The Return Of The Exiled Villain

The auctioneer noticed the reaction among several of the weaponsmiths in attendance and smiled.

”Please allow me to introduce the Heavenly Silk Alien Metal. This material was recovered from a collapsed spatial passage far beyond the northern territories. Its exact origin remains unknown, but its properties have been examined by three independent Overlord-grade weaponsmiths.”

He lifted one hand, and the metal rose above the stage.

”The material possesses an extraordinary ability to integrate with the internal structure of high-grade weapons. When properly refined and fused into a compatible weapon, its silken metal threads spread through the weapon’s core, repairing flaws, strengthening its structure, and improving its capacity to contain energy.”

Gray listened carefully.

The auctioneer continued.

”Depending on the weapon’s existing grade, its compatibility, and the skill of the weaponsmith conducting the refinement, Heavenly Silk Alien Metal is capable of raising a weapon’s grade. Even where a full advancement is not achieved, the improvement in stability, energy conduction, and durability is considerable.”

Gray’s fingers slowly tapped the armrest.

His rapier was already a High Emperor-grade weapon.

Its quality was excellent, but the metal inside his Dimensional Storage offered a chance to take it further.

With the right weaponsmith, he might be able to push it toward Monarch grade without replacing the weapon he had already grown accustomed to using.

That was the important part.

A weapon was not merely an object.

The longer a cultivator used it, the more familiar they became with its weight, balance, response, and particular flow of energy. For a swordsman, those details mattered as much as the weapon’s raw quality.

Replacing his rapier with a different weapon would require time to adjust.

Improving the one he already had was far more attractive.

And Heavenly Silk Alien Metal was not an ordinary refinement material.

It was rare enough that even wealthy clans might wait decades for another opportunity to purchase some.

The auctioneer announced the starting price.

”One hundred and twenty Demon Gold.”

A weaponsmith representing an old noble house immediately raised his hand.

”One hundred and forty.”

A second bidder followed.

”One hundred and sixty.”

”One hundred and eighty.”

The price began climbing steadily.

Gray watched without moving.

”Two hundred.”

”Two hundred and twenty.”

”Two hundred and fifty.”

The bids came from different parts of the room, mostly from noble houses with established weaponsmithing traditions.

One older demon spoke to his attendant before raising his hand again.

”Three hundred Demon Gold.”

The attendant beside him whispered something.

The old demon shook his head.

”I know what it costs. Raise it.”

’At least somebody understands its value.’ Gray smiled faintly.

The bidding reached three hundred and fifty Demon Gold before slowing.

The auctioneer looked around the room.

”Three hundred and fifty Demon Gold. Does anyone wish to raise the offer?”

Gray lifted his hand.

”Four hundred.”

Several heads turned toward him.

The weaponsmith from the old noble house narrowed his eyes.

”Four hundred and twenty.”

Gray looked at the metal.

”Four hundred and fifty.”

The old demon looked irritated.

”Four hundred and seventy.”

Gray did not even look at him.

”Five hundred.”

The older demon stopped.

An attendant leaned closer and whispered something urgently into his ear.

After a moment, the man shook his head.

”House Drazhen withdraws.”

The auctioneer waited a little longer.

No one else raised a hand.

”Five hundred Demon Gold going once...”

Gray remained still.

”Going twice...”

The hammer fell.

”Sold to our honored guest for five hundred Demon Gold!”

The attendant brought the case over, and Gray examined the metal through the transparent protective layer before accepting it.

The silvery strands continued moving across its surface.

He could almost feel the strange spatial energy running through them.

’Not bad at all.’

He stored the case in his Dimensional Storage.

Beside him, Elira looked at him with a curious expression.

”You spent five hundred Demon Gold on a piece of metal. Are you planning to have a weapon made?”

”Something like that.”

”Your rapier is already quite a weak weapon. Why bother upgrading it instead of purchasing something stronger?”

Gray turned toward her.

”Because I already know my weapon. I’ve spent enough time using it that I understand how it responds to my movements, how it handles my energy, and how much force I can apply without losing control. Buying a different weapon might give me more raw power, but it would also mean adjusting to something unfamiliar.”

Elira considered his answer.

”That makes sense. I suppose a weapon is worth more to its owner than its price.”

The Crimson Moon Princess nodded.

”Especially for a swordsman. Some people spend years refining their connection with one weapon. Replacing it is not always an improvement, even if the new weapon is technically stronger.”

