Volume One: Awakening of the Dragon Soul Chapter 48: The Utopia Auction (Part One)

Ten black cards at the start!

At this moment, everyone present was stunned. This was an exceedingly rare occurrence in gambling circles—even seasoned gamblers who’d haunted the tables for years had hardly ever witnessed such a scene.

“Congratulations, sir! You’ve successfully collected ten black cards and achieved final victory! Additionally, congratulations on becoming the second person in this casino’s history to start with ten black cards!” The croupier system’s broadcast shattered the silence. Instantly, fireworks burst overhead with a loud crack, scattering confetti through the air.

“Incredible! Ten black cards right from the start!” someone cheered.

“Remarkable! I’ve been around for years, and this is the first time I’ve seen anything like it!” another echoed.

“What a spectacle! I can’t wait to brag about this when I get back!”

“He’s like a gambling immortal descended to earth!”

“See, I told you before, didn’t I? He’s the real gambling immortal!” Fatty Gulaga praised, “The legendary gambler who wins every battle, manipulating the game at will!”

“How… how can this be?!” Skinny Marcus clutched his head, unable to fathom how he’d been defeated so swiftly.

“Nothing is impossible. Hurry up and hand over the twenty thousand gold coins—I have things to do!” Mo Xing said.

“Hmph!” Marcus spat on the ground and pulled out several large bags of gold from his storage ring. All the money he’d stolen this month was gone in the blink of an eye!

The croupier system began counting the coins, while the onlookers whispered among themselves:

“I didn’t expect him to have so much money.”

“I heard he robbed a wealthy household last week.”

“Aren’t wealthy households heavily guarded? How did he get away with it?”

“Don’t let his scrawny, shabby appearance fool you. He runs fast—really fast.”

“There are one thousand one hundred and twelve coins missing.” Mo Xing’s booming voice interrupted their chatter.

“Uh… what do you mean?” Marcus frowned, panic written across his face.

“There are only eighteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight coins here. You didn’t pay enough,” Mo Xing clarified.

“You… you’re lying!” Marcus protested. “There are ten bags here, each with two thousand coins. That’s twenty thousand coins! How could it be short?”

“Oh?” Mo Xing sneered.

“System scan: a total of 18,888 coins have been received. Payment has not reached 20,000 coins. Please continue to pay the remaining balance!” The croupier system announced.

“Did you hear that?” Mo Xing smiled. “Even the machine is urging you to settle your debt.”

“Marcus, I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person!” someone said.

“If you gamble, you must accept defeat. Don’t try to cheat!” another chimed in.

“Yeah, can’t handle losing?”

“He’s always up to tricks at the card table.”

Faced with their scorn, Marcus clenched his teeth and fists, muttering under his breath, “He’s… he’s made a fool of me…”

Suddenly, a surge of violent energy gathered in Marcus’s hand, and murderous intent filled the air.

“Damn you! I’m going to destroy you!”

Crack—

Before anyone could react, Marcus Ye Ming was sent flying by a force even greater, slammed against a nearby pillar, his body spread eagle.

“It’s much easier to smack you than to draw cards,” Mo Xing shook his head.

The crowd finally came to their senses. Marcus, having lost, had tried to attack the “gambling immortal,” only to be blasted away and pinned to a pillar by some mysterious power.

This was the legendary “gambling immortal”! Not only unmatched at cards, but formidable in strength as well!

The crowd erupted in another round of admiration.

“I won’t bother chasing that extra thousand or so coins—it’ll count as his medical expenses.” Mo Xing swept all the coins from the table into his storage ring, then turned to Fatty Gulaga and handed him something.

“This is for you two.”

“Uh…” Fatty Gulaga frowned and accepted the two cigarettes from Mo Xing, hesitating for a moment.

“Is this—Shelamede Fort?! That’s the finest tobacco there is!”

“No need to thank me. I’ll be off now.” Mo Xing offered a sidelong smile, waved, and departed under the crowd’s gaze.

Mo Xing’s spiritual consciousness space.

“Kasin, that move was spectacular!” Mo Xing exclaimed.

“I’m exhausted,” Kasin replied.

“Huh? Tired?” Mo Xing was perplexed. “Can a Dragon God get tired?”

“It’s your physical condition that’s lacking. I exerted a little control and you nearly collapsed,” Kasin explained.

“Why do you say that?” Mo Xing stretched his arms. “I still feel pretty strong.”

“You lack vital energy—your whole body is weak,” Kasin added.

“Uh… that sounds weird.” Mo Xing scratched his head.

“Mortal, your body is yours again. If there’s nothing else, I’ll enter hibernation,” Kasin said.

“Wait! Lord Dragon God! I still haven’t found the fugitives Captain Huo assigned me to track down!” Mo Xing protested.

“Mortal, you’ve inherited my power. Use your senses and you’ll find them easily!” Kasin’s voice echoed from afar.

