My Celestial Ascension

Several minutes later, Denise managed to win the auction, forcing the other Ten Great Families to back down from the coveted treasure—the Purple Lightning Gauntlet.

However, his victory came at a steep cost—he had to pay 7 million gold coins for a Silver Rank treasure, a price double that of any typical Silver Rank weapon. Yet, with everyone else retreating from the bid, Denise had no choice but to accept the outcome and pay for the treasure.

"Damn it all! Those disgraceful scoundrels! How dare they set me up like this?! I'll make sure they pay for this humiliation once the auction is over!" Denise growled, pacing back and forth in his room. His teeth clenched in frustration as he seethed over how the other Ten Great Families had manipulated the auction against him.

His fury was particularly directed at Heidi Vyker, whom he blamed as the mastermind behind his loss. "That vile woman… She's the reason I spent a fortune on a treasure that's not even worth half of what I paid!" he spat bitterly, downing a full glass of wine in one gulp.

"This is utterly humiliating! I must look like a fool to them!" he muttered, his face twisted in disdain, before hurling the glass onto the floor. It shattered into countless pieces despite being made of reinforced metal.

In the corner of the room, three women huddled together, trembling with anxious expressions. They feared he would vent his rage on them, as he had done in the past.

However, Denise did no such thing this time. Instead, he merely cursed under his breath, his anger simmering as he glared at the remnants of the shattered glass.

A few moments later, the door to the VIP room opened, and a stunning woman entered, clad in a tight-fitting outfit that accentuated her every curve. She exuded elegance and charm, her seductive figure drawing Denise's immediate attention.

Behind her, two imposing Magic Knight Captains followed, their armor gleaming. The woman held a beautifully crafted wooden box in one hand, clearly made from the finest materials, and a large notebook in the other.

"Esteemed guest of the Great Drake Family," the woman began with a polite bow, her voice smooth and professional, "we apologize for entering without prior permission. However, we are here to deliver your treasure and collect the payment. Please verify the item at your convenience."

"I see… Give me a moment to inspect the treasure," Denise replied, his tone softening as he gave her a charming smile. The sight of her alluring figure quickly soothed his earlier rage; he didn't want to appear unhinged in front of such a beauty.

The wooden box was carefully opened, revealing the Purple Lightning Gauntlet. Denise examined the treasure closely, his fingers brushing over the intricate craftsmanship and faint magical runes etched into its surface.

After a moment, he nodded in satisfaction, his anger replaced with admiration. He retrieved the 7 million gold coins from his magic pouch and handed them over to the woman.

"I've verified the treasure, and I'm confident a beauty such as yourself wouldn't dare scam me," Denise said with a sweet, disarming smile. "Please, check the amount of gold coins carefully. I wouldn't want you coming back later to accuse me of short-changing you."

"Thank you for your patronage. The amount is correct, so there is no need for concern. Please enjoy the rest of the auction. We will take our leave now," the woman said with a soft smile, masking her irritation. The heavy scent of lovemaking in the air did not escape her sharp senses, and her smile tightened as she glanced at the women in the room, their exhausted expressions hinting at what had transpired before her arrival.

Before she and her two bodyguards could leave, Denise stood up from the sofa, his confident smile firmly in place. "Before you go, how about staying for a chat? It would be an honor to get to know someone as beautiful as you. What do you say?"

"I'm sorry, Young Master, but I don't have the time to entertain you," she replied politely, her tone firm yet respectful. "I have important duties to attend to. However, thank you for the offer. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave."

Without waiting for a response, the woman turned and exited the room with her bodyguards, her composure unwavering. Despite her professionalism, she couldn't help but be surprised by Denise's boldness and arrogance.

Denise sighed as the door closed behind her. "I see… that's unfortunate."

He stored the wooden box containing the Purple Lightning Gauntlet in his magic pouch and returned to the sofa. Once the door was securely shut, his expression twisted into one of pure rage.

Slamming his fist against the table, he snarled, "That fucking bitch! How dare she reject me?! Does she not know who I am?! I'll make sure she pays for disrespecting me once this auction is over!"

Though his words were barely audible, the venom in his tone carried an unmistakable intensity of hatred.

—

In the grand stadium, Teressa's melodious and excited voice reverberated through the vast space. "The next treasure on our list is one that many of you have eagerly awaited. A treasure of this caliber has never been sold in any auction but the Grand Auction!"

Her words sent the stadium into an uproar. Joyful and excited cheers echoed through the air, creating a vibrant and electrifying atmosphere. The participants buzzed with anticipation, their eyes glued to the stage.

