Shi Teng's hidden wealth shocked the Fire Kingdom's powerhouses

Song Que, head of the Song family, chuckled and told the others, "Since this young fellow is so sincere, why don't we let him have this Azure Flood Dragon Vine seedling?"

Huo Wushuang, dean of Blazing Fire Academy, chimed in, "Exactly. It's rare to find someone so fond of this Azure Flood Dragon Vine seedling. Let's not trip him up!"

Wicked grins spread across the other middle-aged men's faces.

"Let's see how he produces a million Fire Spirit Stones!"

"The Azure Flood Dragon Vine is a fine thing, but look at him. His ancestors were probably trash, too. What ancient divine ability could he possibly awaken?"

The surrounding spectators all waited for a good show.

In the Fire Kingdom, even the great aristocratic clans couldn't easily produce a million Fire Spirit Stones, let alone an unremarkable-looking boy.

He was even dressed in beast hide, though the material did look rather good.

The auctioneer frowned, wondering how the two guards were doing their jobs to have let this boy inside.

The starting bid was a million Fire Spirit Stones. If the other clan leaders competed for it, the First-Rank Tower would surely make a handsome profit.

If the other family heads didn't bid, then after accounting for labor costs, there would be practically no profit in this Azure Flood Dragon Vine seedling.

After all, five Inscription Realm experts and one Array Formation Realm expert from the First-Rank Tower had joined forces to snatch this Azure Flood Dragon Vine seedling from an ancient pure-blooded Fierce Beast, a Taotie, on Grand Deity Mountain.

The First-Rank Tower had even lost an Array Formation Realm expert in the process.

The auctioneer cleared his throat twice before continuing, "Young friend, have you thought this through? According to the First-Rank Tower's rules, payment and goods must change hands together.

"A million Fire Spirit Stones is a considerable sum. Can you really produce that much?"

Shi Teng snorted. "Who are you looking down on? I'm taking this Azure Flood Dragon Vine seedling!"

The auctioneer paused. Judging by Shi Teng's firm tone, perhaps this fellow really could produce a million Fire Spirit Stones.

After all, the Desolate Region was boundless, and countless ancient clans possessed deep reserves. A million Fire Spirit Stones wasn't much to them.

"Very well. Please take out your Fire Spirit Stones. Once we've verified them, we'll hand over the Azure Flood Dragon Vine seedling!"

Shi Teng leaped onto the counter and said in a low voice, "I don't have any Fire Spirit Stones."

Everyone looked briefly startled, then burst into laughter.

"Did this boy come here to crack jokes?"

The auctioneer froze as well. "Guards, throw this boy out!"

Whoosh!

In an instant, a Cave Heaven Realm cultivator appeared before Shi Teng.

He reached for Shi Teng's shoulder with one hand, intending to throw him out of the First-Rank Tower.

But when the fellow exerted force with both hands, he discovered that Shi Teng's body was like a mountain, utterly immovable.

The fellow froze, then gritted his teeth and put every ounce of strength into it, yet still couldn't budge Shi Teng.

It was easier to shake Mount Tai than to shake Shi Teng!

Seeing this, the guard immediately kicked his right foot at Shi Teng's legs, intending to knock him down before throwing him out.

His kick landed on Shi Teng's calf, but Shi Teng remained completely motionless.

Shi Teng's body gave a slight tremor, and the Cave Heaven Realm cultivator was instantly sent flying.

Shock once again appeared on everyone's faces.

To possess such cultivation at his young age, his talent was indeed impressive. They wondered which family he came from.

Just then, someone recognized Shi Teng.

"Shi Teng! He's Shi Teng, the one who crippled both arms of Su Lie, the Marquis of Zhenyuan, and fought the Su Family Ancestor!"

An uproar erupted!

The crowd erupted once again.

Tales of Shi Teng's heroic deeds had spread throughout practically the entire Fire Kingdom. Many experts even considered missing his battle with the Su Family Ancestor one of their greatest regrets in life.

Indeed, heroes had emerged from the young since ancient times!

Everyone's words instantly turned to praise, without the slightest trace of mockery.

