Chapter 366
Chapter 366
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 366
Chapter Title: Illustrious Realm (4)
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# 366
The gathering place of the Illustrious Realm's kings was sinister beyond measure.
Anyone below Grand Master rank would feel chills creeping over them without the kings even lifting a finger, succumb to hallucinations, and risk their minds shattering into pieces.
But Rokan just grinned.
The White Flame King's face stiffened rigidly, but if you thought about it, wasn't this his own fault for not slapping on a failure penalty? In this world, the one who got hit was always the one in the wrong.
He wasn't affected in the slightest by the auras they exuded.
Titles like Unyielding Will and countless others shielded him, and his madness refused to permit any intrusion.
"We'll do the auction as sealed bids. Write down your offered conditions and send them to me privately. However, if I judge all the conditions to be utterly ridiculous, I reserve the right to declare the auction a failure without selecting a winner."
It was the mindset of a straight-up bandit. He might not pick a winner at all if nothing caught his fancy?
Sure, it was the item holder's call, but even among peers, some bristled at a mere Transcendent throwing his weight around like this. Still, no one dared try anything forceful.
The moment they showed such intent, the other Illustrious Realm kings would step in to protect him and snatch the soul orbs as their reward. Unpleasant as that human was, they'd have to put any payback on hold.
Of course, being at the Illustrious Realm's border meant that even a sliver of protection from the winner could let them slip free of those clutches.
"Hmm."
With the sealed bidding underway, a fierce game of brinkmanship began.
Rokan had slaughtered so many ghosts in this Illustrious Realm that securing these orbs alone would put any king a step ahead of the others.
Planning outright invasions off a slim edge like that would invite a backstab from another king, of course—but in tense standoffs or border skirmishes, the extra gains would be substantial.
Which made this something they couldn't afford to lose.
What did that human want? What could make his eyes light up?
Each king pondered deeply as they jotted down their offers.
Paper and pens? Hardly. They'd triggered quests and filled them with rewards.
Just like Rokan, that mere human emperor—they could conjure quests at will.
'They really want it bad.'
Rokan inwardly smirked in satisfaction as he eyed the quest windows brimming with lavish rewards.
He'd floated the threat of a failed auction to head off any collusion, but expecting loyalty from these snake-hearted lot was a fool's joke.
The rewards weren't even consistent—some in coins, some items, others something else entirely. A real mixed bag.
'Not bad at all.'
But the packages were impressively stacked. Enough to make you think soul orbs were worth that much to them.
Sure, recovering their subordinate ghosts and gaining a power edge over rival kings was nice, but plenty of the souls Rokan had reaped weren't bound to any king at all.
After poring over the reward lists, Rokan finally gave his verdict long moments later. He announced the winner of this auction.
"The winner of this auction is…… none."
"What?"
"Are you mocking us!"
Failed auction. The kings erupted in unison at the declaration.
They'd offered all this, and it was a no-sale? Had he never planned to pick a winner from the start?
Some exploded in rage, others subtly amped up their power to apply pressure—but Rokan kept his cool.
Worst case, one blast of Super Transcendence and he'd bolt.
But the fallout hadn't fully spread yet, so he cleared his throat and pressed on.
"Ahem. Of course, none of you offered rewards that fell short. They just weren't all that enticing, either. Coins or items? I've got more than I know what to do with. Truth be told, pooling every amount offered here still wouldn't touch my wealth. Don't just throw out big numbers—cough up even one item that really tempts me. Then you'll take the bid. Next auction in a fortnight, right here."
Frustrating, but they had no choice. A glimpse into Rokan's soul fragment proved he wasn't bluffing.
His soul practically reeked of money, thick enough to sting the nose.
A fortnight. A fortnight……
They shot glares at Rokan and the other kings before scattering back to their domains.
Once back in their kingdoms, they issued orders.
Scour for things a human would crave. Find something so irresistible that Rokan would grovel and beg for the trade!
Gnashing their teeth, they threw themselves into item hoarding.
"If I flop the next one too, all hell's gonna break loose, huh?"
With them all gone, Rokan let out a quiet sigh of relief.
The combined killing intent from five Majesty Masters firing at once was a beast even he couldn't shrug off easily.
Calling them all had been key—if it'd just been the White Flame King or one or two others, they'd have plotted to gobble up Rokan and the soul orbs.
But in the end, things had worked out fine.
A couple offers had mildly tempted him, sure—but most were things his riches could buy or achieve anyway.
