"One hundred million Law spirit stones!"
Silence!
Utter and complete silence pervaded the entire coliseum as every cultivator, from the lower bidding stages to the higher bidding stages, shockingly stared at the number 4 high-bidding chamber with dreadful expressions. Despite the spacious coliseum filled with people like a mini stadium, it was awfully quiet as one could even hear the clap of a baby. Lian Zu was no exception as he had to pause and react, looking at the high bidding chamber 4.
For high-dimensional readers like us, we understand why people reacted like this. But as for the others, the reason every cultivator at the current scene had to look at Patrick's chamber, chamber four, can be acquainted with two factors. The first is wealth, and the second is audacity. Although the Immortal Realm is filled with hidden wealthy powerhouses and institutions, for ordinary and low-ranking cultivators, seeing these powerhouses or even witnessing them spending their wealth was anything but a dream. And them witnessing it now completely shattered their perceptions of wealth.
And the second and most important factor was the audacity and courage of chamber 4. Before I continue, I must first bring things into an understanding perspective. The Immortal Realm is thousands of times bigger than Earth 101; in calculation terms, the Immortal Realm's expansiveness can only be calculated in light-years. And within this expansive realm are twelve families who govern the outside politics; among these twelve families, the Ancient Gong family is the most powerful. Who in every term surpasses the other eleven families in power, wealth, and status.
But at this very moment, a descendant of this powerful ancient family, Gong Tieshan, was being challenged even after mentioning his family's name. In Earth 101, this would be equivalent to saying fuck you to Genghis Khan in public. Of course, like any person from Genghis Khan's era would react, this was how the cultivators reacted, with both fear and panic, yet with a tinge of excitement. For the majority, they get to see someone challenge two ancient families in one day.
In a high-bidding chamber, more precisely, chamber 10, a group consisting of three men and two maids sat as they witnessed the occurring events. Their expressions weren't any better than the crowds. In the group were two young men in green uniforms standing to the sides of a middle-aged man sitting in front; behind the two men were two young women wearing the same stylish maid uniforms. On the left chest of the middle-aged man sitting in front was a large golden star.
Although the middle-aged man had the same expression as the crowd, which was that of shock, he also had a tinge of a smile mixed with it. It was like one sensing an opportunity.
In chamber 7, Jian Mun, and the group that accompanied Gong Tieshan, all expressed shocked faces with widened eyes as they refrained from even staring at Gong Tieshan. Their chamber was the quietest. Sitting in front of the group, Gong Tieshan had an expressionless gaze as he stared directly at chamber 4, which was across his chamber. Despite being challenged, Gong Tieshan maintained his composure as he didn't even show the slightest sign of being offended. Instead, his voice reverberated in the coliseum, his sound vibrations completely shattering his chamber glass.
"If fellow guests don't mind, would you care to introduce yourself? I am Gong Tieshan, the eighth prince of the Ancient Gong family from the Countless Myriad Domain. Might I please know who this humble ancient descendant is competing against?"
Another silence permeated the scene as the cultivators expressed great confusion. In their minds was only one thought; 'why is an arrogantly known ancient descendant from the most powerful ancient family civilly responding with a conversation to someone who had publicly and blatantly humiliated him?' Such action was completely unexpected; one would expect him to instantly order the complete eradication of everyone in chamber 4. His response to such humiliation was unlike that of an ancient descendant. And he even called himself 'humble.'
Looking through his shattered chamber glass, Gong Tieshan waited on a response from chamber 4. The crowd's attention was also focused on chamber four as they were all eager to know who this group was and which unknown powerhouse they originated from.
In chamber 1, the Bored Immortal and the Jian master exchanged glances as they weren't any different from the crowd, which was eager to know who Patrick's group truly were. The Jian master even rose from his seat, displaying his eagerness.
With everyone's attention directed at chamber 4, the scene became extremely quiet again, hoping to listen to what will be replied. And as anticipated, Patrick's voice again sounded from chamber 4. Except for his chamber, Patrick's voice frequency instantly shattered every chamber glass in the coliseum, even causing the trembling of the whole auction coliseum.
"Even your puny Gong forefathers are unworthy of knowing my name; what makes you, their sperm cell, any different?!"
This time, instead of complete silence, most cultivators passed out from shock and dread as one could see thousands of cultivators lifelessly falling without caring for their bodies. Most cultivators couldn't process what had happened, causing them to black out. But for the few who remained standing, some staggered from positions. In chamber 1, the Bored Immortal lost his bored expression as a shocking frown plastered his face. The Jian master was even worse; he had widened eyes with clenched fists as if he was the one being insulted.
While almost every cultivator expressed shock and panic at what was said, the person in question, Gong Tieshan, sat in his chamber as he directedly stared at chamber 4, which still had its glass unshattered. This time, Gong Tieshan expressed a slight emotion as a tiny bit of thick red murderous energy leaked from his eyes, but he instantly retracted it as he calmed his thoughts.
