The war was now on the brink of outright eruption. As the situation grew increasingly volatile and threatened to spiral into a massive melee, Fang Senyan remained remarkably composed, standing firmly in place. Only after his teammates had finished eliminating the hundreds of hostile soldiers clad in massive exoskeleton armor did Fang Senyan drop his earlier bravado. He shrugged, spreading his hands, and offered a faint smile:

"Prince, the test should be sufficient now. If we continue killing, we might overstep our bounds."

Fang Senyan’s voice was low, yet inexplicably, everyone in the base—even the soldiers monitoring from deep underground bunkers shielded against nuclear fallout—could hear him clearly. This was the utility of the psychic tendrils; wherever they spread, they created an auditory effect akin to long-distance transmission.

"Hahahaha!" A clear voice boomed out, though it was obviously amplified. Immediately afterward, a large rotorcraft, escorted by eight accompanying aerial vehicles, emerged from behind the imposing mountain peak. The rotorcraft was emblazoned with a distinct, fiery red Phoenix insignia, clearly marking it as belonging to the Royal family.

Prince Pambaru had finally shown himself.

Prince Pambaru was draped in a voluminous, fire-red cloak, seemingly intended to conceal a somewhat gaunt frame. His eye sockets appeared deeper now, but his gaze was even more profound. For a young man barely in his twenties to possess irises that shone with the cold, ethereal light of winter ghost-fire was genuinely astonishing.

Consequently, the immediate impression he gave was not that of an Emperor ruling over billions of star systems, but rather someone more akin to the head of the FBI or military intelligence—a ruler of such extreme, chilling austerity was hard to reconcile with the typical image of a sovereign.

The group boarded Prince Pambaru’s transport. The first thing they saw was a massive screen displaying a satellite's top-down view, precisely focused on their location. According to the holographic readout, at least three particle beam cannons and five tactical missiles were locked onto their position. A single press of a button would instantly turn the area into a sea of fire.

This was clearly a subtle demonstration of power, a silent message: Do not mistake our restraint for inability; with a flick of a finger, we can turn you to ash. Of course, these capabilities would not be openly discussed, but they were essential displays; those who lacked the means to tame the beasts were often consumed by them.

The meeting with Prince Pambaru was hardly pleasant, yet surprisingly, it did not devolve into open conflict. Perhaps this was because Prince Pambaru was composed enough not to immediately demand what he wanted. After a brief exchange of courtesies, the Prince showed no inclination to delve deeper. Instead, he delegated the reception to a female Major General under his command. This woman was the epitome of social grace, capable of smiling before speaking and managing every angle, ensuring Fang Senyan and his team were accommodated perfectly.

Once settled, Fang Senyan learned that the forces they had just fought were not the Prince’s direct subordinates, but those of his third brother. By utilizing two moles within the ranks, the Prince had managed a dual objective: if Fang Senyan’s side had possessed the strength, the Third Prince’s core forces would have suffered significant losses caused by Contractors, leaving him to swallow the bitter pill silently. If they lacked the strength, they would simply be dead, and only two moles would be compromised.

This strategy was ruthlessly expedient to the extreme. Yet, Fang Senyan perceived something telling: while Prince Pambaru appeared magnanimous, his methods of operation were decidedly petty. Frankly, for the supreme leader of an empire to scheme with such calculating malice seemed embarrassingly small-minded.

The art of governance rests on integrity and righteousness: treating subjects with sincerity and conducting major affairs with uprightness. A monarch should either possess vast ambition, swallowing the heavens with heroic spirit—a conquering sovereign—or be benevolent and gentle, perhaps even given to indulgence—a ruler of stability. But a monarch riddled with suspicion, pettiness, utilitarian calculation, and political maneuvering is surely a sovereign destined for ruin.

Of course, Fang Senyan acknowledged his own limitations; even he likely couldn’t manage the role of head of state. He could only mutter these criticisms internally. After staying for several days and observing the so-called Rock-Flower Beasts, Prince Pambaru never reappeared. His demanding schedule could account for his absence, yet Fang Senyan couldn't shake the feeling that he and his group were like young girls who had stolen a forbidden fruit, anxiously awaiting the onset of their period.

One morning, after breakfast, Fang Senyan suddenly received a message from the Nightmare Imprint: the Black Arrow he had submitted was slated for auction as a collectible. As the owner, Fang Senyan would be invited to attend with the highest possible credentials.

