In the following days, the Demon-Subduing Division conducted a thorough search, not sparing any place within the city that might harbor Great Zhou or Barbarian Clan spies. With searches, there would naturally be results. Over several days, a significant number of Barbarian Clan mbers and Great Zhou scouts were uncovered. Without exception, all t their deaths at the hands of the Demon-Subduing Division. Their bodies were all hung outside the city for public display, and only then did the other powers realize just how many scouts Great Zhou and the Barbarian Clan had sent.
"The allure of Grandmaster Martial Arts is truly potent, actually compelling Great Zhou and the Barbarian Clan to send people here at all costs. I’d like to see just how many of their experts can die!" Mu Qing’s gaze was icy.
The number of Barbarian Clan and Great Zhou individuals slain over the past few days had reached dozens, possibly hundreds. Among them were Grandmasters, Innate Martial Artists, and so in the Pulse Condensation Realm. Those in the Pulse Condensation Realm constituted the majority. Even so, nearly ten Grandmasters had died at the hands of the Demon-Subduing Division.
Ten Grandmasters. That would be a significant loss for any power. For Great Zhou and the Barbarian Clan to lose so much strength at once was enough to cause them considerable pain.
However, judging by the current trend, it seed there were still scouts hiding in the city. But Mu Qing wasn’t overly concerned. After all, the Demon-Subduing Division would kill as many scouts as ca. Since both powers were so eager to send their people to their deaths, he was more than willing to oblige. Killing more would also serve to alleviate the pressure on Luo’an Prefecture and the Great Wilderness Prefecture.
"Search! The auction is in two or three days, and they definitely won’t miss this opportunity. I want those people to have nowhere to hide. If they dare to infiltrate South Nether Prefecture, I will make them understand that Great Qin is not a place one can simply co and go as they please." Mu Qing’s expression was icy.
After a pause, he looked down at Xing Yi again. "Check the bodies outside the city again. See if anyone secretly attempts to retrieve them. Have n watch constantly. Arrest any accomplice who tries to interfere."
"Yes!" Xing Yi cupped his fists.
「——」
"Great Qin is too arrogant! Not only have they killed our people, but they’ve even hung their bodies outside the city. If we ignore this, won’t the Barbarian Clan lose all face?"
In a brightly lit residence, a middle-aged man dressed in Qin People’s attire spoke, his expression harsh, anger almost spewing from his eyes. It was bad enough that his clansn were killed; their bodies were also hung up for display. The Demon-Subduing Division’s actions were a blatant slap in the face to the Barbarian Clan.
As his words fell, another Barbarian Clan mber in the room also wore an unpleasant expression. "What does it matter if we lose face? It’s their own fault for not hiding their tracks properly. The Demon-Subduing Division is just waiting for us to fall into their trap. Anyone who goes there now is as good as dead."
At this point, he looked at the middle-aged man. "You surely don’t think no one in the Demon-Subduing Division can handle you now, do you? The Defender Envoy of South Nether Prefecture is still there. Even the Eternal Alliance Master, with all his strength, was no match for him. If we’re exposed, we’ll have to accept our fates."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man’s expression fluctuated, but he didn’t retort.
Then, the other Barbarian Clan mber continued, "The Priest Hall has divined that this Grandmaster Martial Arts will determine the future path of our clan. Therefore, we must obtain the Grandmaster Martial Arts at the auction, at all costs. We cannot afford any mistakes."
"Priest Hall—" The middle-aged man furrowed his brows deeply. To the Barbarian Clan, the Priest Hall was an unparalleled authority, beyond even royal control. He was also aware that the Priest Hall had indeed spread this ssage. But the problem is, it’s just Grandmaster Martial Arts. While exceedingly valuable, to say it would influence the entire direction of the Barbarian Clan seems an overstatent. Yet, the middle-aged man didn’t dispute it.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Everyone’s expression changed subtly. After exchanging glances, they promptly entered a prepared secret chamber. The original occupant of the residence went to open the door, letting the Demon-Subduing Division mbers in for inspection. Everything was organized flawlessly. After the Demon-Subduing Division mbers ticulously inspected the premises several tis and found no issues, they left.
「——」
In his room, Shen Changqing sat cross-legged, silently comprehending the Banishing Evil Great Palm Imprint. Each Divine Skill possessed its own unique Dao Rhythms. These Dao Rhythms, after rging to form the Divine Skill, were deeply engraved in his mind. Now, comprehending the Divine Skill was equivalent to him focusing his spirit to perceive those Dao Rhythms in the depths of his mind.
Imrsed in concentration, Shen Changqing had been fully devoted to comprehension these past few days. Unfortunately, the Divine Skills were abstruse and difficult to understand. Moreover, the Spiritual Power consud during comprehension was significant; even with his cultivated Divine Soul, he couldn’t sustain such a drain. After almost every few hours of comprehension, he had to temporarily withdraw and then spend twice that ti recovering. Consequently, the actual ti spent comprehending the Divine Skill was quite limited.
