Chapter 126

The treasure-selling auction hall of the Tian Dao Pavilion was packed with people.

Many guests of Shentong Wu Chong or higher also entered the VIP rooms situated on the high outer periphery one after another.

Meng Shaobai and Xuan Tie Zhenren sat upright in a VIP room.

Meng Shaobai was a youth with a slightly immature visage, dressed all in white, appearing about thirteen or fourteen years old.

Though young in appearance, he possessed innate arrogance, as if gathering all the spiritual elegance between heaven and earth.

Xuan Tie Zhenren was a middle-aged man clad entirely in black; his black robe was a treasure called the Xuan Tie War Armor, impervious to water, fire, thunder, and lightning, and extremely formidable.

His cultivation was not weak either, having reached the sixth level of Shentong, the Return to Unity realm; though not as illustrious as the Five Great True Transmissions within the Huahua Sect, he was still in a class of his own.

Moreover, a few others sat upright around them, their auras identical to those of Fushou Zhenren and Bai Zhan Zhenren, having cultivated to the Heaven-Man realm; they too were true transmission disciples of the Huahua Sect, constituting the upper echelon.

In a Great Immortal Sect, true transmission disciples at Golden Core level and above are top-tier, while those at the fifth level of Heaven-Man are upper echelon.

Senior Brother Shaobai, you have not only condensed your natal Golden Core but also survived the Wind-Fire Great Tribulation, reaching the eighth level of Shentong; from now on, among the Five Great True Transmissions of our sect, aside from Huatu Du, no one can match you.

In two more years, Huatu Du will also be subdued by Senior Brother Shaobai; the next generation's sect leadership will surely be yours.

Several disciples flattered him profusely, their gazes toward Meng Shaobai filled with admiration and awe.

The strong always inspire awe.

Especially Meng Shaobai, who at fourteen reached the eighth level of Shentong, can be called an invincible heavenly prodigy, shaking ancient and modern times!

Upon returning to the Huahua Sect, many true transmission disciples and elders, even the Grand Elder of the Huahua Heavenly Palace, will likely be stunned speechless.

While Meng Shaobai listened to the crowd's adulation, his demeanor was arrogant and overbearing, as if he could shift the sun and moon with a single hand and dominate the Huahua Sect.

A disciple named Wu Li suddenly said, "Senior Brother Shaobai is not without rivals; I've heard that a Chen Zheng recently emerged in our sect, first defeating Jiang Lingkong, then slaying Wan Luo, and even having once scaled the Heaven-Stepping Ladder of the Linglong Blessed Land; his fame is unmatched for now, and he may pose a threat to Senior Brother Shaobai's bid for leadership, so we must be on guard."

"I've also heard of this Chen Zheng," Meng Shaobai snorted, his tone pompous and condescending, "but his slaying of Wan Luo relied on underhanded tricks, using a Heaven-Slaying Divine Shark Boat for a sneak attack—mere empty reputation."

Pausing, he continued, "As for the Heaven-Stepping Ladder of the Linglong Blessed Land, it's merely that I haven't gone to climb it, allowing this upstart to gain fame."

Xuan Tie Zhenren heartily agreed: "That's absolutely right; if you, Shaobai, went to climb that Heaven-Stepping Ladder, how could it possibly be Chen Zheng's turn?"

Not bad.

Chen Zheng is utterly not worth Senior Brother Shaobai's concern.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Today is the Tian Dao Pavilion's grandest treasure-selling assembly; it's rare for you all to attend, and the first item we auction is an egg of an ancient extraordinary beast!

While Meng Shaobai and company conversed, the host on the auction stage outside had already announced the start.

Next, several martial artists jointly hauled a black giant egg the size of a water vat onto the stage.

What kind of egg is this? Its vitality is tremendous!

This egg is astonishing; perhaps even a dragon egg isn't this vigorous...

The auction hall erupted.

Inside the VIP room, Xuan Tie Zhenren, Wu Li, and others also spat speculation about the giant egg's origin.

According to customary practice, the first auction item is the highlight, meant to secure a auspicious start.

That egg is certainly extraordinary.

Yet, despite many people guessing, no one knew what kind of egg it was.