Receiving the message, Fang Senyan immediately initiated a communication link:

"Hello, is that Miner? They accepted my terms?"

The Miner on the other end replied with a wry smile:

"Your terms were excessively demanding, Sir—exchange only, no selling. You required the auction house to take the absolute minimum commission, and you insisted on being part of the first showcase, with the final bidding phase held off until the end."

A faint smile touched Fang Senyan’s lips:

"Is that so? If they refuse, then never mind."

The Miner sighed:

"I know you are confident, but the auction house has stipulations too. They waive the commission, but even if the item doesn't sell, the Black Arrow must remain in their custody."

Fang Senyan chuckled: "So I can't even use it?"

"They return it to you after three rounds of bidding—provided it hasn't sold yet," the Miner responded, clearly anticipating the question.

Fang Senyan countered: "Two rounds."

The Miner wasted no words: "Two rounds, and the auction house commission is five percent. That is the absolute floor."

"Agreed." Fang Senyan nodded, then frowned: "But you know my current situation. My Mother Space is evolving; how am I supposed to attend?"

"Your Flesh and Blood Armor should allow that ability. While you can’t return to your Space, you can travel to the Real World, attend the auction, and so on. Haven't you even tried?" The Miner frowned.

Fang Senyan experimented briefly and looked perplexed: "It's not working."

"That's because it's out of energy," the Miner surmised.

Fang Senyan frowned again: "How do I recharge it? Damn it, the Flesh and Blood Armor doesn't have a USB port or a power cord."

The Miner showed disdain: "Just soak it in water. I don't know how you've managed to get this far. It decomposes the water itself, extracting the necessary hydrogen for energy…"

Fang Senyan: "........."

This time, Fang Senyan's entry into the auction was similar to the last. His vision blurred, and he was instantly transported to a venue about the size of a basketball court, sparsely populated by a few hundred indistinct figures. However, this time Fang Senyan had not paid for entry and was immediately seated in a private box with an excellent vantage point and priority viewing rights for any rare items.

But recalling how a mere Major General, Loki, could command the entire hall at the previous auction, and now he himself held the rank of Lieutenant General, a sense of how much time had passed washed over him. As per his request, the auctioneer immediately whipped up the atmosphere upon taking the stage.

"Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this auction will feature a formidable weapon! It is a divine implement that has reached the absolute pinnacle of mastery—yes, a Divine Artifact! Please watch with anticipation as we welcome its entrance!!"

Then, the Black Arrow appeared before everyone's eyes. Compared to the dazzling glare of Legendary weapons, the Divine Artifact radiated a gentle aura, simply resting there, yet its presence was impossible to ignore. It lacked the fierce heat of a Legendary weapon, possessing instead a quality of self-assured naturalness! That aura of concealed sharpness was the exclusive hallmark of a Divine Artifact.

A series of soft inhalations rippled through the crowd. If the Black Arrow could only be used for shooting, its value wouldn't be excessively high, as not everyone owned a fine bow or possessed the skill of marksmanship.

However, the fact that the Black Arrow could also be employed as a one-handed weapon immediately piqued the interest of many. Furthermore, provided one had sufficient strength and learned the advanced Berserker ability, "Weapon Throw," the Black Arrow's immense power could still be unleashed. And the "Weapon Throw" advancement was quite common.

Thus, those in attendance, if not clamoring, were at least already stirring, leaning forward to hear the auctioneer’s starting bid. But the auctioneer then uttered the very phrase they least wished to hear:

"The seller is only willing to trade via barter; they will not accept Universal Points, Merit Vouchers, or other forms of currency. The seller’s requirements are rare ores and the item known as Aladdin’s Lamp Vessel. Please take note."

Everyone frowned. In that instant, countless messages were dispatched, and no one knew how much communication was taking place. This was precisely what Fang Senyan had hoped for. The Divine Artifact he introduced acted like a massive nucleus; anyone desiring it was inescapably drawn in, beginning to form whirlpools around that core. Initially, those directly involved were drawn in, but eventually, even those caught in the subsequent ripples found themselves involuntarily entangled.

When the auction was about halfway through, the auctioneer was called away, only to return moments later and announce calmly:

"Now, an item that has just been authorized for consignment has been added to the lineup. Please observe."

Then, the words "Aladdin’s Lamp Vessel" fell into Fang Senyan's view, and into everyone else's. Following this, the auctioneer's call registered in everyone's ears:

"Starting bid: Five Million Universal Points! Bids increase in increments of one million!"