Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 208: Chapter 192: The Auction Begins, the Hu Family Arrives!

Xiao Chan’s gift was a very generous one.

However, the two locations were very far apart.

So it wasn’t until the November auction that Chen Che caught wind of the news.

Primordial City was under total lockdown. Nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment Major Cultivators guarded the city day and night without rest. All Cultivators were permitted to enter but not to leave. With Evil Cultivators hiding within the city, rumors spread like wildfire, and everyone felt insecure.

Primordial City held an auction every February, with three Foundation Establishment Pills guaranteed each time. It was considered one of the grandest events in the surrounding Sixteen States.

But because of this incident, many Loose Cultivators and Cultivation Clans were unsure if the auction would still be held as scheduled. They were also worried they might buy Pills but be unable to leave the city, so they had to turn their attention to Jinyun Valley.

”This gift really is huge.”

This was just the November auction.

The number of participating Foundation Establishment Major Cultivators had already reached one hundred and fifty, and the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivators were countless. If not for the turmoil in the Primordial Sect, perhaps only the final year-end auction would have reached such a scale.

Moreover, Xiao Chan had acted under the guise of revenge, choosing to strike at the families of the Law Enforcement Elders. It was a perfectly logical move, and no one would ever connect it to Jinyun Valley, which was tens of thousands of miles away.

’I wonder what the situation in Primordial City is like now!’

The distance between them was vast, and the situation was unclear, so neither dared to rashly use their Communication Wrist Wheel to contact the other. ’But... no news is the best news...’

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Chen Che’s gaze fell upon a person kneeling on the ground. He asked faintly,

”Who sent you?”

”Valley Master Chen, no one sent me! This humble one is just a Tribulation Cultivator. I truly only acted out of greed when I saw an opportunity. If I’ve spoken a single lie, may my body and soul be utterly destroyed!”

The blood-soaked Tribulation Cultivator kneeling on the ground kowtowed and begged for mercy, adding with a fawning tone,

”I had no choice. I was just trying to raise funds to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill.”

A surge in traffic would inevitably lead to a mix of good and bad people.

Not to mention the frequent fights, there were also Tribulation Cultivators trying to fish in troubled waters.

「Several days prior.」

A Cultivator who had consigned several Tier Two Magical Artifacts at the auction house was robbed and killed outside the Market, and his voucher was stolen. Coincidentally, the voucher had been personally written by Chen Che. Not only did it carry the fluctuations of his True Essence, but it also bore his Divine Sense Mark.

The perpetrator hid for seven days.

Only after the auction ended did he bring the voucher, hoping to collect the Spirit Stones from the sale of the goods at Jinyun Valley. But the moment he stepped into the Market, Chen Che sensed him.

”It doesn’t rain every day. Don’t always be thinking about making a quick fortune.”

After a Divine Sense probe confirmed the man wasn’t lying, Chen Che spoke, his tone admonishing.

”Yes, yes, Senior is right.”

The man kowtowed like a pestle grinding garlic, not daring to argue.

”In the future, I will definitely turn over a new leaf. I will be down-to-earth and live an honest life.”

”Good. There is no greater good than to know your mistakes and correct them.”

Chen Che revealed a slight smile and waved his hand. Just as the Tribulation Cultivator sighed in relief, marveling at his own good fortune in surviving a great disaster, Chen Che’s leisurely voice drifted from ahead.

”Hang him from the tree.”

As soon as the words fell, Rong Zhongxuan stepped forward and placed his right hand on the Tribulation Cultivator.

Before the man could struggle, a series of CRACKS echoed out as all the bones in his body were shattered, and he collapsed to the ground on the spot. A few disciples dragged him away and, under the watchful eyes of the public, hung him directly from a locust tree within the Market.

Below the tree, another disciple banged a Copper Gong and shouted loudly,

”Any Tribulation Cultivator who dares to operate in Jinyun Valley will be killed without mercy! Anyone who reports the tracks of a Tribulation Cultivator will be rewarded with ten Spirit Stones. Anyone who captures one will be rewarded with one hundred Spirit Stones! But anyone who conceals their presence and fails to report it will, upon discovery, be treated as an accomplice!”

