Chapter 19: Exhibition Match (Part 1)

Chapter 19: Exhibition Match (Part 1)

"1 million once! 1 million twice! 1 million third time! Sold!"

"The Wind Wings rune was won by VIP No. 0971. This Wind Wings rune makes you feel like you have wings on your back, graceful and nimble. It suits you perfectly, VIP."

Simon exaggerated with his praise.

The young lady, Alisa, who had bought the Wind Wings rune, accepted the compliment gracefully.

"Of course, with this, I can outshine everyone. Please deliver it quickly; I can't wait."

Simon: "Certainly, certainly."

No one expected the best-selling C-grade rune to be the Wind Wings rune, which sold for a million.

And why not? It looked beautiful and dreamy, highly favored among wealthy female awakeners.

It quickly set a new record for today's auction.

Cang Cheng wasn’t surprised by the high price the Wind Wings rune fetched. After all, in the Siaxi Continent, appearance-based magic scrolls always commanded high prices.

For example, the Bunny Transformation and Costume Change magic scrolls were always in high demand.

All the C-grade runes were auctioned off, and after receiving instructions from Cang Cheng, Simon prepared to auction the B-grade Chain of Wind Blades rune.

"Ladies and gentlemen, next up we have a B-grade rune..."

Before Simon could finish his sentence, a group of people pushed through the crowd, making everyone step aside.

"Make way, make way. Let Vice President Gade through quickly."

Whispers from the crowd:

"Vice President Gade? He’s the vice president of the auction house, isn’t he?"

"Oh, I remember now... I was supposed to buy runes at the auction house, but I got so captivated here that I forgot."

"He doesn’t seem to be here for anything good. Is he here to cause trouble...?"

"Even if I'm here to cause trouble, let me buy the spirit runes first! Don't delay my shopping, or I'll have my father shut down the auction."

……

Gade wore a crisp black tuxedo. Behind him stood two towering Spirit Warriors as bodyguards. An obsequious staff member cleared the way in front, giving Gade an imposing air as he moved.

Gade's eyes swept across the room. Upon recognizing a few VIP guests at the auction, he grasped the situation.

So, this little stall dares to compete with me for customers!

They’ve got some nerve.

With a forced smile, Gade faced Cang Cheng, who sat in the main seat on the sofa. "I am Gade, the vice president of the auction house. Are you Spirit Rune Master ANKEN?"

Someone beside him whispered, "It's ANKEN, Vice President."

Gade slowly corrected, "Oh, you’re ANKEN?"

Cang Cheng nodded. "That’s me. What do you want?"

Gade 'friendly' suggested, "I see it’s quite lively here. How about a spirit rune performance match to liven things up?"

A performance match is typically organized by the host before the auction begins. It aims to fully showcase the value of the items and stir the emotions of the audience, building momentum for the upcoming auction items.

Typically, after a performance match, the items would sell for higher prices than usual.

Gade, the vice president, suggesting a performance match now was certainly not to boost Cang Cheng’s profile.

He intended to use this opportunity to teach a lesson to anyone daring to defy the auction house.

Challenging the auction house like this, do they really think we’re an easy target?

Gade’s assistant chimed in, "Vice President Gade is concerned that your spirit runes might not sell well, so he set aside his duties at the auction house to support you. He even paid out of his own pocket to arrange this performance match."

The assistant continued, "This type of performance match is very popular at our auction house. Many guests hope to get lucky and attend an auction with a performance match."

"With a performance match, guests enjoy the show. After watching, your spirit runes will sell even better."

"Everyone around, what do you all think? Are you looking forward to the exhibition match?"

The crowd nodded in unison.

"An exhibition match! I want to see it, I want to see it!"

"I missed ANKEN's match last time; I could only watch the replay. If I can see the exhibition match today, it'll be totally worth it!"

"ANKEN looks a bit hesitant! Doesn't he want to participate? Or is he afraid?"

"Exhibition match! Exhibition match! Exhibition match!"

Who would've thought we'd get to watch an exhibition match today?

We definitely need to support this.

Vice President Gade kindly suggested it.

If ANKEN doesn't accept, it would be unsportsmanlike.

The onlookers began to cheer, urging him on, their eyes gleaming with excitement as they looked at Cang Cheng, who was seated.

Despite the rising chants, Cang Cheng remained calm.

He had figured out Gade's intentions. In short, Gade was not pleased with him and intended to humiliate him through the exhibition match.

