274: Chapter 274 Top-Tier Auction? This young master is here to stock up!

The next day, night fell.

Not only did Tianyin City not fall silent with the night, but it instead welcomed its most boisterous decennial carnival.

The entire headquarters of the Myriad Treasures Tower was brightly lit, with the glows of thousands of Formations intertwining in the night sky, illuminating the surrounding hundred miles as bright as day.

Countless luxurious flying boats and precious chariots drawn by exotic beasts tore through the air from the Eastern Barrens and even various parts of the Central State, landing steadily on the massive white jade plaza outside the Myriad Treasures Tower.

Those stepping down from the carriages were all renowned figures: Sect Masters of famous Sects, Elders of ancient families, or peerless Prodigies from various Holy Lands and great religions.

Yet, even if they were usually high and mighty, upon arriving before the Myriad Treasures Tower—which represented the Peak of wealth and power—they had to restrain their arrogance and line up to enter according to the gilded invitations in their hands.

However, outside this long queue, a group of people appeared particularly conspicuous.

Dressed in a moon-white robe with his hands behind his back, Xu Chen walked at an unhurried pace, completely ignoring the several-hundred-foot-long queue as he headed toward the "Heavenly Ascent Gate" in the very center of the Myriad Treasures Tower—a gate usually only opened for Great Emperor-level experts.

To his left followed Hua Jieyu, clad in a purple dress and wearing a veil. Although this Saintess of the Hehuan Sect had her Face covered, her naturally pure yet seductive temperament and Half-Saint level pressure still caused countless passersby to glance her way repeatedly.

To his right was the blind girl, Gong Yu, who was tightly clutching the corner of his sleeve.

Though she could not see the massive crowds around them, her keen hearing and Mind's Eye allowed her to clearly perceive the countless oppressive gazes converging upon them.

“Young Master... will we get into trouble if we just barge through like this?”

Gong Yu's voice trembled slightly; she could feel that among those in line, there were many experts at the Dragon Transformation Realm or even the Half-Step Great Power level.

Hearing this, Xu Chen's lips curled into a playful smile. He didn't speak, but instead reached back to hold Gong Yu's cold little hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Before they could even reach the Heavenly Ascent Gate, two rows of gold-armored guards from the Myriad Treasures Tower, clad in heavy armor and wielding halberds, blocked their path in unison.

“Stop! This is the venue for the Myriad Treasures Tower's top-tier auction. Without a Heaven-grade invitation, no one is permitted to trespass through the Heavenly Ascent Gate. Violators will be executed without mercy!”

The leading guard commander shouted in a deep voice, his body radiating the powerful aura of a Dao Severing King.

Seeing this, the people in line immediately broke into a flurry of whispers.

“Who is this young man? He actually dares to cut the line in front of the Myriad Treasures Tower's headquarters. Is he tired of living?”

“Looking at the two stunning female cultivators following him, he's probably some ignorant playboy trying to show off in front of women.”

“Humph, the Myriad Treasures Tower doesn't care about any small local backgrounds. He's going to get what's coming to him in a moment.”

Facing the guard commander's stern warning and the mockery from the crowd, Xu Chen didn't even bat an eye.

He simply pulled a purple-gold token engraved with a True Dragon totem from his waist and casually tossed it toward the guard commander's Face.

Clack.

The token hit the commander's breastplate precisely, letting out a crisp thud.

The commander was about to flare up in anger, but when he saw the purple-gold token on the ground radiating a terrifying imperial pressure, he froze in place as if struck by lightning.

In the next moment.

Thump!

Without any hesitation, this Dao Severing King-level commander's knees buckled, and he knelt heavily before Xu Chen.

“This lowly subordinate was blind and offended the Young Master of the Imperial Clan! Please forgive me, Young Lord!”

As the commander knelt, the two rows of gold-armored guards, who were previously brimming with Killing Intent, all knelt down like falling wheat, burying their heads deep into the white jade floor, not even daring to breathe loudly.

This scene plunged the surrounding crowd, who were waiting to see a joke, into a deathly silence.

Young Master of the Imperial Clan?

That Young Master Xu of the Central State Xu Family who was rumored to have just caused a bloodbath in the Great Xia Dynasty?

Hiss—

Sounds of people sharply inhaling cold air rose one after another across the plaza. Those Sect Masters and Prodigies who were full of disdain just moments ago were now pale with fear, lowering their heads for fear of being remembered by this living ancestor.

Xu Chen ignored the kneeling guards.

With a casual wave of his hand, an invisible force threw open the heavy doors of the Heavenly Ascent Gate.

“Let's go. We'll go in and see what good things this chamber of commerce can produce.”

Leading Gong Yu and accompanied by Hua Jieyu, Xu Chen strode into the venue under the watchful, awe-struck gazes of the crowd.

The interior of the Myriad Treasures Tower's auction hall was essentially a small world expanded by Formations.

In the very center was a white jade platform suspended in mid-air, surrounded by tens of thousands of ordinary seats arranged in a ring. Higher up, near the dome, dozens of independent private booths enveloped in layers of Formations were floating; these were the "Heaven-grade" booths reserved for top-tier figures.

Shopkeeper Qian, already sweating profusely from fear, came out to greet them and tremblingly led Xu Chen's group to the "Heaven-grade Room One" booth, which had the best view and was the most luxurious.

The booth was decorated with extreme luxury; not only was a Spirit Gathering Array constantly operating, but the table was also filled with Top-Grade spirit fruits and immortal brews rarely seen in the outside world.

