Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 655

Chapter 655

Chapter 655: The Auction Ends

By now the auction was downright stifling . Every new bid could be the last . Every second was the buyers grappling with whether they could justify the price . The North was rich and prosperous, while the West needed the combined wealth of Satan and the Pontiff to compete . The Western government could provide the ships, but they’d need the citadels’ capital . However, their relationship with the Western government wasn’t nearly so close as in the North .

“One Capital ship, one dreadnaught and two expedition ships!” Metatron grit his teeth and lifted his paddle .

“Take it then!” The Terminator hissed . He didn’t press further .

Metatron, a ninth level Adept at his peak, nearly collapsed . He let out a long breath . Was it over? He’d won .

“One Capital ship and two dreadnaughts . ” Just as the buyers were thinking the Terminator’s refusal meant the end of the auction, another took his place . Poseidon .

Metatron’s hands were shaking . Where this anywhere else he might not have been able to hold himself back . But Poseidon was already a Paragon, and at his back was humanity’s wealthiest organization . He didn’t dare offend .

“His Majesty Poseidon still feels he hasn’t purchased enough?” Metatron snidely spat .

Hua Li replied in an even voice . “Whether it’s enough or not is my business . This crystal as just as important to me as it is to you . If our friend Metatron has the resources, he can feel free to raise the bid . ” Hua Li had never liked the Pontiff’s Citadel . Especially after what they did to Lan Jue, which prompted him to cut off relations .

Metatron sighed, fury writ clear on his face . Of course he wanted to keep going, but the Western delegate had already turned and shook his head . This was already far beyond what they agreed was the limit . Pressing any further would overwhelm his Alliance’s government . After all, there were limits to what this crystal could provide them . In times of war these ships were priceless resources .

But this crystal was just as important! What could they do?

The Wine Master interrupted . “One Capital ship and two dreadnaughts . Going once . ”

Metatron grit his teeth, mad with determination . “Add an expedition cruiser!” His breathing was ragged, his face twisted . He absolutely could not pass up this chance . It might be his only opportunity to become a Paragon . Lucifer, perhaps for the first time, admired the man . He wanted it just as bad!

With luck this crystal could mold several Paragons from the ranks of the Western citadels while extending the lives of their leaders . They needed it .

Veins protruded from the Western representative’s forehead, which was slick with sweat .

“All yours!” Finally, Hua Li spoke the words .

Metatron leaned against the back of his chair . His mind was blank . Lucifer was the same . The two of them were practically hand in hand – the first and likely last time such a phenomenon was to occur .

It was over! In the end the grandest prize had gone to the West . Paying what was owed, however, would be a long process . Once the ships were delivered they would receive the items purchased .

Lan Jue and his brother quietly slipped away . Lan Qing’s calm exterior had been replaced with a grin he couldn’t seem to shake . Skyfire Avenue had made out like bandits, and half of that was going to An Lun . Adding the fleet he already commanded, An Lun was now a frighten force to reckon with .

He looked at Lan Jue and smirked . It had been a fine idea! Of course, the North and West might have felt differently .

“I have something I need to take care of, I’ll catch up with you later,” Lan Jue said as they left the museum .

“Mh . ” Lan Qing nodded, he had things to tend to as well . Namely, the Astral Phantom . There were still problems that needed to be solved . Her soul was marked, but there was still much to do .

Lan Jue left for Zeus’ Jewelry shop, its surface counterpart . Ke’er greeted him with a bubbly smile . “Boss! You’re back!”

“Are things prepared underground?” He asked immediately .

“All set,” she replied . “Mika, Xiuxiu and Guo-er 1 are there . They’ve been very busy . ”

Lan Jue smiled . “Prepared two glasses of cold water . We’ll have guests soon . ”

“Ok,” she answered, then bounded off to fetch them .

Just then, a pillar of blue light arose from the ground like a mountain spring . It coalesced into a familiar form .

“His Majesty Poseidon certainly had a dominant bearing today!” When he saw him, Lan Jue couldn’t help but laugh . Hu Li materialized from the spectral light .

Hua Li replied with a smile . “All arranged by you, of course . Why didn’t you let me take that last crystal? It’s useful to my people as well . It could be used to supplement my father’s power, maybe even return him to Paragon . Bringing that back home would have been significant, especially in helping my family’s next generation of Paragon . It’d make it easier and more stable . ”

He wouldn’t have offered such tremendous sums without reason . He meant it; that crystal would have been wonderful for the Poseidon family .

Lan Jue shook his head . “I didn’t want you to throw money away . Gobi Entertainment has money but that doesn’t mean you should waste it! I’ll give you one . ” As he spoke there was a flash around his hand . A crystal about the size of his fist appeared . In terms of size it was similar to the one he’d given up, but the energies inside were even more potent .

Hua Li looked at him, shocked . You have more . This is too much, I can’t accept . ”

Lan Jue tossed it at him . “What does any of that mean to friends? Stop the bullshit and take it . It belongs to you . Without you we wouldn’t have walked away nearly so rich . It won’t be long before the Pontiff and Satan head out to try and get their own, considering their poor showing today . This was likely the last auction we’re going to hold as well . ”

Hua Li looked doubtful . “Is killing those aliens that easy? Aliens with cores like this won’t be weak . ”

His friend nodded . “This did come from a strong alien . Energy to match a Paragon, but not on a protogenic level . One on one, we’d be able to take it alone though it’d be a tough fight . Our last trip to the Starfields we came away with our coffers full . When the aliens attack things will be different, but not impossible . We just need to make sure we have the upper hand . ”

Hua Li didn’t voice any more opposition, taking the crystal . “I’m happy to have completed my task . I’ll bring this back home and give it to my father . We have our own preparations to attend to before the fight . When the time comes we’ll likely be here . ”

“Excellent,” Lan Jue replied . “Skyfire Avenue is the safest place in the East . The West is unreliable . But it depends on where the planets show up first . ”

Hua Li laughed, making his face even more attractive and elegant . Even Lan Jue stopped to appreciate it . “No matter where they show up, though, I’ll be by your side . ”

Lan Jue chortled . “Stop talking like a hopeless romantic, yeah? Alright, you have things to do . I need to take every opportunity to cultivate as well . You’ve broken through and I’m way behind . With A-Cheng sequestered for so long he’s probably broken through as well . I’m the last one . ”

“You’ve split yourself up too much,” Hua Li said . “Quiet your heart and focus on cultivation . Don’t let the outside world intrude too much . ”

“Yeah,” Lan Jue replied with a nod .

Hua Li bid him farewell and left . After a moment, Lan Jue left too to find the Driver . Their Disciplines hadn’t been fully transformed yet . He was close, and the thunder essence had pushed him to a new level . His intentional suppression was what kept his Discipline from advancing faster . He was in no rush, breaking through would happen sooner or later . In fact the later he could push it, the better the end result .

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Lan Qing’s living arrangements on the Avenue had been set up in the Gothic Winery . Typically it would be the jewelry shop, but Lan Jue was too busy .

Several rooms were in the back of the winery where people could rest . Streams of light filtered through the stained glass, giving the room a fairyland-type feel . On a stool by the window was the Astral Phantom in a plain yellow dress, peering out onto the street . She seemed entirely tranquil . Lan Qing admired her attractive face in portrait, and the delicate lines of her slender neck .