Earth-level combat skills

It was a thin booklet. As soon as it appeared, the entire venue fell into a brief silence, followed by an immediate outburst of gasps.

Most people here knew that every three years, the final featured item at the Huayun Pavilion auction house was a Combat Technique. Calculating the time, this year was exactly the third year.

If it were an ordinary combat technique, it would not have caused such an uproar, but this was an Earth Rank Combat Technique.

Earth Rank Combat Techniques only existed in legends. It was said they were held by some reclusive Sects and were rarely circulated in the outside world.

It was said that the Phoenix Empire's national treasure was an Earth-Grade Cultivation Technique, and only royal Disciples were qualified to practice it.

Therefore, people had only heard of Earth Rank secret techniques in legends. Seeing one with their own eyes now, even though they knew it was basically out of their reach, they still could not help but feel their hearts racing.

"Earth Rank Combat Technique — The Three Styles of Departing Wind. The starting bid is twenty million. The auction now — begins!"

"Boom."

There was no need for much introduction regarding an Earth Rank Combat Technique; the two words "Earth Rank" alone were enough. The people below were instantly in an uproar.

"Thirty million."

Xia Changfeng's voice came from the private box. This was the first time Xia Changfeng had bid on anything besides that golden battle armor.

Moreover, he did not speak until he was ready, but once he did, he immediately added ten million. One had to admit, this display of wealth was truly astonishing.

Long Chen looked at the combat technique, his heart pounding with excitement. However, he knew he did not have the ability to compete; Xia Changfeng's thirty million was nothing.

"Fifty million."

An aged voice came from another private box. The door to that box had never been opened, clearly indicating that the person did not want others to know their identity.

Long Chen thought to himself: "It seems that old man came specifically for this combat technique. Now, I fear it is time for a battle among the heroes."

"Sixty million."

A sharp voice, sounding like metal scraping against iron, which was very uncomfortable to hear, rang out from a corner of the crowd.

In that corner, a middle-aged man with a goat beard was the one who had emitted that Yin and Yang sarcastic voice.

"Eighty million."

A soft voice came through; the voice came from Marquis Ying's private box. It was Marquis Ying who had spoken.

The entire venue was very quiet. Aside from Xia Changfeng, the mysterious old man, the man with the goat beard, and Marquis Ying, no one else was bidding, because this price had already far exceeded their total net worth.

"One hundred million."

Xia Changfeng took a deep breath and shouted this price heavily. These two words hit everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

Long Chen could not help but sigh. The Huayun Pavilion's ability to rake in wealth was terrifying; a hand-copied manual of an Earth Rank Combat Technique could sell for over a hundred million.

What was most speechless was that they could copy countless versions and auction them in different places, while those who obtained this combat technique would basically hide it tightly, wishing they could kill everyone who knew this secret.

This made Long Chen increasingly interested in the background of the Huayun Pavilion. To take such a treasure out for auction and not even fear that others would be jealous.

Xia Changfeng's price of one hundred million, while shocking, only stunned the crowd for the duration of a single breath.

"One hundred and ten million."

The person speaking was the mysterious old man in the private box. Clearly, that old man who had been unwilling to show his Face would not easily give up on this combat technique.

"One hundred and thirty million."

That man with the goat beard was not to be outdone and also called out his price. Now, the bidding increments were already being calculated in tens of millions.

Now, the entire scene was silent, with only those astronomical bid amounts echoing in the hall.

"One hundred and fifty million."

"One hundred and sixty million."

"One hundred and eighty million."

Such sounds tested one's psychological endurance. Even though it was not their own money, Fatty Yu and the others still felt some difficulty breathing.

Sweat was pouring down Xia Changfeng's Face. He had previously received "inside information" that this auction would have an Earth Rank Combat Technique for sale.

So he had converted all the gold coins on his person into transaction credit, totaling only two hundred million. Now that it had already been bid up to one hundred and eighty million, and seeing that two hundred million would not be enough to stop it, he could not help but feel anxious.

"Baichi, how much transaction credit do you have there?" Xia Changfeng asked Xia Baichi.

Looking at the crystal card in her hand, Xia Baichi said, "There is still over three hundred and sixty million."

Xia Changfeng was overjoyed: "Good sister, in a moment, if your brother does not have enough money, lend me some. I will pay you back when we return to the Great Xia."

Xia Baichi hesitated for a moment and said, "Lending it to you is no problem, but you must hand over Long Chen's head to me within a short time."

Xia Changfeng could not help but feel a moment of embarrassment. Chu Yang was still here, and saying these things in front of the First Prince was really going a bit too far.

"Baichi, let's talk about this when we go back."

"No, if you do not agree to me, I will not lend it." Xia Baichi snorted coldly, not giving her brother any Face at all.

Chu Yang smiled and said, "I also really dislike this Long Chen. Besides, you will be my brother-in-law in the future; I have not heard anything you two have said."

Hearing Chu Yang say this, Xia Changfeng's expression softened, and he cupped his fists at Chu Yang, saying, "Thank you for your understanding, Brother Chu."

"Alright, I agree. Give me the crystal card."

