by Shian Jeen
A strange atmosphere filled the auction hall.
Xiang Mingzhi’s expression was extremely ugly, fury exploded in his eyes akin to a fierce beast on the verge of going berserk.
“Huwang-Xiao-long.” Each syllable came out with much difficulty. The temperature in private room number eight plummeted sharply.
“Young Lord, should we, forget it?” One of the old men behind him tried to persuade him.
“How many more Xuanwu coins do we have?” Xiang Mingzhi asked after taking a deep breath. He had two objectives in attending this Black Warrior City auction; one of them was the True Dragon King’s beast cores and the other was none other than the sacred grade immortal spirit stone.
“Deducting the items we bought earlier, we have a little more than forty-six billion,” The other old man answered, “but if we insist to buy the True Dragon King’s beast core, I’m afraid we won’t have enough to acquire the sacred grade immortal spirit stone.”
Xiang Mingzhi’s face was extremely gloomy.
Coming to the Black Warrior City this time, they had brought more than fifty billion with them. Initially, before they set off, he had assumed that fifty billion was more than enough to complete his two objectives; acquiring both the True Dragon King’s beast cores as well as the sacred grade immortal spirit stone. Yet, he didn’t expect to run into this situation.
That Huwang Xiao was doing this on purpose, or else only those with their brain damaged by crashing into a block of tofu would take out thirty billion to buy the True Dragon King’s beast cores.
“Private room number six has bid thirty billion, would anyone else like to offer a higher price?” The auctioneer’s voice rang in the auction hall.
Hesitation flashed across Xiang Mingzhi’s face. He was unresigned, yet he could only give up in the end. Finally, Huwang Xiao successfully bid for the True Dragon King's beast cores with an earth-shattering exorbitant price.
Witnessing this, the people in the auction hall were still trying to recover from having their views toward money shattered, shaking their heads and sighing.
Some Grand Elders and Patriarchs found it hard to comprehend why Huwang Xiao would spend thirty billion to buy beast cores that were worth no more than two billion at most.
“Has the Black Warrior Institute Principal gone mad? Or is this disciple of his cuckoo? Even he if wanted to irk the Azure Dragon Institute’s people, there’s no need to throw out thirty billion!” Some experts were clamoring through gritted teeth.
Subsequently, several items were auctioned off.
Despite the bidding war being just as fierce, none of the items managed to fetch the inconceivable price that the True Dragon King’s beast cores did, falling into a more acceptable price range for everyone.
“, we’re bringing out this auction’s anchor treasure, a sacred grade immortal spirit stone.” Close to the end, the auctioneer raised his voice, letting it boom throughout the entire auction hall.
The auctioneer’s announcement roused a great reaction from the crowd below, everyone looked like they were injected with chicken blood, their eyes widened and their breathing grew heavy.
Sacred grade immortal spirit stone!
The first piece to be auctioned in tens of thousands of years.
When the Black Warrior Auction House appraiser carried the sacred grade immortal spirit stone with both hands onto the auction stage, everyone sitting in the hall stood up, craning their necks and opening their eyes wide as they fixed an immovable stare on the small piece of stone.
Inside each private room, Xiang Mingzhi and the others also stood up with a feverish look in their eyes.
‘I must get this sacred grade immortal spirit stone, absolutely!’ He vowed to himself.
Under the many penetrating heated gazes, the Black Warrior Auction House appraiser finally walked up the stage, standing in the center and explaining the usage and appraisal result to everyone present.
When the appraiser was done, the auctioneer scanned the room with a smile on his face, “I believe everyone already knows that this piece of sacred grade immortal spirit stone is priceless, invaluable, hard to be measured by monetary value. With consent from the owner, we will not set a starting price for this sacred grade immortal spirit stone. Everyone present here can freely offer a price. The bidding begins now.”
No set bidding price? Eyes turned red. This meant that everyone could make an offer, no matter the price they called out?!
Ch.598
“Then can I bid ten thousand?” A first rank force Grand Elder heard what the auctioneer said and asked in a jesting manner.
The others in the auction hall also broke out in amiable laughter.
