"You're right. I caught a glimpse of her figure through the curtains, and damn, an unspeakable urge hit me. Those long legs, that hourglass shape, those curves. I'd kill to have her."

"You're just horny, you bastard. Should I tell your wife? Besides, are you even worthy enough to afford her?"

"I know," he said with a grin. "But we can at least imagine, right?"

His friend, thoroughly disgusted, stopped talking about it altogether.

Eryke, overhearing everything, sighed inwardly. He took the last sip from his cup and stepped outside casually.

"So, this is the place, huh?" he murmured, tilting his head up to look at the seven-story building towering before him.

In the Martial World, most people lived in simple huts, while a few wealthy Martial Artists could afford two-story buildings. But only two kinds of people were capable of constructing truly grand structures: Alchemists and Merchants.

The building Eryke was staring at? That was the Alchemist Headquarters, the largest and most prestigious in the entire region.

"I hope nothing happens before I get there," he muttered to himself.

Standing in the streets, Eryke's gaze lingered on the towering structure, dazed. And then, in the next instant, he seemed to vanish entirely, as if he had never been there at all.

He blended seamlessly into the crowd; most passersby didn't even register his presence.

***

"The auction is starting soon… damn, I'm excited," a man muttered, drooling slightly as he sat in the VIP section, surrounded by silver and metal wares.

This was a place reserved only for the wealthy and powerful.

Unlike the Shadow and Demonic Factions, the Orthodox Faction operated differently. Here, strength alone wasn't enough, this was a world where Alchemists and Merchants could thrive.

Alchemists refined resources, making them far more effective for Martial Artists to cultivate, while Merchants fueled the economy, allowing wealth and influence to grow.

Because of this, their status often surpassed that of ordinary Martial Artists, and they were treated with great respect.

This was the core reason the Orthodox Faction thrived and was considered the strongest force, at least on paper.

Today was just another auction organized by the Alchemists to fund their research. And the main attraction?

A woman in strange clothes.

In this Martial World, human rights were a luxury few could claim. Servants were bought and sold without hesitation.

Most slaves had been captured from destroyed villages or were born into crushing debt. The woman before them was no different, she had been taken from the ruins of a village.

Soon, a beautiful woman stepped onto the platform, her voice crisp and commanding.

"Everyone, apologies for the wait. We needed some time to prepare… for our special dish," she said, flashing a flirtatious, lascivious smile. A few of the guests cheered.

"Show us the woman already!" one shouted, jeering.

Another added eagerly, "I must get this woman today even if I have to sell my hut for it."

Most of the voices belonged to Martial Artists, brutal, savage men driven by hunger and desire.

"Haha, that will come last," the woman replied with a teasing tone. "But first, this item will surely interest you…"

As she spoke, the platform was filled with a display of refined resources and rare items, gleaming enticingly before the guests.

Although the spectators were initially disappointed, they quickly regained their enthusiasm, calling out bids for the goods with energetic voices.

In the VIP room, however, it was comparatively quiet. Except for the drooling man, the others remained silent.

In one of its rooms, two women occupied it. One sat on the bed, a zither resting in her hands, while the other stood still, vigilant.

"Are you certain the woman they found is an outsider?" the seated woman asked, her gaze focused.

"Yes, we're certain," the standing woman replied. "We also suspect that the guest elder from Mount Hua Sect might be an outsider as well."

"Forget that man, he seems too powerful and we can't deal with him for now," the woman said, glancing left and right. "Looks like we'll have to compete with the other two top sects if we want to get that woman."

"I don't understand, milady. Why go through so much trouble for something so… simple?" the standing woman asked, her confusion evident.

"Don't ask foolish questions," the sitting woman replied sharply. "They could become our greatest assets, with their strange powers. Imagine if we cultivate them in Martial Arts as well."

"But they'll leave after four years. All our investment would be wasted by then, milady," the standing woman protested.

"No," the first woman shook her head firmly. "It's worth it. By then, we'll have consolidated far more power, crushed the smaller sects, and brought them under our wing. That's exactly how the Thousand Iron Sect rose so quickly to become the strongest among us."

***

"All right, now that everything has been sold, it's finally time for the main dish," the beautiful announcer called out, her voice ringing through the hall. The audience erupted, cheering and shouting, hands raised in eager anticipation.

With a gleeful clap, she beamed at the crowd.

Two bulky men appeared, dragging a cage behind them. A curtain covered it, but the faint outline of a woman could be seen through the fabric.

The spectators roared, their excitement unrestrained, jeering and clamoring for a better view. Then, in one swift motion, the veil was lifted by the two men, revealing its captive.

Swish!

In an instant, the curtains lifted, revealing a woman in an office suit, huddled in the corner. Beating marks marred her skin, and the moment she saw the crowd, her pupils darted wildly in fear. Her body shook uncontrollably as she took in the faces surrounding her.

"W-where… am I…?!" she stammered.

"Place your bids, everyone. The starting bid is one silver coin," the beautiful announcer declared.

"I bid fifty silver coins."

"I bid fifty-one silver coins."

"One hundred silver coins."

"One hundred and one silver coins."

The bids rose rapidly, a chaotic chorus of voices, until someone from the VIP section shouted:

"I bid one gold coin."

The entire place went silent.

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