CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: THE AUCTION BEGINS, UNFILIAL SON

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

"Hehe, I didn’t expect to arrive a little late to such a lively scene."

Just as the tension reached its peak, hearty laughter suddenly erupted nearby.

A young man in a blue brocade robe, holding a folding fan, walked over with a smile.

"Han Ji..."

Luo Feng’s gaze sharpened when he saw the newcomer.

This white-faced young man was Han Ji, son of City Lord Han Yulong. Han Ji had often joined Li Tianyang in bullying him.

"Han Ji, you’ve come to join the fun too," Li Tianyang greeted with a smile upon seeing Han Ji.

"How could I miss such a grand event?"

Han Ji chuckled and walked over with his servant. When his eyes fell on Luo Feng, a strange glint flashed through his pupils.

He really has reached the mid-fifth stage of the Iron Bone Realm, just as the rumors said...

Han Ji’s heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a calm facade and said with a smile, "Why are all of you standing here? The auction is about to start. I heard the Dayang Commerce Alliance has prepared many fine items this time. It would be a pity to miss out. Moreover, I’ve also heard that the auctioneer for this event is a renowned beauty in Dayang City."

Han Ji spoke with a constant smile, presenting the image of a refined young master. Anyone unfamiliar with him might have been deceived by his pleasant demeanor.

Luo Feng, however, found him utterly disgusting.

In private, Han Ji had a nickname: ’Smiling fox.’ Although his strength was mediocre, his scheming was top-notch. He could be laughing and chatting with you one moment and stab you in the back the next—insidiously treacherous to the extreme!

"Han Ji, I didn’t realize after all these years, you’d still be such a weasel," Luo Feng said, looking at Han Ji with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

Han Ji detected the sarcasm in Luo Feng’s words. His eyelids twitched, but he remained composed and chuckled, "Not at all. Compared to your growth over the past two years, I am hardly worth mentioning."

"You’re quite perceptive."

Luo Feng touched his nose, his expression clearly conveying, In my eyes, you’re nothing but a pile of dung.

No matter how good Han Ji’s self-control was, his face couldn’t help but turn cold at this moment. "Luo Feng, it’s better not to be too conspicuous. Otherwise, you might lose your life before you know it."

"My life is not something the Young City Lord needs to worry about. If my words earlier wounded the Young City Lord’s pride, then I apologize. I’m just this direct," Luo Feng said with a shrug.

PFFT...

The nearby attendant couldn’t help but chuckle, but remembering the status of Han Ji and the others, she quickly suppressed her smile.

Han Ji’s eye twitched, and he snorted heavily. "Let’s go in!"

He turned and strode into the auction house.

Seeing that Luo Feng had rendered Han Ji speechless with just a few words, Li Tianyang knew he would only be asking for embarrassment if he stayed, so he prepared to leave.

After taking a couple of steps, he suddenly seemed to remember something, turned back to Luo Feng, and laughed, "Luo Feng, since Zheng Hongzhi was expelled from your family by you, your Luo Family probably doesn’t have much money left, right? If you find yourself short on Silver later, just bow your head to me. I might just be merciful enough to lend you some, HAHAHA..."

Li Tianyang knows so much about our family’s affairs! It seems the Li Family really is behind this! Luo Xiao fumed, watching Li Tianyang’s retreating figure.

Luo Feng had already learned this news from Feng Lingyue, so he wasn’t surprised, though a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Li Tianyang, just you wait. I’ll make you bleed profusely soon enough. Let’s see if you can still laugh then!

The two of them followed the attendant to a private room beside the auction stage.

The private room wasn’t large and was simply furnished, but it offered an excellent view of the auction stage.

"Young Masters, I’ll be right outside. If you need anything, please let me know," the attendant said with a smile, her beautiful eyes curiously sizing up Luo Feng.

Luo Feng’s witty remarks, which had sent Han Ji scurrying away, had left a deep impression on her.

"Alright," Luo Feng nodded.

After the attendant left and closed the door, Luo Xiao sat down on a long bench beside him and looked at Luo Feng. "Second Brother, the Han Clan is still the foremost family. Why did you deliberately provoke Han Ji just now?"

Luo Feng also sat down and smiled. "Big Brother, you noticed?"

Plucking a purple jade grape from the stone table and popping it into his mouth, Luo Feng narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "I was just a bit curious. Big Brother, you’ve been in Panlong City all this time. How is the relationship between Han Ji and his father?"

"Is there even a need to ask? Han Yulong only has one son, Han Ji. Han Yulong would give Han Ji the entire world if he could. Why do you ask this?"

Luo Feng tapped the table, his eyes narrowed slightly. "Han Yulong just died. Don’t you think Han Ji is acting a bit too calm?"

"Now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case."

Luo Xiao nodded and grinned. "Looks like Han Yulong raised an unfilial son."

Luo Feng smiled, but the doubt in his eyes did not dissipate. He felt that things were probably not that simple.

「...」

"Damn it! That Luo Feng is too arrogant!"

A low roar came from the private room opposite Luo Feng’s.

Li Tianyang sat on the long bench, fists clenched tightly. A terrifying aura emanated from him, and his eyes, glinting with a cold light, seemed to slice through the air like sharp blades.

"Second Brother, you’re too impatient. Don’t forget our goal is to become the foremost family. Avoid useless squabbles; be careful not to capsize in an easy channel," Li Tianyao said calmly, sitting beside him.