“You can.” The auctioneer did not mind at all, joining the laughing crowd, “Who would like to be the first one to bid a price?”
“One million.” Someone from the crowd instantly cried out.
Although it was said they could call out any bid price, in the end, no one really called out ten thousand.
Hearing someone calling out ‘one million’, the easy laughter in the hall stopped.
“Two million!”
“Five million!”
“Ten million!”
“Thirty million!”
Following the first bid, many more cries followed like waves from the back, the price continued to rise.
Sitting inside the private room, listening to the voices calling out ever increasing prices, a wry smile flickered across Huwang Xiao’s face. Indeed, he was the one who agreed to give the freedom of bidding price for to the current him, money was a mere figure. The amount was irrelevant.
When the bidding price reached one hundred million, it quickly jumped to one billion in a short few breaths’ time. When it reached one billion, the super forces families spectating from the private rooms also began to join in the bidding frenzy, turning it even fiercer.
“Ten billion.” From private room eight, the Azure Dragon Xiang Mingzhi’s voice sounded.
The last bid offer was six billion, and Xiang Mingzhi's offer suddenly propelled the price to double digits in the billions, causing the hall to fall into an abrupt silence.
“Twelve billion.” After a momentary silence, from private room number four, a sharp icy voice belonging to a woman sounded.
“Fifteen billion!” The person inside private number room three cried out.
“Twenty billion!” A sharp gleam flitted in Xiang Mingzhi's eyes.
“Twenty-two billion!” The voice came from private room five.
After the price exceeded ten billion, some of the first rank forces and families sitting in the auction hall had stopped competing. The price quickly skyrocketed, exceeding twenty billion.
Sitting inside his private room, Huwang Xiao was frowning at the moment despite the ever increasing price offered. Could it be that Senior Crazy Lady did not get wind of the auction for the sacred grade immortal spirit stone and therefore did not come?
If this was the case, then it defeated the purpose of him taking out the sacred grade immortal spirit stone for this auction.
Huwang Xiao lightly squeezed Shi Xiaofei’s hand, his eyes conveying remorse.
Shi Xiaofei shook her head, flashing him a comforting smile, “It's alright. Even if Senior Crazy Lady didn't come, I will still cultivate diligently so that I can awaken my Pure Luminance Enlightened Buddha Physique.”
It was at this time that a knocking sound came from their private room door.
“Come in.” Huwang Xiao permitted.
The person who entered was one of the auction house’s supervisors. He faced Huwang Xiao as he spoke, “Lord Institute Principal said that Senior Crazy Lady is here, in private room number four.”
“Private room four!” Both Huwang Xiao and Shi Xiaofei shook slightly as joy rushed to their faces.
As long as Senior Crazy Lady showed up, the rest of the matter would be much easier.
A short while later, the bidding price for the sacred grade immortal spirit s
tone reached fifty billion. Fifty billion had far surpassed the internal limit set by many super forces’ Ancestors and Patriarchs. Despite that, there were people willing to offer higher still.
Inside private room number eight, Xiang Mingzhi’s face was gloomy to the extreme.
This time, he had only brought fifty billion, when the offer had exceeded that range, he could only give up. But, he was unwilling to give up just like this!
He had arrived in Black Warrior City filled with confidence to bring back the True Dragon King’s beast cores as well as the sacred grade immortal spirit stone, but now, not only had he failed to get the sacred grade immortal spirit stone, even the True Dragon King's beast cores flew from his hand!
‘It was that Huwang Xiao!! That Huwang Xiao!’ Xiang Mingzhi's eyes turned scarlet, the more the thought about it, the more his hatred surged. Everything was that Huwang Xiao's fault!
“Initially, I didn't plan to do anything during the inner disciples’ assessment four years later, but since you asked for it, I will personally take the matter in my hands. Huwang Xiao, I want your life! I will let you know the consequences of offending me!” He gritted his teeth, voice chilling to the bones.
In the end, the sacred grade immortal spirit stone fetched a sky-high price of sixty-five billion, but it was bought by the guest in private room number three instead of private room number four.
The guests inside private room number three were from the Gudu Family.
With that, the curtain fell on this year's Black Warrior Auction House’s Annual Auction.
