Stranger Danger

“The Turtle Fishing Man, the Whaler, the Dragon King of the East Sea, and the Sea-Stirring Great Sage? No wonder the Animitta Heavenly Demon’s heart is in such pristine condition!” Everyone exclaimed in realization.

The Turtle Fishing Man, the Whaler, the Dragon King of the East Sea, and the Sea-Stirring Great Sage were all Sages on the Heavenly Champions Ranking. Each and every one of them possessed the power to protect an entire nation.

No one doubted an Animitta Heavenly Demon’s strength, but to go up against four Sages on the Heaven Champions Ranking? Yeah, it was perfectly normal for it to be wiped out.

“We swear on our reputation that this heart’s background is perfectly clean, so please, don’t hesitate to bid for it.”

Zui Yun continued, “Since the heart of this Animitta Heavenly Demon is perfectly preserved, and its power is intact, it could be used to forge Strange Artifacts, refine pills, and improve one’s cultivation.”

“Speaking of which, the fact that the heart’s power is perfectly intact means that its innate Magia and power of the Great Way are preserved as well. If you refine it, there is an extremely high chance you’ll be able to learn its innate Magia and obtain its bloodline.”

Before Zui Yun could even finish, someone shouted in a hurry, “Cut the bullshit and just tell me how much it costs already! I want it!”

The heart of an Animitta Heavenly Demon wasn’t too useful for a warrior who practiced an orthodox martial art, but for someone who practiced a demonic martial art? It was the ultimate priceless treasure of one’s dreams. To a warrior of the Dark Ways, it was even more valuable than the “Impenetrable Clouds”, the Myriad Manifestation Wheel of Heaven or the Fruit of Wishes.

To obtain the heart of an Animitta Heavenly Demon was like obtaining the lifelong power of a Sage of the Dark Ways. To refine it was like receiving the cultivation of a Sage of the Dark Ways as well.

For those above the Sage stage, the heart alone would not be enough for them to break through the ceiling and become a Sage unless they were extraordinarily talented, already at the pinnacle of the Sage stage, or both.

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Even so, it could greatly improve their cultivation and power, not to mention that there was a good chance they would obtain the Animitta Heavenly Demon’s innate Magia as well.

Even for someone whose cultivation art was incompatible with the Animitta Heavenly Demon’s demonic qi, they could still refine the heart into a powerful Strange Artifact. Of course, it was unlikely it could be forged into an Ancient-class Strange Artifact outright, but it was going to be a Disaster-class Strange Artifact at least.

If the hired artisan was skilled, if the owner could supply the necessary natural treasures to build a good foundation, and if the owner could nourish it with their heart’s blood daily, then it definitely had the possibility of evolving into an Ancient-class Strange Artifact.

Long story short, the Animitta Heavenly Demon’s heart was priceless for a warrior of the Dark Ways. it was no wonder that someone was impatient to get the bidding going already.

“Calm down, dear guest. The bidding will begin very soon.”

Zui Yun did not show any displeasure despite being rudely yelled at by the guest. “The starting price for the Animitta Heavenly Demon’s heart is one million silver. All bids must be five hundred thousand silver higher than the previous bid. You may begin!”

As soon as Zui Yun finished, the entire Lampfire Palace erupted into a cacophony of shouts and yells. In just the span of a dozen breaths, the bidding price for the Animitta Heavenly Demon’s heart had risen to the ludicrous price of ten million.

This was just the beginning. The price continued to skyrocket at a ludicrous rate.

At first, Ye Qing thought himself his competitors’ equal and did not hesitate to shout his bids just like the rest. However, he was dead wrong. When the bidding hit the twenty millionth mark, beads of sweat began forming on Ye Qing’s head. When it hit the thirty millionth mark, his eyes had turned into spinny circles. And when it hit the forty millionth mark, he had already fallen flat on the floor and thrown in the towel.

Was forty million silver too much for him? Not at all. He had plundered centuries worth of loot from Goddess City. Sure, the large majority of it was destroyed by the Earthly Sovereign Bell, but what he did manage to get was still enough to make him filthy rich.