“Lord Dragon God! How do I use those senses…”

Before Mo Xing could finish his question, the scene shifted back to the underground casino.

“How do I use them…” he said, completing his sentence.

From there, Mo Xing stumbled upon several fugitives using his newly awakened senses. These men looked fierce, smoking, drinking, sporting tattoos and wild hairstyles.

Under the guise of “making friends,” Mo Xing handed them Shelamede Fort cigarettes containing tracking signals. At first, they were wary of his friendly demeanor, but hearing others say he was the legendary “gambling immortal” made them warm up to him.

One bald man even tried to rope him into teaching card tricks, but Mo Xing borrowed a famous scientist’s adage: “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration,” and managed to extricate himself.

Mo Xing glanced at his pack of cigarettes—only a few left, and a handful of fugitives still unaccounted for.

But why were all these fugitives gathered in this underground casino? Was it just for pleasure?

No!

Something was drawing them in—a force they couldn’t resist.

“Ladies and gentlemen~”

A broadcast sounded from afar, and Mo Xing looked over to see a space at the northernmost end.

He followed the patterned red carpet and found himself in a stair-stepped area the size of a football field, resplendent in extravagance. Colossal pillars soared on either side, giant crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and under the golden light, murals emerged from the walls.

Mo Xing couldn’t help but take a deep breath—the spectacle before him was breathtaking!

“The Utopia Auction for this quarter will commence in five minutes. All distinguished guests, please take your seats.”

“An auction, then…” Mo Xing nodded.

The gamblers who’d been playing moments ago now surged forward, passing Mo Xing and heading to their seats.

“Oh no, I don’t have a seat,” Mo Xing scratched his head, feeling awkward and out of place.

Well, he didn’t belong here anyway.

“Excuse me, may I pass?” A deep, cold voice came from beside him.

Mo Xing turned to see a man in a black suit, wearing a black mask beneath his eyes.

“Yes… yes, of course!” Mo Xing quickly replied, making way.

Yet the man didn’t move, instead squinting his eyes, giving Mo Xing a sense of unease—as if his identity had been discovered.

“Not bad!” The man suddenly praised. “Few people come to these auctions in formal attire these days.”

“Huh?” Mo Xing scratched his head, realizing he was indeed dressed for the occasion tonight.

“Why the mask?” Mo Xing asked.

“The crowd here is complex. I wear a mask mainly for protection, to ensure my health,” the man replied.

“Alright…” Mo Xing nodded.

“Hey? Your seat number is ninety-nine,” he said. “It’s right beside mine.”

“How… how did you know?” Mo Xing was surprised—the man knew things Mo Xing himself didn’t.

“Your badge has your seat number.” The man pointed to his own mouse-shaped badge.

“Oh!” Mo Xing realized, looking down. Under the light’s reflection, the serial number was clearly visible!

“Is this your first time here?” the man asked.

“No, no!” Mo Xing hurried to explain. “I usually come with friends, but they’re busy tonight, so I’m here alone.”

“I see.” The man shook his head. “That’s a shame—there are many extraordinary items at this Utopia Auction.”

“Mmm,” Mo Xing responded.

“Let’s find our seats—the auction is about to start,” the man said.

“Alright.” Mo Xing took a deep breath, nearly exposing himself again. He wondered what treasures this Utopia Auction held to attract so many, including the fugitives.

As for the masked man beside him, he didn’t seem like a villain—so what was his true identity?

One hour later.

“Congratulations to Guest Sixty-Six for winning the [100% Enhancement Stone] at a price of one hundred thousand gold coins!”

As the auctioneer’s gavel fell, polite applause filled the hall. The item went to Guest Sixty-Six, who rose to thank everyone.

Mo Xing recognized him—the scarred man from the wanted posters, Hen Ren.

His fierce gaze and the scars running the length of his arm marked him as a truly ruthless figure.

Mo Xing had initially thought the enhancement stone was just a worthless rock, but the man beside him explained it was a material for strengthening weapons.

As for items like the Skyfire Talisman and Divine Lock, they were various refining materials. Without the auctioneer’s explanation, Mo Xing would have been utterly bewildered.

Each chair had a small button; pressing it allowed guests to make a bid—like raising a paddle.

Mo Xing had wanted to press the button and make a bold bid like a storybook protagonist, but his hand trembled uncontrollably. Meanwhile, the masked man beside him made several bids and won a few antiques.

“The main event is here,” he suddenly said.

“Huh?” Mo Xing snapped back to attention.

In the center of the stage, a massive glass crystal box draped in red cloth was slowly wheeled forward.

“This is an extraordinary item. Many of you have come just for it,” the auctioneer smiled.

“That’s right—it’s the legendary artifact known as [The Vanished Blade]—”

“Devil’s Cry: Blade of Exile!”

———————Author’s Corner——————

[The auction is paused; the main plot resumes ⊙ω⊙]

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