C27 The Auction of the Cultivation Technique

As Zhang Lieh predicted, the post went viral the moment it was shared, igniting a frenzy throughout the entire Black Iron Base.

The leaders of the Six Great Families, including Yun Bing and Chu Feng, were quick to verify the post's authenticity. The events detailed matched almost exactly with their own experiences from the previous night. Some sections were even more detailed than what they had witnessed firsthand.

The post explicitly described Qin Xiao's incident with Zhou Qian, prompting Yun Bing and Chu Feng to publicly endorse it. They were convinced that the author must have been on the scene that night, likely not far from where they were.

The Six Great Families wasted no time in launching an investigation, which, as expected, turned up nothing. Within the base, everyone's privacy was safeguarded by the Holo-Brain and even the will of the void. Without authorization, the identity of the person behind the anonymity remained a mystery.

This very anonymity emboldened Zhang Lieh to repeatedly manipulate the situation to his advantage. With his adversaries in the dark and himself in the light, he could strike preemptively. After posting, he scarcely gave it another thought and turned his attention to the trading section.

Zhang Lieh was confident that the Qin and Wang families would be preoccupied with their own turmoil for quite some time, leaving him, a seemingly insignificant figure, out of their concerns. Meanwhile, he could quietly continue to amass wealth.

On the trading platform, the items he had listed the day before were selling like hotcakes. Qin Xiaotian's and his team's Soul Jade were particularly in demand, selling out almost instantly upon listing.

In the Void Realm, might makes right, and the base was no exception. Qin Xiaotian's Soul Jade was just the beginning; even if Qin Xiao's Soul Jade were to be listed, it would be snapped up without hesitation, regardless of any family's influence.

Thanks to this, Zhang Lieh made a tidy sum once again. Yet, beneath the surface of his substantial earnings, the points gained were no longer enough to excite him.

Zhang Lieh was more preoccupied with a response he had received a while back on a thread where he had sought to purchase a Water Attribute martial arts technique. The reply was from a pseudonym with a feminine touch—Daffodil Daydream. She claimed to have more than one Water Attribute martial arts manual, each of exceptional quality, and expressed concern that Zhang Lieh might not have enough points to afford them.

The confidence in her reply was unmistakable. In the past, Zhang Lieh wouldn't have dared to inquire further, as he was too financially constrained. If the seller did have the goods, not only would he face embarrassment, but he would also be left helplessly yearning. Now, however, his circumstances had changed, and he was flush with resources.

Without hesitation, he shot back a reply: "Show me the goods on video. Don't worry about my points—I'm just worried your items won't meet my standards!"

To Zhang Lieh's surprise, the seller responded immediately, "You've timed your visit perfectly, young man. I'm in the midst of an auction."

Upon reading this, Zhang Lieh couldn't contain his excitement. Items that made it to auction were usually of high quality, as ordinary goods didn't stand a chance of being featured. After some discussion, he accessed the online auction page, where the seller had opted for a live auction rather than using an automated system.

The auction stage was a throwback to ancient times, and there stood Daffodil Daydream, clad in a simple white dress, exuding the grace of a celestial being. Virtual silhouettes of numerous buyers were seated all around the platform, lending an air of authenticity to the scene.

A martial arts robot demonstrated a knife technique in front of her, while the girl, with her enchanting voice, described the technique's intricacies. "The Wave Blade technique takes a cunning approach, as elusive as a mirage. With each move, waves ripple forth in captivating beauty. Hidden within these waves, the blade glints, leaving opponents uncertain and vulnerable."

"This is a rare and exceptional Water Attribute technique. Starting at a low price of 7,000—any takers?"

"I bid 10,000!" came a voice.

"12,000!" countered another.

"15,000!"

Before Zhang Lieh could even react, the bid shot up to 15,000, catching him completely off guard.

However, once the price hit 15,000, the majority of the crowd simply shook their heads and settled back into their seats, ceasing to bid.

Truth be told, a high-tier martial skill typically fetched around 10,000 points.

To Zhang Lieh, the knife technique on offer seemed all flash and no substance, and since he was a swordsman, he had no interest in entering a bid.

The woman with the air of an immortal didn't dawdle. She brought her palm down hard on the table and declared, "Wave Blade, 15,000 points, sold!"

"Coming up next, we have the premier martial skill of our collection, the Water Attribute Peak Level Martial Skill, Wave Fist!"

"Wave Fist is a boxing style that emphasizes a flowing, enduring approach."

This time, the young lady gave a brief introduction before turning the presentation over to a robot controlled by her Holo-Brain.

The robot demonstrated the technique with a series of punches and palms that rippled through the air like a gentle breeze over water, yet each carried an irresistible force that smoothed everything in its path.

It was a terrifying power that appeared soft and enduring, yet was filled with unyielding strength.

Combining softness with hardness, and hardness with softness, it was enduring, domineering, and utterly unstoppable—a martial skill truly worthy of its peak status.

Through Zhang Lieh's discerning eyes, this boxing technique was undoubtedly a top-tier method among peak skills.

The Wave Fist might have had a somewhat common name, but the might of this martial skill was anything but ordinary. Zhang Lieh felt a stir of interest.

"The Wave Fist, a peak martial skill of the Water Attribute, offers a perfect balance of strength and flexibility. The starting bid is 50,000! If you're interested, let the bidding begin!"

"55,000!"

No sooner had the auctioneer announced the starting bid than a man dressed in red at the front row eagerly shouted his price.

Yet despite his eagerness, his bid was modest, raising the price by only 5,000.

"Excited over an extra 5,000? I'll bid 70,000 points!" From a privileged spot at the auction, a young nobleman flashed a scornful smile.

"Just 70,000? You're not very ambitious, Song Yi. This martial skill is a perfect match for my sister's attribute. I bid 100,000 points!"

The old adage goes that the leading waves are often the ones crushed upon the shore. As the young master's words hung in the air, a man clad in blue nearby scoffed dismissively.

"Top-tier martial skills, 100,000 apiece. I'll take as many as you have. Your taste isn't all that impressive. 120,000!"

Another bidder retorted, his tone as pointed as ever, though the price had only escalated by 20,000.

The man in blue, not to be outdone, sneered, "You have to raise the stakes gradually. You don't have a clue. I'll up it by 30,000. 150,000. Do you have the guts to keep up?"

While the man in blue was basking in his arrogance, Zhang Lieh couldn't resist standing up and nonchalantly declared, "300,000!"