Even the Nobles, Royalty, and representatives of the Ten Great Families leaned forward in their seats, their expressions brimming with excitement as they waited for the treasure to be unveiled.

"Wow, so many people are excited about this treasure," Teressa teased with a playful giggle. "Well, I won't keep you waiting any longer. After all, it wouldn't be fair to hold you all in suspense, fufu~."

The crowd's cheers intensified at her words, the excitement palpable.

Two beautiful women soon stepped onto the stage, carrying a long, elegant wooden box. The craftsmanship of the box was exquisite, its polished surface adorned with intricate carvings that spoke of the skill and care of its maker.

The two women carefully placed the wooden box on the luxurious table at the center of the stadium. Immediately, every gaze locked onto the box, the allure of Teressa's seductive beauty momentarily forgotten.

Questions raced through the minds of the spectators. What kind of treasure lies inside that wooden box? Could it be a spear? If so, what grade? The air buzzed with anticipation as everyone awaited Teressa's grand unveiling.

With an excited and charming smile, Teressa announced, her voice ringing out clearly, "The treasure we're about to auction is none other than the Legendary Weapon lost for over two hundred years—Flaming Lion's Roar! An immensely powerful weapon once wielded by Emperor Leonard of the Ancient Empire!"

The stadium erupted in gasps and murmurs as Teressa's words echoed. At her signal, one of the elegant assistants stepped forward and opened the box.

Inside lay a stunning golden spear, its craftsmanship extraordinary, its aura unmatched. As soon as it was revealed, an overwhelming surge of powerful Mana flooded the stadium, leaving everyone in awe.

"Finally! It's here!"

"A Legendary Weapon at last!"

"The Flaming Lion's Roar! I can't believe it's been found after all these years!"

"The Mana it's radiating… This is undoubtedly a Legendary Weapon!"

The audience's astonished murmurs quickly filled the stadium, their excitement building to a fever pitch. Tens of thousands of eyes sparkled with amazement as they fixed their gaze on the exquisite spear now on display.

In the VIP section, Emperor Philip leaned forward slightly, his gaze locked on the weapon. A faint chuckle escaped his lips as he muttered, "So, a Legendary Grade treasure has finally appeared in the auction. The real battle begins now."

Beside him, Empress Priscilla studied the spear intently before turning to her husband. "Do you think we can secure this extraordinary weapon for ourselves? Such a treasure could significantly bolster our empire's strength over time. This is undoubtedly worth the investment."

Philip nodded, his expression serious. "Indeed, it would be a valuable asset to the empire. But acquiring it will not be easy. I can feel the greed emanating from every corner of this room. Many will stop at nothing to claim it for themselves."

His eyes flickered toward the other VIP rooms, a profound expression on his face. After a moment of silence, he added, "Still, I will do everything in my power to obtain it. No one would willingly let go of something this priceless."

"Well, Yuan and his wives certainly could," Empress Selena said with a light chuckle before sipping from her tea. "They're quite peculiar and mysterious in their own way. And so unpredictable." Enjoy new stories from empire

Emperor Philip sighed, nodding in agreement. "That's true. They're such an enigmatic group. I can't help but wonder how Mother is managing with them…"

Priscilla smiled gently. "Since Valeria is with her, she's probably enjoying herself. Valeria has been away from the Capital for so long; I'm sure they have much to catch up on."

While Emperor Philip conversed with his family, the rest of the audience in the stadium braced themselves for the auction. Anticipation hung thick in the air as they eagerly awaited the announcement of the starting bid for the Legendary Spear.

Standing center stage, Teressa observed the crowd with a soft smile before making her announcement. "The starting price for the Flaming Lion's Roar is set at 20 million gold coins. After all, this is a Legendary treasure—an exceedingly rare one at that."

Her melodious voice echoed throughout the stadium, causing a stir among the crowd. Gasps rippled through the commoners who were shocked by the exorbitant starting price, while the wealthier attendees wore excited expressions.

Teressa's grin widened as she added, "Now that the starting price has been set, the bidding is officially open. However, please note that every subsequent bid must be at least 1 million gold coins higher than the last."

"25 million!" Heidi from the Vyker Clan's VIP room was the first to call out, her voice ringing with determination as the magic lamp above her room glowed brightly, indicating her bid.

"35 million!"

A moment later, Denise's arrogant voice boomed across the stadium. The lamp above his VIP room illuminated, drawing the crowd's attention.

"50 million!"

Almost immediately after, Elias from the Silver Family joined the fray, his commanding tone cutting through the noise. His bid, the highest so far, caused murmurs of astonishment to ripple through the audience as heads turned toward his VIP room.