Chapter Eleven: The Struggle for Supremacy

The fierce battle he had anticipated never materialized, and Auben Mountain felt somewhat frustrated. Lie Chen’s opening bid of six hundred thousand gold coins left him no room to maneuver—he could only raise the price. The elder beside him, noticing Auben Mountain’s hesitation, whispered, “Chief, at this price… it’s becoming difficult for us…”

Auben Mountain gritted his teeth and spat, “If Lie Chen wants to compete by bleeding himself dry, then so be it! I refuse to believe he’ll still have so much wealth after suffering such a loss!”

His face twitched as he raised his hand and announced, “Six hundred and fifty thousand gold coins!”

A collective gasp swept through the room.

For the major families and powers, six hundred thousand was nearly the upper limit. Some might barely reach this amount in a year or two, but everyone knew that income was only a pleasing surface. Business required costs; the higher the costs, the more meager the profits. Some families had high revenues, but their profits, after expenses, were pitifully small—not to mention their considerable daily expenditures.

The Lie Family’s annual net profit was nearly eighteen thousand gold coins; at this rate, six hundred thousand equated to almost three years’ profit. In other words, with this expenditure, the Lie Family would be set back three years—no income during that period, yet they’d still shoulder massive daily costs.

In such circumstances, their financial strength would plummet—though, should they secure the advanced Xuan-level martial skill, unexpected changes might occur. Whether it was worth the risk remained unclear.

Regardless, it was certain that six hundred thousand gold coins would strain the Lie Family.

Yet the Auben Family, typically less wealthy than the Lie Family, stood firm—not only refusing to be intimidated by the high price, but aggressively raising it to six hundred and fifty thousand. Clearly, this was a battle to the bitter end.

Some who bore grudges against the Auben Family spitefully predicted that even if they won, they’d be reduced to eating gruel for years. Still, the ability to produce such a sum in one go inspired envy.

What would Lie Chen do? Would he raise his bid again?

All eyes turned toward Lie Chen.

Meiya, who had watched the two bid against each other with quiet interest, now glanced at Lie Chen, her smile radiant. “Chief Auben has bid six hundred and fifty thousand gold coins. Is there anyone who wishes to offer more?”

She appeared to address the room, yet her words were meant for Lie Chen alone.

Lie Chen’s face was now cold and grave, his brows furrowed. After a moment, his cheeks twitched painfully, his lips pulling into a rigid line. “Seven hundred thousand gold coins!”

Once again, he had raised the price by fifty thousand!

A wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd. Their gazes toward Lie Chen were filled with shock and a multitude of emotions. Was this not excessive?

Why was the Lie Family so determined—had last night’s robbery provoked them? Did they value this martial skill so highly that they’d risk plunging the family into financial crisis just to obtain it?

Even Su Yi, who had witnessed the entire auction, was somewhat shaken. He thought to himself: the Lie Family truly is wealthy. He also began to discern Lie Chen’s intentions, turning his gaze toward Auben Mountain—did Auben Mountain possess the resolve to go even further?

“Damn it!” Auben Mountain, hearing Lie Chen’s attempt to suppress his bid, angrily hammered his chair, cursing under his breath.

Six hundred and fifty thousand gold coins was already the Auben Family’s limit. He had hoped to subdue the Lie Family, but Lie Chen’s uncompromising stance, tossing out seven hundred thousand, shattered that hope.

Auben Mountain’s face stiffened; even if he wanted to raise the bid, he could only manage another ten or twenty thousand at most—not seventy thousand. It was impossible.

He cast a resentful glance at Lie Chen and sneered, “Chief Lie, what a bold move! Are you not afraid your family will suffer for it?”

Lie Chen, having gambled everything, was not in the mood to respond kindly. Coldly, he replied, “If you can’t afford it, then shut up!”

“Humph! Lie Chen, don’t be so arrogant!” Auben Mountain’s shame turned to anger, his eyes flashing dangerously. “We’ll see how things turn out!”

With that, Auben Mountain rose and departed, taking the elder with him, paying no heed to the proceedings.

His departure signaled Lie Chen’s victory. As the crowd watched Auben Mountain leave, each harbored their own thoughts.

