novelraw Chapter 155 - 154 - Auction Preparations
Chapter 155 - 154 - Auction Preparations
Lind was still on the dias in the arena as the crowd roared at him. The various powers were cheering as even the most dense realized what he had created. Some had relatives with 6 elements and others had friends. Rare as they were, they existed across the 3 continents.
The Forger in front of them had brought new hope!
"Master Frey, what do you wish to do with these items?" The judge was well aware that Lind had submitted items for the upcoming auction already, but it was up to the creator what to do with the contest items. Lind nodded and asked for a voice amplifier.
The judge stroked his gray beard as he handed his over. Lind summoned a stamina and Qi recovery he had made before. He felt a lot better but he would need real rest after this presentation.
"Hello there!" Lind cried into the jade and his voice echoed across the coliseum. Silence fell shortly and he bowed to the crowd in several directions. "Thank you all for seeing my presentation. It is not over, however."
Lind then waved his right arm and 6 Sky Realms suddenly descended. They were 6 women decked out in the pristine white robes of the Heavenly Maiden Sect. Lind bowed low to each one and they smiled at him.
"Seniors, I thank you for indulging my request." They nodded as their beauty nearly stole the limelight from Lind but he then brought their attention to the staffs and all realized something stunning.
Each staff was different!
"The crimson, black, and gold staff is for my family in the Southern District of the Lotus Empire." A Maiden stepped forward and accepted the staff shown. She bowed to Lind and flew off. No one would stop her.
"The black, violet, and white staff is for the Lotus Academy. The Head Elder can accept it." The process repeated and those in Darkmoor Kingdom felt some relief. Lind Frey clearly had grown since leaving the Lotus Empire.
"The gold and white staff is, of course, for the Heavenly Maidens." Lind handed it over and all 4 bowed to him before flying to the VIP booth. All could see the pattern but it did not stop.
"The silver staff, despite having no blade, is for the Divine Sword Sect." Another Sky Realm Maiden bowed and flew to the corresponding booth. Many cultivators were impressed by his loyalty while others wailed they had lost the chance!
There were 2 left but one was a mystery. Lind was about to call out when a woman stood up in the crowd. He smiled at her.
"Please bring that silver haired woman here." One of the remaining Maidens nodded and flew up to collect the cloaked woman. Lind smiled wide as Nadia was brought in front of him.
"This turquoise and silver staff is for the Marina Adventurers Guild. I am happy to see you again, Sub-leader Nadia." Lind presented the staff to her and she smiled wide as she bowed to him.
"Thank you, Master Frey. I hope you do well in the future." Lind smiled back and pulled her into a hug. She was clearly caught off guard but returned in kind.
"I am glad to see you again, please come by the sect before you leave." Lind's words were heard by all and the Saint Kingdom rippled in excitement. A connection existed for them!
Lind then turned to the last staff. It was colored in bright sapphire and few doubted who it was for.
"Please present this to Lady Su and Lady Mythra. The Sapphire Auction House is the main reason I am here." The final 2 Maidens nodded and escorted the staff to the top booth. Lind looked around the coliseum before he nodded to the judge.
"The contest is over. The final ranking is now on each of your displays and will be posted here." A massive formation appeared in the air as names and creations paired up. Some had other names under the creations to indicate they were commissioned works.
Lind saw Master Cain and Harold standing off and waved them over. Both older men were the target of jealous stares but Lind bowed low to them and handed storage bags to them. No one knew what they got but the surprised looks clearly revealed it was good things!
"The auction preparations will now begin. Anyone that has not submitted an item has 1 week to do so. Please note, there are additions to the auctions of peak grade 2 Forged items." The words silenced the crowd temporarily before a greater roar followed.
Lind could imagine the chaos about to ensue as resources were gathered in the coming week. Lind, himself, had a reserved seat in the Starfire House. Master Cain and Harold wept at him as he finally excused himself to return to the safety of the Heavenly Maiden sect.
⬧⬧⬧⬧
A party had occurred between the first month of the contest and the second but now it was a rushed amount of negotiations and gathering of resources. Items were submitted to Starfire House or lists procured to see what all would be available.
The major powers were not the only ones to scramble but the chaos in Cimmeria was pretty normal so far as Estelle was concerned.
She sat in her office in the middle of their main office in the Rainbow Shoals. It was a rather pretty area of the Floating Isles where Qi was visible to all, creating rainbows above and below. It was a heavily elemental shard rich area but Estelle had long since become immune to its visible charms.