"It's a Kun-Peng egg," Meng Shaobai said, his gaze blazing, instantly revealing the egg's origin.

"Kun-Peng? That's an ancient holy beast! It can transform into a fish or a bird; as a fish it equals a continent, and as a bird a single flap of its wings spans ninety thousand li!"

"It is said that some ancient masters liked to build palaces on the Kun-Peng's back, roaming the Great Void; Senior Brother Shaobai, you must surely obtain this egg."

Xuan Tie Zhenren and the others were greatly startled.

The Kun-Peng is an existence rarer than dragon, phoenix, and qilin; if Meng Shaobai were to acquire it and hatch it, it would surely shock the entire Huahua Sect.

Meng Shaobai calmly said, "I came to this treasure-selling assembly precisely to bid for this Kun-Peng egg, then, using a sect's peerless secret method, I will draw forth the immense life essence hidden within, and in one fell swoop break through to the Ninth Level of Shentong, the Heaven-Earth Dharma Aspect realm."

"Hiss—"

Everyone drew a sharp breath of cold air.

Meng Shaobai had only just advanced to the Eighth Level of Shentong not long ago, yet now he intends to assault the Ninth Level.

It's too astonishing.

At this rate, it will be difficult for Meng Shaobai not to dominate the Huahua Sect.

"Once I attain the Ninth Level of Shentong, even the Tenth will not stop me; then I will crush Chen Zheng, defeat Huatu Du, become the supreme sect leader, and lead the Huahua Sect to restore the ancient glory of the Three Sovereigns!" Meng Shaobai's bearing was lofty, his ambitions vast, and he once again profoundly shocked everyone.

Meanwhile, the auction outside had already begun.

Some deep-pocketed bidders vied to outbid each other, driving the Kun-Peng egg's price up swiftly to thirty million Baiyang Dan.

"I bid fifty million!" Meng Shaobai swept his gaze over everyone outside, his cold voice echoing throughout the hall.

The auction hall fell deathly silent.

The Kun-Peng egg was snatched outright by Meng Shaobai!

Xuan Tie Zhenren and the others grew excited; with this egg, Meng Shaobai could immediately advance to the Ninth Level of Shentong.

Just thinking about it makes one's blood boil.

Dong dong dong!

Suddenly, someone outside knocked on the door.

Meng Shaobai said, "Come in." Shi San Niang pushed the door open, smiling at Meng Shaobai and Xuan Tie Zhenren as she said, "A distinguished guest wishes to see you; I wonder if the two of you are available."

"Who wants to see me?" Meng Shaobai's brows showed a hint of displeasure, and he felt puzzled.

The auction was underway, he still had to bid on other treasures, yet Shi San Niang came running to disturb him at this moment—utterly senseless.

What kind of distinguished guest could be worth Meng Shaobai abandoning the auction to meet in person?

If this woman does not give him a reasonable explanation, then even within the Tian Dao Pavilion he will strike to teach her a lesson.

Shi San Niang said, "The guest is also a member of your Huahua Sect; he claims to be your senior brother Chen Zheng."

"Chen Zheng? Calling himself my senior brother?" Meng Shaobai's eyes flashed coldly, then a playful curve formed at the corner of his mouth: "Lead the way."

Thirteen Lady nodded, leading Meng Shaobai outward; it seemed she was not mistaken, for Meng Shaobai and Chen Zheng were on good terms, otherwise she wouldn't have heard his name, and he immediately ran to meet him.

"We're coming too."

Xuan Tie Real Person and Wu Li and the others exchanged a glance, each seeing a cold sneer in the other's eyes, and followed out.

They had just been discussing Chen Zheng, and unexpectedly he appeared.

Looking at each one.

So arrogant, calling himself Meng Shaobai's senior brother—who does he think he is?

They want to see whether, when Chen Zheng meets Meng Shaobai and learns his terrifying realm, he will still dare to claim senior brother status, and how fearful his expression will become.

But don't you dare kneel and slide!

A few of them followed Thirteen Lady in turn, passed the massive hall, and arrived outside the great hall where Chen Zheng was.

