The commandery city trembled

As this auction drew to a close.

Without a doubt.

News of the auction of second-tier supreme-grade treasures also spread beyond its walls once the auction ended.

The Yan Lineage, one of Yanshan Commandery City's five great Lineages.

At that moment.

Inside a great hall.

"You're saying the Profound Heaven Auction House auctioned a second-tier supreme-grade martial technique?"

The imposing Yan Lineage head set aside what he was doing, his commanding gaze settling on Yan Zai.

The latter trembled slightly, lowered his head, and replied, "Yes, Father, but it was another Profound Heaven Auction House."

The Yan Lineage head frowned.

Could there be a second Profound Heaven Auction House in Yanshan Commandery City?

Knowing his confusion, Yan Zai continued, "That Profound Heaven Auction House is on Linnan Street. It used to be called Heavenly Tiger, but someone took it over and renamed it Profound Heaven."

"Oh?"

An intrigued expression appeared on the Yan Lineage head's face.

Was there actually someone so brazen in Great Qian?

Others might not know, but he knew exactly who stood behind the Profound Heaven Auction House!

But none of that mattered now. The Yan Lineage head immediately said, "Tell me everything about the second-tier treasure, down to the smallest detail."

"Yes..."

Half an incense stick later.

Inside the great hall, the atmosphere was undoubtedly very tense.

"Seventh Elder, Eighth Elder, Ninth Elder, you all know what happened. You must seize the Eighteen Hands of Subduing the Tiger before anyone else does. Succeed, and I will credit you with a great contribution!"

Inside the hall, the Yan Lineage head gave his orders to the three elders before him.

For the sake of a second-tier supreme-grade martial technique, he had gone so far as to dispatch three Spirit Sea Sixth Heaven elders.

Only after all three elders had left did the Yan Lineage head turn his attention to the Profound Heaven Auction House on Linnan Street.

Auctioning a second-tier supreme-grade martial technique!

He bitterly regretted not having gone himself!

Otherwise, with his wealth, he would certainly have secured that martial technique.

And with it, raising the Yan Lineage's strength another level would no longer be a fantasy!

Just then.

The guard sent to investigate returned as well.

"Lineage Head! I've found out. That auction house is on Linnan Street, and it also announced that it would hold an auction every day from now on, with second-tier treasures every time!"

The guard delivered his report.

"Every day? Second-tier supreme-grade?"

The Yan Lineage head's breath caught when he heard this!

But he soon came back to his senses.

He had misheard!

Only second-tier, not second-tier supreme-grade!

Of course. Who in Yanshan Commandery City could possess so many second-tier supreme-grade treasures?

If someone did, they would already have become the greatest power in Yanshan Commandery City. Even surpassing the Commandery Prince's Estate would not be impossible!

Having thought it through, an inscrutable look appeared in the Yan Lineage head's eyes.

He was wondering whether he should go there tomorrow and probe the truth.

Apart from the Yan Lineage.

The other four great Lineages also received the news.

Their reaction was the same as the Yan Lineage's: they sent people to seize the Eighteen Hands of Subduing the Tiger!

They also all committed the Profound Heaven Auction House on Linnan Street to memory, and were intensely curious about just who could be behind it, to actually auction a second-tier supreme-grade martial technique!

Amid these doubts.

The great Lineages were all considering whether to go in person and probe the truth!

A second-tier supreme-grade martial technique was well worth setting aside their Lineage affairs to investigate!

The five great Lineages had received the news.

Naturally, as the foremost power in Yanshan Commandery City, the Commandery Prince's Estate received it as well.

The Commandery Prince, a Divine Treasury Realm cultivator, personally inquired into the matter.

Yet after learning the news, he merely ordered someone to investigate tomorrow.

This was not because the Commandery Prince did not care about second-tier supreme-grade martial techniques. On the contrary, he cared a great deal, or he would not have asked.

It was just that he knew how precious second-tier supreme-grade martial techniques were.

It was no exaggeration to say.

No one in Yanshan Commandery City could produce two in succession!

Even his Commandery Prince's Estate could not, let alone a tiny auction house!

As the disturbance continued to spread.

Powers great and small throughout Yanshan Commandery City also received the news.

Such as the various mercenary groups.

