The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 419. Auction

Chapter 419: 419. Auction

There are two major reasons why travelers, merchants, and even pirates rarely dare to act recklessly on Veins Peak.

The first: the island is home to three Divine Seeker Warriors and one Divine Seeker Mage— powerful Immortal Practitioners said to be in deep seclusion, preparing to make a breakthrough into the Immortal Realm. While they remain unseen, the threat of their presence is more than enough. Any sign of significant disturbance, and these reclusive titans are known to emerge and personally obliterate the troublemakers. It’s happened before. And no one wants to be the next example.

The second reason is more political, yet equally fearsome—the island flies the flag of the Federation. A blue kingfisher symbol ripples on banners across the port, towns, and villages. That flag is more than just fabric. It’s a warning.

The Federation is one of the top three powerhouses of this world, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Bank of Atlantis and the Ocean Overlords. These three factions dominate the Northern territories, and crossing any of them is suicidal, especially for those without a backer.

In a cozy inn near the auction district, Lily handed Tyler a scroll.

"Here’s the auction item list," she said.

Tyler unrolled it and blinked. "Wow. So ancient... Didn’t they hear of paper sheets? Anyway—" his eyes scanned the list quickly, then paused. "Ahhh, I really want to go there as Tyler White, buy everything I want, and just clean out the whole auction hall!"

"You can’t," Lily reminded him flatly. "We need to be careful. If both Tyler White and the Phantom Pirates keep showing up in the same places, it’ll raise too many eyebrows. For now, you may be obscure, but that won’t last forever."

"Alright, alright, Madam Caution," Tyler chuckled. "Then let’s go as Phantom Pirates. I really want the Northern Spring Tea Leaves. Oh, and Shi no Kasa."

"I thought we already had that tea," Lily said, raising an eyebrow.

Tyler leaned in, eyes gleaming. "No, not that one. We only got some knock offs. This Tea is rare can be produced only in 4 or 5 places in the whole world. There’s only one packet in the entire auction. And one is all we need."

---

The day of the auction arrived with much anticipation. Hosted by the Merchant Society— a powerful alliance of northern traders— it was one of the most significant events in the Veins Peak region. The Society existed to unify the northern merchants and protect their shared interests, creating a balance of power even pirates respected.

The auction was held in a grand domed hall shaped like a lotus bud carved out of mountain stone. Entry required an invitation, which could cost anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 Lydia. It was expensive... at least for Ordinary Immortal Practitioners. Just by selling tickets they made lot of profits.

As guests arrived—adventurers in travel gear, proud merchants in ornate robes, and pirates clad in rough luxury—Tyler and his group vanished into the crowd, their disguises in place.

A familiar face soon made an entrance. Ruban of the Shade Merchant House swaggered in, waving his invitation like a trophy. He shot smug glances at those in line and strolled through the gates with practiced arrogance.

Moments later, the sky dimmed. Fog slithered across the streets. The air grew thick with eerie anticipation.

The ’fake’ Phantom Pirates had arrived.

Tyler and the girls, dressed in their signature Phantom attire, walked through the mist. Tyler casually tossed a few high-grade invitations at the guards without even looking at them. His aura, combined with the group’s mystique, left no one daring to question their presence.

Inside, the main auction chamber was a circular hall with multiple viewing cabins—private rooms for elite guests. Tyler and his group were given one such cabin, secluded but with a perfect view of the auction stage.

As for ’Real’ Phantom Pirates only Kael Driftsbane and Talindra has arrived already.

As they entered, a group of elegant maids stood ready to serve them.

But one of the Phantom girls – MC (Mathilda) – was eyeing them like a predator scanning prey.

The tension was unbearable.

"All of you. Out," Phantom Blackwood (Tyler) said with a deep voice.

The maids bowed and fled in a hurry, clearly relieved to escape that suffocating atmosphere.

Once they were alone, the group took their seats, some sipping tea, others simply watching the crowd gather.

People of all kinds filled the space— beastmen, Fishmen, elves and humans, all drawn by the lure of rare treasures.

Then the lights dimmed slightly, and a figure emerged onto the stage. The crowd burst into enthusiastic applause.

A stunning figure stepped forward, adorned in flowing blue robes with glittering gems. A long peacock tail shimmered behind her.

"Well, well," Phantom Blackwood said, raising a brow. "Isn’t that flashy?"

But neither he nor MC looked impressed. In fact, their expressions were blank.