'I can't allow myself to be provoked. Fighting him now would also mean fighting that red-haired man, and losing in my main body isn't worth it, as it would significantly affect my cultivated law, the Law of Domination, since its primary rule states I must never lose. I can only request aid from the family, and since they also killed grand uncle, those proud old men would probably send a Saint King to handle it.'
Gong Tieshan thought as he formulated his plans. Suddenly, a golden one-foot-long crystal emerged from his chest; wrapping his left hand around it, Gong Tieshan crushed it into crumbs after. Seeing this, Jian Mun, who sat beside Gong Tieshan, spoke with a suspicious countenance.
"Brother Gong, you know that shattering your life crystal would indicate to your family that you are in trouble, right? And since you are in our Jian sacred realm, don't you think they would assume we are assaulting you?"
"Your Jian family should stay on the side as they have done since the beginning."
Gong Tieshan spoke as he seriously looked at Jian Mun. He had shattered his life crystal, which in the cultivation universe, is a life marker. The person always has one in their soul and the other at their establishment or institution, which they typically use to help their people during tough situations or tell if the person has died. All this took less than a minute.
At the same time, in Patrick's chamber, Patrick watched Gong Tieshan shatter his life crystal as he understood what would happen next.
'Grace, how long until they arrive?'
"Approximately ten minutes, Master. Do you wish to rewrite the plot and only continue with the auction arc?"
'..., No need; although I wanted to have the readers join me in devastating these people with my wealth, I think they already understand an infinite zero one percent of my wealth. That should suffice. But at least I'll get the blade; it should bring me fun later on.'
Patrick chatted with Grace as he decided everything. Then he spoke to the auction host.
"Host, I believe I am the highest bidder."
On the bidding platform, the host lady, utterly shocked and lost in her thoughts, regained consciousness after hearing Patrick's voice. Quickly recollecting herself, she looked at the green bidding pendant in her hand and saw the amount of 100,000,000 Law spirit stones displayed on the green pendant. Shocked still plastered on her face, the host lady attempted to call the final bid.
"One hundred million law spirit stones, going once, going twice-
The Star Commerce Alliance bids two hundred million law spirit stones in favor of the eighth prince, Gong Tieshan."
Just as the host lady was about to announce the final bid, a middle-aged male's voice sounded from the high-bidding chamber 10, interrupting the host's words. Hearing this, some instantly understood the intention behind this challenge bid.
"The Star Commerce Alliance? I can't believe that the wealthiest trading alliance was participating in the auction; with their wealth, they could rival the twelve ancient families and perhaps even the Overlords.!"
"Are you stupid? They won't even come close to the wealth of an Overlord!"
At the same time, in chamber 1, the Bored Immortal spoke to Jian Jui.
"With the current flow of events, I don't see your Jian family getting out of this unscathed. The Gong kid has requested backup using his life crystal, which will appear as your Jian family trying to kill him; now, you may explain things when they arrive, but I see the Gong family using it as an excuse to get rid of your family. Of course, since we are now allies, I won't sit idly by."
"..., You're right, and these crafty, greedy Star Commerce Alliance bastards, I wondered why they would send someone to an ordinary auction like this; turns out they knew Gong Tieshan was coming. And with what just happened between the Gong kid and those people, I don't see any better opportunity for them to snake in with the pretext of recovering the kid's reputation."
"Forget about the kid and the greedy snakes; how about you focus on how you plan to handle those people? I can sense their presence bringing lots of trouble. And I don't think they care the least about the auction; for all I know, they might be here because of the Gong Kid. If a battle starts later, you must choose sides wisely, or it might just be the Jian family's doom."
"Bored Immortal, as much as I appreciate your impeccable insights, I would appreciate it more if you stop thinking lowly of my Jian family. If a battle breaks out, we must show the world why we are known as the Sword Masters of the Immortal Realm, whether it's the Gong family or those people."
In chamber 4, Patrick heard the commerce alliance outbid his previous bid; instead of counterbidding, Patrick smiled and raised a finger, signaling Raleigh. Understanding his Master's wishes, Raleigh nodded as the green pendant in his hand glowed again the next instant.
The host lady was calling the last final bid on the bidding platform when she suddenly saw her green pendant lit up. Seeing this figure showing on the pendant, the lady couldn't help but gasp.
'In all my years as an auction host, never have I seen such an amount being spent on an auction. Do they truly possess such godly wealth?'
The host lady recomposed herself as she deeply inhaled, calling the figure on the pendant after.
"100 million Time spirit stones!" (Chap 72, paragraph 17)
Simultaneously to the host lady finishing her announcement, Lian Zu, trying to soul-connect with the Soul Devouring Blade, opened his eyes as he exhaled a thick black breath. Opening his lips, he spoke to his group.
"Mission complete; the blade is now mine."
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