Meng Shaobai's figure flashed, leapt over Thirteen Lady, and entered the hall before everyone else.

"Is this the one who is Chen Zheng?"

At a glance he saw the handsome, upright Chen Zheng seated on a tall chair, his aura calm as water, eyes closed, fingers lightly tapping the armrest, producing a soft "dong dong dong" sound.

Beside Chen Zheng sat Prince Yi, and on both sides stood a dozen or so people, like ministers around an emperor, all subordinates of Prince Yi.

For some reason, when Meng Shaobai saw Chen Zheng, a sudden illusion arose in his mind that he was witnessing the supreme master of the Feather Ascension Sect.

"Pretentious."

Meng Shaobai's thought shifted, cutting away the illusion; his cold eyes stared at Chen Zheng, firing two sharp sword qi at extreme speed.

The two sword qi spun violently, like two massive rotating spheres, whirling thousands of millions of turns in an instant, causing Prince Yi and the others to feel their minds scrambled, as if time and space inverted, yin and yang swapped.

It was so painful it made one want to vomit.

This is the Chaos Kill of the No-Birth Sword Path, inherited from the ancient No-Birth Sword Sect's supreme divine power.

Meng Shaobai used this technique to make Chen Zheng's mind chaotic, so he could no longer pretend, collapsing on the ground, his true form exposed, becoming a dead dog.

Swish!

Chen Zheng suddenly opened his eyes, a gentle breeze emanating from them, lightly brushing away, erasing the incoming sword qi into nothingness.

"Hmm? You do have some skill, but I just used less than ten percent of my strength just now."

Meng Shaobai, seeing his sword qi shattered, was slightly surprised, then sneered with a smile, stepping toward Chen Zheng.

With each step, the aura around Meng Shaobai grew stronger, sharper than any, as if a divine sword ready to tear the heavens, causing the newly recovered Prince Yi and others to feel suffocated to death.

But at that moment!

The earlier breeze suddenly accelerated, turning into an interstellar storm, moving too fast to grasp, instantly blowing onto Meng Shaobai's body.

"What? No!"

Meng Shaobai's face changed dramatically; he felt his body crushed as if by a falling star from the heavens, that terrifying force overwhelming him no matter how he shouted, forcing him to kneel on the ground.

"Senior Brother Shaobai, is Chen Zheng right here? You must strike his mouth hard and see if he dares to brag shamelessly afterward... huh?"

Xuan Tie Real Person, Wu Li and the others only now entered from outside the hall, shouting as they walked.

But when they saw Meng Shaobai kneeling inside the hall, each of their expressions froze.

Everyone was stunned.

What's happening?

Who will tell me why Meng Shaobai is kneeling on the ground?

How can the invincible fourteen-year-old Sky Pride kneel?

"Does Meng Shaobai revere senior brother Chen Zheng so much that he offers such a grand salute upon entering?" Thirteen Lady was also taken aback.

"Chen Zheng truly is powerful, a hundred times stronger than the rumors, perhaps comparable to a ninth-level divine power cultivator, yet he is only Shentong Wu Chong!"

Prince Yi, having witnessed firsthand how Chen Zheng forced Meng Shaobai to kneel, trembled, shouting wildly inside.

"This... how is this possible?"

Prince Yi's more than ten subordinates all wore faces doubting existence, their convictions shaken.

Chen Zheng, at Shentong Wu Chong, didn't move a muscle, directly crushing the kneeling of the eighth-level divine power Meng Shaobai, essentially trampling their understanding of cultivation.

That's utterly absurd.

Even if they spread this story, no one would believe it; instead they'd be thought of as babbling lunatics.

And while everyone was shocked, another jaw‑dropping event occurred.

The kneeling Meng Shaobai first showed a look of humiliation and disbelief on his face.

Then his eyes filled with blood vessels, his hair stood on end, hatred raging madly, as if to fight Chen Zheng to the death.

But the next moment, Meng Shaobai, unsure what medicine he had taken, let his aura collapse, fell down and kowtowed to Chen Zheng, saying: "Senior Brother Chen, if you do not reject me, Shaobai is willing to regard you as my adoptive father."

(End of chapter)