284: Xuanyuan Dragon Slayer Technique

The zi hour had passed, and the System's light screen chimed punctually in Qin Feng's mind.

[Daily Intelligence Refreshed] (zi hour):

1. [Yellow Intelligence]: Tomorrow's Wanbao Auction will provide a special service—for ten thousand gold coins, one can purchase a "Phantom Mask" that can conceal one's aura; once worn, it is difficult for anyone below a Peak Martial Emperor powerhouse to see through the true face unless they deliberately investigate. For twenty thousand gold coins, an independent private room can be rented, which is equipped with soundproofing and anti-peeping Formations, and includes complimentary spiritual tea and spiritual fruit. Purchase is recommended to avoid unnecessary trouble.

2. [Blue Intelligence]: One of the finale items of this auction is an Earth Rank peak-grade weapon, the "Frost Blade," forged by a Northern Region Artifact Refining Grandmaster using Thousand-Year Profound Ice Iron. It carries a freezing effect and has a restraining effect on fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques. The starting bid is eight hundred thousand gold coins, with an expected final price of around two million. This blade is suitable for water or ice-attribute Martial Artists.

3. [Red Intelligence]: The finale item "Heaven Rank Sword Technique Fragment: Sword Sweeping the Eight Desolations" is actually the first three forms of the ancient Xuanyuan Clan's core Legacy, the "Xuanyuan Dragon Slaying Art." Two hundred years ago, the Xuanyuan Family split due to internal strife, and the core Legacy was lost; this fragment eventually drifted to the Northern Region. If completed, its power is comparable to a Heaven Rank High Grade sword technique. Descendants of the Xuanyuan Family have been secretly searching for the fragment's whereabouts, but they are unaware it has appeared in Juyan City this time.

"Xuanyuan Family?" Qin Feng's pupils constricted.

He immediately thought of the West Lake City Lord City Lord, whom he had fought alongside to wipe out the Wokou. That City Lord was surnamed Xuanyuan and was a master swordsman; could he be a descendant of the legendary Xuanyuan Family?

"One of the founding contributors, a once-prominent great Family, yet their core sword technique was lost due to internal strife and drifted to this Northern Region border..." Qin Feng was shocked.

But what shocked him even more was the last sentence of the red intelligence—"If completed, its power is comparable to a Heaven Rank High Grade sword technique!"

Heaven Rank High Grade!

One must know that in the entire Qian Kingdom, there are no more than ten Heaven Rank High Grade Cultivation Techniques or Martial Skills on the surface. Each one is a national treasure, and only core members or those who have performed great service are allowed to Cultivate them.

And if this "Xuanyuan Dragon Slaying Art" could be completed, it would have such potential!

"Even if it's just a fragment, I must get it tomorrow!" A firm light flashed in Qin Feng's eyes.

He had the daily intelligence system; as long as he obtained the first three forms, he would have the chance to find the other parts through the System's intelligence later. Just like the upper volume of the "Daoist Primordial Chaos Art," intelligence on the lower volume would appear sooner or later.

"Xuanyuan Family internal strife..." Qin Feng muttered to himself. "If there really is a chance to complete it, I can see if it's related to City Lord City Lord."

But that was for later; the immediate priority was tomorrow's auction.

With the reminder from the red intelligence, Qin Feng knew the value of this sword technique fragment far exceeded expectations, and the competition would likely be even more intense.

"It seems I have to be prepared to bleed money." Qin Feng smiled bitterly.

---

The next day, Wanbao Auction.

As the largest auction house in Juyan City and even the Northern Region, Wanbao Pavilion was decorated with lanterns and streamers today, with a stream of carriages and people at the door. Martial Artists, merchants, and Sect representatives from all over the Northern Region arrived in an endless stream, including many experts with deep auras.

Around the perimeter of the auction house, dozens of guards in uniform armor patrolled strictly; the lowest among them were at the Grand Martial Master cultivation level, and the leader was even a Martial King powerhouse. A detection Formation was set up at the entrance, strictly forbidding the entry of offensive Formations or weapons of mass destruction.

A long queue stretched from the auction house entrance all the way to the street corner, with clamor and discussion filling the air.

"Did you hear? There's an Earth Rank peak-grade weapon today!"

"More than that! There's also a Heaven Rank sword technique fragment!"

"Is that for real? A Heaven Rank sword technique appearing in Juyan City?"

"Absolutely certain! I have a relative working at the auction house, and he said the finale this time is a sword technique fragment, with a starting bid of at least one million!"

"One million?! My god, I've never seen that much money in my life..."

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, and many people stood on tiptoe to look, hoping to catch a glimpse of those big shots.

Qin Feng and his group arrived at the auction house early.

Following the intelligence hint, he didn't join the queue but instead directly found a person who looked like a manager and showed the Guest Elder token gifted by Yan Di.

As soon as the manager saw the token, his expression immediately became respectful: "So it is a distinguished guest from the City Lord's Mansion. Please follow me."

Under the envious and jealous gazes of others, Qin Feng and the others were led to a side door and entered an elegant reception room.

"What services do you distinguished guests require?" the manager asked eagerly.