"Hey MC," Phantom Blackwood whispered. "Ain’t only male peacocks supposed to have beautiful tails?"

"You’re absolutely right," MC replied. "And this one? Not a girl. I didn’t feel even a spark when he walked out."

Down on the stage, the host raised her hand and smiled.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Blue Tide Auction, proudly organized by the Blue Tide Merchant House, in collaboration with the Northern Merchant Society," she announced. "I am Ashe Transella, your host for today."

Applause erupted once more, and Phantom leaned back in his chair.

Somewhere across the auction hall, Kael Driftsbane and Talindra of the ’Real’ Phantom Pirates sat quietly in another reserved cabin. Unlike Tyler’s crew, they weren’t interested in tea leaves.

Soon, The Auction began.

"These are ancient knives retrieved from a ruin by one of our brave adventurers," Ashe announced, her voice echoing confidently across the grand auction hall. Two girls in elegant robes stepped onto the stage, carrying a glass container. Inside it gleamed five distinctive knives, each shaped differently and glowing faintly with a different hue.

"These blades possess unique attributes—some elemental, others enchanted with defensive or speed-enhancing properties. A rare find indeed."

In their private viewing cabin, Phantom Blackwood and the girls leaned forward with mild interest, observing the flow of the auction without reacting much. The knives, though valuable, weren’t what they had come for.

The bidding began at 50,000 Lydia, and quickly escalated.

"55,000."

"68,000."

"79,000."

"94,000!"

The final bid echoed. The set was sold at 94,000 Lydia, and applause followed.

Next came a sequence of standard but valuable items—pills that could enhance aura sensitivity, potions for elemental resistance, and herbs cultivated in remote frozen valleys of the north. Mathilda, under her alias MC, made a bid for a shimmering silvery herb known as "Frostbloom Dewleaf," snagging it for a solid 150,000 Lydia.

Then, the moment Blackwood had been waiting for arrived.

Ashe smiled wider as her hand signaled for the next item. "Now, this one’s a little different. Neither pill nor potion, nor rare combat ingredient — this is a tea."

Whispers began to ripple through the crowd.

"But not just any tea," Ashe continued. "This is Northern Spring Tea. One of the rarest and most expensive teas in the world. A delicate and refined cultivation enhancer."

A servant girl carried a crystal tray with a single, small packet sealed in golden paper. Inside were brownish leaves—resembling four-leaf clovers dried to perfection. It didn’t look like much. But those who knew, knew.

"This packet makes exactly four cups," Ashe said, her tone serious. "And here is the certification from our Merchant Society, verifying authenticity."

The seal of the Merchant Society was revered in the northern seas. Their word was law when it came to trade. Anything bearing their mark was instantly trustworthy— and priced accordingly.

"The bidding for Northern Spring Tea starts at 80,000 Lydia," Ashe declared.

"82,000 Lydia," a merchant called out immediately.

"84,000 Lydia," said another, voice laced with hesitation.

Then came a cool, clear voice from Phantom Blackwood’s cabin.

"100,000 Lydia," Darla announced.

The room fell quiet.

Jumping straight to 100,000 Lydia wasn’t unheard of— but doing so so confidently sent a message. This group wanted this tea, and they weren’t interested in playful bargaining.

Whispers and murmurs rose around the hall.

"Must be rich adventurers... or nobles in disguise."

"Who pays that much for tea?"

"Unless they’re serious tea addicts..."

Despite the surprise, a few dared to push.

"101,000 Lydia," said a woman from the east corner.

Darla rolled her eyes behind her mask. "110,000 Lydia."

That ended it. The bidding war dissolved immediately. It was just a small packet, after all. Most weren’t interested in paying more than market value.

In another cabin, Talindra— the scantily dressed vice-captain of the ’Real’ Phantom Pirates— watched the interaction with amused eyes. She ran her hand along the maid serving her, openly groping her rear.

"How cute," she drawled, her red eyes sparkling. "They’re really bidding this hard... for tea."

"Don’t concern yourself with them," Kael Driftsbane, her captain, replied flatly. "Once we beat them, everything they own will be ours anyway."

Talindra chuckled. "Including that one with the smug face? What was she called... Temptress?"

"Focus," Kael muttered. "We’re only here for two things— Shi no Kasa and the Nascent Divinity Pills. After that, we take care of them."

They had already noticed the other Phantom Pirates in the auction hall. Kael didn’t care that the originals and the fakes were under the same roof. In his mind, only one group would walk away worthy of the name.