“The next item up for bid is the earth grade martial technique, Earth Severance Saber Technique!”

Long Di’s eyes narrowed at this. He needed to attain this martial technique at all costs!

****

When this was announced, a furore immediately broke out among the crowd.

“T-The Earth Severance Saber Technique!? Isn’t that the saber technique the signature move of the tyrant Kuang Fu!?”

“What!? THE Kuang Fu!?”

“I have to get my hands on this saber technique then!”

Huli Ruo only wore a smile as she waited for the furore to die down. This was to be expected.

After all, Kuang Fu was a powerful cultivator from many years ago. He was a tyrant, just like his namesake. He was unreasonable, overbearing, and arrogant, and no one could enter his eyes.

His journey was one of wanton slaughter and even established a rule over a certain region. The signature move that accompanied him was the Earth Severance Saber Technique.

This was an extremely powerful move that Kuang Fu could use to overcome any adversary. However, karma was an avid debt collector, and Kuang Fu offended someone he shouldn’t have, a disciple of one of the ten great sects.

After he killed that disciple, swift retribution descended upon him when one of the stronger disciples of this great sect was dispatched to hunt down and kill him to avenge their fallen sect brother. No one could challenge one of the ten great sects!

However, this didn’t destroy Kuang Fu’s reputation even after his death. Instead, it amplified it!

You were so powerful that you needed to be killed by an elite disciple of the ten great sects!? How badass was that!?

Now that his signature move had been unearthed, who would not be tempted by it?

“I’m sure I don’t need to tell everyone of tyrant Kuang Fu’s notoriety and his power,” Huli Ruo said. “This martial technique sits comfortably at the medium rank of the earth grade, so I will set the bar at 100 spirit stones.”

Crap!

Many people who had ‘prepared’ for this auction could see their hopes crumbling before them! Were they so poor in real life? Strange, they thought they were rich.

However, there were still many who could compete for this.

“105 spirit stones!”

“110 spirit stones!”

A fierce bid immediately erupted among the crowd, and whoever was able spared no expense to get their hands on this technique!

…

“I need to get my hands on this technique,” said Long Di.

“You practise saber arts?” Yaomu Shou asked with a hint of curiosity.

“I dabble…” Long Di stated.

Feng Yu, Shen Ling, Tie Lang, and the others all shook their head with a slight smile.

Someone who could form saber intent could only be referred to as a dabbler? Then what about those old masters who never even got the chance to touch upon the cusp of this realm? They should just go find a block of tofu to kill themselves with.

In any case, Yaomu Shou had already explained to them who tyrant Kuang Fu was, and this reinforced Long Di’s desire to get this saber technique. It was not that he was overly excited about learning this specific saber technique.

The true crux of the issue lay in the fact that Long Di was interested in learning and mastering the path of the saber. However, he had no proper saber technique. The only techniques he had on hand were those from the Peach Blossom Sage’s place of memories, but those could only be used as a point of reference for other techniques.

This was different. Not only could he use it as a point of reference to build his own technique, but the might of the move itself couldn’t be underestimated, and it wasn’t below Long Di to utilize it either.

The bid had already reached a sky-high price of 170 spirit stones! Even Xian Yanshi made a bid every now and again. Obviously, this was not what he came for, but its might still interested him enough to bid for it.

“250 spirit stones!” Long Di finally made a move!

This bid amount was like a basin of cold water that extinguished the flames of excitement that raged not long ago.

When Yaomu Shou heard the amount, she turned to look at Long Di with a bit of surprise. This amount wasn’t enough to move her, but the mere fact that Long Di had so much on him was a bit shocking.

“It’s a part of the payment for my services in the future,” Long Di noticed Yaomu Shou’s stare and gave her an even more confusing answer, even though it was true. After all, the Peach Blossom Sage’s will had placed upon him a task he had to complete.

…

“Is no one willing to bid higher?” Huli Ruo asked.

“300 spirit stones!” A youth with spirited eyes said. He then quickly stood up and looked in the direction of the private box where Long Di and the others were in.

He then gave a slight bow and said, “Fellow dao brother, I am truly in need of this saber technique and would appreciate it if you can surrender it to me. I will surely compensate you in the future.”

Huli Ruo frowned when she saw this. Was this man trying to affect the profits they were going to earn from this? This auction was of paramount importance, and no one was allowed to sabotage it!

She was just about to speak when Long Di beat her to the punch.

“My apologies, fellow dao brother. I am also in need of this technique. If you are able to beat me in this bid, I will certainly step back. 350 spirit stones.”

The youth’s expression darkened when he heard this. He already made a great concession to Long Di and raised the bid a great deal to show his determination, yet, Long Di spat on his good intentions!

He committed Long Di’s voice to memory, and would seek the latter for this technique!

However, Long Di didn’t pay him any more attention and simply waited for the bidding war to be over.

“400 spirit stones!”

The expression of everyone changed when they heard this, including the youth who believed he was slighted.

This bid came from the other private box. Who else could it be but Xiao Yanshi?

‘Didn’t Xian Yanshi show limited interest in this saber technique? Why is he going so hard now?’

This was the thought going through everyone’s head.

The answer didn’t take long to come to light. It wasn’t hard to figure out either. Long Di had embarrassed Xian Yanshi. The latter obviously couldn’t swallow this humiliation and thus was forcing this bidding war on Long Di, forcing the other to spend more money than had to.

The youth from before was quite shocked, but then a smile spread across his face, “Hmph! This is what you get for being so arrogant!”

“800 spirit stones,” Long Di sounded disinterested as always.

“900 spirit stones!” Xiao Yanshi had a malicious expression! ‘This is what you get for embarrassing me!’

The only reason he was even going this far was because of the ease of tone of Long Di’s voice. As long as the latter sounded comfortable, he could continue the bidding to squeeze Long Di dry!

“1000 spirit stones,” bid Long Di.

“1,100 spirit stones!” Xian Yanshi shot back!

“…”

“Eh? Where’s the bid? Make the bid!” Xia Yanshi was starting to feel anxious. If he was forced to pay the 1,100 spirit stones, he would definitely not be able to win the bid for the last item of the auction.

He was starting to sweat profusely, ‘Bid! Please bid! BID!’

“1,100 spirit stones going once!”

‘For the love of all that’s good in this world, BID!’

“1,100 spirit stones going twice!”

Xian Yanshi’s butthole clenched shut in anxiety as time was running out, ‘Sweet dew on a mat of chest hair, bid goddammit!’

“Sol-”

“1,110 spirit stones,” the private box that held Long Di and the others made this final bid.

“Bwah!” Xiao Yanshi released a breath of relief. He made up his mind to never do this again! It was too scary! He was sure that Long Di’s voice signified that he could go a few more rounds, but what if Long decided to let him have it, he would have no one to cry to but himself!

Obviously, no one contested the bid and this martial technique was won by Long Di.

…

“That shameless little toadie!” Yaomu Shou was enraged.

Something that should have been bought for 400 spirit stones ended up going for 1,100 spirit stones! How could she not be enraged!?

“It’s fine,” Long Di didn’t let the earlier matter bother him.

“Regardless of how rich you are, you can’t allow such petty trash to run rampant!” Yaomu Shou was obviously not a person to eat a loss.

“Then what can we do about it?” asked Long Di. He just wanted to pocket what interested him and leave.

“Hehe, leave it to me.” Yaomu Shou had a wicked smile on her face.

Seeing this, Long Di offered a silent prayer for Xiao Yanshi.

“Alright everyone, so here is another treasure that I am sure you will all love.”

Huli Ruo was getting a bit tired of Long Di and Xiao Yanshi. The two were capable of turning the attention away from her. How long has it been since that happened?

However, there wasn’t much she could do. Plus, the amount of money this little scuffle caused Long Di to spend was well above their estimations, so she wasn’t too angry.

She gestured for the next treasure to be brought out. Immediately, an attendant came and placed several vials on the pedestal.

“I won’t waste anyone’s time and simply advise you that these are Casting Cauldron Pills. With them being able to advance the cauldron grade, their value can be estimated.”

Everyone turned red-eyed. This was the treasure they all came for!