The passing Loose Cultivators all clicked their tongues in astonishment.

’This Valley Master’s methods are truly iron-fisted!’

At this moment, a Major Cultivator in a green robe, riding past on a large snake, heard the announcement and looked up. He saw that the large and small branches of the locust tree were already hung with nearly a hundred bodies, like a fruit tree laden with fruit. Looking again at the entire Market, though only two months had passed, it was several times more prosperous than before.

The streets were neat and uniform, crisscrossing in a well-connected grid. The ground was paved with bluestone, with small drainage channels running alongside.

Before, when there were fewer people, he had found it desolate and sparsely populated.

Seeing it again now, it felt just right.

”Meng Family, Meng Changyuan!”

The green-robed Major Cultivator arrived before the auction house and announced his name in a clear voice.

”Senior, the Valley Master is already waiting for you.”

The disciple at the gate quickly led the way.

After a Major Cultivator who had been consigning goods walked out, Meng Changyuan stepped into the Quiet Chamber. His eyes immediately fell on Chen Che, who sat commandingly in his spot. Though it had only been two months, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly in admiration.

The young man’s appearance hadn’t changed, but his aura had grown ever more powerful, giving him an air of looking down on all his peers.

’Back then, even after Changtu defeated dozens of clansmen, he never developed an aura like this!’

Puzzled, Meng Changyuan cupped his hands and called out,

”Valley Master Chen!”

”Uncle Changyuan, no need for such formalities.”

Chen Che waved his sleeve, and a pumpon cushion slowly descended.

”Your auction is booming, Nephew. My elder brother is very pleased. By the way, we’ve received the Celestial Spirit Pills, and he asked me to thank you personally. He also said that with the Foundation Establishment Pills about to go on sale, Jinyun Valley may be short-staffed. If you need anything, just say the word.”

Meng Changyuan presented a letter and two crystals.

Only then did he sit down cross-legged, saying with a gratified expression,

”In addition, our clan has also brought out two Foundation Establishment Great Demons to consign at the auction!”

The clan elders were quite dissatisfied with Meng Changtu’s strong support for Chen Che. Even Meng Changyuan himself had been reluctant at first. After all, Chen Che was an outsider who was unwilling to marry into the Meng Family. No matter how many resources they spent, they were just cultivating an outsider.

But his conquest of Jinyun Valley, the extermination of the Han Family, and the booming success of the auction had silenced many of them.

The large snake beside him coiled up, watching Chen Che with a hint of vigilance.

It couldn’t be helped.

Chen Che carried the scent of its natural enemy; this was a Demon Beast’s instinct.

”Uncle Changyuan, rest assured. I guarantee these two Great Demons will fetch a price that satisfies you.”

Chen Che glanced over.

The two Demon Beasts were both sealed within crystal-like ’Beast Sleep Stones,’ and they came with two matching Beast Taming Tokens.

One was a tiger-type Demon Beast, the other a raptor-type.

Curled up inside the Beast Sleep Stones, they looked like specimens trapped in amber.

”In that case, I’ll have to trouble you, Uncle Changyuan, to help me manage the order in the Market for a while.”

Chen Che nodded slightly. Jinyun Valley only had two Foundation Establishment Major Cultivators, so they were indeed stretched thin.

At the same time, Meng Changtu had written in his letter that Meng Changyuan was his younger cousin, a staunch supporter of the clan leader’s line, and could be trusted. The letter also suggested that Chen Che could establish a Sacrificial Hall to recruit some Loose Cultivators for help.

Of course, the outsider Loose Cultivators were a mixed bag, and he would need to vet them carefully.

With a slight raise of his right hand, a Jade Bottle slowly flew to Meng Changyuan.

”This bottle of Celestial Spirit Pills is a token of my gratitude.”

”Celestial Spirit Pills?”

Meng Changyuan was stunned for a moment. He uncorked the bottle and tipped out a Pill, his face immediately lighting up with pleasant surprise.