Only then did Xia Changfeng get Xia Baichi's crystal card. He swiped it against his own crystal card, and all the credit on Xia Baichi's card was transferred to his. This way, his card had over five hundred million in credit.

"Three hundred million."

Seeing the price continue to climb, Xia Changfeng simply shouted out a round number. This was also to demonstrate his determination to win, hoping to scare off his opponents.

After hearing this price, the others fell silent for a moment. To tell the truth, an Earth-Grade Combat Technique, while very rare, also had its own price.

And the usual price was much lower than this. But the difference was that the Earth-Grade Combat Techniques obtained usually were rubbed copies made by others, meaning they were second-hand goods.

The Earth-Grade Combat Techniques auctioned by the Huayun Pavilion were ones not found in this region, which was why they were auctioned at such a high price.

However, when the price of the combat technique exceeded three hundred million, it became somewhat daunting. After all, if one had enough gold coins, there was still a chance to obtain one at a much lower price by going to the distant Outer Regions.

When everyone had quieted down, whether it was the mysterious old man, the man with the goat beard, or even Marquis Ying, they all hesitated.

"Prince Xia Changfeng has already bid three hundred million. Is there a higher price? Three hundred million for the first time, three hundred million for the second time —" Yao Niqian began the countdown with an excited voice.

It could be said that today's auction had already exceeded her own expectations, especially this Earth Rank Combat Technique, which had actually sold for the high price of three hundred million, making her extremely excited.

Therefore, after reaching three hundred million, Yao Niqian felt it should be the peak, so she began the countdown.

"Four hundred million."

To everyone's surprise, at this moment, a lazy voice suddenly came through.

The voice was very young; it was indeed Long Chen who had shouted it out. The entire audience was stunned, including Yao Niqian, who was serving as the auctioneer, who was also startled.

However, before she could react, a small earring by her ear moved slightly. Yao Niqian then returned to normal, a smile appearing on her Face.

"Bastard."

Just as he was about to put the Earth Rank Combat Technique into his pocket, Long Chen suddenly interfered, causing Xia Changfeng to jump with rage.

"Long Chen, I do not believe you have that much money. You are just causing trouble!" Xia Changfeng roared.

"Idiot, if I did not have that much money, why would I bid? Do not forget, I am an Alchemy apprentice." Long Chen's voice came through.

In fact, Long Chen had been using his Divine Sense to monitor the movements on their side. The two private boxes were only about a dozen zhang apart. Although he could not hear what they were saying, by looking at their lip movements, he knew the general content of their conversation.

Seeing that Xia Changfeng was determined to win this Earth Rank Combat Technique, he did not hesitate at all and directly shouted the price of four hundred million.

But to tell the truth, although Long Chen appeared relaxed on the outside, he was extremely nervous on the inside. If he scared Xia Changfeng away, he would have to pay the bill himself.

Four hundred million! It was probably enough to keep an Alchemy apprentice refining pills until they died, and they still might not be able to pay it off. However, thinking about how Xia Baichi had scammed him earlier, making him spend twenty million to buy the Melting Star Grass, if he did not take revenge, he was afraid he would be depressed to the point of illness.

"Five hundred million. If you have the guts, follow again!"

Xia Changfeng roared. He was going crazy with anger, although he did not know why Long Chen would have so much money.

However, according to the rules of the Huayun Pavilion, when the price shouted exceeded the transaction credit within the crystal card, it was considered causing trouble and would result in being expelled.

But now that this price had been shouted, there was still no movement, which meant Long Chen really had that much money in his hands.

Xia Changfeng's roar echoed in the hall like the howl of a beast, making people's ears buzz.

"No need to be so excited. There is only this much left in my card. Actually, you only need to add ten thousand, and you can take it away."

"In my life, I, Long Chen, have rarely admired anyone, but you, Xia Changfeng, count as one. Treating one hundred million as ten thousand, you are a worthy nouveau riche."

Long Chen's voice was full of admiration and exclamation, but heard in Xia Changfeng's ears, it turned into the most malicious mockery.

"You… Pfft!"

Xia Changfeng had just managed to shout one word when a mouthful of blood sprayed out. On one hand, it was from anger; on the other, it was from heartache, causing a gasp in the private box.

The Faces of everyone in the audience were a bit strange. For a moment, no one knew whether what Long Chen said was true or if he was deliberately trying to anger Xia Changfeng.

"Since no one is bidding, I congratulate Prince Xia Changfeng on obtaining the Earth Rank Combat Technique." Yao Niqian simply stopped counting down, because absolutely no one else would be as foolish as Xia Changfeng.

Seeing that the Earth Rank Combat Technique had already been auctioned off, everyone could not help but slowly stand up, preparing to leave. Just at this moment, Yao Niqian's sweet laughter came through.

"In the past, Earth Rank Combat Techniques were always the final featured auction items, but this year is different. We have an even more peculiar auction item as the final grand finale."

The crowd was startled. Could there be a treasure even more precious than an Earth Rank Combat Technique? The people who had just stood up quickly sat back down, their eyes staring fixedly at the stage.

Long Chen smiled slightly. "Hehe, the good show is about to begin."