Chapter 20: Appearance of the Holy Dynasty Token

The auctioneer, Faye, wore a faint smile as she auctioned off item after item, each fetching exorbitant prices. Her voice, imbued with a captivating charm, added to the allure of the auction.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the audience, the Third Prince turned to a cloaked figure beside him, transmitting his voice inquiringly, "Master, will that item truly appear?"

Concealed within his black robe, the cloaked figure's voice, hoarse as if disguised, replied, "My sources are never wrong... We must acquire that item. I will inform you once it appears."

"Very well," replied the Third Prince obediently, his curiosity overshadowed by his fear of his master.

Not long ago, the princes had chosen their sects to serve as their masters. The Third Prince had selected the Heavenly Sword Sect among the Great Qian Dynasty's ten major sects, only to discover it had fallen to darkness, its members slaughtered to nourish the cloaked figure's recovery. In exchange for assistance, the Third Prince had promised the cloaked figure dominion over an entire province's population, forming a master-disciple bond.

"That item... Once we obtain it, the treasure of the Holy Dynasty will be mine!" the cloaked figure roared inwardly, his eyes filled with madness. He was certain this was the greatest opportunity of his life.

As the auction continued, nearly half an hour passed without the appearance of the materials Jiang Chen sought for his alchemy.

Then, Faye unveiled a new item, prompting confusion among the attendees. It was a seemingly decrepit wooden token, devoid of any magical aura or intricate formations, appearing utterly ordinary.

"This item, of unknown origin, has been tested by experts within the Star Pavilion. Despite its appearance, it cannot be damaged even by a full-strength blow from a Dao-Initiation expert. Its significance remains unknown," Faye announced, setting the starting bid at 3000 spiritual stones.

Gasps filled the hall at the starting price. Three thousand spiritual stones! For many cultivators, even those who had cultivated for decades, such wealth was beyond reach. And for an item of uncertain value, it seemed exorbitant.

However, several individuals in the audience grew agitated. The cloaked figure beside the Third Prince's heart constricted, urging his disciple to seize the opportunity. "Acquire it. Afterward, I will help you eliminate the other princes and the Great Qian Emperor himself, aiding you in ascending the throne!" he transmitted urgently.

Without hesitation, the Third Prince declared, "3100 spiritual stones!"

Instantly, all eyes turned towards him. It seemed the wooden token was indeed extraordinary. However, the cloaked figure cursed the prince's impulsiveness inwardly.

Nonetheless, since they had started, they couldn't back down now. The bidding intensified.

But amidst the escalating bids, tension simmered between the Third Prince and his brother, the Crown Prince. Their rivalry grew palpable as they vied for the token, the atmosphere thick with hostility.

As the bidding reached unprecedented heights, the Crown Prince gritted his teeth and proclaimed, "15,000 spiritual stones! I hope you'll give me, Ji Tian, some face."

Undeterred, the Third Prince took a deep breath and raised his bid to 16,000 spiritual stones, challenging his brother openly.

"17,000 spiritual stones," the Crown Prince countered, his determination unwavering.

And with that, a chilling silence fell over the auction hall as the two brothers engaged in a bidding war, the tension between them reaching its zenith.

"Kid, do you really want to bid against me?" This time, it was the black-robed powerhouse behind the Third Prince who spoke. His words carried a strong sense of threat.

The expression of the Crown Prince remained unchanged as he sneered, saying, "So what if I do?" Behind him stood the Fire Worship Sect, ranked first among the Great Qian Dynasty's ten major sects. His master was an elder of the Fire Worship Sect, a powerhouse at the ninth level of the Ocean Realm! Moreover, the Fire Worship Sect had three other Dao-level masters! As the most favored Crown Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, what did he have to fear?

Thus, the Crown Prince was quite defiant!

As the Crown Prince spoke, several Fire Worship Sect cultivators behind him stepped forward, releasing their own pressures.

In an instant, the hall was filled with the oppressive aura of the Ocean Realm, rustling like a raging wind. Many Pre-Natal Realm cultivators turned pale, exerting all their strength to resist this terrifying pressure.

"The guest from the Heavenly Sword Sect seems a bit too arrogant," remarked the Crown Prince's master indifferently, his oppressive pressure of the ninth level of the Ocean Realm covering the entire hall.

Everyone was astonished! A ninth-level Ocean Realm cultivator! A powerhouse among powerhouses!

Someone exclaimed, "It's Li Moran of the Fire Worship Sect! It's said he broke through to the ninth level of the Ocean Realm fifty years ago! I didn't expect him to not only survive but also advance to the ninth level of the Ocean Realm! He's likely to become a Dao-level master in the future! My god..."

"Who would have thought it's Li Moran! I didn't expect him to reappear!"

"The Third Prince has met his match this time. Who could have guessed that Li Moran would show up?"

The crowd was in turmoil, shaken by the fame of Li Moran of the Fire Worship Sect.

However...