Knowing that Senior Crazy Lady had appeared and would be invited to his Master Feng Yang’s cultivation manor, Huwang Xiao was finally able to relax a little.
However, just as Huwang Xiao and Shi Xiaofei were coming out from the auction house, they bumped into the three people from the Azure Dragon Institute, Xiang Mingzhi, and the two old men.
Xiang Mingzhi extended an arm out, blocking the two people's path, his tone cold and condescending: “You're Huwang Xiao?”
Huwang Xiao glanced at the other side's attire and sneered, “I am. A good dog does not block the path, if there's nothing else, please move away.”
The two old men behind Xiang Mingzhi were instantly enraged.
Whereas Xiang Mingzhi's face reddened as his finger trembled pointing at Huwang Xiao angrily, “What did you say? You! Huwang Xiao, at first I did not want to do anything in the inner disciples’ assessment four years later, but now, you've completely infuriated me. Four years later, I will personally squash you like the measly ant that you are!”
The people passing by inevitably stopped to watch and listen.
“That looks like the Azure Dragon Institute Principal's personal disciple, Xiang Mingzhi?”
“Xiang Mingzhi? The one hailed as the Azure Dragon Galaxy's most heaven-defying genius? If I'm not wrong, they said he is already a Fifth Order God Realm master after less than a hundred years of cultivation!”
The people around whispered and sighed.
Listening to the whispers around him, Huwang Xiao looked coldly opposite him. He didn't expect the young man in front of him to be that Xiang Mingzhi.
Truly as the old adage goes, enemies meet on a narrow road. It seems like the person who fought him for the True Dragon King's beast cores was this kid.
In a way, Huwang Xiao understood why the other side was pissed at him.
“Huwang Xiao, we’ve set our eyes on the True Dragon King's beast cores, sell them to us now and we're willing to give you two billion. In the inner disciples’ assessment four years later, our Young Lord can spare your life.” One of the old men standing behind Xiang Mingzhi stated icily as he glared at Huwang Xiao.
“What a joke! Your brain must have been damaged colliding with a Tyrant Boar, right? I paid thirty billion for the True Dragon King's beast cores and you want me to sell them to you for two billion?” Huwang Xiao looked at the old man as if he was looking at an idiot: “Are you an idiot?”
“You!!” The old man’s face flushed a deep red, his eyes spitting fire, and his killing intent pierced the sky.
“What? Want to fight?” Huwang Xiao jeered.
They were in Black Warrior City. If the other side dared to make a move, Huwang Xiao was confident that he could make that old man lose his life here.
Xiang Mingzhi had calmed down by now, raising a hand to stop the old man from acting impulsively. Still looking at Huwang Xiao with the same cold eyes, he calmly spoke, “Even without the True Dragon King's beast cores, I can still flatten you just the same in the inner disciples’ assessment. Flatten you with one finger, like an ant.” His eyes as he shifted toward Shi Xiaofei at his side, “Your woman is not bad, enjoy the last four years of your life.”
“Let's go.” Xiang Mingzhi's group of three walked away.
Huwang Xiao watched the three men’s leaving silhouettes. He acknowledged that Xiang Mingzhi was indeed very strong, but four years later, who will squash who like an ant was yet to be determined.
“Let’s head over to Master's manor.” He said to Shi Xiaofei, no longer bothering with those who had left. They both headed to the Black Warrior City transmission array, arriving in Feng Yang's manor shortly and meeting with that Senior Crazy Lady.
She was actually a slender woman, resembling an attractive madame in her forties. It was just that she was more than a little aloof and cold. Her real name was Yang Yi.
After knowing Huwang Xiao's intention, Crazy Lady Yang Yi did not agree to pass the Moon Summoning Rhyme to Shi Xiaofei in the beginning, but when Huwang Xiao took out a sacred grade immortal spirit stone, she relented with a condition. The condition being for Shi Xiaofei to worship her as her disciple.
“Apprenticeship?” Huwang Xiao looked over to Shi Xiaofei, seeking her opinion.
Ch.599
“Yes.” Shi Xiaofei nodded in agreement. Being able to worship a Highgod Realm as Master, how many people dreamed of this kind of opportunity? This kind of pie falling from heaven, of course she wasn’t one to refuse.
