130: Chapter 131 Auction

This sudden gift left Lin Muyang somewhat dazed. He instinctively raised his hand and caught the coin that came flying lightly towards him. Opening his palm, a dull yellow copper coin with worn edges lay there quietly.

The front featured a blurred relief of mountains and rivers, while the back was blank. It felt slightly cool to the touch and had little weight, appearing unremarkable and even somewhat old.

"I'm leaving."

The old woman in the grey cotton-padded jacket left the coin without another word, turned, and walked away with staggering steps. Her pace seemed slow, with the sluggishness of the elderly, but in just two or three steps, her slightly hunched figure faded and vanished into the morning mist like it was merging into it. There were no energy fluctuations or spatial ripples, as if she had never appeared.

"This coin..." Lin Muyang gently closed the heavy villa door, shutting out the cool morning air. He lowered his head again to examine the coin in his palm. Under the brighter indoor light, he noticed fine, black lines on the surface that looked like natural textures. They weren't regular carvings but were wound and intertwined in a strange way, faintly exuding an indescribable Aura—a mix of ancient mystery and a hint of subtle evil.

"I can't see through it..." Lin Muyang frowned. Usually, equipment and items produced by Dungeons and Secret Realms, or crafted by artisans certified by "System" rules, come with their own attribute descriptions, making them clear at a glance to any Class Transferee.

However, there are also extremely special items in the world whose attributes are deliberately hidden or encrypted by some force. Such items are often of a very high grade and may even touch the mythic domain. Another possibility is that certain Class Transferees who have mastered special laws or divine techniques might create things that bypass or transcend the "System's" standard methods, which also might not display general attributes.

"Eye of Creation, activate."

Without hesitation, Lin Muyang calmed his mind, and a rarely used God-Tier Aura quietly began to function.

【Eye of Creation (God-Tier Aura)】: Once activated, it grants you a vision that perceives the fundamental nature of all things. You can view the basic attribute composition of any physical entity (including matter, energy aggregates, mental imprints, etc.). For items, it can reveal detailed attribute information that has been hidden or encrypted.

He usually used this Aura to identify strange items of unknown origin that couldn't be seen through by conventional means, or to roughly observe a target's level and four basic attributes. He had been thinking that once Gui Wanwan gathered more powerful and unique boss souls, he would find an opportunity to perform a "Yamas Fate Alteration" on this support-oriented Aura to see if he could grant it more practical effects, such as weakness prediction or energy flow trajectory display.

At this moment, under the insight of the Eye of Creation that transcended common sense, the seemingly ordinary brass coin in his hand suddenly took on a completely different "appearance."

Those fine black lines on the coin's surface seemed to come alive, like living black threads pulsing and coiling slowly. They emitted a deep, obscure Aura of unique laws, intertwined with a strong will to protect and causality fluctuations. Several lines of dark gold text, appearing as if condensed from the purest rules, emerged from within the coin and were clearly projected into Lin Muyang's "sensory vision":

【Witchcraft Coin】

【Grade: mythic grade special soulbound item】

【Creator: Witchcraft Hexer · Granny Mo】

【Core Effect: Damage Causality Transfer. When the bound user carries this coin, 100% of the total damage from any form or source (including physical strikes, elemental erosion, energy impact, mental piercing, true damage, soul burning, and all other damage types) will be forcibly transferred to and borne by the creator of the coin. This transfer effect has an extremely high priority; conventional damage reduction, shield absorption, attribute resistance, invincibility states, etc., cannot exempt or interrupt this transfer.】

【Additional State: Faint Mental Connection. The creator can vaguely perceive if the bound user encounters a major crisis.】

【Remark: Using the body as a shield, the hex is cast without regret. Passing the torch, I hope you move forward.】

???

Seeing this concise yet information-packed description, Lin Muyang's pupils suddenly constricted, and his expression became solemn.

"All damage received is 100% transferred to the creator?" This effect could be called a heaven-defying life-saving divine object! It meant that as long as he had this coin, he practically possessed an absolute "damage nullification" state. Any attack directed at him would ultimately be borne by the old woman who gave him the coin—Granny Mo!

