C12 Auction

Early in the morning on the second day, Su Mo and his cousins Su Chi, Su Hai, and Su Ze from the Third Elder's family set out for the Glorious Martial Merchant House to attend the Myriad Treasure Auction House's event.

As they approached the entrance, they were joined by Su Jiang, the Fourth Elder's son. Together, they made their way to the Medicinal Merchant House.

Tieling City was quite small, and the five of them were all young and at the Acquired Stage of martial arts. Opting against horses or carriages, they walked, joking and laughing along the way. They arrived at the Glorious Martial Merchant House without feeling the least bit weary.

The instant they entered, Su Ze caught sight of a familiar face—Liu Hsing, the Grand Elder's steward, who was watching him intently. When Liu Hsing noticed Su Ze looking back, he quickly averted his eyes and disappeared into the crowd as if nothing had happened.

Su Ze's instincts kicked in. If Liu Hsing was watching him, it was as if the Grand Elder himself was. Perhaps the recent incident where he persuaded Old Su and the Third and Fourth Elders to change their stance had left the Grand Elder restless.

It seemed Grand Elder Su Bocheng was poised to make a move.

Had it not been for Su Ze's recent breakthrough, which had honed his senses, he might not have detected the surveillance.

"Has the Grand Elder or Su Hee sought you out in the last couple of days?" Su Ze inquired of Su Hai and the others.

They shook their heads. "No," they replied.

No? Wasn't he interested in securing the loyalty of the Third and Fourth Elders? Where was his confidence coming from?

Su Ze was slightly baffled and probed further. "What's the situation with the Third and Fourth Elders?"

"My father hasn't mentioned anything," Su Mo responded.

"My father hasn't either," added Su Jiang.

Their silence was telling. They neither opposed nor endorsed the situation, signaling a shift in their stance.

"Actually," Su Jiang mentioned, "yesterday my father criticized the Grand Elder's actions as improper. How can we involve the Pang Family in our family's internal affairs?"

The Pang Family? The preeminent family in Tieling City?

A cold smile crossed Su Ze's lips. He had pieced together the source of the Grand Elder's assurance. He had indeed secured a powerful ally.

"The Su family has suddenly become a juicy morsel that everyone's eager to sink their teeth into," Su Ze remarked with a calm detachment, committing the thought to memory. He then led Su Hai and the other three into the Glorious Martial Merchant House.

The establishment had undergone a transformation since their last visit three days prior. The display cabinets were gone, replaced by tasteful decorations, and tables and chairs were neatly arranged across the first, second, and third floors in anticipation of the guests' arrival.

The first-floor hall was open to all visitors and buzzed with activity. The second and third floors, however, catered to those of certain standing within Tieling City. Wealthy merchants, minor families, and local officials found themselves in the official auction space.

On the third floor, Tieling City's elite families and top merchants had the privilege of witnessing the auction firsthand. Unlike those on the floors below, they simply needed to signal to the attendants of the Glorious Martial Merchant House when they wished to place a bid.

Delay could mean missing out on desired items, as bids from the first and second floors, even if matched in price, lagged behind the third floor's immediacy. Yet, this hierarchy of floors was an accepted symbol of status, seen as perfectly natural by all.

Upon reaching the third floor, Su Ze and his companions found their family's seats already occupied by Old Su, Su Dayi of the Su family. Greeting them with a warm smile, Su Dayi rose to welcome Su Ze.

Su Ze was taken aback to find him alone.

Once seated, Su Dayi spoke softly, "To purchase items at the auction, we'd need a substantial amount of silver. Currently, the Su family's affairs are in disarray, and the whereabouts of our silver is unknown. The patriarch, for one, has very little on hand."

"Therefore, it's best if you don't appear too interested. You five young ones should simply observe for now. We're not in a position to acquire any of these fine items."

Su Ze nodded in understanding. Should he wish to purchase a Martial Skill, he had his own means and did not require the Su family's resources.

Su Mo listened intently, a question rising within him. "Elder Dayi, has our Su family really become this impoverished?"

"Our problems run deeper than just poverty," Su Dayi murmured. "We're weak and riddled with infighting. Your father and Su Bocheng stubbornly oppose the patriarch. It's gotten to the point where our Su family is barely eligible to set foot on the third floor, relegated to mixing with the lesser families on the second."

Hearing this, Su Mo, Su Hai, and the others felt a chill run down their spines. It was a scenario they desperately hoped to avoid.

"I'll talk to father as soon as I get back. We must prioritize our family's welfare above all else!" Su Hai declared resolutely.

Su Jiang nodded in agreement. "I will do the same!"

Su Dayi and Su Ze exchanged a knowing smile and nodded, a silent acknowledgment that Su Bocheng was now thoroughly ostracized within the Su family.

Just then, a man with a stern countenance approached, leading ten maids who carried items shrouded in red cloth. He surveyed the assembly on the third floor and announced, "My name is Zhang Datong, at the Second Layer of the Innate Stage. Today's decisions regarding the Myriad Treasure Auction House's activities in Tieling City fall to me."

His declaration prompted exchanged glances among the third-floor crowd. Su Mo whispered in awe, "He's a warrior of the Innate Stage."

The news, once disseminated by Running Tang, reached the ears of those on the first and second floors, stirring up a commotion.

"An Innate Expert is among us!"

"Tieling City boasts only two Innate Experts!"

"Both the City Lord and the head of the Pang Family are warriors of the Innate Stage."

Zhang Datong looked on with a hint of scorn. To him, this place was pitifully provincial. In the capital, Innate Stage warriors were but elite guards for the major families. Within the sects, they were common disciples, and in the Holy Lands, they didn't even qualify as that.

"Also present at today's auction is the venerable Senior Xiang Yongming, a Master of Artifact Refinement. His skill in forging is unparalleled, capable of creating Profound Rank weapons and other enigmatic artifacts. Moreover, he is a warrior of the Soul Separation Stage."

Zhang Datong spoke up once more, bowing respectfully to a particular seat before him.

A master of the Soul Separation Stage! When had Tieling City ever witnessed a warrior of such caliber?

This time, even the distinguished individuals on the third floor found themselves unable to remain seated, their gazes collectively drawn to the man in question.

Seated there was an elder in a green robe, his short beard grizzled with age, who made no move to stand and acknowledge the onlookers.

Next to him was a young girl dressed in white, her round face and large eyes exuding a lively charm. She rose with a grin, surveyed the room, and then settled back down, playfully whining to the Master of Artifact Refinement, Xiang Yongming, "Grandpa, you're so impressive."

Xiang Yongming simply chuckled in response, twirling his short beard.

"The City Lord has arrived!"

A voice from the first floor called out, and the area fell into a hushed silence. Moments later, the buzz of activity resumed as Weih Jie made his entrance.

Zhang Datong and Xiang Yongming exchanged a formal hand-clasp, with Xiang Yongming rising to give a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Once the City Lord was seated, Zhang Datong stepped aside, and a silver-tongued auctioneer took center stage, declaring the commencement of the auction.