Wei Xi gasped as the cry of the wyvern inside him quieted, but the pain still flickered beneath his skin, like a storm barely contained. The bloodline had sensed Yan Jin's intent—it was no longer thrashing in protest, but waiting, poised on the edge of its desire.
Nie Li's eyes narrowed as he weighed his options. He clenched his jaw, his hands resting on the arms of his chair as he stared hard at Yan Jin. "Two million? You must really want that spear." His voice dripped with mockery, though there was an underlying frustration he could not hide.
Yan Bai glanced at Nie Li, clearly assessing the situation. He leaned forward, as if preparing to place another bid, but then hesitated. His eyes flicked toward Wei Xi, who was still visibly suffering. Slowly, Yan Bai sat back in his chair, his expression unreadable.
Captain Nie leaned forward slightly, but after a moment of tense silence, he scoffed. "Two million... Hmph. It seems I'll have to find something else to occupy my time." His voice dripped with venom, his eyes boring into Yan Jin with a cold fury. "You've made an enemy today, Yan Jin."
Yan Jin met his gaze evenly, not flinching under the pressure. He could feel Wei Xi's body finally beginning to relax beside him, the wyvern spirit calming as it sensed victory. Nie Li's thinly veiled threat hung in the air, but Yan Jin remained composed. He had secured the spear for Wei Xi, and that was all that mattered.
As the auctioneer's gavel came down, signaling the end of the bidding war, Wei Xi slumped back in his chair, his breath ragged but relieved. The spear was theirs.
The room slowly came back to life, the tension breaking as people murmured in awe of the staggering amount Yan Jin had spent. But for Yan Jin, it wasn't about the money—it was about saving his friend from the torment of his own bloodline.
After Yan Jin's decisive win at the auction, the atmosphere in the grand hall shifted. The intensity that had gripped the room moments earlier melted into a sea of hushed whispers, curious glances, and speculative murmurs.
The guests of Pine City, dressed in their finest silks and robes, huddled together in small groups, their voices low but excited. Yan Jin had not only won the spear, but he had also done so with such ease, spending two million bloodstones without so much as blinking.
Near the auction entrance, two merchants whispered to each other. One, a stout man with a bejeweled ring on every finger, leaned toward his companion, a thin, wiry figure with a sharp gaze. "Two million bloodstones! Can you believe it? That boy isn't even from Pine City, yet he throws money around like it's nothing."
The wiry man nodded, his brow furrowed. "It's not just the money. Didn't you see the way Nie Li backed down? That's the captain of the Golden Warriors. If even he hesitated to push further, Yan Jin must have something backing him, something we don't know."
In another corner, two aristocratic women, dressed in elegant gowns embroidered with gold thread, shared knowing looks. "Do you think he has a money gourd?" one of them asked, her painted lips curling into a sly smile.
The other woman giggled softly, though her eyes gleamed with envy. "A money gourd, or perhaps a wealthy benefactor. Either way, Yan Jin certainly knows how to make an entrance. First, he dazzles everyone at the banquet, and now this?"
"But who could he be? No ordinary merchant can spend like that." The first woman fanned herself delicately. "The Yan Clan doesn't like outsiders. I wonder how long they'll tolerate someone who upstages them at every turn."
Across the room, a group of younger cultivators buzzed with excitement. One of them, a boy with short-cropped hair and a lean build, muttered in awe, "Did you see that? Two million! He just raised his hand like it was nothing! I wish I had that kind of money. I'd be unstoppable!"
"Ahh!" Wei Xi gasped as the spear transformed into a phantom wyvern spine, its jagged bone structure piercing into his body, embedding itself directly into his spine. His eyes widened in shock and pain as he felt the bone sink deeper and deeper, intertwining with his very being.
The room was filled with the sound of Wei Xi's gasping breaths and pained groans as the spine rooted itself into his body, fusing with his bloodline. The intense energy coursing through him felt like fire scorching his veins, and his muscles spasmed uncontrollably under the sheer pressure of the transformation.
He doubled over, his body wracked with agony, as his bloodline went through a forced evolution.
Yan Jin watched in silence, his face calm but his eyes sharp with focus. He knew this was no ordinary bloodline evolution. The spear, forged from the spine of a royal-grade wyvern, was forcing Wei Xi's bloodline to evolve beyond its current state. It was a dangerous process, one that could break a weaker person, but he had faith in Wei Xi's strength.
Wei Xi's body began to change. His fingers extended, and thick, sharp claws sprouted from his hands, their tips glowing faintly with blood energy. His eyes, once wide with pain, narrowed into feral slits, glowing with the intense, predatory gaze of a wyvern. His pupils became vertical, and the whites of his eyes darkened to an eerie gold.
The energy around him grew even more feral as his bloodline, now in the throes of transformation, surged uncontrollably. His very presence radiated power and danger.
The pain was excruciating, but Wei Xi gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out any further. His body convulsed again as his bloodline reached its breaking point. The royal wyvern blood within him, previously dormant, was now fully awakened, roaring through his veins like a rampaging beast.
Then, with a final, guttural groan, the transformation completed. The feral energy that had filled the room dissipated slightly, though it remained simmering beneath the surface of Wei Xi's aura. He slowly stood up, his breath ragged but controlled, his body now more powerful than before.
Yan Jin watched with a quiet satisfaction as Wei Xi's transformation stabilized. His friend was no longer the boy he had been moments ago. He had evolved—his bloodline had been elevated to an imperial-grade wyvern, the epitome of his lineage.
Wei Xi looked at his hands in awe, flexing his new claws. He could feel the raw, untamed power coursing through his body. The once-faint connection to his wyvern bloodline had been strengthened tenfold. His senses were sharper, his strength more intense. His entire being felt more alive, more dangerous.
"Big brother," Wei Xi said, his voice hoarse but filled with determination, "I can feel it. My bloodline...it's stronger, more potent. I feel... unstoppable."
Yan Jin smiled, though his expression remained calm. "Good. You've been given a rare gift. Remember to use it wisely, Wei Xi."
Wei Xi bowed deeply to Yan Jin, his gratitude palpable. "Thank you So much. I will never forget this,"
Yan Jin simply nodded, though his eyes sparkled with quiet approval. "No need for thanks. It's just money."
Wei Xi grinned, though his eyes still gleamed with the wildness of his new wyvern bloodline.