My Celestial Ascension

As soon as the platform was repaired, Lady Teresa stepped forward to resume the auction for the Silver Dragon Shield—a legendary artifact with unique abilities.

"Everyone! Since the threat has been neutralized by none other than the renowned leader of the Celestial Blades hunter party, Mr. Yuan, we shall now continue the auction for the Silver Dragon Shield!" Lady Teresa's excited voice resounded throughout the stadium.

The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, their excitement filling the air. Seeing their enthusiasm, Lady Teresa smiled, her anticipation for the auction growing.

"I'm thrilled to see everyone so eager for this legendary treasure! Now, without further ado, let's begin the bidding for the Silver Dragon Shield!"

As she spoke, her melodious voice echoed far and wide, drawing all eyes to the gleaming Silver Dragon Shield displayed beside her. The powerful magical aura radiating from the shield made the audience buzz with anticipation.

"The starting price for this treasure remains unchanged. And since everyone is already familiar with the auction rules, I won't waste time repeating them!"

With that, the bidding war began. The stadium erupted with a frenzy of voices as participants shouted their offers.

"110 million gold coins!" "150 million gold coins!"

The competition escalated rapidly, turning the atmosphere chaotic. The noise level surged as bidders fiercely tried to outmatch one another, making it difficult for Lady Teresa to keep track of the participants' identification numbers. Despite the challenge, she was exhilarated by the sheer intensity of the auction and the determination of those vying for the treasure.

Before long, the price soared to 500 million gold coins, shocking the audience. Yet the bidding showed no signs of slowing down.

Inside VIP Room #9

Aisha and Yuan watched the spectacle unfold, seated comfortably in each other's embrace. Every so often, they exchanged warm smiles, their fingers lightly intertwined.

Looking into his eyes, Aisha smiled and asked, "Dear, aren't you going to bid for this priceless treasure? One of your women could use it, you know."

Yuan, his expression calm, tightened his hold on her. "We don't need such things for protection. Our bodies are strong enough that even magical weapons don't work on us. Besides, it's useless to us."

"Useless? How?" Aisha asked, blinking in confusion. "This is a legendary-grade treasure we're talking about! How could it not be useful to you?"

Yuan took a deep breath before explaining why the Silver Dragon Shield was useless to him and his wives. Unlike others, they didn't rely on mana but an entirely different kind of energy—one far superior to mana.

However, he didn't elaborate on what this energy was or how they used it to strengthen their bodies, leaving Aisha both confused and incredibly curious.

"I see now... No wonder you didn't bid for any of the legendary treasures. Turns out, they're completely useless to you," Aisha sighed, finally understanding why Yuan and his wives had no interest in the auctioned artifacts. Everything made sense now.

"Are you not going to bid for this treasure?" Yuan asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"No. I'm not a fan of shields, so I'll pass on this one," Aisha replied before kissing his cheek.

A couple of moments later, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a familiar voice.

"Lady Aisha, may I enter? The auction has already reached a critical stage," Jones called from outside, having just returned from his walk.

"Yes, you may enter," Aisha said, quickly stepping away from Yuan to avoid raising suspicion.

As Jones entered, he immediately settled onto an empty sofa, his sharp gaze shifting to Aisha. "Lady Aisha, are you not going to bid for the treasure? Everyone from the Ten Great Families has already started bidding."

"I won't be bidding. Let them fight over it—it doesn't concern us," Aisha replied without hesitation, then turned her focus back to the platform.

"I see..." Jones nodded, offering no further comment. It was Aisha's money, after all, and he had no say in how she chose to spend it.

Meanwhile, the stadium buzzed with excitement as people continued bidding fiercely, unwilling to let go of the Silver Dragon Shield. The price showed no signs of stopping, as none of the Ten Great Families were willing to back down.

"820 million gold coins!"

Princess Livia's voice rang out across the stadium, instantly drawing everyone's attention. A wave of disbelief spread through the crowd as all eyes turned toward her VIP room.

