156: Chapter 156: I didn’t know it, it exploded with a bang!
Man Dali leaned over and gave Jiang Xuan a thumbs up, "Boss, it's really you. You can make a major power submit so easily."
Jiang Xuan hadn't expected it either. Ordinary Cultivators were one thing, but the Nangong Family was the top power in Xuan Province. For them to curry favor so eagerly without even meeting him seemed a bit too rash.
How could they know that ever since their Family's Saint, Nangong Aotian, returned from the Yao Race, he had completely changed, no longer acting like he was the best in the world.
He told the Family about his experience with the Yao Race. The Nangong Clan secretly sighed, realizing the Yao Race had produced a Prodigy like the Demon Ancestor. Their own Family Saint couldn't even withstand a single move. With that, what was the point of competing in the future?
So, they decided to find a powerful backer. Looking across the entire Human Race's Nine Provinces, the only one who could contend with the Demon Ancestor was this Young Emperor Jiang Xuan.
It just so happened that Jiang Xuan was passing through Qing Province, so they prepared a grand gift, offering both fame and profit, to express the Nangong Family's sincerity.
If Jiang Xuan knew their thoughts, he would surely laugh out loud. What kind of expression would the Nangong Family have if they knew the Demon Ancestor was Jiang Xuan's Clone?
On the auction stage, Nangong Zhenhai listened expressionlessly to the discussions below, his gaze constantly sweeping across the crowd, trying to find if Jiang Xuan was present.
After a long while, Nangong Zhenhai shook his head in disappointment. Although everyone wore masks, based on their aura, none resembled him. He also didn't dare to use his Divine Sense to investigate; what if Jiang Xuan was truly there, wouldn't that displease him?
Thinking of this, a surge of anger rose in his heart, "Damn it, which bastard set this ridiculous rule of wearing masks to enter the city!"
At the same time, in the Inner Courtyard of the Nangong Family's Patriarch, a refined man suddenly sneezed, "Who's cursing me?"
..."Next, the auction begins. The first item is a Great Saint Weapon refined by our Clan's King Rank Artifact Refining Great Master, Elder Feng Zhu — the Primordial Sky-Shattering Spear. Forged from Primordial Crystals, it possesses immense power and can pierce through the sky!"
As soon as the words fell, the crowd instantly gasped in surprise, "It's a weapon refined by Great Master Feng Zhu! The first item is such a grand gesture. The Nangong Family really went all out to curry favor with the Young Emperor."
"That's right, Great Master Feng Zhu is the highest-ranked Artifact Refining Great Master in Qing Province. The weapons he refines are incredibly precious, yet they're being put up for auction just like this."
Jiang Xuan looked at the dark long spear being brought out from the back, a hint of admiration in his eyes. Although he didn't understand Artifact Refining, judging from the Qi emanating from the spear, it was a fine weapon.
"The Primordial Sky-Shattering Spear, starting bid, one hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones. Each increment must not be less than fifty thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones. The auction now begins."
"Clang!" With a strike of the gavel, the auction officially started.
"One hundred fifty thousand!"
"Two hundred thousand!"
"Four hundred thousand!"
...As Nangong Zhenhai's auction gavel fell, bids instantly rang out. In no time, the price had risen to five hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones.
In the private room on the third floor, Man Dali's eyes were filled with shock. This was his first time attending an auction, and it was simply burning money.
Jiang Xuan looked at his surprised expression, feeling helpless. It seemed this habit couldn't be changed. Oh well, if he changed, he wouldn't be Dali.
He recalled the cold demeanor Dali had that day in the Thundercloud Mountains of Xuan Province, facing the two Saint Kings of the Corpse Puppet Holy Sect; he was like a completely different person.
Jiang Xuan's expression turned grim, and he coldly glanced at Man Dali's chest, "The dead should enter Reincarnation early. If they dare to stir up trouble, their end will be Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!"
"Eight hundred thousand!" A bid interrupted Jiang Xuan's thoughts.
