A great emperor master every day—the good-for-nothing young master is having a blast!

The astronomical price of tens of millions of high-grade source stones would make anyone question their existence.

Even the three major families of Jiangcheng wouldn't casually pull out tens of millions of high-grade source stones.

"The Heavenly Rank Fragment is too expensive."

Chen Ming's words were full of worry as he glanced sideways at Ye Heng and Lin Sheng, who were not far away.

The two servants of the Chen family standing next to Chen Ming looked bewildered upon hearing their young master's words.

What did you say, young master? Too expensive?!

The starting bid for this fragment of the Heavenly Rank manual is not just expensive, it's an insurmountable astronomical price!

At this price, the young master still seems to be considering bidding.

Ye Heng and Lin Sheng also planned to take a gamble.

They're putting all their resources into bidding for this incomplete Heavenly Rank cultivation technique!

No matter the cost, we must win!

This was a huge gamble, and the three of them took it!

"Ten million high-grade source stones!" Ye Heng was the first to raise the price.

The moment the price was called out, Ye Heng's breathing became rapid and his heart pounded violently.

This astronomical price has far exceeded the limit that the father could give.

But we absolutely cannot let go of the Heavenly Rank cultivation techniques.

"The price has gone up! Young Master Ye has raised the price!"

"Ten million high-grade source stones, just shouting it out like that, that's outrageous! That's too much for Kun Kun!"

"Young Master Ye is too arrogant! Young Master Chen and Young Master Lin, don't just stand there!"

Lin Sheng said in a deep voice, "Ten million and thirty thousand high-grade source stones."

"Ten million and one hundred thousand!" Chen Ming shouted next.

The repeated price increases were like a giant hammer, smashing into the hearts of everyone present.

Each bid increase involved tens of thousands of high-grade source stones; as expected of the three major families, they are truly wealthy and powerful.

Hearing the price increase, Chen Yue was grinning from ear to ear.

In less than ten seconds, the price increased by 100,000 yuan. Even mining couldn't have done that fast.

The three of them went back and forth, raising the price dozens of times in a short period of time.

The price was initially raised from ten million high-grade source stones to eleven million high-grade source stones.

The three of them were relatively calm at first, but as they continued to compete, their expressions became increasingly unpleasant.

Initially full of confidence, I began to hesitate.

"Twelve million high-grade source stones!"

Chen Ming slammed his hand on the table, stood up agitatedly, and said with wide, angry eyes, clearly having lost his temper.

Remembering his father's words, Ye Heng was determined to bring back the incomplete Heavenly Rank manual.

With a heavy heart, he decided to stake the fate of the Ye family on this Heavenly Rank cultivation technique.

Thirteen million high-grade source stones!

Thirteen million is the maximum the Ye family can offer.

Ye Heng looked at Chen Ming and Lin Sheng with trepidation.

Seeing that neither of them intended to give up, Ye Heng felt disheartened.

He knew that the two would raise the price again.

This incomplete copy of the Heavenly Rank manual is no longer his.

Even with a price of thirteen million high-grade source stones, they still couldn't acquire it.

It can only be said that the phrase "Heavenly Rank Cultivation Technique" is fatally attractive to anyone.

"Fourteen million!"

Lin Sheng clenched his hands, forcing himself to appear calm.

This time, Ye Heng's heart was completely broken.

In the competition for the Heavenly Rank cultivation technique, he was the first to be eliminated from the competition.

"Fourteen and a half million!" Chen Ming shouted without hesitation.

"Chen Ming!"

Lin Sheng flew into a rage, roared, and could no longer suppress his emotions.

The longsword was drawn, and instantly, a strong stench of blood filled the air.

Lin Sheng gripped the sword hilt tightly, and strands of blood-red source energy quickly spread across the blade.

With a single sword strike, a streak of crimson sword light flashed through the air, heading straight for Chen Ming.

Chen Ming was startled, never expecting Lin Sheng to attack him in such a place.

The two servants of the Chen family reacted quickly, unleashing their peak Condensation Realm cultivation.

With a single strike, he neutralized the incoming crimson sword light; the movement was swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

The whole process happened so quickly that many people present didn't even have time to react.

How could something have happened in the blink of an eye?

"Master, are you okay?"

Chen Ming waved his hand, then turned to look angrily at Lin Sheng.

"Lin Sheng! The highest bidder wins. If you can't afford the high price, you'll resort to underhanded tactics?"

Lin Sheng glared and gritted his teeth, his angry appearance quite terrifying.

His aura didn't weaken in the slightest, and he seemed ready to continue attacking.

This appearance was in stark contrast to his earlier calm and composed demeanor.

"Young Master Lin, isn't it inappropriate to cause trouble in my establishment?"

A powerful pressure descended, like a towering mountain crashing down on Lin Sheng.

With just that one blow, his source energy dissipated, and his whole body trembled.

"Master!"

Two servants of the Lin family shouted and immediately released their peak Condensation Realm cultivation.

Before they could even make a move, two more pressures descended.

The peak of the Qi Condensation Realm was a joke; even with all his might, he couldn't shake the pressure in the slightest.

"Jiangcheng Auction House has its own rules. I, Mr. Shan, will certainly give a warm welcome to Young Master Lin for participating in the auction."

"But if you come here to cause trouble, don't blame me for kicking you out!"

The single-line leader remained expressionless, still wearing that smiling face, but inside he was completely enraged.

Even the eldest son of the Lin family wouldn't dare cause trouble on his turf.

Moreover, whoever offers the higher price, the bank manager will side with them.

Chen Yue looked at Lin Sheng's frenzied appearance with disdain.

"If you can't handle it, don't play it. You almost scared away our Chen family's unworthy eldest son."

"If they run away in fear, we'll lose 500,000 high-grade source stones."

Chen Yue breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, Director Shan intervened in time.

The capabilities demonstrated by Director Shan surprised Chen Yue.

"I didn't realize that Director Shan actually has the cultivation level of the eighth level of the Spirit Mansion Realm."

If he remembered correctly, Lin Sheng's father, who was also the head of the Lin family, was only at the seventh level of the Spirit Mansion realm.

No wonder Director Shan acted without hesitation.

“That sword is rather strange,” Qingxuan suddenly said.

Hearing what the teacher said, Chen Yue finally shifted his attention from Director Shan to Lin Sheng's sword.

The sword is black and red overall, with many dense, thread-like cracks on its blade.

"A few years ago, this sword was in relatively good condition, and it didn't have so many cracks; there were only a few."

"Why has this sword become like this over the past few years?"

Chen Yue noticed this matter and was completely baffled.

What could cause so many fine cracks to appear on a sword, yet it still remains sharp?

"Teacher, do you recognize this sword?" Chen Yue asked curiously.

Qingxuan calmly replied, "I don't remember. All the soldiers I know are Heavenly Soldiers. Weapons below the Heavenly Soldiers level are no different from scrap metal to me."

"This sword may be a low-grade weapon, but it feels rather strange to me."

Chen Yue couldn't help but feel a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, deep emotion) as he listened to his teacher say those words in such a serious manner.

"Those below the Heavenly Soldiers are all scrap metal. Although I know what the teacher said is true, it's still too pretentious."

Thinking of that sword, Chen Yue seemed to have found the answer.

The reason why Lin Sheng's cultivation level improved so rapidly is definitely related to that sword.

As for what the cracks on the sword represent and why they are increasing, that remains to be seen.