Chapter two - The Auction House

  As I fly towards the magnificent building, I can see large crowds of people entering and leaving it's hundred yard entrance. As I land near the entrance, I couldn't help but give the building's protective barrier a good appraisal once I peer though to see the early tier nine barrier supported by nine layers. The showcases on the walls and central pillars display various treasures for their end of the week auctions. There are teams of guards patrolling the area, not that they are needed, the barriers that protect the showcases are just too strong.

  The front of the building is like a roman three arch triumphant gate with a corner end of a colloseum attached to the back. The small arena space that left over is coverted into a stage. It big enough to bring in exotic mounts and pets. The main building and the stage is protected by a barrier. While the large rear colloseum is protected by a different barrier, possible meaning the colloseum might have been added later.

  After passing the showcases, I enter a oval room subspace with a extremely wide staircase in the middle leading to the second floor. The oval room walls glows a soft white on the floor and cealing, and I'm walking on an translucent almost invisible barrier for a floor. I look down at my feet and see the outline of my feet surrounded by the soft fuzzy white glow from a restriction that creates a white ground fog. At the bottom of the staircase are scores of people waiting to help customers who intend to go upstairs. But very few approach the stairs as most people head for the multitude of corridors that lead to private rooms. The place is busy, a steady flow of people entering and leaving from each of the corridors.

  As I head toward the stairs, I did a proper count and come up with a line of thirty hostesses. Ten of which were are groomed males doing their best to what they were train for and intercept female guests with ease. Their tight fitting jackets show off their impressive musculature. Behind the line of hostesses a big sister type wearing a dress with alot more accents overseeing the younger hostesses.

  I head for the base of the stairs, a pretty hostess in a tight dress makes eye contact and intercepts me away from the line and bows to me and ask "What can this Celestial Accord's auction house do for you, young master?" My divine sense tells me she drawing qi into her eyes. I glance around and notice all the staff are doing the same, so I took a quick peep in the hostess with the weakest cultivation. It's an eye technique that allows them to pierce though one level of treasure protection at it's basic mastery. But also allows them to see people's cultivation stage one level above their own.

  My reply was "I would like to rent a workshop, standard rates for a month stay?" and hand her a message jade listing the ingrediants I wanted to work with.

  She smiles and politely accepts the jade and begin scanning the contents with her divine sense. She sees long list of ingrediants, each had a divine sense recording of the actual spiritual plant with proper harvesting tips and management. It was the most organized message jade she ever seen, and intend to copy for her own use. The divine sense recordings ensure the different regions or a different world may have different names for the spiritual plant. So the recordings makes sure they know the right spiritual plants I wanted. The ingrediants she sees are early tier seven common crafting materials and a smattering of alchemy materials.

  With her her late stage five cultivation, it only took a blink of time to scan though the contents of the jade and smoothly tosses "Ah, you done this before, please follow me young master" while passing the jade to a runner. I see a sight frown flicker as her eyes tells me she is looking at my early stage six cultivation, then the raise eyebrow of can craft with early tier stage seven materials? I watch qi flow into her ear ring, after a brief glance know it has a restriction to serve as a communication tool with stealth encoding. Since I can detect up to late tier seven stealth restrictions. The fact that I can't sense anything tells me it's at least tier eight stealth protected comm link.

  I continue with "But I would like to request all crafted artifacts be sold at the end of the month auction, the day before I am leaving. I request my auctions be promoted with all the influence you have. I like my winnings to be converted to tier nine resources. Here is a list of materials I am looking for my master," after all I have to stock up what I am using. I will not suffer master too much of a loss taking me in when I return his ring. "I would like to buy them with my auction winnings starting with the most expensive items available. Let's start with this spear."

  I materialize a spear in hand "To bring in the crowd at the end of the month, please sell this spear at the end of the week. I crafted this spear a few months ago," doing a quick calculation automatically for curiosity's sake, it's been almost two years in master's cave. Then continue with "Master ordered me to go out and earn some fame," dramatically sighing at such troublesome work.

