Floating Island - Triple S Talent

Time flowed on.

Wei Liang remained on the auction stage, showing not a hint of fatigue. His sharp gaze radiated energy, and his grin only widened with each successful sale—especially when the bidders were VIP guests who looked like starving wolves fighting over a fresh kill.

"1.2 million!"

"1.3 million!"

Bids echoed like rolling waves, filling the hall with a restless energy that refused to settle. In Wei Liang's hand, a small vial shimmered under the crystal light, its contents a deep, gleaming red. It was Sky Dragon blood—essence from a near-extinct star beast of legend. According to the auctioneer's dramatic introduction, the blood possessed a rare trait: it could strengthen the bloodline of other star beasts with similar elemental roots. There were only five drops, but that was enough to ignite a frenzy.

The starting bid had been modest, but it hadn't taken long for the numbers to skyrocket.

At the far end of the room, Lein lounged comfortably in his seat, showing no intention of joining the battle. His eyes were half-lidded yet alert, scanning every movement across the arena. Beside him, Efan was busy scrolling through the item list on his tablet, sharp-eyed and focused.

Whenever an item's bid remained below market value or held significant utility, Efan would make his move. So far, he'd secured over a dozen items. But he wasn't reckless—once a price crossed his acceptable threshold, he'd back out without hesitation.

"What are they even fighting over that useless thing for?" Efan muttered in disbelief. "Isn't beast blood like that basically ineffective if the lineage is too far removed?"

Lein glanced at him but said nothing.

Elder Fian, seated nearby, gave a slow nod in agreement.

"You're correct, Junior Brother Efan," he said calmly, though his words carried weight. "If the bloodline isn't compatible or is too distant, the effects become negligible. Worse—it can even be dangerous. Mismatched essence can damage the body, sometimes fatally."

Though his voice was steady, there was no mistaking the depth of experience behind it. Elder Fian had spent a lifetime studying bloodlines, and it showed.

Lein listened intently. The elder's words stirred his curiosity. He'd heard stories about star beasts and the immense power passed down through their bloodlines. The stronger the heritage, the greater the potential that could be awakened.

"Elder Fian…" Lein finally spoke. "Do legendary star beasts still exist today? Every time they're mentioned, they're called 'legendary,' as if they only belong to the past."

The elder turned slightly, fixing him with a sharp yet respectful gaze.

"Of course they do, Elder Lein. But not here—not in our remote corner of Komso," he answered with certainty. "They exist far beyond the borders of this continent, in places few can reach. The world is far bigger than it appears."

Laras, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her tone tinged with curiosity.

"Then... have you ever met one of them, Elder? Or at least heard where they might live?"

Elder Fian shook his head slowly.

"No. Only stories—and even those are ancient."

Lein and Laras didn't press further. Their curiosity had its limits. The elder's reply made them realize just how much of the world remained shrouded in mystery.

Meanwhile, the bidding war over the dragon's blood had come to an end. The winner wasn't a young contender, but an elderly man in worn robes sitting quietly in the corner. His eyes had been closed the entire time, yet his voice had echoed clearly with each bid, as if sight wasn't needed to judge the item's worth.

"Lein, look at that."

Efan's voice broke the silence, his eyes now fixed on the stage.

Lein followed his gaze.

In Wei Liang's hands was a rolled-up scroll, wrapped neatly in white parchment and tied with a strip of crimson cloth. At first glance, it looked no different from any ordinary technique scroll or ancient cultivation manual—no strange aura, no wild energy surging from it. Yet Efan's expression said otherwise.

"That scroll…" Efan muttered, his voice low but certain. "Its light… it's strange. I can feel it. That's no ordinary item."

His eyes narrowed, as if seeing something beneath the surface.

Lein squinted, focusing on the scroll in Wei Liang's grasp. It looked ordinary, yes—but curiosity began to stir in his chest. With a smooth motion, he activated the information panel hovering before him.

[Blueprint: Sword of Judgment (Replica)]

A failed copy of a divine blueprint once crafted by the Godsmith. Commissioned by the Emperor of Chaos, yet left incomplete when the god drew his final breath.

"What a strange description..." Lein thought.

How long would it take to forge a blueprint like that? And what kind of sword was so magnificent that even a god would spend his dying breath trying to create it?

His thoughts spun with the possibilities. He glanced around at the other VIPs. Several of them were now fixated on the scroll as well—including a chubby young man seated near the stage and a graceful woman across the hall.

There was something hidden in that scroll. Something powerful enough to catch the attention of the elites.

"Efan," Lein said softly, eyes never leaving the stage. "What exactly are you seeing?"

This time, Efan didn't answer aloud. Instead, he sent a silent voice transmission—a subtle pulse of energy that only Lein could receive.

"That item… it's saturated with fortune, Brother Lein. Its value isn't any less than a five-star spirit artifact."

Lein held his breath, processing the revelation.

Even Elder Fian, sitting just beside them, hadn't sensed the transmission. And from the look of it… he might be doing the same with his own disciples. Silent strategies were part and parcel of the auction world.

Laras, noticing the sudden shift in their expressions, sent a voice transmission of her own, her tone surprised.

"What? If that's true, shouldn't I be able to sense something? Even with my light-element affinity, the scroll feels completely normal."

Lein didn't respond. But deep down, he knew one thing:

He had to get that scroll.

His focus returned to Wei Liang, who now stood proudly on the stage, the scroll held delicately in his hand like a king ready to unveil a crown.