The bids escalated rapidly, and the tension in the hall was palpable. Leon leaned back in his chair, observing the room''s energy with a smirk.

    "15,000!" Hades'' voice rang out from VIP Room 3, immediately silencing the hall.

    A murmur rippled through the audience. Everyone recognized the significance of a bid from Hades, a Ascender with powerful background known for his ruthlessness and deep pockets.

    "20,000," Leon called out casually, not letting Hades'' reputation intimidate him.

    The crowd gasped, their eyes darting between Leon and Hades.

    In VIP Room 3, Hades'' face darkened as he gripped the armrest of his chair. "25,000!" he barked, his voice laced with irritation.@@@@

    Leon chuckled under his breath. "30,000," he said, his tone calm but firm.

    The auctioneer''s eyes sparkled with excitement as the bidding war continued. "Do we hear 35,000?" she asked, looking toward Hades'' room.

    Hades clenched his fists, his pride warring with his desire for the item. "35,000!" he growled, his frustration evident.

    Leon paused for a moment, then raised his hand. "50,000."

    The entire hall went silent. Even the auctioneer froze for a brief second before regaining her composure.

    Hades slammed his fist against the table in his room, causing the maids to flinch. "Damn it!" he hissed under his breath. He leaned back in his chair, seething. "Fine, you can have it, you arrogant bastard," he muttered to himself, unwilling to spend more.

    "50,000 going once... twice... sold!" the auctioneer declared, her voice filled with enthusiasm. She glanced at Leon and gave him a playful wink. "Congratulations, Ascender."

    Leon smiled faintly as he accepted the Bright-Scaled Dragon Sword. His mind was already racing with ideas for how to maximize its potential.

    As the auction continued, Leon felt a familiar presence outside the hall. He knew Hades wasn''t the type to let this go quietly.

    "He''s probably fuming right now," Leon thought, a grin tugging at his lips. "This day''s about to get more interesting."

    Meanwhile, in VIP Room 3, Hades leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. "Prepare the men," he ordered one of his attendants. "I want that sword—and his head."

    The maids glanced nervously at each other, sensing the storm brewing. Hades'' reputation for holding grudges was legendary, and it seemed Leon had just become his next target.

    Leon, however, remained unbothered as he prepared to leave the auction hall. The Bright-Scaled Dragon Sword might have drawn unwanted attention, but to him, it was just another step toward his goal. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Our next item is equally remarkable," the auctioneer announced, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Another Bright-Scaled Dragon Sword, though this two swords has a fascinating history. The swordsman who wielded it was a practitioner of the Two-Sword Style. He slayed the dragon himself and forged two swords from its body—one from its scales and another from its bones."

    She gestured dramatically as the curtain lifted, revealing another worn and damaged sword. However, this one, while still weathered, was in better condition than the previous blade.

    "Unlike the last sword, this one is Low Rare Grade," she continued. "But let me remind you—this auction isn''t for the broken sword itself but for the Bright Dragon Bones it was crafted from."

    The crowd murmured in excitement, the rarity of the item sinking in.

    This time, it wasn''t just Hades showing interest. The other VIP rooms lit up with activity. Bright Dragon Scales were rare and valuable, but they were still accessible through black-market channels. Bright Dragon Bones, however, were a different story altogether.

    Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even the auctioneer faltered for a second before regaining her composure. "100,000 gold coins!" she repeated, her voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Do I hear any higher bids?"

    Hades stood up in his booth, his face a mask of fury. His maids cowered as he slammed his fist on the table.

    "110,000!" he barked, his pride refusing to let him back down.

    Leon let out a soft laugh. He leaned forward, his voice smooth yet commanding as he delivered his final bid.

    "150,000."

    The room erupted into whispers. Even the auctioneer looked stunned as she glanced nervously toward Hades'' booth.

    Inside VIP Room 3, Hades stood frozen, his fists trembling in anger. He wanted those bones—desperately. But the number Leon had just thrown out was more than even he could justify.

    The silence stretched for several agonizing seconds before the auctioneer raised her gavel.

    "Going once... going twice..."

    She paused, giving Hades one last chance.

    "...Sold! To this handsome ascended for 150,000 gold coins!"

    Applause filled the room as Leon leaned back, satisfied.

    "Congratulations, sir," the auctioneer said with a radiant smile, her voice now directed toward Leon. "The Bright Dragon Bones are yours."

    Leon just nodded as he looked ahead to next item.

    Leon just nodded as he looked ahead to the next item.

    "Our next item is also from the same Bright Dragon Slayer," the auctioneer announced, piquing the audience''s curiosity about what was coming next.

    "Our next item is two sheaths made from Bright Dragon Skin," she said, but the crowd didn''t seem particularly interested. The auctioneer, however, maintained a mysterious smile.

    "I know what you''re all thinking," she continued. "But if these were useless items, would they really follow the sword?"

    Her rhetorical question made several people lean forward, intrigued by what secrets these sheaths might hold.

    "Both of these sheaths contain the Sword Manual of the Bright Dragon Slayer himself. However, only those who have attained Sword Lord Sword Mastery can even begin to comprehend the insights within," she explained, her tone drawing more attention.

    Leon''s eyes narrowed in interest. He knew that aside from common rankings, there were advanced rankings for weapons masters, particularly for swordsmen.

    The rankings began with Sword Apprentice, followed by Sword Knight, Sword Lord, Sword Noble, Sword Prince, Sword King, Sword Emperor, Sword Saint, and finally Sword God. The ultimate level was Supreme Sword Master, a title few had ever achieved.

    Leon leaned back, his mind racing. "This could be useful, especially if I can unlock the insights hidden within those sheaths. But I''ll need to enhance my mastery further," he thought to himself.

    The auctioneer''s smile widened as she added, "For those aiming to master the way of the sword, these sheaths are priceless treasures. Now, let''s start the bidding at 5,000 gold coins!"

    Excited murmurs spread through the crowd as the bidding began, and Leon prepared himself for another round.