The problem was that he had spent most of his money bidding for the Finger Ring Metal and Fruit of Wishes, meaning that he would have to pay with martial arts manuals, Strange Artifacts, pills and other assets if he wished to continue bidding for the Animitta Heavenly Demon’s heart. However, there was a chance the organizers of the Dragonmount Meet might figure out his identity through the items.

And that was the problem. The Seventy Two Water Land Alliance was one of the organizers of the Dragonmount Meet. The organizers of the Dragonmount Meet finding out his identity was the same as the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance finding out his identity. He would basically be outing himself in the middle of his enemy’s central headquarters. It would be suicide.

He definitely possessed the wealth to potentially win the Animitta Heavenly Demon’s heart, and yet he couldn’t spend them because it would only result in his demise. Why was reality such a cruel mistress? This was blue-balling on a completely different level!

While Ye Qing was mentally ranting about the unfairness of life, the competition for the Animitta Heavenly Demon’s heart had reached climax. Its bidding price had also reached a whopping fifty million silver.

“Fifty million silver! That’s probably going to be the highest bidding price for the night, right?” Ye Qing said weakly.

“I think so,” Feng Qingyou replied in an indifferent tone, “The Animitta Heavenly Demon’s heart is worth it though.”

“I know…”

Feng Qingyou glanced at him. “If you really want the Animitta Heavenly Demon’s heart, there is a way.”

However, Ye Qing shook his head before she could continue, “It’s fine. Risking exposure during such a sensitive period can only be folly.”

He did not even need to hear Feng Qingyou’s way to know that it was going to be troublesome and risky. Right now, his first priority was nursing Feng Qingyou back to full health, and anything that stood in front of that goal must be removed no matter how much it pained him to do so.

Feng Qingyou smiled. She did not say anything after that.

Outside the pavilion, the palace was deathly silent after the final bidder declared a bid of fifty million silver. Just when Ye Qing thought that that would be the final price, a strange voice suddenly spoke up, “I bid one hundred million!”

Everyone was stunned to say the least. An incredulous voice responded, “O-One hundred million?”

“That’s right. One hundred million!” The voice spoke up again in an arrogant tone, “Not only that, I want everything you have here. All of it.”

“Excuse me? Who do you think you are?” Someone taunted.

“Hahaha! Does it matter who I am?” The person laughed. “What matters is that my word is the law—starting now!”

A pavilion suddenly exploded into smithereens, and a man slowly walked out of the burning flames. He was over two meters tall, muscular, and baring his upper body. His countenance was rugged and fierce, and he wore a huge golden nose ring on his nose.

Even stranger, the man had a pair of crescent-shaped bull horns on his forehead, and it was wreathed in crimson flames. He carried a long tail behind him that shook the space and sent sparks everywhere with every flick.

“The Powerful Bull Demon?!”

Someone exclaimed in shock as recognition dawned upon them.

“Haha! Looks like some of you recognize me. Good!” The Powerful Bull Demon laughed uproariously.

Two Truemen responsible for maintaining order immediately rushed out of their pavilion and shouted, “Powerful Bull Demon, we don’t tolerate your atrocious behavior in the Dragonmount Meet! Withdraw now, or we will take you down by force!”

They were a man and a woman. The man was named Jin Wei, and the woman Qu Yanniang.

Jin Wei wasn’t done speaking when suddenly, Zui Yun snapped her finger and summoned a gigantic hand of fire from the surrounding flames. Then, it made a grab for… Jin Wei?!

Jin Wei wasn’t expecting this at all. He was just about to defend himself when a terrifying power shackled him in place and suppressed his strength. He could do nothing as the flaming hand grabbed him and tossed him onto the platform.

“What are you doing, Zui Yun?!” Jin Wei yelled at her more in confusion than rage.

“What do you think? I’m detaining you.” Zui Yun giggled seductively at him.

“Have you gone insane?” Jin Wei replied with outrage. “Are you planning to betray the Dragonmount Meet?”

“Betray? Oh no no no, Zui Yun had never thought of betraying the Dragonmount Meet. She wouldn’t dare even if you give her all the courage in the world.” Zui Yun giggled again. “But you see, I’m not Zui Yun.”

“Y-You’re not Zui Yun? Impossible! Who are you then?” Jin Wei’s eyes widened in disbelief.