Thus, witnessed by Feng Yang and Huwang Xiao, Shi Xiaofei respectfully went through the customs of worshipping under a Master.
However, what stumped Huwang Xiao subsequently was Crazy Lady Yang Yi saying that in order to cultivate her Moon Summoning Rhyme, the first three stages must be cultivated on a land of the new moon. Therefore, she had to take Shi Xiaofei to cultivate in the land of the new moon.
In the Black Tortoise Galaxy, only one place had such a land, and that was one of the colder world surfaces in the remote northern part of the Black Tortoise Galaxy called Wintry North World.
A tiny frown made its way across Huwang Xiao’s brows. If this was the case, then until Shi Xiaofei mastered the first three stages of the Moon Summoning Rhyme, she could only stay in the Wintry North World — the two of them would be separated for a period of time.
“Big brother Huwang, don’t worry, I will cultivate hard and strive to advance to the third stage as soon as possible.” Watching Huwang Xiao’s obvious reluctance, Shi Xiaofei comforted in return.
Crazy Lady Yang Yi added, “With Xiaofei’s talent, she can advance to the third stage of the Moon Summoning Rhyme in thirty years’ time, moreover, you can always come see her in Wintry North World.”
Huwang Xiao nodded, there was naught but this way.
“By the time Xiaofei reaches the third stage of Moon Summoning Rhyme, it's very likely that her Pure Luminance Enlightened Buddha Physique’s potential would be fully awakened. After that, within a hundred years, she’d be able to break through God Realm.” Crazy Lady Yang Yo added, “With me around, rest assured, nothing will happen to her.” In fact, for the last several hundred years, she had been searching for a successor but had yet to find a suitable candidate.
Although the main reason she accepted Shi Xiaofei was due to the sacred grade immortal spirit stone, Shi Xiaofei’s talent was indeed excellent. She was a most fitting successor to carry on her mantle, moreover, this disciple’s te
mperament was to her liking. On the whole, she liked this disciple very much.
The next morning, Shi Xiaofei followed Crazy Lady Yang Yi, leaving the Black Warrior City, departing toward the Wintry North World’s land of the new moon to begin her new cultivation.
On the other hand, his younger sister and brother, Huwang Xiaohai and Huwang Min, as well as the rest, under Feng Yang’s Godforce nurturing, their Qi Seas and meridians were healed as good as new in a short period of time.
Five days after the auction, Huwang Xiao returned to Yard No.1 and began his closed-door practice. This time around, he was resolute to break through Fourth Order God Realm, otherwise, he wouldn't step out of Yard No.1.
However, Huwang Xiao wasn’t anxious to refine the True Dragon King’s beast cores that he got from the auction, instead, he continued refining the remaining hundreds of Tenth Order God Realm beast cores from the Hailstone Treasure vault.
After stepping into Third Order God Realm, Huwang Xiao’s speed in refining the beast cores had increased again. ly, to refine one early Tenth Order God Realm beast core would take him half a month’s time, whereas now, refining a mid and peak mid-Tenth Order God Realm beast core merely took him five to six days.
One month, two months, three months quickly passed, and Huwang Xiao’s strength grew with each passing day.
By the end of the fourth month, he had advanced to peak early-Third Order God Realm, just half a step more to advance to mid-Third Order God Realm.
While Huwang Xiao entered into closed-door practice, the Jiang Family that had been clamoring noisily for Huwang Xiao to pay a life for a life went quiet, as if all of them had forgotten about Jiang Wei’en being murdered by Huwang Xiao in Changzhi City. The entire matter seemed to have subsided into the background.
Whereas the matter about the Azure Dragon Institute Principal’s personal disciple, Xiang Mingzhi, blocking Huwang Xiao’s path after the auction and saying that he will personally be killing Huwang Xiao four years later during the inner disciples’ assessment spread out.
Half a year passed. Not only did the matter did not die down, it became even more heated and exaggerated. In fact, all of the super forces, most first rank forces, as well as the several higher ranked worlds’ forces in the Black Tortoise Galaxy knew about this.
