A Beauty's Might

The auction for the Stele of Future Past has begun.

"Four hundred thousand gold coins."

"Four hundred and fifty thousand gold coins."

This stele did not capture the attention of many people.

By the time all was said and done, it was only a stele. It could be a legendary treasure, endowing the holder with the ability to shake the sky. It could possibly be nothing more than a useless bit of stone.

"System, do you recognize the value of this stele?"

"..." The system was deafeningly quiet.

"If I want to get this, I have to offend some significant individuals here."

I thought I heard the system sigh right then and there. Then again, I thought it might have simply been in my head.

"The host is now in the third circle."

"The host can reach the fifth circle in three months after using the stele."

"What? Do you mean that this stele will provide me with experience?"

"Yes."

I think I'm out of options. I was prepared to sweep the entire third floor of the dungeon only to get to the fourth circle.