58: Chapter 58 The Red-Clad Beautiful Swordswoman

In the top-floor office of Hongwu Mall, Su Qingyue and Hong Wuliang looked at each other, both seeing a deep sense of disbelief in the other's eyes.

Hadn't Lin Muyang just changed classes a few days ago?

How did he suddenly become so strong? It was so strong it defied logic!

"The speed of that Elf Priest is astonishing," Su Qingyue's cold voice carried a hint of undisguised shock. "I'm afraid she's not much slower than my own regular speed."

As a high-level professional, she was extremely confident in her judgment. Yet it was precisely this confidence that made it even more inconceivable. How could an Elf who had only been summoned for a short time possess such terrifying speed?

"Could it be some kind of extreme speed-type talent?" Hong Wuliang stroked his chin, his brow furrowed, equally bewildered.

But even he felt this guess was outrageous. An Elf Priest whose talent wasn't for enhanced healing or light magic, but for speed? Who would believe that? It was practically challenging the common sense of the professional system!

However, Hong Wuliang didn't have much time to delve into the mystery of Lin Muyang's strength right now. His gaze fell to the street below, where the old man frozen into a sculpture by the pale golden light—Li Zhengshan—was still stuck in place.

Lin Muyang and the mysterious "backer" behind him might not care about the Zhao family from Tianhai City behind Li Zhengshan, but Hong Wuliang could not! He still had to do business in Zhongnan City, and a local power like the Zhao family was not someone he could easily afford to offend.

"No, I have to go de-escalate the situation." Hong Wuliang sighed, said "excuse me" to Su Qingyue, and hurried downstairs.

He walked quickly to the side of Li Zhengshan, who was still enveloped in golden light. He first cautiously scanned the surrounding air, then cupped his fists respectfully toward the void, his tone carrying a bit of politeness and negotiation:

"Senior, this junior is Hong Wuliang, the owner of this mall. You've vented your anger enough; could I ask you to show some mercy and release the restriction on Senior Li?" He paused, attempting to offer some compensation. "In the future, for any transactions Little Friend Lin makes in my mall, I will certainly provide the maximum possible discount. What do you think?"

Calm on the surface, Hong Wuliang's heart was actually pounding. He had no idea where this "Senior" was or who they were. But the means they had displayed—whether it was the bizarre balding and public humiliation earlier, or easily freezing a powerhouse over Level 100 now—clearly indicated that this was an existence that Hong Wuliang, and indeed the entire Zhongnan City, could not afford to provoke!

At this moment, Lin Muyang, already safely seated in a VIP room within the auction hall and protected by a magical barrier, clearly "heard" Hong Wuliang's shout—this was a special perception brought by his Aura ability.

"Since Boss Hong has put it that way, I'll give him some face," Lin Muyang thought. He hadn't intended to keep the old man frozen forever; he just wanted to give him a severe lesson.

Thus, with a slight thought, he remotely deactivated the Astral Stasis Aura.

On the street below, the tangible pale golden light receded rapidly like a tide, vanishing into nothingness.

Li Zhengshan felt his whole body lighten as that terrifying sense of stagnation vanished instantly, and he regained control of his body. He subconsciously moved his somewhat stiff joints. His old face flushed red and then turned pale, finally settling into an extreme shade of ashen green.

Today, he had truly lost all face! To be humiliated and frozen like that in front of everyone was easily the biggest stain on his professional career!

However, as angry as he was, he didn't dare to lash out at all. The opponent could suppress him so easily, meaning their strength was definitely far above his. This kind of enemy, with an unknown background and unfathomable strength, was the most terrifying. He could only force down all his rage and humiliation.

"...Thank you for your help, Boss Hong." Li Zhengshan took a deep breath, barely managed to cup his fists to Hong Wuliang, and thanked him in a dry voice. He had to acknowledge this favor.

Then, with a grim face, he strode to Zhao Kai, who was still lying on the ground pretending to be dead but actually shivering. Like picking up a chick, he unceremoniously grabbed him.

"Useless trash, haven't you embarrassed us enough? Let's go!" He growled. Ignoring Zhao Kai's injuries and the filth on him, he dragged him straight into Hongwu Mall.

He still had to attend the auction. The main purpose of this trip to Zhongnan City hadn't been achieved yet, and he couldn't give up halfway because of this little accident. Whether it was purchasing suitable Platinum equipment for Zhao Kai or bidding for that finale swordsman source skill book, he had to try.

As for Zhao Kai's injuries... he carried healing medicine produced by high-level alchemists from Tianhai City. The effects were significant; after taking it, these superficial wounds would heal quickly and wouldn't interfere much with their subsequent actions.

...

Inside the auction hall, it gradually became lively.

People entered one after another and found their seats. Shen Muyao followed the flow of people into the hall and sat in an inconspicuous spot, her expression still somewhat dazed as her mind replayed the scene on the street from earlier.

