Arrogantly Overbearing

"Five hundred million gold coins, the total two-year tribute of the empires under the Mystic Pattern Sect's command, seven Mystic Pattern refining techniques of the Mystic Pattern Sect comparable to high-tier Earth-grade, twenty tier-six medicinal pills, and fifty tier-7 monster cores," the maid outside VIP room number one replied truthfully.

Even Xue Ningyi's breathing turned involuntarily ragged upon hearing such an offer. Even He Kui, the Dou Zun standing beside her, stared fixedly at VIP room number one as if guarding against something.

Xu Chengzze's brow was almost knitted into a knot, and Su Zhang smiled bitterly, "Has this Lu Huangtian gone mad?"

Just a moment ago, the six major factions had bid in turns. Although the Heroes Alliance lacked competitiveness due to having bled heavily just now, and Echo Valley and the Heavenly Snake Mansion had no plans to buy due to Xiao Xun's reminder, everyone tacitly understood the game of driving up the price.

Yet while the five major factions continuously frictioned and raised their offers, VIP room number one struck with a hammer and hurled out the current bid.

"One billion gold coins—the tribute value of the subordinate empires for two years already exceeds one billion. The Mystic Pattern Sect possesses a total of fifteen pattern-refining techniques that are never passed down externally, ten of which cannot be practiced by anyone without the surname Lu. As for the twenty tier-six medicinal pills and fifty tier-7 monster cores, they can practically hollow out half of the Mystic Pattern Sect's treasury," Xu Yingwu did not forget to explain to Xiao Yan and the others.

"The others are fine, but for them to dare bring out Mystic Pattern refining techniques—and seven of them at that—something is wrong with the Mystic Pattern Sect..." Xu Chengzze did not have a shred of joy on his face about tricking the Mystic Pattern Sect. When things go against the norm, monsters are bound to appear.

The same incomprehension played out inside the other VIP rooms. It was not that the Mystic Pattern Sect's bid was high; it was that it was high to the point of unreasonableness.

"President Xue, I wonder if my Mystic Pattern Sect's bid can be considered higher than the previous one's?"

Lu Zhi appeared outside the door of VIP room number one in a wide robe, his long hair falling loose. His wide robe was untidy, draped casually over him, which, paired with his looks, possessed a unique charm.

"Who is this? Lu Huangtian is so young?"

"Heh, you really are a bumpkin. This is Sect Master Lu Huangtian's son, the young master of the Mystic Pattern Sect, Lu Zhi."

"Can he make the decisions?"

The person beside him rolled their eyes repeatedly, "I beg you to walk around outside more often. Lu Zhi is the number one person of the younger generation who suppressed Xu Yingwu, Wan Qing, and Shi Meng, and even directly slaughtered a Dou Zun powerhouse! He is the nailed-down next sect master of the Mystic Pattern Sect."

Xue Ningyi on the stage also realized her momentary lapse just now, bowing gracefully to apologize, "It was this humble self who lost her composure. Young Master Lu's increased bid is successful. Are there any higher bids?"

Although there was fundamentally no suspense whatsoever, Xue Ningyi still asked the price three times.

"Since there are no higher bids, the Emperor Essence Fruit is won by Young Master Lu!"

Lu Zhi looked at the Emperor Essence Fruit in Xue Ningyi's hand, a trace of hard-to-detect greed and fanaticism flashing through his eyes.

Then, as if remembering something, he grinned and said, "President Xue, the maids cultivated by the Chamber of Commerce are not bad. Just now, I used them to practice the Bloodthirsty Pattern. Name a price for the compensation, and my Mystic Pattern Sect will pay it together later."

Xue Ningyi's delicate brows furrowed upon hearing these words. Everyone in the Northwest Region knew that the Mystic Pattern Sect possessed fifteen pattern-refining techniques, which were the foundation of the sect. Each method of cultivation and strengthening varied, but the cruelest was this Bloodthirsty Pattern. The strengthening required draining the vital blood while the living person's emotions were in an extreme state of intensity, and the deceased were extremely miserable before dying.

Absorbing two maids in front of so many people was bluntly slapping the Gold Alliance Chamber of Commerce in the face.

He Kui at the side stepped forward, looked at Lu Zhi, and said, "Young man, having money and power does not mean you can do whatever you want in the Gold Alliance Chamber of Commerce."

