Chapter 91: Auction

Chapter 91: Auction



Zhaomuerman infected with Water Plague?

Karl stroked his chin thoughtfully. Although Susan and the others tried to hide the patient's identity, it was not difficult to guess who it was.

However,

The Free Harbor has never had a knight infected with Water Plague, let alone a peak-level Grand Knight.

Moreover, Zhaomuerman's situation is very special.

Karl had never encountered such a case before.

If the patient is indeed Zhaomuerman, then his death would surely cause chaos within the Dragon King Guild.

The Dragon King Guild!

The Dragon King, Zhaomuerman!

The guild is named after him, which shows how important Zhaomuerman is to the guild.

'Lula is still too young to handle such a situation, and her mother has a strange personality, making it difficult for her to gain the support of others.'

'The two vice-presidents are even more ambitious.'

'The Sea God Guild and the Scythe Brotherhood will not idly stand by and watch the Dragon King Guild regroup.'

'Once the news leaks out...'

Karl shook his head lightly, now understanding why there had been people watching his house. They were worried about Zhaomuerman's condition being revealed from his mouth.

"Sizzle..."

The red-hot iron was plunged into the water, instantly creating a thick cloud of smoke.

"Ding!"

"Clang!"

Karl pulled out the iron plate and swung the heavy hammer onto it, gradually revealing a brand-new sword embryo.

He planned to forge another broadsword for himself.

Dual swords,

He had been using them more and more fluently, and the recent acquisition of wizardry materials could be integrated into them.

Swamp Alliance.

Outpost.

Karl followed behind Bunian, heading towards a dense forest.

This forest was home to a special species of paulownia trees that grew extremely fast, often reaching a circumference of several people.

With the help of wizardry, these trees grew to an incredible size, like towering walls.

Some wizards dug out rooms within the paulownia trees.

Firstly,

it was close to the outpost, making travel convenient.

Secondly,

the giant paulownia trees, enhanced by wizardry, could be used to set up numerous wizardry traps, ensuring safety.

The high wizard apprentice Arthur lived here.

Deep within the forest, several giant paulownia trees were interconnected, with rooms carved out between them.

In the center, surrounded by the trees, was a not-so-small courtyard.

At this moment, many people had already gathered in the small courtyard, and Karl scanned the crowd, sitting down next to the bloodline wizard, Bach.

"Karl."

Bach sat upright, nodding:

"It's been a while since I last saw you."

"I've been studying the Gamp Transformation Technique you gave me and conducting some bloodline research in my spare time," Karl rubbed his temples, his face weary:

"The path of a bloodline wizard is not an easy one."

"Of course." Bach shrugged:

"Our path relies heavily on magical creatures and wizardry materials. Some experiments must be conducted personally, and magical creatures are rare. Without enough magic stones, it's a dead end."

"Heh..."

"Many other wizards have high wizard apprentices, but for bloodline wizards, you've only seen high wizard apprentices."

Karl nodded slightly.

"Speaking of experiments, I have some questions about bloodline wizard knowledge."

He lowered his voice and began discussing bloodline wizard knowledge with Bach.

Bach initially planned to brush him off, as truly useful knowledge was not free.

Theoretically, Karl did not yet have the qualifications to exchange knowledge with him.

Unexpectedly.

Karl possessed a wealth of knowledge that deeply moved Bach.

Unconsciously, their discussion became increasingly in-depth.

Until...

"Clang!"

A clear and crisp bell rang out.

The high wizard apprentice Arthur, clad in a wizard's robe and with a face full of wrinkles, slowly emerged from the room.

He gestured to the crowd, a faint smile on his face:

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I've cleared my belongings, and now we can officially start the auction."

"Hmm..."

"There are a few items that will be privately traded. Please bear with me."

"Arthur," someone from the crowd spoke up:

"Did you really fail to break through?"

"Yes..." Arthur's face turned bitter, nodding:

"Becoming a full wizard is not as simple as imagined. It's no wonder some friends have lost their lives in the attempt."

"I'm fine, at least I'm still alive."

Karl sat upright.

Not long ago, Arthur had exchanged a Green Potion with credits, attempting to break through.

Many had been waiting for the result.

Unfortunately.

The breakthrough failed.

The high wizard apprentice Arthur was severely injured in the process, and his inner sea of spirits was unstable. If not properly adjusted, the consequences would be dire.