But it didn’t bother him.

He’d face one opponent or a pair, no problem.

There was nothing to fear.

A faint smile played at the corners of Cang Cheng’s masked lips. "Alright, but..."

He leaned forward as if smiling at Gade, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. "Since it’s an exhibition match, shouldn’t we add some stakes to make it more exciting?"

Ha, arrogant.

Gade inwardly sneered but ultimately didn’t refuse.

"Fine, make your proposal."

Cang Cheng's index finger lightly tapped the armrest of the sofa. He spoke calmly, "I’m a simple man, I only care about money.

If I win, you give me 15 million stellars, and vice versa, how about that?"

While 15 million was a lot for Gade, it was still within his means.

Moreover, Gade didn’t think he would lose.

Gade agreed, "Deal."

The two signed the contract on the spot.

Gade’s expression clearly said, ‘You’re done for.’ His tone was dripping with overconfidence.

"I guess you’re still young, so I won’t use my seniority to bully you.

I will send out a B-rank Spirit Warrior shortly. He will be wearing exoskeleton armor, equipped with a B-rank Acceleration Rune, a B-rank Electromagnetic Defense Rune, and a C-rank Accuracy Rune.

I’ve given you all the details. Make sure you do well."

The detailed combat information, including the rune stats, ensures that Gade isn’t using the auction house to bully you.

If you lose, it will be because ANKEN was outmatched.

A staff member added, "President Gade is truly generous."

Gade replied, "Oh, no, no. When facing a promising young talent, one must show some respect."

Cang Cheng watched the two play their roles, his smile not reaching his eyes, and remained silent.

Soon, the crowd that had been gathered around the stalls moved to the arena and took their seats.

The auction house had already prepared the venue for the exhibition match, and the host was in position.

Host LEE: "Thank you very much to all the guests for coming to watch the exhibition match held by the Ankhs Auction House and Spirit Rune Master ANKEN! I am your host, LEE."

"Representing the Ankhs Auction House is a Grade B Spirit Rune Master, 'Unstoppable Warrior,' who holds a King rank in the arena, below the peak tier, with a win rate of 62%."

"On ANKEN's side, the combatant is…"

LEE glanced at the information and was momentarily surprised. "ANKEN himself will be fighting. He is a professional Spirit Rune Master.

His current tier is Silver, one level above Bronze. There’s a significant difference in their rankings..."

LEE felt somewhat disdainful towards ANKEN.

A Spirit Rune Master competing in the arena? And he's only Silver tier? Isn’t this just for show?

He had just returned from a trip and was called to host this exhibition match. He thought it would be a major event, but... this? Seriously?

Honestly, he regretted taking this job.

Obviously, LEE had no idea about the mysterious Spirit Rune Master ANKEN, who had been generating a lot of hype recently.

Similarly, when Gade heard that ANKEN was fighting himself, he was equally puzzled.

"ANKEN is fighting himself? He's a Spirit Rune Master... Why would a Spirit Rune Master participate in an exhibition match?"

In Gade's view, a Spirit Rune Master should stay behind the scenes, drawing Spirit Runes and playing a supporting role. How can a Spirit Rune Master compete in the arena?

That’s absurd!

However, don't think that just because ANKEN is a Spirit Rune Master, he'll be given special treatment. A fragile Spirit Rune Master will only suffer a more humiliating defeat in the arena.

With that thought, Gade’s confidence soared.

Meanwhile, Yi Moshang, who had lost to Cang Cheng before, along with his brother, whose ID was 'Invincible Tyrant,' Yi Qian, also took their seats in the audience.

This time, Yi Qian, who previously had a double-door form, had changed to a look more similar to his original self: a youthful appearance with golden hair, sea-blue eyes, and a demeanor of youthful innocence and energy.

He had a pair of mechanical wolf ears on his head and a fluffy tail behind him, exuding both cuteness and a hint of wolfish dominance.

After his last loss, Yi Qian consulted a classmate to calculate his star fortune, who informed him that the double-door form brought bad luck. So, he immediately switched to a completely different appearance.

It has to be said, this astrological luck seems to have some merit.

In any case, since Yi Qian changed his appearance, his opponents in the arena have been going easy on him, and he hasn’t shed a tear since.

Yi Qian: "Brother, do you think ANKEN can win this time? The Spirit Warrior at the auction is wearing exoskeleton armor."