Qin Feng said directly: "We want six Phantom Masks and one independent private room."

"Of course, of course," the manager smiled. "The masks are ten thousand gold coins each, and the private room is twenty thousand gold coins, totaling eighty thousand gold coins. Additionally, with the City Lord's Mansion Guest Elder token, you can enjoy a ten percent discount, making the actual payment seventy-two thousand gold coins."

Qin Feng nodded and took out a Gold Yuan Card to pay.

A moment later, the manager brought six masks that looked like neither metal nor jade, along with six black robes.

"Once worn, the Phantom Mask automatically fits the face and can conceal one's aura and appearance; unless a Peak Martial Emperor or higher powerhouse deliberately investigates, it is difficult to see through. The black robes have similar effects, so I suggest wearing them together," the manager explained.

The six of them put on the masks and donned the black robes.

The mask felt cool to the touch and automatically adjusted its size once put on, fitting perfectly. Qin Feng looked at himself in the mirror and saw his face was blurred and unclear, even his figure appeared somewhat illusory, and his aura became obscure and difficult to discern.

Little Fire was being held by Xiao Chun; the little guy curiously pawed at it with its claws but was held down by Xiao Chun: "Little Fire, don't make a fuss. Be good and don't move."

Everyone finished changing and, under the manager's guidance, entered the interior of the auction house.

The private room was on the second floor, in an excellent position directly facing the auction stage. The room wasn't large but was elegantly decorated, with tables and chairs made of high-quality spiritual wood. On the table sat a pot of steaming spiritual tea and several plates of spiritual fruit, their fragrance wafting through the air.

Runes faintly flowed on the walls of the private room, clearly equipped with soundproofing and anti-peeping Formations. Through the one-way crystal window in front, the hall and auction stage below could be clearly seen, but the inside could not be seen from the outside.

"Being rich is great," Xia Ya plopped down onto a soft chair and grabbed a spiritual fruit to munch on. "This treatment is much better than at the inn. These spiritual fruits are at least Profound Rank Low Grade; one costs dozens of gold coins!"

Xiao Chun curiously looked around the private room: "The Formations here are very exquisite; outside sounds can't come in, and our voices can't be heard outside. Unless a Martial Emperor-level powerhouse forcibly breaks the Formation, it's very safe."

Qin Feng walked to the window and looked down at the hall through the one-way crystal.

By now, the hall was seventy to eighty percent full, a dense mass of people, likely numbering over a thousand. The noisy discussions could be faintly heard even through the Formation, clearly all talking about today's auction items.

He saw many familiar figures—representatives of several major chambers of commerce in Juyan City, Clan Chiefs of several local great Families, and some Martial Artists with deep auras who clearly came from out of town.

People were also entering the other private rooms on the second floor. In one of the private rooms, the curtain moved slightly, and Qin Feng caught a glimpse of a crimson figure—was it Yan Chi? She came too?

Another private room faintly emitted a cold and gloomy aura; though very weak, Qin Feng's sword-heart perception was sharp and immediately captured the feminine aura unique to the Hehuan Sect's Cultivation Techniques.

"It seems many people have come today; it's a mixed bag," Ji Ruxue said softly, she also sensed several ill-intentioned auras.

Tao Yuanyi nodded: "An Earth Rank peak-grade weapon, a Heaven Rank sword technique fragment, and rumored Heaven Rank Low Grade Cultivation Techniques... these are enough to attract most of the forces in the Northern Region. I estimate there are at least three to five Martial Emperor powerhouses present."

Qin Feng withdrew his gaze and sat down to take a sip of spiritual tea.

The tea was warm and moist, transforming into pure Spiritual Qi upon entering his stomach, making him feel refreshed. This spiritual tea was at least Profound Rank High Grade; it couldn't be found in ordinary places.

"Everyone should be clear on the auction rules: the highest bidder wins, no malicious price-hiking, and no fighting in the venue." Qin Feng looked at everyone. "Our goal is clear—the Heaven Rank sword technique fragment. If other items are priced reasonably, we can consider them, but the sword technique is our top priority."

Everyone nodded.

Qin Feng added: "Also, pay attention to which forces are interested in the sword technique. Especially... people from the Xuanyuan Family."

"Xuanyuan Family?" Cold Peach Blossom asked in confusion. "Haven't they already declined?"

"A starved camel is still bigger than a horse," Qin Feng shook his head. "Moreover, according to the intelligence, this sword technique fragment is very likely their Family's lost core Legacy. If there really are Xuanyuan Family descendants present, the competition will likely be even more intense."

As they were speaking, a crisp chime of a bell came from below.

"Clang—!"

The auction has begun.

Onto the auction stage at the front of the hall stepped a middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe, with a kind face and a deep aura, clearly at the Late Stage Martial King cultivation level.

"Welcome everyone to the Wanbao Auction. I am Qian Wansan, and I will be hosting today's auction." The middle-aged man cupped his hands and smiled, his voice spreading throughout the venue via the Formation. "Without further ado, let's begin—the first item, an Earth Rank Low Grade defensive soft armor, the 'Flowing Cloud Armor,' with a starting bid of fifty thousand gold coins!"

The Juyan City auction has officially begun.