  She chuckles at that before handing out "Young master, I have no doubt you will earn more fame than you want!" Her shocked eyes appraising the spear as something already special enough to auction for a high price. Even peak stage seven expert would want this spear, her divine sense can even tell the weapon spirit is in hibernation waiting for it's first master. Most importantly, it was a bloodline artifact. It would be bound to the first masters bloodline, so only direct decendants can touch it. Even their parents and siblings could not touch it.

  As a man I glance at her ass as I climb the stairs, it's like how can I not look. So I pretend to be a tourist, and glance around me that my divine sense has already mapped out. She leads me to an area with translucent crystal tubes running up into the cealing and stops by one of them and says "Please sir, this tube lead to the workshops. Please remember you can only fly inside these tubes. There are flying restrictions thoughout this auction house." I nodded to her and step into the tube and will myself up with a dose of qi. I could use spiritual force, but decided to pretend to be a normal qi cultivator.

  As I land on the exit floor I was greeted by another pretty girl who inquires "What kind of room do you like sir?" I reply "a room with a view." She nods and says "I know of good one sir, this way please." As she leads the way she informs "If there is anything you need during your stay, please don't hesitate to ask any of our staff."

  My curiosity kicks in and I inquire "Does that includes even you?"

  She stops and looks at me and responds with a blush "A tier seven artificer as young as you, my answer is yes." I smile back, laughing inwardly as my curiosity gets the better of me. She bows politely before leading me away again often commenting on other rooms available if I am dissatified with the one she has chosen. She takes her time, it's obvious she is stalling until they can gather up the items I requested, so accepted the well rehearsed tour. I even injected a few points of interest to keep up the game, which I earn a smiled in appreciation.

  She finally stops before a triple layer barrier warded door, manned by a servant holding a silver tray. She picks up a jadekey and a void pouch and presents them to me, then tells "This jadekey will allow you to control these barriers and call for a servant if you ever need something. This pouch has the materials you requested young master."

  I wisk them into master's ring with a thought, and continued with "I'll take that nice girl who brought me to floor tubes to run errands for me. Tell her I give her a tier five niravana breakthough pill if she runs errands for me until I decide to leave this city." Then willed the jadekey to open the barriers and then walk through and enter the workshop.

  The workshop is on the top floor of the auction house. The entire workshop is just a circular slab of array hardened rock like substance extending out from the building as a short bridge. It's completely covered by an invisibility array, each step I take my divine sense records the cascating wave the rolls from my steps that outlines the edges of the bridge. With this safety aid type restriction built into the jadekey, my steps send out vibrations allowing me know outline of the invisible bridge. With the ground fog, I feel like I am walking on clouds. There is even a formation to make me feel the ground has a little give in it as if walking on a spongy floor, but my divine sense tell me bridge is solid.

  A three layer shimmering barrier protects the workshop and provides privacy. Glancing at the barriers, I see the main protective barrier, followed by a privacy barrier and the third barrier was another protective barrier that also keep the workshop invisible and undetectable. Through the keyjade I willed "clear to see" and the opaque barrier turns invisible and I can see the view of the city. Since the workshop extends out of the building I will be able to see both the sunrise and sunset. I know the barrier is one way, outside of the workshop is concealed by invisibility arrays as part of the the auction house guareentee privacy that crafters demand while working.

  My divine sense gives me the out line of other invisible workshops below me. The staff was kind of enough to put me at the very top, so no invisible restriction block my sky view but looking down, I see two more floors of workshop invisibity restrictions distorting some of the view below. Of course, that if I use my divine sense. But with my normal vision, they are beautifully absent as I have a perfect view of the auction stage as I am directly above it. After enjoying the fortress scape view for bit, I then imagine the token 'white and bright' and the invisible barrier turn soft white to illuminate the space.

  I send my thoughts into the void pouch to check the materials. I see them all plus a score of large vials filled with more sustenence pills and ten bottled gifts of cultivation wines. No doubt the spear I gave them was enough to satisfy management and decided to charge me after my auctions. I am glad to see they are treating me like a true master, gives me a good impression of them.