He Kui's moniker of Slayer Hand was won entirely through punching and killing his way through his youth. The moment he stood before Lu Zhi, an invisible pressure swept out. The expressions of the four old men behind Lu Zhi all changed, and Lu Chen even had to summon Dou Qi to resist this pressure.

Yet Lu Zhi did not move. Not only did he not move, but he also appeared at ease.

"Presumably the senior is the renowned Slayer Hand He Kui. Though lacking in talent, Lu Zhi wishes to request instruction from senior!" The heaven-shaking words spilled from Lu Zhi's mouth.

Even the four old men were startled and hurried forward, only to be stopped by Lu Zhi.

Many people in the auction house who thought everything had settled and were preparing to leave immediately sat back down upon hearing this, watching the center of the arena.

"Challenging a Dou Zun—has Lu Zhi gone mad?"

"Is this the daring of the number one person of the younger generation in the Northwest Region?"

"Dou Zong are like mud-molded figures, isn't he, a Dou Emperor, going up there to court death?"

"Lu Zhi is a junior after all, He Kui can't possibly go all out!"

Not only ordinary people were shocked, but even Xu Yingwu, who belonged to the same younger generation, smiled bitterly, "Lu Zhi really is a madman!"

"Challenging a Dou Zun, isn't that courting death?" Zi Yan pouted as she complained. She had never had a good impression of people from the Mystic Pattern Sect.

Xu Yingwu shook his head, "Just now, He Kui evaluated him as having money and power, yet he is using action to prove to He Kui that he has strength! Furthermore, constrained by background issues, He Kui won't truly kill him."

Xiao Yan sighed as he looked at Lu Zhi. This world was never short of geniuses!

He Kui's eyes narrowed. He quite admired the brat before him, considering that he himself had been a fearless, reckless punk back in the day.

"Young man, you are a junior after all. If you apologize to me, I can forgive your previous reckless behavior."

Lu Zhi extended a single hand forward, "Please enlighten me, Senior He Kui!"

Most people drew in a sharp breath. Requesting instruction from a senior was done with a cupped-fist salute; with one hand extended forward, Lu Zhi could already be said to be carrying out a blatant act of humiliation.

A measure of anger rose in He Kui's heart as well. No matter how much he admired Lu Zhi, he could not allow such a junior to ride over his head and act willfully.

"I will suppress my realm to the Dou Emperor stage. If you can take one move of mine, today's matter is settled." He Kui condensed mighty Dou Qi upon his right hand, his voice turning frigid.

Although he said he was suppressing his realm, He Kui's Dou Qi remained at the Dou Zun stage, coupled with rich combat techniques.

Judging from the condensed Dou Qi energy, it was no less than the full-strength strike of a low-star Dou Zun.

A massive amount of Dou Qi gathered upon He Kui's right hand, yet not a single sliver leaked outward. He Kui's right hand had turned a blackish-gray hue, no less than a divine weapon capable of cleaving stones and snapping gold.

"Ghostly Black Hand!"

He Kui clawed down with one hand. Although the speed could be described as extremely slow, a sense of suffocation—that there was nowhere to run and no place to hide—suddenly arose in the hearts of most people. When they closed their eyes to await death, they suddenly discovered that the target of the attack was not them at all. Turning to look at the people beside them, most were breaking out in cold sweat.

Beneath Lu Zhi's wide robe, dense and abstruse patterns covered his body. With both palms thrust out to meet He Kui, Lu Zhi's wide robe snapped loudly under the force brought by the hand. Under the collision of Dou Qi, he was directly blown flying by He Kui's single strike.

Two tracks nearly half an inch long appeared on the expensive ground beneath Lu Zhi's feet. Next, he collided with the wall of VIP room number one. The expensive Black Spirit Stone could not withstand the pressure either, fracturing and finally shattering into a ground full of debris amidst a loud bang.

Dust billowed for a time, and everyone looking at the ruins of VIP room number one secretly swallowed a mouthful of saliva. A Dou Zun powerhouse—terrifying to this extent!

The four old men instantly flashed into the VIP room, but before they could begin searching,

Lu Zhi slowly walked out from the center of the dust, his wide robe shattered beyond recognition.

His aura was also somewhat withered. From between the torn garments, the patterns on Lu Zhi's body slowly dissipated.

Blood stained the corners of Lu Zhi's mouth, his gaze filled with arrogance. A bloody pattern appeared at the edge of his lips, and the blood at the corner of Lu Zhi's mouth was also devoured.

"Thank you, Senior, for your guidance!"