Chapter 24: Tempest at the Auction

“Forty-three jade tokens have been offered. Is there any higher bid?” At this moment, a man with a bronze ancient sword strapped to his back raised his hand and declared, “Forty-five jade tokens.”

An uproar swept through the hall; even Zhang Xiao could not hide his surprise. Such wealth—forty-five jade tokens—was far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Turning to look, Zhang Xiao saw that the man, though not particularly handsome, was dignified in appearance, dressed in a scholar’s robe and carrying the bronze sword on his back, making him seem like a swordsman from a tale of immortals. What startled Zhang Xiao even more was the man’s cultivation—late-stage Golden Core. Zhang Xiao had met all the direct disciples of the nine great sects; when had such a formidable figure appeared? And that ancient sword—if it were a magical treasure, it should have been refined and nurtured within the body, not carried openly. If it were merely a spirit artifact, it would not conceal its aura so well, and anyone could see through it at a glance. Moreover, the scholar’s robe was a garment that only those with status could wear; to don it without rank was no small matter—at best, one would be laughed at, at worst, their cultivation sealed and cast into prison, or even crippled and exiled. Clearly, this man held significant status in the realm.

“Forty-five jade tokens—any higher? Forty-five once!” The auctioneer, seeing no further bids, began the countdown. “Forty-five, twice—”

“Fifty jade tokens,” came a sweet, melodious voice that nearly made the auctioneer stumble over her words. She had heard this voice many times before—it was Ziyan. Ziyan raised her paddle high, her eyes curved like crescent moons as she gazed at the auctioneer. Despite being a girl herself, the auctioneer blushed under Ziyan’s gaze, struggling to remember her lines.

“Fifty-five jade tokens!” The man with the bronze sword bid again. Ziyan glanced at him, raised her paddle, and called out, “Seventy jade tokens!” This time, it was to Zhang Xiao’s delight. With her deep pockets, Ziyan was not the least bit concerned about the sum.

A shocked uproar erupted—seventy jade tokens! The price exceeded not only the auctioneer’s expectations, but everyone’s. The whole auction house was abuzz, speculating about the identity of this stunning girl. Yet, when many probed her with their spiritual sense, they found only an artifact spirit.

Artifact spirits were not rare; most magical treasures had a chance to birth them, but they were usually dull and witless—nothing like this girl. Clearly, her true form must be an extraordinary treasure. Greed flickered in the eyes of many present.

Zhang Xiao noticed all these covetous glances and understood their thoughts, his expression darkening as he called up to the stage, “Auctioneer, isn’t it time to call the count?” His shout snapped the young auctioneer out of her daze, and she hurried to resume, “Wait!”

The man with the bronze sword suddenly interjected, a trace of regret in his eyes. “I have no more jade tokens, but I possess a piece of Netherworld Iron, worth at least a hundred jade tokens.” He revealed a black stone the size of a fist, exuding a pure and chilling yin energy that made those nearby pale and hastily summon their treasures for protection. Even Golden Core experts dared not touch such energy lightly, but the man held it without trouble—either his cultivation was formidable, or his techniques suppressed such evil energy.

Now the young auctioneer was at a loss. Although items could sometimes be used in place of currency, she did not recognize this one. Knowing it was valuable but unsure of its worth, she quickly called for the steward to fetch an elder.

“Hmph! It’s just a piece of Netherworld Iron. I bid two hundred jade tokens!” Ziyan, accustomed to treasures, was unimpressed. The audience was stunned—if eyeballs could drop, the floor would be littered with them. Zhang Xiao, however, could only sigh inwardly. This girl had many virtues, but she knew nothing of discretion. Seeing her expression was genuine, the man’s face darkened as he cupped his fists to Ziyan.

“Miss, my name is Fang Ding. As the saying goes, ‘Leave a thread of fate for future meetings.’ This exotic flame is of great use to me. Could you yield this once?”

“What? He’s Fang Ding, Commander of the Imperial Guards!” The crowd could not contain their astonishment any longer.

