Chapter 56: Chapter 37: Two Years 1
Translator: 549690339
Time flies, and the years pass by swiftly, just like that, another two years had gone by.
In the fourteenth year of Great Ye, on the eleventh day of the third month, on the day of Bingchen.
The son of Xu Guogong, Yuwen Shu, Chief of the Imperial Guard and Right
Guard General Yuwen Huaji, rebelled and assassinated Emperor Yang of Sui in Yangdu of Yangzhou, hanged all members of the Sui royal family and their relatives, and with the support of one hundred thousand Brave Guardians, donned the yellow robe, proclaimed himself emperor, established the state of Xu, and changed the era name to Tian Shou.
With that, Sui dynasty ended after a mere two generations.
There was no ruler over the land, and the battle for the dragon throne truly began.
Factions everywhere began to make their moves, like ten ravaging serpents competing fiercely.
With the flames of war and the smoke of guns, the entire land was plunged into chaos, and the Martial World was anything but peaceful.
In Yangzhou, above the waters of the Huai River and the great river, a golden and glittering treasure ship became the focus of everyone’s attention.
“That is… ”
“The treasure ship of Golden Jade Hall!”
“It is said that the ship is forty-four Zhang long and eighteen Zhang wide, with nine masts, twelve sails, anchors weighing several thousand jin, multiple decks that can accommodate a thousand people, and capable of traveling on rivers and seas, covering over ten thousand li a day, thus being called the treasure ship.”
“With this treasure ship, Golden Jade Hall has formed a fleet to navigate the rivers and traverse the Four Seas, seizing the profits from all commerce under the heavens, it can truly be said that their wealth pours in like the flow of water and is rich enough to rival countries.”
“Wealthy and imposing, wealthy and imposing indeed!”
“I heard that today, here on the Huai River, Golden Jade Hall is holding a grand gathering to auction many Divine Skills, secret manuals, and the world’s rare and exotic treasures.”
“Family heads from Yangzhou and nearby regions, as well as figures from both the righteous and the underbelly of the Martial World, even bandit kings and rebels from various places, have dispatched large teams, bringing with them hefty amounts of gold to participate.”
“Oh my, those bandit kings have come too, aren’t they afraid of just starting to rob openly?”
“Rob, you try if you dare, do you know who stands behind Golden Jade Hall?”
“Who?” “Heavenly King Wu of Xuzhou, Medical Monarch Xu Qingyang!”
“Is it him?”
“The one whose fame has risen in recent years, threatening even that of Heavenly Blade Song Que?”
“I hear that this man’s martial arts are unfathomable. He once defeated Yuwen
Huaji with a single palm in Xuzhou, and none of the four great experts of the
Yuwen Sect could match him.”
“All that’s old news. Recently, the number one disciple of the Evil Emperor, Xiang Yutian, for reasons unknown incurred his wrath, and he went to confront him, killing him with a single blow!”
“There’s also the chairman of the Luoyang Chamber of Commerce, the Great Wealth God of the Yinkui Sect, Pi Chen Rong Fengxiang, and the major merchant from Western Sichuan, Fat Business Man Anlong. These two had a conflict with Golden Jade Hall not long ago and they were so frightened that these two Demon Sect grandmasters immediately withdrew, and until this day, they dare not show their faces, and no one knows where they are hiding.”
“Of the eight great experts of the Demon Sect, perhaps only the former Evil King Shi Zhixuan might be able to compete with this man, others are but ordinary at best.”
“I’ve heard he has already sent out a challenge and is about to head to Lingnan to challenge the Leader of the Song Family, Heavenly Blade Song Que!”
“If he can defeat Song Que, then the three Grandmasters of the world may well need to be referred to as the only Grandmaster!”
“They say as the ruler of Xuzhou, not only is his martial art peerless, his strength is formidable too, comparable to the four big clans. Under his command, the Mysterious Armour Warriors, all Martial Artists, possess extreme combat prowess and are the elite of the elite.”
“Xuzhou lies at the heart of the Central Plains, a strategic location under the heavens, he alone defends it, and with no hero under heaven daring to challenge, his authority is evident.”
“Rob him, if he doesn’t rob you back, you should feel blessed. I’ve heard to avoid him, the Yinkui Sect evacuated their influence from Xuzhou overnight; they don’t dare to provoke him at all.”
Looking at the treasure ship moored on the Huai River, many from the Martial World and heroes of the rivers and lakes began to discuss fervently, revealing numerous astonishing pieces of news.
