The mont sword-light t thunder, the heavens seed to tear apart.
A roar like a thousand storms erupted, drowning the arena in blinding light.
The ground split open, jagged cracks racing outward, while the air itself seed to combust under the clash of two Heaven-Grade techniques.
The protective barrier around the arena shuddered violently, its translucent surface rippling as though it might burst at any mont.
"Formation Masters, now!"
Several robed figures leapt forward, their hands weaving rapid seals.
Streams of golden light surged from their palms, reinforcing the barrier just as a second wave of the explosion slamd against it.
The audience was forced to shield their eyes.
Boom!
Another shockwave tore through, rattling teeth and making hearts skip a beat.
The arena floor was barely recognizable—a wasteland of shattered stone and smoking craters.
Then... silence!
The blinding light dimd, the thunder faded, and the dust began to settle.
All eyes strained toward the center, breaths held tight.
Two figures stood amid the devastation.
Chu Ziyan’s robes were torn and stained with blood, her sword trembling slightly in her hand.
Her breathing was ragged, her knees threatening to buckle.
Gasps rippled through the stands.
"She’s badly hurt... she can’t continue."
"It’s over—Lei Zhensheng’s victory is certain."
"Hahaha... I’m rich! I told you Lei Zhensheng would definitely win!"
But then... soone pointed.
"No... look!"
The dust thinned enough to reveal the other side—Lei Zhensheng’s figure sprawled motionless on the fractured tiles, his sword lying several feet away.
His chest heaved faintly, but his eyes were closed, and the burns across his arms and neck told the story—he was unconscious, his qi utterly spent.
Shock silenced the arena for three heartbeats... and then the stands erupted.
"Chu Ziyan... she won?!"
"Impossible! How can Lei Zhensheng lose?"
"Dammit! I lost all my fortune. My wife is going to beat up!"
...
The referee appeared beside Lei Zhensheng in a flash, checking his pulse before turning to raise a hand high.
"Winner—Chu Ziyan!"
The roar from the crowd shook the reinforced barrier itself.
Even in her exhaustion, Chu Ziyan straightened her back, eting the gazes of thousands with the calm dignity of a cultivator who had nothing left to prove.
Then her gaze turned towards a certain man, Bai Zihan, who was also looking at her.
Still indifferent, and she didn’t know what he thought of this.
Perhaps for him, this victory was nothing more than a child’s play.
After all, he had already beaten the Spirit Severing Realm. So, what was the Mid Soul Formation Realm?
Sigh!
The dical Team moved quickly to tend to Lei Zhensheng, who had fallen.
The Crimson Thunder Palace was still in disbelief.
Their best participant, eliminated in the third round?
They hadn’t expected this.
While on the other hand, Heaven Sword Sect all wore smug expressions, so even directly taunting Crimson Thunder Palace, who earlier had been doing the sa to them.
Chu Ziyan was also escorted out by the dical Team.
Although she could still stand, it was undeniable that she had also suffered heavy injuries.
She needed imdiate dical attention.
"The 8th match..."
The remaining match continued, but still, the fight between Chu Ziyan and Lei Zhensheng remained in everyone’s head.
The third round soon ca to a close, but its most shocking mont—one that would be talked about—was undoubtedly Chu Ziyan’s victory over Lei Zhensheng.
With that, the Top Sixteen were decided—cultivators hailed as the cream of the crop among all geniuses under twenty-five in the Desolate Heaven Empire.
***
As the competition entered its three-day break, the city’s excitent didn’t fade.
Instead, it shifted to an event that was almost as anticipated as the Dragon and Phoenix Competition itself—The Grand Radiance Auction.
Renowned as the largest and most prestigious auction in the entire Desolate Heaven Empire, it drew not only the great sects and clans, but even hidden experts and wandering cultivators.
Treasures beyond imagination would go under the hamr—sotis even the Heaven-Grade Artifacts.
The streets were already buzzing. Invitations were guarded like gold, and those without one could only dream of stepping into the legendary auction hall.
And of course, Bai Zihan, being the heir of the Bai Clan, obviously had one of the invitation cards.
However, more than buying treasures that could be auctioned, he was more interested in another thing—and that was selling treasures.
With the treasure hoard that he had accumulated—or rather, been given by Immortal Emperor Feilian for not getting the Inheritance—he could be considered perhaps the richest in the Desolate Heaven Empire, and perhaps beyond that as well.
The auction house lood ahead like a palace of wealth—its towering jade pillars carved with phoenixes and dragons, its golden roof glimring under the midday sun.
