The instant Jiang Dao heard this news, he almost suspected he had misheard.
"Yes, Young Master. However, this mental method is not some advanced technique, but a life-nurturing method. Even so, it is incomparably expensive. Throughout the entire Great Ye Dynasty, few would dare put up a mental method for auction!"
Pang Lin said.
"Only a life-nurturing type?"
Jiang Dao felt somewhat regretful.
"Young Master, even a life-nurturing mental method is already exceedingly rare. I told you before that any internal cultivation method is the lifeblood of a sect or great power.
Other than people such as sect masters or gang leaders, no one else may come into contact with them. Once such a thing spreads through the martial world, regardless of whether it is high-grade or low-grade, it will surely leave countless people bleeding. Untold numbers will fight until their heads are smashed and blood flows."
Pang Lin looked solemn. "This life-nurturing mental method was brought here for auction by a wandering martial artist some time ago. Unfortunately, the Malevolent Spirit incident struck, and Hengzhou City fell into a state of panic. All the auction houses temporarily closed, and no one dared come bid for it, so it remained until now. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, this mental method would have long been auctioned off at a sky-high price!"
Jiang Dao pondered slightly.
A life-nurturing mental method.
Though it sounded like it was merely for nurturing one's health, it was still a mental method. If he modified it to the state it would reach after sixty or one hundred and twenty years, it should have remarkable effects.
"At what price are they auctioning this mental method?"
Jiang Dao asked.
"The city is in chaos now, so I have already pressed the price down greatly. It should be around three hundred thousand taels of silver!"
Pang Lin said.
That was only because they had taken advantage of the Malevolent Spirit crisis.
Otherwise, under normal circumstances, even if it was merely a life-nurturing mental method, it could not be obtained without five hundred thousand taels of silver.
"Good. Take me there first!"
Jiang Dao said.
"Young Master, it is getting late. Why not go tomorrow?"
Pang Lin's expression suddenly changed slightly.
"No need. We go now. Delay breeds change!"
Jiang Dao said.
It was only dusk now, and there was still a long while before nightfall.
As long as he moved quickly enough, he could return home before dark.
The two mounted fast horses and swiftly charged out of the gate, galloping madly toward the Dragon City Auction House.
An empty stretch of street.
Slanting sunlight over withered grass.
Few pedestrians.
The manager of the Dragon City Auction House was deeply troubled. In just a few short days, every day had felt like a year.
This time, the Dragon City Auction House had acquired many scarce goods from all across the Great Ye Dynasty. They had originally thought they would make a fortune through this auction, thoroughly establish the Dragon City Auction House's reputation, and crush the other auction houses.
Yet they had never expected the Malevolent Spirit to throw the world into chaos. In only a few days, countless people had been killed or injured.
Now even the city gates had been sealed, and scarcely any pedestrians could be seen in the city.
The scheduled auction date had long passed, yet no one dared come. This batch of goods was about to rot in their hands, and it was hard to say whether he himself would even survive until tomorrow.
For a time, the old manager Su Mingyuan felt oppressed and listless.
Fortunately, good news arrived today.
The Jiang residence's head guard, Pang Lin, had come to their auction house to purchase that Life Nurturing Art.
Though the price had been pressed down to three hundred thousand taels, at least they could close a deal.
Although it was far below the price they had envisioned, being able to sell it was already quite good.
Keeping this thing in their hands was like clutching a hot potato. If it stirred the greed of villains, it would surely bring them needless trouble.
"Manager Su..."
Suddenly, a heavy voice came from the entrance, like a great bell, deafening and earth-shaking.
The moment Su Mingyuan heard the voice, he hurried outside. His expression soon froze.
Two figures stood in the courtyard.
One was Pang Lin, the Jiang Family's head guard whom he had seen during the day.
The other was burly and exceptionally tall, with broad, thick shoulders. He wore a black robe, with a steel saber hanging from his waist. His black hair was dark as ink, and his sharp gaze flashed like lightning.
"What a mighty man!"
Su Mingyuan secretly gasped. Is this Jiang Dao, the eldest son of the Jiang Family? When did he become so powerfully built?
