Chapter 23: Changes and Gifts
The auction event in the heart of Glory City has seized the attention of everyone in the vicinity, arriving like a storm and spanning three days. On the first day, rare demon spirits of the highest caliber will be auctioned off, each modified by Nomad to reach legendary rank with a god-level growth rate. On the second day, the main event will feature lost techniques and abilities compiled by Ais. While there are plenty of abilities available, most focus on aiding the user's cultivation speed, movement techniques, and other attacking abilities, making them safe to sell to anyone. The last and most significant attraction of this event is the cultivation techniques - the top-of-the-crop in this universe, even rivaling the Heavenly God Technique that Nei Li used. Of course, they have been modified to ensure they won't go awry. The main reason for this auction is to give humanity an upper hand against the demon beasts, enabling them to start expanding and reclaiming the land that rightfully belongs to them. Nomad's assistance in this endeavor is invaluable.
Naturally, Nomad has taken multiple precautions to ensure that the auctioned goods are used for good, cultivating the buyers' Dao of Heart and limiting their potential to legendary rank. However, Nomad may remove these limitations once he vanquishes the Sage Emperor, allowing everyone who has helped restore humanity to spread their wings and explore beyond their small world as a token of gratitude for their service. Nevertheless, a seal is necessary to ensure their continued kindness and loyalty towards humanity.
The anticipation for the auction event was palpable, with everyone eager to witness an event that would undoubtedly go down in history. The central area of Glory City was overflowing with people who were eager to participate, especially since the payment requirement for the auction items was not in demon coins, but in unique items with unknown uses. These items were mostly guaranteed to be special items with unique uses, as the tiny world is brimming with treasures beyond anyone's wildest imagination. In fact, Nomad even suspected that this tiny world is a space pocket created by a being even stronger than the Sage Emperor as a place to hide their treasure. This realm is truly a unique and exceptional place, which is why a seal has been placed on it to prevent anyone from seeing or locating it.
"First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has graced us with their presence here today to attend the auction event held by our esteemed Hong Yue family. We vow to uphold our promise of authenticity for each item that we auction as a testament to our unwavering pride and unblemished reputation. Furthermore, we promise to accept items with unknown or special effects for everything we auction so that everyone can participate in this grand event. Thirdly, we hope that this event will strengthen the unity we share as fellow humans and citizens of the illustrious Glory City. And lastly, let us all relish in this momentous occasion and engage in a joyous auctioning experience!" The head of the Hong Yue family exclaimed with exuberance as he raised his right hand and held his wife's hand with the other, casting a loving glance at his son who stood below the platform, all with a beaming smile.
The event kicked off with a bang as the head of the Hong Yue family delivered a heartfelt and exhilarating speech, setting off multiple fireworks that lit up the sky in a dazzling display of color. The excited exclamations of the people who had been eagerly anticipating this moment could be heard all around, and their excitement was not in vain. The first item on the list was a legend rank Great Ape with a Snow Wind attribute, causing a wave of excitement to ripple throughout the crowd. However, they all knew who this demon spirit was meant for, and so they all backed down. Ye Zhong, the city lord, clasped his hands and looked around to thank everyone for allowing him to acquire the demon spirit, as it was tailored specifically for the Snow Wind family and he had been searching for the perfect one for quite some time. The night was still young, and there were countless more demon spirits for everyone to bid on.
Nomad stood at the forefront of the platform, flanked by the illustrious Snow Wind Family and the Divine Family. Beside him stood Ye Ziyun, her face radiant with a smile and her hands clapping to congratulate her father. Suddenly, Nomad approached her with a mischievous glint in his eye and presented her with a gift.
"I have something for you," he said, as he handed her a demon spirit stone. "It's a legend rank Snow Queen demon spirit with snow wind properties. It's just a token of my gratitude for your kindness to me."
Ye Ziyun was taken aback by Nomad's sudden generosity, and tried to refuse the gift. But when he explained that it was a thank-you for the page of the temporal demon spirit book she had given him, she graciously accepted it, touched by his kind gesture.