Gray looked at her with mild surprise.

”You know quite a bit about swordsmanship.”

”I know quite a bit about fighting. Swordsmanship is part of it.”

She glanced at his rapier.

”Besides, I’ve fought you. I know how you move, and I know how much you rely on your weapon to control the distance between us.”

”Then I’ll make sure you regret learning so much about me.” Gray smiled.

The princess scoffed and gave him a cold look.

”Improve your weapon first. Then try.”

Elira laughed.

”Careful. If you keep challenging her, she’ll eventually take you somewhere private and refuse to let you leave until you’ve fought her ten times.”

Gray glanced at the Crimson Moon Princess.

”That sounds familiar.”

The princess’s face tightened.

”Do you two have nothing better to discuss?”

”Not at the moment,” Elira replied cheerfully.

Gray leaned back, satisfied with his purchase.

Five hundred Demon Gold was a considerable sum, but the metal was worth it. And now he had the Pure-Origin Heartseed and the Heavenly Silk Alien Metal.

If the remaining lots offered anything comparable, this auction would have been more profitable than he had expected.

Unfortunately, the most important item still hadn’t appeared.

Gray looked toward the stage.

He still waited for something that could improve his cultivation directly, something that might bring him closer to the Undying Snake’s Orb or the other treasure he sought.

He had not forgotten why he came to the Underworld.

The auctioneer raised both hands, and the room gradually quieted.

”We have now reached the final section of today’s auction. The next three items will be among the rarest treasures offered by the Crimson Vault this year. I would advise everyone to pay close attention.”

The atmosphere changed.

Even the people who had been whispering stopped talking.

An attendant carried a small silver tray onto the stage.

On it rested a dark green crystal, the size of a human heart.

Gray frowned slightly.

’Another core?’

The auctioneer smiled.

”Our next item was obtained from a sealed cavern beneath the ruins of an ancient forest. The original explorers believed they had discovered a rare mineral, but further examination revealed something far more unusual.”

The crystal rose into the air.

Its surface was covered in faint golden lines, and a tiny green light pulsed within it.

The auctioneer continued.

”This is a Worldroot Heart.”

A wave of whispers spread through the hall.

Gray’s expression changed.

He had heard of Worldroots before.

They were ancient life-forms that existed in certain special locations throughout the planes.

Their roots could cross enormous distances, sometimes passing through spaces that ordinary cultivators could never reach.

Their hearts were extraordinarily rare, and even a small fragment retained traces of the laws governing life, growth, and spatial connections.

The auctioneer raised his hand.

”This specimen is particularly rare because it has not been fully severed from its original nature. Although the Worldroot from which it originated is believed to have died, the heart retains a portion of its living core.”

Several nobles leaned forward.

The auctioneer continued.

”According to our appraisers, the Worldroot Heart possesses three main properties. First, it can be refined into a cultivation treasure that improves the recovery and stability of a cultivator’s foundation. Second, it can serve as the primary material for a high-grade spatial artifact. Finally, it possesses a natural connection to life-based laws, making it valuable to those seeking to deepen their understanding of those principles.”

Gray’s eyes narrowed.

’Now that’s an interesting item.’

Unlike the previous treasures, the Worldroot Heart was useful in several different ways.

And because its properties were related to life, space, and the stability of cultivation, it remained valuable across several stages of power.

The auctioneer let the room settle before announcing the starting price.

”Three hundred Demon Gold.”

A hand rose immediately.

”Five hundred.”

Gray turned slightly.

The first bidder was an old demon wearing a robe embroidered with golden leaves.

Another bidder followed.

”Six hundred.”

”Eight hundred.”

A third noble lifted his hand.

”One thousand.”

The room erupted.

Gray remained silent.

He was interested, but the price was already climbing quickly, and he had no intention of abandoning his plans for a treasure that was not directly related to his current needs.

The Crimson Moon Princess, however, was studying the Worldroot Heart with an unusually serious expression.

Elira noticed.

”You want it?”

The princess did not look away from the stage.

”It would be useful to my family.”

”For the Crimson Moon’s bloodline?”

”Partly. The Worldroot Heart could also be used to stabilize the formation surrounding our ancestral cultivation grounds. The current formation has existed for thousands of years, and certain sections have begun to weaken.”

Elira’s expression changed slightly.

”I see. That would explain why your grandfather has been asking around about spatial materials.”

The princess glanced at her.

”You knew?”

