The auction... begins

"Welcome, everyone, to the Profound Heaven Auction House for tonight's auction..."

Xiang Yin recited her lines onstage, her voice lilting and her smile sweet.

As she began speaking,

the entire auction house gradually quieted down.

Everyone stared at her without blinking, eagerly awaiting the first item of the auction.

Among them,

the masters of the two major auction houses wore unreadable looks, dangerous glints flashing in their eyes from time to time.

Not far from them,

three men wearing bamboo hats exchanged unobtrusive glances with the pair, then turned toward Xiang Yin onstage, unconsciously tightening their grips on the weapons at their waists.

"We will now auction our first item, entrusted to the Profound Heaven Auction House by an anonymous guest..."

"A middle-grade first-tier martial technique-the Incomplete Sword Manual!"

Xiang Yin loudly announced the first auction item.

At the same time,

the maid beside her opened a wooden box, revealing an incomplete sword manual that faintly emanated Sword Qi.

"A middle-grade first-tier martial technique?! Hiss... but why does it emanate Sword Qi?"

"This is no ordinary manual. When complete, this martial technique must have been second-tier or higher!"

"Although it's incomplete, Sword Qi still lingers within it. Its moves might rival a high-grade first-tier martial technique!"

"I have to win it! I really was right to come!"

"..."

Hearing Xiang Yin's words, the crowd in the hall immediately erupted into a stir.

A middle-grade first-tier martial technique, and a sword technique at that!

With a treasure like this in hand, someone could spend some time building up a medium-sized lineage!

And one that ranked near the top, at that!

After all, the most powerful move within an incomplete martial technique like this might even rival a high-grade first-tier martial technique!

And high-grade first-tier martial techniques were closely guarded secrets of the great lineages!

Even the leading figures of the various factions grew solemn.

Thank goodness they had come!

If they missed this incomplete sword manual and another lineage obtained it, wouldn't that create another threat?

Xiang Yin took in everyone's reactions.

She then explained, "This incomplete sword manual contains seven sword moves, each stronger than the last. According to our auction house's appraisers, the seventh move's power reaches the level of a peak-grade first-tier martial technique!"

Peak-grade first-tier!

An uproar erupted!

At this news, the entire auction house was shaken!

Even the finest martial techniques of the three great lineages were only high-grade first-tier, and all were merely ordinary martial techniques!

If someone else obtained it, couldn't they build a powerful faction on par with the three great lineages in a short time?

The mercenary groups in particular were now red-eyed!

They lagged behind the three great lineages

because the latter had monopolized all the profits in Guangyang City!

With no other choice, they could only eke out a living in the Black Forest, relying on its resources to sustain their current factions.

But with this incomplete sword manual,

if they demanded a share of the profits, would the three great lineages still dare refuse?

Besides them,

the lord of Guangyang City and the various smaller factions were also staring greedily at the incomplete sword manual in the maid's hands.

This was a true treasure!

The Profound Heaven Auction House truly deserved its reputation as Guangyang City's greatest auction house!

Gu Fan's eyes were half-closed, his expression completely unruffled.

Although the final move of this incomplete sword manual reached the power of a peak-grade first-tier martial technique,

its cultivation requirements were extremely demanding.

In his view, at least within Guangyang City, no one could master that final move!

But who cared? An auction house had to tout its wares as incomparably powerful before its guests would compete to bid on them.

Soon,

Xiang Yin smiled onstage and said, "The incomplete sword manual starts at ten thousand low-grade spirit stones. Each increase must be no less than one thousand low-grade spirit stones..."

"Ten thousand spirit stones!"

"Eleven thousand!"

"Twelve thousand low-grade spirit stones! Our Mad Wolf Mercenary Group is determined to obtain this incomplete sword manual!"

"Hmph! Thirteen thousand!"

"..."

The moment Xiang Yin finished speaking,

the entire auction house became a powder keg, fierce bids erupting one after another!

The three great lineages, the four great mercenary groups...

Besides them, some smaller factions also began bidding with fierce expressions!

Martial techniques... were of paramount importance to cultivators, important beyond measure!