  It had lowest quality from the artifacts I made in the cave until I ran out of materials to use. I had already run out of alchemy materials as I had mastered that hobbie first raiding Gaia's medical gardens all useable materials. Unfortuately, master had heavily partition the medical garden toward higher tier spiritual plants that I can only use later. Though I did harvest all the ripe spiritual fruits so that the mother plants can start on a new batch of fruits instead maintaining it current full crop of fruits to perfect quality.

  After all, as a perisable fruit, it has a short evolution tree. Ten years, fifty years, one hundred year, one thousand years and ten thousand years. Though many agree waiting beyond one hundred years is going overboard. After all, the gains in potency for aging that long is not worth it. Because of this reason, most cultivation wines are made from one hundred year old spiritual fruits. There are a few families that produce one thousand year old wines, but that all goes to the great powers. Thousand old wines auction off at ridiculous prices that keeps the average joes from bidding.

  In my master's memories, never stop collecting sustenence pills, because you never know when you might get stuck in a trap. As an alchemist, I can make them, but it to time consuming to make. So I place a huge order of superior quality sustence pills along with the raw order list. I put those into my master's ring then empty the materials into the work area. Crafting anything is mentally consuming work that often induce headaches and a whole lot of insomnia. Only thing I can say is that I sink into my work at the molecular level and forget the outside world ever existed.

  When I come to my senses, there a marvelous weapon in my hands. I made a heavy blade this time, it's about three hundred pounds of polished metal and emits both Sword Qi and Earth Qi in overlapping waves. I put the weapon aside and began cultivating with the resources I bought earlier. This was my routine until three days left of my auction. The first servant girl I requested liked men and provided an entertaining break. I rewarded her a pill suitable for her cultivation level in gratitude for her time. The following stage five girls were even more enthusiastic in entertaining me once they heard I was gifting a pill that raises cultivation that they would need spent months or even a year working for. I know their desire to reach stage six to lock in their youthful appearance for two hundred years is every female cultivators dream. But I don't feel bad taking advantage of this, after all I'm not forcing the girls to duo cultivate with me. After twelve years of isolation, my sixteen year old body is cutting loose finally.

  I crafted fourteen weapons earlier, as I handed my last craft to my last break girl. I remember her being the one who occasionally runs errands for me. I examine her aura and see it's much stronger than before. I spoke up "That foundation pill I gave you last week worked extremely well, your now a peak tier five expert!" and give a friendly jesting smile as I hand her a tier five Nirvana pill for the night's duo pleasure.

  Her smiling reply was "Thank you very much for your help young master" before marveling at the warbow I had crafted. "You have total of fifteen auctions young master. Your auctions will end in three days, would you like to attend in a private booth young master?"

  I reply "No thanks, it's boring going to an auction that I can't bid." I give her a grin then hand her a new list of herbs I want to buy, I offer "Please add this list to the items I want to purchase with the auction winnings, and a friendly reminder to convert the excess winnings to stage nine resources for my master. I'll wait in this workshop." As I turn away my curiosity asks "would you like a third time with me tonight my dear? You will need a pill to solify your tier six foundation."

  She lights up and reply "I'll return to you as soon as my duties permit young master" and left to take the warbow away to be place in that central showcase with the rest of my auction pieces.

  When she returns, we use a different peak tier five duo cultivating technique, we follow the scripted moves and enjoy it as much as we can. As cultivators we go through five cycles before we are both satisfied. Afterwards she happily leaves with a tier six foundation pill and I watch her sways happily out of the workshop.

  Her only thoughts of knowing she'll be at the top of her peers once she take these pills and skips away towards a new future with a bright big smile. I couldn't help smile, when I see a girl leave knowing I just given them the ticket to become a stage six cultivator. They get this happy go lucky attitude as they take first opportunity to get to go into close door cultivation to make their dream break though. Thus locking in their youthful appearance for next two hundred years. After all, a stage six cultivator has a five hundred year lifespan.

  These girls I've gifted a tier five niravana break though pill always leave with a happy as can be vibe. Granting their dreams of being a young teenager for two centuries with the life of being dolted upon by a mass number of suiters. A couple of years earlier than they expected, they show their utmost respect as they bow many times as they try to leave. Seeing these girls so happy always makes my day.

