Martial Saint through Reading

"This item, the Ashen Bone Bag, is a Tier Six Middle Grade Treasure which contains a puppet beast refined from the bones of a Mid-tier Sixth Rank Gray Bone Evil Flood Dragon. I need not say more about its power."

Mid-tier Sixth Rank, Gray Bone Evil Flood Dragon!

In an instant, the eyes of the two National Guardian Realms from Yiyang Kingdom sparkled with excitement.

An offensive treasure, this is what they truly desire!

"Starting bid, twenty grains of Star Sand."

"Twenty-five grains." Yiyang Mountain directly added five grains.

"Twenty-six." Seven-Star Kingdom’s Xing Rong continued to bid leisurely.

"Thirty."

"Thirty-one."

"Thirty-five."

"Thirty-six."

"..."

During the bidding war, glances were occasionally cast towards the young man in black in the corner.

However, this time, Chu Ming did not plan to compete.

The White Bamboo Bottle had already succeeded in attracting attention, and there was no need to continue.

The price of the Ashen Bone Bag quickly soared to fifty grains, approaching the total Star Sand carried by Yiyang Mountain and Yiyang Scenery.

"Fifty-one." Seven-Star Kingdom’s Xing Rong continued bidding one grain at a time.

"Fifty-five!"

"Fifty-six."

"..."

Once the price of ’fifty-six’ was announced, everyone felt the tension thickening in the air.

"Sixty... "

Just as Yiyang Mountain was about to bid ’sixty grains’, he suddenly halted.

"Brother Shan?" Yi Chentian looked at Yiyang Mountain.

"Not going to bid." Yiyang Mountain smiled uncharacteristically.

Not going to bid?

Yi Chentian observed Yiyang Mountain and Yiyang Scenery, suspecting something in his heart.

"Fifty-six grains going once... fifty-six grains going twice..."

"Bidding is closed, Tier Six Middle Grade Treasure, the Ashen Bone Bag goes to this friend."

Yi Chentian did not waste words and announced the result after waiting for three heartbeats.

"This auction ends here. Those who have won treasures, please proceed to the rear building for transactions."

"..."

...

After the transaction, Chu Ming took the White Bamboo Bottle and was just about to leave the Heavenly Inquiry Tower when he saw a person in gray approaching.

"Please wait."

The newcomer was Xing Rong, a strong figure from the Seven-Star Kingdom.

"Do you really think you can saunter away after acquiring a treasure in Yiyang Kingdom?" Xing Rong said quietly.

Chu Ming remained silent, having already discerned the intention of the Seven-Star Kingdom’s strongman.

"I know you’ve concealed your true strength, and you must also suspect that I’ve done the same. We’ve both acquired Tier Six treasures. Yiyang Kingdom won’t simply let us leave."

"As great as the treasures are, you also need to take them with you. Why don’t we join forces? Our chances of exiting Yiyang Kingdom will greatly improve."

Xing Rong revealed his purpose.

Join forces?

Chu Ming looked at Xing Rong, his gaze steady and indifferent.

To join forces based on a few words with someone whose identity is unknown?

To reach the Sixth Realm requires a deep mind; why would one join forces with a stranger?

Even with acquaintances, they might stab you in the back for treasures.

Chu Ming understood clearly that this person’s true purpose was not cooperation but was targeting the White Bamboo Bottle he’d acquired.

However, since the other was eyeing his treasure, he also had his eyes on that Ashen Bone Bag.

"Very well, you make a good case," Chu Ming chuckled softly, "I am Hoong Jun."

"I am Rongg Xing."

Both disclosed their names, which were not their real ones, making clear that this so-called alliance might not end well.

"Brother Hoong Jun, where do you plan to head?"

"Eastward."

"Coincidentally, so am I."

"Let’s go."

Right under the nose of the Heavenly Inquiry Tower and Yiyang Kingdom, the two flew off, turning into streaks of light.

Yiyang Mountain and Yiyang Scenery’s eyes turned cold, and they too, after waiting for just a few heartbeats, followed in streaks of light.

Not only that, soon after they fled, another streak of light ascended into the sky.

Yiyang Kingdom’s second strongest, Yiyang Yie arrived, who was the elder brother of Yiyang Mountain and Yiyang Scenery.

The reason they abstained from the final bids was due to Yiyang Yie’s arrival.

"Elder brother, the two treasures from the Heavenly Inquiry Tower, the White Bamboo Bottle and the Ashen Bone Bag, have been acquired by two individuals of unknown identity. They have now formed an alliance..."

Yiyang Mountain briefly described the situation at the Heavenly Inquiry Tower.

"No rush, once they’re outside the capital’s range and into the White River Basin with no watchful eyes, we’ll make our move."

This area is within Yiyang Kingdom’s borders, beneath them are cities, and as National Guardian Realms, they would not act over the cities.

Otherwise, even a slight aftermath of a National Guardian Realm battle would kill countless people.

Thus, Chu Ming and Xing Rong fled, and the three strongmen from Yiyang Kingdom followed behind.

Returning to the Heavenly Inquiry Tower.

"Senior brother, all six items containing the aura of the Fire Bead have been auctioned off."

Yi Chentian bent over, reporting the auction results to his senior brother Wu Dai.

"For now, it seems the black-clad youth who acquired the White Bamboo Bottle and Seven-Star Kingdom’s Xing Rong are most likely to be carrying the treasure responding to the Fire Bead."

"Black-clad youth?" Wu Dai looked towards the sky.

"Yes, his strength is at the early stage of the Sea of Qi Realm, his aura unfamiliar, not from the surrounding nations’ National Guardian Realms. He might be a newly advanced Sea of Qi Realm, and after purchasing the White Bamboo Bottle, he did not bid for the second item, the Ashen Bone Bag."

"Just early Sea of Qi Realm?"

Wu Dai placed his hands behind his back, slowly returning to the pavilion and sat down.

"Since it’s unclear who is indeed carrying the treasure, let’s consider them together. Judging by Yiyang Kingdom’s actions, they likely plan to wait until entering a deserted area to act."

"As for Seven-Star Kingdom’s Xing Rong, in previous auctions, he continuously delayed to wait for reinforcements."

"As for the black-clad youth, even if he doesn’t fall into Yiyang Kingdom’s hands, he won’t escape Seven-Star Kingdom’s grasp."

"Let Yiyang Kingdom fight them first. Once both sides are weakened, we’ll move in."

"Understood."

"..."

...

To the east of Yiyang Kingdom, the White River Basin.

The White River flows through Yiyang Kingdom, its banks roaring, lined with towering trees that blot out the sky and the sun.