Chapter 81: Chapter 79: Just the Beginning

Jiang Chen made a name for himself in a single battle.

Not only had he quelled the Lui Family’s internal strife, but he had also made those who coveted the five entry slots wary. They were now forced to tread carefully.

Within the Lui Family’s camp, Jiang Chen occupied an area for himself, cultivating quietly.

He had already learned that Zhao Qiankun had not yet returned and deduced that he must be recuperating from his injuries somewhere. When he did return, a great battle between them would be inevitable. Thus, he was meditating, adjusting his condition to its peak to prepare for the confrontation with Zhao Qiankun.

However, after waiting for half a day, it wasn’t Zhao Qiankun who arrived, but an acquaintance!

"Brother Jiang, we meet again!" Yulan Tianpeng was the first to walk in.

Jiang Chen lazily raised an eyelid and gave a faint "mm," his attitude cold.

A wry smile touched Yulan Tianpeng’s baby-fat face. He knew Jiang Chen was upset that he hadn’t helped when Lui Yifa and his father were in trouble, so he quickly explained, "Brother Jiang, it wasn’t that I, Yulan Tianpeng, was unwilling to help Brother Lui. Ever since I returned heavily injured from Gongsun Yangg’s sneak attack, my father has had me confined. I was only just released after using the excuse of coming to see you!"

Lui Yifa, who was standing to the side, nodded and said, "My boss, I tried to find him too, but the City Lord’s Mansion guards stopped me. He was indeed confined. You can’t blame him!"

"I know!"

Jiang Chen nodded. He understood that the children of these great clans often had their hands tied. His gaze shifted to the handsome young man beside Yulan Tianpeng, and he raised an eyebrow. "If I’m not mistaken, this must be the Red Flame Army’s Si Xiaosheng, one of the so-called Three Heroes of Yulan?"

The Three Heroes of Yulan was the respectful title given by the people of Yulan Mansion to the three geniuses: Zhao Qiankun, Yulan Tianpeng, and Si Xiaosheng.

This person was about the same age as Yulan Tianpeng and was also a True Martial Realm expert. It could be none other than Si Xiaosheng!

Si Xiaosheng was dressed in red battle armor. Coming from the Red Flame Army, he had a soldier’s straightforward and frank demeanor. "I am indeed Si Xiaosheng. I’ve long heard Tianpeng mention your name. You truly live up to your reputation!"

"You flatter me. Don’t just stand there, please sit and talk."

Jiang Chen smiled faintly and gestured for the two to sit. Only then did he look at Yulan Tianpeng. "Tianpeng, you just said you used me as an excuse to get out? Does that mean you have business with me?"

Yulan Tianpeng nodded. "Well, it’s like this. My father knows you have five entry slots for the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm. You and Lui Yifa are taking two, which leaves three extra. He wanted me to ask how you plan to handle the remaining slots!"

"What? Your City Lord’s Mansion is short on slots?" Jiang Chen asked, surprised.

The three great Overlords of Yulan Mansion—the City Lord’s Mansion, the Red Flame Army, and the Qinghuo Gang—were all colossal powers.

These three powers held more than half of the total slots. How could they be lacking?

Yulan Tianpeng said, "We aren’t short, of course. It’s the other factions that are desperate for slots. But after this morning’s battle, none of them dare to approach you lightly, so some of them pulled strings to get to my father."

"I see!"

Jiang Chen thought for a moment and asked, "I haven’t decided what to do with the three slots. Do you have any suggestions?"

"My father and I think you should auction them!"

Yulan Tianpeng grinned. "You’re different from us. You don’t have the burden of a family. All you really need to do is secure slots for yourself and Lui Yifa. The rest are more or less disposable to you, but to the other factions, each slot is incredibly precious. I’m sure they’d be willing to pay a high price for them!"

Jiang Chen raised a hand to stroke his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Just as Yulan Tianpeng had said, these slots were indeed dispensable to him. But just give them to the Lui Family? ’That’s obviously not happening!’

If he auctioned them off as Yulan Tianpeng suggested, he could make a fortune.

At this thought, Jiang Chen smiled. "Alright, then I’ll trouble you to spread the word. Tomorrow morning, I will be auctioning the three slots I have."

"Great! As long as you agree, that’s all that matters. I’ll help you handle the specific auction procedures!"

Yulan Tianpeng said excitedly.

He and Si Xiaosheng then took their leave, while Jiang Chen resumed his cultivation...

「The next morning.」

As the opening of the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm drew nearer, all the families and factions were making their final, frantic pushes, hoping to snag one last slot!

But today, none of the experts from the various family factions had left the Celestial Demon Canyon.

They had all gathered at the Lui Family camp.

Through the City Lord’s Mansion, word had already spread that Jiang Chen was auctioning his three extra slots, and all the factions were eager for a chance.

Patriarch Qian of the Qian Family, Qian Luohao, sat in a Grandmaster’s Chair, fiddling with the Buddhist Beads in his hand. He looked at the steward beside him with half-closed eyes. "For this trip to the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm, our Qian Family only managed to secure a single slot. Even some Second-class families have more than us. We must obtain these three slots!"

"Yes, Patriarch!"

The steward said respectfully.

Qian Luohao’s eyes remained half-closed. "Has Zhao Qiankun not returned yet? He gathered Jun’er and the others to hunt down Gongsun Yangg’s killer, but there has been no news since. I have no idea where they’ve gone."

"Reporting to the Patriarch, I have already arranged for people to keep a close watch on the Qinghuo Gang. As soon as Zhao Qiankun returns, we will ask about the young master’s whereabouts!" the steward said.

"Hmph!"

A cold glint flashed in Qian Luohao’s eyes, and the Buddhist Beads in his hand paused for a moment. "I hope Jun’er is safe. Otherwise... Hmph..."

Nearby, Patriarch Luoo of the Luoo Family, Luoo Ri, clenched his fists, his expression determined. "My Luoo Family doesn’t even have a single slot yet. We’ll become a laughingstock. This slot must be mine!"

The president of the Money Commerce Association, Meng Qing, said, "An auction? Hmph. When it comes to financial power, my Money Commerce Association fears no one!"

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Jiang Chen, Yulan Tianpeng, and Si Xiaosheng appeared, walking side by side.

This auction would be hosted by Lui Yifa.

Lui Yifa gave a dry cough. Without any pleasantries or small talk, he got straight to the point: "Everyone knows what’s being auctioned today: the three Celestial Demon Ancient Realm slots my boss holds. The auction will be held in three rounds, one slot per round. We will now begin with the first slot. The starting price is 100,000 silver. You may begin bidding!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a flurry of bids erupted from the crowd below.

"One hundred thousand!"

"Two hundred thousand!"

"Five hundred thousand..."

The price was instantly driven up to 500,000. It was the Qian Family. Qian Luohao scanned the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, please give me, Qian Luohao, some face. Thank you!"

"Since Patriarch Qian has spoken, we will naturally give you some face!"

"Let the Qian Family have the first slot!"

In the end, the first slot went to the Qian Family. The steward stepped forward with 500,000 in silver notes, but Lui Yifa merely glanced at him and said coolly, "Apologies, but my boss has instructed that if the Qian Family wins the bid, the price is doubled. You will need one million silver to take this slot!"

"What?"

Qian Luohao’s expression changed drastically. He glared at Jiang Chen. "Why is that? On what grounds does my Qian Family have to pay double?"

Jiang Chen glanced at him and replied indifferently, "Because I feel like it. What are you going to do about it? Either leave one million, or take your money back. I won’t have any trouble finding a buyer for this slot!"

"You..." Qian Luohao’s chest heaved violently. His gaze was venomous, as if he wanted to devour him whole. He ground out through clenched teeth, "Fine, fine! Jiang Chen, I will remember this. One million! My Qian Family can still afford it!"

The first slot was ultimately sold for one million silver. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The crowd looked at Qian Luohao with strange, almost sympathetic expressions.

The second slot was then bought by the Money Commerce Association for 800,000 silver. Meng Qing looked smug. "Everyone, thanks for letting me win! My Money Commerce Association will be taking this second slot!" He smilingly took out 800,000 silver and handed it to Lui Yifa.

Lui Yifa still did not accept the silver notes.

"My boss has instructed that if the Money Commerce Association buys the slot, the price is multiplied by five." Seeing Meng Qing’s enraged expression, Lui Yifa continued, "My boss also said that if you can’t afford it, you can choose not to take it. We won’t have any trouble finding a buyer!"

Meng Qing: "..."

’Damn it, do you have to be so vicious?’

’Your words have backed me into a corner. If I don’t pay up, won’t that be telling the world that the great Money Commerce Association has no money?’

Meng Qing could only bite the bullet and fork over four million silver to buy the slot. Holding the Black Token that symbolized the slot, Meng Qing shot a vicious glare at Jiang Chen and swore to himself, ’Kid, what goes around comes around. You’d better not fall into my hands!’

"The last slot! Starting bid, four million silver!" Lui Yifa announced coolly, sweeping his gaze over the crowd.

Everyone was stunned by this announcement.

Ninety-nine percent of the factions chose to back out. After all, while a slot for the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm was precious, most of the families present already had at least one in hand and wouldn’t spend such a massive sum to buy another.

Of course... with the exception of the Luoo Family!

Luoo Ri’s face was grim, his heart feeling as if it were bleeding. Among the Four Great Clans, his Luoo Family was the only one without a single slot!

To prevent his family from becoming a laughingstock, he could only grit his teeth and say, "Four million, the Luoo Family will take it!" He paused, then looked at Lui Yifa and asked, "Nephew Lui, surely my Luoo Family won’t have to pay five times the price?"

"Mm, no need!"

Lui Yifa nodded. Just as Luoo Ri was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he continued, "My boss said that if someone from the Luoo Family buys the slot, the final price will be ten times the bid! Patriarch Luoo, that will be forty million silver. Pay up, and the goods are yours!"

"Wh-what? Ten times? Forty million? Are you fucking kidding me?" Luoo Ri roared, his anger flaring up uncontrollably.

Forty million silver was a full one-tenth of the Luoo Family’s total assets!

Facing Luoo Ri’s furious question, Jiang Chen leaned forward slightly. The corners of his mouth lifted into a mocking arc as he said slowly, "I am ripping off your Luoo Family, yes! Forty million. If you can’t afford it, feel free to give up. But if you do, your Luoo Family will become a laughingstock. One of the great Four Great Clans, yet without a single slot... heh heh..."

"I... I..."

Luoo Ri’s face alternated between green and white. He realized everyone was staring at him. He hesitated for a long moment before finally sighing. "Fine. Forty million. I’ll pay it!"

He handed over the silver notes and took the Black Token.

A venomous light shone in Luoo Ri’s eyes as he shot a fierce glare at Jiang Chen. "Kid, fortunes turn! You’d better pray you don’t fall into my hands!" With a flick of his sleeve, Luoo Ri stalked away, dejected and disgraced.

Qian Luohao and Meng Qing exchanged a look and quickly followed, chasing after Luoo Ri.

Jiang Chen, however, paid them no mind. He looked at the thick stack of silver notes in his hand, worth a total of forty-five million, and smiled faintly. This time, he had made an absolute killing!

However, in Jiang Chen’s eyes, this forty-five million was only the beginning of his revenge...