Eternal Heavenly Emperor

"Ladies and gentlemen, there is no need for me to introduce the function of the Star Shattering Pill. This batch was specially crafted by the master alchemist Li Yuanlin, so there is no need to worry about the quality," the auctioneer paused then continued, "There are five pills in total, and they will be auctioned together. The starting bid is ten thousand Star Stones."

"Twelve thousand!"

"Fifteen thousand!"

"Twenty thousand!"

Chu Hao couldn't help but click his tongue. What was happening? In just a few moments, the price had doubled. Fortunately, he was rich today, so even tens of thousands of Star Stones didn't faze him.

He wasn't in a hurry to bid either and decided to wait to strike at the right moment.

"Thirty-seven thousand!"

"Thirty-eight thousand!"

In just a short time, the price had quadrupled, crossing the threshold of forty thousand Star Stones. However, the number of bidders was decreasing. After all, the Star Shattering Pill could only accelerate the breakthrough of Reverse Meridians; its effect wasn't too miraculous.

— For most Martial Artists, the key challenge lay in drawing out new Reverse Meridians. Once that was managed, it would just be a matter of time and effort, typically three to four months at most.

Therefore, if there was a pill that could help in drawing out Reverse Meridians, it would be priced ten or even twenty to thirty times higher than the Star Shattering Pill. And if it could draw out the ninth or tenth Reverse Meridian, it would fetch an astronomical price.

There were indeed pills capable of drawing out Reverse Meridians, known as the "Reverse Meridian Pill." Not only were the raw materials extremely rare and precious, but the difficulty of crafting such a pill was also dozens of times higher than that of the Star Shattering Pill.

The price at four times the base had nearly reached the limit of what most people could bear. Now, only two individuals were still bidding, both on the fourth floor. Chu Hao couldn't see them from where he was seated but judging by their voices, both appeared to be in their twenties.

"Forty-four thousand!" One of them added another bid, and this time he added an extra remark, "Bao Yi, I warn you, this Star Shattering Pill is for my big brother to use to break through the Five Meridians!"

"Chai family's brat, are you threatening me?" the other person snorted, "Forty-five thousand!"

"Forty-six thousand!" The person surnamed Chai continued to bid, "Haha, if you're not afraid of getting beaten up, go ahead and compete with me!"

This threat was unmistakable.

"Bao Yi really is unlucky!" Someone immediately started discussing below, "Breaking through to the Martial Sect at 22, he's ranked in the top ten in our West Meeting City's history, truly a genius. But he had to share an era with Chai Kang!"

"Chai Kang, ah. Breaking through to the Martial Sect at just 19, he was accepted as a disciple by the Second Rank Qinghua Sect. In just three years, he's reached the Four Meridians stage, ranked 28th on the Fledgling Dragon List. He's unquestionably the number one genius in West Meeting City!"

"Compared to Chai Kang, Bao Yi pales in comparison. Now he's just at the Two Meridians stage even at 25 years old."

Ranked 28th on the Fledgling Dragon List?

Chu Hao's eyes lit up, his hands itched with a sudden desire to challenge him. However, Qinghua Sect?

Water Moon Fairy was also from Qinghua Sect. They had become enemies over the Seven Flower Fruit, and after two more conflicts, their enmity had grown quite deep. Chu Hao had no goodwill toward such a sinister woman. No matter how beautiful she might be, he wouldn't mind killing her if given a chance.

Bao Yi added a few more bids but ultimately dropped out of the competition, seemingly truly afraid of the Chai family.

Chai Jian felt immensely proud. Though he was only a Three Meridians martial master, having such a talented elder brother allowed him to swagger around. Sometimes, he couldn't help but wonder if all the blessings of the heavens had been bestowed upon his brother, leaving him with ordinary martial talent.

"Sixty thousand." At this moment, a clear voice suddenly joined the bidding war for the Star Shattering Pill.

Who was this? Even Bao Yi had backed down, and yet someone still dared to bid?

Although Chu Hao couldn't see Chai Jian, Chai Jian couldn't see him either, only knowing that the bidder came from the second floor.

The second floor!

What did that signify? It indicated that the person's status was higher than ordinary folks but not too exalted, or else they would be in a private box on the third or fourth floor.

"Sixty-one thousand!" Chai Jian, somewhat displeased, continued to increase his bid.

A few days ago, Chai Kang had returned home for a visit and learned about the auction of the Star Shattering Pill. He had recently gained some new insights into a secret technique and handed Chai Jian a hundred thousand Star Stones to bid on his behalf.

Chai Jian had to meet his superstar brother's request 100%. It was clear that his brother would undoubtedly become a War King-level figure in the future. By then, he would be the brother of a War King, and that would be immensely prestigious!

How dared someone spoil his and his brother's plans?

"Seventy thousand." Chu Hao casually raised the bid.

Chai Jian frowned. Didn't the other party know who his big brother was? Judging by the young voice and the fact that the Star Shattering Pill was only effective for Martial Sect cultivators, the other person was evidently a Martial Sect cultivator.

Among the younger generation, there were only 27 individuals in all of Cang State who could rank above his brother.

Such audacity!

"Hey, you downstairs, do you know who my big brother is?" He couldn't help but shout towards the second floor.

Chu Hao didn't respond. If one were to truly measure up, he was a Martial Sect cultivator, while the other was merely a martial master. Did he need to bother with him?

In martial arts, hierarchy was paramount. In another place, which martial master would dare to speak to a Martial Sect cultivator this way without getting slapped to death?

Chai Jian continued to ramble, thinking Chu Hao's silence was due to his fear of his big brother's reputation. Feeling quite smug, he thought—being a martial master and able to silence a Martial Sect cultivator, that certainly satisfied his vanity and made him feel great.

"Auctioneer, since there are no more bids, why not start the countdown?" Chu Hao finally spoke but directed his words to the auctioneer.

What?

Chai Jian immediately jumped up in anger. Had he been completely ignored? Had all his words been taken as mere buzzing of flies? This bastard! He turned and looked viciously at the black-clad middle-aged man standing solemnly.

The Chai family was a Sixth Rank family, and the family had warriors in its ranks. This black-clad middle-aged man had come seeking renown as a bodyguard, a Four Meridians Martial Sect—of course, drawn by Chai Kang's fame. If Chai Kang achieved War King or even higher status, wouldn't the Four Meridians Martial Sect still be highly valued?

By joining the Chai family now, he would be considered a founding hero in the future, with a significantly different status.

Because Chai Jian was Chai Kang's younger brother, he was given the high-profile protection of a Martial Sect cultivator bodyguard.

Chai Jian had already developed a killing intent. In his mind, no young person could compare to his brother, and if his brother, being a Four Meridians Martial Sect, had such a guard, then this guard could easily kill Chu Hao.

How dare someone make him unhappy? Hmph, death was the only answer.

"Seventy-one thousand!" Chai Jian continued to bid.

Knowing he intended to kill Chu Hao, Chai Jian didn't have to keep bidding. After all, once Chu Hao was dead, the Star Shattering Pill would still be his. But as the second young master of the Chai family, could he stomach this humiliation?

"Eighty thousand." Chu Hao said calmly without a hint of emotion.

What a joke. He had already decided that if the price was right, he would even bid for the White Jade Ginseng—he dared to provoke warriors; what was the mere 28th on the Fledgling Dragon List to him?

"Eighty-one thousand!" Chai Jian gritted his teeth. There were only two thousand Star Stones away from the hundred thousand threshold, and once surpassed, he would have to concede. How could he accept this? The second young master of the Chai family being humiliated by an unknown person?

"Ninety thousand." Chu Hao remained as calm as ever.

"One hundred thousand!" Chai Jian finally mustered some nerve, raising the bid by ten thousand. If he had bid ninety-one thousand, Chu Hao might bid one hundred thousand, leaving him unable to continue.

Chu Hao couldn't help but laugh, "One hundred thousand one."

Chai Jian's mouth fell open, his face looking both embarrassed and awkward, unable to utter a single word.

The other party had become "stingy" at this moment but had managed to suppress him thoroughly. This made him feel utterly helpless as though he had swallowed a hundred flies, completely irritated.

But no matter how upset he was, he only had one hundred thousand Star Stones and couldn't bid more. Moreover, the other's relaxed tone suggested he had more to spend, so even if he held out for a couple more bids, it would be pointless.

Damn person, how dare he humiliate him? He was dead meat!

Chai Jian's eyes glinted with malice. Ever since his brother made it to the Fledgling Dragon List, his violent tendencies had fully erupted. To those who sided with him, he showed favor, to those against him, he showed them annihilation. Like an emperor, he accepted no defiance.

"Any more bids?" This time, the auctioneer didn't need Chu Hao's reminder and began the final call.

"One hundred thousand one, once."

"One hundred thousand one, twice."

"One hundred thousand one, thrice, sold!"

Immediately, someone brought the bottle of Star Shattering Pills to Chu Hao's private room. After paying the Star Stones, Chu Hao stored the precious medicine in his Mustard Seed Ring.

He quickly grew bored again, waiting for the auction of the White Jade Ginseng.

If he could win this item, he would immediately leave West Meeting City.

After a long time, the auction for the White Jade Ginseng finally began.

"Starting price: one hundred thousand!" After introducing the uses of the White Jade Ginseng, the auctioneer excitedly began the auction. This was one of the three main items of today, and he eagerly anticipated how high it would go.

"One hundred twenty thousand."

"One hundred fifty thousand."

"Two hundred thousand."

The price soared, without the auctioneer needing to fan the flames, as if everyone was calling for cabbage rather than Star Stones.

Chu Hao still had 1.6 million Star Stones left. Adding the profits from the already sold herbs he consigned, his total assets had reached 1.9 million, and his cultivation requirements were limited—leaving a thousand would suffice.

His chances of winning were still quite high.

"Five hundred seventy thousand!"

"Six hundred thousand!"

"Six hundred twenty thousand!"

Prices had climbed so high that only a handful were still in the running. Those continuing to bid were red-faced and straining, feeling as though each bid cut a slice from their flesh—a truly excruciating process.

"Seven hundred thousand."

Reaching this high, it was almost everyone's limit. A yellow-browed elder finally revealed a look of relief, indicating he would secure it.

With this White Jade Ginseng, he dared venture into several perilous ancient caves. If he could obtain some ancient recipes, treasure artifacts, or secret techniques, the cost would be easily recouped.

"Eight hundred thousand." At this moment, Chu Hao placed a bid.