The term was new to him. A flicker of interest lit up in his eyes.
Elder Fian took a deep breath, his voice taking on a more cautious tone as he explained.
"As the name suggests, Sacred Sects are immensely powerful and influential. They don't just control territory—they exist above the structure of normal power. Even a Dominion wouldn't dare offend them lightly."
A note of respect and caution laced Fian's voice. He continued, lowering his tone as if wary of unseen ears.
"The Holy Sects are usually branches of ancient sects that have ascended to higher realms. Their main bases lie far from here... in purer, upper layers of the cosmos."
Lein listened closely, though suspicion lingered in his gaze.
"And... to my knowledge, I don't recall anyone quite like them from those sects," Fian added. "But their auras don't lie. Power like that... can only belong to someone from a Holy Sect."
Lein gave a slight nod. The explanation didn't answer everything, but it painted a clear enough picture—those two mysterious individuals were far beyond common sense. He turned toward Dragnar, who had remained silent the entire time.
But the old dragon merely shook his head, expression unreadable.
"Even I do not recognize them," he said flatly. "And if I don't... they likely came into existence after I left the Origin Cosmos."
That alone was enough for Lein to make a decision.
For now, it was best not to get involved with people like them. He chose to bury his curiosity and refocus on the auction.
On the auction platform, Wei Liang showed no signs of running out of treasures to offer. Each item radiated incredible power—rare artifacts, sacred materials, or items brimming with spiritual utility. It was no surprise all VIP eyes remained fixed on him.
The auction's rarest goods were clearly reserved for the VIPs. And when something piqued the interest of either the noblewoman or the robed middle-aged man, the rest fell silent. No one dared compete. Heads lowered. Eyes looked away. Interest faded in an instant.
Lein watched with quiet understanding. Power, status, influence—those were the real currencies in this world.
The auction went on and on, stretching into the early hours of the next day. Time moved sluggishly, but for beings accustomed to treading the path of immortality, multi-day auctions were nothing out of the ordinary.
Lein and his group had already won dozens of items—some to strengthen the Divine Sky Realm, others prepared for the core members waiting back home.
Around them, sovereigns and nobles indulged in the event with practiced ease. Servants moved non-stop, delivering food, drinks, and the occasional light entertainment. To these elites, this was just another day in their luxurious lives.
But behind all the glamour... Lein could feel it.
More and more eyes had begun to settle on him.
Because tonight, a young man from an unheard-of place called "Earth" had drawn the attention of two high-level existences.
Elsewhere, a young girl in a white gown fidgeted quietly. Her eyes remained glued to the stage, but none of the items so far had met her expectations.
The rare plant she sought had yet to appear. Disappointment crept across her delicate features. With a long, quiet sigh, she bowed her head in resignation.
Still, the auction marched on.
Eventually, the third day arrived. With a satisfied grin, Wei Liang stood tall on the podium.
"And with that, the Arcteron Auction has officially come to a close. Until next time, honored guests!" he announced.
Polite applause echoed softly, though no one cheered. The VIPs were already rising to their feet, some summoning private attendants, others slipping away without a word.
Lein glanced toward the two mysterious figures—Freya and the middle-aged man—but both had vanished, like mist scattered by the wind. Only faint traces of their auras lingered in the air.
"Hahaha! I bought so many treasures!" Efan cheered with sparkling eyes, grinning like a child handed a pile of sweets.
Lein gave him a look and shook his head, a smirk playing at his lips.
"You're satisfied with just those trinkets, huh, Efan?"
Efan laughed without offense, clearly pleased.
Not long after, Elder Fian approached alongside his two disciples to bid them farewell.
"Thank you for your company," he said politely. "May our paths cross again someday."
Lein clasped hands with each of them, offering a genuine smile. He appreciated Fian's presence—and the subtle protection he'd provided throughout the auction.
After parting ways, Lein and his group returned to the main hall using their personal auction cards. As the portal shimmered open, they stepped through and arrived in a grand chamber draped with deep blue and gold carpets.
Other guests had also gathered near sleek counters manned by auction staff. They were in the process of claiming their winnings.
"This way," Lein said, gesturing toward one of the empty desks.
As they arrived, a staff member greeted them with a respectful nod.
"Honored guests, please present your cards."
Lein handed his over, followed by Efan and Laras. The attendant scanned each one quickly, reading through the transaction records.
"Total purchases: 387 items," he announced professionally. "The total due is 63,000 High-Grade God Essence."
Lein simply nodded. He raised his hand and placed it over a glowing crystal orb on the counter. The black bracelet on his wrist shimmered faintly—and in an instant, God Essence from his cosmic gold coins transferred over automatically.
The transaction was complete in less than a second.
"Payment received," the attendant said with a satisfied smile. He then handed over a small, gold-trimmed chest.
Lein opened it. Inside was a simple silver storage ring—containing everything they had won during the auction.
"Thank you," he said, taking it in hand.
With nothing left to keep them, the group exited the auction hall.
As soon as they stepped outside, a wave of savory aromas hit them from the direction of several nearby restaurants.
"My stomach's been growling since morning!" Efan exclaimed, already making his way toward one of them.
Lein chuckled and followed behind with Laras in tow.
First, they would eat—then decide their next move.