The adjustment potions were expensive, so Arthur decided to hold an auction to dispose of them.

The crowd had gathered upon hearing the news.

"Let me give you a piece of advice," Arthur said:

"If you wish to become a full wizard, relying solely on the Green Potion has a very low success rate."

"The Star Realm has too many beings that can taint our spirits. It's best to have a Silence Potion."

The Silence Potion could conceal one's spirit, preventing it from being tainted, but it was expensive.

The key was,

its effectiveness was reportedly not that great.

"Just the Green Potion alone, who knows how long it would take to gather enough, let alone adding a Silence Potion..." Someone sighed:

"This life, we may never have hope!"

"You're fine, at least you're still alive."

"Sometimes, not having hope can be more relaxing."

"Yeah!"

"..."

The crowd sighed in agreement.

Since the establishment of the Swamp Alliance, four high wizard apprentices had attempted to break through to become full wizards.

Unfortunately.

Not a single one succeeded! Among them, Adolf, the most promising, not only failed but also had his head explode, dying on the spot.

This success rate,

was too low!

"Alright."

Arthur rang the bell again, signaling Bunian to bring out several books and place them on the wooden table, introducing them:

"The wizardry I practiced comes from a wizard named Donald from hundreds of years ago, specializing in gravity and life magic..."

"Along with potion crafting.

"A few of these books cover the fundamentals of Gravity Magic, with _Starlight Exploration_ being personally penned by Wizard Donar. Disregarding the mystical knowledge within, its collectible value alone is noteworthy."

"Starting bid: five Magic Stones!"

Gravity Magic, part of the Stellaluna School, differs significantly from both Naturalism and Astrological Divination. This magical discipline excels at control but often lacks lethal force, prompting its practitioners to supplement with other magical arts.

"Five and a half Magic Stones!"

"Six Magic Stones!"

...

Ultimately, the bidding for the formally penned mystical knowledge by a Full Wizard reached ten Magic Stones but struggled to surpass this mark.

The final sale price was eleven and a half Magic Stones.

"Zero-Ring Spell - Fresh Blood Summoning, a Life Magic Spell capable of manipulating an opponent's blood flow. It guarantees dominance over Knights and below, allowing even an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice to effortlessly slay multiple Peak Knight Squires."

"Starting bid: three Magic Stones."

Karl's eyes flickered.

Three Magic Stones was an absolute steal, considering this spell's limited efficacy against physically robust Knights or Grand Knights.

Moreover, many Wizard Apprentices already mastered this spell, making it unnecessary to engage in a bidding war.

The final sale price was five Magic Stones.

Magic spells, being infinitely replicable, rarely commanded high prices unless they were part of a complete, unbroken lineage.

Enchanted artifacts, however, were a different story.

...

As time passed, item after item was auctioned off, stirring intermittent excitement among the crowd. Knowledge, literature, materials, potions, enchanted items, and magical legacies all changed hands.

Each high-ranking Wizard Apprentice had accumulated vast knowledge and wealth, particularly those like Arthur, who had lived for seven or eight decades. Their collections far surpassed those of younger apprentices.

Karl acquired two potion recipes: 'Robust Skin Tonic' for enhanced skin resilience and 'Cold Resistance Meat Block' for withstanding harsh cold. The total cost was six Magic Stones.

The relatively low price was due to the limited number of participating Alchemists and the even fewer bidders interested in purchasing recipes.

"Mr. Karl."

As the auction drew to a close, Bunian approached, whispering, "Please wait for a moment before leaving."

Karl nodded.

...

Inside a Cozy Wooden Hut

The warm glow of an oil lamp danced across the simple, yet welcoming, room.

Arthur, leaning on a cane and assisted by Bunian, settled into a seat, his forehead beaded with cold sweat.

"Mr. Karl, I've kept you waiting."

"No worries," Karl replied, "Arthur, sir, you seem unwell."

The mere act of hosting an auction had left him visibly fatigued, as if he had engaged in strenuous exercise.

"At least, that's an understatement," Arthur said with a bitter smile, his eyes flashing with a hint of despair before he changed the subject:

"I'm friends with Adolph, and you're friends with Bunian, so I'm willing to sell you something at a better price."

"Better than selling to outsiders, anyway."

Karl's expression turned serious.

This was the true purpose of his visit, though the final price would be the deciding factor.

As Adolph's heir and a moderately affluent Alchemist and Alchemist, Karl had some leverage.