'I must win this auction. Though I failed to obtain the dagger, this shield will still be incredibly useful to us. I won't let anyone else have it—no matter what!' Princess Livia thought, her gaze locked onto the Silver Dragon Shield with unwavering determination.

"850 million gold coins!"

Another bidder raised the price, sending another shockwave through the stadium. Even the noble families stirred, surprised by how high the bidding had climbed.

'What should I do now?' Princess Livia thought, her expression tense as she watched the auction unfold. 'The price has already risen to 850 million gold coins… There's no way someone else will bid any higher. Should I go for one billion? That way, no one would dare challenge me for this treasure.'

But hesitation gnawed at her. Was it worth such an immense price?

'There's no time to think. I must act now, or I'll lose this treasure as well. And I can't let that happen.'

Her resolve hardened.

"1 billion gold coins!"

Princess Livia's voice rang through the stadium like a thunderclap, drawing everyone's attention. A stunned silence followed before a wave of gasps erupted.

"O-One billion gold coins…?!"

The audience was in complete shock. Disbelief painted their faces as they turned to stare at her VIP room, their eyes wide.

"I can't believe she bid one billion for that shield… This is unreal!"

"Who else could possibly top that bid?!"

Whispers and murmurs spread like wildfire, filling the stadium with tension.

For several long moments, no one dared to speak, let alone place another bid. The weight of that astronomical sum hung in the air, suffocating any further competition.

Even though the Silver Dragon Shield was undeniably powerful, no nation or clan was willing to pour such an absurd amount of wealth into a single item. It simply wasn't a viable investment.

Realizing that no one else was willing to continue bidding, Lady Teresa took the opportunity to conclude the auction.

"Everyone! The bidding for the Silver Dragon Shield has officially ended! We have a winner!"

She made the declaration with excitement, eager to move on. There were still several more treasures to be auctioned, and time was slipping away—she couldn't afford any delays.

"Alright, everyone! The auction will now resume. There are still a few extraordinary treasures waiting for their new owners!"

Hearing this, the crowd's disappointment quickly turned into renewed anticipation. Those who had lost hope of obtaining a legendary item now sat forward, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

Seeing their enthusiasm, Lady Teresa let out a radiant smile. Her beauty was captivating, and the younger men in the audience couldn't help but be drawn to her charm.

—

"So, the winner is Princess Livia from the Holy Light Empire… and that idiot is with her." Yuan narrowed his eyes, his voice laced with disdain. "He seems to be scheming something in that thick skull of his. Pathetic."

Using his Divine Sense, Yuan peered into the VIP room and was surprised to see Holy Son Arthur sitting beside Princess Livia.

"Princess Livia of the Holy Light Empire?" Jones looked at Yuan in disbelief. "Wait… you can see inside their room? How is that even possible?"

Yuan chuckled. "That's a little secret of mine."

Jones exhaled sharply. "I see… I must admit, your ability is extraordinary. The possibilities with such a skill are limitless."

"Didn't I tell you my nephew is amazing?" Aisha grinned proudly and pulled Yuan closer, pressing a playful kiss on his cheek. "He's full of secrets and incredibly powerful too."

Jones smiled and nodded. "I agree. Young Master Yuan is a man of many talents. He will only shine brighter in the future." He leaned back on the sofa, looking satisfied.

A few moments later, Yuan stood up. He had been away from his wives for a couple of hours already, and he had promised to return soon.

"Aunt Aisha, I'll be heading back to my mom and the others now." Yuan smiled warmly. "Don't worry, we'll accompany you to your clan. I wouldn't want my mom to regret not coming along."

"Alright." Aisha nodded with a smile and stood up as well. She kissed him lightly on the cheek before sending him off. "I'll contact you when we're ready to depart."

Yuan turned to Jones. "Uncle Jones, take good care of my aunt."

With those parting words, he left the room.

A couple of minutes later, Yuan arrived at his VIP room. The moment he stepped inside, Anna Grace sprang to her feet, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

With a huge smile, she leaped toward him, arms wide open.

"You're back, my darling! Now, give your beautiful mom a nice, warm hug!" she exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.