Eldritch Assassin: Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Devouring System-Chapter 138: Harsh Method

A third cultivator gasped. "My god! Broken pieces of Soul grade items? The legends say that ten thousand years ago, a Soul grade weapon appeared and crushed an entire capital of a Lord Country flat. Reduced it to rubble with a single strike. After that, Lord Countries became only legends. Stories parents tell to their children."

The people entering the auction continued discussing as their voices overlapped, creating a buzz of excitement.

Kael listened carefully as he approached. He filed away the information, building a mental picture of what to expect.

Weapons were generally split into several grades. The standard classification everyone used, starting from Mortal grade which was the weakest and what Primal Warriors carried.

Then Refined grade. What a small amount of cultivators at Primal Warrior and all Primal Adept Realm cultivators used.

Mystic grade was next. This grade of weapons was rare and powerful. What powerful sect disciples and nobles wielded. His Abyssal Fang Dagger was of this grade.

Spirit grade. Extremely rare treasures that defined powerful factions.

Soul grade. This one was Legendary. Almost mythical weapons that could level cities.

Sacred grade. Beyond legend. So rare that most people doubted they existed.

Ancient Relic grade. The known pinnacle of weapons after the end of the Era of the Great Calamity — 18,069 years ago.

While there were supposedly higher grades beyond Ancient Relic, these seven were the norm. The standard everyone knew of and recognized.

Currently, even Mystic grade items were becoming rare. They were almost extinct in less populated areas like remote kingdoms and low-tier sects. Finding even one was considered incredibly fortunate.

As for Spirit grade items? They were almost non-existent in the top twenty-five factions under the Aurelian Empire of the Endless Plains Continent. They were items of pure legend, things people heard about but never saw.

Soul grade items were even more mythical. Artifacts that defined eras and changed history.

Even the top five factions listed in the top fifty under the Aurelian Empire didn’t possess a complete Soul grade weapon, according to public knowledge. Just fragments, pieces, or shards of greater wholes.

Putting Soul grade weapons aside for a moment, just Spirit grade items were incredibly low in number. Even peak mid-tier factions rarely had more than one or two. And if they possessed them, those items were used to "hold the fort." Protected in vaults, and brought out only in desperate situations.

At a certain point in time, Kael arrived at the building’s entrance.

Due to the fact that he was currently wanted by the Clearstar Estate, Kael adjusted his demeanor. He pretended to have an old and cold aura. The bearing of someone who’d lived decades longer than his actual age. Someone who’d seen much, done much. Someone not to be trifled with.

His posture changed subtly as he looked straighter and more rigid. His eyes became distant and cold. His movements became measured, deliberate. Like every action was calculated.

"There’s really going to be broken pieces of a Soul grade weapon?" Kael muttered to himself. Quiet enough that no one nearby heard clearly.

He didn’t dare fully believe it. After all, his Abyssal Fang Dagger was only a Mystic grade weapon. And that was already considered incredibly valuable, rare beyond measure.

A Soul grade weapon was two full levels above that. The difference in power was astronomical.

"There’s not only broken pieces of Soul grade items," someone nearby said to their companion. Their voice carried clearly. "Apparently, there’s a profound Seven Sword Incomplete Manual. It comes from one of the Four Great Inheritances of the Elemental Path. The Seven Item Inheritance specifically. Its power is said to be peak Core Tier. Close to Master Tier even."

"I heard there’s also items from the other Four Great Inheritances," another person added. "But their specific contents were kept secret. Mystery items. Could be anything."

Their faces were full of excitement as they discussed the upcoming auction. Eyes bright and hands gesturing animatedly.

Kael absorbed this information carefully.

Manuals, Arts, and Techniques were also split into grades. Similar to weapons but different.

Basic Tier was what beginners learned.

Advanced Tier was what separated skilled cultivators from average ones.

Elite Tier was what powerful sects guarded jealously.

Core Tier was what mid-tier sects and families possessed.

Master Tier was extremely rare. Powerful cultivators fought wars over single manuals.

Ancient Tier was Legendary. Items from past eras.

Forbidden Tier was Mythical. "Rare as Phoenix feathers" as the saying went.

A manual from the Four Great Inheritances at peak Core Tier? That was incredibly priceless.

Even if he was here just to look around, it would be worth attending an auction at this level. Just to witness what true wealth and power looked like. What the peak of cultivation society valued.

Kael’s calm heart couldn’t help but feel somewhat moved and excited as anticipation built in his chest.

At the entrance, a commotion broke out as voices rose in protest.

"There are too many people attending this auction," a guard announced. His voice was amplified somehow, carrying to everyone waiting. "There are only one thousand slots available. The entrance fee has been raised to five thousand mid-grade Primal Stones."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Five thousand mid-grade stones? That was five million low-grade stones! An astronomical sum.

Several people stood at the entrance. Their cultivation had reached peak Primal Adept Realm. One had even reached Primal Master Realm.

Their presence was intimidating and overwhelming. They radiated power that made weaker cultivators step back instinctively.

The reason to raise the entrance fee was obviously to limit the number of participants and to kick out those who just wanted to look around. Those who couldn’t actually afford to bid on anything.

The level of the Rising Dragon Auction was considerably high and not many ordinary people came normally. But today was different as it drew more than the expected number of people.

There were too many people attending the auction this time. They could only use such a harsh method to filter the audience.