As the boisterous chatter of the crowd drowned out their voices, Ye Ziyun leaned in close to Nomad's ear and whispered, "And what about Xiao Ning'er?"
Their close proximity did not go unnoticed by the surrounding family heads and members, who smiled and nodded in agreement. They believed that these two young souls were destined for each other, and that their union would bring great prosperity to the glory city.
Nomad smiled reassuringly at Ye Ziyun and said, "Don't worry, I have something special in store for Xiao Ning'er."
As he spoke, a cute yellow chick named Chicky suddenly appeared on his head. Nomad gently patted the little creature before turning to his parents on the platform and giving them a signal. Unbeknownst to anyone, the dark guild had just been eliminated without any resistance, the victims never realizing what hit them. A Heavenly Star Realm's power was simply too overwhelming for even a group of Legend Ranks to withstand. Not even Spiritual Gods or those in the Heavenly Fate Realm could hope to survive against such an onslaught.
If only the members of the dark guild had come to the auction without any malicious intentions, they could have had the opportunity to acquire some of the most powerful cultivation techniques and rare items available. However, their malevolent motives were clear from the start.
Nomad initially gave them a choice to change their ways, but they foolishly refused. It was as if they failed to grasp the simple fact that if Nomad could give away a legendary rank demon spirit with god-like growth and unparalleled cultivation techniques, he could just as easily destroy them.
The dark guild underestimated the power of the array that ultimately led to their demise. They never imagined that a seemingly unassuming black pillar would contain the intent of a Heavenly Star Realm. If only they had approached the situation with a different mindset, they might have still been alive to reap the benefits of the auction.
Here's a possible rewrite:
They were a group of ruthless criminals who murdered, pillaged, and kidnapped for their own selfish gains and Nomads refused to forgive them for the atrocities they committed. As for the sacred family who conspired with them, they too would have faced persecution if Shen Hong had not called for an emergency meeting among the major families to address the issue of their collusion with the dark guild. Of course, not all members of the sacred family were guilty, and to make amends, they had to pay a substantial amount of resources and demon coins to redeem themselves. Their wealth had dwindled so much that they were now reduced to being an aristocratic family.
Here's a possible rewrite:
Fortunately, Shen Hong had achieved the legendary rank, which allowed his family to remain among the major families, and only the head family was aware of their crime and involvement. As an act of redemption, he was tasked with leading the effort to quell the demon beast riot that the dark guild would unleash on the Glory in the future. Despite his heavy responsibilities, Shen Hong was enjoying the auction event with a perpetual smile on his face. He never thought he would reach such a rank, but thanks to the cultivation technique that his son was now practicing, he had achieved this impressive feat. He was grateful that he had condemned the dark guild for their actions; otherwise, his family would have suffered under his leadership.
Here's a possible rewrite:
The dark guild had planted a seal on Shen Hong's family to prevent them from rebelling, leaving them powerless against their oppressors. Fortunately, the young master of the Hong Yue family was a master inscriptionist, and he was able to remove the seal without alerting the dark guild. Shen Hong couldn't help but feel regretful that his son, Shen Yue, was not a girl. If he were, Shen Hong would have married him off to Nomad, the woman with whom Ye Ziyun was currently sharing an intimate conversation.
Despite their past transgressions, Shen Hong was determined to turn their family's fortunes around and atone for their sins. As he looked at Nomad and Ye Ziyun whispering intimately, Shen Hong smiled, imagining the bright future that lay ahead for his family. The stone seal, which had held the lives of his family members, had now dimmed, signaling the death of the demon lord and its minions. Shen Hong couldn't be happier with his decisions. "This is for the future of my family," he declared.
Inspired by his newfound resolve, Shen Hong decided to confess to Ye Zhong about the sin of killing his wife. He knew that he might be killed, but he hoped that his son, Shen Fei, would be a good leader in the future. Shen Hong also knew that Shen Fei would have the support of his the whole family in case something happened to him.
—
A young man stood nearby, watching Nomad and Ye Ziyun whisper to each other with a stoic expression on his face. He had just returned from a two-year expedition outside the Glory City, and despite the warm welcome he received from his father, Ye Zhong, he couldn't enjoy it. He was disappointed that Ye Ziyun didn't greet him personally, explaining that she was in deep cultivation, striving to reach the legendary rank. The young man clenched his fists so tightly that the sound of his knuckles cracking echoed in the air.
