58: Chapter 58, Class C

"It seems I must make a trip to this auction."

Jiang Hanzhou paid with the silver banknotes and carried his parcel out of the Treasure Gathering Tower.

He found a mid-range inn in the city called "Sea Cloud Residence," requested a quiet superior room, and prepaid for ten days of lodging.

After closing the door and setting up a simple warning mechanism, Jiang Hanzhou sat at the table and spread out the five newly acquired Cultivation Techniques one by one.

For the next three days, he did not leave his room.

The operating method of the "Turtle Breathing Technique" was simple; he achieved entry-level in just half a day and reached Minor Achievement a day later. He could now hold his breath for half an hour without needing to respire, and when he retracted his Qi, he felt like an unmoving stone.

The footwork of the "Wave-Treading Step" was exquisite and resonated with the rhythm of water.

Jiang Hanzhou already possessed high attainments in lightness skills, and by drawing parallels, he brought the footwork to Major Achievement within two days, adding a touch of elegance and unpredictability to his movement.

He dismantled and absorbed the Move Concepts of the "Tidal Sound Sword" and "Wave Splitting Saber Art," integrating them into his own saber techniques and the "Tidal Shadow Thousand Hands," deepening his comprehension of the Dao of "Water" by another level.

"Hundred Beasts Shape Intent" appeared simple and shallow, but it was incredibly comprehensive.

Tiger Pounce, Crane Soar, Ape Leap, Snake Slither... As Jiang Hanzhou practiced to the deeper levels, he faintly felt that these most basic animal forms contained a kind of return to simplicity and truth, faintly echoing the Dragon and Tiger True Intent of the "Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Skill."

After three days of arduous training, his "Martial Arts Comprehension" on the panel had increased by nearly forty years.

【Current Martial Arts Comprehension Accumulation: 1567 years / 3000 years】

Although he was still some distance away from breaking through to a Fourth-Order fate, every bit of accumulation served as a foundation.

On the evening of the third day, Jiang Hanzhou pushed open his door.

After three days of seclusion, his aura had become increasingly restrained, and his eyes were gentle and calm. If he did not deliberately reveal it, no one would be able to tell that he was the terrifying figure who had killed seven Viscera Burning Realm experts in a single night and suppressed a Half-Step Dragon Elephant with his fists.

He changed into a cyan robe of decent quality, hid the sumeru pouch close to his body, and tucked ten thousand taels of gold leaves into his chest for wealth verification before stepping out of the inn.

The lanterns of Bibo City had just been lit.

The city at night was even more bustling than during the day; taverns, gambling dens, and brothels were brightly lit and filled with noise. However, the direction Jiang Hanzhou was heading gradually grew quiet.

In the west of the city lay a relatively independent area.

The buildings here were clearly taller and more exquisite, the streets were wide and clean, and there were noticeably more patrolling guards, all of whom were at least at the Iron Bone Realm.

The "Treasure Gathering Tower" was located in the center of this area.

It was a magnificent five-story building, constructed entirely of "Sea Heart Stone" that resembled white jade, emitting a warm luster under the moonlight and lamplight.

Bronze wind chimes hung from the eaves, and as the sea breeze blew past, they emitted a clear, distant sound.

At this moment, the main entrance of the Treasure Gathering Tower was wide open. Two rows of guards in silver soft armor with sharp, fierce auras stood solemnly on both sides, their gazes like lightning as they scrutinized every person entering.

A queue of moderate length had already formed in front of the door, consisting of about twenty or thirty people. Each of them was dressed in fine clothing and possessed extraordinary auras; they were clearly buyers who met the threshold for wealth verification.

Jiang Hanzhou walked to the end of the line and waited quietly.

Low conversations drifted from the front from time to time.

"...Brother Zhang is here too? I heard that the competition for the 'Cold Jade Marrow' this time will be extremely fierce. The Third Elder of the Water Mansion has already declared that he is determined to get it."

"The Cold Jade Marrow is good, but this old man is more interested in that batch of 'Star Sand.' If I can win the bid, my 'Steel water-dividing thorn' might be upgraded by half a grade..."

"The Four Seas Pavilion has brought out a 'Green Blood Flood Dragon' egg this time. If it can be hatched and tamed, it will have the combat power of a Peak Viscera Burning Realm expert upon reaching adulthood, sufficient to serve as a Family guardian beast..."

Jiang Hanzhou listened quietly, gaining a clearer understanding of the scale of the auction.

Soon, it was his turn.

Behind a rosewood table at the entrance sat an old man with a ruddy complexion and a goatee. He looked up at Jiang Hanzhou and said indifferently, "Wealth verification, fifty thousand taels."

Jiang Hanzhou took out the cloth parcel he had prepared from his chest and untied it.

It shone with a golden light.

One hundred gold leaves, each with an official exchange value of one hundred taels, totaling ten thousand taels.

There were also four bearer silver banknotes issued by the Four Seas Pavilion, each with a face value of ten thousand taels.

The old man glanced over them, nodded, and took out a jade token, handing it to Jiang Hanzhou:

"Grade C, number seventeen. Hold this token to enter and take your seat according to the number. During the auction, do not make noise, do not threaten others, and the highest bidder wins. Those who violate the rules will be expelled and permanently blacklisted by the Four Seas Pavilion and the Star Shattering Water Mansion."

"Understood." Jiang Hanzhou took the jade token.

The jade token was warm and smooth. The front was engraved with "C-17," and the back bore the joint emblem of the Four Seas Pavilion and the Star Shattering Water Mansion.

A wave surrounded by stars.

He took a step and entered the Treasure Gathering Tower.

Inside the building, the lights were brilliant, and the floor was covered with thick carpets that absorbed all sounds of footsteps.

In the center was a circular auction stage three feet high, surrounded by nearly a hundred seats arranged in a fan shape, divided into "Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C."

Grade A was at the front, with only ten spacious seats equipped with tea tables;

Grade B was in the middle, with over thirty seats;

Grade C was at the back, with over fifty ordinary seats.

At this moment, sixty or seventy percent of the seats were occupied, and the low murmurs of conversation sounded like the buzzing of a beehive.

Jiang Hanzhou found seat C-17, located at the back on the far right. It was inconspicuous, but he could still clearly see the auction stage.

He sat down and calmly scanned the entire venue.

On the Grade A seats, seven or eight people were already seated: there were old men wearing the robes of Water Mansion Elders, merchants with graceful bearings, and lone travelers exuding intense Killing Intent...

Each of them had a profound aura, and the lowest among them was at the Late Stage of the Viscera Burning Realm.

The Grade B and Grade C seats were a mixed bag, with cultivation levels ranging from the Early Stage of the Viscera Burning Realm to the Iron Bone Realm. However, those who could produce fifty thousand taels for verification were either wealthy or had extraordinary backgrounds.

"A joint auction by the Star Shattering Water Mansion and the Four Seas Pavilion... it certainly carries some weight."

Jiang Hanzhou withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes to rest.

The auction was about to begin.