Chapter 109: Bait Falls, Hook Rings — Night Killing Suddenly Erupts

After that, no one dared to come up and shout nonsense.

In those scrutinizing feelings, there was also something real—wariness.

Zhang Jun retracted the energy he had released, and his mind began to work it out.

This Yin Yang Heart Classic not only harmonizes power, but also lets the force be exerted so…… silently nourishing all things?

Killing without seeing blood might be a bit exaggerated, but this ability to defeat someone without a sound is rather interesting.

Just when everyone's attention was on Zhang Jun, Lin Xue subtly lowered her gaze toward a corner of the hall.

After practicing that heart method, her perception of energy became far sharper than before.

Just now, when Wang Hao jumped out to pick a fight, a particularly faint but chillingly uncomfortable ripple, like an undercurrent beneath water, slipped past silently.

That feeling, the monster in the lab, and the thing on the black-clad assassin who ambushed her earlier, are of the same kind!

Moreover, it was hidden extremely well; if not for her special physique and the heart method enhancing her perception, she could not have grasped it at all.

Her perception followed that ripple back to its source, finally landing on an inconspicuous old man.

That old man was gaunt, wearing a washed‑white gray cloth robe, curled up in the corner's shadow, holding a cup of cool tea and sipping slowly, as if he cared nothing about the hall's little trouble.

But Lin Xue could feel that the source of that chill was on him.

It wasn't something stuck on from outside; it was…… seeping out from within.

This old man is definitely related to the 'Blood Lineage' and to Lin Zhen!

Lin Xue nonchalantly withdrew her perception, her fingers subtly twisting inside her sleeve, exhaling a wisp of cold air.

At that moment, an elderly man in a cyan long robe stepped onto the high platform before the main hall, looking vigorous; he was one of the organizers of this gathering, the head of another local venerable martial family, the Li Family.

"Fellow cultivators, welcome to Listening Tide Mountain Villa," said the Li Family Head with a clear voice. "Besides your exchanges and sparring, there will be a small internal auction later. Apart from the items each family brings, the highlight this time is a fragment said to be related to the 'Ancient Relic'. Its age is great, its material indeterminate, and its use will depend on whoever has the affinity to figure it out."

As soon as the words 'Ancient Relic Fragment' were spoken, the hall burst into low murmurs.

Many people's eyes lit up.

Zhang Jun's heart also gave a sudden jolt.

Ancient Relic?

Kun also mentioned it.

Lin Zhen has been doing all this, seemingly just to open some relic.

Is this fragment related to Lin Zhen's goal?

He unconsciously scanned the surroundings.

When he saw the shadowy corners near the entrance, his motion paused.

Three people stood there.

They wore ordinary dark jackets, looked unremarkable, the sort you'd lose in a crowd.

But the way they stood there—steady as stone, yet ready to lunge and bite at any moment, plus that indifferent air of having nothing to do with it……

Zhang Jun was all too familiar with it.

Kun!

These people are practically identical to Kun's subordinates—cast from the same mold!

They also seemed to care about that so‑called fragment, though their faces showed no expression; Zhang Jun could sense their attention directed toward the high platform.

Are Kun's people also here?

Do they also have designs on this fragment?

Didn't Kun say Lin Zhen needs energy as a 'key' or 'fuel'? What is this fragment for, then?

For a moment, the old man's chilling aura in the corner, the mysterious Ancient Relic Fragment, and the appearance of Kun's men intertwined three clues in Zhang Jun's mind.

This coastal martial arts gathering is far deeper than he imagined.

Lin Xue also noticed Zhang Jun's oddness, followed his earlier gaze, and spotted those few individuals whose aura was as cold as ice.

The two exchanged a glance.

Lin Xue's attention fell back onto the gaunt old man.

She lightly touched the blue crystal at her chest.

Regardless of who that old man is, his secret must be uncovered.

In the main hall of Listening Tide Mountain Villa, the noise was boisterous, the lively atmosphere not diminished at all by Wang Hao's incident.

The Li Family Head announced the start of the internal auction on the high platform, and the crowd's thoughts immediately sprang to life.

First up were several medicinal herbs that looked aged, with a few robed old men arguing over them.

Then came a short dagger, icy cold, said to have been used by some predecessor, which was snatched up by a woman with a ponytail.

Mo Tianhe stood aside, occasionally slipping a word to Zhang Jun and Lin Xue, saying who this person was and how that thing was.

Zhang Jun's mind wasn't on this at all.

He was more concerned about those few special people.

The gaunt old man in the corner sipped his tea to himself, not glancing at the stage at all, as if asleep.

And those few in black at the doorway stood like wooden posts, occasionally lifting a wrist to check the watch, icy cold.

"Next up is this session's highlight."

The Li Family Head's voice rose considerably as a tray covered with red silk was brought forward.

Everyone's movements hushed, and they all looked over in unison.

The red silk was lifted.

On the tray lay a palm‑sized object, dull bluish‑gray, looking like a piece of scrap copper and iron.

Its edges were chipped and cracked, rust blotchy, as if it had been wrenched off some larger item.

When the light shone on it, beneath the rust appeared crooked, weird talisman‑like markings, ancient indeed, exuding an inexplicable, eerie vibe.

Just as this broken thing showed up.

The warm energy in Zhang Jun's dantian, and the cool energy within Lin Xue's body, were suddenly tugged by something.

It wasn't a big commotion; just the deepest string in the heart trembled slightly, fleeting, yet it felt very real.

Neither of them spoke; they just exchanged a glance.

They both understood.

This thing is definitely not ordinary.

Those blurry symbols on it, the black piece Zhang Jun previously got, the iron box Kun gave, even the messy scratches on the walls of the snow mountain cave... they feel like... they're of the same kind!

This thing's origin is unclear; all we know is it's old and the material is strange.

The Li Family Head's voice sounded again.

Starting bid, ten million. Each raise must be no less than one million.

It fell silent below for a moment, then the buzzing sound rose again.

Ten million for a piece of scrap copper? Many faces showed hesitation.

"Eleven million." Someone in the back spoke, voice a bit hoarse.

"Thirteen million." A voice came from a nearby compartment.

The price didn't rise quickly, but those bidding were straightforward.

It seems there really are people who know what they're doing or have other intentions.

The thin old man in the corner finally made a move.

He set down his teacup, slowly raising the placard in his hand.

Twenty million.