"Two legacies are in my possession: Gravity Burst from the Gravity School and Life Plunder from the Life School."

Arthur continued, "Life Plunder is promised to an old friend, and I can only offer a partial transmission of Gravity Burst."

Karl's demeanor remained unchanged.

This was standard practice for incomplete transmissions, which wouldn't have fetched a higher price at the auction.

He hadn't held high hopes.

Besides, while he had accumulated some Magic Stones, purchasing a complete legacy remained beyond his means.

"Zero-Ring Spell - Gravity Distortion, priced at six Magic Stones; Enchanted Artifact - Meteor Ball, imbued with gravity control, with the range of influence increasing with the user's Mental Power, priced at twenty Magic Stones."

Arthur stated, "Twenty-six Magic Stones, non-negotiable!"

He presented a book and a grey, stone-like object for Karl's inspection.

Twenty-six Magic Stones?

Karl's eyes sparkled as he examined the stone, a magically empowered meteorite with an attached spell.

Its quality was exceptionally high, far surpassing his current crafting abilities.

Upon activation, it could alter the surrounding gravity, either increasing or decreasing it by a factor of two. When paired with a Minor Force Field, its potency would be significantly amplified.

Gravity Distortion, a Gravity Magic spell, could attract distant objects or repel nearby ones, offering unpredictable strategic advantages when wielded effectively.

After a brief moment, Karl winced, his mouth twitching:

"Sold!"

Arthur smiled.

"Arthur, sir," Karl asked while exchanging Magic Stones, "In your experience with numerous patients, have you encountered cases where a patient's body is influenced by a strange, corrupting will, warping their physique and intentions, potentially tainting those in close proximity?"

This was the same affliction plaguing Dragon King Zhaomuerman.

"Yes," Arthur nodded, "Such cases usually indicate spiritual corruption by a Demon God. Short of divine intervention, there's no salvation."

"A Demon God?" Karl, who had asked out of curiosity without expecting a meaningful response, was taken aback:

"Are Wizardly means insufficient?"

"Perhaps a Third-Circle Wizard or higher might succeed, but Second-Circle Wizards certainly cannot," Arthur replied, inquiring:

"Have you encountered a Demon God's follower?"

"Those targeted by a Demon God are beyond salvation, and no Deity would bother to rescue a Demon God's follower."

"Ah, I see!" Karl slowly nodded.

In the alternate world, a Demon God?

Name: Karl

Constitution: 3.8

Mental Power: 2.7

Essence: 0

Occupation: Grand Knight, Intermediate Wizard Apprentice

"Peng!"

With a swift cross-strike, Karl's two broadswords clashed in mid-air, accompanied by a surge of battle energy.

"Boom!"

The ground and air trembled violently.

Even a giant rock in front of him would be reduced to powder by this strike.

Karl held a broadsword in each hand, swinging them effortlessly like straws despite their weight of several dozen pounds.

His incredible speed generated a powerful gust of wind around him, making it a lethal force.

Secret Technique - Giant Transformation!

Karl's body flickered, and he transformed into a towering giant, his height reaching an astonishing five meters.

At the same time...

"Buzz..."

The broadswords in his hands also grew in size, becoming giant swords over three meters long.

With a light swing, a hurricane roared to life.

The transformation of the broadswords wasn't merely a simple increase in size; their weight also escalated from several dozen pounds to several hundred pounds.

The dual swords now weighed over a thousand pounds!

This blatant disregard for the law of conservation of energy was due to Karl's extraordinary power, and the swords themselves were enchanted items.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Wielding these heavy giant swords, Karl could effortlessly smash down a building with a simple strike.

If he were on a battlefield, his charge would be a nightmare for any opposing force.

Not even a Knight, let alone a Grand Knight, would have the strength to withstand him head-on.

Moreover...

In Karl's vicinity, the influence of the force field and gravity manipulation would significantly weaken the abilities of close-range combatants.

Even a Grand Knight's strength would be constrained.

"Peng!"

The dual swords landed on the ground.

Karl's body slowly shrank back to its original size, and his clothing miraculously adjusted to his transformation.

"Finally, I won't have to rip my clothes every time." Karl sheathed his swords and clenched his fists, muttering under his breath:

"The feeling of getting stronger is truly exhilarating."

With an ample supply of potions, Karl's strength visibly increased at an astonishing rate, enhancing his abilities daily.

