Chen Xuan left through the back door of the Treasure Pavilion.
He wound through the streets and alleys of the prefectural city, confirming that no one was following him before finding a secluded inn to stay in.
"Marrow Cleansing Pill..."
Chen Xuan poured the pill from the porcelain bottle and examined it closely.
Fine patterns covered the pill's surface, like the meridians of a human body. It gave off a faint fragrance that left one feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and swallowed the pill.
The pill melted the moment it entered his mouth, turning into a warm current that flowed down his throat into his stomach before spreading through his limbs and bones.
"Ugh—"
Chen Xuan let out a muffled groan, cold sweat instantly covering his forehead.
Cleansing the marrow and reshaping the bones—how could that be easy?
Wherever that warmth passed, it felt as though countless fine needles were piercing him at once. From skin to muscle, from bones to organs, there was nowhere that did not hurt.
Chen Xuan clenched his teeth, sat cross-legged, and circulated the Vajra Technique's mental method, guiding the medicinal power through his body.
Half an hour later.
A layer of pitch-black filth covered Chen Xuan's skin, releasing a pungent, fishy stench. Those were the impurities expelled from within his body.
"Medium Bone Aptitude!"
At this moment, Chen Xuan felt incomparably light and clear, as though a heavy burden had suddenly been lifted from him.
He could sense that his once thin and feeble energy channels had become far tougher. Though he still could not compare with those geniuses blessed with superior and Transcendent Bone Aptitude, he was no longer utterly ordinary.
Medium Bone Aptitude gave one the potential of an average person.
Host: Chen Xuan Fate: Zhaoxi Bizheng Bone Aptitude: Medium Realm: Ninth Layer of Body Tempering (Huajin) Martial Arts: Giant Whale Body Refining Technique / Ninth Layer, Mountain Crushing Fist / Mastery, Vajra Technique / Fourth Layer (Energy Channels Opened: 1/36), Nine Shadow Killing Sword / First Layer Mastery Zhaoxi Value: 9
"My bone aptitude really improved!"
Chen Xuan looked at the panel, a flicker of delight crossing his eyes.
A Bone Aptitude entry had appeared on the panel, and the aptitude displayed there had reached the medium level.
"Let's see the effects!"
With a thought from Chen Xuan.
All nine points of Zhaoxi Value were used to improve the Vajra Technique.
Buzz—
Chen Xuan's body shuddered as countless insights flooded into his mind. The changes brought by his Medium Bone Aptitude immediately became apparent. What had originally taken a year of grueling cultivation to open a single energy channel now took only three months.
A year of hard cultivation could open four energy channels, while nine years of hard cultivation was enough to open all thirty-six.
The instant the thirty-sixth energy channel opened, Chen Xuan felt as though his body had exploded.
The thirty-six energy channels crisscrossed and formed an intricate net within his body. Force energy surged through them, flowing several times faster than before.
Once, twice, three times...
After thirty-six cycles, energy condensed into true qi.
The first wisp of true qi was born within his dantian.
It was as thin as a strand of hair, yet dozens of times more solid than force energy. A faint golden gleam flowed over its surface, warm and weighty, like the first ray of sunlight cast by the rising dawn.
With the first wisp came the second, then the third... More and more force energy was transformed into true qi.
Rather than gathering in his dantian, this true qi traveled through his internal organs, limbs, and bones, further tempering his fleshly body.
For the Vajra Technique, the Body Tempering Realm was merely the beginning.
Upon reaching the Zhuqi Realm, one had to temper the physique with true qi day and night. Only upon attaining the Spotless Glazed Body, immunity to all poisons, and an indestructible vajra body could it be considered mastery.
Elsewhere.
The Treasure Pavilion auction had also reached its final stage.
The atmosphere in the hall was even more fervent than before, because the final auction item—the Seven Kill Sword—was about to appear.
Zhou Wenbin, the Treasure Pavilion's steward, stood upon the high platform. His expression was far more solemn than before. He clapped his hands, and four maidservants jointly carried up a long sword case.
The sword case was crafted entirely from red sandalwood, its surface carved with intricate patterns and giving off a faint sandalwood scent.
"Everyone, the final auction item of this auction is next." Zhou Wenbin raised his voice. "The former Marquis of Tiannan's personal sword—the Seven Kill Sword!"
With that, he personally opened the sword case.