Even from the street, one could feel the aura of countless treasures within.
Bai Zihan walked at a leisurely pace, hands clasped behind his back, while Kong Zhanghong followed half a step behind, glancing around with curiosity.
The bustling street was lined with cultivators from all walks of life, so dressed in the silks of noble clans, others in rugged traveling robes, each carrying the air of expectation.
The mont they approached the grand entrance, two guards in golden armor straightened sharply.
Their eyes flickered in recognition, and the cold indifference that had been on their faces a mont ago vanished instantly.
"Young Master Bai!"
One of the guards imdiately stepped forward, bowing deeply, his voice tinged with respect.
"Please, this way!"
He and his partner straightened and moved to escort Bai Zihan through the towering golden doors.
Once inside the cool, jade-lined hall, the first guard halted and offered another bow.
"Kindly wait here for just a mont, Young Master. We will inform the manager of your arrival."
Without further delay, he turned and hurried deeper into the building.
Within monts, the heavy doors parted again, and a middle-aged man in a richly embroidered robe hurried out.
His forehead was already beaded with sweat, though not from the sumr heat but from nervousness.
"Esteed Young Master Bai Zihan!"
The man bent at the waist in a respectful bow.
"What an unexpected honor. What brings you to the Grand Radiance Auction Hall today?"
Bai Zihan didn’t bother with pleasantries. His tone was calm, almost casual.
"I have so things to sell."
The manager’s brows twitched, but he forced a polite smile.
"Naturally, the Grand Radiance Auction is always open to our honored guests. However..."
His tone beca slightly cautious.
"We do have standards for items we consign for tomorrow’s auction. Generally, nothing below the value of a Profound Grade Artifact is accepted."
Bai Zihan’s lips curved in the faintest of chuckles.
"You don’t have to worry about that."
He flicked his sleeve, and the air between them shimred.
In an instant, five gleaming artifacts appeared on the low table nearby—each radiating the steady, overwhelming aura of an Earth-Grade Artifact.
The manager froze, his practiced composure cracking.
"Five...? All Earth-Grade?"
His voice dropped to a whisper, as though afraid the re sound might draw covetous eyes from outside.
"Young Master, you want to sell all five of them?"
The manager asked in disbelief.
Bai Zihan calmly nodded.
"That’s not all!"
Another wave of his hand, and five ancient scrolls materialized, their bindings sealed with faint spiritual light.
The air grew heavier, saturated with profound intent.
"Earth-Grade techniques!"
Bai Zihan said lightly.
This ti the manager’s knees almost buckled.
"Young Master Bai... Are you certain?"
"I’m certain!"
Bai Zihan’s expression didn’t waver.
In his eyes, those Earth-Grade Techniques were almost useless because he had Heaven-Grade Techniques and even Saint-Grade Techniques.
He had also already given the best techniques to the Bai Clan. Compared to them, these techniques could be considered subpar.
But he also knew that what wasn’t very valuable in his eyes was extrely valuable in the eyes of others.
Of course, he only took out a very small percentage of the treasures he possessed.
If he revealed them all, there would be no one in the Desolate Heaven Empire who could afford them.
"Oh, there is another thing I wish to sell."
With an almost casual flick of his wrist, Bai Zihan drew from his storage ring a folding fan wreathed in a faint golden glow.
The mont it appeared, the air seed to ripple, and a sharp, majestic aura spread through the room like the sweep of a storm.
The fan’s ribs were forged of gleaming azure tal, etched with flowing cloud patterns, while its silk surface shimred with scenes of roaring dragons and coiling winds.
Each movent of the artifact released a subtle pulse of spiritual pressure, enough to make the seasoned manager’s heart skip a beat.
His eyes widened in shock—he knew this fan.
"Th-This... this is the Celestial Feather Fan...!"
He breathed, instantly recognizing the famous Heaven-Grade artifact of the Zhao Clan.
He also knew that the artifact had fallen into Bai Zihan’s hand after a bet on his engagent ceremony.
(He wants to auction this? Really?)
He could already imagine the expressions on the faces of the Zhao Clan mbers—but not only that, he could also see the bidding war that would ensue for this.
The manager swallowed hard, mind racing. One Heaven-Grade Artifact alone could alter the balance of power in the Desolate Heaven Empire.
And Bai Zihan was discarding one as though he didn’t even care—plus ten other treasures, each one able to attract millions of gold coins from the powerhouses.
For a long mont, the man could only stare before finally finding his voice.
"Esteed Young Master... I will personally see to your consignnts. The auction will make... special arrangents."
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