Chapter 145 - 139: Establishing Might
After Chen Ronghua spoke, the originally bustling auction floor suddenly fell silent. Everyone went quiet, and no one dared to bid again.
Many people wore varied expressions, their eyes filled with amusement as if they were watching a show unfold.
’Now let’s see what this Odd Demon Pavilion will do. If all they have on the surface is this worthless Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator, or maybe just a few Qi Refining Cultivators, I’m afraid they won’t be able to control this situation today.’
Seeing the awkward turn of events, Yu Dahai’s expression darkened on the auction stage. He looked at Chen Ronghua and let out a slow breath, his face hostile.
"Fellow Daoist, isn’t this a bit inappropriate? The Odd Demon Pavilion is a place of business, not a place for you to leverage connections."
"Oh? What’s inappropriate about it?" Chen Ronghua was unconcerned. He gave a contemptuous smile as a servant at his side began to fan him.
Before coming here, he had already secretly investigated the background of this Odd Demon Pavilion that had popped up out of nowhere. The results showed that it was merely the enterprise of a minor family, posing no threat to him whatsoever.
Although he found it strange how these goods had appeared here and still had some doubts, Chen Ronghua was confident. With his cultivation and background, he figured that even if the Odd Demon Pavilion did have some power, they wouldn’t dare to do anything to him.
That was why he dared to be so brazen.
Thus, Chen Ronghua chuckled and said,
"You do your business, and I’ll buy my things. What’s inappropriate about that? Didn’t I make a bid? Three thousand Spirit Stones is no small amount. The others also feel that a higher price would be unreasonable. Is there a problem?"
Hearing this, Yu Dahai’s face completely darkened. He said slowly, "With words like that, can I take it that you are provoking my Odd Demon Pavilion?"
"In that case..." Yu Dahai took a deep breath, suddenly turned around, and bowed respectfully toward the area behind the auction stage. He then declared:
"Ancestor, someone is disrupting the Odd Demon Pavilion’s business! I implore the Ancestor to intervene and administer punishment!"
His magnificent voice thundered throughout the venue.
"Hm?"
Watching this scene, the eyes of everyone in the auction hall flickered with interest. They were all intrigued by this "Ancestor" Yu Dahai had mentioned and remained silently observant.
The moment Yu Dahai finished speaking, a cold snort exploded in everyone’s ears. It was just a single sound, but it was deafening, transforming into rolling thunder that surged in the depths of their minds.
"HUMPH!"
"Such audacity!"
Behind the auction stage, Yu Changsheng’s gaze was ice-cold. For the first time, he unleashed his Divine Sense without reservation, sweeping it in all directions to cover the entire venue! At the same time, he fully activated the Disguise Treasure Pearl, infinitely amplifying his cultivation as a boundless aura shot toward the heavens!
His Divine Sense became an ocean, stirring up monstrous waves. Furious torrents surged forth with a heaven-like momentum, causing the void to tremble as if roiling with Celestial Thunder.
For a moment, it was as if the sky was falling and the earth was cracking, with thunder rolling across the ground. A terrifying pressure bore down on everyone’s essence, energy, and spirit without restraint, focusing primarily on Chen Ronghua.
"Using your status to suppress prices in my Odd Demon Pavilion... Who gave you the gall?"
The ancient, weathered voice boomed as a Divine Thought swept out. The oppressive aura carried the force of toppling mountains and overturning seas. In an instant, a gale erupted, the void rippled, and pressure squeezed in on Chen Ronghua from all directions!
"Kneel!"
In a mere instant, Chen Ronghua’s legs buckled. His face turned deathly pale as he fell to his knees.
PTUI...
A mouthful of blood sprayed out uncontrollably, staining his clothes crimson. Under the crushing pressure, his cultivation fell into disarray. His entire body felt as if it were bearing the weight of several great mountains, making it unbearable.
CRACK, CRACK, CRACK...
A dull cracking, like splitting beans, echoed from within Chen Ronghua’s body. It all happened in the space of a single breath.
All of Chen Ronghua’s ribs were breaking. The intense pain nearly caused him to pass out, but Yu Changsheng’s Divine Sense continuously stimulated his nerves, forcing him to experience the agony with crystal clarity.
At that moment, a murderous intent was brazenly revealed. Anyone could feel the fury hidden within the Divine Thought.
HUFF... HUFF... HUFF...
Everyone present, even those not directly targeted, couldn’t help but tremble if their cultivation was below Foundation Establishment. Their faces were pale, and they gasped for breath. With expressions of horrified disbelief, they struggled to raise their heads and look behind the stage.
"Gold... Golden Core?!"
"How is this possible? It actually alarmed a Golden Core Great Power? The entity behind the Odd Demon Pavilion is a Golden Core True Master?!"
’This aura... even if it’s not a Golden Core, it has to be a Half-step Golden Core at the very least! Are you kidding me? If we knew someone like this existed, you should have said so earlier! Who would be blind enough to provoke them? Do they have a death wish?’
Everyone was wailing internally as beads of cold sweat dripped from their foreheads.
No one could have imagined that the Odd Demon Pavilion actually had a Golden Core True Master in its corner!
Due to his own limited experience, and because Yu Changsheng had been holding back, Yu Dahai had only perceived the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. However, the others present knew better; the pressure and Divine Thought erupting at this moment were simply impossible for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to produce!
"Senior! This junior deserves to die! I was blind to have provoked your esteemed self! I am willing to offer three thousand Spirit Stones as compensation for the Odd Demon Pavilion’s losses! I implore Senior, for the sake of my father, Chenyangzi, to forgive this junior’s recklessness!"
Chen Ronghua knelt on the ground, gasping for air, his back already soaked with sweat. His voice trembled as he hurriedly spoke, his eyes filled with terror. An intense sense of life-and-death crisis exploded in his heart.
He never would have thought he’d flush out such an entity he absolutely could not afford to offend! Regret washed over his heart in relentless waves, and terror completely consumed his mind.
At this moment, his only option was to risk mentioning his father, hoping it would make the other party hesitate.
"Oh? Chenyangzi? What’s that? Never heard of it."
The indifferent voice, as placid as an ancient well, nearly drove Chen Ronghua into despair. However, the words that followed gave him a sliver of hope.
"As for what you said... considering this is your first offense, and the Odd Demon Pavilion has just opened and does not wish to see blood..."
The voice paused here, as if the person behind the scenes was thinking.
"Leave five thousand Spirit Stones, sever one of your arms, and you can get lost."
The span of three breaths felt as long as a century to Chen Ronghua.
Upon hearing this, he didn’t dare hesitate for a second. Fearing Yu Changsheng would change his mind if he was even a moment too late, he tremblingly took out his Spirit Stones. He even had to demand more from his servants before he could scrape together five thousand.
Then, he gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes, and swung his blade down. Blood gushed out like water. Chen Ronghua’s face instantly grew even paler, his aura weakened, and his stance became unsteady.
Five thousand Spirit Stones was a huge sum even for Chen Ronghua, enough to cause him significant financial pain. And while severing an arm was harsh, Chen Ronghua knew very well that compared to his life, it was nothing.
Spirit Stones could be earned again, and an arm could be reattached with Celestial and Earthly Treasures. But once your life was gone, it was truly gone for good.