After leaving the auction, Tarot and Lauren took the teleportation array straight back to the Thunder Sect.

  When they arrived, the entire sect was buzzing. Disciples huddled in groups, gossiping excitedly about the fight between their Sect Master and the Immortal Venerable Herbert. Tarot and Lauren didn’t stop to eavesdrop—they went directly to Starfell Summit to see their master, Drake.

  Drake sat cross-legged in the meditation hall, his aura calm but oppressive as ever. He opened his eyes as they entered.

  “Lauren,” he said mildly, “did the auction broaden your horizons this time?”

  Lauren smiled sweetly. “I saw a lot of treasures, Master.”

  “And did you learn anything about the art of bidding?”

  “The art of bidding is… uh…” She trailed off awkwardly, coughing into her sleeve.

  Should she tell the truth? Or give a polished, proper answer?

  Drake gave her a level look. “Just say what you want to say. Don’t choke on your words.”

  Lauren took a deep breath. Since her master had given permission, she decided to be honest.

  “There are a lot of rich people at auctions, Master. You can’t bid recklessly. If someone really wants something, it’s best to let them have it. Never go up against a price-gouger, and definitely don’t become one yourself—or you’ll get your ass kicked.”

  Drake: “…”

  He slowly turned his gaze toward Tarot, his expression unreadable.

  “Is that how you teach her?”

  Tarot quickly raised his hands in protest. “Master, that wasn’t me! It’s the headmaster! He’s the one who ruined her. Why don’t you go ask who was in Room Thirty-Eight at the auction—the infamous ‘Three-Eight Room’?”

  Drake’s mouth twitched. “Gerald, again?”

  A pause.

  Then, with a soft sigh, he said, “You won’t always run into people like him at an auction.”

  Lauren nodded thoughtfully. “After the second auction, Senior Brother had a fight with Immortal Venerable Herbert and then left. I heard that the third round had a lot of powerful cultivators, but it went smoothly.”

  Drake’s lips curved slightly. “That’s usually how it goes. A ten-year auction might have some decent items, but the real treasures appear only once a century—or once in a millennium.”

  Lauren bowed her head. “Disciple understands. Thank you for your guidance.”

  Drake tilted his head. “So, what did you buy?”

  “Uh…” Lauren glanced at Tarot helplessly.

  Why was her master treating this like a classroom debriefing?

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Still, she obediently unpacked the items she had acquired: the Strange Fire she hadn’t yet refined, the Kotobuki Genka, Appearance-Stabilizing Pills, Memory Beads, Eternal Spirit Milk, and a new talisman pen.

  “Oh, and this Bright Light Stone,” she added. “That’s for Senior Brother.”

  Drake examined each item in turn, commenting as he went.

  “This Strange Fire is decent.”

  “The talisman pen… serviceable.”

  Then his gaze landed on the Appearance-Stabilizing Pills.

  He raised an eyebrow. Appearance pills? Typical of a young female cultivator. If his own lifespan ever ran out and he couldn’t ascend, he’d just let himself wrinkle like a dried plum.

  He said nothing, simply setting the pills aside.

  Next came the Kotobuki Genka. He looked at it a little longer this time, breathing slowly before murmuring, “Mortals experience birth, aging, sickness, and death. Cultivators are no different—we simply stretch the timeline.”

  He didn’t elaborate, just placed the herb aside.

  When his gaze landed on the Eternal Spirit Milk, Lauren quickly spoke up. “Master, that one’s for you.”

  Drake’s voice was calm. “I have no use for it.”

  Lauren muttered under her breath, You might not now, but when your core starts running dry, you’ll wish you had it.

  Aloud, she said, “Please keep it, Master. It might come in handy later. Look at this too.”

  She slid the small, iridescent bead toward him.

  Drake frowned slightly. “What’s this?”

  “Kraken tears,” Lauren explained, her tone bright with excitement. “Also known as Memory Beads. They’re essential for crafting Substitute Talismans.”

  “Substitute Talisman?”

  “Indeed,” Lauren said, straightening her back a little. “Those who ascend to the Upper Realm but wish to breach the Boundary Force and descend again use the Substitute Talisman to deceive the Will of Heaven.”

  Drake’s fingers, resting lightly on the table, suddenly tightened.

  For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, without another word, he reached out and took the vial of Eternal Spirit Milk from the table.

  “How much?” he asked curtly.

  Tarot immediately stepped forward and listed the prices of each item one by one.

  Drake listened quietly before nodding. “The prices for the Strange Fire, Eternal Spirit Milk, and Memory Beads are all reasonable,” he said evenly. “But these…” His gaze flicked toward the other purchases. “A bit overpriced.”

  Lauren coughed softly. “Yes, they were. Master Brother… ahem…”

  She caught herself before saying anything unflattering.

  Drake, of course, understood. Gerald. It had to be Gerald. That man could turn a fair auction into a war zone with a single bid.

  “Later, I bought the Light Stone and gave it to him,” Lauren added quickly. “He didn’t raise my price when I bought the Strange Fire.”

  Drake gave a small nod. “Good. Keep that in mind.” He took the Eternal Spirit Milk and handed the rest of the items back to her. “You need to sharpen your eye for trading. Don’t end up like Gerald—always the one paying more than he should.”

  “Yes, Master,” Lauren said, bowing her head.

  She always found it strange that Drake, despite his detached demeanor, paid close attention to his disciples’ development. He preferred his senior students to mentor the juniors, rarely stepping in himself—but when he did, every word carried weight.

  Drake reached into his sleeve and produced a small storage bag, setting it on the table with a soft thud. “Here,” he said. “Your share of the spirit stones from the sale of your two collections. Count them later.”

  Lauren’s eyes widened slightly. “Thank you, Master.”

  “Alright, go,” Drake said, flicking his hand dismissively. “Tarot stays.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Lauren left with the heavy storage bag tucked against her chest, while Tarot remained behind for what would undoubtedly be another round of questions.

  Once outside, Lauren immediately contacted Nash, Dante, and Westin—it was time to divide the earnings.

  But Nash and Westin were still in secluded cultivation, so she’d have to settle things with Dante first.

  She made her way toward Cloud Peak and spotted Cornelius coming down the mountain, his expression dark and exhausted.

  “Cornelius?” she called out.

  Cornelius barely mustered a tired smile. “Lauren,” he greeted, then walked past without stopping.

  Moments later, Dante appeared, striding quickly toward her.

  “Hey, you’re here.”

  Lauren nodded, glancing after Cornelius. “What happened to Cornelius? He looked like someone just kicked his spirit beast.”

  Dante glanced around, then leaned closer and whispered, “He came to collect a debt. Didn’t get it. Ended up paying with two healing herbs instead.”

  “Collect a debt?” Lauren frowned. “Who owes him?”