"Witchcraft Hexer... Granny Mo..." Memories churned in Lin Muyang's mind. There was indeed an extremely mysterious elder Nation-Guarding Level Expert in Xia Country who hadn't appeared in public for many years. Her profession was the unpredictable "Witchcraft Hexer," specializing in manipulating causality and applying blessings and curses. Among the many Nation-Guarding Level existences, she was considered one of the most feared and unfathomable. Could it be this seemingly ordinary old woman?

Just then, a steady, slightly raspy middle-aged male voice sounded directly in his ear, carrying the sentiment of someone who had seen it all and a well-intentioned reminder:

"Young brother, that coin is one of Granny Mo's most prized treasures. It's something that can truly save your life at a critical moment, so make sure you keep it safe and don't take it lightly."

"That Granny Mo... sigh, she's also a person of misfortune. In her early years, she had a son with startling talent, also SSS-rank, who was seen by everyone as the future pillar of Xia Country. Unfortunately, heaven was jealous of his talent. During a cross-border joint exploration mission, that child was ambushed in a meticulously planned trap by several hostile foreign forces and besieged by multiple experts of the same level. In the end... he didn't make it back. After that, Granny Mo almost vanished from sight, and her personality became even more withdrawn."

"She gave you the 'Witchcraft Coin' this time... she probably saw that you are young and your potential is not at all inferior to her child back then, and that you are also the future hope of our Xia Country. Moved by this, she gave this significant life-saving divine object to you. The cost of making this coin is not small, and it carries many restrictions and risks for her. This sentiment is worth a thousand pieces of gold."

This transmission came abruptly, but Lin Muyang understood instantly—this was one of the two top experts sent by the Xia Country officials to secretly rotate in protecting him! Last night, when the other party had quietly arrived at the periphery of Ziyun Mountain Villa to set up defenses, Lin Muyang's extremely keen perception had already detected them. Since the other party had no ill intent and was just doing their duty, he had tactfully not exposed them.

"So there's such a story behind it." Lin Muyang understood, and his feelings toward the cool coin in his palm became complex. Beneath that cold touch, it seemed to carry the deep-seated sorrow of a mother who had lost her beloved son, along with a heavy and selfless expectation of protection for those who came after.

He solemnly placed the "Witchcraft Coin" into the innermost compartment of his storage bracelet, a space dedicated to his most important items. This gift was no longer just an object; it was a heavy weight of trust and entrustment.

As for whether this would involve or harm Granny Mo? Lin Muyang wasn't too worried. Despite the old woman's aged and ordinary appearance, her level was as high as 271! Moreover, she was an SSS-rank Witchcraft Hexer known for her eerie methods and extremely strong survival capabilities; her strength was unfathomable.

The damage he might receive being transferred to her might be nothing to her at all. Furthermore, with Lin Muyang's current strength, equipment, and the support of many defensive Auras, there were very few situations that could truly "damage" him. Wearing this coin was more of an extra, heartfelt layer of security, and he accepted it with respect and gratitude.

Having handled the matter of the coin, Lin Muyang turned his attention back to the present. He took out the two origin skill books he had applied for and obtained from the National Treasury last night.

He gave the 【Blurring Shadow】, which emitted a faint Aura of shadow, to Seraphina. She took the ancient book with a leather cover, a flash of curiosity and focus in her violet eyes, and as instructed, she gently pressed the pages against her smooth forehead. The skill book instantly turned into a dim stream of light, merging into her brow. A vast amount of knowledge, insights into techniques, and laws of energy operation were deeply imprinted into her soul and muscle memory.

The 【One Sword No Thought】, which contained a sharp sword intent, was handed to the dragon girl Ao Qingyan, who practiced the most diligently. Her cold eyes, like winter stars, lit up slightly the moment she touched the skill book, instinctively perceiving a deep-seated compatibility between this skill and the sword path she followed. Without any hesitation, she also touched the book to her forehead, absorbing and mastering it.

