Two Years

Time flew like a shuttle; in the blink of an eye, another two years had passed.

Fourteenth Year of Daye, Third Month, Eleventh Day, Bingchen Day.

Yuwen Huaji, son of Duke Xu Yuwen Shu, Commander of the Imperial Guards and Great General of the Right Garrison, murdered his sovereign and rebelled in Jiangdu, Yangzhou. He strangled Emperor Yang Guang of Sui, slaughtered the Sui Dynasty's imperial clan and maternal relatives, won the support of One Hundred Thousand Elite Guards, donned the yellow robe, proclaimed himself emperor, founded the state of Xu, and changed the era name to Tianshou.

Thus, the Sui Dynasty perished after only two generations.

With the realm left without a master, the game of Dragon Contention was fully underway.

Every faction placed its pieces, and Ten Paths of Dragons and Pythons fought for supremacy.

Warfare and Smoke spread everywhere, plunging the realm into chaos. The jianghu martial world was even less peaceful.

Yangzhou, on the Huai River. A magnificent treasure ship, resplendent in gold and jade, became the focus of everyone's attention.

"That is..."

"Golden Jade Full Hall's treasure ship!"

"I heard this vessel is forty-four zhang long and eighteen zhang wide, with nine masts and twelve sails. Its anchor weighs several thousand jin, and it has multiple decks inside, enough to hold a thousand people. It travels through rivers, lakes, and seas, covering more than ten thousand li a day. That is why it is called a treasure ship."

"With this treasure ship, Golden Jade Full Hall formed fleets that travel the rivers and sail across the four seas, seizing the profits of commerce throughout the realm. They rake in gold by the day and are rich enough to rival a nation."

"What deep pockets, what deep pockets!"

"I heard that today, here on the Huai River, Golden Jade Full Hall is holding a grand event to auction off numerous divine martial arts manuals and rare treasures from across the realm."

"The heads of aristocratic families from Yangzhou and the surrounding regions, prominent figures from both the martial world and the jianghu, from both the black and white paths—even the various Rebel Kings and great bandits—have all sent large contingents carrying enormous sums of money to participate."

"Damn, even those Rebel Kings and great bandits came? Aren't they afraid they'll just start robbing the place?"

"Rob it? Go ahead and try. Do you know who stands behind Golden Jade Full Hall?"

"Who?"

"The Martial King of Xuzhou, Medical Lord Xu Qingyang!"

"Him?"

"That Martial King whose fame has soared in recent years, pushing close to Heavenly Saber Song Que?"

"I heard this man's martial arts are unfathomable. In Xuzhou, he severely wounded Yuwen Huaji with a single palm strike, and none of the Four Great Masters of the Yuwen Clan could withstand even one round against him."

"That's ancient news from who knows how many years ago. Not long ago, You Niaojuan, the Chief Disciple of Evil Emperor Xiang Yutian—the one who acts in defiance of all principles—somehow offended him. He went straight to You Niaojuan's door and blasted him to death with one palm!"

"And Pichen Rong Fengxiang, president of the Luoyang Chamber of Commerce and the Yin Kui Sect's great financier, along with Fat Merchant An Long, the great merchant of Western Sichuan—some time ago, their chambers of commerce clashed with Golden Jade Full Hall. Those two Demonic Sect grandmasters were so frightened that they immediately withdrew into their shells. They still haven't dared show their faces, and no one knows where they're hiding."

"Among the Eight Great Masters of the Demonic Sect, perhaps only the former Evil King Shi Zhixuan could contend with him. All the rest are mud chickens and clay dogs."

"I heard he has already delivered a challenge letter. Before long, he will head to Lingnan to challenge the Song Clan Leader, Heavenly Saber Song Que!"

"If he defeats Song Que, then the Three Grandmasters of the World may have to become the World's Sole Grandmaster!"

"I heard that as the ruler of Xuzhou, he is not only formidable in martial arts but also possesses power comparable to the Four Great Clans. The Mysterious Armored Martial Guards under his command are all martial artists with tremendous combat strength—the elite among elite troops."

"Xuzhou lies in the heartland of the Central Plains, at a crucial passageway of the realm, yet he alone holds it secure. None of the realm's heroes dare invade. That shows just how imposing he is."

"Rob him? You should burn incense in gratitude if he doesn't rob you first. I heard that to avoid him, the Yin Kui Sect withdrew all its forces from Xuzhou overnight. They simply did not dare face his edge!"

"..."

As they watched the treasure ship lying on the Huai River, the many martial artists and jianghu heroes discussed animatedly, revealing quite a few shocking pieces of news.

Just then, along the riverbank, ship after ship set sail, converging upon the immense, gold-and-jade treasure ship like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.

"What's going on?"

