Following the debacle, Sea Dream Disciples came to carry out the Primal Sun Sect's collapsed Gods and finalize the trade. The Ravmalaks had no other choice but to surrender the 50 billion at their disposal before requesting more from the headquarters. When the news reached Surya, and he realized that good son of his cheated himself out of half their treasury for 2500 True Gods, Surya staggered, struggling to maintain his composure.
In his bid to become an Overgod, God-Jade was of critical importance. To let go of a few billion for valuable resources was something he could accept. But half his treasury for True Gods? To say nothing of 2500. Even if it were 25000, he still wouldn't accept it! Alas, the deal was set in stone. Challenging the result was tantamount to challenging the Warden, a deed he didn't have the ability to survive. At the end of the day, he wasn't the Chthonian Primogen!
Fortunately, he'd already moved against the Sea Dream Temple. When Daksha perished and Kama took control of the sect, he would get it all back plus interests! Swallowing his ire, Surya dispatched the funds, then vanished in secluded cultivation. Meanwhile, within the Auction Hall, the situation grew tenser. On the scene, only the Primal Sun Sect and the Eternal Void Palace had the capital to challenge the Sea Dream Temple on wealth. Having neither treasury nor Primogen, the Radiant Light Mountain's best efforts didn't amount to more than 5 billion. How could they fight?
Now, thanks to the Primal Sun Sect's stupidity, the Sea Dream Temple could count on an extra 50.05 billion. Even if the Eternal Void Palace was willing to go bankrupt, they couldn't compete. And little did they know how right they were. If before, having plundered two Cardinal Sects and Primogens' corpses, Konrad already had the means to crush several unharmed Cardinal Sects in net worth, the Primal Sun Sect's generosity ensured he could trample all without disturbances.
As for those True Gods, they would never reach the sect's headquarters. The auction resumed, with one batch following another.
Heide snatched the Void God batch for 100 million and the Nihility God batch for 1.5 billion. Starting with the High God batch all sects desperately fought, making the price shoot up to 12 billion. Still, Heide snatched it. The Cosmic God batch she seized for 29 billion, the seven Ancestral Gods for 66 billion, and the half-step Legendary God for 55 billion.
At the end of the auction's first round, Konrad's party had already spent 163.6 billion. Half of which would return to the Sea Dream Temple. Originally, the gathered factions and deities believed that after such expenses, even if they would see half that money back, they couldn't afford to snatch all the Goddesses. Alas, Chandra's 3000 consorts all fell into Konrad's grasp for a whopping 262.5 billion. With a total of 426.1 billion, half of which they'd had to submit to the Heaven Warding Temple, none doubted that the Sea Dream Temple fell into bankruptcy. Perhaps the Primal Sun Sect's "donation" would help them stay afloat, but dark financial days awaited them all.
But if at first, that thought made many deities jubilate, when they recalled the legions of God-slaves now boosting the Sea Dream Temple's strength, they couldn't help but release helpless sighs.
"More than 2700 Gods and 3000 Goddesses, all bound by Soul-Rewiring Seals. A boost of 300 High Deities, 30 Cosmic Deities, 9 Ancestral Deities, and 2 half-step Legendary Deities. With such gains, didn't the Sea Dream Temple just trade its treasury for global hegemony?"
Some rationalized. Meanwhile, startling news spread outside. On the road back to the Primal Sun Sect, a Ravmalakh elder rebelled, snatched the space bag containing the Three Realms' most expensive True Gods, and vanished from sight! The news sent the Primal Sun Sect into chaos. But locked in seclusion, Surya wouldn't hear of it anytime soon.
The auction came to an end, and after paying the Heaven Warding Temple's dues, Konrad seized his gains and left the hall to return to the Sea Dream Temple. There, a commotion awaited.
…
Within the Celestial World, news traveled fast. And when the "Sea Dream Temple's expenses" reached the elders, their eyes widened in fright. The Financial Elder, in particular, couldn't believe his ears, because better than his peers, he knew the Sea Dream Temple didn't have that kind of funds. In God-Jade alone, they only had 190 billion. How could they afford those expenses? Unless they liquidated the entire treasury, that wasn't possible!
Alarmed, the five Mara elders rushed toward the treasury, only to find their access revoked. Even the Financial Elder couldn't dive in!
"What is the meaning of this? Did Rati revoke even my access?"
The Financial Elder wondered while his peers' eyes shone with skepticism. And as if to answer their inquiries, Rati's voice echoed within their minds.
"From now on, Rudra holds the post of Financial Elder. All matters related to the Sea Dream Temple's finances will be handled by him and only him. You may disperse."
Rati declared in a firm, uncompromising tone. And as the yoke of indignation stifled the elders' hearts, little did they know that she was acting in their best interest. The treasury wasn't missing a dime. If those old fools went in and realized that truth, questions would soar.
Questions that'd require Konrad's handling. Although he could deal with them without blood loss, a few swats here and there was inevitable. For the sake of their survival, they'd best never set foot into that treasury again. Alas, in the elders' minds, those words held completely different implications.
"Rati, you're going too far! Even if you wish to indulge your lover's excesses, you can't do it at the Temple's expenses! As the Acting Temple Lord, how can you be this shameless?!"
The now-former Financial Elder snarled in indignation, immediately gathering the support of his peers.
"The Sea Dream Temple is not a brothel. We can't sell our underpants for you to keep your boy toy happy! When did you become this muddled? Snap out of it!"
The Law Enforcement Elder followed with the eyes of a bull eager to gore his target. Blessed by Daksha himself in ancient times, those two were the most senior elders with a cultivation base half-step into the Legendary God rank. Within the Sea Dream Temple, their words carried enormous weight.
If at first, Rati wished to handle this fairly, when she heard the words "lover" and "boy toy," her mind underwent a 180 degrees turn.
"Oh? Interesting. As I've heard, within hours of becoming an elder, my – boy toy – used one auction to more than triple our military might while you old wastes failed to produce a single, helpful policy to revitalize our sect. Now you want to fault the both of us? Very well.
The Law Enforcement Elder is relieved of all his duties. I hereby create a High Elder position charged to handle both the Law and Finances. Naturally, Rudra shall hold the post.
Dissatisfied?
If you dare complain, I dare swat you.
What can you do?"
Rati proclaimed, taking a page from Konrad's book. And faced with the most despotic display of nepotism and power abuse they'd seen in their innumerable years of life, the elders staggered, not knowing what to do.