Xu Chen sat boldly on a large, soft chair made of Vicious Beast skin. Hua Jieyu skillfully walked behind him, extending her fair hands to gently massage his shoulders. Gong Yu sat quietly beside him, like a pure orchid in a deserted valley.

Dong.

A melodious chime of a bell echoed throughout the venue.

The previously noisy auction hall instantly fell silent.

On the white jade platform suspended in mid-air, space distorted slightly. A graceful and sultry figure slowly emerged in everyone's sight.

It was a mature, older-sister type woman wearing a black, slim-fitting dress with a high slit, her figure so perfect that one couldn't look away.

Her wavy black hair was draped casually over her shoulders, and on her fair, delicate nose sat a pair of gold-rimmed glass spectacles that exuded intellectual beauty. Every gesture she made radiated the aura of a queen long accustomed to a high position.

It was none other than the inspector of the Myriad Treasures Tower's main headquarters, Shang Qingdai.

Upon her appearance, the temperature of the entire venue seemed to rise. The breathing of countless male cultivators grew heavy, but given her powerful Early Stage Saint cultivation and the terrifying background of the Myriad Treasures Tower, no one dared to show even a hint of profanity.

Through her gold-rimmed glasses, Shang Qingdai's gaze swept seemingly aimlessly toward the Heaven-grade Room One booth, her lips curling into a nearly imperceptible arc.

The fish was already in the net; next was the time to feast.

“Welcome, Fellow Daoists, to our Myriad Treasures Tower. I am Shang Qingdai, serving as the manager for this auction. Without further ado, let's bring out the first item.”

Shang Qingdai's voice carried a bone-melting magnetism.

She raised her fair hand, and a brocade box beside her slowly opened.

Instantly, an extremely dense fragrance wafted out, even condensing into a multicolored pill cloud phenomenon in mid-air.

“This is the Nine Transformations Youth-Retaining Divine Pill. Rumor has it that it was refined by an Ancient Pill Sovereign using ninety-nine types of top-grade immortal herbs. When taken by a female cultivator, it not only grants eternal youth and ageless beauty but also cleanses the marrow and improves cultivation by a hundred years.”

As soon as Shang Qingdai finished speaking, the venue erupted in excitement.

Especially the female cultivators in attendance; their eyes burst with fervent light. For a woman, the words “eternal youth” held more power than even an extreme dao imperial weapon.

“The starting price is ten thousand catties of Top-Grade Spirit Stones. Each bid must be no less than one thousand catties. Let the bidding begin.”

Shang Qingdai announced with a smile.

This starting price was enough to bankrupt a medium-sized Sect. However, this was merely an appetizer Shang Qingdai used to test that Young Master of the Imperial Clan.

She knew men too well. A wealthy Young Master like Xu Chen, traveling with two top-tier beauties, would find losing Face in front of women most unbearable.

Sure enough, just as Shang Qingdai finished speaking.

Before the big shots of the ancient families could even start raising their paddles.

A lazy and extremely irritating young male voice suddenly drifted out from the Heaven-grade Room One booth.

“One hundred thousand catties of top-grade divine source.”

Boom!

As soon as this bid was made, the entire auction hall felt as if it had been struck by a meteorite, falling into a deathly silence.

Everyone looked toward the Heaven-grade Room One booth as if they were looking at a madman.

top-grade divine source?!

That was a strategic cultivation resource over a hundred times more precious than Top-Grade Spirit Stones! The value of one catty of Divine Source was enough to equal ten thousand catties of Spirit Stones!

And the person in the booth offered one hundred thousand catties of Divine Source right off the bat?

Even Shang Qingdai on the platform was stunned for a moment. Although she had guessed Xu Chen would act, she didn't expect this fat sheep to not only ignore the rules but to flip the table entirely.

One hundred thousand catties of Divine Source for a youth-retaining pill? This markup was already an absurd hundred times or more!

“One hundred thousand catties of Divine Source. Are there any other Fellow Daoists who would like to raise the bid?”

Shang Qingdai suppressed the wild joy in her heart, her voice trembling slightly.

The entire hall was silent.

Raise the bid? Who would dare? Who could afford it? Even if they sold their entire Sect's treasury, they couldn't scrape together that much Divine Source.

“Since there are no other bids, this Nine Transformations Youth-Retaining Divine Pill belongs to the distinguished guest in Heaven-grade Room One.”

Shang Qingdai finalized the deal with a gavel strike and had someone deliver the Divine Pill to the booth.

Inside the booth.

Xu Chen toyed with the Divine Pill that was emitting multicolored pill clouds and casually tossed it to Hua Jieyu, who was massaging his shoulders behind him.

“A reward for you. Eat it like a jellybean.”

Hua Jieyu scrambled to catch the priceless Divine Pill. In her peach blossom eyes, which already seemed to brim with moisture, there was instantly an expression of disbelief and fervent emotion.

“Thank you for the reward, Young Lord! This servant... This servant will definitely serve the Young Lord well tonight...”

Hua Jieyu's voice went soft, and she pressed herself against Xu Chen's back regardless of her image, gently rubbing against him with her proud curves, her eyes so full of longing they almost sparked.

As the Saintess of the Hehuan Sect, she had seen countless men willing to spend a fortune on her. But someone like Xu Chen, who spent one hundred thousand catties of Divine Source just to buy her a “jellybean,” was definitely a first in all of history.