Just then, on the riverside, one ship after another began to move, converging towards the grand and glittering treasure ship like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.
“What’s happening?”
“Is it starting?”
“That ship flying the ‘Li’ flag, could it be the Li Clan from Longxi?” “And that one with the ‘Cui’ flag, it’s the Cui Clan from Boling!”
“The Lu family from Fanyang, and the Wang family from Taiyuan have also arrived.”
“Look, that banner with the word ‘Dugu’, could it be the Dugu Sect?”
“That woman standing at the bow, could it be Dugu Feng? It is said that this woman is the most outstanding heir of the Dugu Sect for three generations, surpassing even her father Gudu Feng, and coming close to her grandmother You Chuhong, with the posture of a Sword Deity!”
“The Song Sect has come as well, the one standing at the bow, isn’t that Land Sword Song Zhi?”
“And there’s the Li Sect. Could that woman possibly be Princess Pingyang Li Xiuning, known as the Female Zhuge Liang?”
“With the Li Sect entering Guanzhong, the contributions of this woman cannot be underestimated!”
“Who is that pretty boy standing beside her? He looks quite unpleasant to the eye.”
“The five surnames and seven hopes, the four big families, except for the Yuwen Sect, who are too overwhelmed to attend, all have arrived.”
“Not only the prestigious families but look, various factions of the Martial World, gangs from all walks of life, along with both the good and the bad, and the forces of rebel kings and great bandits, have entered the venue.”
“What treasure is Golden Jade Hall selling that it attracts such power from across the world to gather here?”
“Heh, this you do not know. What they sell is so impressive, you can’t help but buy.”
“Can’t help but buy, what kind of thing is so impressive? Could it be the Queen
Mother’s Peaches of Immortality, or Supreme Elder Lord’s elixirs?”
“I really want to go up there and enjoy the excitement…”
Watching the parade of sails rising and heading straight towards the treasure ship, the onlooking crowd couldn’t help but show their envy.
Just like that, moments later.
On the treasure ship, inside the auction hall.
A fat middle-aged man with a Buddha-like smile ascended the high platform and saluted everyone in the hall.
“My name is Jin Wuming, president of Golden Jade Hall. I believe everyone here is clear about the rules of today’s auction, so I will not waste time reiterating them and will only mention three points.”
“First, bids are final, hands raised in no regret; say one and it’s one, say two and it’s two!”
“Second, fair and just, cash transactions, you must not use your power to pressure others or disrupt the auction!”
“Third, Golden Jade Hall broadly collects all kinds of rare treasures from across the world, be it martial arts secrets or exotic treasures. As long as they are of value, they can be exchanged for silver to participate in this auction. If you wish to exchange, please go to the side hall. We have professional appraisers, who ensure fair and genuine transactions without deceiving the old or the young!”
“Now, let the auction begin!”
After stating the rules, Jin Wuming did not idle talk and waved to have the first auction item brought up.
“This is the Mysterious Armour, a masterpiece forged by the Refinement Edge Number’s grand blacksmith. Each piece is made from mysterious steel, forged a hundred times, impervious to knives and spears, impenetrable by powerful arrows. When Martial Artists don the armour, one can stand against thousands, invincible to all foes. Two hundred sets will be auctioned today, with a starting price of two hundred thousand taels of silver!”
As soon as he finished, the crowd’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
Princess Pingyang Li Xiuning immediately raised her bid panel: “Three hundred thousand taels!”
“The Li Sect dominates Guanzhong, truly opulent and forceful, but…” Land Sword Song Zhi smiled and raised his panel too: “Three hundred and fifty thousand taels!”
“The Song Sect may be confined to a corner of Lingnan, but with its vast trade routes, it is rich enough to rival nations!”
Li Xiuning turned her gaze, her expression unchanging: “Four hundred thousand taels!”
“The wealth of Guanzhong is indeed paramount!”
Song Zhi shook his head and calmly raised his hand: “Four hundred and fifty thousand taels!”
Li Xiuning’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Song Zhi with surprise and uncertainty, then turned to the beaming Jin Wuming on the stage, and suddenly understood something. She sighed and said softly, “The value of the
Heavenly Blade Eight Styles is beyond thousands of gold, Xiuning admits defeat!”
Having said that, she stopped competing.
Seeing this, Jin Wuming did not urge others to bid and with a strike of his gavel settled the matter: “Four hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver, two hundred sets of Mysterious Armour, go to guest number seven.” “The next auction item, from Security Hall’s finest, the Yanluo returns life pill….