Living in the same Hengzhou City and belonging to the same upper class, Su Mingyuan had naturally seen Jiang Dao before.
But the Jiang Dao in his memory had not been this burly or masculine!
No wonder he wanted an internal cultivation method!
It seemed this eldest son of the Jiang Family had specifically trained in martial arts!
"So it is Young Master Jiang. Does Young Master Jiang wish to inspect that mental method now?"
Su Mingyuan smiled.
"Indeed. Master Pang must have already settled the price with you. May I examine the manual and confirm whether it is genuine?"
Jiang Dao asked.
"Of course you may examine it!"
Su Mingyuan nodded and immediately had a servant fetch the dust-covered Life Nurturing Art manual.
Not long after.
A servant approached quietly, holding a purple sandalwood box in both hands.
Jiang Dao casually took the box and gently opened it. Inside lay an ancient-looking manual.
Life Nurturing Art!
Three large black characters entered his sight.
Jiang Dao took out the manual and casually flipped through it. It contained more than ten pages, every page densely covered in writing.
He quickly read through it from beginning to end, then silently opened the panel. Soon, his brows furrowed slightly.
No response?
He had read through it once, yet no words had appeared on the panel!
Could this be a fake manual?
Or was an internal cultivation method different from other martial arts?
For other martial arts, the panel only appeared after he watched someone perform them once.
Since he had not seen anyone perform this internal cultivation method, would it not appear?
For a moment, Jiang Dao hesitated, unable to determine whether the manual was real or fake.
"Manager Su, where did this manual come from? Has anyone tested its authenticity?"
Jiang Dao asked.
"Young Master Jiang, rest assured. This manual was consigned here by a wandering martial artist. When we obtained it, we specially invited experts from the central region of the Great Ye Dynasty to inspect it carefully. They confirmed that this manual can allow one to cultivate a sense of qi, but as for its exact power, we do not know."
Su Mingyuan chuckled.
"That will do."
Jiang Dao nodded lightly, took out banknotes worth three hundred thousand taels of silver from his robes, and handed them to Su Mingyuan.
"Young Master Jiang, please wait!"
Su Mingyuan suddenly forced out a smile. "You know that this manual is unique throughout the entire southern Great Ye Dynasty. In our hands, it is naturally worth less than a single coin, but in the hands of certain martial artists, it is worth a city of gold. So, could Young Master Jiang perhaps reconsider the price..."
He chuckled and said no more.
Jiang Dao instantly understood what he meant, and one brow rose.
He wanted to raise the price?
"Manager Su, the Dragon City Auction House has always conducted business with integrity. Why are you now engaging in the business of raising the price on the spot?"
Pang Lin's voice was cold as he stared at Su Mingyuan.
Su Mingyuan looked embarrassed, yet he said nothing, merely smiling as he watched Jiang Dao.
Jiang Dao casually closed the manual and looked at Su Mingyuan. Calmly, he said, "Manager Su, if you take me for some gullible fool, then there is no need. Though I have indeed practiced some martial arts, I do not have any particular need for this sort of mental method.
If you wish to raise the price on the spot, then you have found the wrong person. As you said yourself, this manual is worthless in your hands. Hengzhou City is in utter chaos now. If I do not buy it, there will not be a second person coming to purchase it from you. Keeping it in your hands may even bring you a fatal disaster! Since you want to keep it, then keep it!"
Su Mingyuan's expression immediately changed slightly.
"Don't be like that, Young Master Jiang. I was joking, merely joking!"
He hurriedly said.
To be honest, it would naturally be best to sell this manual as soon as possible.
Otherwise, keeping it in his hands would only make it a hot potato.
Jiang Dao snorted coldly, casually set the banknotes worth three hundred thousand taels of silver aside, picked up the Life Nurturing Art, and left.
At his side, Pang Lin gave a sinister chuckle, cast Su Mingyuan a deep look, and followed after him.
Su Mingyuan secretly sighed.
How could he not know about conducting business with integrity?
But with the Malevolent Spirit causing havoc now, whether he could live until tomorrow was another matter altogether!
Who was there left to display integrity for?
Before you continue