Devouring Soul Emperor

Chu Qingyun had been in Qingshan City for some time now.

He had also gained some understanding of the major powers within Qingshan City.

Before coming to Qingshan City, the name he had heard most often was none other than the notorious Blood Wolf Gang.

But after spending some time in the city, he came to understand that the most powerful force in Qingshan City was actually the City Lord’s Mansion.

Moreover, it was said that Qingshan City’s City Lord, Ye Qingfeng, was an existence who had surpassed the level of a Martial Master!

And this Ten Thousand Treasures Tower was just as mysterious.

As for the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, they could get you anything—provided, of course, that you could afford the price.

Every auction held by the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower would attract nearly all the Martial Artists in the entire city. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

All sorts of weapons, Secret Techniques, Spiritual Medicines, and Celestial and Earthly Treasures would appear at the auction. It had everything one could imagine and was a truly eye-opening experience.

After waiting in line for nearly half an hour, it was finally Chu Qingyun’s turn.

After paying an entrance fee of one Primordial Stone, he received a token with "Section C, 1423" written on it.

Guided by a beautiful attendant, Chu Qingyun found his seat.

The four sections—A, B, C, and D—had no particular order; they simply corresponded to the four entrances.

However, the true VIPs of Qingshan City all had their own exclusive private rooms on the second floor of the auction hall.

A private room on the second floor wasn’t something that could be bought with money alone.

For example, in the centermost private room on the second floor, Ye Qi, whom Chu Qingyun had met at the Yuan Stone Ore Vein, was sitting in utter boredom, listening to a young master-type next to her drone on and on.

After Chu Qingyun sat down, a middle-aged, fat man entered from the Section B entrance. He was dressed in a dazzling golden robe, and despite his large frame, he had shifty, rat-like eyes.

Upon entering the hall, his nose twitched a few times, and a look of delight instantly burst from his small eyes.

’The aura of the Vermilion Bird!’

Following the scent he had picked up, the middle-aged fatty walked until he was about ten meters to Chu Qingyun’s side, his eyes fixed on him.

’Strange, this kid looks a little familiar...’

’It’s him, the kid who used the Three-Star Vine that day! But how does he have the aura of the Vermilion Bird on him? He didn’t have it back then.’

’He must have come into contact with the Vermilion Bird!’

The golden-robed fatty’s eyes were filled with ecstatic surprise.

He glanced at the token in the hand of a person passing by, grabbed him, and said, "Kid, let’s switch tokens."

"Switch my ass! Get lost!" The man clearly had a bad temper.

A cold glint flashed in the golden-robed fatty’s eyes, and an incomparably powerful aura instantly enveloped the man.

Furthermore, the fatty’s control over his aura was extremely precise. All of his momentum was compressed into a small area around the man, so much so that the people nearby didn’t even notice.

"A Mar-Martial Master..."

"My lord, the token is yours, the token is yours."

After swapping tokens, the man scrambled away.

The golden-robed fatty, however, simply smiled, took the new token, and plopped down right next to Chu Qingyun.

"Little brother, this humble one is Qian Sanpang. May I ask for your esteemed name?"

Qian Sanpang said with a smile after sitting down next to Chu Qingyun.

Chu Qingyun turned his head, and the moment he saw Qian Sanpang, his Devouring Martial Soul actually began to tremble uncontrollably.

’This feeling again!’

Chu Qingyun was greatly alarmed.

Previously, he had entered the Elemental Ore Rat Cave twice, and both times his Devouring Martial Soul had trembled just like this.

And now, upon seeing Qian Sanpang, the Devouring Martial Soul was trembling again.

However, Chu Qingyun quickly composed himself and said with a smile, "My name is Chu Qingyun."

Naturally, the surprise in Chu Qingyun’s eyes did not escape Qian Sanpang’s notice.

’Could he have sensed it? No, impossible. Never mind a mere Martial Artist; not even a Martial Master, or even a Martial Spirit or Martial King, could possibly sense it.’

Qian Sanpang gently shook his head, not taking it to heart.

"Little brother, are you from Qingshan City, or are you from out of town?"

Qian Sanpang asked with a smile. With nothing better to do, the two started chatting.

Qian Sanpang wanted to coax information about the Vermilion Bird out of their conversation.

But Chu Qingyun was already wary of him. Not only was he extremely guarded in his speech, but he also tried to turn the tables and get information out of Qian Sanpang.

The result was that after chatting for a long time, neither of them learned anything besides the other’s name.

Soon, the auction officially began.

’Cunning old fatty!’

’Slippery little brat!’

Both cursed the other inwardly and turned their attention to the skinny old auctioneer at the very front.

"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to grace our Ten Thousand Treasures Tower auction."

"I trust that today’s auction will not disappoint, and I wish everyone here leaves with their hands full."

"Without further ado, let’s begin today’s auction."

"The first item is a masterpiece from the Artifact Refining Master of Great Yuan County City, Master Zhao Kaishan—the Earth Spirit Soft Armor!"

"This Earth Spirit Soft Armor is not only incredibly light, feeling like nothing when worn, but its defense is also extremely strong. Even a Ninth-level Martial Artist at full power couldn’t break through it!"

"It is the absolute best treasure for ensuring the safety of your disciples and juniors as they travel the world!"

"Starting price: five hundred Middle-Grade Primordial Stones!"

Armor that even a Ninth-level Martial Artist couldn’t destroy instantly drew a frenzy of bids. People called out one after another, and the price was quickly driven up to nine hundred Middle-Grade Primordial Stones.

One guy even leaped to his feet in excitement and shouted the high price of one thousand Middle-Grade Primordial Stones.

"A flashy but impractical item. A Ninth-level Martial Artist might not be able to destroy the soft armor, but their power can pass right through it and easily kill the person inside with the shockwave."

"It’s only good for fooling people who don’t know any better."

Qian Sanpang said, shaking his head.

"That’s not necessarily true. It might just block a fatal blow at a critical moment, turning the tables and saving your life," Chu Qingyun said with a small smile.

"Oh? Are you going to bid, little brother?"

Qian Sanpang’s interest was piqued.

Chu Qingyun shook his head. "I don’t have that kind of spare money to buy this thing."

Chu Qingyun had also inquired with You Yun about the price of Gold Attribute Spiritual Medicines.

All told, he only had three thousand five hundred Middle-Grade Primordial Stones right now, and he needed to save them to bid on the Spiritual Medicine.

"I have money! I can lend you some."

Qian Sanpang said, his eyes gleaming.

As the saying goes, once you accept a favor, you’re in the giver’s debt.

If he could make Chu Qingyun owe him one, it would be much simpler to investigate the whereabouts of the Vermilion Bird later on.

’To offer courtesy where none is due means you’re a scoundrel or a thief!’

Chu Qingyun glanced at him and said, "No need. Someone’s already bought it."

Just then, the auctioneer’s hammer fell. The Earth Spirit Soft Armor had been sold to a very wealthy merchant for the price of one thousand three hundred Middle-Grade Primordial Stones.

Item after item went up for auction, each selling for one jaw-droppingly high price after another.

It was only then that Chu Qingyun realized just how many wealthy people there were in Qingshan City.

A few items tempted him, but when he saw prices that easily soared past a thousand Middle-Grade Primordial Stones, he had no choice but to give up.

Finally, when the auction was about halfway through, something he had been eagerly awaiting appeared.

"Everyone, the next item up for auction is a hundred-year-old Golden Blood Ginseng!"