"These two skill books have great potential, but the path to leveling them up will be very difficult," Lin Muyang explained to the two girls, looking specifically at Seraphina. "'Blurring Shadow' requires you to continuously and successfully dodge attacks in actual combat that pose a genuine 'threat' to you in order to accumulate experience. With your current attributes and my defensive Aura, it probably won't be easy to find attacks that can make you feel 'threatened'."

Seraphina tilted her head slightly, her long purple hair swaying with the movement. She thought for a moment and replied in Xia language, which still had a bit of an Elvish accent but was much more fluent: "Master, perhaps I can temporarily remove some defensive equipment, or take the initiative to challenge Monster Domains with levels far exceeding my current one?"

"The line of thinking is feasible, but we need to precisely control the balance between risk and efficiency." Lin Muyang nodded in approval. "It seems we indeed need to find a suitable 'training ground' specifically for honing these kinds of special skills." Several potential locations flashed through his mind: the peril-filled Deep Sea Ruins, high-level Secret Realms of Elemental Riot, or certain dangerous areas with special mechanisms that could cause continuous oppressive environmental damage. These places might provide constant and 'qualified' threats, making them excellent spots for rapidly increasing the level of such skills.

However, the primary goal for now was still to push for Level 70 and unlock the eighth summons. The arrival of each new partner meant brand new power and possibilities, which was always something to look forward to.

After breakfast, Lin Muyang set off with several of the girls, heading once again to the top floor of the Tianqi Tower building. The purpose of this trip was twofold: first, to see if Liu Hongyuan had any new progress regarding large-capacity storage equipment and legendary-grade Fire Element Essence, and second, to ask the authorities for information on high-quality Secret Realms suitable for rapid leveling.

He hadn't held much hope, as both items were treasures that could be sought but not easily found. But to his surprise, when he arrived at the top floor of Tianqi Tower, he actually saw Liu Hongyuan's figure.

Unlike usual, however, this valiant female swordsman wasn't holding any signboards today. Instead, she was leaning against a comfortable sofa by the window, resting her head on one hand, looking somewhat exhausted as she took a nap with her eyes closed. She seemed to have figured out the pattern, knowing that as long as she was here, the other party would naturally take the initiative to contact her.

Lin Muyang didn't stand on ceremony either, signaling Elabess beside him to speak up and ask. A lazy yet uniquely magnetic mature female voice seemed to ring out softly from every corner of the room simultaneously:

"Miss Hongyuan, the matters I asked you to keep an eye on before—the large-capacity storage equipment and the legendary-grade Fire Element Essence—is there any news?"

The voice was ethereal, making its source difficult to pinpoint.

Upon hearing the voice, Liu Hongyuan on the sofa immediately opened her eyes. The fatigue in them vanished instantly as she sat up straight, a clear look of joy blossoming on her pretty face: "You're here! What a coincidence, I just got definite news on both matters, and... the clues point to the same place!"

"Oh?" The voice simulated by Elabess carried a hint of interest. "Tell me more in detail."

"We've confirmed through a special intelligence network that tomorrow night, a high-spec private auction will be held in the lawless free port region of Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand," Liu Hongyuan spoke a bit faster, clearly placing great importance on this news herself. "According to the partial internal auction list we obtained, it explicitly includes a Level 178 fire-attribute legendary-grade armor—the [heart of the blazing dragon]. At the same time, there's also an epic-grade storage ring with a capacity of five thousand cubic meters—the [sumeru ring]!"

A five-thousand-cubic-meter storage ring!

Lin Muyang's heart stirred. This capacity was quite considerable! The princess bracelet he currently used had a space of about one thousand two hundred cubic meters. The capacity of this [sumeru ring] was more than four times that of the former! If he could get his hands on it, whether for daily storage, strategic material reserves, or conducting certain 'large-scale transactions,' the convenience would be greatly enhanced.

"However," Liu Hongyuan's tone turned serious as she changed the subject, "for an auction of this level, the trading currency isn't ordinary Mana Crystals. They only accept 'epic-grade Elemental Essence' as the unit of pricing and payment. On the current international black market, the price for one epic-grade Fire Element Essence fluctuates around 22 billion Mana Crystals, and they are often unavailable even if you have the money. If you intend to participate, it's best to prepare some in advance."