”I heard rumors. I didn’t know they were true.”

She looked back at the stage.

”Unfortunately, the Violet Moon Family also has a reason to want it. We’ve been trying to develop a spatial artifact capable of protecting our ancestral library from external interference. The Worldroot Heart would be ideal.”

The Crimson Moon Princess sighed.

”Of course it would.”

Elira smiled.

”You don’t expect me to withdraw simply because you want it, do you?”

”No. I expect you to behave like a reasonable person for once.”

”Then you should have invited someone else to the auction.”

The bidding climbed.

One thousand two hundred.

One thousand five hundred.

One thousand eight hundred.

A noble from a powerful merchant family raised his hand.

”Two thousand Demon Gold.”

The entire room quieted for a moment.

The princess immediately responded.

”Two thousand two hundred.”

Elira smiled.

”Two thousand five hundred.”

The Crimson Moon Princess turned toward her.

”Are you seriously going to compete with me again?”

Elira looked almost offended.

”You’re the one who started bidding.”

”Because I need it.”

”So do I.”

The princess’s expression hardened.

”You already bought the Moon Sovereign Core. How much do you intend to spend today?”

Elira folded her hands in her lap.

”Enough to obtain the things my family needs.”

”At this rate, you’ll spend your entire allowance before lunchtime.”

”And at this rate, you’ll complain about me until dinner.”

’Here we go again...’ Gray quietly leaned back.

The Worldroot Heart had become the new center of their rivalry.

But this time, both princesses had genuine reasons to want it.

Neither was merely trying to irritate the other.

That made the competition far more dangerous.

The merchant family withdrew after another increase, but a noble from an ancient demon clan immediately entered the bidding.

”Three thousand Demon Gold.”

Elira’s smile faded slightly.

”Three thousand two hundred.”

The Crimson Moon Princess raised her hand.

”Three thousand five hundred.”

The noble looked toward the two princesses, hesitated, and then raised his bid again.

”Four thousand.”

A few people exchanged looks.

Four thousand Demon Gold was no small amount.

The Worldroot Heart was rare, but no one had expected the bidding to reach this level so quickly.

The princess looked at Elira.

”Are you still interested?”

Elira smiled.

”Very.”

”Then stop looking at me and bid.”

”How thoughtful of you to remind me.”

”Five thousand.”

The princess raised her hand before the other woman could respond.

Elira’s eyes narrowed.

”Five thousand five hundred.”

The Crimson Moon Princess immediately turned toward her.

”You’re getting carried away.”

Elira met her gaze.

”You were the one who raised the price to five thousand.”

”Because I knew you’d follow.”

”Then you should have stopped at four thousand.”

The princess stared at her.

For a moment, neither moved.

Then the Crimson Moon Princess slowly smiled.

”You know what? You’re right.”

Elira blinked.

”What?”

”I should have stopped earlier.”

The princess leaned back.

”You can have it.”

Gray turned toward her.

That was unexpected.

Elira looked equally surprised.

”You’re withdrawing?”

”Yes.”

She folded her arms.

”I have other things to buy, and I refuse to spend the rest of the afternoon competing with you over every item you happen to desire.”

Elira studied her carefully.

Then she looked toward the stage.

”Five thousand five hundred Demon Gold.”

The auctioneer waited for another bid.

None came.

”Going once... going twice... sold!”

The hammer struck.

The Worldroot Heart went to the Violet Moon Princess.

Elira let out a slow breath, looking pleased with herself before she turned toward the Crimson Moon Princess.

”See? That wasn’t difficult. You should try being reasonable more often.”

The Crimson Moon Princess smiled.

”I’ve just remembered something.”

Elira’s expression became cautious.

”What?”

”The spatial artifact you’re planning to build. Didn’t your family’s last attempt fail because the core lacked enough life energy to stabilize the formation?”

Elira’s smile disappeared.

The Crimson Moon Princess continued.

”How unfortunate. I suppose even with the Worldroot Heart, you’ll still need several other rare materials before your craftsmen can begin.”

Elira stared at her and smiled.

”At least I have the Worldroot Heart.”

”Of course. Congratulations.”

”You’re being sarcastic.”

”I’m being polite.”

”You’ve never been polite in your life.”

”And you bought an expensive crystal that isn’t even going to solve your problem by itself.”

Gray looked at them.

’They really are incapable of leaving each other alone.’

The auction continued, and now...

One final lot remained.