Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Mana Heart
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'Jackpot.'
Shin Yu-hyun grinned.
The third item up for auction was none other than a spirit elixir. The kind that boosted one's vitality or chakra mana upon consumption.
"This next auction item is a Mana Heart! We'll start the bidding at 500 million!"
'Mana Heart, huh...'
Mana Hearts were incredibly rare spirit elixirs found only in dungeons.
Superhumans below 5-star could achieve a significant mana boost from consuming one.
If Shin Yu-hyun took one now, he'd get close to 4-star level.
'Elixirs and divine pills definitely let you climb superhuman ranks fast. The problem is how hard they are to get.'
Spirit elixirs and divine pills were rare treasures.
They usually came from dungeons, though humanity had ways to produce them too.
But they were extremely scarce from dungeons, and even manufacturing them required hard-to-find ingredients.
'At this point in time, no dungeons have dropped elixirs or divine pills yet.'
Shin Yu-hyun had knowledge of the future.
He didn't remember every tiny detail, but he still recalled info on famous dungeons, major incidents, and disasters.
The unidentified dungeon gate incident where Nam Yeon-ah and her survey team vanished.
The Azure Dragon Sword Division's raid on the Arachne nest.
And even the Incheon Dungeon Stampede that was coming up.
That wasn't all.
He even knew about a useful elixir dropping from a 4-star dungeon gate opening two months from now.
It'd be ideal to snag an elixir or divine pill before the stampede hit, but in the current situation, that was tough. Money couldn't always buy elixirs.
Take the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan—even direct descendants didn't get Heaven-Splitting Divine Pills handed out easily. Everything was based strictly on performance.
Making even one took an enormous amount of time and effort, not to mention sourcing the materials.
And yet, here was such an elixir on the auction block.
A Mana Heart, one of the hardest to obtain, no less.
"I've seen other elixirs and divine pills, but a Mana Heart is a first. How'd you get your hands on something that rare?"
"Our group's hunter team found it by chance in a dungeon. We got lucky."
"They must be pretty capable to snag a Mana Heart."
"Thank you."
Nam Yeon-ah smiled in response to Shin Yu-hyun's words. He silently called out to Dia in his mind.
- Dia, appraise it.
- You got it, Master!
Dia replied in her cute voice and appraised the Mana Heart, sending the info straight to Shin Yu-hyun's head.
📦 Name:Mana Heart🏷️ Type:Spirit Elixir⭐ Grade:Rare📊 Condition:Good📝 Description:A spirit elixir condensed with mana.
Melts in your mouth like cotton candy. Grants +2 to mana-related stats for 4-star superhumans. Effects may increase based on consumption method and user's abilities.
'Real jackpot.'
Shin Yu-hyun smirked inwardly as he checked the info from Dia's appraisal.
The Mana Heart was Rare grade.
Equivalent to 4-star in superhuman terms, on par with the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill.
Higher-grade superhumans got diminished returns from elixirs and divine pills. A 5-star taking a Mana Heart would see maybe a tiny stat bump.
One point, if that.
But for a 1-star?
Like the Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill, it could blast open their vitality gates and rocket them straight to 2-star.
"510 million!"
"530 million!"
"550 million!"
"550... million..."
As soon as bidding started on the Mana Heart, mostly 4-star superhumans drove the price up sharply.
"700 million!"
"720 million!"
Calls rang out from all over for the Mana Heart.
Choi Yu-ri was among them, and so was Lee Cheon-woo.
'Popular item, as expected.'
Shin Yu-hyun smiled at the sight.
It was natural for 3-stars and 4-stars to crave a Mana Heart. A full +2 to vitality stats meant jumping from mid-4-star to high-4-star.
"900 million!"
"900 million! Any more bids at 900?"
Once Lee Cheon-woo called 900 million, the other superhumans hesitated.
Mana Hearts did almost nothing for 5-stars.
So they mostly sat out the auction, leaving 4-stars to fight tooth and nail.
But 900 million was a huge sum even for them.
For that money, buying top-tier gear might be a more efficient way to get stronger.
Your own abilities mattered, but gear was crucial too.
Mighty sword clans like the Heavenly Moon Sword Sect had deep pockets.
That's why Lee Cheon-woo, a direct descendant, had fatter wallets than most 4-stars or hunters.
He was smirking triumphantly right now. No one at 4-star had more cash than him.
He probably already saw the Mana Heart as his.
"Pass for me."
"Same here."
Shin Yu-hyun chuckled at Choi Yu-ri's words and quietly raised his right hand.
