Ascension of the immortal Asura

"So, how have you enjoyed your stay in the city thus far?" Caz asked as the two walked through the busy streets, back towards the Mystic Trade Hall building.

"It's been…interesting," John replied after thinking it over. "I can see why you say the Dao of Business is a thing. This city seems to think of business and nothing else, as if making money is all that matters in life."

"It's not just about money, at least not for me" Caz replied calmly, his gaze staring forward.

"Then what is it about for you?" John asked curiously.

"My goal is the same as yours," Caz replied as a glint of resolve flickered in his eyes, and his demeanor seemed to change, becoming much more serious.

"The same as mine? How can we share the same goal, when our paths are so different?" John asked curiously.

"What is your goal? Your ultimate goal?" Caz asked John.

"My goal? The only thing that matters to me right now is getting stronger," John replied. He had many things that he needed to accomplish, and the only way to accomplish those things was strength. Only with overwhelming strength could he protect those around him, and control his own fate.

"To stand at the peak of the martial world. That is my goal," John replied, his answer full of confident resolve.

Caz smiled as he heard this, and nodded his head in approval.

"Most would laugh at someone saying such a thing, but when it's you, I truly believe you can accomplish it. As for me, my goal is the same as yours! To stand at the true peak. For you its cultivation, for me, its business," Caz replied.

"The peak of business?" John asked.

"Yes. I want to become the best merchant this world has ever seen, and perhaps even beyond that. When anyone thinks of trade and business, I want them to think of me first, as if I am trade and business itself, an incarnation of the very Daos of Trade and Business" Caz said with a firm expression on his face, his gaze locked onto Johns. "And with your help, I truly believe I can make this dream a reality."

John stared at Caz in silence for quite some time, and a smile of approval appeared on his face as he patted Caz on the back several times.

"I like that answer! I think you and I are going to get along quite well," John said while laughing lightly.

"And I think the same," Caz smiled back while the two made their way through the busy streets.

…

After arriving at the Mystic Trade Hall Building, John was surprised to see the traffic into the building had increased many times when compared to his first arrival. Caz had explained it as arrivals for the auction, as the only way to the central island which housed the auction house was through the official transportation formations found in each of the five main buildings of the city.

John followed Caz through the first floor of the building, and appeared at a massive formation upon which hundreds of people stood. He and John stepped onto it as well, and while they waited for it to activate, John noticed many of the other cultivators presenting their entry tickets to the Mystic Trade Hall attendants stationed outside the formation.

"You guys really manage to monetize everything," John said to Caz.

"If we can make money from something, we'll make money from it. It's as simple as that," Caz replied, while the formation was activated.

John's vision blurred for an instant before appearing in a different place, along with all the other people who had stood on the formation. After leaving the building which housed the other end of the transportation formation, a massive city came into view once more.

However, when compared to the districts he had explored before, the difference was night and day. Each building before his eyes was far more pristine, luxurious, and breathtaking, as it each and every inch was made from only the finest materials on the continent.

It was as if everything was trimmed with gold and other precious metals, and infused with gems and crystals. Even the streets were made from the highest quality materials, with each brick trimmed with gold, adding to the gaudy yet impressive luxury of the city.

Caz escorted John through the island city, which only continued to get more and more luxurious as they ventured towards its center. There were heavenly restaurants serving the finest food and drinks, hotels of incomparable luxury, trade shops selling only the most rare of treasures, and more.

John's gaze shifted about in wonder as they ventured deeper into the small-island city, and not long after, they arrived before the most impressive building of all.

"The blue eye!" John exclaimed, as the building was the massive, spherical building, sparkling with the most eye-catching of blue colors. His eyes widened as he realized the entire building, which was over a mile high and wide, was made of blue gemstones, carved and polished into the smoothest of surfaces.

Such a large building made of such precious materials could only have cost a fortune larger than he could possibly imagine.

"Welcome, to the Five-River Freeport Auction House," Caz said with a smile, amused at John's reaction.

"Well, well, well, I thought I recognized that voice," a voice sounded out from the distance, causing Caz to turn around with a frown on his face as he stared at several people who were approaching him.

"What do you want, Xander?" Caz asked with an icy voice, which caused John to raise an eyebrow as he had never seen Caz like this before.

John gazed at this ‘Xander,' who was a youth around the same age as them. He also wore the clothes of the Mystic Trade Hall, which made John curious as to why they were so obviously antagonistic. However, his gaze hardened as well as he noticed what one of Xanders friends, a young and rather beautiful female, was wearing.

"What do I want? Can't I just greet my fellow brethren before the auction?" Xander asked.

"With you, nothing is so simple," Caz replied as his gaze shifted to the two other people next to Caz, who both wore different outfits of equally high quality.

"And to think you've even sided with the Divine Merchant Palace. Have you no shame at all?" Caz asked coldly.

"Sided with? You seem to be mistaken," Xander replied while shaking his head in a disappointed manner. "These two are my friends, Griffin, from the Divine Merchant Palace, and Vivian, from the Starforge Clan. Our friendship goes way back, and we've merely decided to come to this auction together," Xander introduced his friends with a smirk on his face, and glanced at John for a second before ignoring him.

John's gaze lingered on Vivian for a second, who was wearing the signature robes of the Starforge Clan. She appeared to be around his age, and had a cultivation in the Middle Heaven Tribulation Realm. Even someone like John had to admit that she was quite beautiful, with a near perfect face and long purple hair.However, she carried herself with a haughty expression, as if she were a princess that lorded over the world, which in John's eyes made her look quite ugly.

"You see, this is why you'll never beat me," Xander continued with that smirking smile lingering on his face. "You have always been trash at making the right friends. Having the right friends is just as important as making money in our profession, and I see you've yet to learn that lesson. That is why I've always bested you, and that is why I'll best you this auction once again."

Caz grit his teeth as he heard Xanders insults, while the memories of the past also came back into his mind like a hammer. John raised an eyebrow as he saw Caz's expression, as there was clearly more to this situation that met the eye.

"Friendship? With the Starforge Clan? What a joke," John scoffed, instantly snapping Caz from his dark thoughts as he heard John's voice. Caz and the others shifted their gazes to John, while Xander eyed him up and down before scoffing, as his clothes were quite average in quality, which Xander clearly looked down upon.

"And who is this rabble? Some bodyguard thug you hired to follow you around?" Xander sneered, while Vivian stared at him with angered displeasure.

"Who are you to speak about my Starforge Clan in such a manner?" Vivian interjected in the conversation, her voice and expression haughty beyond compare. "You're just a rat who doesn't know his place in this world," she spat in disgust, clearly looking down on John.

"Tell me, what is your relationship with Kadin?" John asked calmly, his question surprising Vivian and the others, as they clearly did not expect John to be familiar with their young master.

"You dare to use my cousin's name in such a disrespectful manner? I'll have you-"

"Cousin, huh? I guess I can see the resemblance after all," John mused out loud, cutting off Vivian. "The next time you see Kadin, be sure to mention the name John Fenix to him, and ask him what I did to him inside the Jade Dragon Empire Realm. I'm sure his expression of fear and despair will be quite amusing for you to see."

After saying this, John nudged Caz on the shoulder to lead the way forward, as if wasting his time here was not worth it. Caz nodded and led the way past the group, while John followed behind calmly.

"You fucking peasant! You dare speak about my Starforge Clan, and Kadin that way? I'll have you dragged back to my Clan to live out a life more miserable than you could ever imagine," Vivian erupted in rage, incensed to be spoken to in such a manner.

While walking away, John calmly gazed over his shoulder, his icy-cold eyes locking to Vivian, who felt her heart nearly stop from instinctual fear as if she were staring at death itself for a moment.

"Don't worry. I'll be visiting your Starforge Clan before long, and when that day comes…it's going to be a day the continent will surely remember," John replied emotionlessly before shifting his gaze away from the group, who watched him and Caz disappear into the auction house.

Crack!

A cracking sound rang out as Vivian clenched her teeth with furious rage while her face turned red.

"That fucking brat! I want him dead!" she grumbled angrily through gritted teeth.

"Now, now! You know we can't do that in the city," Xander said, trying to calm her down from doing anything rash.

"Tch, fine," Vivian sneered, "but I'm going to make his life a living nightmare while he's in this city. He's entering this auction with that fellow member of yours? Fine, I'll make sure they don't get a single fucking item. I'll embarrass them to death with their meager wealth!"

"Now that…is something you and I can agree on, my friend," Xander said as a large smirk appeared on his face.