Free Web NovelChapter 229: Chapter 227: The Auction
「Fengsha City, the Four Seas Auction House.」
A massive, traditional-style pavilion stood there, covering an enormous area. Inside, there were enough seats for three thousand people, as well as dozens of luxurious private boxes!
At this moment, the vast plaza in front of the entrance was filled with all sorts of luxurious carriages. There were even a few whose carts were pulled by a type of Spirit Beast Qin Li had never seen before!
The Spirit Beasts were four meters long, a full size larger than ordinary horses. Their bodies were covered in scales, and their faces were ferocious. They exuded a powerful aura; from the looks of it, they possessed at least Earth Level strength!
Many people curiously sized up the Spirit Beasts, their voices buzzing with discussion.
"What family is so ostentatious? To think they can use this kind of Spirit Beast to pull their carriages?"
"Yeah, I’ve never seen this type of Spirit Beast before. It’s astonishing that they can be tamed!"
Just then, someone exclaimed, "This... this must be a Turtle Shell Dragon Horse from Ice Edge, right? Heavens, don’t tell me this event has drawn out even that mysterious great Sect?"
This person’s words immediately triggered a wave of gasps. Ice Edge, the most mysterious Sect among the Seven Great Powers. Legend had it that their Sect was located on the westernmost edge of Profound Island. That place was a true Thousand-Mile Ice Seal, where all sorts of terrifying storms raged day and night. Even experts at the Venerable Realm wouldn’t dare to venture into that place casually, yet it was the base of a Sect. One could only imagine how mysterious and powerful this Sect was.
Having just alighted from their carriage, Qin Li and Shangguan Shiyu overheard this conversation and couldn’t help but exchange a look and smile. Qin Li’s smile was cryptic, while Shangguan Shiyu’s was one of resignation.
At the same time, a thought rose in Qin Li’s mind: ’It seems the Ancient Pill Formula I have is truly a peerless treasure! No wonder Prince Wu warned me again and again that I must be extremely cautious when refining the elixirs from that Pill Formula!’
The terrifying Black Panther accompanying Qin Li also drew a great deal of attention. Even the several Turtle Shell Dragon Horses over there sensed Xiaohai’s aura. They instantly abandoned their previous attitude of holding their heads high and looking down on the sturdy horses around them. One by one, they all knelt on their forelegs, pressed their heads to the ground, and trembled uncontrollably.
This was the result of the vast difference in rank between Spirit Beasts, a pressure far more palpable than that between human Martial Artists!
Xiaohai completely ignored the Turtle Shell Dragon Horses. To a Spirit Beast like it, which was on the verge of breaking through to the Venerable Realm, those Earth Level and Celestial Level Spirit Beasts were nothing but a bunch of trash!
Like master, like beast. The arrogant streak in Xiaohai’s bones was now on full display. With its head held high and chest puffed out, it strode past the crowd with vigorous steps, its panther face completely expressionless.
Only after Qin Li and his group went inside did the people behind them begin to discuss excitedly.
"Were those two people and the panther just now the mysterious and powerful peerless genius from the Qin Family?"
"I think so. Look at that Black Panther—it seems to be the legendary Black Gold Divine Leopard from the forbidden grounds of Profound Island!"
"Heavens, what are this kid’s origins? How could he have connections to the forbidden grounds of Profound Island?"
"Yeah, and haven’t you seen how powerful the Qin Family is now? They even dared to kill people from the Cui Family. They’ve truly risen overnight!"
Just then, a group of people disembarked from the carriages pulled by the Turtle Shell Dragon Horses. Most of them were young—the men handsome and dashing, the women gentle and beautiful. There were also a few elderly-looking men. Regardless of age or gender, they all seemed as if they had just stepped out of an ice cellar, each exuding an unsettlingly cold aura. This aura was almost tangible, and it wasn’t even intentional. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
They all looked toward the retreating figures of Qin Li, Shangguan Shiyu, and Xiaohai, who were about to disappear from view. Without a word, they also slowly walked into the Four Seas Auction House.
Once this group had all gone inside, the crowd outside grew even more excited.
"Look, it really is people from Ice Edge!"
"That’s right, it must be! Look at that chilly aura around them. Just a glance makes me shiver!"
"It seems the Qin Family of Fengsha City is really in the spotlight this time! They gave up one Pill Formula but attracted countless powerful families!"
"Do you think all of the Seven Great Powers will show up?"
"The Cui Family will come too?"
"Why wouldn’t they? I bet they’ll definitely come! And I also heard that some powerful Independent Martial Artists have come here as well!"
"Heavens, besides those great families and sects on Profound Island, there are many legendary Martial Artists with incredible strength. Could they also be interested in getting their hands on this Pill Formula?"
"Who knows? Maybe they’re just here to watch the excitement..."
"..."
The faces of the crowd were alight with excitement as they discussed. At this moment, inside the auction hall, the three thousand seats were almost completely full! Many people looked travel-worn, clear evidence that they had rushed here just to make it in time.
Many people seemed to be familiar with one another, talking and laughing loudly. The vast, spacious auction hall was abuzz with a clamor of voices.
The luxurious private box Qin Li was in was Sky Box Number Thirteen. It had originally been the Qin Family’s private box!
