Chapter 84: The Elixir of Eternal Youth

Throughout the entire auction, David found it difficult to concentrate. At his side rested an ancient-looking box—the very one containing the grade-two spear. This was the chief reason for his distraction.

He had only glanced inside the box after receiving it, finding four segments of a cylindrical body emitting a deep blue glow, along with a spearhead etched with blood grooves. There had been no opportunity to assemble it into a complete weapon.

Most items in the auction were beyond his comprehension; all he knew was that each piece possessed extraordinary value. Even the least impressive fetched hundreds of thousands of credits, while the most coveted sold for over a hundred million.

As the auction neared its end, none of the representatives from Perlan City had managed to secure an item. The prices were prohibitive, but the presence of the box at David’s side unsettled them as much as it did him.

When word spread that the threefold reward had been exchanged for a grade-two spear, envy flashed across their faces. Unlike the grade-two sword, the grade-two spear was a heavy weapon—its material requirements many times that of the sword. More importantly, the number of warriors who wielded spears far exceeded those who favored swords, making the grade-two spear inherently more valuable.

David was unaware of its precise worth, but the fact that it ranked fifth among all auctioned items spoke volumes for its rarity. With such a treasure nearby, none of the Perlan City delegates could focus on the proceedings.

“The next item,” announced the elderly auctioneer, “is also the last of today’s offerings: the ‘Elixir of Everlasting Youth’ from the Divine Realm. The mercenary who acquired it was gravely wounded and consumed half the vial. So, only half remains!” As he spoke, he opened a chest, revealing a slender bottle secured within.

The auction hall fell silent; even the sound of breathing seemed to fade.

“Only half a vial remains—who can say how much potency is left?” a middle-aged guest lamented.

“If it were a full vial, do you think it would ever come to us?” another bidder replied, resigned.

Yet most of the guests’ eyes gleamed with fierce determination, their gaze fixed on the prize.

David felt a wave of dizziness. The milky white glow emanating from the vial was identical to the liquid in the four hundred and fifty tubes he had obtained. The mere presence of half a vial of this ‘Elixir of Immortality’ had all these elite figures so transfixed; he could well imagine the trouble four hundred and fifty vials would bring.

“Perhaps some of you are unfamiliar with the Elixir of Immortality,” the auctioneer continued, never in a hurry. He understood well how to stir desire. Many in the audience were young, not likely to bid, but by explaining the elixir’s properties, he could further incite those who would.

“The Elixir of Immortality is a mysterious product of the Divine Realm. Its method of production is unknown, yet its effects are enough to tempt anyone. It can restore the elderly to the vigor of middle age, rapidly heal the gravely wounded, and is worthy of its sacred reputation. Legend has it that, with enough elixir, one could continually prolong life and achieve true immortality.” The auctioneer spoke with mounting excitement, so much so that even he glanced at the vial with longing.

Many guests already knew these details, but hearing them anew only intensified their desire.

“The starting bid is five million credits!” he announced.

Immediately, the bidding began, the price rising from five million to twenty million within a single minute. After that, the increments became more cautious, climbing by tens of thousands.

“Half a vial, and who knows how effective it is—why are they bidding so aggressively?” muttered a guest seated near David. Likely, he lacked the funds and was quickly outmatched.

When it comes to longevity, even the slightest possibility is enough to override reason in these circles—especially among the elderly. For them, wealth is abundant; to spend it for youth, for more years, is worth any price.

David tried to calculate the value of his four hundred and fifty vials. Based on the current price for half a vial, his collection would be worth nine billion credits. The thought made him dizzy once more.

Yet reason told him that if he leaked even the faintest hint about the Elixir of Immortality, relentless pursuit would follow. Before knowing their true value, he had already treated the tubes with great caution, but he had never imagined such staggering worth.

The consequences for the organization that lost such a fortune were obvious—they would never rest until it was reclaimed.

He remembered Jeremy, the trainer he had killed, who had been head of a small city’s branch. Jeremy had withstood David’s sniper shots with sheer physical resilience, and had fortune not favored David, he would have been slain instead.

With Jeremy gone, the next agent sent would surely surpass him in strength.

David recalled the triggered security system; the threat was lurking in Perlan City.

The final price reached twenty-two million one hundred thousand credits—a sum so astronomical that David no longer bothered to calculate the difference for all four hundred and fifty vials.

The Titan Consortium once again provided a hovercar to escort them to the airport. This time, the model was even more luxurious, reflecting the Consortium’s heightened regard for David.

The rush of ascending skyward, then swooping downward, was felt again. During the high-altitude journey, no one mentioned the box.

Once back in Perlan City, and aboard the hovercar, the group could no longer restrain themselves.

“David, take out the grade-two spear so we can see it!” Myron urged impatiently.

David smiled, not refusing. He owed much to Myron; without him, the opportunity to acquire the spear would never have arisen.

He opened the long box and handed it to Myron.

“Look at this color, this glow—it's beautiful!” Myron exclaimed, caressing one segment with both hands, his gaze as tender as if upon a lover. David shivered at the sight.

Jim, Daly, and De Quincy were equally eager, each taking a segment to examine closely.

Perlan City possessed grade-two weapons, but even the second-generation elites had never had the chance to handle them so intimately.

“Myron, don’t take out the spearhead inside the hovercar—you’ll ruin it!” Jim warned as Myron reached for the spearhead.

Their desire to remain near the spear meant they had all crowded into Jim’s military hovercar for the return journey.

Even so, a grade-two spearhead would be unstoppable, and the hovercar could not withstand a single sweep.

“David, why didn’t you choose a war hammer?” Myron asked, setting the spearhead aside reluctantly.

“Myron, this is David’s reward—what business is it of yours what he chooses?” De Quincy replied softly.

“De Quincy, given my friendship with David, if he’d chosen the grade-two war hammer, I could have practiced with it. Who knows, maybe training with such a weapon would let me master the hammer in leaps and bounds!” Myron said, full of longing.

“David made the right choice with the spear. Watching him face off against Eves, he showed unrivaled talent with the weapon!” Jim said with a smile.

None of them went elsewhere; all gathered at David’s home.

Once the two-and-a-half-meter spear was assembled, the blue glow along its length became seamless, far more striking than the lighter grade-two sword.

Though none of them had formally studied spear mastery, they all took turns with the weapon in the basement gym. The iron training dummies were left riddled with holes from its blows.