Rise of the Alchemy God

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In a building located far from prying eyes, a clandestine auction was taking place.

Inside the building was a hall resembling an amphitheater, with rows of seats arranged in ascending order, forming a semicircle that converged on a wooden podium situated at the center of the lower level.

Every detail was designed to facilitate the spectators' view and maintain an exclusive and mysterious atmosphere.

The walls were draped in red velvet, muffling any echoes and making the place feel even more oppressive.

The dim lighting from enchanted crystals created a play of shadows that made it difficult to distinguish the faces of the other participants, enhancing the sense of anonymity and secrecy.

Everyone in the hall wore a mask to cover their face, a custom that allowed participants to remain anonymous and attend without fear of repercussions.

The masks varied in style and material: some simple and made of leather, others elaborate and decorated with precious stones.

The air was filled with a mixture of tension and anticipation as the seats quickly filled.

In one of the central rows, two women sat side by side.

They wore masks that covered their entire faces, hiding any emotions and only revealing their eyes.

One of the women wore an elaborate mask, inlaid with phoenix motifs in gold and red.

She was Feng Huang, the Master of the Vermilion Phoenix Sect.

Next to her, her disciple Xiang Hua wore a simpler but equally elegant mask, with floral designs that reflected her love for flowers.

The two women observed the scene calmly, Feng Huang with an air of detached confidence, while Xiang Hua showed slight tension, her dark eyes scrutinizing every movement in the hall.

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When her sect master had said she would disguise herself well, Xiang Hua had thought of some technique to change their appearance or something of the sort.

She never would have thought that she would simply wear a mask depicting a vermilion phoenix. It was as if she was announcing her identity to everyone.

"Master, are you sure we shouldn't wear some other type of mask?" Xiang Hua asked, her voice barely a whisper behind the mask.

Feng Huang didn't take her eyes off the podium. "Don't worry, these masks are sufficient."

"But..."

Just as she wanted to insist more, the hall fell silent.

Noticing the strange atmosphere, Xiang Hua stopped her words and turned her gaze towards the stage.

The figure of a woman stepped onto the podium, drawing the attention of all present.

The woman wore an elegant blue dress that did nothing to hide her feminine charm and also wore a mask to conceal her face.

Although the woman's face was hidden, many of the spectators could tell that she was very beautiful.

With a theatrical gesture, the woman raised a hand to request silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I will be presiding over the auction for you today," the woman said professionally.

"You are busy people, so I won't waste your time with unnecessary pleasantries. I am sure everyone here is already aware of the auction rules," she said, looking at the audience in front of her.

Seeing that no one spoke, she nodded and continued.

"Very well, without further ado, let me present the first lot of slaves!" she announced, her voice echoing in the hall.

Moving to the side, she indicated to her right, where a large iron cage was being dragged by some men. Inside the cage, three girls could be seen crouching, dressed in rags, looking around in panic.

"Today we have some unique pieces with us. What you see here are three girls from one of the tribes of the Jade Forest," the woman said, raising an eyebrow in surprise at some of the participants.

The Jade Forest was a forest located in the northern region of the Phoenix Kingdom. It was a vast place full of various vegetation, home to several tribes.

These tribes preferred to live isolated from others and were very wary of strangers.

Interacting with them was quite dangerous, as they were born with supernatural strength that increased exponentially the higher they cultivated.

It was known how difficult it was to hunt even one of them, so seeing three of their members here surprised many.

Xiang Hua, seeing this scene, felt a lot of anger and disgust, which she managed to contain, towards these people who treated human lives as merchandise.

She knew what she would see coming here, so she didn't want to come. She tried to restrain herself from acting.

She didn't want their cover to be blown because of her.

The only comfort she had at this moment was the knowledge that they would capture these people in due time.

Unlike her disciple, Feng Huang seemed indifferent to this sight.

She had been in the cultivation world for a long time and had seen her fair share of atrocities in life.

She knew how cruel this world could be, so she didn't let this sight affect her.

The auction officially began, with many starting to make their bids.

The woman on the podium continued to describe the lots with a professional tone, praising the physical qualities and potential of the slaves as if they were precious merchandise.

Each time a bid was made, her gaze quickly shifted among the participants, mentally noting each proposed amount.

Meanwhile, Xiang Hua carefully observed the reactions of the other participants. Despite the mask, she could sense the emotion and greed in their eyes.

She tried to remain calm, but each new bid made her blood boil.

Her hand clenched into a fist under the mask, but she remained silent, aware that any rash movement could compromise their mission.

After a few minutes, the first lot was sold to a man sitting in the front rows.

The cage was quickly taken away and another was brought onto the stage.

The process repeated, with new lots of slaves presented and sold to the highest bidder.

Each new auction was accompanied by a murmur of excitement as the participants competed to secure the prisoners.

At one point, a particularly young girl was brought onto the podium. Her eyes were full of fear and despair, and her body trembled visibly.

The woman on the podium introduced her as an orphan from a village destroyed by a band of raiders.

The girl, barely a teenager, had attracted the attention of many for her young age and apparent innocence.

Xiang Hua could no longer contain her indignation. "Master, we must do something," she whispered urgently.

Feng Huang gave her a calm but firm look. "It is not yet the time. We have a plan, and we must follow it."

"But she is just a child!" Xiang Hua insisted, her voice almost breaking with emotion.

"I know," Feng Huang replied with a softer tone. "Don't worry. The slaves are delivered at the end of the auction, so we must be patient. Haste could ruin everything."

Xiang Hua closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself. She knew the master was right, but the sight of that girl broke her heart.

With a deep breath, she forced herself to focus on the scene again, determined to follow Feng Huang's instructions.

After the girl was taken away, the next slave was brought out.

As soon as the slave entered, Feng Huang, who had remained calm throughout, felt a strange sensation.

"This feeling..."