Clue

Some competed, fighting with savage fury.

Some watched coldly, analyzing the situation.

And so, the proceedings finally reached their final moment.

"The final lot: the Daoist canon—the Longevity Art!"

Jin Wuming clapped his large hand, and attendants brought forth seven brand-new copies of the canon, displaying them before everyone.

"The Longevity Art!"

Though they had long known this would be the finale, the sight of those seven newly printed canons still left everyone shaken.

Jin Wuming paid them no mind and continued with his introduction.

"As everyone knows, the martial world has four great wondrous canons. First is the Daoist Longevity Art, second the demonic Heavenly Demon Strategy, third Cihang Jingzhai's Cihang Sword Canon, and fourth the most mysterious of all legends, the War God's Catalogue."

"Two years ago, the Longevity Art was obtained by the master of Golden Jade Full Hall, the Heavenly King Zhenwu of Xuzhou, Medical Lord Xu Qingyang."

"Master Qingyang's learning spans ancient and modern times. With wisdom reaching the heavens, after one hundred and eighty days, he finally deciphered the more than seven thousand four hundred Oracle Bone Script characters and seven human meridian diagrams within the book, uncovering its cultivation method."

"This manual's art may be divided into seven parts, corresponding respectively to Yin Yang and the Five Elements. One may cultivate a single part alone, cultivate all seven in parallel, or have one yin and one yang cultivated by two people together; metal, wood, water, fire, and earth may be practiced by five people!"

"This cultivation art is profoundly mysterious, fitting together with the Dao of heaven and earth, the principles of Yin Yang and the Five Elements. Only those with great perseverance, great wisdom, and great fortune may master it. Its requirements for talent and comprehension are exceedingly high. One must also study the Daoist classics and grasp the meaning within no-intent before entering its gate."

"Furthermore, this art runs contrary to all other martial arts. Therefore, one cannot possess any Inner Force. Otherwise, the two currents will clash and instead harm the practitioner!"

"Since this book is named Longevity, it naturally possesses the effects of longevity. Once mastered, it preserves Eternal Spring and Agelessness, prolongs life and eternal youth, wards off illness and disaster, and cultivates Innate Qi, allowing one to comprehend the Dao of heaven and earth, Yin Yang and the Five Elements."

"It is said that, upon reaching its highest realm, one may even attain Unity of Heaven and Man, Shattering the Void, and ascend to the Immortal Realm!"

Jin Wuming spoke at great length, leaving the people below dumbfounded and uncertain.

"This..."

"Is that real?"

"Unity of Heaven and Man, immortality?"

"Shattering the Void, ascending to the Immortal Realm?"

"Hmph, the more he talks, the more outlandish it gets. If such an immortal art truly existed, why wouldn't Xu Qingyang cultivate it himself?"

"Exactly. And he's kind enough to sell it? More likely, he messed around and guessed at some method of unknown truth and unknown viability, then released it for the people of the world to test in his stead!"

"The Longevity Art is said to have been written by Guangchengzi and has been passed down for thousands of years. No one has ever been said to master it. It is filled with Oracle Bone Script from ancient times. No matter how capable Xu Qingyang is, he can't possibly decipher every character without a single error or omission, can he?"

"If he made a mistake in his deciphering, and we follow the cultivation method he provides, wouldn't we be seeking our own deaths?"

"If he were auctioning the original, that would be one thing. But these are rubbings copied out by his own hand. Who the hell would dare cultivate them?"

Everyone muttered inwardly, all doubting whether it was real.

Jin Wuming took in their reactions without concern. "Golden Jade Full Hall guarantees this with our reputation. This book and its cultivation method are indeed viable. If, after practicing it, you discover an error, you may go to any chamber of commerce under Golden Jade Full Hall and receive a full refund. If you suffer Qi Deviation from cultivation, Bao'an Hall will treat you free of charge!"

"On the other hand..."

Jin Wuming swept his gaze across the crowd and said coldly, "If anyone receives a refund, then secretly continues cultivating this book and succeeds, that is fraud against Golden Jade Full Hall. We will pursue it without rest until death, and they will certainly be killed!"

"This..."

Seeing Jin Wuming speak with such absolute certainty, everyone began to hesitate.

"Could it... be real?"

"Would Xu Qingyang truly be so kind?"

"Who cares? Whether it's real or fake, can't we just go back and have a few servants who don't know martial arts try it?"

"Even if they can't master it, we can get a full refund. There's no way to lose!"

"If it's real, we'll have struck it rich. Eternal Spring and Agelessness, prolonged life and eternal youth—what amount of money could buy that?"

"And it can cultivate Innate Qi, the Dao of heaven and earth, the principles of Yin Yang and the Five Elements. Wouldn't that make one another Grandmaster of the realm, like Rogue Ning Daoqi?"

As everyone weighed it in their minds, they were already tempted.

Just then...

"Hahaha!"

A man's loud laughter shattered the atmosphere.

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw an utterly ordinary-looking middle-aged man rise to his feet.

"Golden Jade Full Hall, what a fine scheme you have. You sell martial arts on a grand scale, stirring up conflict in the martial world, and now you throw out the Longevity Art. Once this book enters the martial world, how many more storms of blood and wind, flashes of blades and shadows of swords will it raise?"

His words were shocking enough to never rest until people died from shock. His eyes fixed upon Jin Wuming on the stage. "What exactly does the Martial King intend by acting this way?"

"Hmm?"

Jin Wuming's gaze turned cold as he looked at the man. "My master's breadth of heart is not something petty people like you can comprehend."