A pitch-black longsword lay quietly within. Its blade bore no decorations and was so plain it was almost crude.
Yet the instant the sword case opened, an invisible Killing Intent emanated from the blade and spread throughout the entire hall.
The expressions of several lower-cultivation martial artists in the front rows changed drastically. They instinctively leaned back, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
"What heavy Killing Intent."
"So this is the Seven Kill Sword? Its reputation truly precedes it!"
"The Killing Intent alone makes it hard to breathe. An ordinary person simply cannot wield this sword."
Only after the Killing Intent had dispersed somewhat did Zhou Wenbin continue, "The Seven Kill Sword begins at one million taels. Each bid must increase by no less than one hundred thousand taels.
"Now, the bidding begins!"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
One million taels was a figure that made most people abandon all thought of bidding. Only Zhuqi Realm experts were qualified to compete.
"One million one hundred thousand taels."
A deep voice came from a private room upstairs.
"One million two hundred thousand taels."
A bid sounded from another direction.
"One million three hundred thousand taels."
"One million four hundred thousand taels."
Bids rose and fell between the private rooms. The people in the hall could only listen with their heads tilted back; they did not even have the right to interject.
The price soared all the way upward.
In the end, it sold for three million five hundred thousand taels.
Zhou Wenbin brought down the hammer, a trace of tremor in his voice.
Three million five hundred thousand taels.
This was the highest price achieved by a single auction item at the Treasure Pavilion in nearly a decade.
Everyone's gaze turned toward the private room in the corner, wanting to see who could spend so lavishly.
The curtain of the private room lifted, and a figure walked out.
The man was tall and wore a faded gray robe washed nearly white. His features were ordinary, his hair grizzled. He looked like an unremarkable old man, yet no one dared look down on him.
After all, could someone who casually produced three million five hundred thousand taels of silver be an ordinary old man?
The old man ignored everyone's stares, walked to the high platform, and removed the Seven Kill Sword from its case.
The instant his fingers touched the hilt, the Seven Kill Sword's Killing Intent erupted violently. Tangible black mist surged from the blade.
"Fine sword!"
The old man spoke softly, his voice very quiet.
Yet in the silent hall, everyone heard him with perfect clarity.
"I'm glad you like it, Senior." Zhou Wenbin smiled obsequiously and cupped his hands. "According to the rules, it is three million five hundred thousand taels. Would you prefer to pay with silver notes or gold notes? The Treasure Pavilion also accepts other rare treasures, though they will be valued according to the Treasure Pavilion's appraisal."
The old man did not answer.
Holding the Seven Kill Sword, he gently ran his fingers over its blade, as though caressing a lost treasure that had finally been recovered.
The Seven Kill Sword's Killing Intent flowed around his palm. Black mist wrapped around his wrist, yet could not harm him in the slightest.
"Senior?" Zhou Wenbin's smile stiffened somewhat. "This sword... do you still want it?"
"I do!" The old man raised his head and glanced at Zhou Wenbin. "Of course I do."
"Then the silver..."
"I have none."
Zhou Wenbin's smile froze completely.
"Senior, what do you mean by this?" Zhou Wenbin's voice turned cold. "The Treasure Pavilion's rule is payment in one hand, goods in the other. If you cannot produce the silver, then the Seven Kill Sword cannot be given to you."
"Rules?" A mocking smile appeared at the old man's lips. His tone abruptly turned icy, and his gaze swept across Zhou Wenbin's face like a blade. "Twenty-five years ago, when something happened to the Marquis, you jackals stormed the Marquis of Tiannan's Mansion and looted its wealth, committing every evil imaginable. And you still dare speak of rules before me?"
"Y-you're from the Marquis of Tiannan's Mansion?"
Zhou Wenbin's expression changed, and he subconsciously took a step back.
"This old man did not come today to buy a sword." The old man did not answer and simply continued. "The Seven Kill Sword belonged to the Marquis of Tiannan's Mansion in the first place. This old man merely came to reclaim what belongs to his family. As for you jackals, today, this old man shall collect a little interest."
Before his words had faded, the Seven Kill Sword had already transformed into a streak of black light, shooting straight for Zhou Wenbin's throat.
Before the sword arrived, its towering Killing Intent had already pressed down on Zhou Wenbin like something tangible, making it difficult for him to breathe, as though an invisible hand were choking his throat.
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