"Big Brother, what do you mean by that?"

Li Tianyang glanced at the private room opposite them and snorted. "Do you think those two pieces of trash at the fifth stage of the Iron Bone Realm can threaten us? Big Brother, you alone could take care of them."

Li Tianyao’s expression was serious. "The Hunting Tournament isn’t just a competition of cultivation. Besides, didn’t you notice? Luo Xiao has already entered the sixth stage of the God Bravery Realm."

"He broke through!" Li Tianyang exclaimed, surprised. He then looked at Li Tianyao and asked uncertainly, "Even so, he’s no match for you, is he, Big Brother?"

"Of course not."

Li Tianyao’s gaze was sharp as he said indifferently, "In all of Panlong City, the only ones qualified to be my opponents are Han Lie of the Han Clan and Feng Lingyue. Luo Xiao has achieved a breakthrough, but the academy he attends is simply third-rate. The best Martial Arts he has access to are likely only mid-Yellow Grade. Never mind that he just broke through; even if his cultivation were higher than mine, I could still defeat him easily!"

At this point, Li Tianyao paused, then furrowed his brows and said, "What worries me, instead, is that Luo Feng."

"Luo Feng? That piece of trash? What’s there to worry about? I could take care of him with one hand," Li Tianyang said disdainfully.

Li Tianyao shook his head.

"Second Brother, don’t be careless. I heard that yesterday he defeated Zheng Yuan! Zheng Yuan, like you, is also at the late fifth stage of the Iron Bone Realm, yet Luo Feng defeated him in a single blow."

"What! One blow!" Li Tianyang exclaimed, shocked.

He knew Zheng Yuan. Although Zheng Yuan’s strength was inferior to his, it wasn’t by much. He himself couldn’t possibly defeat Zheng Yuan in a single blow.

Li Tianyao nodded, his eyes reflecting deep thought.

I keep feeling that the name Luo Feng sounds familiar, as if I’ve heard it somewhere before, related to something extremely important...

"Big Brother, you’re overthinking things," Li Tianyang said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Luo Feng probably cultivated some strange Martial Art, catching Zheng Yuan off guard and defeating him—someone of a higher cultivation stage—in a single blow. Once I obtain that upper-Yellow Grade Martial Art this time, he’ll definitely be no match for me. He’s not worth a second thought."

"That’s right. If you obtain an upper-Yellow Grade Martial Art, your strength will reach a new level. However, with so many factions gathered here this time, acquiring it will likely not be easy," Li Tianyao said, dismissing the thought.

Li Tianyang grinned and patted his puffed-out chest.

"For this auction, Father has taken out all the family’s liquid assets, a full two million Silver plus! I’m not only getting that upper-Yellow Grade Martial Art, but I also want that storage ring! If anyone dares to be impudent, I’ll break his legs!"

Li Tianyang licked his lips, his eyes flashing fiercely.

「...」

"Big Brother, what do you need?"

Seeing that the auction was about to begin, Luo Feng turned to ask Luo Xiao.

"Me?" Luo Xiao shook his head. "The two upper-Yellow Grade Martial Arts you gave me are enough. You should use this five hundred thousand Silver to choose a body-tempering elixir. That way, you can break through sooner."

Luo Feng nodded and said no more.

At this moment, the entire auction hall suddenly fell silent. From behind the central stone platform, a beautiful woman in a red dress walked out.

The woman had exquisite features and a tall, enchanting figure. Dressed in a fiery red long gown, she was a pleasing sight, and the moment she appeared, all eyes immediately converged on her.

This Dayang Commerce Alliance is really something, having such a siren act as the auctioneer. With her here, I bet even a pile of scrap iron could be sold for a good price, Luo Feng thought, looking at the woman in the red dress and shaking his head.

This woman in the red dress was very skilled at stirring up the crowd. With just a few simple opening remarks, she ignited everyone’s emotions, and the atmosphere in the auction hall became extremely heated.

Of course, much of this was thanks to the red-dressed woman’s soft and electrifying voice, as well as her enticing smile.

Her very presence tended to make people lose their rationality. As an auctioneer, what she most liked to see was people losing their rationality. Because once a person lost their rationality, they were capable of anything...

"Alright, let’s not waste any more of everyone’s time. The auction will now officially begin. Let’s bring up the first item."

As the red-dressed woman’s voice fell, an attendant walked up carrying a jade platter, upon which rested a red Secret Manual.

"The first auction item is a fist technique, the Burst Rock Fist. It is a mid-Yellow Grade Martial Art. Once mastered to Great Accomplishment, the practitioner’s fist wind will erupt like fire, capable of blasting rocks into powder. It is an extremely domineering fist technique with considerable power. If any of you wish to make a name for yourselves in the rtiad, this fist technique is not to be missed..."

"The Burst Rock Fist. Starting bid: one hundred fifty thousand Silver. Each increment must be no less than five thousand Silver."

The red-dressed woman’s vermilion lips parted slightly, and her voice, which made it impossible for anyone to remain calm, echoed through the hall.

"The very first item is a mid-Yellow Grade Martial Art!"

Upon hearing the introduction, the entire auction hall began to buzz.

For ordinary academies and factions, a mid-Yellow Grade Martial Art was already extremely precious.

Many Martial Artists only practiced low-Yellow Grade Martial Arts, or even basic Martial Arts, whose power was limited.

If they could obtain a mid-Yellow Grade Martial Art, their strength would undoubtedly increase manifold!