I Build a Shelter in the Eternal Night

"Jiangnan World Pavilion bids 20,000, second call."

"Jiangnan World Pavilion bids 20,000, third call."

As the hammer fell, Wang Kui, standing on the stage, fostered a lively atmosphere with a gentle smile. "Congratulations to the Jiangnan World Pavilion for winning this Green Level Exotic Treasure and getting us off to a great start! And now for our second auction item..."

...

In the crowd, Chen Fan stared at the Elder leading the World Pavilion’s delegation, his expression utterly baffled. ’Twenty thousand Ghost Stones?’

’Are they crazy?’

’A normal Green Level Exotic Treasure only costs a few thousand Ghost Stones.’

’You’d have to kill 20,000 Ghost Objects to get that many Ghost Stones. To spend the foundation they’ve built up over all these years on a single item like this...’

But then he thought about it more carefully.

’It’s sort of understandable, I guess.’

’It allows an Architect to slightly reduce the Ghost Stone consumption when constructing buildings. This means that as long as the faction survives long enough, the Exotic Treasure will definitely pay for itself one day. After that, it’s pure profit. The only question is how long that will take.’

He didn’t know the exact reduction in consumption.

The description panel only contained a single word: "slightly."

’He figured it would take at least three to five years to break even.’

...

"The second auction item."

"An ’opened’ White Level Exotic Treasure."

"「Exotic Treasure Name」: White Jade Ring."

"「Exotic Treasure Level」: White."

"「Exotic Treasure Effect」: When worn by an Architect, this Exotic Treasure slightly reduces Ghost Stone consumption during construction."

"Starting bid is 1,000 Ghost Stones. Each bid increment must be no less than 100 Ghost Stones."

That’s right.

Awkwardly enough,

the second Exotic Treasure had the exact same effect, just at the White Level. He happened to have acquired two of them, and since they were useless to him, he put them both up for sale. He hadn’t originally planned on making many Ghost Stones from the auction; it was purely to build his reputation.

’But now,’ he thought, ’it looks like I can get my hopes up a little.’

In the end, this Exotic Treasure was also won by the World Pavilion for the high price of 9,000 Ghost Stones.

Being a White Level Exotic Treasure, it was certainly a bit weaker.

In truth, this price was also a little excessive. But it was obvious the World Pavilion was determined to win it. Perhaps they thought it might be part of a set that would grant a special effect when completed.

...

The third auction item.

The fourth auction item.

The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly lively. All items in this auction were goods from the Mortal Realm itself; none were being auctioned on behalf of others.

Gradually, the main event finally arrived.

-

"The fourteenth auction item."

"One Yellow Level Alchemy Furnace."

"Starting bid is 1,000 Ghost Stones. Each bid increment must be no less than 100 Ghost Stones."

Everyone from the various factions present turned their gazes toward the few Alchemy Influences in attendance.

The Jiangnan Medicine King Valley, the Jiangxi Hongdan Square, and so on.

A Yellow Level Alchemy Furnace would be a huge upgrade for these factions, making it one of the main attractions of this auction.

"Ten thousand."

Medicine King Valley was the first to shout a high price, jumping 9,000 above the starting bid. But everyone knew this was just the beginning. After all, it was a Yellow Level Alchemy Furnace.

Sure enough,

the Jiangxi Hongdan Square placed another bid.

"Twenty thousand."

"Twenty-three thousand," Medicine King Valley followed closely.

"Twenty-four thousand." Hongdan Square refused to back down.

"We withdraw."

Medicine King Valley suddenly announced their withdrawal.

Everyone present stared at Medicine King Valley, completely dumbfounded. Why would they give up at only twenty-four thousand? A Yellow Level Pill Furnace for 24,000 Ghost Stones was an absolute bargain.

Even those who didn’t practice alchemy were tempted to buy it themselves.

If this had been a Yellow Level Exotic Treasure, a brawl would have broken out on the spot.

Besides, why hadn’t any of the other Alchemy Influences made a bid?

They had expected these Alchemy Influences to fight tooth and nail for this Yellow Level Pill Furnace, but it ended so anticlimactically, selling for a mere 24,000 Ghost Stones.

But soon,

the leaders of the various factions exchanged glances, and they all understood each other’s intentions.

They were saving their strength to fight for the main course that was coming up.

Many people were attending the auction.

But most of them hadn’t made a single bid. They obviously hadn’t come just to watch the show; they were saving all their Ghost Stones to fight for the final auction item.

The Architect’s Order.

Finally—

The auction was about to reach its finale.

"The final auction item."

"The Architect’s Order."

"An Exotic Treasure that can turn an Ordinary Cultivator into an Architect."

"The starting bid is 1,000 Ghost Stones. Each bid increment must be no less than 1,000 Ghost Stones."

The moment his voice fell,

a sea of placards was instantly raised from below the stage.

A Mortal Realm Member standing to the side began announcing the bids at a frantic pace, struggling to keep up.

"Jiangnan Medicine King Valley bids 50,000!"

"Jiangdong One Sword Sect bids 70,000!"

"Jiangbei Commerce Association bids 80,000!"

The price quickly soared to 120,000 Ghost Stones. This was already the entire foundation for many factions. Ghost Stones were needed everywhere, and a faction could never reserve that many—there were always expenses here and there.

But the price was still rising rapidly.

"120,000!"

The Valley Master of the Jiangnan Medicine King Valley raised his placard and looked toward Chen Fan. "Seventy thousand Ghost Stones, plus the fifty thousand credit limit for a Level 1 trusted faction of the Mortal Realm. Is that acceptable, Domain Lord Chen?"

"Of course it is," Chen Fan said with a smile.

"125,000!"

"130,000!"

He knew this Token would be valuable, but he never expected it to be *this* valuable. It seemed many factions wanted to designate someone to become an Architect. ’One hundred thirty thousand Ghost Stones... just how many people would you have to kill to get that many...’

Just then—

a man from one of the factions took a Spirit Treasure from his robes and strode toward him.

"Domain Lord Chen, please help me appraise this Exotic Treasure. How much is it worth if I use it as part of my bid?"

It was an ’opened’ Green Level Exotic Treasure.

-

「Exotic Treasure Name」: Enhancement Stone.