In November, Jinyun Valley had auctioned off three Celestial Essence Pills.

The most expensive one sold for five hundred Spirit Stones, far higher than a typical Tier Two High Grade Elixir. While it couldn’t raise one’s Realm like a Foundation Establishment Pill, long-term consumption could expel impurities from the body and accelerate one’s Cultivation speed.

After he learned of its effects, he and Meng Changhong had begged for three whole days just to get their hands on a single Pill.

”This is too valuable! I couldn’t possibly accept!”

As if afraid Chen Che would go back on his word, Meng Changyuan swiftly and neatly put the Pills away.

Chen Che smiled without a word.

Foundation Establishment Pills were almost useless to Foundation Establishment Major Cultivators, but Celestial Spirit Pills were different. They were a luxury item; though demand was huge, not many could afford them. The market price for this bottle of Pills was not even inferior to a Foundation Establishment Pill.

”Uncle.”

After a few moments of pleasantries, Meng Qingxuan arrived, having heard the news.

Seeing that their tea was finished, she rolled up her sleeves and gracefully poured more for the two of them.

Meng Changyuan glanced at Meng Qingxuan and noticed that her snow-white skin had a rosy glow, and her gaze was stuck to Chen Che like glue.

He was an experienced man and could tell with a single glance that their relationship had progressed. The smile on his face grew wider. ”Nephew, I’ll go inspect the Market now. If you have time at the end of the year, come back to the clan with my niece to meet the elders.”

”...Well.”

Meng Qingxuan didn’t make the decision, instead turning to look at Chen Che.

”We can!”

Chen Che nodded slightly.

...

With Meng Changyuan taking up his post, the pressure of guarding the Market was drastically reduced.

After all, this meant the Meng Family also had a hand in things.

Most of these Cultivators had come for the Foundation Establishment Pills, and no one wanted to needlessly provoke two Foundation Establishment Influences.

At the same time, the team of law-enforcement cultivators also expanded to over thirty people.

Inside and outside the Market, there were no more violent incidents.

Furthermore, as the year-end finale approached, more and more Cultivators rushed over, and the entire Jinyun Valley became extraordinarily bustling.

Streaks of light occasionally flashed across the sky, accompanied by the rise and fall of Flying Swords and Great Demons. Many old residents sighed in amazement, remarking that they hadn’t seen such a grand sight in two hundred years. The New Valley Master had only been here for half a year, yet he had already brought about such a revival.

This was something they would have never dared to imagine before.

Finally, amidst great anticipation, the final year-end auction began.

The standard for this auction was extremely high. Participants had to verify they possessed a certain amount of wealth, which directly excluded poor Loose Cultivators who were just there to join the fun. Of course, Foundation Establishment Major Cultivators didn’t need their assets verified. Chen Che stood at a special entrance to welcome these Major Cultivators.

This was his first year-end auction, which was why Chen Che placed great importance on it.

”Valley Master Chen!”

Lu Qinglian greeted him.

”Ah, Fellow Daoist Lu.”

Chen Che cupped his hands and smiled. ”You’re glowing with health. It seems you’re full of confidence, Fellow Daoist!”

”I can’t say it’s a hundred percent certainty, but at least ninety percent!”

Lu Qinglian didn’t hide it.

Her two Magical Artifacts had both been sold for a total of nearly four thousand Spirit Stones. She had gathered another thousand-plus on her own. Based on past market prices, securing a Foundation Establishment Pill was indeed almost a sure thing.

”Then I’ll congratulate you in advance, Fellow Daoist Lu!”

Chen Che said, making polite conversation.

Just as Lu Qinglian was about to speak, a sarcastic, cold laugh came from behind her.

”If you’re congratulating her, then what about the rest of us guests? Valley Master Chen, why don’t you just make an executive decision and give the Foundation Establishment Pill to her? That way, the rest of us won’t have to shamelessly show up for this lively auction!”

Chen Che turned his head, his gaze sharpening.

He saw an old man in a red robe standing with his hands at his sides, looking over with a smirk.

When Lu Qinglian saw him, her expression changed instantly.

”Hu Chaohong?”