Chapter Sixty-Four: Elvis

Qi Xiao was pondering matters of the academy when, somehow, the conversation at the table shifted to gourmet sorcerers.

“Our academy has an upperclassman who practices the culinary arts, but unfortunately, he doesn’t cook. He’s only passionate about brewing wine and doesn’t run a restaurant. Otherwise, I’d have had the pleasure of tasting his dishes,” Anna recalled with a nostalgic expression.

Qi Xiao laughed as well. “My master employs a cook who inherited a bit of the culinary tradition. The dishes are tasty enough, but compared to Brother Ling Wen’s skills, they fall far short. I wonder just how delicious the cuisine crafted by a true gourmet sorcerer must be.”

Ling Wen’s expression grew somewhat wistful. “My father was an apprentice gourmet sorcerer. My skills come from studying the notes he left behind, but alas…”

Anna hurried to comfort him, but Ling Wen soon smiled again. “It’s all right. So many years have passed, and making drinks is a small hobby of mine. As long as you all enjoy them, that’s enough. Normally, I’m too nervous to let others try them, afraid my skills aren’t up to par and might provoke laughter. Only after my teacher praised them recently did I dare serve them to guests.”

Qi Xiao listened quietly, and resolved to search his teacher’s study for culinary spells once he returned. If he could master them, wouldn’t he be able to feast on such delicious food every day?

As the lights dimmed, the conversation among Qi Xiao and the others gradually faded. Their attention shifted to the auction stage below, where the hall’s lighting slowly converged upon the central auction area, signaling the imminent opening of this prestigious platinum auction event.

Soon, the appearance of the auctioneer surprised Qi Xiao. Unlike the usual staff, this auctioneer was an official sorcerer, a testament to how highly the Pat Auction House valued this event.

Though his appearance and attire were unremarkable, clearly no one dared underestimate him.

Dressed in formal attire, with a dignified and steady gait, he ascended the ornate auction platform. His voice, amplified by magical devices, resonated crisply throughout the hall. After a concise introduction to the rules and procedures, he announced the auction’s official commencement.

“Elvis McCsey… That old fellow hasn’t shown his face in decades, and now he’s returned as an auctioneer. He’s really turning back the clock,” Osmond remarked. Though he looked venerable, every time he spoke, it undermined the dignity his appearance bestowed.

“Senior Elvis was one of the founders of the Pat Auction House, so it’s perfectly normal for him to be here. It seems this auction is even more grand than the usual platinum events. They spent so long building up the anticipation, and now even the rarely-seen Senior Elvis is presiding. It truly makes one look forward to it,” Melanie chimed in, hanging upside down from the ceiling as usual, eating cake with a cheerful tone.

Standing atop the stage, Elvis scanned the crowd. His eyes, weathered by countless trials, seemed capable of seeing straight into the hearts of everyone present.

“Honored guests, I am Elvis McCsey. It is my privilege today to host this auction for you all,” his voice echoed in the hall, every word clear and powerful. “Our first lot is the world core from a minor plane. Its value and uses need no lengthy explanation. The starting bid is five hundred thousand magic crystals.”

A wave of commotion swept through the audience. Those able to attend a platinum auction all possessed considerable power and background, and certainly weren’t lacking in experience.

Yet precisely because of this, their reaction was so pronounced. For Qi Xiao—though he’d delivered this item himself and had some guesses—he actually had no idea what its true purpose was. Hearing the hubbub, he felt all the more bewildered.

Elton, who had long known that Midiel would put this treasure up for auction, couldn’t help but sigh, “Amazing that you’re willing to part with it. Not many could resist the temptation to control a world, and its uses go far beyond that… Even I’m tempted.”

Midiel’s expression was indifferent, almost bored. “If you’re interested, bid for it. I won’t stop you. If you’re willing to stake most of your fortune, you might just manage to win it.”

Elton shook his head, a glimmer of starlight flickering in his eyes. “My sights are set on the stars, not on worlds.”

The bidding soared, only slowing after reaching seven million magic crystals, leaving several apprentices astonished.

Though Qi Xiao didn’t understand the world core, he was familiar with the prices of various alchemical artifacts. Even the finest, exceptional-grade items rarely fetched more than four million magic crystals. Seven million—this must be the highest price for any item short of legendary status.

Seeing his teacher’s calm demeanor, Qi Xiao marveled inwardly. No wonder his teacher was so wealthy.

“Teacher, what exactly is this thing? How could it sell for such an astronomical price?” came a clear female voice. Qi Xiao silently gave Anna his approval, as he’d been curious about this matter for a long time. As a spatial sorcerer himself, he was naturally keen on any treasure so clearly related to space.

Melanie’s laughter was reminiscent of wind chimes rustling in the breeze. While laughing, she replied, “A world core, as the name suggests, is the core of a minor plane or sub-world. It contains a portion of that world’s primal energy and fragments of its laws. It is an exceedingly rare and powerful magical artifact.

I won’t go into all its uses—the likes of creation and genesis are far beyond you for now—but those who possess a world core can use it to study and master the unique magic of that world, and may even create new spells from it.”

The four were deeply shaken. Spells, unlike mere tricks, took years—often decades—to master through study and cultivation. Spending decades on a single spell was entirely normal.

This was why the spell bestowed upon a sorcerer after attaining True Insight was so precious—not only because it perfectly matched the sorcerer’s path, but also because gaining an extra spell out of thin air would be invaluable both in combat and daily life.

Spells themselves were priceless. Every spell was a sorcerer’s treasured possession, and the knowledge and material rewards of creating one were immeasurable.

Melanie seemed to think of something else, smiling as she looked at Qi Xiao. “More than that, a world core can serve as a powerful energy source, powering large magical arrays or strategic war alchemical devices. Its value is truly incalculable.”

Elton added, “If it were a newly acquired world core, its price would easily break ten million. But everyone knows where this one came from—it’s the one Midiel obtained a hundred years ago. In that time, Midiel has likely absorbed all the law fragments and insights within it, so its price is considerably reduced.”