The box was huge, over three hundred square meters, with luxurious and expensive carpets on the floor. The walls were thick and soundproof, reinforced with special metals that could even block the probing of ordinary Martial Artists. This was because some powerful Martial Artists could release their Divine Sense to easily eavesdrop on conversations. The reason the Four Seas Auction House had stood strong for so many years was that its attention to details like these was also first-rate!
Inside the room were the three Qin Haiyang brothers plus Qinling Mountain—the four ancestors of the Qin Family—all sitting together. Over there, Qin Suo sat with a few young Qin Family disciples. Qin Wenxuan, Qin Hanyue, and Qin Xue sat with Qin Li and Shangguan Shiyu. Additionally, a dozen or so other powerful members from various generations of the Qin Family were also in the room, scattered about on soft, comfortable couches, chatting and laughing with excitement on their faces.
Originally, this should have been a moment of humiliation for the Qin Family, as they had finally buckled under immense pressure and put their own treasure up for auction.
If that had been the case, the four Qin Family ancestors certainly wouldn’t be here. The elites from various generations who had reached the Celestial Integration Realm wouldn’t be here either. Even Qin Suo probably wouldn’t be sitting there cheerfully chatting with his kinsmen.
All of this was because of that miraculous guy, Qin Li. No one could have imagined that he would have so many Holy-grade Elixirs in his possession!
Not only did he wipe out that arrogant and domineering group from the Cui Family in one fell swoop, but he also forged alliances with two of the Seven Great Powers and over thirty mid-to-high-level powers, single-handedly laying the foundation for the Qin Family’s ascent.
Therefore, the gazes of almost everyone from the Qin family, when they looked at Qin Li, were filled with a mix of emotions: admiration, worship, and pride. At the same time, they were filled with endless admiration for the Patriarch’s wise decision.
If it had been them, even if they had accepted Qin Li back then, they might not have been able to place such immense trust in him. And without that trust and strong sense of belonging to the family, how could Qin Li have possibly repaid the family so generously? Everyone understood that if Qin Li wanted to establish his own power, it would take him less than a hundred years to surely surpass the current Qin Family!
Qin Hanyue’s heart, in particular, was filled with pride. As she gazed at her son and daughter-in-law, the doting light in her eyes was so intense it almost seemed tangible.
"Shiyu, I was thinking, once the auction here is over and the family is stable, we should take a trip back to the Mortal Realm!" Qin Hanyue said, looking at Shangguan Shiyu with a beaming smile.
Shangguan Shiyu’s face flushed slightly. Being as sharp as she was, she naturally understood what Qin Hanyue meant. She tilted her head to glance at Qin Li beside her, nodded slightly, and then said, "I think, if we have the chance, it would be even better if we could find my parents!"
At the mention of Shangguan Shiyu’s parents, Qin Li also sighed softly. Years ago, Shiyu’s parents had left their family when she was still in swaddling clothes to find a cure for their daughter’s blue skin. More than a decade had passed in a flash, and there had been no news. In fact, many people believed they must have met with misfortune; otherwise, how could there have been not even a single message from them?
Qin Hanyue nodded slightly. The mention of parents made her think of her own birth parents, and she couldn’t help but say with a flood of emotion, "That would be good too. As long as there is even a sliver of hope, we must find Shangguan and his wife!"
Back then, Qin Hanyue had naturally known Shangguan Shiyu’s parents, and she and Shangguan Shiyu’s mother, Dongfang Yu, had been on very good terms.
At that moment, a man walked out onto the stage below. He looked to be in his forties, tall and distinguished, and his posture exuded an air of great confidence.
"The Sect Leader of the Four Seas Sect, Li Sihai. He’s also a disciple of the Li Family from Fengsha City. Seventy years ago, he left his family to establish the Four Seas Sect, and then he opened this Four Seas Auction House. It’s said he has already reached the Celestial Integration Realm."
Qin Wenxuan explained softly from the side. Qin Li watched and nodded slightly. Judging by his appearance and demeanor, the man was clearly very capable.
"Esteemed heroes from all the powers of Profound Island, if I could have your attention, please. I am Li Sihai, the owner of the Four Seas Auction House and also the Sect Leader of the humble Four Seas Sect. It is an honor to greet you all here!"
As Li Sihai spoke, he stood on the stage and clasped his fist to the crowd below. "Today is the most glorious day for the Four Seas Auction House since its founding! The Four Great Families, the Three Great Sects, and hundreds of other great families and sects from all over Profound Island have all gathered in one place. I, Li Sihai, am deeply honored to serve as your auctioneer today!"
The atmosphere in the Qin Family’s private box tightened slightly. ’The Cui Family... they really did send people!’
This was both expected and somewhat unexpected. Everyone in the Qin Family had anticipated that the Cui Family would send someone. However, they had thought that after losing so much face, even if the Cui Family was pressured by the Lin Family and the Thousand Mechanism Sect not to retaliate openly, they would still make moves behind the scenes. At the very least, they would show up at the Qin Family’s door to issue a warning.
Yet, they had arrived and made no move at all. ’Could it be that the ever-despotic Cui Family has had a change of heart this time?’
Everyone believed that possibility was minuscule. The truth would likely only be revealed after the Pill Formula had found its owner.