Besides being shocked that a second-tier supreme-grade martial technique had been auctioned, they were also astonished that the auction house charged a commission of only 1%!

And it held an auction every day.

This would also shorten the time they needed to replenish their funds.

It was simply so considerate of those in the mercenary trade!

However.

Despite their surprise, the various mercenary groups would not rashly entrust their treasures to it for auction.

The three great auction houses were more reliable, and years of cooperation were not something they could simply abandon.

Of course, some mercenary groups were very satisfied with these rules and headed straight for Linnan Street without another word, intending to test the waters by working with it first.

If the mercenary groups were satisfied.

Then the various auction houses were very displeased.

Even the three great auction houses held auctions only once a month.

What gave a tiny auction house like this the nerve to hold one every day?

Was it because of that second-tier supreme-grade martial technique?

Although it had indeed shocked them greatly, and its sales had even become the highest in Yanshan Commandery City.

But!

Even the three great auction houses could not guarantee second-tier treasures every day!

Doubt, disdain, derision, astonishment, and all manner of other emotions filled the various auction houses.

And among them.

Yang Zong, the head of the Profound Heaven Auction House on Vermilion Bird Street, was the most bewildered of all.

Who am I? Where am I? What happened?

As if Gu Fan's auction house using their name were not enough, just when he had thought it would end up covered in dust and disgrace, it had shockingly auctioned a second-tier supreme-grade martial technique?!

Its auction sales had even surpassed theirs!

This was simply the most absurd thing imaginable!

Yang Zong felt the heavens spin and the earth darken, utterly unable to believe it!

Left with no choice, he immediately sent word back to the royal capital.

Because... he suspected that Gu Fan had auctioned a Gu Lineage martial technique!

The royal capital, the Gu Lineage.

Inside a side hall.

At that moment, all eighteen elders were seated together, their expressions exceedingly grave!

For this time, the Second Elder had summoned them in an extremely serious tone.

"Second Elder, has something happened?"

"Word came from Yanshan Commandery City. That brat auctioned off a martial technique of our Gu Lineage!"

The Second Elder spoke with barely concealed anger.

"What?!"

"Auctioning our Gu Lineage's martial techniques? Outrageous!"

"How dare he? We must drag him back and punish him severely! He has committed a grave offense!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, the elders all spoke in anger.

Soon, however, one elder asked doubtfully, "But... has that brat ever entered our Gu Lineage's Ten Thousand Arts Tower?"

As these words fell, the side chamber immediately fell silent, and everyone looked at the Seventeenth Elder.

He was the one who guarded the Ten Thousand Arts Tower.

The Seventeenth Elder shook his head gravely. "He has never entered the Ten Thousand Arts Tower, nor has the Lineage Head ever taken him there. However, I did often see him enter the library..."

The Ten Thousand Arts Tower was where the Gu Lineage stored cultivation methods and martial techniques.

Without permission, no one could enter.

The library, meanwhile, stored collections and books of little practical use.

Any member of the Gu Lineage could enter.

"If he never went inside, where did the martial technique he auctioned come from?"

Someone asked this question.

At that moment, the Second Elder spoke. "The message said that the martial technique faintly carried the sound of a tiger's roar. It was a second-tier martial technique called the Eighteen Hands of Subduing the Tiger!"

"The Eighteen Hands of Subduing the Tiger? The sound of a tiger's roar? Such a martial technique... I have never seen it in our Gu Lineage."

The Seventeenth Elder took up the conversation, shaking his head as he spoke.

He guarded the Ten Thousand Arts Tower and had an impression of every martial technique within, yet he had never heard of one like this.

Since it was not a Gu Lineage martial technique.

Then... where had Gu Fan's martial technique come from?

All the elders frowned.

"Could someone be helping him in secret?"

Amid the silence, one elder spoke up.

"Helping him?"

"Who?"

"..."

The elders' imposing presence sharpened.

Helping Gu Fan?

Who would dare?!

And just as all the elders were seething over this, the First Elder finally made his decision.

"Send word back. Have our people in Yanshan Commandery City keep a close watch on him. They must root out whoever is stirring up trouble in secret!"

Even he believed someone was secretly helping Gu Fan.

Their purpose was to use Gu Fan as a pawn to throw the Gu Lineage into turmoil!

"We obey the First Elder's command!"

All the elders cupped their fists in unison.