Lin Muyang knew about epic-grade Elemental Essence being a high-end hard currency. It was the core catalyst for crafting epic-grade equipment and was a hard currency in any high-end market, far more convenient for trading than astronomical amounts of Mana Crystals. Previously in Brahma Country, he had wanted to pick some up, but unfortunately, such high-value items were stored in more hidden and scattered locations, so he couldn't get his wish.

"I have about three trillion Mana Crystals on hand. At 22 billion each, I can exchange them for about 130 epic-grade essences..." Lin Muyang calculated silently, feeling a bit helpless. "As expected, once you reach the truly top-tier trading circles, the purchasing power of Mana Crystals shrinks significantly. This amount of essence might not be enough to win those two finale items."

At this moment, a subtle look of apology appeared on Liu Hongyuan's face, but she added with a firm gaze: "In addition... Senior, if you decide to go and participate in this auction, please... try to act through conventional bidding methods and avoid... well, using overly attention-grabbing means."

She chose her words carefully, clearly having a vivid and fearful memory of the 'big things' Lin Muyang's 'solo clearing genius' identity had done: "The forces in the Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand free port are complex, but many of our Xia Country's chambers of commerce, family representatives, and Class Transferees also gather there. If too much of a commotion is caused, it might affect them or even trigger unnecessary international disputes."

She paused for a moment, as if having made a decision, and lowered her voice slightly: "Of course, if you participate as a normal bidder and are only temporarily short on funds... on a national level, we might be able to provide you with a certain amount of... credit support."

Hmm? There was such an option? Both Lin Muyang and the disguised Elabess were slightly surprised.

"You mean... no matter how much the gap is, you're willing to cover it?" Elabess's voice carried a hint of amusement.

Hearing this, the corners of Liu Hongyuan's lips curled up slightly into a light smile, and the atmosphere relaxed a bit: "It's not unlimited support... but we will arrange for reliable personnel to arrive at the auction site with a sufficient amount of epic-grade Elemental Essence to meet you. If the final closing price of the item you're interested in exceeds your own budget, our personnel can pay the difference on your behalf first. Of course, this can be seen as a strategic investment and short-term loan from the country to a key talent like you. You might need to repay it later through other forms of cooperation or gradually as your strength grows."

The terms could be said to be quite generous! It was almost equivalent to getting a temporary high-limit national credit account. Not only did it solve the funding dilemma, but it also deepened the positive interaction with the authorities, and the repayment method was flexible and relaxed. No matter how he looked at it, it was a win-win.

"With official support, it's naturally better." Lin Muyang had already made his decision and had Elabess convey it: "Fine. Provide the specific meeting method and code. Have your people meet me in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand tomorrow night."

As soon as she said this, Liu Hongyuan was clearly stunned, a flash of surprise crossing her beautiful eyes.

"You mean you will be there in person and show your true face?" she couldn't help but confirm. Previously, when this 'Senior' contacted her, he had always been hidden and mysterious. Suddenly saying he would attend a cross-border auction in person was quite a significant change.

"Since I have to consider the safety of our compatriots there and avoid unnecessary commotion, I can't always hide my head and tail and act in a way that easily causes panic, can I?" The voice simulated by Elabess carried a bit of helpless teasing. "Don't worry, I have my own arrangements and won't use that identity that easily causes trouble."

Liu Hongyuan suddenly understood. While feeling relieved, a new worry surfaced—if he didn't use that powerful and unpredictable 'solo clearing genius' identity, what identity would Senior appear in? Could he ensure his own safety? A lawless place like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand was a mix of dragons and snakes, where international agents, black market giants, lone powerhouses, and criminal organizations were all intertwined, and danger was everywhere.

"Senior, do we need to prepare a disguised identity for you or arrange for enhanced security?" Liu Hongyuan couldn't help but ask out of concern, her eyes showing genuine worry.