Auction, Marrow Cleansing Pill Secured

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, it was April eighteenth.

Tomorrow was the day Treasure Pavilion would hold its auction.

Chen Xuan arrived in the prefecture city a day early.

This city was even more magnificent than he had imagined.

The city walls rose over fifty meters high, built entirely from massive Bluestone. Weathered by wind and rain through the ages, their surfaces were mottled, yet they appeared all the more grand and imposing. Every hundred meters along the walls stood an arrow tower, with upturned eaves and soaring corners, magnificent in bearing.

The city gate was broad enough for six carriages to pass side by side. Above it were carved the four large characters, "Tiannan Prefecture City," their strokes vigorous and their presence boundless.

A ceaseless stream of people flowed through the gate: merchants driving carriages, martial artists carrying weapons on their backs, peddlers bearing shoulder poles, and richly dressed scions of great families.

The guards at the gate inspected those passing through, but they were not strict. Anyone could enter after paying a few copper coins as an entrance fee.

The prefecture city had a City Lord's Mansion.

In name, the city lord managed everything.

In truth, however, the city lord was merely a puppet chosen by the Three Great Sects, more of a symbolic existence responsible for handling insignificant daily affairs.

Chen Xuan paid the entrance fee and stepped through the city gate.

An air of prosperity and clamor rushed toward him.

The streets of the prefecture city were several times wider than those of Lianshan City, all paved with neatly arranged Bluestone slabs, smooth as mirrors.

Shops stood shoulder to shoulder on both sides of the streets—restaurants, teahouses, weapon shops, pill shops, pawnshops, banks... everything one could want, row upon row.

Pedestrians brushed shoulders in the streets, while carriages and horses flowed without end.

The cries of vendors, the sounds of haggling, and bursts of laughter mixed together, forming a bustling tapestry of city life.

Chen Xuan followed the main street for roughly a quarter of an hour before arriving in the eastern district.

Treasure Pavilion stood in the most prosperous part of the eastern district. It was a three-story building constructed entirely from Bluestone, with upturned eaves, painted beams, and carved rafters. Two stone lions stood before its entrance, making it look exceptionally imposing.

A golden plaque hung above the doorway, bearing the three characters "Treasure Pavilion" in vigorous strokes. It was said that Treasure Pavilion had spent a great sum to invite a Martial Grandmaster above the Zhuqi Realm to write them personally.

On a street near Treasure Pavilion, Chen Xuan found a restaurant and ate.

Quite a few diners had gathered in this restaurant.

There were martial artists dressed in all manner of clothing, richly attired merchants, and several scions of great families who appeared to be of extraordinary status.

These people gathered in twos and threes, conversing in low voices.

"Have you heard? The grand finale item at Treasure Pavilion's auction tomorrow is a divine weapon!"

"What divine weapon?"

"I heard it was the personal sword used by the former dynasty's Marquis of Tiannan, called Seven Kill. This sword followed the Marquis of Tiannan across battlefields and slew countless enemies. The blade itself carries Killing Intent—ordinary martial artists cannot even hold it steady."

"The former dynasty's Marquis of Tiannan? He was a powerhouse who surpassed the Zhuqi Realm and reached the Grandmaster Ninth Layer. Tiannan Prefecture was his fief. But after the former dynasty was overthrown, flames of war rose across the land, and the Marquis of Tiannan met with an accident as well. How did his personal sword end up at Treasure Pavilion, and why would they put it up for auction?"

"Who knows? But a treasure of that level is only for us to look at. We can't afford it."

Chen Xuan sat by a window on the second floor of the restaurant. He ordered a pot of tea and several signature dishes, eating at an unhurried pace.

The discussions of these wandering martial artists filled his ears. He listened while filtering out useful information in his mind.

"Seven Kill Sword!"

Chen Xuan raised his teacup and took a sip, his heart stirring faintly.

He had not expected Treasure Pavilion to auction off even such a divine weapon.

But it had nothing to do with him.

He could not afford such a treasure.

"Other than the Seven Kill Sword, what other good things are there at this auction?"

Someone asked.

"There are plenty." One lean, tall man counted on his fingers. "Marrow Cleansing Pills that can improve one's innate talent, Pulse Breaking Pills that can help Ninth Layer of Body Tempering martial artists open their qi meridians, superior Zhuqi Realm cultivation techniques, top-grade weapons..."

"As expected of the auction held once every half year. Treasure Pavilion has actually brought out so many good things. Many powers beneath Tiannan Prefecture have sent people to attend."

Someone sighed in admiration.

"Marrow Cleansing Pill!"

Chen Xuan's heart stirred.

The Marrow Cleansing Pill was his true goal.

After eating and drinking his fill, Chen Xuan found an inn to stay at and waited for Treasure Pavilion's auction to begin the next day.

The next day.

Three quarters into the hour of the Dragon.

Chen Xuan changed into a clean set of clothes, tucked his banknotes and gold leaves close to his body, and walked out of the inn.