"One billion."
"One billion! We've got one billion!"
The auctioneer shouted with heightened excitement at Shin Yu-hyun's jump from 900 million straight to a billion.
The surrounding superhumans buzzed, staring at him.
Expressions like, You again?
"One... one billion ten million!"
Lee Cheon-woo countered immediately with a higher bid, refusing to lose, and shot Shin Yu-hyun a sharp glare.
"One billion fifty million."
Grit.
Lee Cheon-woo ground his teeth at Shin Yu-hyun's instant follow-up.
"One billion fifty million! One billion fifty! Anyone else?"
The auctioneer scanned the room.
But no other 4-stars could match that price for a Mana Heart.
Over a billion could buy Unique-grade gear.
"O-one billion one hundred million!"
Still, Lee Cheon-woo bid 1.1 billion, face flushed red.
'Gonna go all the way, huh?'
Shin Yu-hyun curled his lip at the sight.
Lee Cheon-woo's expression screamed he'd scraped together every won he had.
His face was beet red as he glared at Shin Yu-hyun.
With the Bleeding Dagger, he'd bid just enough to troll before backing off.
But the Mana Heart was different.
No real utility in that dagger, so he'd quit early. A Mana Heart, though? Immense value.
He couldn't let Shin Yu-hyun have it this time.
Plus, his pride was on the line.
But.
"One billion two hundred million."
"......"
Shin Yu-hyun tacked on another 100 million without hesitation.
Lee Cheon-woo stared at him in stunned disbelief.
How the hell did Shin Yu-hyun have that kind of cash?
"One billion two hundred million! Anyone higher?"
The auctioneer called out, half shocked, half impressed.
"No more bids! The Mana Heart goes to Shin Yu-hyun! Congratulations!"
Shin Yu-hyun smiled in satisfaction at the announcement.
1.2 billion was Unique-gear territory, but he didn't regret a penny.
'Worth it for a Mana Heart.'
It'd make him stronger faster.
He turned to Nam Yeon-ah beside him with a grin.
"Thanks to you, Nam Yeon-ah, this auction's been a blast."
"It's the least I can do for my lifesaver. Feels like it's not enough."
"This is plenty. I've still got room to buy more items."
Shin Yu-hyun beamed happily.
The black card from Namdu Group's compensation still had nearly 9 billion left.
"So, no need for the new coat?"
Nam Yeon-ah teased with a playful smile.
"Ah, just the new coat, please."
Shin Yu-hyun laughed back. He couldn't pass up the latest barrier coat, whatever it was.
One person ground their teeth watching Shin Yu-hyun and Nam Yeon-ah chat amiably.
'That damn bastard...'
Lee Cheon-woo.
He'd picked a fight at auction and got utterly crushed.
Losing the Mana Heart hit hardest. As a 4-star superhuman, he burned to grow stronger.
The Mana Heart could've elevated his realm—stolen by Shin Yu-hyun.
'Dares to take my Mana Heart?'
Grit!
Lee Cheon-woo scowled and clenched his jaw. Seeing Nam Yeon-ah, cold to him, so warm to Shin Yu-hyun only fueled his rage.
'Shin Yu-hyun. Let's see if you can keep smiling later.'
He glared murderously at Shin Yu-hyun.
Meanwhile, the auction rolled on.
Longswords, spears, gauntlets, daggers, throwing weapons—
Weapons of all grades sold off quickly.
But Shin Yu-hyun ignored them.
His current Ignis was already a solid Rare-grade magic sword.
Plus, with the clan armory, he had no need for auction weapons.
'Nothing useful since the Mana Heart.'
Lots of items came up, but none caught his eye or fit his needs. No more gear with special options either.
"This next item is a magic beast corpse."
'Finally.'
Shin Yu-hyun looked to the platform with interest at the auctioneer's words.
The magic beast corpse auction he'd been waiting for was here.
Magic beast corpses had tons of uses.
Research for ecology and weaknesses, or as base materials for gear from byproducts.
High demand, especially for Unique ones.
"This corpse is from a 3-star boss Unique specimen."
'3-star Unique?'
Shin Yu-hyun's eyes lit up.
His main goal for this auction party: a 3-star boss corpse for his Undead Deathwatch base material.
A 3-star Unique was perfect.
Though it depended on the form.
Humanoid, beast, insect, amorphous—
The shape determined the Deathwatch's final form.
Moments later, a 3-star named Unique specimen appeared before Shin Yu-hyun's eyes.