When he finally withdrew from perceiving the Divine Skill’s Dao Rhythms in his mind, Shen Changqing focused fully on recovering his spent energy.
「The next day.」
He walked out of his room and, after habitually swallowing the first wisp of purple qi, turned his gaze to Tiankui, who was still slumbering. Tiankui’s body was now a full size larger than before. The wings that had initially grown had, imperceptibly, beco even tougher, with purple lightning lingering upon them. Besides that, the two fleshy bumps on its head trembled even more violently, as if sothing would break out of them like a cocoon at any mont. After a while, Shen Changqing withdrew his gaze.
According to his observations, Tiankui’s tamorphosis would be successful within the next day or two. Moreover, the creature itself seed to be progressing without any issues; the subsequent transformation was already a matter of course. Therefore, Shen Changqing didn’t dwell on it, rely glancing a couple of tis before leaving the courtyard. The seven days he had agreed upon with Yuan Sheng were almost up.
However, he didn’t go straight to the black market, deciding instead to et with Mu Qing first.
"Has anything happened these past few days?" Shen Changqing asked the mont he saw Mu Qing.
Hearing this, Mu Qing wasn’t surprised. "Nothing major," he replied. "We just found so people from Great Zhou and the Barbarian Clan in the city and had them executed. I had their bodies hung outside the city to see if we can lure in a few more big fish."
"Mhm." Shen Changqing nodded. He had no objections to Mu Qing’s actions. After all, the people from the Barbarian Clan and Great Zhou were already in league with the Demon Evils. Strictly speaking, they had betrayed the Human Clan. Therefore, there was no issue with hanging their corpses for public display. If it could indeed attract so "big fish," that would be ideal. If not, it would at least serve as a warning to deter others.
Mu Qing continued, "I suspect both factions still have spies among us. They certainly won’t miss the opportunity of the black market auction. Does Defender Shen have any plans?"
"The black market is a lting pot of all sorts; it’ll be difficult to find their people there." Shen Changqing shook his head. "However, since they want to attend the auction, let them. We’ll adapt as the situation unfolds."
We’ll kill them if we can. If not, then let them join the auction. More bidders would an the Martial Arts I offer could sell for a higher price. Both factions are willing to pay such a high price for Grandmaster Martial Arts; they’re clearly determined to acquire them. In that case, they won’t back down easily. Shen Changqing was quite pleased with this prospect. After all, it’s impossible to root out all the spies. Even with the impressive intelligence capabilities of the Heavenly Inspection Guard, they can’t be completely foolproof. The Demon-Subduing Division has the Heavenly Inspection Guard, but Great Zhou and the Barbarian Clan have their own intelligence agencies too. Even if those agencies are inferior, they can’t be that far behind.
"Then we’ll just wait and see how things unfold!" Mu Qing agreed.
「——」
Compared to a few days ago, Mountain-Breaking City was much quieter now. It couldn’t be helped. The Heavenly Inspection Guard’s rampant killing over the past few days, though targeting people from Great Zhou and the Barbarian Clan, had greatly intimidated other forces. Many of the fallen experts were considered top-tier figures in the Jianghu. Despite that, they had no capacity to resist the Demon-Subduing Division.
By now, a significant number of corpses hung outside Mountain-Breaking City, each serving as a formidable deterrent. Therefore, unless one was out of their mind, no one dared to cause trouble in Mountain-Breaking City at this ti. If the Demon-Subduing Division ca knocking, it ant a dead end.
So forces even entertained thoughts of leaving Mountain-Breaking City. If the black market auction hadn’t been about to start, and if leaving Mountain-Breaking City didn’t an having nowhere else to stay, at least half of them would have chosen to leave.
When the auction ti announced by Yuanyang Auction House finally arrived today, large numbers of experts left Mountain-Breaking City, swarming towards the black market. When Shen Changqing left the Demon-Subduing Division, he found Mountain-Breaking City considerably emptier. The common people were still there; it was mainly the foreign experts who were fewer in number.
Using Hovering Crossing, Shen Changqing headed directly for the black market. This ti, he made no attempt to keep a low profile. He didn’t land outside the black market but instead openly strode through the air into it, only descending at the entrance of Yuanyang Auction House under everyone’s watchful eyes.
The mont he landed, Yuan Sheng, who had been waiting, stepped forward.
"Lord Shen, you’ve arrived."
"Family Head Yuan."
"This isn’t the place to talk. Lord Shen, please follow ." Yuan Sheng led Shen Changqing inside, ignoring the onlookers. Seeing this, the eyes of so bystanders flickered. Although Yuan Sheng was the Dominator of Yuanyang Auction House, he seldom made public appearances, so this was quite rare. But the visitor was Shen Changqing. For Yuan Sheng to personally welco him was entirely understandable.
After entering, Shen Changqing didn’t wait for Yuan Sheng to speak and got straight to the point. "I’ve brought the Martial Arts to be auctioned," he said. "But I have one condition: I will preside over this auction. What do you say?"
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