“Acquired Realm sixth layer. So this is a guard of the Ancient Martial Artists Association. The association really cannot be underestimated.”
Seeing the person who suddenly appeared, Li Feng’s pupils contracted and his expression changed slightly. A sixth-layer Acquired Realm master would be considered an expert anywhere else, yet here he was willingly serving as a mere guard.
At the same time, Li Feng’s estimation of the Ancient Martial Artists Association rose another notch. Even a top-tier family like the Li family could not station guards of this calibre.
Moreover, in the darkness he sensed many other auras, some stronger, some weaker, but every one of them formidable. Li Feng knew that these people alone could instantly wipe out his Black Hawk team. Even he himself, if faced with them, would only be able to flee for his life.
Shocked. Utterly shocked.
When they were stopped, Zhong Shuhui hurriedly produced the invitation letter. The moment the guard saw it, he vanished as quickly as he had appeared.
“Young Master, these are the guards of the Ancient Martial Artists Association. They are the same not only in Tianhai City, but in every other city as well,” Zhong Shuhui said with a smile, though because of her mask Li Feng could not see it.
Li Feng nodded, inwardly even more stunned. If this were only the case in Tianhai City, he could still accept it, but if every city was like this, that was another matter entirely. After all, how many cities were there in China? How many branches did the association have?
“Let us go.” Zhong Shuhui glanced at Li Feng and spoke. She knew he was shocked, but that was normal. Every ancient martial artist who witnessed the power of the association for the first time felt the same way. Even she had been more overwhelmed than Li Feng on her first visit.
Li Feng nodded and followed Zhong Shuhui inside.
Originally he had assumed the auction would be held inside the factory building, but once they entered, he realised he was completely wrong. What appeared before him was not a bustling auction hall, but a deep underground passage.
“This is…” Li Feng’s pupils shrank again. Even he was astonished by this deep passage. Was there an entire underground city beneath them?
Zhong Shuhui placed the invitation letter into a slot beside the passage.
Click!
With a soft sound, she retrieved the letter and said to Li Feng, “Young Master, let us descend.”
Li Feng nodded and followed her down.
One minute later, an enormous underground city appeared before Li Feng. It was a fully complete underground city. From where he stood, he could see a curved dome dozens of metres high covering the entire city.
Countless night-luminous pearls hung from the dome, illuminating the underground city as brightly as day. In the distance stood neat rows of buildings arranged in perfect circles around a central point, forming a highly organised city. At the very centre stood a tower about thirty metres tall.
Li Feng stared at the scene in total shock. He had never imagined that such a magnificent underground city lay hidden beneath Tianhai City. Even he was stunned. The cost of constructing something on this scale must have been astronomical.
“Young Master, this is where the Ancient Martial Artists Association holds its auctions, and also the location of Tianhai City’s Ghost Market that opens once every three months. Look, that central tower is the auction venue,” Zhong Shuhui explained from beside him.
Li Feng nodded and swept his gaze across the underground city. He saw all kinds of masked figures coming and going. Although their faces were hidden, their clothing and bearing made it clear that every one of them was either rich or noble.
“Sir, miss, welcome.” A scantily clad woman wearing a rabbit mask approached them and spoke in a sweet, coquettish voice.
The bunny girl was extremely alluring, and her sugary tone seemed to melt the bones. Li Feng could not help taking a second glance.
“Take us to the auction,” Zhong Shuhui said. The Ghost Market trading would only begin after the auction.
“Sir, miss, please follow me,” the bunny girl replied in the same coquettish voice.
Following her, Li Feng and Zhong Shuhui arrived at the tower where the auction was held. From the outside, it looked no different from any ordinary building.
“I wish to auction an item,” Li Feng told the bunny girl.
She showed no surprise and simply nodded. “Sir, please come with me.”
The three of them soon reached a room with the words “Appraisal Chamber” hanging above the door.
“Sir, miss, please enter,” the bunny girl said.
Li Feng nodded, pushed open the door with Zhong Shuhui, and stepped inside.
The appraisal chamber was about forty square metres in size. A large counter stood in the room, behind which sat an old man wearing a mask. Several young people were discussing something in front of the counter.
