It was in this context that the appearance of the vital crystal made everyone's hearts itch. The Western Alliance resisted for only a short time before relenting.
The Western Alliance protested to the Eastern Alliance, protesting the Eastern Alliance's refusal to invite them to the auction.
The diplomatic rhetoric was pompous. They claimed the vital crystal and exuvium belonged to all of humanity. While the crystal belonged to the Eastern Alliance, the Western Alliance was entitled to participate in the auction.
The Eastern Alliance's response was more subtle. The official response was that because the Western Alliance did not approve of the Eastern Alliance's investigation of the alien planets, the Western Alliance believed the vital crystal to be false. To avoid conflict, they didn't invite the Western Alliance.
A war of words ensued. But as the auction drew closer, the Western Alliance's hard-line attitude softened.
After all, the Western Alliance couldn't bear the responsibility of not being able to participate in the auction.
One had to know that all politicians were supported by financial groups. If those hidden forces gave up supporting them, then they would be nothing, let alone being re-elected.
In the end, the Western Alliance had no choice but to compromise with the Eastern Alliance. They acknowledged the Eastern Alliance's investigation of the alien planets, but they also compromised in certain areas.
Even so, they had to pay a hefty price to be allowed to participate in the auction.
The Northern Alliance's collateral was a battleship. The Western Alliance's collateral was an expeditionary battleship. A single class of battleship was worth ten times as much.
In total, the West had confirmed twenty-seven participating parties. That was twenty-seven battleships!
They were worth as much as two commander-class battleships.
This was the first time in the history of the auction that such a high amount of collateral had been offered.
The Western Alliance could of course conduct the auction, but trust wasn't easy to come by in the face of something as valuable as the vital crystal.
Especially since no one wanted others to know about the Life Crystal they had won.
The Eastern Alliance allowed people to participate anonymously.
Of course, you can also openly participate in the auction, as long as you are willing.
The Western Alliance paid the price for their foolishness. The first to be affected was the Austin Family.
They were the ones who advocated against the Eastern Alliance. Now that such a problem had arisen, they had to take responsibility.
Many of the financial groups blamed their losses on them.
Of course, it was a good thing that this was only collateral. If the auction price had been affected, then the Austin family would have to bear even more pressure.
Without a doubt, the Eastern Alliance had used the allure of the vital crystal to turn the tables on the Western Alliance. This was the first time the Eastern Alliance had gained the upper hand.
The Appraisal Day had finally arrived, much anticipated by the upper echelons of the various forces. In order to participate in this auction, everyone had paid a hefty price. In order to participate in the auction, they had to first confirm whether the auction item this time was what they wanted.
Therefore, the representatives sent out by the various parties were either experienced in exuvium research.
The Eastern Alliance issued a statement stating that all appraisers participating in the appraisal were required to adhere strictly to the rules of the appraisal. If one of the appraisers made a mistake, or even committed theft, then the party they represented would be stripped of their right to participate in the auction, and their collateral would not be returned.
There was nothing wrong with such a rule. It was a restraint, but also a reflection of fairness.
The location of the appraisal wasn't officially announced until the day before. When the various parties learned of the location, they couldn't help but be moved.
Even those who had harbored dirty thoughts, when they learned of the location, had to restrain themselves.
Skyfire Museum!
It was a simple, straightforward name.
But the meaning it represented was so shocking.
The Clairvoyant's former residence.
Although the Clairvoyant was long gone, the Paragon known as the Eye of Tomorrow was one of the most mysterious of them all. Who could say for sure what he had left behind before he left?
What's more, the Clairvoyant's significance to Skyfire Avenue was well known to anyone who had the slightest understanding of Skyfire Avenue. If anyone dared cause trouble here, Skyfire Avenue would retaliate with all its might.
Skyfire Avenue wasn't a place just anyone could enter, but its status as the most powerful organization in the world of Adepts was without a doubt.
In recent years, Skyfire Avenue had produced Paragons, and in the Great Adept Tournament they had demonstrated the strength of the younger generation. In the end they were crowned champions, and the overall strength of Skyfire Avenue continued to soar in the eyes of the appraisers.
