Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Spiraling Radiant Sword Technique

Liechun appeared completely unconcerned by Auburn Mountain’s accusations, maintaining a calm and indifferent expression as he replied, “During an auction, everyone relies on their own abilities. Whether to raise the bid is up to the individual’s will. I certainly did not force you to increase your offer. Master Auburn, are you implying you’d rather not honor your bid?”

“You—” Auburn Mountain was so enraged by Liechun’s words that he was nearly speechless. The triumph he’d felt in seizing the Void-breaking Crossbow from the Lie family evaporated by half. Since the starting price was two hundred fifty thousand gold coins, fifty thousand would have been more than enough—it was, after all, double the base value.

But he had been pushed into spending an extra hundred thousand gold coins. Even that sum was no trivial matter for the Auburn family. More importantly, Auburn Mountain had only spent so much because he’d fallen for Liechun’s trick. Though he’d won in the end, the victory felt hollow and suffocating, as if he’d been toyed with in the palm of another’s hand.

The outcome of the bidding surprised many in the auction hall. After all, the Lie family was the most powerful force in Changling City; it was unexpected for them to employ such underhanded tactics, which even skirted the rules of the auction itself.

No one had anticipated Liechun would resort to such a rather petty maneuver in such a setting, so it was no wonder Auburn Mountain failed to catch on in time.

Still, despite the irregularity of Liechun’s actions—so out of character for him—no one dared to voice any objections. The Lie family’s might was unassailable in Changling City, and if they truly wished, it wasn’t impossible for them to produce fifty-five thousand gold coins. There was no sense in offending the Lie family over this.

As for the outsiders like Ina, Shi Yan, and the rest, they clearly didn’t want to invite trouble. At most, they muttered to themselves but said nothing aloud.

Standing in the center, Maya showed no sign of surprise at the result. It was as if she’d understood Liechun’s intent the moment he raised his bid. After a brief pause, she cleared her throat, her seductive and alluring voice ringing out once more, “Since there are no further bids, the Void-breaking Crossbow is sold to the head of the Auburn family for six hundred thousand gold coins.”

Whatever else Auburn Mountain may have thought, he could only accept the result with a gloomy face, though it was far from what he’d hoped for at the start.

“Next, we come to this scroll of battle skills.” With the crossbow sold, Maya lifted the black cloth from the last wooden tray, taking out a scroll and placing it on the auction table. “This battle skill is somewhat unusual—a sword technique known as the Spinning Splitting Light Sword. Rank: Profound, lower grade!”

At the mention that the next item was a battle skill, the audience, who had just calmed, instantly felt their hearts race again. For practitioners of battle aura, the allure of new techniques was as irresistible as poison. And when they heard it was a low-grade Profound-rank skill, their pulses beat even faster.

Though the Lie family possessed Profound-rank mid-grade techniques as their clan’s signature skills, even a lower-grade Profound skill was extremely valuable. Barring a few powerful families, most clans in the city would fight tooth and nail for such a treasure.

No one could guarantee that the Lie family or the Auburns wouldn’t bid as well. Even a lower Profound-rank skill was precious to them—each additional technique meant more strength. Although the City Lord of Chet rarely intervened, there was no telling if this auction might prove the exception.

Many present couldn’t help but sneak glances toward the Lie and Auburn families to gauge their intentions. For those like Ina and Shi Yan, who had come seeking medicines, initial surprise quickly faded to disappointment—this final auction item was not what they sought, and with it their last hopes here vanished.

Auburn Mountain, still flushed from his recent victory, changed expression at the sight of the scroll but quickly grew resigned. Having spent so much gold in the previous round, he was now powerless to compete for this valuable technique.

The Auburn family did not underestimate the importance of a Profound-rank low-grade skill, but unless they wished to impoverish themselves, they simply couldn’t afford to bid on it now.

Liechun’s eyes flickered with interest. In the Lie family, such techniques were reserved for the core disciples, but this particular sword skill was rather niche—few in his family specialized in swordsmanship. In fact, the greater threat remained the Void-breaking Crossbow Auburn Mountain had just acquired.

