City Lord's Mansion, Murong Chong

On the auction stage.

After hearing the complaints from the crowd below, the Auctioneer smiled awkwardly and said, "What everyone said is right, this broken sword is indeed just a fragment, but since it can be put up for auction, it naturally has its mysteries."

Clearing his throat, the Auctioneer loudly declared, "This broken sword fragment is one-third of the original sword body, and it contains the Great River Sword Intent of the Danhu Realm!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd immediately fell silent.

Great River Sword Intent of the Danhu Realm?!

This is a good item!

Seeing that everyone's spirits were lifted, the Auctioneer quickly added, "As long as you bid for this broken sword fragment and study it, you can obtain the Great River Sword Intent of the Danhu Realm."

"However..."

"However, what?" someone asked.

"However... to cultivate the sword intent within it, one must first obtain the other two broken sword fragments," the Auctioneer said, looking embarrassed.

"The three broken sword fragments complement each other and cannot be cultivated in a leapfrog manner. Only by obtaining the complete sword body can one cultivate step by step, thereby cultivating the Great River Sword Intent to the perfected state of the Danhu Realm."

Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately became greatly disappointed.

They had initially thought that by obtaining this single broken sword fragment, they could directly obtain the Great River Sword Intent of the Danhu Realm. It turned out that they still needed the other two fragments as stepping stones.

The cultivation world is so vast; trying to find the other two fragments is like searching for a needle in a haystack!

In other words...

This broken sword fragment before them was like a chicken rib—a pity to discard, but useless to keep.

At this moment, someone sneered and said, "I have attended your Golden Jade Tower auctions, big and small, for over a dozen times, and every time I attend, I see this broken sword fragment appear."

"Auctioneer, have you also realized that this fragment is useless, which is why you are so eager to get rid of it? Otherwise, it will be stuck in your hands!"

"That's not what this fellow cultivator said, the broken sword fragment still has some use," the Auctioneer retorted.

However, his tone was rather weak, clearly indicating a lack of confidence.

After all, after holding more than a dozen auctions consecutively, this broken sword fragment had never been sold, which had greatly dampened his self-confidence.

And the crowd below scoffed at the Auctioneer's words.

In fact, many people were even planning to leave directly.

Seeing this, the Auctioneer gave a bitter smile, feeling that the broken sword fragment in his hand would likely go unsold again today.

Xiao Ming, who was in a secluded spot, however, became excited.

This third broken sword fragment was useless to others, but for him, it was of great benefit!

He had previously obtained two broken sword fragments and had cultivated the Great River Sword Intent to the perfected state of the Yuangang Realm. As long as he bid for this one, he would naturally be able to elevate his sword intent to the Danhu Realm.

By then, his strength would undoubtedly reach a higher level!

"Thinking about it carefully, I only came to Golden Jade Tower to sell some items, and as a result, I saw the third broken sword fragment. And looking at the current situation, there's a very high chance I can pick it up for a bargain," Xiao Ming mused.

"This kind of bargain-hunting usually only happens to those Protagonists of Destiny, or people with great opportunities."

"From this perspective, my opportunities are already on par with ordinary geniuses. Hmm, this must be the overflowing luck of Hu Yunxi, bringing me good fortune!"

While thinking, Xiao Ming rubbed his fists together.

He was ready to take down the broken sword fragment in one fell swoop!

Just as Xiao Ming was about to make his move.

In another distant location, a powerful Grey-robed Old Man, who had cultivated to the early Danhu Realm, was also looking at the broken sword fragment on the stage with a fervent gaze.

Next to the old man was a young man dressed in luxurious robes, with an arrogant expression.

The young man was thirteen or fourteen years old, and his Cultivation Level was not high, only the Yuangang Realm. But the Grey-robed Old Man faced the young man with utmost humility.

"Young Master, this old servant desires this broken sword fragment," the Grey-robed Old Man said in a low voice, "If no one competes with us later, then so be it. If anyone dares to cause trouble, please help me, Young Master."

"You want this broken fragment?" The young man was slightly startled and said in surprise, "Although this broken fragment contains sword intent, it still requires the other two fragments as assistance to cultivate what's inside."

"You wouldn't have... obtained the other broken sword fragments, would you?"

After speaking, the young man looked at the Grey-robed Old Man with a strange expression.

The Grey-robed Old Man quickly explained, "Young Master misunderstands, how could this old servant have any broken sword fragments? The reason I want to bid for this one is to reference the sword intent within it, to hone my own sword momentum."

"So that's how it is," the young man nodded and said indifferently, "Don't worry, if anyone dares to cause trouble, this Young Master will kill him!"

"Thank you, Young Master." The Grey-robed Old Man quickly bowed his head in gratitude.

On the high platform.

The Auctioneer wasted no more words and directly said, "The starting price for the broken sword fragment is eight thousand mid-grade primeval stones, with each bid not less than five hundred. Please make your bids!"

After the sound spread, the entire venue was silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Just as the Auctioneer was in an extremely awkward situation, a hoarse voice suddenly rang out, "I bid eight thousand five hundred!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was as if a huge rock had been thrown into a calm lake, causing everyone to turn their heads and look.

It was a Grey-robed Old Man who had called out the price.

"Someone actually made a bid..." someone exclaimed.

"Yeah, I didn't expect there to be a sucker."

"He must be crazy, right? Spending over eight thousand for a useless broken fragment? Did this old man have a stroke?"

"Shh, be careful with your words, be careful!" A strong cultivator nearby quickly whispered to his companion, "Didn't you see that next to the Grey-robed Old Man, there's also a lavishly dressed young man sitting there?"

"So what? Look at that young man's arrogant demeanor, his face full of insolence, as if his eyes are on the top of his head!"

"Shh! That young man is named Murong Chong, the most beloved youngest son of Qingfeng City Lord Murong Ce! If you speak of him like that, be careful not to invite trouble!"

Upon hearing this, the companion immediately shut his mouth.

Qingfeng City Lord's Mansion!

That was a two-star power that could rival the Spirit Sword Sect, a behemoth that ordinary cultivators couldn't afford to offend!

At this moment.

Others also recognized Murong Chong's identity, and one by one, they kept silent, fearing to invite disaster.

Murong Chong swept his gaze around with an extremely arrogant and disdainful look. Seeing that everyone around him was as silent as cicadas in winter, the disdain on his face grew even stronger.

Relying on the City Lord's Mansion and being greatly favored by his father, he had known since childhood that his status was unmatched.

In Qingfeng City, he was a little tyrant who could do whatever he wanted, whose word was law, and whom no one dared to provoke!

"Even if someone dared to be interested in the fragment, under my pressure, they've all chickened out by now," Murong Chong sneered.

However.

Just as Murong Chong thought the broken sword fragment was about to be his and no one dared to provoke him.

A discordant voice suddenly rang out,

"I bid nine thousand!"