"Is it starting?"

"That ship is flying the Li Character Flag. Could it be the Li Clan of Longxi?"

"The one flying the Cui Character Flag is the Cui Clan of Boling!"

"The Lu Clan of Fanyang and the Wang Clan of Taiyuan have come as well."

"Look, the one flying the flag bearing the character Dugu—could that be the Dugu Clan?"

"That woman standing at the prow, could she be Dugu Feng? I heard she is the most outstanding third-generation heir of the Dugu Clan, surpassing even her father Dugu Feng and closely rivaling her grandmother You Chuhong. She has the bearing of a Sword God!"

"The Song Clan has come too. The man standing at the prow is Earth Sword Song Zhi!"

"And the Li Clan as well. Could that woman be Princess Pingyang Li Xiuning, known as the Female Zhuge?"

"The Li Clan's entry into Guanzhong was due in no small part to her!"

"Who's that pretty-faced boy standing beside her? He's unpleasant to look at."

"The Five Surnames Seven Clans and the Four Great Clans have all arrived, except for the Yuwen Clan, which is overwhelmed with troubles and has no time to spare."

"It isn't just the aristocratic clans. Look—the various martial sects, jianghu gangs, people from the black and white paths, and the forces of every Rebel King and great bandit have all entered."

"What on earth is Golden Jade Full Hall selling that has such appeal, drawing nearly every major force in the realm here?"

"Heh heh, that just shows what you don't know. What they're selling is so incredible that you can't refuse to buy it."

"You can't refuse to buy it? What could be so incredible? The Queen Mother of the West's peaches of immortality? The Grand Supreme Elder Lord's immortal pills?"

"I really want to go up there and see the excitement..."

Watching ship after ship raise their sails and head straight for the treasure ship, the onlookers' eyes were full of envy.

And so, a short while later.

Inside the auction hall aboard the treasure ship.

A broad, fat middle-aged man with a smile like Maitreya's stepped onto the platform and cupped his hands toward the crowd.

"I am Jin Wuming, president of Golden Jade Full Hall. I trust everyone present already understands the rules of today's auction, so I will not waste time repeating them. I will mention only three points."

"First: Open Bidding, Binding Purchase. Raise your hand without regret. One means one, and two means two!"

"Second: fairness and impartiality, Cash Transaction. No Using Power to Bully Others, and no disrupting the auction!"

"Third: Golden Jade Full Hall collects rare treasures from throughout the realm. Whether Martial Arts Manuals or rare treasures, anything of value may be exchanged for gold and silver to participate in this auction. If any of you wish to make an exchange, you may proceed to the side hall. We have professional appraisers and valuers there, guaranteeing fair dealing for young and old alike, Genuine Goods at Fair Prices!"

"Now, the bidding begins!"

Having laid out the rules, Jin Wuming did not waste words. With a wave of his hand, he had someone bring forth the first auction item.

"This is Hundred Refined Mysterious Armor, meticulously crafted by the Master Craftsmen of our Refining Blade Ship. Every set is forged from mysterious iron and refined steel, tempered a hundred times. Blades and spears cannot easily harm it, and powerful arrows cannot pierce it. When worn by a Gang Qi Martial Artist, one man can stand against a thousand, invincible against ten thousand. Two hundred sets are being auctioned today, with a starting bid of Two Hundred Thousand Silver Taels!"

The moment these words were spoken, everyone present's eyes gleamed brightly.

Princess Pingyang Li Xiuning immediately raised her placard. "Three Hundred Thousand Taels!"

"The Li Clan dominates Guanzhong. They truly have deep pockets. But..."

Earth Sword Song Zhi smiled and raised his placard as well. "Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Taels!"

"Though the Song Clan occupies only a corner of Lingnan, its trade routes stretch far and wide. It too is rich enough to rival a nation!"

Li Xiuning turned her gaze toward him, her expression unchanged. "Four Hundred Thousand Taels!"

"The great wealth of Guanzhong is indeed the great wealth of Guanzhong!"

Song Zhi shook his head and calmly raised his hand. "Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Taels!"

"Hmm?!"

Li Xiuning's eyes narrowed. She stared at Song Zhi in uncertainty, then glanced at the smiling Jin Wuming on the stage. Suddenly, she understood something. With a sigh, she said softly, "The Eight Forms of the Heavenly Saber are worth far more than ten thousand gold. Xiuning concedes!"

With that, she no longer competed.

Seeing this, Jin Wuming did not urge the others to bid. He struck the small hammer, settling the matter. "Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Silver Taels. Two hundred sets of Hundred Refined Mysterious Armor, sold to VIP Number Seven."

"The next auction item: a premium product of Bao'an Hall, the King Yama Returns Life Pill..."