Wu Ken stared at the stage, his eyes wide. An Ancient Bronze Fragment—identical in shape and tarnish to the one he had bought for a single copper coin—was being auctioned for two hundred gold coins. The disparity was staggering.
He leaned forward, trying to sense the fragment's aura. It pulsed faintly, but the resonance was different from his own.
Zang Ai's voice stirred in his mind, dry and amused.
"Don't get too excited, little lotus. That one's related, yes—but not a twin. More like a distant cousin with half the talent."
Wu Ken blinked. "So it's not the same?"
"Not quite," she replied. "Yours contains a fragment of the Void-Breaking Palm. Second Grade, Lower-level. That one? If my senses aren't dulled in years of boredom, it holds a First Grade, Peak-level cultivation skill. Good for beginners. But not world-shaking."
Wu Ken felt a mix of relief and curiosity. His fragment was rarer, more potent—but still sealed. The auctioneer's gavel fell, and the fragment was sold to a cloaked figure in the front row. Wu Ken shivered. One copper coin versus two hundred gold. The world was full of mysteries.
The auction continued, a parade of rare herbs, exotic weapons, and shimmering elixirs. Cultivators leaned forward, bidding with sharp eyes and sharper tongues. But the Sunstone Village group waited patiently, focused on practical needs.
Eventually, the items shifted—durable plows forged from reinforced iron, potent fertilizers to revive tired soil, and specialized timber for rebuilding homes. Elder Huan, calm and calculating, secured several key items at fair prices. Li nodded in quiet approval.
Then came a small wooden box. Inside lay a single red fruit, vibrant and warm, pulsing with faint Qi. The auctioneer called it a **Body Strengthening Fruit**, ideal for those beginning their cultivation journey.
Elder Huan's eyes narrowed. After a brief bidding war, he won the fruit and held the box with reverence.
"With this," he murmured to Li, "our village may finally gain a little more hope for the future. A First Grade fruit like this could nurture a stronger foundation for the next generation."
Wu Ken, listening nearby, turned inward.
"Master, you mentioned skill grades. Are fruits graded too?"
Zang Ai's mental voice tilted, amused.
"A sharp question. Yes, spirit fruits, elixirs, even ores—many are graded by potency and rarity. But don't get distracted by produce rankings. Focus on absorbing Qi, not cataloging fruit baskets."
Wu Ken sighed. Another mystery dangled just out of reach. But he understood. Zang Ai had her own rhythm, her own plan. For now, he would watch, learn, and wait.
The auction's rhythm continued—gavel, bid, silence—but Wu Ken's thoughts drifted. The world was vast, layered, and full of secrets. And he had only just begun to peel them back.