“It seems I’ll need to start making plans against the Auburn family when I return,” Liechun thought darkly.

“Alright, everyone.” Maya clapped her hands softly and continued, “You are all familiar with this technique. The bidding will start now. Because of its specialized nature, the opening price is set at eighty thousand gold coins.”

Eighty thousand gold coins—a lower opening than the Broken Edge Sword from earlier, and by market standards, Profound-rank skills usually fetched at least a hundred thousand. Still, the family representatives did not hesitate. After all, a Profound-rank skill was worlds apart from a Yellow-rank one, and few families in Changling City possessed any at all. Owning such a scroll would certainly enhance their standing, and the lower the price, the more families could participate.

Seeing the low starting price for the Spinning Splitting Light Sword, Auburn Mountain could not help but feel regret. If he hadn’t fallen for the Lie family’s trick, he’d have enough gold left—maybe a hundred or two hundred thousand—to contend for this skill, provided the Lie family didn’t join in.

Despite everything, his resentment toward Liechun only deepened.

Liechun, by contrast, was genuinely tempted by the technique; if the price stayed reasonable, he might well make a move.

“Ninety thousand gold!” The first increase rang out before long, breaking the tense silence, and soon a torrent of bids followed.

“One hundred thousand!”

“One hundred and five thousand!”

“One hundred and eight thousand!”

“One hundred and ten thousand!”

After the price crossed one hundred thousand, the increments grew smaller. Few families could afford such sums, and those who could were under pressure to conserve resources.

Unlike the wealthy Lie and Auburn families, most could not casually throw around hundreds of thousands of gold coins.

Among the seats reserved for the major families, all was quiet. Auburn Mountain wore a sullen expression; Liechun remained silent, and the City Lord of Chet showed no reaction.

Sitting beside him, Gree watched the feverish bidding and whispered, “I can’t believe the Auburn family actually managed to win the Void-breaking Crossbow. They’ll be insufferable for a while…”

The City Lord of Chet smiled calmly. “The Lie family has been dominant for too long. Letting the Auburns gain something isn’t so bad—otherwise, things would be too one-sided.”

“Then who should win this sword skill? The Lie family?” Gree asked curiously.

“Auburn Mountain lost a lot of money in that last round, and this sword skill is rather specialized—not as attractive to the Auburns as to the smaller clans. Barring surprises, they won’t take part.” The City Lord continued, “The same goes for the Lie family. This technique holds little appeal for them, and their finances have been stretched. Given Liechun’s character, he won’t waste a fortune on something not worth it. If the price is low, perhaps he’ll step in; if it rises, he’ll withdraw. Most importantly, this Profound-rank low-grade skill poses no real threat to the Lie family.”

“No threat? But even a low-grade Profound skill is a major asset, isn’t it?” Gree frowned, puzzled.

“That’s precisely the point,” replied the City Lord. “In the hands of a major family, it’s significant, but for the smaller clans, it poses little threat to the likes of the Lie family. True power is determined by one’s strength; high-level techniques are only truly dangerous in the hands of strong practitioners. There are few Profound-level warriors in this city, and they’re all with the major families. So long as the Spinning Splitting Light Sword doesn’t fall into a rival’s hands, there’s no danger.”

“If that’s so, then perhaps Arena Master Kina will win this technique?” Gree murmured thoughtfully.

The City Lord sighed and fell silent. There were still things he kept to himself. The Void-breaking Crossbow just auctioned, judging by its design, might well be replicable and issued to the imperial army—implying a possible connection to the royal family and military.

If that were true, such weapons should be strictly controlled and not appear on the open market. Yet Maya had managed to present one for auction. Who was she, really? Was she truly a member of the Usiman family? Recalling the messenger from the Jiang family, the City Lord’s wariness toward this enchanting woman grew—he’d rather offend the Lie or Auburn families than cross her.

“Fifteen hundred thousand gold coins!” A bid rang out from somewhere in the hall. All eyes turned to see the new bidder—it was none other than Arena Master Kina, whose reputation had recently soared.

Martial Peak, Chapter 69—The Spinning Splitting Light Sword Technique—end of update.