33: Chapter 33 Auction and Bloodbath

Three days later, the Baibao Pavilion auction took place.

Almost all the prominent figures in Yunyang City had arrived.

Xu Changkun and Huo Linger sat in the private box of the Yanhuo Chamber of Commerce.

Huo Linger was wearing a water-red dress today; she sat close to Xu Changkun, reached out her hand quietly, and interlocked her fingers with his.

Half an hour later, it was time for the millennium cold jade marrow to be auctioned.

"The millennium cold jade marrow, one of the main ingredients for the foundation establishment pill, starts at a bid of one thousand low-grade spirit stones, with each increment being no less than one hundred."

As soon as the voice fell, someone shouted a bid.

"One thousand one hundred!"

"One thousand five hundred!"

The price climbed rapidly. Xu Changkun was in no rush to make a move, watching coldly from the sidelines.

Soon, the price broke through two thousand, and only three private boxes remained in competition.

"Two thousand three hundred!" A cold, sinister voice came from the opposite private box.

Huo Linger's expression changed slightly: "It's people from the Blood Wolf Gang."

Xu Changkun nodded and finally spoke: "Two thousand five hundred."

"Two thousand seven hundred!"

"Three thousand." Xu Changkun's tone was flat.

The entire venue was in an uproar. The normal price for the millennium cold jade marrow was only around two thousand five hundred; three thousand was already a significant premium.

The opposite private box was silent for a moment, then immediately raised the bid: "Three thousand one hundred!"

It was clear that the opponent's intention was to make Xu Changkun bleed, even if they couldn't win the bid.

Xu Changkun said directly: "Four thousand."

The entire auction house went quiet. Four thousand low-grade spirit stones were enough to buy two decent low-grade magical artifacts.

"Congratulations to this fellow daoist, the millennium cold jade marrow is yours!"

Half an hour later, the auction ended.

Just as Xu Changkun and Huo Linger walked out of the Baibao Pavilion, they were surrounded by a group of people.

"Xu Changkun, right?" The one-eyed man leading them grinned. "Our gang leader would like to invite you over for a cup of tea."

Huo Linger stepped forward and said coldly: "Cyclops, this is Yunyang City, not a place for your Blood Wolf Gang to run wild!"

The Cyclops sneered: "Miss Huo, this matter has nothing to do with you. We only want this brat."

His subordinates behind him drew their weapons, locking their aura onto Xu Changkun.

Xu Changkun pulled Huo Linger behind him and said indifferently: "What if I don't go?"

"You won't go?" The Cyclops grinned hideously. "Then don't blame us for being impolite!"

Before his words had even faded, Xu Changkun moved.

A flash of crimson sword qi vanished in an instant; the Cyclops hadn't even seen the movement before a bloody hole appeared in his chest.

He widened his eyes, looked down in disbelief, and then crashed to the ground.

"Kill!" The remaining members of the Blood Wolf Gang were both shocked and furious, rushing forward all at once.

Xu Changkun pointed his fingers like a sword, and sword qi crisscrossed the air. These underlings couldn't withstand a single blow from him; screams rang out one after another as they fell in droves.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" someone shouted.

The remaining members of the Blood Wolf Gang fled in a panic.

Xu Changkun did not pursue them. More than twenty corpses lay on the ground, most of them killed by him.

Huo Linger looked at his back, her eyes shining with brilliance.

Meanwhile, Huo Lie led a team to raid three of the Blood Wolf Gang's properties—a gambling den, a brothel, and an underground money house.

By the time Xu Changkun and Huo Linger arrived, the battle was already nearing its end.

The deputy leader of the Blood Wolf Gang had his right arm severed by a single slash from Huo Lie and was captured alive while screaming.

"Dad!" Huo Linger ran over.

Huo Lie was wounded, but his spirits were high: "Linger, how was it on your side?"

"The Blood Wolf Gang ambushed us, but were beaten back by the senior." Huo Linger briefly recounted what had happened.

Huo Lie looked at Xu Changkun and cupped his hands: "Fellow Daoist Xu, I owe you another favor."

"It was just a small effort," said Xu Changkun.

A fierce look flashed in Huo Lie's eyes: "In for a penny, in for a pound! Let's wipe out their lair tonight!"

