Shining Shadow

I stood in the grand hall of the Starveil Auction House, the air thick with the buzz of cultivators from every corner of Adena. The place was a chaotic masterpiece—golden chandeliers dripping with Auriorium crystals, walls pulsing with ancient runes, and a crowd of robed and armored egos clashing like a thunderstorm. Tradewind's merchant city had drawn the big players, their spatial rings practically glowing with Spirit Stones.

My crew—Tira, Bera, and Lila—stood close, their glares sharp enough to slice through my Cryonsteel-lined trousers. They still hadn't forgiven me for that little seduction stunt with the female bandit in the Ironspike Mountains. Can't blame them, but the loot we got? Worth every bruise they'd dealt me since.

Varkoth, my Beginner Master Darkness Basilisk Emperor, coiled around my arm like a living gauntlet, his scales cool and his slit eyes gleaming with mischief. His cultivation level hadn't budged since the last chapter, but his presence was enough to make cultivators step back. Stinky, my Middle Knight Earth beetle, rested in his beast ring, probably dreaming of crushing something. My Starforged Tunic hugged my chest, easing the 30 kg weight of N'Nazmuz's curse, though the stamina drain still gnawed at me. I flashed a grin at Tira, her phoenix tattoo peeking from her neckline, her aura now blazing at Middle Grand Master Fire after her Cultivation Tower breakthrough. Bera and Lila, both Peak Master Fire and Earth respectively, stood with arms crossed, their curves straining their gear. Those breakthroughs made them even more dangerous—and their tempers hotter.

"Still mad, ladies?" I teased, leaning closer. "Those new cultivation levels must feel nice. Maybe you owe me for pushing you to train harder."

Tira's eyes narrowed, her red hair catching the chandelier light like a flame. "Push us? Killy, the only thing you're pushing is my patience. One more stunt like that bandit nonsense, and I'll burn that stupid braid clean off."

Bera smirked, her corset creaking as she shifted, her Peak Master Fire aura flickering. "She's right, Supreme Disaster. You're lucky we haven't buried you yet."

Lila's rune-etched skirt hugged her hips as she jabbed a finger at me. "Don't think we've forgotten, Killy. You're on borrowed time." Her Peak Master Earth vibe made the marble floor tremble slightly, a warning I felt in my boots.

I chuckled, undeterred. "Borrowed time? Lila, I own time. And you three look ready to fight over me. Can't say I mind the attention."

Varkoth hissed, his voice smooth as shadow. "Father's charm is a spark, igniting hearts and chaos." His tongue flicked, taunting the girls.

Before Tira could fire back, Vynnix, the gnome from Crestmoe, waddled through the crowd, his eyes wide with excitement. "Killy! Supreme Prankster, your VIP room's ready! Move your asses—place is packed, and your loot's the grand finale. Gonna be a war down there!"

I grinned, nudging Tira. "Hear that, firebird? My haul's about to make us legends. Let's roll."

The girls exchanged looks—half-annoyed, half-curious—and followed as Vynnix led us up a spiral staircase to a plush VIP room overlooking the auction floor. The room was pure luxury: velvet cushions, a crystal table loaded with Glowwine, and a one-way glass wall giving us a front-row view of the madness below. A glowing bidding panel sat ready, letting us throw Spirit Stones anonymously. I dropped into a chair, Varkoth slithering to coil around the armrest, his scales glinting like black stars. The girls settled in, still shooting me glares but clearly eager for the show.

The auctioneer, a wiry man with a voice like rolling thunder, took the stage. "Cultivators of Tradewind! Welcome to the Starveil Auction, where fortunes are forged and legends born!" The crowd roared, Spirit Stones flashing like lightning.

The early lots were standard: a Beginner Knight Fire longsword went for 30 Level 3 Spirit Stones, a stack of Geodrite ore hit 50 Level 2s, and some low-grade beast cores sparked a quick scuffle at 20 Level 1s. I sipped my Glowwine, watching cultivators shout over each other like drunks fighting over the last ale. A Water Qi talisman triggered a frenzy, climbing to 60 Level 3s before a cloaked VIP snagged it. My loot was the main event, so I played it cool, letting the small fry tire themselves out.

Tira, though, had her eyes locked on an Uncommon-grade necklace—a red crystal pendant pulsing with Fire Qi, said to boost fire skills by a hefty margin. She elbowed me hard. "Killy, bid on that. Now."

I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "What's the deal, firebird? Planning to wear it for me later?"

She leaned in, her aura flaring. "Bid, or you'll be wearing my fist."

I laughed, hitting the panel. The necklace started at 10 Level 4 Spirit Stones. I tossed in 15, then 20 as a Lightning cultivator pushed back. The price hit 30 before I slammed 40 Level 4s, and the crowd went quiet. The auctioneer's hammer fell. "Sold to the VIP bidder!" Tira's smirk was pure victory as she patted my cheek. "Not bad, prankster."

Lila was next, her eyes gleaming at an Uncommon-grade black leather tunic—short, tight, and boosting strength and Earth skills by 10%. "Killy, get that," she said, her voice firm. "It's perfect."

I grinned, already picturing her in it. "Only if you give me a private show, stone-girl."

She rolled her eyes, but a blush crept up her cheeks. The bidding opened at 5 Level 4 Spirit Stones. I jumped to 10, outbidding a burly Earth cultivator who looked like he'd eaten a boulder for breakfast. The price climbed to 25 before I dropped 35 Level 4s, sealing the deal. Lila nodded, her lips twitching. "You're still a pervert, but… thanks."