Here's a possible rewrite:
He had journeyed for two years, enduring countless hardships to reach the coveted Gold rank and become someone his father Ye Zhong could be proud of, and ultimately succeed him as the next City Lord. He had even lost his master in the process. But now, with Ye Ziyun surpassing his cultivation and striving for the legendary rank, his own accomplishments seemed worthless, a mere footnote to her achievements.
The young man's thoughts turned dark as he watched Nomad and Ye Ziyun whisper to each other. "And now you're flirting with that kid while in isolation training? Who do you think you're fooling, Ye Ziyun?" Ye Han muttered, his face twisted with anger. Blood dripped from his clenched fists, as he plotted his revenge.
—
Next Day
"Are you certain that you can manage this on your own, my dear?" Nomad's mother asked, her embrace tight with worry. Nomad was about to embark on a perilous journey to the Heavenly Sacred Border, where he intended to retrieve the fabled Thunder God's Meteorite Sword. It was said to have originated from beyond the realm of the Sage Emperor, in the same mysterious place as the Temporal Demon Spirit Book and the lovable Chicky. And it was the only weapon capable of slaying the Emperor himself.
"Don't fret, Mom. Chicky is here to keep me safe, so you can rest easy," Nomad reassured his mother. She knew all too well the true strength of the adorable little yellow chick that rested perpetually in Nomad's mind. "I'll be back before you know it."
"Okay, but remember to brush your teeth after meals and get enough sleep before 10," Nomad's mother cautioned him, listing his daily self-care routine. Nomad could only listen helplessly. He would be away for several days before the new school term started, traveling to the Heavenly Fate Plateau to rescue Yu Yan, who was trapped below the Black Spring.
After spending a few minutes reminding Nomad to remain vigilant, his mother finally released him to attend the second day of the auction event. Instead of heading straight to the Holy Orchid Institute, he went to the Winged Dragon Family to deliver Xiao Ning'er her demon spirit. Upon his arrival, the first person he encountered was the family patriarch, whose face was noticeably downcast. Despite intending to greet him, Nomad was suddenly pulled away by Xiao Ning'er, who ushered him outside of the family compound.
Xiao Ning'er approached Nomad with a worried expression and asked, "What brings you here, Nomad?" After the Sacred Family returned the lands and debts that they owed, Shen Fei visited them to apologize for his family's actions and cancelled the arrangement between him and Xiao Ning'er. She was overjoyed to hear the news, and as a result, the pressure from the elders on her father had considerably lessened, ultimately leading to the removal of all opposition. This caused Xiao Ning'er's father to finally acknowledge his wrongdoing and apologize to his daughter, who had borne the burden of their family's mistakes.
But who, in their right mind, would forgive someone who would sell them out for the sake of others? Especially if that someone is their own family and father? Xiao Ning'er had even considered leaving the Winged Dragon Family if they had not made amends for their wrongdoing, but currently, she had no intention of forgiving them.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just have something to give you as a token of my gratitude for everything you've done for me," Nomad replied, handing over a demon stone containing a demon spirit with similar attributes to Xiao Ning'er's. She accepted his gift with a smile. "How about we catch up somewhere? Maybe the place where we had our date?" Xiao Ning'er suggested, dropping a subtle hint that they had been on a date before. Nomad noticed the implication but declined her offer, as he had to go to the Heavenly Sacred Border and then to the Heavenly Fate Plateau.
"What? You're leaving now? Wait! I've already been granted access to the Heavenly Sacred Border. Maybe we can go together," Xiao Ning'er exclaimed. She was supposed to have gone there last month, but Nomad had told her that he would only allow someone to accompany him if they had reached the Legend rank. Xiao Ning'er had been busy cultivating and had forgotten about it, but now that Nomad was going, she couldn't pass up the opportunity.
"Okay," Nomad replied briefly with a nod before setting off towards the Holy Orchid Institute, where someone was waiting for them.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone