My Celestial Ascension

Pffft! Miss Zara immediately spat out her wine upon hearing Vanessa's words. She looked at Yuan, Valeria, and Vanessa with wide eyes, her disbelief clear.

"What?! This is unbelievable! And… quite odd!" Miss Zara exclaimed, her voice trembling with shock.

She then turned her gaze to Yuan, her expression as if she were staring at someone who had accomplished the impossible. Her outburst drew the attention of everyone in the room.

"I can't believe you've gone after your mother-in-law too, Yuan. This is truly unbelievable! You're really something else," Miss Zara said, her voice a mix of astonishment and a subtle hint of disappointment.

Amidst her shock and amazement, a strange feeling crept into her heart. 'What's wrong with me? Why do I feel this… sense of loss? As if something precious has slipped through my fingers. Am I… jealous that Lady Vanessa became Yuan's woman and not me? Impossible!' Miss Zara's emotions were in turmoil, her heart conflicted and uneasy.

Her gaze shifted to Valeria, who smiled warmly at her mother. The sight confused Miss Zara even more.

'Why is Valeria happy for her mother? Shouldn't she be angry? After all, Yuan is her husband, and now her mother has accepted him as her husband too! This is so… abnormal.' Miss Zara cried inwardly, struggling to make sense of the situation.

'Lady Vanessa, someone as esteemed as her, becoming Yuan's wife… Yuan, her son-in-law… Unbelievable. And yet, why can't I seem to accept my own feelings?'

Meanwhile, Little Zoe happily munched on cookies and sipped her fruit juice, a cheerful smile lighting up her face. She glanced at Vanessa occasionally, her expression beaming with joy.

'I wonder when Mom will make a move on Brother Yuan. He's so handsome! If I were a big girl like Mom, I'd have already seduced Big Brother Yuan,' Little Zoe thought to herself, giggling quietly as she continued enjoying her snacks.

She paused briefly, looking down at her flat chest, and sighed inwardly. 'But Brother Yuan likes girls with big breasts… and I don't have those yet. I'm still little now, but when I grow up, my breasts will be just as big as Aunt Anna's and Aunt Grace's.' Your journey continues with empire

She chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. 'I hope Mom makes up her mind quickly before someone else shows up.'

Yuan, meanwhile, looked at Vanessa with a warm smile. Without hesitation, he took her hand and gently pulled her into his embrace, making her sit on his other lap. Vanessa gasped softly, startled by the sudden gesture, but she quickly found herself leaning into him, her cheeks flushed.

Valeria smiled warmly at her mother and said, "I'm so happy you accepted our proposal, Mom. You've made a wise decision by taking Yuan as your new husband. He'll make you truly happy."

"Oh my, thank you for your kind words, my dear daughter," Vanessa replied, returning the smile. She then turned to Yuan with a loving gaze, leaning in to kiss him passionately on the lips while wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Now that I've accepted you as my new husband, you must take care of me, okay? And, husband, you'll have to give me lots of love," Vanessa added, winking playfully after ending the kiss.

Yuan gently took her hand, kissed it, and looked at her with a tender smile. "Don't worry, my dear wife. I'll give you so much love that you won't be able to walk properly for days."

"Oh my, just thinking about it is already making my legs weak," Vanessa teased, giggling before stealing another quick kiss.

For the next few moments, Yuan flirted with his wives, his charm and wit making them blush and laugh. He even teased Miss Zara, whose cheeks turned crimson. Though initially flustered, she found herself enjoying the playful attention and couldn't help but smile at his antics.

Meanwhile, outside the grand stadium, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. The streets were bustling with lavishly dressed individuals and ornate carriages, signaling the arrival of influential figures from across the continent.

Every prominent family and power that had been awaiting the auction in their luxurious accommodations had now gathered at the venue. The excitement and anticipation in the air were palpable.

"Well, I never expected to see so many big names gathered in one place. How wonderful this is!"

A young man with fiery red hair stepped out of an opulent red carriage. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, his grin widening as he spotted representatives from the Ten Great Families.

This was Ajex Ashborne, the eldest son of the Ashborne Clan's patriarch—one of the Ten Great Families. Known for his fiery temper and love of combat, Ajex had a particular thirst for battling strong opponents, especially powerful magical beasts.

Ajex's reputation preceded him. His hot-headedness and short temper often made people uneasy around him, with most avoiding direct eye contact.

As he sensed the presence of so many powerful individuals in one place, Ajex felt his blood boil with excitement. He yearned for a challenge, but he held himself back, knowing the auction was about to begin.

His gaze soon fell upon another prominent figure emerging from a lavish carriage. His crooked grin widened mischievously.

"So, the arrogant Young Master from the Drake Family is here too," he muttered to himself. "How fortunate for me. I'll have to greet him later… I've got a little debt to settle with him."

Ajex's lips curled into a wide, crooked smile, his expression hinting at trouble as he began to plot his next move.

A few minutes later, the Imperial Family arrived at the auction venue, their presence immediately drawing the attention of the crowd. They waved graciously at the citizens of the Empire before entering the grand stadium.

Inside, Emperor Philip and his wives personally greeted the prominent figures who had traveled from across the continent, including representatives from the Ten Great Families.

Despite their distaste for the Holy Light Empire, the Emperor and his entourage also extended formal greetings to their delegation. Publicly slighting them in such a setting could lead to diplomatic tensions—or even war—and Philip understood the importance of maintaining decorum.

Once the initial greetings concluded, Emperor Philip retired to his VIP room to prepare for the auction, which was about to begin.

Selena, seated beside him with a sparkle of excitement in her eyes, asked eagerly, "Do you know what rare and exotic items will be auctioned? I'm so curious!"

Philip nodded, his expression a mix of seriousness and anticipation. "I'm aware of a few items. Among them are legendary artifacts imbued with immense magical power. If we can acquire even one, it will significantly enhance our strength."

He paused briefly before adding, "There will also be legendary elixirs—potent enough to restore a dying person to full health. We must secure some of these, even if it costs us a fortune."

"Indeed. Life-saving elixirs are indispensable. We never know when we might need one," Priscilla agreed, her brow furrowed with concern. "Especially with the Golden Skull organization scheming against us from the shadows."

Selena's expression hardened, her voice firm with resolve. "Priscilla is right, husband. We must fortify ourselves before disaster strikes. The Golden Skull organization is dangerous—filled with backstabbers and schemers. They've already corrupted some of the Noble Families, including members of your own bloodline. We can't let them destroy us."

Philip's gaze turned grim as he listened to his wives. "You're both right. The legendary artifacts and elixirs are vital, especially when threats are looming from all sides—the Golden Skull organization and even the Holy Light Empire."

The three of them sat on the lavish sofa in their VIP room, their eyes scanning the massive stadium below. In the center of the grand arena, the auction anchor prepared to introduce the items.

The rules were straightforward: the highest bidder would win the item, which would then belong to them. However, winners unable to pay would face a hefty fine, ensuring only the serious contenders participated.

The air was thick with anticipation as the Imperial Family waited, each of them quietly steeling themselves for the auction and the battles it could bring.

Furthermore, any violator would be permanently banned from attending or participating in any auction on the continent. While some might consider the punishment overly harsh, the rule was absolute, and all were expected to abide by it.

Moments later, a stunning blonde-haired woman with a curvaceous figure and an enchanting smile stepped into the center of the stadium. The crowd erupted into cheers, her beauty and commanding presence captivating everyone in attendance.

"Good evening, everyone!" she began, her voice resonating clearly throughout the venue. "I'm delighted to see so many esteemed guests gathered here for this grand event. Allow me to introduce myself—I'm Teressa, your anchor for today's auction. It's a pleasure to be here with all of you."

Her radiant smile and melodic voice sent hearts racing, particularly among the younger men in the audience.

"Now that I've introduced myself," she continued with a professional yet inviting tone, "let's go over the rules of today's auction. Let me be clear—anyone who fails to follow these rules will be immediately escorted out and blacklisted from participating in any auction on this continent for the next ten years."

She paused briefly, allowing the weight of her words to sink in, before proceeding.

"There are only three rules that all participants must follow—"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"First, no one is allowed to threaten or intimidate others during the bidding process. It doesn't matter who you are, your reputation, or your background—everyone has the right to bid on any item as long as they have the means to do so."

"Second, you must pay for the items you win after the bidding concludes. Failure to comply will result in a lifetime ban from all auctions on this continent, along with a hefty fine for wasting our time and resources."

"Third, sellers are strictly prohibited from bidding on their own items to artificially inflate prices. This is against the rules and will not be tolerated under any circumstances."

Teressa's voice remained firm but pleasant, ensuring her message was clear. "These are the three rules that must be followed by everyone, regardless of status or wealth. I trust that everyone here understands and will adhere to these regulations."

The crowd erupted into applause and cheers as Teressa concluded her speech, her confident demeanor and charm winning over the audience with ease.