Typical weaklings, padding with bait-and-switch lures and flashy empty names.
"Eh, whatever. They'll sort themselves out."
What would they offer next auction? Bound to be way better than this round.
For Rokan, it was all upside—dumping junk for free goodies. But if something useful popped up among them? Even better.
As he bookmarked the spot in his Heavenly Rune Book and turned to leave the Illustrious Realm, a thought hit him.
"Wait a sec—don't Grand Masters chow down on essence of power to boost their strength?"
So, could users do the same? And what about soul orbs over essence? Edible?
He pulled out one soul orb and rolled it around his mouth like a candy.
[Cannot absorb Soul Orb.]
[Special conditions required to absorb soul power.]
Sadly, soul orbs were a bust. He considered chugging it blindly, but that hardly counted as a "special condition," so he spat the idea.
Instead, he cracked open the random box he'd ignored to spite the White Flame King—no real hopes attached.
[Acquired Skill Book 'Soul Devourer.']
[Soul Devourer][Skill Book]
Devours the soul power contained in a target's essence to elevate your own soul's rank.
-Can absorb: Soul Orbs, Essence of Power
"Eh?"
A skill box dropped this?
No sooner had he given up than the perfect skill landed in his lap.
He'd snagged Soul Devourer—the skill to absorb soul orbs and essence of power alike.
"Elevate soul's rank" was vague, but Rokan clocked it instantly.
Straight-up experience gain.
These soul orbs had turned into little exp orbs.
The realization sparked; he learned the skill and popped another orb in his mouth. This time, it melted smoothly away.
His exp bar ticked up a hair.
No massive surge from one orb, but it netted nearly as much exp as ghost-hunting had.
"This is plenty good."
More than enough. Shoveling in every orb he'd stockpiled could net him one or two levels easy.
Which left him pondering.
Was auctioning these off to them really the play? After tanking the bid already, announcing he'd gobbled them all would paint him public enemy number one—but who cared?
He was tighter with the Spirit Realm, sworn foes of the Illustrious anyway. Just bail there and call it a day.
They wouldn't all come charging after him, and even if they did, it'd be one or two at most, wary of a Spirit Realm push. He could smash them flat then.
He could feel Majesty Master might now, and with titles that neutered nearly every mental attack, the Illustrious Realm's lot…… well.
He could totally take them, right?
Or just kite and dodge till he hit Majesty Master, then throw down for real.
"Better hold off for now."
But he didn't start scarfing soul orbs on the spot. Why burn through them early for just 1-2 levels?
Plan was to wait it out, tank the next auction too, then devour the lot right before Majesty Master for a massive power spike.
Unless they dangled something so juicy he'd trade away the exp—then sure, swap.
No point slamming that door shut early.
Plus, weren't monster hearts back on the surface trading for heavenly divine gear right now?
Extract those into essence of power, and boom—soul orb substitute, if time-intensive.
Feeling chipper, he stepped into the next zone.
[Entered Celestial Clan's Hunting Grounds.]
"Huh?"
Leaving the Illustrious Realm behind, what greeted Rokan was Celestial Clan turf.
Celestial Clan hunting grounds—what exactly were they hunting?
[Sacred Horned Deer][Lv 439]
"Gasp."
A horned deer streaked past the cocking his head in confusion.
Emitting a faint holy aura, true to its Sacred Horned Deer name.
No ordinary beast.
A divine creature worthy of the title—it glanced at Rokan before bolting. It had sensed the thick killing intent and madness clinging to him.
Not the belligerent type, so no fight broke out, but Rokan patted his pounding chest.
This was a whole other league from the heavenly realms he'd thought encompassed everything.
"I get it now."
A satisfied smile bloomed on Rokan's face.
Smart move not holing up in the Illustrious Realm. A place teeming with beasts like this? He'd hit 450 in no time.
"Kai!"
Summoning Kai, Rokan slowly took in the Celestial Clan's hunting grounds.
No typical monsters in sight—just animals and divine beasts dotted around like a royal preserve.
A natural ecosystem, unmanaged by any hand.
Not even pure-blooded Celestials showed themselves. Could there be a more ideal hunting ground?
Bypassing a spot like this? Wasteful. A downright sin.
"Gale Incarnation, Peerless Whole Body!"
Rokan unleashed his power and dove into the hunt for real.
Calamity had come for the divine beasts held sacred even by pure Celestials.