Eternal Thief

As Lucy’s enthralling voice echoed through the grand hall, an electric tension settled over nobles and masked guests alike.

The chandeliers dimmed further, casting everything under pools of drifting shadow. All eyes were fixed upon the central stage.

“Esteemed guests,” She Purred, every syllable sliding like velvet over sharpened steel, “I present you the third-last treasure of today’s grand auction!”

A hush deeper than before gripped the auction hall. Two attendants stepped forth, carrying an obsidian tray shrouded in an ethereal mist.

As the mist dispersed, it revealed an ancient scroll, its surface cracked and flaked by age. Dark runic markings of a lost script coiled across it like living serpents, faintly glowing under the lights.

“This,” Lucy began, her voice low and hushed, “Is an incomplete Map of a Wandering Realm—discovered by an Abyss Wanderer who barely escaped alive from its depths.”

She extended a slender hand, brushing it lightly across the scroll, “While the name of the realm itself remains unknown, our appraisal masters have confirmed it contains markings that lead toward hidden ruins of a fallen organization of an old era.

“Although this map is incomplete, it has a mystical power that creates a pulling force that leads towards the unknown. That’s why whoever gets it will be guaranteed to find the hidden ruins. The real question is whether you are bold enough to go into this dangerous venture or not?”

The moment Lucy’s voice trailed off, a subtle ripple of desire passed through the room. Masked figures in three separate VIP rooms shifted forward, eyes glinting behind runic veils.

After all, everyone within the auction hall knows how profitable a Map of a Wandering Realm can be, not to mention that this map led to the completely unknown ruins of an old power.

Even Ace’s interest was piqued, but he was still skeptical about why the Abyss Wanderer would sell this precious map in an auction or why the Obsidian Spirit Hall didn’t keep it themselves so they could unearth this ruin themselves.

’The hidden ruin is probably extremely dangerous, so that even the Myriad Obsidian Spirit Hall didn’t dare to venture there, either that or there’s some kind of hidden scheme involved…’ Ace thought with narrowed eyes as he looked at the ancient scroll.

“Starting bid: 500,000 Tier-7 Abyss Gems,” Lucy announced, her voice curling around every guest’s desire for the unknown.

Immediately, bids begin to come in from all over the auction hall.

“550,000!”

“580,000!”

“600,000!”

But it was just the start as voices from VIP rooms also started to sound as they bid fiercely.

“1 Million!”

“1.1 Million!”

“1.5 Million!”

Ace, seated silently, felt a flicker of interest—but remained motionless. Even his curiosity had its limits, and he had no desire to wander realms he couldn’t yet control.

Furthermore, he felt something wasn’t right with this map, and he already had his plate full with the Evernight Council, so he didn’t partake in this bidding.

At this moment, Young Marquis in Room 2, licking his lips as he watched that map, ’This is a perfect gift for Lord Father!’

He thought as he bided with ecstasy, “3 Million Abyss Gems!”

Gasps swept through the lower seats. Even some nobles paled. The bidding slowed.

This time, Ace silently observed, but did not interfere with the Young Marquis, and only smiled coldly.

At last, no one dared to counter, and Lucy’s silken voice concluded, “And sold—to the esteemed guest of Room 2, for 3 Million Tier-7 Abyss Gems!”

The Young Marquis sneered in triumph, though his eyes never left Room 1. He was afraid that Ace would try to mess with him again, but nothing out of the ordinary happened.

However, this only inflates the Young Marquis’s ego further, and he sneered, “That bastard seemed to know what was better for him, humph!”

On the other hand, a cloaked figure was sitting within Room 3, and the moment the map was sold, a dark talisman appeared on his hand, before it started to burn.

“The trap is set! The target has taken the bait!” His words were engraved within the burning talisman before it vanished into ashes.

As the scroll was carried away, four attendants arrived, bearing a coffin-like box forged of black crystal, engraved with runes of sealing and warding.

When the lid lifted, it revealed a small, squat black crystal jar, so dark it seemed to swallow the very light. Within the jar, floating against the sealed inner walls, was a single crimson drop of liquid—squirming slowly, as if alive.

The drop emitted a faint, unsettling hum—like the echo of a distant scream.

Even the surrounding air seemed to warp, cracking faintly under invisible pressure.

“Our next second-last auction item is this Black Quartz Jar and the trapped Blood Drop!” Lucy announced softly, “It was unearthed in an unknown Wandering Realm by a lost expedition. Its origin and true nature remain unidentified… but the single drop of blood it holds carries an incredibly destructive power.”

Her fingers traced the surface of the black jar.

“Our tests confirmed that this blood can corrode Abyssal-grade treasures and corrupt anything with Abyssal Qi. Only those with the Abyssal Grandmaster realm can resist its corruption, and even that’s because of this Black Quartz Jar, which probably works as a seal.

“Yet it is only a single drop. Use it wisely—or we won’t be accountable for any mishap you might have. Nonetheless, this Black Quartz Jar has tremendous research value, so this item is placed in the second-to-last position in today’s auction!”

A deathly silence filled the hall. No one doubted the danger of a thing like this, nor its unimaginable value.

Lucky then smiled with a blooming flower, “Let’s get on with the fun part, its starting bid is 10,000 Tier-8 Abyss Gems,” Lucy announced calmly.

Even the number sent murmurs rippling; few had so many Tier-8 Abyss Gems ready at hand.

A voice from VIP Room 9 broke the silence, “10,500 Tier-8 Abyss Gems.”

Another from Room 6 followed, “12,000 Abyss Gem.”

On the other hand, Ace’s gaze was fixed on the Black Quartz Jar, or more accurately, the squirming blood drop trapped within, and his heart raced.

This single drop of blood might not have any value for others, but for him, it was a priceless treasure if this blood drop contained a bloodline of someone peerless race!