Now it was a force far greater than the Citadels and the Major League.
The Chu family was one of the bidders representing the Northern Alliance. Chu Dong, the head of the family, had personally come to Skyfire Avenue. He'd heard a great deal about Skyfire Avenue from his son, but now that he was here it was a completely different experience.
As soon as he set foot on Skyfire Avenue, he fell in love with the place.
Chu Dong liked all sorts of old things, and Skyfire Avenue was like a perfect exhibition of the former era's architecture. Every building on either side of the street was exquisite.
Whether it was the Chinese style with its five ridges and six beasts, or the Gothic style with its spires, or the Gauldian style with its intricate architecture, each one had a breathtaking beauty in his eyes.
He couldn't help but stop in his tracks, his eyes intoxicated.
He'd almost forgotten why he'd come.
Just then, he felt something, and subconsciously turned his eyes in a certain direction.
Their eyes met, and Chu Dong's heart skipped a beat. All interest in admiring the buildings vanished.
It's him!
The look in his eyes was complicated. No wonder he was like this.
How many years had it been?
How many years had it been since he'd last seen him?
He'd lost the heroic spirit he'd once had, but he'd gained a sense of maturity and maturity. Even though he'd become a Paragon, the years had left their mark on his face.
The Gourmet strode towards Chu Dong, stopping only when he was three meters away.
"Brother …" It was a simple word, but it was difficult for the Gourmet.
His voice was hoarse, and his voice was trembling. His eyes were red and swollen.
Chu Dong and Chu Xi had been close when they were young. Chu Dong was eight years older than Chu Xi, and he'd always taken care of his brother.
He'd never been jealous of his brother's talent. Although he'd trained harder than his brother, he'd always looked forward to his brother becoming the pillar of the family.
They'd trained together, they'd played together, they'd spent their youth together.
Even during Chu Xi's darkest hours, he'd never hated his brother. That was because their father, the iron-blooded patriarch of the Chu family, Chu Yun, had always been in charge of the family.
Chu Dong had stood by Chu Xi's side when he'd been punished. He'd borne the brunt of it for him.
And all of this had happened twenty years ago with the passage of time.
Bang! Chu Dong's fist slammed into his brother's chest. The Gourmet skidded back seven or eight meters before he came to a stop.
In a flash, Chu Dong was in front of him. He grabbed the Gourmet by the front of his shirt, and glared at him with eyes as sharp as knives.
"You bastard!"
The Gourmet, the Infernal Vanguard's Paragon, looked like a child who'd made a mistake. His hands hung at his sides, and he didn't look like he was going to resist. He looked docile, as if he was willing to be hit.
"Did you know …" Chu Dong's eyes were red.
The Gourmet's body trembled slightly. The punch had hurt, but there was no energy in it. It was pure strength and anger.
"Did you know … I missed you!"
Chu Dong pulled the Gourmet closer. He let go of his brother's shirt and threw his arms around the brother he hadn't seen in twenty years.
The Gourmet stared at him blankly for a moment. Then, hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around his tall, white-haired brother.
"Brother, I'm sorry."
The words came out of the Gourmet's mouth like a thousand pounds. They'd been on his mind for a long time.
Ever since he'd become a Paragon, his mind had become much clearer. He'd thought about the past, and understood many things.
He was now certain that the family had nothing to do with his lover's death. Now that he thought about it, weren't the obvious signs of it being a false accusation?
Chu Dong pinched the corners of his eyes. His tears evaporated in the heat of Hades' Fire. "Why didn't you come back?
You should already understand what happened back then.
The old man was stubborn, and so are you. You're more like him than I am. Is it so hard to go back?
He's old … "
Chu Dong's eyes were wet again as he said the last three words.
The Gourmet's voice was bitter. "It's not that I don't want to go back. I just don't have the face to go back. I don't know how to face you.
Even today, I hesitated for a long time. I didn't know if I should come see you.
Brother, when you get back, please tell father I'm sorry. I know I was wrong.
But the mistake has been made, I … "