“Lot #1: The Shennong Evergreen Alchemy Cauldron! Starting bid is set at five million Immortal Jade!”
The chief imperial auctioneer struck his wooden gavel against the jade podium, his voice echoing across the cavernous four-story auditorium.
Down on the central stage, the evergreen bronze cauldron glowed with ancient, rhythmic warmth. Carvings of medicinal herbs, sunbirds, and ancient farmers danced across its polished curved belly. Wisps of sweet herbal steam drifted from its hollow ears, carrying the clean scent of wild mountain mint, dried ginseng, and morning rain.
Before any reputable sect leader could raise a bidding paddle, a harsh, grating screech tore through the hall.
“Eight million Immortal Jade! Anyone who dares outbid my Myriad-Venom Clan is courting death!”
Up in private Box #7 on the eastern gallery, a tall, gaunt man in sickly green silk robes stepped forward to the golden railing.
His skin was grey and clammy, his fingernails dyed pitch-black from handling venomous centipedes and corpse-scorpions. Wisps of foul green smoke leaked from his nostrils with every heavy breath. Above his greasy topknot, a toxic crimson score hovered in Lin Mo’s sight: [Poison Patriarch Du | Myriad-Venom Clan | Goodness: -28/100].
Behind Patriarch Du stood four disciples wearing snake-skin sashes, alongside an elderly man in the embroidered robes of the Imperial Apothecary Guild. The imperial apothecary wore a smug, oily grin: [Imperial Alchemist Sun | Goodness: -16/100].