"In a year, or at most three years, I'll have enough Mental Power to construct six Zero-Ring Spells and become a High Wizard Apprentice."

"By then, the blood and flesh transformation should be able to proceed simultaneously."

...

"Uncle."

Aya frowned:

"Lately, something feels amiss in the city."

"Hmm, hmm." Karl leaned on the table, chewing his food as he spoke, causing bits of food to spray out:

"I also sense something is off."

"Finish your food first, don't waste it. Remember the times when you were hungry." Aya gave him a stern look, turning her head slightly as she spoke:

"Uncle, do you know what's going on?"

"It's probably some internal issue within the Guild." Karl leaned back in his chair, gazing into the distance:

"It's none of our concern, no need to meddle."

Just the day before, someone was keeping watch near the shop, monitoring their every move. Now, there was no one.

This indicated that Modality no longer cared about Karl leaking information, and the high probability was that the news had already spread.

Calculating the time, the sick person should have been Zomuerman.

If it were indeed him, not appearing for so long would definitely raise suspicions within the Guild.

Even Aya and the others sensed something was off, and the frequently dispatched patrols were a clear sign that the higher-ups were well aware of the situation.

"Right."

Karl asked:

"Have the goods arrived yet?"

"The Water Monkey has arrived, but the others haven't. I asked the people at the cargo yard, and they kept making excuses, saying they were busy."

Hmm? Karl furrowed his brows:

"But the payment has already been made."

"Yes!" Aya was slightly agitated:

"Not only have the goods not arrived, but this month's share hasn't been deposited either. I asked, and they said there's an issue with the accounts."

"Our accounts are clear and have never had any problems!"

Karl stroked his chin.

Being a 'low-level member' of the Guild, he thought he wouldn't be affected, but the situation seemed otherwise.

Without the blood and organs of the Legendary Creature for analysis, the progress of the Bloodline Wizard's Magic would be hindered.

Days had passed.

Both broadswords had already been transformed, yet the items hadn't been delivered?

"I'll go and check."

"Now?" Aya glanced at the sky:

"Isn't it too late?"

"No problem." Karl strolled forward:

"It won't take long."

The cargo yard was located near the Herb Market, and before Karl even reached the area, a look of confusion appeared in his eyes.

"Sea route, ships..."

In the Dragon King Guild, the President oversaw everything, while the two Vice Presidents, Gray and Modality, each managed a portion of the affairs.

"This is Vice President Jasper's territory!"

No wonder he couldn't get the goods; they had already been traded, and he had once offended Jasper.

During uncertain times within the Guild, this was a normal occurrence.

Moreover,

If the Guild's leadership didn't fall into Modality's hands, no one would dare say anything.

Karl scanned the area, avoiding the patrol personnel with his stealth technique, and slipped into the shadows, silently sensing the surroundings.

The backyard!

Without hesitation, Karl activated a technique.

Technique - Silence!

Combat Technique - Meditation!

Aya not only possessed the full inheritance of the Meditation technique, but she also had a collection of various other techniques and Zero-Ring Magic.

Silence,

One of these techniques, when activated, reduced the sound made by the user's movements, making it harder for others to notice.

"Since you won't give it to me, I'll take it myself. After all, the payment has already been made, so it's not like I'm taking advantage."

Karl whispered to himself, his body moving silently into the courtyard.

The landing was silent, as if an invisible force had erased the sound of his footsteps on the grass. With the Breath Control from Titan Breath Technique, he could further suppress his presence, ensuring even the keenest of hounds would never detect him.

This place was heavily guarded, likely an important stronghold under Jasper's control, but it couldn't stop him.

"Swish!"

"Swish, swish!"

Avoiding the patrolling guards, Karl quickly approached the backyard, where the Windwing Sky Lion's presence became increasingly clear.

"Huff..."

A robust and towering figure leaped over the courtyard wall, landing lightly like a graceful swallow.

Before him lay the day's objective.

It was a modest courtyard with several large iron cages, each containing a ferocious beast.

In the center lay the corpse of the Windwing Sky Lion.

Its belly had been sliced open, with some flesh and blood removed, and its wings were tattered.

To ordinary people, it was a horrifying sight.

For Knights and Grand Knights, the flesh and blood of legendary creatures were valuable and nourishing.

For Karl, the corpse before him was a treasure!

Once he analyzed it, he could fulfill the prerequisites for becoming a Bloodline Wizard and undergo physical modifications.

