Chapter 7….. Blood of the Berserk Bear
On the tray.
Next to the scabbard sat a small glass bottle, no larger than a palm.
Inside, it was half-filled with a dark, crimson liquid.
Blood.
But not ordinary blood.
Cheonui’s gaze locked on the writhing energy within and did not move away.
At that moment, Nam Yeongwol’s voice rang out.
“What you see here is an additional item that comes with the bid—the blood of a Second-Grade Berserk Bear!”
“A Berserk Bear?!”
“Did she say a real Second-Grade spirit beast?!”
The auction house instantly erupted with commotion.
Smiling, Nam Yeongwol continued her explanation.
“The blood of a Second-Grade Berserk Bear is classified as an Eighth-Rank resource. Used in cultivation, it produces remarkable effects not only for practitioners of the Spirit Qi Realm but even for those in the Eternal Origin Realm. This blood will be given together with the Spirit Shadow Sword to its successful bidder.”
“Second-Grade Berserk Bear blood?! That’s… incredibly rare!”
“This alone could have been auctioned separately!”
Berserk Bear.
By Namun World’s standards, it was a Second-Grade spirit beast—equal to an Eternal Origin Realm cultivator.
Its blood was not merely a restorative.
It was a noble resource capable of transforming one’s physique and igniting one’s spiritual energy.
They’re throwing this in as a bonus?
For an instant, Cheonui’s eyes gleamed sharply.
Blood.
The power within stirred him deeply.
For Cheonui at present, spirit beast blood was the most desperate resource he needed.
Especially Eighth-Rank blood.
It was the key to unsealing the second restriction of the Blood Demon Lord’s Art.
To release the second seal, he needed a thousand drops of Eighth-Rank blood.
And the Berserk Bear’s blood before him contained roughly a hundred drops.
With just this, I’ll fulfill a tenth of the requirement.
His eyes narrowed.
All throughout the auction, nothing had truly caught his eye. But now, at the very end, the true treasure had finally appeared.
There was no reason to hesitate.
This blood was something he absolutely had to claim.
What’s more, Berserk Bear blood of this grade was rare even if one searched all of Mokgun Fortress.
Watching Cheonsan Hang’s nervous breathing beside him, Cheonui smiled faintly.
We lost the Azure Wind Art earlier. But this time, Father must secure it.
And once he did, the blood would naturally flow into Cheonui’s hands.
At that moment, Nam Yeongwol’s voice echoed clearly across the stage.
“The starting bid for the Spirit Shadow Sword is two hundred thousand gold taels! Each raise must be no less than ten thousand! Then… let us begin the auction!”
“Two hundred ten thousand!”
“Two hundred twenty thousand!”
“Two hundred fifty thousand!”
The moment her voice fell, the auction house boiled over.
Though it started at the same price as the Azure Wind Art, the atmosphere was far more heated.
A cultivation method was valuable, but here in Mokgun Fortress, weapons were overwhelmingly favored.
Cultivation arts required training, and without talent, they were difficult to master.
But a weapon was different. Once obtained, it could be used immediately.
Combat strength surged instantly, and one’s prestige doubled with it.
“Five hundred thousand gold!”
A cold voice cut through the air, silencing the hall.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the seats reserved for the Cheon Clan at the front.
In Mokgun Fortress, only the Cheon Clan besides the royal family could casually call out such a price.
But the bidder was not Cheonsan Hang.
Nor was it the royal clan.
Tension filled the hall as a single question crossed everyone’s minds.
…Who is it?
Dark gloom settled over Wangseong’s face.
Winning the Azure Wind Art had been a harvest, yes.
But what he truly desired was the Spirit Shadow Sword.
And now, not only the sword, but the blood of a Second-Grade Berserk Bear came with it.
Wangseong knew well.
Cheonui would squeeze tenfold the value from that blood alone.
Yet the royal clan could no longer bid.
They had emptied their coffers to secure the Azure Wind Art.
So who had just called out five hundred thousand?
It wasn’t the Cheon Clan.
Nor the royal clan.
Everyone turned to see.
Their gazes landed on a middle-aged man in black clothing.
He had a short goatee under his chin, and his eyes gleamed sharply.
“Who is he?”
“Never seen him before…”
“To shout five hundred thousand in one go… he can’t be from Mokgun Fortress.”
The auction hall stayed quiet, but whispers spread like ripples.
Suspicion. Vigilance. Unease.
Five hundred thousand gold.
That wasn’t a number one called on a whim.
Only the Cheon Clan, the royal clan, and perhaps one or two others could muster such funds in this city.
But this goateed stranger belonged to none of them.
“Six hundred thousand!”
Cheonsan Hang called out firmly.
He had to obtain the Spirit Shadow Sword.
This time, he could not afford to lose.
“Seven hundred thousand.”
The man did not yield.
His voice was low, steady. Not the tone of a bluff.
“Eight hundred thousand.”
Cheonsan Hang’s brows furrowed.
He had thought with the royal clan out of the picture, acquiring the sword would be simple.
But an unforeseen rival had appeared.
“Nine hundred thousand.”
The hall erupted once more.
“Who is this man?”
“Could he be an envoy from another city?”