Soon, her teammate, the lively and slightly Chubby female warrior, found her as well. She plopped down beside her, her face filled with uncontrollable excitement and gossip, leaning in to whisper:

"Mu Yao! Mu Yao! I heard that just now at the entrance, Lin Muyang released his Elf summon and gave that incredibly arrogant Zhao family genius from Tianhai City a brutal beating? Is it true? Quick, tell me the details!"

"Yes." Shen Muyao only gave a slight nod, confirming the rumors, but didn't say much else. Her mood was quite complicated.

"My god... He's actually become this powerful..." Having received confirmation, the Chubby female warrior couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement, her eyes full of wonder.

She still remembered how she had privately thought it was stupid for Lin Muyang to refuse to party with Shen Muyao. Looking at it now, she was the stupid one! Lin Muyang clearly had better options and stronger support; his growth speed was soaring!

"I just wonder which great god is carrying him to level up? This efficiency is just terrifying!" the female warrior muttered softly, filled with curiosity.

Meanwhile, in a VIP room on the second floor of the auction hall.

Li Zhengshan sat down with a dark expression, accompanied by Zhao Kai, who had taken the healing medicine and seen the bruises on his face fade significantly, though his spirit remained withered. Li Zhengshan casually set up a simple soundproofing barrier to prevent their conversation from being overheard.

Around the entire auction hall, twelve similar VIP rooms were arranged. At this moment, almost all of these rooms were lit up, indicating they were occupied.

Those who could sit in these rooms were either of noble status or possessed immense wealth. Some were local prominent families and leaders of Zhongnan City; others, like Li Zhengshan's group, were powerful outsiders who had come from Tianhai City or other large cities. Most of their goals were clear and identical—the finale item, the swordsman source skill book!

Among these predatory forces, the financial power of the Zhao family behind Zhao Kai could probably only be considered lower-middle tier.

Right now, no matter what the buyers in these VIP rooms were aiming for, they were all more or less nervous, fearing that the item they wanted would be snatched away by some blind fool or a rival with even greater wealth.

However, in all these VIP rooms, Lin Muyang was likely the most relaxed and at ease.

He sat leisurely on a comfortable, wide sofa, in a posture of complete relaxation and enjoyment.

Elabess sat quietly to his left, her slender jade hands massaging his shoulders with moderate pressure and gentle movements, helping him relax.

Meanwhile, the Elf Maiden Lilia had been ordered by him to "change classes" into a temporary masseuse. Sitting on his right, she had a reluctant expression and her small mouth was pouted high. Using her little fists, which possessed zero technique, she thumped Lin Muyang's other shoulder every now and then.

"Oh, Brother Lin Muyang, I am a noble Elf Princess, not your little maidservant!" Lilia complained softly, her large eyes full of grievance and depression.

"Yes, yes, yes, Princess Highness, then please just condescend a little bit." Lin Muyang closed his eyes, enjoying the comfort, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

As for the low-level Platinum equipment appearing in the first half of the auction, Lin Muyang had absolutely zero interest. Most of those things were what he had sold to Hong Wuliang in the first place; how could he spend money to buy them back?

His attention was mainly on the middle and latter stages of the auction. According to custom, that was when some special and rare items would appear—perhaps materials, scrolls, or some ancient artifacts of unknown use. Maybe there would be something that caught his eye.

Regarding this, Lin Muyang's mindset was very relaxed, one could even say he was full of confidence.

For no other reason than the fact that he was currently carrying a massive fortune of over 155 billion Magic Crystals! This was a terrifying amount of wealth that countless small and medium-sized factions could only hope to see!

He knew there were definitely people richer than him in the hall—those ancient great families and merchant guilds with unfathomable foundations.

However, absolutely no one could match his speed of making money!

In just half an afternoon, by turning on his Aura and casually coasting through a high-difficulty Dungeon, over 150 billion Magic Crystals had easily fallen into his hands. This terrifying efficiency was something no one would believe if told.

Supported by this absolute financial power, Lin Muyang's spending philosophy had also become extremely domineering. In his eyes, money was truly just a string of numbers, a tool to help him become stronger faster.

As long as he could secure that swordsman source skill book, let alone tens of billions, even if it were a hundred billion, he would throw it out without hesitation!

And other competitors, even if their wealth was equal to or slightly higher than his, might not have his boldness and determination to "treat money like dirt"! After all, their money didn't just blow in with the wind; they had too many things to weigh and consider.

...

Right next to Lin Muyang's VIP room.

A beautiful female swordsman dressed in fiery red clothes, with a tall and graceful figure, was sitting quietly on a sofa, her eyes slightly closed as if she were conserving her energy.

Like Lin Muyang, she had no interest whatsoever in the common goods of the first half of the auction.

She had traveled thousands of miles to Zhongnan City with only one goal: the swordsman source skill book that was about to appear as the finale!

This beautiful swordsman looked to be about twenty years old, with exquisite beauty. Even more striking was the sharp, heroic Aura emanating from between her sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes. If someone with broad knowledge were here to examine her features closely, they might discover that her brow actually bore a subtle resemblance to that world-renowned powerhouse known as the "Guardian Sword Saint" of the Xia Kingdom...