A cold snort came from under the black robe of the cloaked figure.

"Humph!"

"Even ants dare to insult me?"

With just a cold snort, an even greater pressure emanated from the cloaked figure, sweeping across the entire venue. The terrifying pressure caused all the Pre-Natal Realm cultivators present to spew blood from their mouths! The Fire Worship Sect cultivator at the ninth level of the Ocean Realm had his bones shattered, collapsing to the ground and spraying blood from his mouth, his eyes filled with shock and despair!

Everyone in the venue turned pale!

If the pressure from the ninth level of the Ocean Realm earlier was like a small stream, then the pressure from the cloaked figure now was like a surging river, incredibly terrifying!

"Dao-level realm... Who are you exactly?" trembled the Fire Worship Sect cultivator at the ninth level of the Ocean Realm, his voice shaking.

"Humph! Ants."

Another cold snort came from the cloaked figure.

In an instant, both the Crown Prince and the other Fire Worship Sect cultivators collapsed to the ground, their bones shattered, blood spraying from their mouths. The might of the Dao-level realm was terrifying!

"Eighteen thousand spirit stones. Now, does anyone else want to bid against me?" The cloaked figure's voice was indifferent, containing a hint of killing intent, suppressing all the wandering cultivators, princes, and cultivators of the ten major sects present.

A Dao-level powerhouse!

A figure of foundation-level significance!

This was someone they simply couldn't afford to offend.

No one had expected that such an auction would attract a Dao-level powerhouse.

The scene fell silent.

Everyone chose silence.

However, at this moment, a faint voice rang out, "Nineteen thousand spirit stones."

The entire venue was in an uproar!

Everyone looked incredulously at the source of the voice! They saw Jiang Chen sitting calmly in the distance, exuding an extraordinary aura, as if indifferent to the world.

"It's him! The master of the Nineteenth Prince!"

"Doesn't he know that this cloaked figure is a Dao-level powerhouse?"

"The ninth level of the Ocean Realm couldn't withstand just a snort from a Dao-level powerhouse!"

"My god, it's really seeking death. I knew the Nineteenth Prince's mind wasn't right, and his master is just as brainless... daring to confront a Dao-level powerhouse directly..."

The crowd was in a frenzy of discussion. However, some believed in Jiang Chen. For example, the Crown Prince, who had thought Jiang Chen was extraordinary from the beginning. After all, anyone who could turn Ji Xuan into a cultivator of at least the Pre-Natal Realm was not simple!

It was highly likely that he was also a Dao-level powerhouse!

However, although the Crown Prince was convinced that Jiang Chen was extraordinary, he was now lying on the ground, his bones shattered, unable to do anything but silently pray that Jiang Chen could kill the cloaked figure.

"Oh? Do you really think I dare not kill?" The cloaked figure's face turned livid.

He never expected that he had already revealed his Dao-level realm, yet there were still those who were unafraid.

"Humph!"

"You're seeking death, kid!"

With a cold snort, the cloaked figure no longer concealed his aura. His black robe rustled as a hand, resembling a skeleton, extended from it. Terrifying power converged into a monstrous hand, fiercely grabbing at Jiang Chen, with killing intent as tangible as substance!

He knew that Jiang Chen might be a Dao-level powerhouse of the same level as him, so he used his signature move as soon as he made his move!

A Profound-tier high-grade martial technique, the Demon Silver Hand!

The entire venue was shocked!

Li Moran, the Fire Worship Sect cultivator lying on the ground, widened his eyes in disbelief, saying, "Demon Silver Hand! You're not a cultivator of the Heavenly Sword Sect! You're the Demon Lord! You're not dead!"

Everyone felt as if they were waking up from a dream, their faces filled with horror.

Whether they were princes, wandering cultivators, or cultivators from the ten major sects, they were all filled with fear and dread.

Demon Lord!

Ten years ago, the Great Qian Dynasty had produced a Demon Lord, who became notorious for killing and devouring to become stronger in a short time, entering the semi-Dao level. His signature Profound-tier high-grade martial technique, the Demon Silver Hand, made countless experts tremble with fear!

Fortunately, later, Dao-level powerhouses from the ten major sects joined forces to kill the Demon Lord!

But now,

The Demon Lord had reappeared!

And he appeared openly in the Great Qian Imperial Capital, breaking through from the semi-Dao level to the Dao level!

It's over!

Everyone felt like ashes in their hearts. They knew that not only would Jiang Chen, the naive one, die today, but they would also die!

With the emergence of the Demon Lord, the Great Qian Dynasty would once again experience a bloodbath.

However...

Just as the monstrous hand of demonic energy was about to touch Jiang Chen, he revealed a faint smile.

"So, the evil technique practiced by the bandits of the Wind Chasing Bandit Lair originated from you," Jiang Chen said with a smile, followed by a cold snort!

Boom!

A overwhelming pressure surged out from Jiang Chen's body, his cyan robe fluttering. This pressure was even