“Old sir, I am here to auction an item,” Li Feng said, walking up to the counter.
“What is it?” the old man asked indifferently.
“Foundation-Building Pills.” Li Feng placed a jade vial on the counter.
Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed the old man’s eyes. He had not expected someone to auction pills at this event.
Not only him, even Zhong Shuhui beside Li Feng and the young people nearby stared at him in disbelief. Who would have thought Li Feng would auction Foundation-Building Pills? Did he not know how valuable they were? To put such a precious item up for auction?
Zhong Shuhui almost wanted to stop him. Why not keep the pills for his own use? But remembering that Li Feng was not reckless, she swallowed her words. He must have his reasons.
As an appraiser for the Ancient Martial Artists Association, the old man only showed a momentary flicker of surprise before picking up the vial, pouring out one pill, and examining it carefully.
“Excellent. These are top-grade Foundation-Building Pills,” the old man nodded, then looked up. “Guest, are you certain you wish to auction them?”
“Yes,” Li Feng confirmed.
“According to auction rules, the house takes a five-percent commission,” the old man explained briefly before asking again, “Are you sure you wish to proceed?”
“Yes,” Li Feng nodded once more.
The old man produced a token and handed it to Li Feng. “This is your token. You may collect the proceeds here after the auction ends.”
Li Feng accepted the token, turned with Zhong Shuhui, and left.
He had learned from Zhong Shuhui that the association, having existed for countless years, was completely trustworthy. He was not worried they would swallow his pills.
Besides, five Foundation-Building Pills might be a tremendous fortune to others, but to him they were merely dispensable.
Just as Li Feng and Zhong Shuhui left the appraisal chamber, a voice called from behind. “Please wait a moment.”
Li Feng stopped and looked back. Several of the young people who had been in the chamber were walking out. One wearing a tiger-head mask approached Li Feng and said arrogantly, “Do you still have more Foundation-Building Pills? I will buy them.”
The tiger-masked youth was extremely overbearing. Over one metre ninety tall, he towered over Li Feng and looked down at him.
“None left,” Li Feng replied coolly and turned to leave.
“Hold it.” The tiger-masked youth had not expected Li Feng to refuse so decisively. Anger flashed in his eyes.
“Is there anything else?” Li Feng turned back and asked coldly.
“It seems you do not know who I am. Do you understand the consequences of refusing me?” the youth said in an icy tone, cold light glinting in his eyes.
“Your identity has nothing to do with me,” Li Feng sneered. He did not need to guess to know this was just another spoiled young master. He had no obligation to humour such people.
With that, Li Feng gave the youth a cold glance, took Zhong Shuhui, and walked away.
“Damn it.”
Watching Li Feng’s retreating back, the tiger-masked youth’s gaze turned frigid. From childhood until now, no one had ever refused him, and certainly not so cleanly. Rage boiled inside him.
“Young Master, that fellow showed you no respect at all,” a youth wearing a wolf-head mask walked over, glanced at Li Feng’s back, and said, “Young Master, shall I teach him a lesson?”
The tiger-masked youth turned and gave him a cold look. “You would dare make a move here?”
The wolf-masked youth froze, suddenly remembering that this was the Ancient Martial Artists Association auction. No matter their status, fighting here would get them blacklisted forever from both auctions and the Ghost Market.
“Still, he showed me no face. If I let him off without a lesson, where does that leave my reputation? Moreover, since he put Foundation-Building Pills up for auction, he must have more. If I can obtain them…” A sharp glint appeared in the tiger-masked youth’s eyes. He was at a critical point in his cultivation. With Foundation-Building Pills, his breakthrough would be far easier.
He had thought he could simply buy them from Li Feng, but the man had completely disregarded him and even looked down on him.
Although he could bid for the pills later during the auction, that would cost a fortune, something he was unwilling to accept.
“Young Master, fighting is forbidden here, but there is one place in this underground city where it is allowed,” the wolf-masked youth said, his eyes spinning with cunning.
“You mean…” The tiger-masked youth’s eyes lit up.
“Exactly, the Arena. We can take his life there, or at the very least force him to hand over the Foundation-Building Pills you need,” the wolf-masked youth said, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