  I get back to work, but this time I switch over to alchemy. It's just like artificing, I get total sucked into my work I forget everything. When I come to my senses I push my divine sense into my master's ring and know there is a new bunch of pills are in there.

  While examining the new pills with my divine sense, I see I have stocked up on what I was low on. Either by selling or gifting, my bag of trick or treats is full again. The door chime sounded, my divine sense dives into the token and see two elders waiting. They look kind of important so I commanded they keyjade to 'open door.' Two auction elders entered and delivered a void pouch, "Your winnings and spiritual materials you wanted, young master."

  I replied "Thank you for your exceptional services" as I sent the pouch into my master's ring. I had learn much from the information services about this world. The world had not change much from master's three hundred old memories. Prices are still roughly the same, though a few more spiritual plants have become rare or extinct.

  The other elder respectful replied "It's a pleasure having to sell your art here. Please come back anytime." He then willed the returned jadekey to open up the cealing. I watch a hole form on the top of the barrier that expands and drop instantly to floor level. I cup my hands and say "Elders, thank you for sending me off" and took to the skies.

  Last night I visited the information services for anything interesting happening nearby, but nothing that caught my interest. Also I was able to pick up a decent cache of herbs from Spiritual Gardens as they were able to teleport the available materials in range a day early. I told them to continue collecting the items on my list and gave them a handful of artifacts to create a tab with. The last thing I did last night was ask for a friendly spar with master Rosethorn.

  He was a good match, but like most alchemist he lacked battle power. At first I felt the match would be pointless and wouldn't gain any insights. I'm so used to using adding battle power from my years of training, now that I am fighting without it, I suddenly find this fair match interesting as I am being suppressed from the start. I struggle to quickly adjust to my combat abilities and slowly bring the struggle back to a balance.

  He smiles at my sudden growth and gives "I see now why you wanted to fight me, stabalizing your tier six techniques before adventuring again is a smart move young master." I give my thanks with cupped hands and a short bow for the hour long workout.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  As I travel though the city, I quickly learned that three color pill lightning struck the north workshop three times during the auctions. Causing the audience to go into a frenzy and the bidding turned into a battle in gratitude for a wonderful show. Being able to witness the full fury of early tier seven three colored pill lightning at ground zero was breath taking. The following strikes increase by a small advance, so the third strike would be at late stage seven battle power.

  The air becomes electrified as tiny harmless arcs of energy strike everyone making their skin tingle. This is then followed by the oppressive might that slams down on everyone. Although the barrier protects everyones life. The oppressive might still can be felt and thus giving small insights to many cultivators in the audience. The three auctions that had a pill lightning event ended up nearly doubling the other auctions.

  The appreciation for my unusual gift of close encounter with pill lightning had turn those three auctions into gratuitous bidding wars. The audience loved the feeling of the three final lightning strikes as many took the opportunely to divine record it and later study for insights. As oblivion approached the north workshop, the audience craned their neck to see the event unfold above them. The detonation was awesome and in a blink the colluseum barrier is covered in a cloud of qi fallout. For the general audience it was the biggest rush they ever felt and cheered for more.

  Thanks to the early tier nine protective barrier, many tier six cultivators would treated it like a lucky chance. Many would claim to recieve small advances to their cultivation during the auction. Experiencing the three late stage eight strikes being described as a wonder for the city. After the auction, many would be rushing back to their cultivation room for close door period. Studying the three divine sense recordings of the final strikes looking for new insights.

  So I head back to that dark cave in a round about way to make sure I wasn't followed. Now that I got supplies to last some years I can go back to my studies. Why would I return to that dank cave, it's because my master place a concealing array and a temporal array in there. The temporal array shifts time to three days in the array will only be one day in the outside world.

  * Reader Scoreon once commented on the Fastglow Shockmelon game, but I never liked my quick answer of using ancient memories from my legacy. So I finally decided to add the following arc as my new answer.

  However, my plans to return to the cave ended rather quickly as I a mid stage eight expert appear before me. I narrow my eyes and prepare to fight, though I don't stand a chance and wonder if I can make it back to the city. Then the young uncle looking guy exclaims "I have never met such a good seedling before. I am Krenlin, but everyone calls me Thunderclash, sect master of the Thunderpeak Sect. My young friend, how would you like to join my sect?"

