Sovereign of the Ashes

The Crystal Heart’s function was undeniably unique, though it should not be overestimated.

Manipulating the mind was a high-caliber skill in the Astral Realm.

Even demons adept at influencing people’s thoughts could not guarantee success every time—let alone a Crystal Heart, which was essentially an inanimate object.

The higher ranking the creature, the stronger its focus, and the more fortified its mental defenses.

Using the Crystal Heart did not always guarantee success.

Even with the support of a specialized magic array, the success rate of a Rank Three Crystal Heart in influencing Rank Three extraplanar creatures was no higher than sixty percent.

For demigod-level beings, the odds were drastically lower, perhaps only ten or twenty percent.

However, if used on a weaker being—such as employing a Rank Three Crystal Heart to influence a Rank Two extraplanar creature—the success rate was almost a hundred percent.

Yet only a few would resort to this; the cost was prohibitive.

A Rank Three Crystal Heart commanded no less than four thousand magicoins in the market, and even then, it was rare to find one available.

As for Rank Four Crystal Hearts... Sein had never heard of the Melove Crystal Folks before, so he had no idea if there was any Rank Four individual among them.

The Astral Realm was too vast, its civilizations and races too numerous to count.

Even within the enormous Magus Alliance, there were countless unique groups akin to the Melovians.

Navigating every corner of the Magus Alliance was impossible, even for knights and mages of Rank Four or higher—let alone for Sein and Eileen, who were mere Rank Two mages.

The appearance of the Crystal Heart left Sein marveling. It also piqued his interest in Kristy’s auction.

Eileen, too, was intrigued, though she could not afford any of the items on offer. Nevertheless, it was still a good opportunity for her to broaden her horizons.

The starting bid for the Rank Three Crystal Heart was set at 2,500 magicoins. By the time the auction ended, the final price had soared to 5,800 magicoins.

In Sein’s opinion, paying more than five thousand magicoins for a special crystal with only a partial chance of influencing Rank Three creatures was steep.

The odds were the sticking point. If the Crystal Heart guaranteed success, Sein would not have been surprised to see it fetch over ten thousand magicoins.

“That’s valuable to summoners but not really to either of us. Let’s move on,” Sein remarked to Eileen with a smile.

With the Crystal Heart as a remarkable opening, the auction continued to unveil one extraordinary item after another—each a marvel in its own right.

The next item was the Dissolved Fire Blood Vine, a rare ingredient that could be distilled into a magic potion capable of dramatically enhancing pyro elemental affinity in full-fledged mages.

Following that came the Black Dragon Shield, crafted from the bones of a demigod-level black dragon. Its defensive capabilities far exceeded those of Sein’s armor crafted from the molt of Verdant Leaf World’s demigod-level Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly.

The next item was a Lich’s Phylactery, capable of granting an additional ten thousand years of life. It was handcrafted by a necromancer of demigod level or higher.

It was not only useful to Magus World mages, but also to knights and other creatures of the Magus Alliance. Through specific techniques, users could transform into undead beings, thus extending their lifespan significantly.

Another standout treasure was the Light Explosion Pearl, a single-use magic item crafted by a Magus World powerhouse. It harnessed a unique light ray gathered from the starry sky.

When activated, the Light Explosion Pearl released a catastrophic burst of energy, powerful enough to annihilate demigod-level beings and inflict serious damage on Rank Four creatures.

Its speed, derived from lumen elemental magic, combined with its simplicity of use, made it a terrifying weapon—particularly in ambush scenarios.

***

With so many treasures on display, Sein and Eileen were bedazzled.

Of the two, Eileen’s financial resources were far too limited, leaving only Sein with the means to bid on a select few items.

Although Sein was captivated by the array of magic equipment offered during the auction, he ultimately settled on the Dissolved Fire Blood Vine that could significantly enhance a mage’s pyro elemental affinity.

This treasure was not native to the Magus World; it was believed to originate from a large pyro elemental plane.

Since Sein’s pyro elemental affinity had already reached an impressive threshold, thanks to his Verdant Flame Body Tempering Technique and the absorption of the Flame Devil bloodline, the potion derived from this vine would have only a marginal effect on him.

However, this treasure was still extremely effective for Eileen, Selina, and the others.

Even Natalya, who was a knight, could benefit from such a treasure.

The length of the vine Sein acquired was sufficient for four or five doses, making it a worthwhile investment at 3,600 magicoins.

Though the Magus World and Magus Alliance were home to other treasures that enhanced elemental affinity, such items were scarce.

Sein also saw this purchase as an opportunity to return a bit of favor to Master Lorianne.

She likely had no need to enhance her pyro elemental affinity, and her extraordinary abilities in botany might grant her a slim chance to artificially cultivate a top-tier treasure like this.

Even so, gifting the vine remained a thoughtful gesture of respect and appreciation.

Thanks to the availability of numerous substitutes for the Dissolved Fire Blood Vine, and despite its limited production, a small supply managed to reach the market each year. As a result, the bidding for it was not particularly intense.

“The true value of the Dissolved Fire Blood Vine lies in its effectiveness on higher-ranking mages. Unlike lower-grade treasures that could enhance elemental affinity, this vine can even have a measurable impact on Rank Three mages,” Sein explained to Eileen.

He continued, “Although it’s not much use to me right now, if I manage to advance to Rank Three and undergo another transformation at the cellular level, it could expand my elemental potential. At that point, the Dissolved Fire Blood Vine might help further enhance my pyro elemental affinity.”

Eileen nodded intermittently, her wide eyes fixed on Sein as he explained.

It was hard to say how much she had actually processed, but one thing was certain—the Dissolved Fire Blood Vine Sein had bid on would definitely include her share.

Relying on external resources to enhance one’s strength was not a sustainable or wise approach for mages.

Thankfully, the Dissolved Fire Blood Vine only improved elemental affinity rather than increasing mana reserves.

Otherwise, Sein would have hesitated to make the purchase.

Beyond these “ordinary auction items,” which were already exceptional in Sein and Eileen’s eyes, Kristy’s Auction House began unveiling its main highlights.

The first item to appear before Sein and the others was no simple artifact—it was a divine artifact.

“Divine artifacts”, as they were called, generally referred to as treasures wielded by Rank Four creatures or higher. These items contained traces of law power, which only those of Rank Four and above could harness.

Divine artifacts varied in quality depending on the strength of the laws they contained.

The artifact presented was a medium-grade divine artifact, typically used by Rank Five creatures.

It was a heavy brass-colored hammer that bore a resemblance to the octagonal hammer wielded by Reina—though this one was far more ornate, radiating the undeniable power of laws tied to Rank Four and higher beings.

The starting price for the hammer was a staggering three hundred thousand magicoins, with each bid increment no less than a thousand magicoins.

Sein and Eileen watched in fascination as the bidding began. They were curious to see how high the price for such a divine artifact would climb.

The presence of an artifact of this caliber also confirmed that the auction was not attended solely by beings of Rank Three and below like Sein.

It was highly likely that Rank Four or higher creatures were present—though their identities remained a mystery.

Kristy’s Auction House had clearly mastered the art of discretion, ensuring that the privacy of its esteemed guests remained uncompromised.