A long line had already formed outside Treasure Pavilion, all people who had come to attend the auction.

There were wealthy merchants dressed in splendid brocade robes, martial artists with calm and steady demeanors, and scions of great families who appeared to be of extraordinary status.

Chen Xuan joined the back of the line and followed along at an unhurried pace.

The line slowly moved forward.

A quarter of an hour later, it was Chen Xuan's turn.

He paid the entrance fee of fifty taels of silver, received a numbered token, and headed up to the auction hall on the third floor.

The entrance fee alone was enough to stop the majority of Body Tempering martial artists in their tracks.

The auction hall was a spacious chamber. A raised platform stood in the center, upon which was placed a long table draped in red velvet.

Rows of seats lay beneath the platform, and quite a few people were already seated.

Chen Xuan found a corner seat in the back rows and quietly waited for the auction to begin.

Two quarters of an hour later.

The auction hall was full.

A middle-aged man in a brocade robe stepped onto the platform. With a beaming smile, he cupped his hands and said, "Welcome, everyone, to Treasure Pavilion's semiannual auction. I am Zhou Wenbin, a steward of Treasure Pavilion. I will be presiding over today's auction."

Zhou Wenbin paused, swept his gaze across the people in the hall, and continued, "Without further nonsense, let us look at the first auction item."

He clapped his hands, and a maid walked up carrying a tray covered with red cloth.

Zhou Wenbin lifted the red cloth, revealing a longsword that was silver-white from hilt to tip.

"The first auction item is the Superior Weapon Hanfeng Sword. Its blade was forged from Century Cold Iron, able to slice through hair blown against it and cut iron like mud. The starting price is three thousand taels, with each bid increase no less than one hundred taels."

The moment his words fell, the hall immediately erupted.

"Three thousand one hundred taels!"

"Three thousand two hundred taels!"

"Three thousand three hundred taels!"

"..."

Bids rose one after another.

Chen Xuan watched quietly without bidding.

His target was the Marrow Cleansing Pill. Once he had secured it, he would see whether he had any silver left over to buy a fine sword.

The first auction item was ultimately sold for five thousand taels to a burly martial artist.

The next few items were weapons, pills, and the like. Chen Xuan had no interest in them.

Still, every treasure brought to auction was worth several thousand taels of silver. There was not a single item worth merely a few hundred taels.

That continued until the seventh auction item.

Zhou Wenbin clapped his hands again, and a maid stepped forward carrying a tray. Ten white jade porcelain bottles sat upon it.

"The seventh auction item: ten Marrow Cleansing Pills." Zhou Wenbin raised his voice slightly. "There is no need for me to explain the effects of Marrow Cleansing Pills. Martial artists with low or Medium Bone Aptitude can take them to improve their aptitude. The ten pills will be auctioned separately. The starting price is ten thousand taels, with each increase no less than one thousand taels."

The hall fell quiet for a moment.

Then an even greater uproar erupted.

"Eleven thousand taels!"

"Twelve thousand taels!"

"Fifteen thousand taels!"

The bidding was several times fiercer than before.

Chen Xuan did not rush to bid.

He sat quietly in the corner, listening to the bids rise and fall as the price quickly climbed to twenty-one thousand taels.

Half the bidders had dropped out.

By the time it reached twenty-five thousand taels, only two people remained in the bidding.

"Twenty-six thousand taels!"

A middle-aged man in a black brocade robe raised his token.

"Twenty-seven thousand taels!"

An old man with white hair refused to yield.

"Thirty thousand taels!"

A calm voice sounded from a corner of the hall.

The gazes of the guests in several nearby rows turned toward the back.

Chen Xuan held up his numbered token, his expression calm.

The white-haired old man hesitated before lowering his token.

"Thirty-one thousand taels!"

After hesitating, the middle-aged man in the black brocade robe raised his token.

"Thirty-two thousand taels!"

Chen Xuan raised his token again without the slightest hesitation.

"Thirty-two thousand taels!" Excitement entered Zhou Wenbin's voice as he called out, "Any higher bids?"

The middle-aged man in the black brocade robe had a face as dark as iron. He hesitated for a long time, but ultimately did not raise his token.

"Thirty-two thousand taels, sold!" Zhou Wenbin brought down the hammer. "Congratulations to this young master for obtaining the first Marrow Cleansing Pill."

Chen Xuan stood and walked to the front desk. He took out a stack of banknotes from his robes, counted out thirty-two thousand taels, and handed them to Zhou Wenbin.

Zhou Wenbin accepted the banknotes and checked their authenticity, then handed Chen Xuan a white jade porcelain bottle.

"Young master, please keep it safe."

Chen Xuan took the bottle and opened its stopper to smell it.

A rich medicinal fragrance rushed into his nose. The bottle indeed contained a Marrow Cleansing Pill. He tucked the porcelain bottle close to his body and left the auction hall directly.