It was open defiance.
Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms.
Even if he’s a saint… Even then… there are rules, she whispered to herself, forcing her breath to calm down.
There was a sacred order passed down from the past Saints, and these rules were upheld by every Saint for centuries: a Saint may never act as ruler in another Saint’s territory.
Even if two or three Saints crossed paths, even if war loomed on the horizon, the moment they entered another’s land, they were bound by rules and restraint.
They had to give face.
They had to retreat when asked.
That law wasn’t just tradition — it was balance. The foundation that kept the world from turning into endless destruction.
And this was her land. Heavenly Moon Sect.
Her domain. Her authority.
She had hoped that this monk, regardless of how powerful he might be, would follow the old code. That he would sense her desire for the pendant, recognize her claim, and step back.
Give her face.
Give her dominance.
But instead, he simply raised the bid.
Again.
And again.
And again.
With no hesitation and no respect.
He didn’t even pause to consider me.
Heavenly Moon’s heart thundered in her chest, her pride bleeding from every word he spoke, every smile that played on his face. Her golden aura still surged around her, but it no longer felt overwhelming.
Instead, it was she who felt the crack forming.
Glancing around, her golden eyes swept over the masses of disciples, elders, and core cultivators of the Heavenly Moon Sect. Every single one of them was still kneeling, heads lowered, reverence etched in every part of their being.
To them, she wasn’t just a sect leader.
She was a god. Perhaps, more than God.
An unshakable force.
And she could see it in their eyes—
The way they looked at her, like she was invincible, divine.
How could she face them… if she retreated now?
If she, their goddess, bent her knee before a nameless monk, what would that say to the world?
I cannot, she told herself, biting down on her lips so hard that she could taste blood.
The auction hall had just become a battlefield, and her sect’s reputation was on the line. To retreat now would leave an unhealable scar—it would be a humiliation passed down in sect records, whispered for generations.
Even if it meant risking the stability of her sect. Even if she had to drain the treasury and push her disciples to recover the loss through blood, sweat, and missions—
She had to fight.
Her lips trembled once before she finally whispered,
“Ten thousand… high-grade crystals.”
The words echoed like thunder.
Even cultivators who had once trained in silence for years gasped out loud.
“Ten… thousand…?”
“Did I hear wrong?”
“That’s enough to fund three sects for a decade!”
On stage, Fi Feng was utterly destroyed.
His hands trembled, and sweat poured down his face like a waterfall.
He blinked, his mouth opening and closing, trying to speak—
But he couldn’t.
He had just watched a saint and another suspected saint throw immortal-level wealth at a pendant that looked like trash to everyone else.
Meanwhile, Julian simply chuckled as he watched the chaos unfold below him.
This was beyond anything he had planned.
He had come to this auction out of boredom, with no expectations. He simply wanted to stroll, observe, and maybe create a little chaos here and there.
But then—that pendant.
That seemingly worthless item made his death energy spiral out of control.
He couldn’t afford to lose it.
And now… watching the mighty Heavenly Moon—one of the Ten Great Sect Leaders, a saint whose name echoed across continents—struggle to preserve her pride in front of thousands of her own followers?
That was just the cherry on top.
Ah… this is better than I expected, he whispered, fingers tapping slowly on the chair.
“Let’s make this interesting,” he murmured, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
But this time, he didn’t speak aloud. Instead, his voice slipped silently through the air, piercing directly into Heavenly Moon’s mind.
“Ten thousand… is definitely cute. But I can go even higher.”
The words rang out within her consciousness like a threat. And for the first time since she became a saint—
Heavenly Moon startled.
Her eyes widened. Her shoulders tensed, and her breath caught in her throat.
What—?!
She immediately focused inward, checking every defensive layer. There were no cracks. No entry points. Her divine sense was active.
And yet… he was inside.
How? she thought, panic filling her thoughts.
How did he breach my mind without me noticing?
No one should have been able to do that. Not in her own territory.
Not while she had her Saint aura actively flaring.
Her hands trembled slightly, and she quickly clenched her fists to hide it, but it was too late. Goosebumps rose along her arms, her golden aura spiraling unnaturally.
“Calm down,” Julian’s voice echoed gently in her mind.
He chuckled softly, and the sound sent another wave of shivers rush through her.
Again.
The second time now.
How is he doing this so casually…?
“Don’t worry,” his voice continued, smoother now.
“I have no ill intention.”
She swallowed hard, unsure whether it was relief or deeper fear. He didn’t sound like he was lying. There was no malice in his words.
Still, she had to be cautious.
“Who… are you?” she managed to ask, her voice telepathic as well.
Julian didn’t answer immediately.
“That’s not what you should worry about.”
He paused for a moment, and she didn’t dare interrupt.
“I can keep this little game going for as long as you want. But can you afford to do the same?”
She froze.
No one could hear this conversation. But anyone who saw her right now would notice the fear etched on her face.
She knew he was right.
The sect’s prestige, resources, her reputation, her authority—none of it could sustain a bidding war of this level for long.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter