System Possession, One Sword Shocks the Gods

164: Auction Frenzy, Fragments of the Demon Palace MapThree days passed in the blink of an eye.

The Ten Thousand Treasures Tower auction was held as scheduled in the giant circular auction hall on the top floor.

At this moment, the hall was packed, and the noise was deafening.

Forces from the Filthy Earth Black City and surrounding regions, as well as solitary powerhouses, gathered together, and the air was filled with an atmosphere of greed, tension, and murder.

Whispers and exchanges of Divine Thought surged like an undercurrent.

Relying on his VIP jade token, Ye Chen quietly entered his medium-sized private box.

The box was equipped with a Formation to isolate Divine Sense detection; from inside, one could clearly see the auction stage below and most of the ordinary seats, but outsiders could not peer into the situation inside the box.

He sat quietly on the chair, his gaze sweeping calmly over the dense crowd below.

He saw many powerful existences; there were quite a few Cultivators at the Ninth Layer Earth Fiend Realm, and there were even a few obscure, deep auras that seemed to blend with the surrounding Devilish Qi, which likely touched the threshold of the Tiangang Realm.

”Clang—!”

A clear bell chime rang out, suppressing the noise of the entire venue.

An old man wearing a brocade robe, with a wealthy appearance but sharp eyes like an eagle, walked slowly onto the auction stage.

His aura was profound; he was surprisingly a Cultivator at the Peak Ninth Level of Disha Realm!

”This old man is Qian Yong, a deacon of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, responsible for hosting today’s auction.”

The old man’s voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears.

”I believe everyone understands the rules; the highest bidder wins. Spirit Stones, Demon Origin Stones, or barter are all acceptable, but they must be evaluated by our tower’s appraisers.”

”If anyone maliciously bids or disrupts the order... do not blame our tower for being ruthless!”

As his words fell, a powerful pressure mixed with chilling killing intent instantly enveloped the entire venue, causing some people with ulterior motives to turn pale and stand in silence like cicadas in winter.

”Now, the auction begins! The first item, Earth Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique ’Black Water Demon Fiend Art’, starting bid is 100,000 Low Grade Demon Origin Stones!”

The auction proceeded in full swing.

Various Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, divine weapons, and exotic treasures emerged one after another, triggering a wave of bidding from the audience, and the atmosphere was heated.

Among them, there were many rare items that could cause small-scale sensations.

Ye Chen remained calm and composed, not making a move.

His goal was clear: first, any potential clues to leaving the Demon Abyss, and second, that final item, the incomplete map of the nirvana demonic palace.

During this period, there were one or two Jade Slips regarding deeper maps of the Demon Abyss and introductions to dangerous areas.

He participated in a few rounds of bidding, but gave up decisively after the price was raised too high, not wanting to waste funds.

Time passed, item after item was sold, and the atmosphere at the scene grew increasingly high.

When the last few finale items were about to appear, the air in the entire auction hall seemed to freeze.

”Next, are the last three finale items of this auction!”

Qian Yong’s voice also carried a hint of excitement.

”The first item, Heaven Rank broken weapon — ’Void-Splitting Demon Blade’! Although this blade is broken and the artifact spirit has been extinguished, its material is forged from ’Void Demon Gold’, containing a trace of space Law fragments. If a Great Grandmaster of Artifact Refining can be found to repair it, its power will be immeasurable! Starting bid is 3 million Low Grade Demon Origin Stones!”

A long blade that was pitch black, with a ferocious design and an obvious crack on the blade, was brought up, and the space around the blade body was slightly distorted.

Instantly, countless fiery gazes focused on it!

”3.2 million!”

”3.5 million!”

”4 million!”

The price soared all the way, and was finally bought by a guest in a top-floor VIP box for the sky-high price of 5.8 million.

”The second finale item, ancient Pill Formula — ’Nine-Turn Reversal Demon Pill’! This pill can help a Cultivator at the Peak of Earth Fiend Realm increase their chance of breaking through the Tiangang Realm Bottleneck by 30%! The starting bid for the Pill Formula is 4 million Low Grade Demon Origin Stones!”

There was another round of crazy bidding, and this Pill Formula was finally sold for 7 million Demon Origin Stones.

The atmosphere at the scene had been pushed to the Peak!

Everyone knew that the last, and most heavyweight item, was about to appear!

Qian Yong took a deep breath and waved his hand to signal.

A maid holding a sandalwood tray walked onto the stage, and the tray was covered with red silk that isolated Divine Sense.

”Everyone!”

Qian Yong’s voice was loud as he suddenly lifted the red silk.

”The final finale of this auction — a suspected incomplete map of the nirvana demonic palace outer area!”

On the wooden tray lay a beast-skin map with a dark yellow color and tattered edges.

The material of the map was ancient, and on it, twisted mountains and rivers, as well as some unrecognizable ancient symbols, were outlined with some kind of dark red pigment, and there was a striking mark like a demon eye in the central area.

Just at the moment this map appeared, the chaos monitoring compass in Ye Chen’s arms actually sent out another extremely faint, yet warning-like fluctuation!

And at the same time, the chaos ancestral talisman deep in his Qi Sea also seemed to be drawn by some kind of same-origin but repulsive aura, and trembled slightly!

This map... is strange!

Ye Chen’s gaze focused, and his vigilance increased greatly in his heart.

The reaction of the chaos ancestral talisman meant that this map was either related to Chaos, or... related to a power opposing it!

”This map has been jointly appraised by many treasure appraisers of our tower, confirming that its material has existed for at least 100,000 years, and the ancient demonic rhyme contained on it cannot be fake! Although it is only an incomplete map of the outer area, I believe there is no need for me to say more about its value!”

Qian Yong’s voice was inflammatory.

”The starting bid is 5 million Low Grade Demon Origin Stones, and each increment must not be less than 100,000! Start now!”

”5.5 million!”

As soon as the words fell, someone immediately called out a price.

”6 million!”

”6.3 million!”

”7 million!”

The price rose crazily like a wild horse without a bridle!

Almost all those participating in the bidding were representatives of major forces in the top-floor VIP boxes, and the Cultivators in the ordinary seats had long since become spectators.

Ye Chen did not bid immediately; he calmly observed.

The price soon broke through 10 million and continued to climb.

”12 million!”

A cold voice came from a certain box, carrying a determined meaning; it was exactly Wu Gang, the branch leader of the Black Fiend Cult!

His son, Wu Li, was standing respectfully behind him, his eyes sweeping across the direction of Ye Chen’s box with resentment.

”13 million!”

In another box, the leader of the Blood Blade Fortress snorted coldly.

”15 million!”

The representative of the City Lord’s Mansion also joined the competition.

The scene was once white-hot.

Ye Chen knew he couldn’t wait any longer.

He controlled the sound transmission Formation in the box and reported a price:

”20 million.”

The calm voice was like a piece of ice thrown into boiling oil, causing the intense bidding to stop suddenly!

20 million!

This price had already exceeded the psychological bottom line and liquid funds of many forces!

Everyone’s eyes were focused on the medium-sized box where Ye Chen was located.

It was full of shock, doubt, and greed.

A guest in a medium-sized box could actually bring out 20 million?

What was his background?

Wu Gang’s face instantly turned livid; he stood up abruptly and shouted across the box: ”Who exactly is Your Excellency? Do you really want to be enemies with my Black Fiend Cult?”

Qian Yong frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: ”In the auction house, only price matters, not identity! Leader Wu, please pay attention to the rules!”

Wu Gang sat down fiercely, his chest heaving violently, and the killing intent in his eyes was about to overflow.

Although his Black Fiend Cult branch was powerful, 20 million Low Grade Demon Origin Stones was by no means a small amount, and he still had to reserve funds to deal with other matters.

The representatives of the Blood Blade Fortress and the City Lord’s Mansion also remained silent, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

Qian Yong looked around the venue, and seeing that no one else was bidding, he said: ”20 million Low Grade Demon Origin Stones, going once!”

”20 million, going twice!”

...

Just as Qian Yong was about to drop the hammer —

”21 million.”

A hoarse voice, as if metal was rubbing, came from a box on the very top floor that had not participated in the bidding, which was decorated the most luxuriously.

The crowd was in an uproar!

Someone was actually raising the price?

And it was from that most mysterious top-tier box!

Ye Chen frowned slightly; he felt the aura coming from that box, obscure and deep, carrying a kind of ancient bloody smell.

”22 million.”

He raised the price again.

”23 million.”

The hoarse voice followed closely, without a trace of emotion.

”25 million.”

Ye Chen’s tone remained calm.

”26 million.”

The price had reached this point, and even Qian Yong was a little moved.

Although this incomplete map was precious, it was only an outer area after all, and its authenticity was hard to distinguish; the price of 26 million was already a bit inflated.

Ye Chen was silent for a moment.

His funds, including the proceeds from selling items earlier and the savings of the Cold Old Man, as well as some Materials that could be quickly liquidated, were at most around 28 million.

If the other party continued to follow...

His thoughts turned rapidly, and he spoke again, his voice passing through the Formation: ”30 million.”

He didn’t add 10,000 by 10,000, but directly increased it by 4 million, showing a determined posture, trying to deter the other party.

The whole venue was dead silent!

30 million!

Just for a tattered map!

That top-tier box was also silent for a long time. Just when everyone thought he was going to give up, the hoarse voice sounded again, with a hint of faint sarcasm:

”Your Excellency has strong financial resources; this item is yours.”

The hammer fell!

”Sold! Congratulations to this Fellow Daoist for winning the incomplete map of the nirvana demonic palace!”

Qian Yong announced loudly.

Ye Chen felt a slight relief in his heart, but at the same time, he became even more solemn.

30 million had almost emptied all his current liquid funds.

Moreover, he clearly felt that countless malicious Divine Senses were entangled outside his box like a spider web.

Possessing a treasure is a crime!

The auction ended, and the crowd began to leave one after another.

Under the escort of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower guards, Ye Chen completed the handover and took the ancient beast-skin fragmentary map into his possession.

The moment he got it, he could more clearly feel the strange aura contained within it that was faintly opposing the chaos ancestral talisman, yet belonged to the same high-level rules.

He did not stay, but immediately left the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower and merged into the flow of people on the street.

He could feel that at least three groups of people were following him silently like ghosts.

Among them, one group had the strongest killing intent, and it was exactly the people of Wu Gang from the Black Fiend Cult!

A storm was coming.

Ye Chen’s eyes were cold, and his figure moved rapidly through the complex alleys.

He needed to find a safe place as soon as possible to study this fragmentary map and deal with the upcoming pursuit.

However, just as he turned a street corner, his path ahead was blocked by five figures with powerful auras!

The leader was none other than the branch leader of the Black Fiend Cult, Wu Gang!

The pressure of the Peak Ninth Level of Disha Realm enveloped him like a physical force!

”Kid, leave the things on you, and that life of yours, to this seat!”

Wu Gang had a ferocious smile on his face, and the killing intent in his eyes was boiling.