  I blink once to recall what the auction's information service gave me concerning the important local powers. The Thunderpeak Sect is the number one sect, including the adjacent regions. They also have a decent reputation for fighting demonic cultivators. The sect is actually quite close, located in a nearby mountain range to the west. I frown a bit and toss out "I already have a master," in my heart I have a master.

  But Krenlin goes "What does that have to do when joining a sect? There are plenty of disciples with a master, but they still join sects because of what we can offer."

  With my curiosity peaked I go "What can your sect offer me?"

  Seeing my interest Krenlin smiles and offer "My sect controls serveral ancient renmants for a starter. Not to mention cultivation techniques, battle skills and raw materials."

  I was interested in the renmants and raw materials so I give "Are you going to provide me with tier seven raw materials?"

  He goes "Of course, your weapon artifacts are amazing! Not to mention your amazing pills. If you join my sect, I will grant you full access to our spiritual warehouse. Plus you can enter the spiritual library to learn any techniques and hobbies you wish. If you join I give you this void tool filled with resources and promote you as a elder!"

  I blink again, sending my divine sense towards the void pouch in his hands. It did not take much effort to get a peek inside and I sigh seeing the expected ton wanted of tier seven resources. I give myself a mental sigh, I suppose I could trade them in for tier nine resources later. I give a fake smile and hand out "Elder? Great! But what exact benefits do I get?" A title of elder is given to stage six experts for any power, so it does not really pump me up.

  He smiles thinking I am hooked and sprouts "Since your a genius crafter, I will give you your own peak! I know one near the back of the sect that currently free. That way no one will bother you while your crafting. No one will be allow to enter your peak with out yours or my instructions. There is currently a peak tier seven protection barrier around the peak created by the last owner.

  Elder Winesack died from qi diviation while trying to break though to stage eight thirty eight years ago. Since I have his spare jadekey, I long since buried Elder Winesack and clean up his home and personal affects. However, I never bother to look for his legacy and his secret treasures. With his peak stage seven cultivation, you might find some of his treasures useful."

  Krenlin just smiles at me believing I am hooked. I give him another blink and consider my options. I could just accept, looting a peak stage seven treasures could kill my curiosity a tad. But that smug look of his makes me frown. I see his face freeze a bit so I rebound with "I can already make mid tier seven artifacts, so a peak tier seven treasure is only mildly interesting."

  I watch him start sweating a little but quickly give in with "But I was already interested in joining, so adding Elder Winesack treasures can be considered a small bonus."

  I watch him sigh in relief before going happy go lucky as he guides me west towards a new home and goes "How shall I address you young master?"

  I thought a bit and offer "You may call me that." I cock my head slightly to the side and hesitated as I watch him frown again so I continue with "But inside the sect you may call me Drake, sect master," then give the cups hand and formal bow of a disciple. Flying sideways so as not to delay my flight any further.

  He brightens and laughs delays half a moment of time to follow and goes "Of course! Junior Drake, it a pleasure to have you as a member of my sect!"

  I smile back and bounce off "I like to travel to see the world, so I'll be leaving when I feel ready to go."

  He replies "You may leave any time! Just remember to visit the sect when you need a break from the world.

  It tooks two days to reach the sect, and he talked my ears off explaining everything I needed to know about the sect. "We will have a welcoming ceremony in a few days so everyone here can greet you. Until then, this peak will be yours until you ascend or die trying." I looked at the peak we had stop next too.

  Cool I thought, I have a home in a powerful sect, recognized as number one even in the adjacent regions. I guess I got a homebase, faster than planned, so I am happy. I was planning on looking for a homebase after my second training session in master's cave. This ancient young uncle looking dude got a decent aura about him. I do not sense much evil in his aura, he has lead a good life and I smile and hand out "Just how big is your spiritual warehouse? Just how much tier seven and eight raw materials do you have?" Getting back to business, as I don't want him to think I am a push over.

  He sees my smile and backhands "I think you will be impressed. The sect has been stockpiles for ages. Though much have been used for hobbies and auctions that improve our sect reputation. I believe we have enough to satisify the requirements toward your next break though."