In such a short time, the price had already reached eight hundred thousand. However, fewer and fewer people were bidding. It was only the first round, so there was no need to be so aggressive.
"One million! I am Zang Yin, the Saint of the Corpse Puppet Holy Sect from Ling Province. Heh heh, I want this Primordial Sky-Shattering Spear. It will serve perfectly as a weapon for my Saint Puppet."
In private room number six on the third floor, a sinister voice echoed through the hall. A man wearing a fox mask looked down at the crowd, his eyes gleaming with a cold light, as if looking at corpses. His pale, slender fingers slowly twisted a ring on his hand, forming a stark contrast with his dark nails.
The crowd instantly shivered. So it was the Corpse Puppet Holy Sect. No wonder it was so eerie. They heard that they fought by controlling corpses and loved to turn corpses into Puppets. Their methods were extremely ruthless. Those who offended them would have their bodies tormented, finding no peace even after death.
For a moment, the entire auction house was silent; no one was bidding anymore.
Nangong Zhenhai saw this and, receiving no response, raised his auction gavel and swung it.
"Bang! One million, once."
"One million, twice!"
"One million, thri..."
"I bid two million!"
Just as Nangong Zhenhai was about to strike the final blow of his gavel, Dali's voice suddenly rang out.
The crowd collectively looked up, only to see Dali glaring unhappily at Zang Yin.
"What's going on? Someone actually isn't giving the Corpse Puppet Holy Sect Face. Doesn't he fear retaliation?"
"Are you blind? Didn't you see that's also a VIP private room? And the number is one. With such strength, do you think he's an ordinary person?"
"Heh heh, yes, yes, now there's a good show to watch."
Zang Yin looked at Man Dali with a grim expression, stood up, and said in a chilling tone, "Your Excellency, are you not giving my Corpse Puppet Holy Sect Face?"
Man Dali was furious. It was the two Old Ancestors of this guy's Sect who almost killed him back then. He hadn't found a chance for revenge yet, and now some damn Saint popped up.
"Hmph! I just don't like you. What's wrong? Only you can bid, but we can't? If you have the guts, keep going. If not, scram!"
Hearing this, Zang Yin suddenly laughed, an exceptionally sinister laugh. "Heh heh, very well, this item is yours. Your Excellency, you must keep it safe."
Zang Yin had already condemned Man Dali to death in his heart. "Heh heh, who doesn't avoid my Corpse Puppet Holy Sect? Since you've chosen to oppose me, no matter who you are, this Saint will refine you into a Corpse Puppet, never to reincarnate!"
A low, slow laugh sounded as Zang Yin slowly sat back down, his gaze fixed on Man Dali. Beneath his mask, his effeminate, pale Face became exceptionally twisted.
"I wonder who is in private room number one, to not even put the Corpse Puppet Holy Sect in his eyes."
"Don't rush. Zang Yin won't just let this go. There will definitely be a big battle outside the city. Then we'll know."
In private room number two, the woman who helped Jiang Xuan pay the entrance fee at the city gate looked towards Zang Yin's position, her gaze beneath the mask filled with disdain.
"Bang!!"
Just as people thought a big battle would occur outside the city tonight, an explosion suddenly rang out!
On the third floor, in private room number six, Zang Yin's expression suddenly turned to terror, "No..."
Just as he was about to speak, his entire being instantly turned into a cloud of blood mist! Specks of blood splattered across the nearby table, walls, and floor; it was everywhere.
The sudden scene caused the crowd to fall silent. They hadn't even reacted, each one stunned, looking at the blood-splattered private room, unmoving.
Nangong Zhenhai's Face changed drastically. Someone had committed murder right in front of him, and he hadn't even noticed it. One must know, he was a Great Saint expert. If even he hadn't detected it, how powerful must the perpetrator be... In private room number one, Jiang Xuan glanced indifferently at Zang Yin, who was now just a cloud of blood mist with no corpse remaining, then slowly picked up his wine cup and drank it all.