Mu Chen: Lu Ge, How Did You Become a Sovereign?

"What is that?"

"What a terrifying pressure!"

"Wasn't it supposed to be the Sky Passage Spirit Treasury? This pressure doesn't feel like it belongs to a Sky Passage expert at all!"

"The Nine Summer Merchant Guild has truly gone all out this year. Could this be the key to opening a Sovereign's spirit treasury?"

"..."

Exclamations rose one after another as everyone stared at the White Dragon Jade Pillar in shock. Was this the auction's grand finale?

"Hehe, everyone, this White Dragon Jade Pillar was excavated by the Nine Summer Merchant Guild from the depths of White Dragon Hill some time ago. After our appraisal, it is highly likely that this pillar was left behind by the White Dragon Sovereign, who fell at White Dragon Hill several centuries ago."

On the auction stage, Bai Xuan ignored the uproar below. He cupped his hands and spoke with an unchanged smile.

"The White Dragon Sovereign?!"

Everyone in the auction hall was moved, and countless eyes reddened slightly. Everyone knew that although countless Sovereign experts had fallen at White Dragon Hill, the most renowned among them had been the White Dragon Sovereign.

Several centuries ago, during that great war against the Extraterritorial Evil Clan, the White Dragon Sovereign had been one of the strongest figures on the entire Northern Azure Continent. Yet after his fall, no one had ever obtained the spirit treasury he left behind. Had it finally been discovered now?

"I'm sure you all know that strange phenomena have recently appeared from time to time in the depths of White Dragon Hill, with spiritual tides surging. Those are signs that a spirit treasury is about to emerge."

"And now, just as this White Dragon Jade Pillar has surfaced, the Nine Summer Merchant Guild has concluded that this spirit treasury was most likely left behind by the White Dragon Sovereign!"

Bai Xuan smilingly presented his evidence.

The blazing atmosphere in the auction hall was instantly ignited. Countless people began breathing heavily, their eyes filled with greed as an uproar swept through the hall.

Listening to the commotion around them, Mu Chen and Luo Li looked at each other, momentarily at a loss.

Only Lu Chen remained seated calmly, examining the White Dragon Jade Pillar with an interested look in his eyes.

"Judging by the residual pressure within this jade pillar, this White Dragon Sovereign was likely above Rank Seven Sovereign in life. For a lower plane to produce such an expert, it's no wonder the Sacred Dragon Plane could nurture a Plane of Origin."

"I just wonder how much strength the spiritual energy avatar he left behind to guard the spirit treasury possesses. If it isn't even at the Supreme Realm, perhaps I can seize the White Dragon Spiritual Pearl by force."

With the appearance of the White Dragon Jade Pillar, the entire auction hall fell into a frenzy.

Once the atmosphere had been fully built up, Bai Xuan waved his hand on the auction stage and slightly raised the White Dragon Jade Pillar. Dazzling white light swept out, instantly enveloping the entire auction hall and allowing everyone to see it clearly.

"Everyone, I believe there is no need to say more about whether this item is genuine, right?"

"Without further ado, the auction for this item begins now. The starting price is ten million Spirit Coins!"

"Eleven million!"

The moment those words fell, the middle-aged man leading the Heavenly Gang Sword Sect immediately spoke up, revealing his determination to obtain it.

"Twelve million!"

The young city lord of White Dragon City reclined lazily on a large sable-fur chair, with two beautiful women in his arms, as he drawled his bid.

"Thirteen million!"

Right after that, the yellow-robed elder leading the Earth Travel Sect grinned, exposing a mouthful of large yellow teeth as he spoke with a smile.

Seeing the three major powers near White Dragon Hill all begin bidding, the heated discussions in the auction hall abruptly fell silent.

Most people sighed at this sight, disappointment appearing on their faces.

They understood that as lone individuals, it would be difficult for them to contend against these three local powers.

"Fifteen million!"

Just then, a young voice rang throughout the auction hall, breaking the silence.

"Lu Ge, don't! That thing is a hot potato right now. You can't touch it!"

Seeing "Lu Chen" beside him suddenly speak up, Mu Chen was startled and hurriedly tried to stop him.

But Lu Chen merely smiled and shook his head. Then he slowly rose to his feet as a terrifying pressure spread from his body.

In an instant, heaven and earth changed color, spiritual energy surged wildly, and an invisible oppressive force filled the entire hall!

Boom!

This sudden pressure made countless faces change, terror flooding their eyes. Such pressure was simply not something a Heavenly Transformation Realm expert could possess. It belonged to the Supreme Realm!

"Gulp..."

Countless people exchanged looks and quietly swallowed, their eyes filled with shock.

Didn't that mean they had spent all this time in the company of an old monster of the Supreme Realm—and had even competed with him in the auction?

"Lu Ge, you... you..."

"What about me?"

Lu Chen turned his head and smiled at the foolish boy beside him.

"How did you... become a Sovereign?"

Mu Chen's face was filled with horror, his eyes brimming with disbelief.

Was he seeing things, or had the world changed far too quickly?

In just over two years, how had Lu Ge—the man he had met back at Northern Spiritual Academy, who had only been at the peak of the Spiritual Rotation Stage—reached such heights?

Could he have mistaken him for someone else? Was this Lu Ge actually an impostor, some old monster of the Supreme Realm in disguise?

Seeing Mu Chen's utterly incredulous expression, Lu Chen smiled faintly and said softly, "Don't worry. I'm still the Lu Ge you know, genuine in every respect. Wait here for a moment—I'm going to deal with something."

With that, Lu Chen's figure flashed, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared above the auction platform at the center of the auction house.

With his hands behind his back, he floated in midair. A smile rested on his face, and his eyes carried a trace of gentle warmth as he looked down at the crowd. He possessed the bearing of a grandmaster, yet his words carried an overbearing authority that allowed no refusal.

"I, Lu, want this item."

"Who among you has any objections?"

"Who would dare object?!"

Everyone present grumbled quietly in their hearts, then lowered their heads one after another. None dared meet the gaze of this Supreme expert, afraid of provoking him and bringing calamity upon themselves.

Seeing that no one answered, Lu Chen withdrew his gaze in disappointment and looked at Bai Xuan below the stage. "No one is raising the bid. Bring down the hammer."

Cold sweat streamed down Bai Xuan's forehead. He nodded, not daring to say another word, and picked up the auction hammer, striking it three times so quickly that it became an afterimage.

Afterward, he thoughtfully held the White Dragon Jade Pillar in both hands and presented it to Lu Chen. "Senior, your White Dragon Jade Pillar."

Lu Chen nodded slightly and swept his sleeve. The White Dragon Jade Pillar turned into a streak of white light and flew into his sleeve.

Then he flicked his sleeve again, tossing out a Mustard Seed Bracelet that landed in Bai Xuan's hand. "There are fifteen million Spirit Coins inside. Count them."

"There's no need to count them. A personage like you, Senior, would never care about such a trifling sum."

Bai Xuan gave an awkward smile, put away the Mustard Seed Bracelet without even looking at it, and hastily flattered him.

Lu Chen nodded indifferently, swept his gaze around, and finally let it settle on Mu Chen.

He transmitted his voice, "Come see me later."

With that, he turned and tore through the air, vanishing in an instant.