  I go "Really? I look forward to that then, and thank you in advance sect master!" Which means I can practice as much as I want to peak seven.

  But realizing he going too easy for me counters with "You must provide the sect with ten artfacts or pills and the end of each month?"

  It's obvious an after thought, but I don't mind and pass off "Sure no problem, probably more than ten since I am a craftaholic," then watch my new uncle brighten. Considering that thought I serve "Do you not have tier seven crafters in the sect?"

  He sighs and goes "We have an early tier seven alchemist, but he is getting rather old, he is about to go into final close door soon."

  Understanding the situation I offer "Tell the alchemist to go into closed door, I'll produce a bunch of tier seven artifacts as soon a possible." With that I took an empty message jade and filled it with a list of ingrediants and hand it over to senior Krenlin with "Please send these materials as soon as possible."

  I see a grateful expression and goes "Would thirty sets of materials for each hobbie be doable junior Drake?"

  I blink and realize no matter how desparate he is, he still taking advantage of me so contend with "It be best if you give me more since I do not like asking for refills. However, I should get merits points for each one I hand in?"

  I watch him blink once to let it sink in before going with "Of course, currently tier seven artifacts offer the most merit points."

  Learning two legacies as my main hobbies and various sect activities including a shockmelon challenge kept me entertained for six more years inside my own temporal array. But just over two years have past in the real world. As for my sect life, well that will be cover in a flashback.

  I sigh with regret as I visiting master's cave for the last time. With my master reincarnating, the two arrays have been deteriorating a few months ago. I qi enchanced my eyes to give them a boost, I appraise the decaying arrays and know they will last a couple of months at most. I cup my hands and bow to the cave and respectively say "Master, may we again in the future." I turn and flew back to Celestial Accords.

  When I arrived at the foot of that massive stairs a young lady steps to me and purrs out "Young master! Welcome back to our Cestial Accords. Do you require the same services?" I smiled a nod as I pass her and continue up the stairs. She smiles back and quick steps to hug my left arm, then lean forward a little to see my face and inquires "would like the same workshop young master?" As she escorts me to the floor tubes, with her mid stage five cultivation, her memory is superb. As we pass the rest of the female hostesses who all chip in various versions of "Welcome back young master!" Along with their best poses, so I could not help my smile at all the young flowers perking up as I was possessively escorted past them.

  My divine sense pick up a ton of traffic from their ear rings. With my improved abilities I translate a few messages about my return to management. But mostly I also pick up on the girls excitement and even hear a detail report on my vices from my last visit. At the time I sense their predatory eyes of the new girls locked on me seeing their dreams of reaching stage six just arrived. Last of all, I hear a manager post 'Everyone is to respect and assist the young master during his stay!' After that I stop eavesdropping as the girly chatter started to get out of hand.

  Thinking back, about a dozen girls broke though to stage six last time I came here so I laugh out "it's my home when I am here" and thus headed home. When I reach the workshop landing a pretty girl offer out her hand and I hand her the list of the items I wanted to work on this time. I smile at her and say "You learn fast! Come over sometime and I'll treat you right."

  She laughs back "It would be a great honor young master."

  As I walk to my workshop, I see a servant with the silver tray. I step up and picked up the token off the tray let my divine sense activate token with 'Open my door.' I watch the barriers open and I step through. Then I thought 'Let the sunshine in' and barriers turn invisible. I look over my home town until the door chime rang and a voice say "Your items you requested, young master."

  I reply "Just put on the table" and continue to enjoy the view. I soon hear "Please enjoy your stay young master." I then think 'Soft white and seal door' and the barriers turn into that fuzzy white light I like to use when crafting. However, the first thing I do is set up a cultivation array to double the density of the world qi and temporal arrays to increase my crafting time by three. My time in the sect was quite useful in getting an expert to teach me these two arrays, and all it cost me was an extra artifact I crafted for merit points. Having being taught by an expert, mastering the temporal array was easy than trying to figure out master's chicken scratching. His written notes are terrible, but fortuneately, most of his legacy had auction house legibility quality.