“Or the royal clan’s secret backer?”
Cheonsan Hang inhaled deeply as he studied him.
This is no ordinary man.
Nine hundred thousand gold.
Even the Cheon or royal clans could not easily part with such a sum.
Taking a deep breath, Cheonsan Hang called,
“One million.”
He believed this would be enough.
The royal clan had withdrawn, and there was no other competition.
This sword was destined to be theirs.
But then—
“One million fifty thousand.”
The middle-aged man’s voice rang out again, stirring the hall into chaos.
Cheonsan Hang and Cheongil both turned toward him, their faces hardening.
More than a million?
That wasn’t simply wealth—it was power enough to shake the entire fortress.
Whispers broke out all around.
“Who could he be…?”
“A young master from one of the great clans outside Mokgun?”
“Or perhaps the royal clan’s shadow force…?”
Cheonsan Hang pressed his lips together tightly.
He could no longer bid carelessly.
For the first time, his eyes carried a wary light.
“Ho… interesting.”
As Cheonsan Hang and Cheongil’s expressions stiffened, Wangseong’s lips curled into a smirk.
Amusement and mockery colored his face.
Whoever this stranger was, he was throwing the Cheon Clan into disarray.
For Wangseong, that alone was delightful.
“Tch.”
Cheonsan Hang’s displeasure was obvious.
They had already lost the Azure Wind Art. To lose the Spirit Shadow Sword as well?
If the Cheon Clan—one of the fortress’s two great houses—walked away empty-handed from this auction, their prestige would collapse.
Cheonui, too, observed silently.
He had thought with the royal clan eliminated, his father would surely win the Spirit Shadow Sword.
But fate always held variables.
He sighed inwardly.
Then calmly spoke.
“One million five hundred thousand.”
A quiet, composed voice spread across the auction hall.
Silence.
Then uproar, roaring like wildfire.
Every head turned toward the Cheon Clan’s seats.
…Cheonui?
The young clan master himself?
Wangseong narrowed his eyes.
Cheonsan Hang looked at his son in silence.
The middle-aged man with the goatee simply nodded without a word.
With a single statement, Cheonui had seized control of the bidding.
“One point five million?! From the young clan master himself?!”
Gasps and murmurs filled the hall.
All eyes fixed on Cheonui.
“Cheonui!”
Cheonsan Hang and Cheongil both stiffened, visibly shaken.
Never had they imagined Cheonui would step in himself.
And to call such a sum—one million five hundred thousand!
Even for the Cheon Clan, that was no trivial expense.
Cheonui glanced at the two elders calmly.
His eyes were firm, assuring. Do not worry. Trust me.
“Father. Elder. I will take responsibility for this.”
“You… will take responsibility?”
Cheonsan Hang and Cheongil frowned.
They knew better than anyone the extent of Cheonui’s assets.
How could he possibly cover such an astronomical bid?
“Trust me.”
His voice held no hesitation.
Silence stretched for a moment.
Finally, Cheonsan Hang slowly nodded.
He exchanged a look with Cheongil.
Then, with a sigh, he spoke.
“…Very well.”
He had no idea where Cheonui could muster such funds.
But if necessary, he was prepared to pledge the Cheon Clan’s treasury as collateral to Namphung Auction House.
“One million five hundred thousand!”
On stage, Nam Yeongwol’s clear voice rang again.
The hall held its breath.
“The bid stands at one million five hundred thousand from the young master of the Cheon Clan! Does anyone wish to go higher?”
She could not hide her surprise.
Still, it only fueled her passion.
She had expected the Spirit Shadow Sword to settle around a million at most.
With the royal clan exhausted from the Azure Wind Art, she assumed the Cheon Clan would claim it easily.
Yet the bidding had surpassed even her calculations.
I never imagined it would reach this price…
She turned her gaze toward the middle-aged stranger.
Now the choice lay with him.
All waited with bated breath.
But after a moment’s silence, he looked quietly at Cheonui… then closed his mouth.
He did not raise again.
It had reached his limit.
“One million five hundred thousand—sold!”
Nam Yeongwol’s crisp voice declared the result without delay.
“With this, today’s auction is officially concluded. Successful bidders, please follow the attendants backstage to complete payment and receive your items.”
As her voice faded, attendants emerged from both sides of the hall.
They approached the winners and gestured politely to lead the way.
A man in black robes bowed before Cheonui’s group.
“This way, sirs. I’ll escort you backstage.”
Cheonui rose calmly to his feet.
Cheonsan Hang and Cheongil followed.
At last, the Spirit Shadow Sword—and the Berserk Bear’s blood—were about to fall into his hands.
They nodded and followed the guide toward the back of the auction hall.
As the highest bidders of the day, the Cheon Clan was led to a private VIP chamber prepared for them.
Waiting there to greet them was Nam Yeongwol, who had just been on stage moments ago.
“Welcome.”
With a captivating smile, she bowed gracefully.
“The three of you have successfully won seven items in total. The sum amounts to one million five hundred two thousand three hundred gold taels.”
Without hesitation, Cheongil produced a black certificate and handed it to her.
“This is a certificate valued at one million five hundred thousand.