"Breadth of heart?"

The middle-aged man gave a disdainful laugh. "The Martial King's breadth of heart is to stir up strife in the martial world and leave every martial artist fearing for himself? He even sells those demonic sect's wicked arts. Does he intend to turn everyone in the world into those neither-human-nor-ghost aberrant Martial Artists?"

"Hmph!"

Jin Wuming snorted coldly and said calmly, "Golden Jade Full Hall has always acted openly and honorably. Every cultivation art we sell is orthodox martial learning. Where does this talk of wicked arts come from? Clearly, you people harbor ulterior motives, framing others, sowing discord, and ruining my master's reputation!"

With that, he suddenly thrust out a finger, and a streak of Sword Qi shot directly at the man.

The middle-aged man's expression tightened. He tried to dodge, but his movements were too slow. The Sword Qi sliced across the side of his face, tearing away a Human Skin Mask.

"Hmph!"

Jin Wuming snorted as he stared at the middle-aged man's revealed true face. "So you are one of the Eight Demon Envoys of the Heavenly Lotus Sect. What, does your sect master not dare show his face, so he sent a lackey like you here to die?"

"You...!"

The middle-aged man was both shocked and enraged, at a loss for what to do.

Jin Wuming ignored him. "Today is a grand gathering, and blood should not be spilled. I'll spare your life for now. Go back and tell An Long: if he damages my master's reputation again, I guarantee that not a chicken or dog will remain in your Heavenly Lotus Sect, and your entire sect will be wiped out!"

With that, he struck out with a palm strike, blasting the man straight out of the hall and leaving him grievously injured, unable to rise.

Jin Wuming did not look at him again, turning his gaze back to the crowd. "Everyone present is a person of exceptional intelligence. You should see through such petty tricks as clearly as fire. I will not waste more words. The auction shall continue."

With that, he raised his hand and began his introduction. "The Longevity Art is divided into seven cultivation methods of Yin Yang and the Five Elements. This time, ten copies of each will be sold, seventy copies in total. Each copy is priced at one hundred thousand taels of silver. There will be no bidding. Anyone may purchase them, with no limit on quantity. First come, first served. Everyone, please."

"This..."

Looking at the seven sections of the canon on the stage, everyone fell into hesitation.

"Seven hundred thousand taels!"

Just then, Song Zhi raised his placard. "My Song Clan wants one complete set!"

"Hmm!"

"The Song Clan..."

"Truly deep-pocketed!"

"Nonsense. They sold the Eight Forms of the Heavenly Saber. How could they not be deep-pocketed?"

"I wonder what price Golden Jade Full Hall gave them for those Eight Forms of the Heavenly Saber."

No one was surprised that Song Zhi raised his placard first. The Song Clan dominated Lingnan and possessed numerous trade routes, making them wealthy to begin with. For today's grand gathering, they had also sold their supreme art, the Eight Forms of the Heavenly Saber, to Golden Jade Full Hall, leaving their funds even more abundant.

In truth, it was not just the Song Clan. To gather sufficient funds, every major aristocratic family, martial sect, and jianghu gang present had sold more or less of their inherited supreme arts and rare treasures to Golden Jade Full Hall. Otherwise, where would they have found so much silver?

This made Golden Jade Full Hall's methods appear all the more masterful. They not only sold Martial Arts Manuals, driving competition across the martial world, but also took the opportunity to purchase martial arts from all under heaven and turn them into their own accumulation. Their current foundations were likely no weaker than the Four Great Clans, or even martial holy lands such as Cihang Jingzhai.

"Seven hundred thousand taels. My Li Clan also wants one set!"

After Song Zhi raised his placard, Li Xiuning refused to be outdone and likewise made her move, securing a set.

"I heard that the Innate Qi of the Longevity Art has remarkable effects in treating internal injuries and even the mind. Grandmother's illness can be cured..."

Dugu Feng's gaze sharpened as she raised her placard and called out, "My Dugu Clan also wants one set."

With the three great clans acting, three sets were claimed at once.

Seeing this, the rest could no longer hold themselves back and raised their placards to scramble for purchases.

And so...

"The final copy, the yang canon of the Longevity Art, has been purchased by Guest Number Seventy-Eight."

"Ten sets, seventy copies, have all been sold out. Thank you all for your patronage."

Jin Wuming smiled and picked up a notice. "I have just received word that one item has been added to this sale at the last minute."

"Oh?"

"Added at the last minute?"

"What is it?"

At this, everyone's interest was piqued.

Jin Wuming did not keep them in suspense. "This item is a clue—a clue to Duke Yang's Treasury!"

"Duke Yang's Treasury?"

"This..."

Everyone was startled upon hearing it.

"Duke Yang's Treasury and the He Clan Jade Bi—obtain either one, and you may gain the world!"

Jin Wuming smiled faintly. "We cannot confirm whether this clue is genuine, so Golden Jade Full Hall offers no guarantee. Nor will it be auctioned by bid. Ten taels per copy, available to all. Those who require it may purchase it in the side hall."

With that, regardless of the crowd's reaction, he turned and left.

"This..."

"Duke Yang's Treasury!"

Everyone looked at one another. Then Li Xiuning, the noble daughter of the Li Clan, was the first to rise, leading her attendants toward the side hall.

She was not the only one. The other clans and aristocratic families, Rebel Kings and fierce bandits all began moving as well, following after her.

To them, Duke Yang's Treasury was likely even more tempting than the Longevity Art canon.