  Tier seven artificing is a bit interesting, I use centrifugal forces, gravity waves and dimensional rifting to make great looking weapons. Can't go into the details because I made an oath to my ancestor to keep everything a secret. Best I can do is discribe one of his weapons. The story I liked the most is the ship in the bottle sword. It was a crystal clear sword that had a diaramma of a ship in a bottle in exquisite detail. The sword was the sea that held the diaramma. Bidders laughed at the ridiculous design. My master replied 'of course it's ridiculous! That the whole point in this auction. My weapons I am selling tonight are meant to be your final trump card. Since your going to use the weapon once, might as make them look ridiculous. Beside who uses scabbards these days, we store our weapons in void tools. With out sheaths confining me, I had fun making some bizarre toys. I've definitely be making more fun toys in the future.

  Another one I like is the rocket spear. It was carved from a tree and had a child like innocence to it. It's cartoony big nose and faded paint truely look like it was an old toy. My ancestor's one use toys are funny. I wonder if I have to skills to make such powerful toys someday. With that thought I sink myself into my work and forget the world again.

  As I become conscious of the world, I have four new weapons, each radiating a different elemental qi. The elemental qi pour out of the blades in torrents, as if the swords could no longer contain the excess qi. Surrounding each elemental qi is the same amount of sword qi pouring out, but it is so well fused together the you would think it was the same qi at first glance. I thought 'Nice blades!' and picked one up to examine. The crystal blade is like a window into the Elemental Earth Plane, the living earth constantly flows upwards from the pummel all the way to the tip of the blade. As it travels down the blade it exudes that torrent of perfectly fused duo qi. I see, I guess the show this month is about elemental weapons. I smile as I pull out my resource pouch and start cultivating.

  Once I recover my energies, I send the thought 'I need a cute servant girl' to the token and received an instant reply 'At once young master!' After enjoying duo cultivating for a number of times, I sent her off happily with the four weapons and a pill to help her cultivation. A quick look at the city before dissappearing back into my work. This time I made four elemental bows, very impressive looking work. Their exaggerated surface allow you more places to watch the captivating living elements flow around.

  After examinging each bow, I move back to cultivating. I spent a ton to buy all these resources from the auction house meant for tier nine experts, but I am eating them like candy at stage seven. Each small advance is a bottomless abyss. If a normal tier seven tried to refine one of these resources they would explode into bloodmist then ignite into an infernal due the excess energy. Not only does my master's cultivation technique raise the amount needed for each small advance, it also deepens my foundation capacity. This duo expansion is starting to get ridiculous in the shear amount of energy required.

  The next girl was a big sister from that last time I was here so I greeted "Girlfriend! How have you been?" She laughs and take my hand and directs me to the bed, this makes me laugh back, and enjoy the time I spent with her. We used a tier six duo cultivation technique, she actually broke though to stage seven in the middle of our fun. So I promptly pulled out a couple jades with a tier seven duo cultivation techniques and let her choice which one she wanted. Then spent the rest of our time enjoying an much more pleasurable experience. As a congratulatory gift, I gave her a pill to solify her foundation as she took the bows away.

  As I my divine sense watch the auctions going on below, a communication restriction displays the current auction item on the workshop wall. I have it set to chime whenever a rare items comes up, otherwise I had it set to mute. Listening to all the low level auction chatter got irritating really fast. I finish off a bottle of cultivation wine, I decided on a change of plans and order up a servant from the token and handed the girl a new list of spiritual fruits, herbs and liquids. When she returned I had a large jade barrel ready and tip the little girl with a pouch of tier three resources and watch her light up in gratitude before leaving. I began refining new materials into a liquid to fill the barrel. Once filled the liquid has a slight gold shimmer, I seal it and place a temporal array on the barrel it to make it age three times faster. Then willed the barrel into my master's ring, in a few months I can take it out for a taste.

  Zenia comes over and breaths "you always look so magnificent out there. What's your secret?"

  Mara said "you have to enjoy yourself to look good out there. Don't tell me you forgot this?"

  Zenia goes "I assure you, I get plenty of reminders. But really, you are a natural on the stage sister Mara."