It was a mercantile center that Starfire had joined thousands of years ago. The many powers residing in just the shoals had come barging at her doors once their leaders saw Lind work his skill.
She smirked as she remembered the show. She had underestimated his ability but it was an effective show. It was one thing to make a peak grade 2 with full focus but to make 6 simultaneously showed he was near grade 3.
She applauded his choice but a warning would have been nice. He then drove home his point as each staff was gifted. She noted the Frey Clan one would likely end up in the Gu Clan. She knew Lind but he would not bring fire down on a friend if he could avoid it. His family was already known, but the Gu Clan was not.
Estelle only knew because Lind, himself, told her. She now understood why. He was more clever than she expected but that was a good thing. The message to antagonistic powers was clear. Lind remembered his grief and forgiveness had been given to the Lotus Academy. It showed Lind was not inflexible.
Many favors would flow his way and he would generally be left alone. It was the one saving grace she saw but she was too busy fielding multiple respected powers coming to call while answering questions about the auction set up.
She had to review submissions of certain quality while working with the staff to prepare how the presentation would go. Lind's contributions would be at the middle and end respectively for the Forged items and peak grade 3 elixirs. His grade 2 elixirs would be interspersed with similar alchemical items.
He had not given them a lot which would allow the pills to still sell well. The boy had a good grasp of his position.
"My Lady, the Crimson Blossom Guild has come as expected." Estelle sighed as her aide called out that one of the powerful alchemy guilds had come. She assumed proximity was the main cause as the Frozen Sylph Guild would be not far behind followed by Rare Earth Guild and Solar Flare Guild. She knew they would demand Lind come to them but elixir masters were just as rare in the Floating Isles so she could fend them off.
It would just add to her workload but she smiled wide. Profit was in the wind. The refining guilds would be coming and likely many sects. The only sects that would not bother her were the Heavenly Maiden Sect and Divine Sword Sect.
She assumed so but then a gorgeous woman appeared right next to her!
Her brunette hair was silky and wavy while the round face was the color of smooth cream. The vibrant blue eyes were smiling gently at Estelle. She was a peak Sky Realm!
"Lady Estelle. I apologize for coming but I thought since my guest elder sent you a headache I could help calm the more annoying children." Estelle swallowed saliva as she bowed low. The woman in front of her was one of the most powerful people in the Floating Isle.
"I appreciate and am humbled by the offer, Sect Master Ophelia. May I ask why you are going so far for a Soul Realm and a 6 elemental at that?" Estelle would make tons of Qi stones off of Lind. She wished he would refrain from trying to break through to the World Realm but their agreement included her non-interference.
Sect Master Ophelia did not even crack her smiling face as she sent out her aura to cover the Starfire House buildings. Anyone nearby knew instantly that one of the most powerful cultivators had come to call and left quickly.
The voluptuous woman turned to Estelle and seemed to consider some thoughts.
"I cannot reveal what I hope, but the staffs confirmed my desire to nurture this boy. He has cracked the Soul Realm entirely, if nothing else, so 6 elementals will no longer be trapped in horrible pain and abandoned by all of us. I have faith he might actually do it." Estelle was stunned. The Heavenly Maiden Sect was just as powerful in the Floating Isles as the lower world. It was rare that such consistency existed but their foundation was deeper than any could grasp.
Estelle could only nod but then she saw Ophelia produce a vial that glowed with tribulation energy. She felt shocked as the vial was the same quality as the ones Lind offered to her. Where did he get them from?
She pushed the question back as she confirmed a low grade 4 elixir was in front of her. It was stable and potent. Its crimson color indicated its purpose for healing and Qi recovery.
"This was relayed up to me by the Vice-Sect Master Cora. He is pushing himself hard and succeeding. The potential is clear. Make sure no one interferes with him." Estelle swallowed hard at the heavy look Ophelia sent her. She nodded and relayed some more instructions to Little Su and Mythra.
She thanked the spirits that those 2 proved their loyalty to the boy. A good relationship with the Heavenly Maiden Sect was very welcome. They had already been on good terms but unlike the lower world, the Starfire House had competition up in the Floating Isles. The Heaven Realm was worse.
"I will take the leap with you, Senior Ophelia." The gorgeous woman bowed and then took a seat as Estelle focused on the auction. She would be very glad when one of the lower world elders took over!