Bera lounged back, her arms crossed, her Peak Master Fire aura crackling. "Nothing here's worth my time," she said, waving off the lots. But I'd spotted something for her—a Rare-grade book, Inferno's Wrath: Advanced Techniques, packed with devastating fire constructs. Perfect for her temper. I bid 20 Level 3 Spirit Stones, then 30, outpacing a Fire cultivator in another VIP room. At 50 Level 3s, I won it. Bera raised an eyebrow, her lips curling slightly. "Didn't ask for that, Killy."

"You're welcome, fireball," I shot back, winking.

Then came the real prize. A Silver Queen Mantis, Beginner Novice, Crystal element. Her carapace shimmered like liquid quartz, her scythe-arms gleaming with deadly grace. Silver Queens were rarer than a sober dwarf in a tavern, and this juvenile had insane growth potential. My scavenging greed screamed. She was mine—another jewel for my beetle empire, right alongside Stinky and Varkoth. The bidding opened at 10 Level 6 Spirit Stones. I hit 20. A Water cultivator countered with 30. I went 50. The crowd murmured, tension spiking. A VIP room—some rich bastard, probably from Faerindel—pushed it to 100 Level 6s. I leaned forward, heart pounding, and slammed 150. The room gasped. Another VIP jumped to 200. Varkoth hissed, his voice low. "Claim the queen, Father. She is yours."

Tira grabbed my arm, her nails digging in. "Killy, are you insane? 200 Level 6s for a bug?"

"She's not a bug," I growled, slamming the panel. "She's a queen." I bid 250, then 300 Level 6 Spirit Stones. The hall went silent, the air heavy with shock. The auctioneer's voice cracked. "Sold… to the VIP bidder!" The girls groaned, Tira muttering about my mental state, but I grinned like a lunatic. The Silver Queen was mine.

The auction heated up as my loot hit the stage. Ember Drake scales sparked a frenzy, going for 80 Level 4 Spirit Stones. Crystal Serpent fangs fetched 60 Level 3s. Frostfin scale and Ice Qi pelts each brought 40 Level 2s. Glacial Serpent loot climbed to 100 Level 3s. Wraith Essences hit 50 Level 4s. But the Royal Basilisk haul was the real showstopper. The 10 kg of Rare-grade Ice Qi scales started at 50 Level 5 Spirit Stones and soared to 200. The two fangs doubled that, hitting 400 Level 5s. The Poison Bag, an insanely rare item in pristine condition, opened at 100 Level 5s and rocketed to 450 Level 6 Spirit Stones, the crowd gasping as bids flew like arrows.

Then came the core—Legendary-grade, Ice Qi, pulsing with raw power. It opened at 10 Level 6 Spirit Stones. I leaned forward, Varkoth's coils tightening around my arm. The price shot to 50 Level 6s, then 100. A VIP room—probably some sect elder—pushed it to 200, then 300. The crowd was screaming, cultivators standing on chairs. Then, a final bid: 50 Level 7 Spirit Stones. The hammer fell, and the hall erupted like a volcano. I leaned back, grinning. That was a fortune.

To fill out the auction's chaos, a few other lots caught my eye. A Wind Qi fan, Uncommon-grade, sparked a bidding war, climbing to 70 Level 3s before a cloaked figure snagged it. A Rare-grade Earth gauntlet, boosting defense, hit 90 Level 4s, the winner a hulking cultivator who roared in triumph. A set of Fire Qi arrows caused a near-riot, fetching 120 Level 3s after two VIPs nearly bankrupted themselves. The crowd's energy was electric, laughter and curses mixing as Spirit Stones changed hands. One poor bastard bid 30 Level 4s on a "Rare" beast core, only to realize it was a fake—his scream of rage had Bera snorting her Glowwine. I stayed out of those fights, saving my stones for the mantis and the girls' gear, but the chaos was a thing of beauty.

The auction wrapped, and Vynnix burst into our VIP room, his face red with excitement. "Killy, you mad bastard! That Basilisk core broke every record in Tradewind! Here's your haul." He handed me three spatial rings—one with our purchased items (Tira's necklace, Lila's tunic, Bera's book, my Silver Queen Mantis), another with Spirit Stones from the auction, and a third for good measure. The rings held: 450 Level 6 Spirit Stones (Poison Bag), 400 Level 5 Spirit Stones (fangs), 200 Level 5 Spirit Stones (scales), 50 Level 4 Spirit Stones (Wraith Essences), 100 Level 3 Spirit Stones (Glacial Serpent loot), 60 Level 3 Spirit Stones (Crystal Serpent fangs), and 80 Level 4 Spirit Stones (Ember Drake scales), plus 80 Level 2 Spirit Stones (Frostfin scale and Ice Qi pelts combined). The core's 50 Level 7 Spirit Stones were the crown jewel. I slipped Vynnix 10 Level 4 Spirit Stones as thanks, per tradition. "Vynnix, you're the real hero," I said. He beamed, scurrying off.

We headed back to The Golden Coin inn, Tradewind's golden streets alive with nightlife. The inn was a madhouse, cultivators raising mugs to the "Supreme Elf" for my coliseum antics. Some drunk fool shouted, "To the elf who tamed a Wyrm!"—Varkoth hissed amusement, still coiled around my arm. Tira downed her Glowwine, muttering, "Supreme Disaster's more like it. Three days, and you've got a damn cult."

Bera laughed, her fire aura flickering as she sipped ale. "He's a menace, but they're eating it up. Unbelievable."

Lila smirked, leaning back with her drink. "Keep it up, Killy, and we'll bury you in that fancy cloak before you hit Adena's capital."

I raised my mug, grinning wide. "To chaos, ladies. And to queens—mantis and otherwise." We drank deep, the night dissolving into laughter, bickering, and the clink of Spirit Stones in my spatial rings. Forgehold was next, but for now, Tradewind was mine.