Watching the crowd chatter, the auctioneer found himself in a difficult position. "Even if he's Shi Teng, he still has to pay!"

Shi Teng said, "When did I ever say I wouldn't pay? I, Shi Teng, never board first and buy my ticket afterward!

"Didn't you just say that items of equal value could be used in exchange?"

The auctioneer looked bewildered, then nodded slightly.

What rare treasure worth a million Fire Spirit Stones could a boy his age possibly produce?

Shi Teng tugged at his clothes and shook them, spilling treasures all over the floor. They were all things he considered useless; he had already put away everything useful.

At first, everyone found the sight rather chaotic.

This boy really has some nerve, trying to trade a pile of rubbish for an Azure Flood Dragon Vine seedling. That's an immortal vine!

But after taking a closer look, everyone froze in shock.

This...

"A hundred-thousand-year immortal herb, a cockscomb phoenix sunflower!"

"A fire-element divine-grade treasure, the Heaven-Burning Cauldron!"

"A pure essence treasure, the Sky Phoenix Void-Shattering Bow!"

"Is that... an egg?"

"Look at those fiery-red scales covering it. That's no ordinary egg!"

"I can sense the aura of an Ancient Fierce Beast coming from it!"

At the sight of the rare treasures scattered across the floor, the Fire Kingdom's great families all went wild.

Their families had legacies stretching back hundreds of years, yet they weren't even as wealthy as this young fellow. Just who in the world was this boy?

Huo Ling'er froze as well when she saw the enormous fiery-red egg among Shi Teng's odds and ends.

She could actually sense a close connection between herself and that enormous fiery-red egg.

Shi Teng cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "Pick whatever you like. Just make up a million Fire Spirit Stones!"

The auctioneer froze again. He was only responsible for conducting auctions; treasure appraisal wasn't his specialty.

Before the auctioneer could speak, a white-haired old man approached from the back of the auction hall and said in a low voice, "There's no need for anything else. This egg alone will do!"

Master Gu Qinghe.

At the sight of Master Gu, everyone's expressions shifted once again. He was a senior treasure appraiser of the First-Rank Tower. Any treasure he appraised was guaranteed to be correctly identified.

The fact that this egg had caught his eye was enough to prove it was extraordinary.

The Song family head spoke up. "Master Gu, is this the egg of an Ancient Fierce Beast?"

Master Gu raised his hand slightly and said in a low voice, "I have nothing to disclose!"

With that, he reached for the egg.

Only then did Shi Teng notice Huo Ling'er.

Her eyes were fixed on the fiery-red egg, too, and she seemed desperately eager to obtain it.

Shi Teng recalled that this was a treasure he had obtained by signing in inside Huo Ling'er's bedchamber.

Moreover, this Vermilion Bird Egg should be of tremendous help to Huo Ling'er's cultivation.

Seeing Master Gu reach for the Vermilion Bird Egg, Shi Teng suddenly pressed a hand down on it and said amiably, "Sorry, anything else is fine, but not this egg!"

Master Gu's expression shifted slightly, and a fierce glint shot from his deep-set eyes.

He himself was also an Array Formation Realm expert.

"I'm only interested in this egg!"

At the Fire Kingdom Imperial Palace, the Primordial Vermilion Bird sensed the Vermilion Bird Egg's aura. A streak of fiery light shot into the sky and headed straight for the First-Rank Tower.

Shock appeared on the Fire Emperor's face as well.

His wife had always cultivated in the Vermilion Bird Hall and never set foot outside it. Why had she suddenly left today?

He immediately followed her.

"This belongs to me. If I say yes, it's yes. If I say no, it's no!"

A sinister amusement appeared in Master Gu's eyes as he slowly withdrew his withered hand. "Then you'd better think carefully. If you can't bear to part with this egg, this Azure Flood Dragon Vine seedling will belong to someone else!"

Shi Teng glanced back at Huo Ling'er, then said firmly, "Then I don't need it. It's only a seedling. I can find one myself!"

Master Gu snorted, his tone laden with mockery. "Boy, aren't you being a little too arrogant? Do you think an Azure Flood Dragon Vine seedling is that easy to find?"

"I'll buy this Azure Flood Dragon Vine seedling for him!"