"You promised to deliver, but now you're reneging on your word. As compensation, it's not too much to take the rest of the corpse, is it?"

Karl's expression was one of justified entitlement.

He had come a long way and put in so much effort; he wouldn't be satisfied with just a small portion.

Taking a step forward, he reached out to pull open the iron gate, but his eyebrows twitched.

The gate had a lock, but surprisingly, it was unlocked in this deserted courtyard.

Who could be so careless?

No!

Someone had infiltrated!

"Ssss!"

A faint sound of tearing through the air came from behind.

A dark shadow appeared out of thin air, like a ghost in the night, brandishing a long sword in its hand.

The sword sliced through the air at an astonishing speed.

Death!

The shadow's eyes were icy, devoid of emotion, having killed countless times without a second thought.

As one of the top assassins of the Scythe Brotherhood, he was confident in his ability to strike from behind, even against a Grand Knight.

Moreover...

The black night sky above suddenly condensed, forming a figure holding a dagger, stabbing towards Karl's head.

Seal—Shadow!

Seal—Night Walker!

Both seals granted their users the ability to blend into the darkness, enhancing their strength in the night.

Together, they had never failed.

"Hmm?"

"Eh!"

A surprised exclamation escaped them.

An invisible force appeared before the blade, causing their lightning-fast movements to momentarily stall.

No!

It wasn't just one force.

Multiple forces!

An invisible field slowed their movements, and the immense pressure made their actions stiffen.

Water suddenly surged around them, forming a vortex that pulled them inward.

Zero-Ring Spell—Minor Mage Field!

Zero-Ring Spell—Water Vortex!

Enchanted Artifact—Meteor Ball, Gravity Control!

And,

The burst of a Grand Knight's aura!

Karl slowly turned around, his expression calm, scanning the two Night Walkers before him, their movements now sluggish.

"A Knight?"

"It seems that besides me, others have also taken an interest in the Dragon King Merchant Guild's benefits. I'd say you're unlucky to have run into me."

It was only natural.

Without the Dragon King's presence and with internal conflicts, the Dragon King Merchant Guild was a juicy target for other powers.

Not taking a bite would be a disservice to themselves.

If not for Karl, the two assassins would have succeeded.

But against a well-armed intermediate Wizard Apprentice, even a Knight couldn't get close.

"Night Walker!"

Karl's gaze momentarily paused on one of them, his eyes flickering.

When he first arrived at Free Harbor, someone had offered this seal—

What a pity!

"Are you from the Scythe Brotherhood?"

The black-clad figure's eyes narrowed, and his speed suddenly increased under the influence of the seal.

With the seal's enhancement and the cover of night, his burst of power momentarily reached the level of a Peak Knight.

Combat Technique—Thrust!

With extreme speed and sudden force, he broke through numerous restrictions and charged towards Karl.

"Puff!"

A ball of water appeared out of thin air.

The long sword pierced the water ball, momentarily slowing down, but it quickly surged forward again.

"Ding..."

A pitch-black armor blocked his path again, and Karl raised his left hand, his ring glowing faintly.

Zero-Ring Spell—Wave Guardian!

Enchanted Artifact—Guna!

The black-clad figure's strength momentarily stalled, and his eyes revealed a hint of despair.

"A Peak Knight's full burst, and still, you can't break through my defense?" he muttered.

"Swish!"

"Puff!"

A cold light flashed, and two bodies crumpled to the ground.

Although he had just been promoted to Grand Knight, in front of him, anyone below that rank posed no threat.

Peak Knight...

With a casual strike, he could slay them.

"I wonder how a Grand Knight would fare?"

Karl calmly stroked his chin, controlling the water to move the corpses aside, then reached into the cage to grab the Windwing Sky Lion's corpse.

"Take!"

"Hmm!"

Karl grunted, his body trembling slightly.

It was his first time realizing how strenuous it was to bring something of substantial weight into the Fragment of the Divine Domain.

It was like eating a large meal with a limited mouth, forcing him to swallow it bit by bit.

After a long while,

The air suddenly trembled, and Karl, along with the iron cage containing the Windwing Sky Lion's corpse, vanished.

Fragment of the Divine Domain.

"Huff..."

Karl's body went limp, nearly collapsing on the spot. He rested for a long time before slowly regaining some energy.

When he returned to the other world, he was met with chaos.

Please collect!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end