Ziyan, unfamiliar with official ranks, realized from the reaction that Fang Ding’s position must be significant. Worried she might cause Zhang Xiao trouble, she faltered. Fang Ding saw her hesitation and felt elated—if he won the flame, his breakthrough to Nascent Soul would be within reach.

But then Zhang Xiao, seated beside Ziyan, stood and sneered, “Such arrogance. Sir, this exotic flame is crucial to me as well. I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.” What a joke—he would not be intimidated by a mere commander. Though the flame was water-attributed and not ideal, it was enough for Zhang Xiao to master the first transformation of the Sevenfold Mysterious Heaven Art. He had no shortage of items in his bone ring that could easily match two hundred jade tokens.

Fang Ding was enraged. Were it not for the setting, he would have killed Zhang Xiao on the spot. At this moment, the elder from Mount Shu, stationed to oversee the auction, arrived. Assessing the situation with the wisdom of a millennium’s experience, he laughed, “Gentlemen, there’s no need for anger. Let’s proceed according to the rules. Girl, why are you just standing there? Resume the auction!”

Jolted awake, the auctioneer pointed to Zhang Xiao, “This gentleman bids two hundred jade tokens. If there are no further bids, the exotic flame goes to him.” The crowd fell silent—two hundred jade tokens was a price none could match.

“Wait!” Fang Ding called, his face grim.

“Are you raising the bid?” the elder asked with a smile.

Fang Ding glared at Zhang Xiao. “I don’t believe he can produce two hundred jade tokens.” Many agreed; jade tokens had been introduced less than a year—how could anyone have that many? The elder’s gaze fell on Zhang Xiao, and after a careful look, he turned pale with shock, “Zhang Xiao!”

Though half a year had passed and some had forgotten, the elder’s exclamation jarred many memories. After the great tournament between the nine sects, eight of them had searched frantically for Zhang Xiao. His feats were legend—single-handedly outmatching the direct heirs of all nine sects, the very ones who now led them.

When Zhang Xiao was expelled from Maoshan, the eight remaining sects sent word: if he joined, they would make him vice headmaster and do all in their power to help him survive heavenly tribulation. Yet Zhang Xiao vanished for half a year, causing the matter to fade from memory.

Now, seeing him revealed, faces in the hall shifted—some in awe, some in envy, most in jealousy. Fang Ding was among them, his gaze unhidden in its shock and resentment. Zhang Xiao, though surprised to be recognized, remained composed, saluting the elder respectfully. “Senior, I do not have so many jade tokens, but this exotic flame is vital to me. I have a material here, its value surely surpasses two hundred jade tokens. Please examine it.”

With a flip of his hand, Zhang Xiao produced a stone, glowing red, slightly larger than Fang Ding’s iron, but without any obvious phenomena.

“Haha, you are too modest, young friend,” the elder said warmly, treating Zhang Xiao as an equal. Zhang Xiao knew the elder was trying to win him over, but he had no intention of joining another sect.

The elder, seeing Zhang Xiao unmoved by the overture, understood. Such a talent would always chafe under sect constraints—no wonder his master had expelled him. The elder examined the stone; though nondescript, it shone with inner brilliance. He exclaimed, “Starshard Stone! How did you come by this?”

Zhang Xiao was not foolish enough to reveal that he had slain two old monsters after the Heavenly Change. That would be courting death, not boasting. With a casual smile, he replied, “Good fortune—I found it on the road.”

The elder almost toppled at the reply but, knowing Zhang Xiao would not elaborate, did not press further. Sighing, he turned to Fang Ding, “Nephew Fang, though I am friendly with your master, this Starshard Stone is more valuable than your Netherworld Iron. The water-attribute exotic flame belongs to Fellow Daoist Zhang.”

Fang Ding, knowing the elder would not lie, could only glare at Zhang Xiao, then salute and depart. Zhang Xiao stepped up, storing the exotic flame and its crystal box in his bone ring before taking his leave as well.

With his departure, the auction officially ended, but the ripples from this event spread throughout Luoyang. The contest over the flame greatly boosted the Dragonrise Auction House’s reputation. Zhang Xiao was unaware of this; though eager to use the flame, he restrained himself, remembering the military selection at noon the next day. He would wait until it was over to use the flame in his cultivation.