The Fight for Divine Intent Diagrams (Third Update, Please Follow, Please Vote)

Everyone in the hall was secretly calculating.

For the sake of the Divine Intent Diagrams, they had to conserve their strength. They could not miss the chance to fight for them because of a momentary impulse.

Thus, after Zhou Qing bid 160,000 taels, although some were itching to make a move, they ultimately chose silence.

Seeing this, the old man on the auction stage began the countdown. "160,000 taels, going once. 160,000 taels, going twice..."

"160,000 taels, going three times!"

"Sold!"

As the old man's hammer fell upon the auction stage, Zhou Qing won the Thunderclap Art.

Next, three more first-rate Internal Arts went up for auction, selling for 150,000 taels, 160,000 taels, and 155,000 taels respectively.

All the first-rate Internal Arts had been auctioned off.

Next came several unusual arts and secret techniques.

Zhou Qing spent 100,000 taels of silver to acquire the Nine Character True Word Seal Fragment. Fortunately, the officials of Black Stone County had failed to recognize its worth and did not know the Nine Syllable Mantra Seal's true value, treating it as an ordinary secret technique.

Had they known, they would never have placed it in the martial arts treasury.

Once the unusual arts and secret techniques had been auctioned off, it was time for the finale—the Divine Intent Diagrams.

"Everyone, the grand finale of this auction is a Divine Intent Diagram!"

The old man on the auction stage smiled faintly and unfurled the scroll in his hand.

As the scroll opened, an incomparably sharp aura erupted from it, shooting into the heavens and shrouding the entire auction hall.

The scroll seemed to contain boundless mysteries of the Sword Dao. A single glance made one feel as though their soul would be pierced through by a sharp sword. It was not merely their souls—everyone felt as though their bodies were about to be sliced apart.

This was true Artistic Conception power, capable of affecting reality.

Swish!

The next moment, the old man on the auction stage rolled up the scroll.

"A Divine Intent Diagram. This is a Divine Intent Diagram."

The auction hall fell silent. Everyone was stunned by the Sword Dao artistic conception displayed by that scroll moments ago.

Before this power of Artistic Conception, even First-rate Martial Artists who had grasped Seeds of Artistic Conception would be utterly vulnerable.

"Unfortunately, it's a Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao."

"We do not cultivate the Sword Dao, nor have we comprehended sword intent. Even if we win the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao, it would be useless to us."

"I heard that the master of Hidden Sword Manor came in person this time. Hidden Sword Manor is a first-rate force in Yuanzhou dedicated to the Sword Dao. They will certainly fight for the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao with everything they have."

"Besides Hidden Sword Manor, Sword Maniac Mo Tianlin, ranked eleventh on the Human Ranking, has also come. He will definitely make a move for the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao."

"Sword Maniac Mo Tianlin has already grasped an Embryo of Artistic Conception, though it is not yet stable. If he can obtain the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao, he will surely step into the Xiantian Realm."

"The Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao is far too tempting for Sword Maniac Mo Tianlin. I'm afraid he will pay any price to seize it."

"Though Hidden Sword Manor is a first-rate force, ever since the Innate Grandmaster Sword-Hiding Elder passed away three years ago, it has had no Innate Grandmaster to preside over it. Its strength is nowhere near what it once was. If not for the many favors Sword-Hiding Elder left behind during his lifetime and his good relations with the major forces, Hidden Sword Manor would have long since been carved up. So long as he can obtain the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao this time, Sword Maniac Mo Tianlin need not fear Hidden Sword Manor."

"Besides Hidden Sword Manor and Sword Maniac Mo Tianlin, Skybreaker Sword Fang Qinghua, a true disciple of the Myriad Sword Sect, has also come."

"The Myriad Sword Sect is one of the three great sword sects. Though Skybreaker Sword Fang Qinghua is only ranked near the bottom of the Human Ranking, that is merely because he lacks achievements. If he wished, he could enter the top twenty of the Human Ranking at any time. He is no weaker than Sword Maniac Mo Tianlin."

"..."

The auction hall buzzed with discussion.

Martial artists who did not cultivate the Sword Dao had little interest in the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao. Even if they won it, it would be of little use to them.

Yet to martial artists who cultivated the Sword Dao, the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao was undoubtedly the supreme treasure of their dreams.

The sword intent contained within it could help them comprehend the true essence of the Sword Dao and increase the power of their sword techniques.

"After inspection by this pavilion's Innate Grandmaster, the sword intent within this Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao can remain in this world for one year. The starting bid is 300,000 taels, and each increase must be no less than 10,000 taels!"

The old man's voice rang out from the auction stage, reaching every person's ears.

The moment his words fell, the auction hall stirred.

300,000 taels was no small sum, but for martial artists who cultivated the Sword Dao, the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao was worth the gamble.

"310,000 taels!"

A booming voice rang out. Following the sound, the crowd saw a stern-faced middle-aged man rise to his feet. It was Sword Maniac Mo Tianlin.

His desire for the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao had clearly reached the point where he could no longer wait.

"320,000 taels!"

Another voice sounded. It was Skybreaker Sword Fang Qinghua, the Myriad Sword Sect's true disciple. His features were handsome, his gaze carried a sharp edge, and his entire person was like a drawn sword.

"500,000 taels!"

The master of Hidden Sword Manor raised the bid by more than 100,000 taels the moment he spoke, his voice carrying an unquestionable determination.

As the master of Hidden Sword Manor, his desire for the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao was naturally just as intense. Hidden Sword Manor was in desperate need of a new Innate Grandmaster to hold the fort.

As the saying went, when the man left, the tea grew cold. The goodwill left behind by Sword-Hiding Elder alone could not protect Hidden Sword Manor for long.

To forge iron, one must be strong oneself.

In the end, Hidden Sword Manor purchased the Divine Intent Diagram of the Sword Dao for 800,000 taels.

Next came the second diagram, the Flame Divine Intent Diagram. In the end, it was bought by the first-rate force Blazing Fire Sect of Flame Province for 830,000 taels.

The third Wave Divine Intent Diagram, and also the final Divine Intent Diagram, was purchased by Wanzhou's Canghai Sect for the astronomical price of 880,000 taels.

With the ownership of the three Divine Intent Diagrams settled and the final one taken into Canghai Sect's possession, this auction held by Four Seas Pavilion came to an end.

At this time,

the people of Four Seas Auction Hall brought over the items he had won, and Zhou Qing promptly paid the corresponding silver.

If one could not pay the silver,

then one could only work for Four Seas Pavilion for the rest of one's life.

As a first-rate force with an Innate Grandmaster presiding over it, Four Seas Pavilion possessed deep foundations. Whoever dared bid recklessly only to be unable to pay afterward, Four Seas Pavilion had plenty of ways to make them serve it and repay the debt.

Thunderclap Art / Not Initiated

Nine Character True Word Seal Fragment / Zhe Character Seal (Not Initiated)

"No problem!"

Zhou Qing carefully flipped through them once, then nodded.

"Take care, honored guest."

"We welcome you to attend our next auction, honored guest."

The palace-dressed maid smiled gently, her voice soft as she escorted Zhou Qing out through the gates of the Four Seas Auction.

After leaving the Four Seas Auction, Zhou Qing saw many wandering martial artists departing in haste, and a contemplative look appeared on his face.

The fight within the auction was over. Now came the fight outside it!

Winning the corresponding treasures at the auction meant one possessed abundant wealth, but whether one could protect those treasures depended on one's strength.

In this martial world, strength reigned supreme. Wealth might be important, but without matching strength, it was ultimately nothing but a flower reflected in a mirror, a moon in the water.