He looked at Xu Changkun: "Would Fellow Daoist Xu be willing to lend me a hand? After it's done, we'll split the Blood Wolf Gang's assets fifty-fifty."

Xu Changkun nodded: "That's acceptable."

Huo Lie was overjoyed: "Good! Gather the men and let's set off!"

In the dead of night, at the Blood Wolf Gang's main headquarters.

In the main hall, Blood Wolf's face was livid. He had just received news that three properties in the west of the city had been destroyed, the deputy leader had been captured, and the men sent to ambush and kill Xu Changkun had been completely wiped out.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!" He smashed a teacup in a fit of rage.

The several hall masters below trembled in fear, not daring to speak.

"Leader, the Yanhuo Chamber of Commerce side... I'm afraid they won't let this go," one hall master said cautiously.

A fierce light flashed in Blood Wolf's eyes: "If they dare to come, I'll make sure they never return! Pass down the order: gather all the brothers and defend the main headquarters!"

As soon as the words fell, shouts of battle came from outside.

"Leader! It's bad! The Yanhuo Chamber of Commerce has broken in!"

Blood Wolf stood up abruptly: "What? So fast?"

He grabbed a ghost-head broadsword and rushed out of the hall.

The front courtyard of the main headquarters was already in chaos. People from the Yanhuo Chamber of Commerce flooded in like a tide, killing whoever they saw.

"Huo Lie!" Blood Wolf roared and lunged forward with his blade.

The two fought together. Blade qi collided, and sparks flew everywhere.

Blood Wolf was at Qi Refining Level 9, his cultivation a cut above Huo Lie's, but Huo Lie's blade technique was seasoned and experienced, so they were evenly matched for the time being.

Xu Changkun did not intervene, instead clearing out the surrounding fodder.

Soon, Huo Lie gradually fell into a disadvantage. Blood Wolf's ghost-head broadsword was powerful and heavy; every strike made Huo Lie's arms go numb.

"Dad!" Huo Linger was anxious.

Xu Changkun pointed his finger, and a crimson sword qi slashed towards Blood Wolf's heart from behind.

Blood Wolf hurriedly dodged; the sword qi grazed his shoulder, drawing a spray of blood.

"Despicable!" Blood Wolf cursed angrily.

Huo Lie took the opportunity to slash out, opening a wound on his chest.

Blood Wolf stumbled back, his expression ferocious: "Ganging up on someone, what kind of skill is that!"

Xu Changkun said indifferently: "When you were trying to kill me, why didn't you talk about ganging up on someone?"

Blood Wolf gritted his teeth: "Brat, I've remembered you! I will definitely avenge today's grudge in the future!"

"You have no future." Xu Changkun's eyes turned cold, and he slashed out with his fingers.

Blood Wolf raised his blade to block, but the sword qi was overwhelming; after knocking away the ghost-head broadsword, it continued on unabated and severed his right arm.

"Ah—!" Blood Wolf screamed.

Huo Lie followed up with a slash, cutting off his head.

With the leader dead, the remaining members of the Blood Wolf Gang completely collapsed, either fleeing or surrendering.

The battle ended quickly, and Huo Lie had people count the spoils of war.

The Blood Wolf Gang had operated for many years and had accumulated considerable wealth. There were tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones alone, as well as many mid-grade spirit stones, medicinal pills...

Xu Changkun was very calm; he cared more about the Blood Wolf Gang's territory and influence. By taking these, he would have a foundation in Yunyang City.

Returning to the main hall, Huo Lie had already finished the count.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, according to our agreement, I'll split these spoils with you fifty-fifty." Huo Lie handed over a storage bag. "In addition, how about we each take half of the Blood Wolf Gang's territory?"

Xu Changkun took the storage bag and nodded: "That's acceptable."

Huo Lie smiled: "From now on, Yunyang City will be the territory of your family and mine."

Huo Linger listened from the side, her eyes sparkling.

She looked at Xu Changkun, calculating in her heart, how many more secrets did this guy have? High cultivation, strong combat power, and decisive in killing; he didn't seem like an ordinary rogue cultivator at all.

But it didn't matter; there would be plenty of time, and she would eventually dig out all his secrets bit by bit.

Thinking of this, the smile on the corners of her lips deepened.