were adorned with opulent tapestries, and soft lighting highlighted thevish disys of rare treasures and artifacts. The seating arrangements were tiered, allowing every participant a clear view of the stage where the auctioneer stood.


    Nobles, merchants, and warriors of high standing filled the room, their eyes gleaming with anticipation as the first items were brought forth.


    Xiao Lan, the auctioneer, was a woman of striking beauty and poise. She began the auction with a powerful voice thatmanded attention.


    "Our first item is a high-grade saber, crafted from the teeth of a Scissor Shark," she announced, her voice carrying across the room. "The starting price is sixty thousand bloodstones."


    As the saber was presented, murmurs rippled through the audience. Bids flew quickly, rising in increments as eager participants fought for the deadly weapon.


    Other items followed: a rare jade pendant said to enhance spiritual energy, a suit of armor made from the scales of a Mountain Drake, and various elixirs promising everything from increased vitality to extended lifespan.


    But it wasn''t until a particr item was unveiled that Yan Jin felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. Xiao Lan carefully unfurled a beast skin, its surface etched with strange, unidentifiable markings. The room seemed to hold its breath as the skin gave off a faint, ancient aura.


    Yan Jin''s hand twitched as the eye in his blood navel responded to the item. A subtle fluctuation pulsed from the symbol, alerting him to the artifact''s mysterious power. What is this? Yan Jin thought, his instincts screaming at him to acquire it.


    The bidding started low, but as more participants sensed its hidden value, the price soared. Yan Jin entered the fray, calmly matching every bid that came his way. Hisposure rattled some of the more eager bidders, but one determined customer pushed the price higher and higher.


    "One hundred thousand bloodstones," the rival bidder dered, his voice smug.


    "Two hundred thousand," Yan Jin countered without hesitation. The room fell silent as the final bid hung in the air. No one dared challenge him further. The beast skin was his.


    The auction hall was filled with murmurs of excitement as the bidding war reached its peak. Yan Jin sat calmly, his expression betraying nothing as his mind worked through thepetition. Wei Xi, however, could barely contain himself as the spear forged from the royal-grade Wind Wyvern''s spine was unveiled.


    It gleamed under the lights, its sharp, sleek design promising unimaginable power to its wielder.


    But for Wei Xi, it was more than just a weapon.


    The moment the spear appeared, his royal bloodline surged violently within him. The wyvern''s cry echoed in his veins, raw and insistent. His hands trembled as he stared at the spear. Sweat dotted his forehead, and he gritted his teeth as a searing pain shot through his body, as if the wyvern''s spirit within him was beingshed by invisible chains.


    "Big brother…" Wei Xi gasped, clutching his chest as his bloodline cried out for the spear. His voice trembled with desperation. "I need that spear… I can''t—"


    Yan Jin nced at his friend, the calm mask slipping slightly as he felt the agony etched on Wei Xi''s face. It was as if the wyvern spirit was tearing him apart from the inside, demanding that he im the weapon that resonated so strongly with his bloodline.


    Bids started flying fast and furious as Xiao Lan announced the spear''s starting price. "The bidding for this royal-grade Wind Wyvern Spear begins at 500,000 bloodstones!"


    Without hesitation, Yan Jin raised his hand. "Five hundred and fifty thousand."


    A deep voice from across the hall followed swiftly. "Six hundred thousand," called Captain Nie Li, his golden eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    Yan Bai, ever calcting, joined in. "Seven hundred thousand."


    Yan Jin''s gaze darkened as he nced at hispetition. His voice remained cool as he countered, "Eight hundred thousand."


    Captain Nie''s lips curled into a smirk. "One million."


    The room buzzed with whispers as the bidding escted. All eyes were now on the three bidders, each representing powerful factions. Wei Xi trembled beside Yan Jin, his body wracked with the unbearable urge to reach for the spear. His breath came in ragged gasps as the royal wyvern inside him howled.


    Yan Jin felt a flicker of sympathy for his friend. The bidding war wasn''t just about gold or pride anymore—it was a battle against the very blood that flowed in Wei Xi''s veins. He had to win.


    Nie Li leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the tension. "One and a half million," he called outzily, as if daring Yan Jin to keep up.


    Yan Bai''s expression remained stoic as he increased the bid. "One million seven hundred thousand."


    At that moment, Wei Xi let out a small, agonized cry, doubling over as if his chest was being split apart. His hands gripped the arms of his chair, his knuckles white from the strain. Yan Jin''s heart pounded in his chest—he knew they were running out of time.


    Yan Jin raised his hand again, his voice firm. "Two million bloodstones."


    A sharp intake of breath rippled through the room. It was an astonishing amount, and the entire hall fell into a tense silence. Yan Jin''s gaze remained fixed on the spear, while Nie Li''s yful smirk faltered slightly.