A Show of Authority

Yanshan Commandery City had a population of over a million.

With three sects nearby, the atmosphere of cultivation here was exceptionally strong. Every household took pride in gaining admission to one of the three great sects, resulting in a great many cultivators in the city.

The more cultivators there were, the greater the demand for treasures.

As a result, auction houses large and small had sprung up throughout Yanshan Commandery City like bamboo shoots after rain, competing with one another.

Among them, the three great auction houses held the reins, while the others could only trail behind for lack of strength.

The Profound Heaven Auction House.

It stood on Vermilion Bird Street in the city center.

Shops lined both sides of the street, and crowds surged along it in a lively bustle.

At that moment.

A shabby carriage was traveling down the street, inching forward with the crowd.

Inside the carriage, Gu Fan lifted the curtain and looked outside.

Of the pedestrians he saw on the street, two-thirds were cultivators.

On his way here, he had also inquired about Yanshan Commandery City.

Although Yanshan Commandery City had many factions, the Commandery Prince's Estate stood supreme among them.

The Commandery Prince's Estate had guarded Yanshan Commandery City for generations, beginning a thousand years ago. Over those thousand years, it had accumulated an immensely deep foundation, making it unquestionably the foremost faction.

Below it.

Were the five great Lineages.

Of the city's population of over a million, more than half had to rely on the five great Lineages to survive.

It was no exaggeration to say this.

If the five great Lineages flew into a rage, all of Yanshan Commandery City would tremble three times!

From this alone, one could see that these great Lineages had extended their tentacles into every aspect of Yanshan Commandery City, wielding considerable influence!

Beyond them.

Were the city's mercenary groups of every description.

Yanshan Commandery City lay in the western region of the Great Qian Dynasty. Traveling another hundred li west after leaving the city would bring one into the depths of the Black Forest.

Guangyang City stood on the outskirts of the Black Forest, so the demonic beasts around it were not particularly powerful.

But around Yanshan Commandery City.

First-tier demonic beasts could be seen everywhere, and even second-tier demonic beasts appeared frequently!

Many demonic beasts, many cultivators, many auction houses.

Under these circumstances, mercenary groups specializing in hunting demonic beasts and venturing deep into the Black Forest in search of treasures had flourished here.

Just counting those Gu Fan knew of.

There were over a hundred mercenary groups of various sizes in Yanshan Commandery City!

Gu Fan was delighted by this.

With such a thriving mercenary presence here, wouldn't there be even more precious treasures?

Second-tier treasures that he rarely saw in Guangyang City might be a common sight in Yanshan Commandery City.

After all.

The more precious the treasure, the better the reward returned by the system... would be!

As he thought this, the carriage arrived before a resplendent auction house.

At the same time, the driver, Uncle Fu, spoke.

"Young Master Gu, we've arrived at the Profound Heaven Auction House."

Lifting the curtain and stepping down from the carriage, Gu Fan briefly surveyed the auction house.

This auction house.

Was more than ten times larger than the one in Guangyang City.

Its decorations were also incredibly lavish. Through the entrance, he could even see the lovely maids inside.

At the sight, Gu Fan could not help grumbling inwardly.

Compared to this place, the Profound Heaven Auction House in Guangyang City could practically be called shabby!

Still, this was a commandery city, after all. A remote little city could not compare.

Setting aside his stray thoughts.

Gu Fan led Uncle Fu through the entrance.

"Young master, have you come to auction a treasure?"

Seeing them arrive, the maid at the entrance immediately bent her knees slightly and spoke respectfully.

Although this young man had arrived in a shabby carriage and looked like a penniless fellow.

To the maid, who had seen countless people, his bearing was nevertheless the most distinctive and utterly unique.

"No."

Gu Fan smiled faintly, glanced around, and said, "I've come to see the master of this auction house."

See the master?

The maid was taken aback. She raised her head. "Young master, if you need anything, you need only tell this servant. The master has many matters to attend to, so I'm afraid..."

Before she could finish, Gu Fan waved a hand. "My surname is Gu. Just tell him that."

At these words, the maid's pupils contracted, and she was deeply shaken.

Gu?

Of course she knew what that surname meant at present.

It was the Gu Lineage, the power behind the Profound Heaven Auction House, and one of the seven great Lineages even in the royal capital!

Even the master of this auction house was merely a servant of the Gu Lineage.

And the young man before her... was a member of the Gu Lineage who had come from the royal capital!

At this thought, the maid immediately dared not say anything more. She curtsied, then hurried toward the back at a light run.

After the maid left, Uncle Fu spoke quietly from behind him.

"Young Master Gu, coming to this auction house at a time like this... I'm afraid its master won't see you."

Gu Fan merely smiled at Uncle Fu's words and said nothing.

Seeing his response, Uncle Fu sighed.

The two then waited quietly in the front hall.

Just as Uncle Fu had said, half an hour passed, yet neither the master nor the maid appeared.

The surrounding maids could not help whispering about it.

They did not know Gu Fan's identity, but they could tell something was amiss.

"Young Master Gu..."

Uncle Fu was somewhat angry.

No matter what, Gu Fan belonged to the main branch of the Gu Lineage.

How dare a mere servant of the Gu Lineage leave Gu Fan waiting in the front hall for half an hour?

Just as Uncle Fu was about to advise Gu Fan to leave, two figures came into view.

The man in front was middle-aged, dressed in blue robes, his face expressionless.

Behind him was the maid who had gone to deliver the message, now trembling with fear.

From the look of things, this man was the master of the auction house.

Ignoring everyone around him, the master walked straight up to Gu Fan. His expression abruptly turned stern, and he unexpectedly snapped, "Who told you to come to the commandery city? Do you know that the elders have already ordered you to remain in Guangyang City and not take a single step outside without permission?!"

His rebuke was exceptionally harsh and instantly rang throughout the front hall.

For a moment, all the surrounding maids looked stricken, not daring to utter another word.

Gu Fan's expression remained utterly unruffled, but anger welled up within him.

Looking at the disgust and reproach on the master's face, Gu Fan suddenly smiled, yet his voice was cold. "Slap him!"

The words fell.

A dark figure flashed, and at the same instant, a resounding slap rang out.

Smack!

Uncle Fu stood before the master. He was the one who had delivered that slap!

"You... you dare..."

Clutching his scarlet cheek, Yang Zong glared at Uncle Fu, who had slapped him, his eyes all but spitting fire.

Just then, another icy command rang out.

"Talking back. Slap him!"

Smack!

Another slap rang out, its crisp sound audible even outside the auction house.

After those two slaps, Yang Zong's face was red and swollen like a pig's head.

He shakily raised a hand and pointed at Uncle Fu. Before he could speak, that devilish voice rang out again!

"Disrespectful! Slap him again!"

Smack!

This slap from Uncle Fu sent Yang Zong flying and tumbling to the floor, several bloodied teeth flying out of his mouth.

At the same time, a powerful presence radiated from Uncle Fu, sweeping through the entire auction house!

"The young master of our Gu Lineage!"

"Is not someone a mere servant like you can rebuke!"

"One more word, and you'll be beaten to death right here!"

Uncle Fu stood straight-backed, his expression cold as he spoke.

His words fell.

Everyone present was struck with terror!