The Invincible Auction House

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

The air was thick with the scent of incense and an otherworldly energy that Adam could neither see nor touch, yet it vibrated through his very core, sending a faint shiver down his spine. He stood at the edge of a bustling marketplace, its chaotic life far removed from anything he had ever known. Stalls made from rough-hewn wood and silk canopies spread across a sprawling square, their vendors hawking everything from shimmering elixirs to ancient weapons that pulsed with latent power. The cacophony of bartering voices clashed with the occasional roar of a beast—somewhere between a lion and a dragon—that rattled the very air. The sheer scale of it all was overwhelming, yet something deep inside him stirred with excitement.

Adam blinked, disoriented, his breath hitching in his chest. Moments ago, I was in my apartment—a dead-end job, a takeout container on the desk, and the faint buzz of my phone. Now... this? The vibrant and dangerous world of cultivation stretched out before him, so alien, yet tantalizing.

"Where... am I?" he muttered, his voice swallowed by the surrounding chaos.

The words burned themselves into the air before his eyes, large and glowing in bold, golden text. Adam staggered back instinctively, his pulse quickening. Text? Is this a game? The glow cast faint shadows on his face, a surreal light that only he seemed to notice.

Adam's confusion twisted into wary curiosity. He scanned his surroundings for any sign of the source, but the words simply hovered there, crackling faintly. "Auction house?" he repeated, as though saying it aloud would make sense of the madness. His voice sounded oddly small in this vast and unfamiliar world, a tiny thread of sanity amid chaos.

Before he could ask more, his surroundings shimmered and shifted, like a mirage bending under heat. His feet found solid ground again—this time, polished marble. The bustling market dissolved, replaced by a vast hall that could only be described as divine.

Walls of polished jade towered high above him, seeming endless, their crystalline faces catching and refracting light. Golden chandeliers floated midair without chain or hook, their soft glow illuminating rows of pedestals stretching into the distance. Each pedestal displayed treasures—intricate talismans, crystalline orbs, and weapons that hummed with restrained power. The air was cool here, tinged with an energy that thrummed in his bones.

At the far end of the hall stood a large counter, behind which loomed a humanoid figure clad in black robes that seemed to swallow the light. No face, no voice—just presence.

"Invincible?" Adam repeated, his voice steadier now. The word sat heavily on his tongue, its implications both comforting and terrifying. His lips curled into a slow, calculating smile. If that's true...

The robed figure raised a gloved hand without a sound, pointing to a pedestal bathed in golden light. Resting upon it was a book—ancient, bound in dark leather that seemed to shift when he looked too closely.

Drawn by some instinct, Adam approached cautiously, the hum of power growing louder with each step. The book opened of its own accord, its pages filled with shimmering, golden script that seemed alive.

ALL ITEMS MAY BE AUCTIONED TO CULTIVATORS. PROFITS INCREASE YOUR POWER AND EXPAND THE HOUSE. GOOD OR EVIL DEEDS PERFORMED BY YOUR CUSTOMERS STRENGTHEN YOU. WITHIN THE AUCTION HOUSE, YOU ARE UNTOUCHABLE.

Adam exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair—an old habit from his past life. The rules were simple, but they carried weight. Manipulation, power, survival—a dangerous combination. "So, I profit off others' actions... good or bad?" His voice barely rose above a whisper, but his mind was alive with possibilities.

The system answered immediately, its golden text appearing like a judge passing sentence.

Adam's smirk deepened. I've always been good at that.

A sharp knock shattered the quiet, echoing through the hall. Adam turned as the massive jade doors swung inward without so much as a creak. A ragged man stumbled in, his eyes bloodshot and desperate. In his trembling hands, he clutched a dusty, cracked sword wrapped in cloth.

"Are... are you open?" the man stammered, his voice edged with hope and fear.

Adam straightened, confidence flooding him as the hall seemed to respond to his presence. He stepped forward, his shadow stretching across the polished floor. "Of course," he said smoothly, gesturing toward the counter. "What do you have to offer?"

The man hesitated before laying the sword on the counter. "It's a family heirloom. I need spirit stones to save my village. Please, auction it for me."

Adam picked up the weapon, its surface chipped, but energy still pulsed faintly through its blade—a relic of a time when it had been more. His mind buzzed. "Very well," he said, placing it gently on a nearby pedestal.

The words appeared in the air, glowing for all to see. In an instant, the empty hall filled with figures, as though the air itself birthed them. Cultivators of every kind—sages draped in flowing robes, hardened warriors with scarred faces, and silent assassins cloaked in shadow—appeared, their gazes locking onto the saber.

The bidding began.

"Fifteen spirit stones!"

"Twenty!"

"Thirty!"

The hall buzzed with energy, and with each rising bid, Adam felt something within him shift. It wasn't just power—it was the culmination of ambition, greed, and desperation. Each voice calling out filled him, building a strength that crackled through his core.

When the auction ended, the saber had sold for 100 spirit stones. The ragged man sank to his knees, tears streaking his dirt-smeared face. "Thank you," he whispered, bowing low as Adam handed him his share.

As the hall emptied once more, a soft pulse of energy washed over Adam, accompanied by new golden words.

Adam chuckled under his breath, his eyes gleaming. "I think I'm going to like it here."

Adam lingered alone, the silence of the hall pressing against him. Outside these walls, danger loomed—and opportunity. His gaze fell upon the vast jade doors.

"Time to see what this world has to offer."