The Major Powers That Came upon Hearing the News

Night fell beneath a sky full of stars, and the lamps had just been lit.

At the Yan Lineage estate.

"Patriarch, is a mere little auction house worth lowering yourself like this to visit in person?"

An elder of the Yan Lineage looked displeased as he addressed the patriarch before him.

Even the three great auction houses were not places their patriarch visited often, unless... some major treasure was being auctioned!

As for that little auction house on Linnan Street, it had merely gotten lucky and auctioned off one supreme-grade second-tier treasure. How could it possibly have another?!

"I have nothing to do anyway. I might as well go see what it really has."

Yan Nantian, patriarch of the Yan Lineage, spoke calmly.

In truth, the reason he wanted to go...

Was also because he worried that the other lineage patriarchs would attend the auction.

If another lineage won a treasure, the Yan Lineage would be left in a very passive position.

Things were just as he had imagined.

At that moment.

Within the four great lineages, the four patriarchs whose stomping feet could shake Yanshan Commandery City had already finished their preparations and were ready to head to Linnan Street.

A supreme-grade second-tier martial technique?

Since they had regrettably missed it yesterday, they simply had to go today and see just what sort of mighty figure stood behind that auction house!

Linnan Street.

The street, normally sparsely populated, was now packed with people and bustling with activity.

Discussions rose one after another. Listening closely, one could tell that most were talking about the supreme-grade second-tier martial technique auctioned the previous night.

After spreading for a full day and night.

The news that the Profound Heaven auction on Linnan Street had auctioned off a supreme-grade second-tier martial technique had now swept through the city like wind and rain.

Not everyone in the city knew, but seven or eight people out of ten had heard the news.

As one told ten and ten told a hundred, even the three great sects nearby had heard, drawing vast numbers of outstanding young talents down from the mountains just to attend this auction.

A martial technique that even the five great lineages did not possess.

One could imagine how many people this auction had attracted!

Just looking down from above, there were already more than three thousand people. There were probably close to ten thousand heading toward Linnan Street!

Such was the power of a supreme-grade second-tier martial technique!

At that moment.

On Linnan Street.

Inside a carriage drawn by a second-tier Dragon-Horned Horse.

Yang Zong, the master of the "Profound Heaven Auction House," watched the surrounding crowds with an exceedingly grave expression.

Indeed, he too had come to attend the auction!

Besides wanting to probe the identity of the person behind Gu Fan, he had come because Gu Fan was now his competitor.

Two Profound Heaven Auction Houses stood in Yanshan Commandery City.

Whichever did poorly would be the embarrassed one.

And now, the auction house he presided over had undoubtedly been outshone by Gu Fan's.

Just among the surrounding crowds, Yang Zong could spot quite a few familiar major powers, and even some young people who looked like sect disciples.

That alone showed how widely the news of yesterday's supreme-grade second-tier martial technique auction had spread!

Moreover, as time went on, the news would inevitably spread throughout the surrounding region and attract people from other cities!

It was precisely this thought that had made Yang Zong's expression so grave.

If Gu Fan only had one supreme-grade martial technique to auction, that would be manageable. As the quality of his auction items declined, it would not take long for him to be knocked back to his original state.

But if he had more than one... that would be terrifying!

Still, Yang Zong remained very confident on this point.

A supreme-grade second-tier martial technique?

Even the "Profound Heaven Auction House" had never auctioned one in Yanshan Commandery City. That was enough to imagine how precious it was.

Even the person behind Gu Fan could not possibly give him a second one, could they?

Rumble, rumble, rumble...

As he pondered, Yang Zong heard the ground trembling.

He could not help lifting the curtain and poking his head out to look toward the sound, only to see... a flashy demonic beast charging this way at tremendous speed!

"Patriarch Yan?"

Yang Zong's pupils contracted.

The approaching creature was unmistakably the mount of Patriarch Yan, head of one of the five great lineages!

Besides him, rumbling sounds rapidly approached from several other directions as well!

"Patriarch Song!"

"Patriarch Niu!"

"..."

In just a few brief moments, Yang Zong saw the patriarchs of the five great lineages arriving on their mounts!

Just then.

An uproar also arose nearby.

"A carriage from the Commandery Prince's estate! Someone from the Commandery Prince's estate is here!"

"Gasp! Even the Commandery Prince's estate has come to attend this auction?"

"If this auction really has a supreme-grade second-tier treasure, won't we be left with nothing to do but watch?!"

"..."

The Commandery Prince's estate had sent someone too!

Yang Zong's expression changed drastically. Even at the "Profound Heaven Auction House's" grandest events, it had never gathered all these people under one roof!

Yet Gu Fan had only been in Yanshan Commandery City for a single day, and he had already drawn these important figures here in a rush!

At that thought, Yang Zong could not help feeling a trace of dread.

Rumor had it that Gu Fan was nothing more than a cripple.

What virtue or ability did he have to accomplish something so great?!

"That's it. Someone behind him must be helping. Otherwise, how could his abilities possibly allow this?!"

Only after murmuring this did Yang Zong feel his state of mind settle somewhat.

Before long, the driver up front called out that they had arrived at the Profound Heaven Auction House.

Hearing that announcement, which felt strange to him, Yang Zong rubbed his face and stepped down.

Before his eyes.

A visually stunning building appeared in his sight.

Strange lights shimmered across the building. Its exterior was constructed from purple sandalwood, while within, colored glass gleamed with dazzling brilliance.

At a glance, it lent the building a majestic purple splendor and incomparable magnificence!

"What an unusual building..."

Gasps of admiration came from all around. Some of the young women, in particular, had sparkling eyes and peach-pink faces.

Yang Zong's focus was different.

Although the building was indeed beautiful, he noticed that this auction house occupied an enormous area.

It was several times larger than the Profound Heaven Auction House on Vermilion Bird Street!

This was mainly because Linnan Street lay in a remote area where land was cheap, allowing Gu Fan to buy it for only a few hundred thousand spirit stones.

Vermilion Bird Street, however, was in the city center, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. Even the Gu Lineage was unwilling to spend too much money expanding its auction house.

And because of this.

Gu Fan's Profound Heaven Auction House was now the largest auction house in Yanshan Commandery City!

Not only did its size surpass all its peers, but its interior decor also had a distinctive style that was no worse than that of the other three great auction houses.

It even... faintly surpassed them!

For Gu Fan had also built pavilions, terraces, towers, gardens, and waterside gazebos inside, with the faint mist lending it a tranquil beauty.

Such scenery was undoubtedly unique in Yanshan Commandery City!

Of course, the expense was roughly equivalent to the value of a supreme-grade second-tier treasure: over a million spirit stones!

The return, however, was extremely gratifying.

The guests arriving now touched things and looked around inside the auction house, exclaiming to one another as they went.

This was... the most magnificent auction house they had ever seen!

If this auction did not disappoint them, they would certainly become regular guests here.

"Hmph! All flash and frills!"

Only Yang Zong, standing in a corner, gave a cold snort.

What was the most important thing for an auction house?

Naturally... top-class auction items!

Without those, all its decorations were merely flowers in a mirror and the moon on water-empty illusions!