Chapter Sixty-Three: The Auction

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At dawn, the first rays of sunlight had just spilled across the earth.

In the grand hall on the first floor of the Taibai Pavilion, every seat was already taken.

“Have you heard? The City Lord’s Mansion was emptied overnight...”

“No way! What happened?”

“You haven’t heard? It was the night before last...”

“I have a distant relative working at the City Lord’s Mansion. Early yesterday, he inexplicably left his post. When I asked him what happened, he said the mansion had been disbanded...”

“Disbanded? That’s... that’s impossible, isn’t it?”

“Exactly! The City Lord’s Mansion has dominated Dragon City for years. How could it suddenly dissolve like that?”

In an unobtrusive corner of the crowded auction hall, a few men spoke in hushed tones.

Perhaps their conversation had caught the scent of some explosive news, for a few curious onlookers gathered nearby.

Finding himself suddenly the center of attention, the man who had first spoken cleared his throat, feigning surprise.

“What... none of you know?”

The crowd shook their heads.

“Well, if it weren’t for my relative working for the Qiu family all these years, I wouldn’t know either...” The man put on an air of sudden realization.

“Hurry up and tell us—how could the City Lord’s Mansion just disband out of the blue?”

“Yes, yes, do tell...”

...

On the second floor, inside a private box, a group of well-dressed young gentlemen gathered.

Their box faced the auction stage, giving them an excellent view through the crystal window. The young men sipped fragrant tea, engaged in lively conversation.

Suddenly, noticing the commotion below, and with their keen hearing, they easily discerned what was being discussed.

One of them, dressed in white silk, turned to a youth in yellow and asked, “Brother Ma, do you know the details?”

The young man in yellow spread his hands, indicating he was also in the dark.

Another youth commented, “Brother Ma, you’re the one among us who is closest to Qiu Yan. If there’s been an upheaval in the Qiu family, you should know more than we do...”

“I was thinking the same thing...”

“Indeed, Brother Ma, is there something you cannot say?”

“We’ve always just talked about poetry and pleasure, never prying into family affairs. If you know the reason, just tell us—we’re only curious...”

“Brother Ma, you wouldn’t want to let your friends down, would you...”

“Don’t put me on the spot, brothers. I truly don’t know. I haven’t seen Qiu Yan in days...” The youth in yellow, known as Brother Ma, replied with a pained expression.

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“If even Brother Ma doesn’t know the details, then this upheaval at the Qiu household is anything but ordinary...”

“Did none of you notice that Qiu Yan hasn’t appeared today?”

“Right, not a single member of the Qiu family at such a grand auction...”

“Could it be...”

They exchanged glances, all breaking out in cold sweat at the thought that flashed through their minds.

——

The entrance to the Taibai Pavilion was bustling. Factions large and small from all around had flocked to Dragon City.

Even some cultivation families from thousands of miles away had come upon hearing the news.

All for a chance to witness this once-in-a-century event in the mortal world.

But most were drawn by the promise of mysterious martial arts manuals and spiritual artifacts said to be up for auction at the Taibai Pavilion.

Until now, in all the lands surrounding Dragon City, none had ever heard of a family or clan possessing a mystical-level cultivation method.

So, the news that such a treasure would be auctioned today had all the cultivation families in the secular world restless with anticipation.

Neighing!

A few powerful men loosened the reins in their hands and dismounted.

“Hahaha... Brother Pang, looks like we made it in time...” A burly man of medium height was the first to speak, his booming voice drawing many glances.

The leader, addressed as Brother Pang, strode to the entrance, looked up at the signboard, and laughed heartily, “What fine calligraphy, what a grand Taibai Pavilion...”

He recalled leaving Pang Village years ago, determined to make a name for himself and bring his parents and brother to live in the city. After years of hardship and chance encounters, he had finally carved out a place for himself.

He wasn’t just a cultivator at the Minor Spirit Realm now, but also had a loyal band of brothers.

Originally training far from here, they had rushed to Dragon City as soon as they heard about the Taibai Pavilion’s auction.

“Brother Pang, we must secure that mystical-level technique this time...”

“That’s right, Brother Pang, we’ve come from so far just for that cultivation manual...”

Pang Tong laughed loudly. “Don’t worry, with all of you by my side, that mystical-level technique will be ours.”

“Country bumpkins... and you think you can take a mystical-level technique...”

A man in brocade robes stepped out of the building, looking displeased at their bold declaration.

Noticing they were just a band of dust-covered brutes, he couldn’t help but sneer.

Hearing the insult, the leading man bristled, “You little brat, dare to mouth off? I’ll cut you in half if you keep that up...”

Stunned by their fierce glares, the brocaded youth’s bravado faltered.

Just then, a beast’s cry sounded from the sky.

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Everyone looked up to see a griffin descending slowly into the square.

The mighty creature stirred up a wave of dust with its landing, and an elderly man and a youth leaped gracefully from its back.

Recognizing the newcomers, the brocaded youth’s face lit up with joy. He hurried forward, bowing deeply. “Greetings, young clan chief, greetings, Grand Elder...”

The two nodded slightly.

As they gazed up at the Taibai Pavilion, a flicker of awe passed through their eyes—they clearly knew something of its power.

“Changsun Wucai, have you found out which factions are capable of contending for the mystical-level technique and the spiritual artifact this time?” the young clan chief asked the brocaded youth.

“Reporting, young clan chief: within a thousand miles of Dragon City, the only real contenders are the An, Ma, and Li families...”

“Beyond that, I’ve heard that many cultivation families from far away have sent representatives. Aside from our own Changsun clan, I’ve also seen people from the Zhao family...”

“Isn’t there also the City Lord’s Mansion, the Qiu family? Why haven’t you mentioned them?”

“Young clan chief, the City Lord’s Mansion... I only just learned today, but they vanished overnight...” the brocaded youth replied hesitantly.

“What? Vanished overnight?”

The elder glanced at him, both men’s eyes filled with astonishment.

“According to my sources, it was indeed a sudden disappearance the night before last. Even the servants of the mansion were all sent away...”

After a moment’s thought, the young clan chief turned to the elder. “Grand Elder, what do you make of it?”

Stroking his beard, the elder said, “It seems they provoked a power they should never have crossed... The law of the jungle holds true even in the secular world.”

After a brief pause, he added, “We must also be careful—do not act too conspicuously.”

“Understood.”

The brocaded youth glanced at Pang Tong and his companions.

Remembering the Grand Elder’s warning, he dismissed any thought of trouble and followed his clan chief into the Taibai Pavilion.

Seeing the youth who had mocked them simply walk away, the medium-sized man moved to intercept him.

Pang Tong pressed a hand to his shoulder and shook his head.

They understood at once,

And, without a word, followed the others into the Taibai Pavilion.

——

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