The Auben Family had failed to obtain the martial skill but hadn’t suffered losses; the Lie Family had spent an enormous sum but gained the coveted Heaven-and-Earth Shift. What changes would sweep through Changling City as a result?

A single scroll of martial skill had stirred an uneasy, oppressive atmosphere within the city.

Lie Chen did not care what others thought. He simply looked up at Meiya and said quietly, “Miss Meiya, shall we announce the result?”

Meiya smiled gently. “Since no one has raised the bid, this advanced Xuan-level martial skill, Heaven-and-Earth Shift, now belongs to Chief Lie Chen.”

“In addition, for the upcoming Changling City Martial Tournament, our Usiman Auction House will host a special auction. We welcome everyone to attend…”

Watching the scene, Su Yi shook his head and smiled. He lingered no longer, turning to leave the auction hall and heading to the transaction room to complete the necessary procedures.

…

When Su Yi arrived at the transaction room, he found Meiya already there. She lounged lazily in a carved wooden chair, her fiery red dress draped loosely, reminding him of the Persian cats from his previous life.

Meiya reached out, gently tugging at her scattered garments to cover her heaving chest, her eyes half-closed. Her right hand propped up her fair forehead, kneading it slowly, as if she were slightly weary.

Yet Su Yi could still sense the noble aura she had hidden deep within herself—a refined elegance etched into her bones and spirit, revealed unintentionally.

Upon seeing Su Yi, Meiya’s exquisite, pale face lit with a faint smile. “Su Yi, I didn’t expect my first time hosting the appraisal room to bring an advanced Xuan-level martial skill. Quite lucky, aren’t we?”

Indeed, Usiman Auction House had operated in Changling City for years; although they had sold many rare items, never had they auctioned a martial skill as high-level as Heaven-and-Earth Shift. Even during Su Yi’s time laboring in the appraisal room, few people came to auction Xuan-level skills.

“Very lucky…” Su Yi nodded with a smile, but then recalled the mysterious black-robed elder and felt uneasy. “But Meiya, this martial skill—Heaven-and-Earth Shift—where did it come from?”

“Its origin?” Meiya paused and looked at Su Yi. “You’re concerned it’s of uncertain provenance and may affect our auction house?”

Su Yi nodded, thinking of the elder shrouded in darkness, whose sudden appearance left an eerie, chilling impression. Even now, it felt like a cold, viscous shadow clinging to his back.

Meiya brushed aside a strand of hair, her smile calm. “Don’t worry. Even in such cases, by the rules, the aggrieved party will only trouble the seller, not the auction house or buyer.”

“Besides,” Meiya’s eyes flashed coldly, her tone proud and inviolable, “the Usiman Auction House is backed by the Usiman Family—one of the three great families of the Grandlan Empire. Why should we fear anyone?”

The Usiman Family was renowned throughout the empire.

Unlike the other two great families, the Jia Family and the Dongfang Family, who occupied positions in the imperial government, the Usiman Family was a commercial dynasty. Their shops and auction houses dotted the empire; they managed vast business ventures, countless branches and headquarters, and their annual profits were staggering.

This made the Usiman Family the wealthiest in the empire. Over centuries, drawing on vast networks and resources, their influence penetrated military, political, and commercial circles alike.

Consequently, their relations were the most complex in the empire.

It was said they even held close ties to the royal family. To provoke them was to risk the wrath of the entire empire—a prospect few would dare, for it could prove disastrous.

What’s more, the Usiman Family possessed a Douhuang-level powerhouse.

With such formidable backing, no matter how envious the various powers in Changling City were of the auction house’s profits, none dared to act recklessly.

Although Su Yi had only traveled in the Changling region these past years, he had learned enough to gain a general understanding of the empire’s three great families.

He looked at the beautiful woman before him, unconsciously pondering her identity. Someone of her stature surely held a significant position within the Usiman Family—perhaps even the chief’s daughter. Yet why would someone with such a distinguished background come to this remote southwestern corner, far from the imperial capital?

This question had lingered in Su Yi’s mind for some time, but he had no answer. At this moment, however, as he heard Meiya say “my Grandlan Empire,” he couldn’t help but feel something was amiss…