The interior was vast and refined, filled with quiet authority rather than noise. At the reception counter, a woman dressed in official attire looked up.
Her gaze briefly swept over Ye Xiu before flickering toward the sword at his waist. For a fleeting instant, a faint ripple of spiritual energy escaped from it before being completely suppressed.
Her posture straightened.
"Sir," she said politely, "are you here to purchase or to consign an item?"
"I'm here to sell," Ye Xiu replied calmly.
She nodded without hesitation. "Please proceed to the appraisal hall. An appraiser will assess your item's value."
As Ye Xiu followed the corridor inward, his expression remained composed.
This single sword would be enough to fetch a million yuan.
Then money would no longer be a problem.
It never should have been.
If not for his second uncle's greed, Ye Xiu's family would never have fallen to this state. After his parents' deaths, that man had seized their property under the banner of "family authority," stripping them of everything they were rightfully owed.
The Ye family arrived soon after.
they declared that the house belonged to the Ye clan. Ye Xiu still remembered how they stood at the doorway, looking down at him as if he were a stranger rather than blood.
No mercy.
They were thrown out that very day.
If not for the savings his parents had quietly set aside, and the small house they owned in the countryside, Ye Xiu and Wu Shuang would not have survived the past two years at all.
They lived modestly. Carefully, Silently.
Enduring everything.
Ye Xiu's eyes darkened slightly as the memories surfaced, then settled into calm resolve.
This time would be different.
The Ye family could keep their arrogance. But if they dared interfere in his life again, he would annihilate them completely.
In this world, spiritual energy was scarce. Most people lived ordinary lives, untouched by cultivation. Yet the great families still preserved ancient martial arts, passing them down in secrecy.
Over the past two years, however, something had changed.
More and more martial artists were emerging, as if the world itself were quietly awakening.
Ye Xiu reached another door and stepped inside.
The room was exquisitely designed. Elegant patterns adorned the walls, and the air carried a faint, aged fragrance. Antiques were displayed neatly throughout the hall, each one placed with deliberate care, giving the space an atmosphere of history and quiet authority.
At the end of the corridor, Ye Xiu reached a secluded door and entered.
The room beyond was calm and refined. An old man sat near the window, holding a magnifying glass as he carefully examined a traditional painting laid out on the table. His movements were slow but precise, each breath steady and controlled.
This man was the chief appraiser of the Xian Auction House, an expert personally appointed by the Shenxing Xian family.
Without lifting his head, the old man spoke calmly, "Wait patiently."
Ye Xiu did not respond. He simply placed the sword on the appraisal table.
A faint ripple of spiritual energy escaped for a brief instant.
The old man's hand froze.
His brows twitched as he slowly raised his head, his gaze locking onto the sword. The indifference in his eyes vanished, replaced by sharp focus and unmistakable excitement.
"…Interesting."
He set aside the painting and stood. "May I take a closer look, young master?"
Ye Xiu nodded and pushed the sword forward.
The old man carefully lifted it with both hands. His expression grew increasingly solemn as he examined the blade inch by inch, sensing its internal structure, testing the flow of spiritual energy, and confirming its stability.
Several long breaths passed.
Suddenly, he straightened, his voice ringing with excitement.
"Magnificent! Truly magnificent!""This is a spiritual weapon!"
His hands trembled slightly as he looked at Ye Xiu with renewed respect.
In this world, both weapons and techniques were classified into ranks: Mortal Grade, Yellow Grade, Mystic Grade, Spirit Grade, Heaven Grade, Saint Grade, Immortal Grade, and beyond. Each rank was further divided into Initial, Mid, and Peak stages.
A spiritual weapon, even at the lowest stage, was already rare enough to be coveted by martial artists and great families alike.
The old man laughed heartily. "Young master, your timing could not be better. The auction is currently underway. With your permission, we can list this sword as the final item of today's auction."
He gestured toward the door. "Please proceed to the auction hall. I will inform the branch manager immediately and join you shortly."
Ye Xiu gave a slight nod and turned to leave, his expression calm.
An attendant guided him to a private room. From there, Ye Xiu looked down upon a grand hall filled with hundreds of people. At the center stood a raised stage, where an elegantly dressed woman announced clearly:
"This item now belongs to VIP Number Four. Now, we proceed to the next item."
"This item is a Youth-Preserving Pill, refined by a renowned alchemist," the announcer declared, her voice echoing through the hall. "It allows the user to retain a youthful appearance far beyond their actual age. The starting bid is one hundred thousand yuan."
"One hundred fifty thousand!"
"Two hundred thousand!"
"Two hundred fifty thousand!"
Bids rose rapidly, voices overlapping as the atmosphere heated up. Wealthy figures leaned forward, eyes burning with desire. The price climbed steadily, each increase sharper than the last.
"Four hundred thousand!"
"Five hundred thousand!"
Silence fell.
After a brief pause, the announcer struck the gavel.
"Sold! The Youth-Preserving Pill goes to VIP Number Four!"
A wave of murmurs spread through the hall.
The auction continued.
Several items followed, rare herbs and precious artifacts changing hands as VIP Number Three and VIP Number Six made their moves, each purchase reinforcing their status and wealth.
Then, the announcer raised her hand.
"And now," she said slowly, her tone shifting, "we come to the final item of today's auction."
The lights dimmed slightly.
An attendant carefully carried forward a long, cloth-covered object and placed it upon the stage.
Inside the private room, Ye Xiu's gaze sharpened.
That sword.
His sword.
The announcer allowed the silence to stretch before speaking again, her voice filled with controlled excitement.
"This item was consigned at the last moment by one of our esteemed guests. I ask everyone present to steady their hearts and hold their breath."
She lifted the cloth.
A faint but pure spiritual aura spread across the hall.
"For the first time in today's auction," she announced clearly,"we present a Spiritual Weapon."
The entire hall erupted.
And Ye Xiu watched calmly, as the murmurs grew increasingly.