After all, the strength of their martial techniques determined whether cultivators could survive one struggle after another!

Even the three great lineages relied on high-grade first-tier martial techniques to enjoy unrivaled prominence in Guangyang City.

If someone possessed a peak-grade first-tier martial technique, a sword technique renowned for slaughter at that... becoming Guangyang City's foremost faction in time was not impossible!

After all... even the city lord cultivated only a high-grade first-tier martial technique!

"I must get it! I already have the Four Symbols Pill. If I cultivate this sword manual, entering the Spirit Sea will be a nail hammered into the board!"

The Huang Lineage head's face was filled with frenzy.

"We cannot let anyone else win the sword manual. Otherwise, with our Liu Lineage already trailing behind in strength, we certainly won't have any peace in the future!"

Lineage Head Liu looked solemn, utterly serious.

"Hmph! Last time, I was made to look like a complete fool. This time, our Miao Lineage must win back our dignity with this incomplete sword manual!"

Lineage Head Miao clenched his fists, regarding yesterday's embarrassment as a monstrous humiliation!

"With it, our Mad Wolf Mercenary Group will surely become Guangyang City's foremost faction!"

The leader of the Mad Wolf Mercenary Group looked greedy, and the other mercenary groups wore the same expressions.

Meanwhile, in a corner,

the three black-clad men in bamboo hats discussed in low voices.

"Big brother! Should we make our move? This is a treasure!"

"That's right, big brother. A peak-grade first-tier martial technique! We're only being paid ten thousand spirit stones for coming to Guangyang City this time!"

"Failure to endure a little will ruin the grand plan! Wait! Didn't you hear what those two said? This auction house's master is a fat sheep. Once he brings out all the treasures, we'll strike!"

"..."

"Twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

"Hmph! Your Huang Lineage can still produce twenty thousand spirit stones? Our Liu Lineage bids twenty-one thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

"Twenty-two thousand! Neither of you needs to compete anymore. This treasure belongs to our Miao Lineage!"

"Shameless boasting! Twenty-five thousand!"

Hiss!!!

The bid of twenty-five thousand low-grade spirit stones made the entire auction house suck in a cold breath.

After all,

the second-tier magical treasure, the Scarlet Flame Saber, had cost only thirty thousand spirit stones.

At the end of the day, this incomplete sword manual was merely a middle-grade first-tier martial technique!

Who was this crazy?

Everyone followed the voice and saw Commander Mad Wolf lowering his bidding paddle with an arrogant expression.

He was the one who had just bid!

"Mad Wolf! Do you even have that many spirit stones?!"

Lineage Head Miao shouted in exasperation.

That many spirit stones already made his heart bleed.

Where would a mercenary group, inferior even to the three great lineages, get so many spirit stones?

"Heh, Lineage Head Miao, I, Mad Wolf, don't have such a large household and business as your Miao Lineage. It's only twenty-five thousand."

Mad Wolf spoke with great extravagance.

For the first time, everyone realized that mercenary groups could be this wealthy!

"Lineage head! Are we raising the bid?"

"Raise it, my ass! Any higher and we'll all be drinking the northwest wind!"

Lineage Head Miao plopped back into his seat, his expression ugly.

An incomplete sword manual comparable to a peak-grade first-tier martial technique had fallen into the hands of a mercenary group brimming with murderous menace... Guangyang City would certainly know no peace in the days ahead.

"Twenty-five thousand spirit stones... going once!"

"Twenty-five thousand spirit stones... going twice!"

Beaming, Xiang Yin swung her gavel twice onstage.

Below the stage, not a crow or sparrow could be heard.

The three great lineages wore ugly expressions. This many spirit stones had already exceeded their limits.

Bidding would severely damage their lineage's vitality, and in the short term, the disadvantages would certainly outweigh the benefits.

As for the city lord,

he had just won the Scarlet Flame Saber and no longer had the means to bid on this incomplete sword manual.

Thus,

after several breaths,

Xiang Yin brought down her gavel for the third time.

"Congratulations to Commander Mad Wolf for winning this incomplete sword manual for twenty-five thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

At the same time,

a voice also rang out in Gu Fan's mind.