Exoskeleton armor was developed after the Canglan Awakening War. It is a type of exosuit.

Manufactured using specialized minerals, it cannot be easily decomposed by spirit runes from alien realms. When equipped on a human body, it provides robust defense while increasing the output power of heat-based weapons.

The basic exoskeleton armor typically costs around 200 million and is supplied exclusively to high-ranking military personnel, with data not disclosed to the public.

The Canglan World replicated similar armor. Though its actual performance differs from real-world counterparts, it is very popular among the Awakened.

This kind of armor is priced at 500,000 virtual coins, equivalent to 500,000 star credits.

Since Zhan Wubuke chose to wear exoskeleton armor for the battle, it may not be easy for ANKEN to win.

Yi Moshang frowned.

He had faced the Wind Blade runes previously. The wind, though sharp, could pierce human skin, but… against exoskeleton armor, the wind blades would be less effective.

"I’m unsure."

Yi Moshang was somewhat worried: "But since it’s ANKEN, I think we have something to look forward to."

ANKEN, a Spirit Runes Master.

He wasn’t muscular, and his ability rating wasn’t the highest, but… he was the one who helped Yi Moshang reassess reality.

Yi Moshang unconditionally believed that ANKEN could surprise us.

*

"ANKEN! ANKEN! ANKEN!"

Chants of 'ANKEN' echoed through the challenge arena, demonstrating his immense popularity.

Host LEE was surprised by ANKEN’s charisma. After all, with only a Silver rank, it was quite unexpected.

The enthusiasm LEE had encountered at the peak ranks was only about the same as this ANKEN’s.

Could it be that ANKEN is held in such high regard simply because he is a Spirit Rune Master?

But that doesn’t seem quite right… In the Azure Star Region, strength is paramount, and ANKEN looks very weak. Why does he have so many supporters?

It can’t be just his looks, can it?

Well… it’s hard to tell with him wearing a mask…

It’s really puzzling.

With these doubts in mind, LEE started the pre-match commentary.

"Everyone seems to have a lot of confidence in ANKEN! Well then, let’s all wait and see how the exhibition match unfolds!"

As soon as the host finished speaking, Cang Cheng and Zhan Wubuke appeared in the arena.

Cang Cheng was still dressed in his loose cloak, wearing a white mask with blue patterns. His eyes were slightly upturned, as if smiling.

In contrast, Zhan Wubuke was clad in black exoskeleton armor. The metal exoskeleton, resembling a human skeleton, made Zhan Wubuke's already over 2-meter frame appear almost 3 meters tall.

The six mechanical arms attached to his back swayed left and right, as agile as spider legs.

Cang Cheng gazed curiously at this new device.

This exoskeleton armor resembled alchemical puppets in some ways, both being large metallic constructs, but the exoskeleton armor seemed rather ugly, not quite matching his aesthetic.

Wearing the exoskeleton armor, Zhan Wubuke looked down on Cang Cheng with disdain.

His boss had ordered him to participate in this arena match, even insisting he wear the exoskeleton armor, and instructed him to take it seriously.

He had expected to face a formidable opponent, someone he could engage in a thrilling and intense battle with!

But what was this?

Is this it? Really?

The person before him looked fragile, weak, and small, posing no threat at all.

He felt that with just one swing of his mechanical arms, he could crush the other into a pulp.

"Hey, Spirit Rune Master."

Invincible disdainfully regarded Cang Cheng. "You might as well surrender now while you can! Given your petite build, I'm afraid you won't survive even one hit from me."

Cang Cheng frowned, seemingly conflicted. "But I'm bound by a 15 million bet, so surrendering isn’t an option. How about you, big brother, do me a favor and let me win?"

Invincible gave a cold reply, "Impossible."

Letting someone win?

There’s no such thing as letting someone win in the arena.

Cang Cheng shrugged his shoulders. "In that case, there’s no choice. Let’s start then!"

Invincible was displeased with Cang Cheng’s indifferent attitude and raised his voice. "Kid, what do you think this arena is for?"

"What else would it be? Just a place for advertising."

Cang Cheng said this, and indeed, that was what he thought.

The last time he was in the arena, it was to promote the spirit runes. This time... it was still to promote the spirit runes.

Isn’t this just advertising?

He wasn’t someone who loved fighting, needing to battle daily.

Wasn’t it nice to just draw spirit runes and develop the planet every day?

After all, he was a friendly, kind, and law-abiding forbidden spell mage.