Chapter 245

Xuan Zhu's joining was like pouring another ladle of oil onto a burning pile of firewood.

Translation: Xuan Zhu's joining was like pouring another ladle of oil onto a burning pile of firewood.

Xuan Zhu's joining was like pouring another ladle of oil onto a burning pile of firewood.

We need to keep the meaning.

The people of Sanlian City have great desires in their hearts.

Translation: The people of Three Linked City harbor great desires.

Excessively fierce desire nourishes the darkness in their hearts, turning them into venomous insects and ferocious beasts, like demons and monsters; they are far from being a normal, decent "person"!

Translation: Their excessively fervent desire nourished the darkness in their hearts, turning them into something like poisonous insects and ferocious beasts, like demons and monsters, far from any normal, decent person!

We need to keep the quotation marks; the Chinese word "person" should be kept in quotes!

Xuan Zhu raised her hand to bid, and immediately the sons of the twelve ruling families burst into loud laughter.

Translation: Xuan Zhu raised her hand to bid, and immediately the young masters of the Twelve Executive Families burst into loud laughter.

"A pair of lovely ladies is certainly nice; such a gorgeous, alluring big beauty, I've taken her too! 350,000 gold coins!"

Translation: "A pair of petite beauties is certainly nice; such a gorgeous, alluring great beauty—I'll take it! 350,000 gold coins!"

We need to keep the exclamation marks and the quotes.

"Both the big and small beauties, taken together, exquisite, exquisite...... 400,000 gold coins!"

Translation: "Both the petite and the great beauties, taken together—exquisite, exquisite…… 400,000 gold coins!"

"Old Master Huayan...... those antiquated things, beauty, why would I be his adopted daughter? Being my adopted sister would be better! 500,000 gold coins--who wants to compete with me?"

Translation: "Old Master Huayan…… you old unrefined thing, beauty, why become his adopted daughter? Becoming my adopted sister would be better! 500,000 gold coins—who dares to compete with me?"

We need to keep the ellipsis and punctuation.

Not only the decadent heirs of the twelve ruling families, but also many of the heads of the thirty major regions under Sanlian City, the direct descendants of powerful clans, who likewise have ancient, highly cultivated ancestors protecting them and are backed by mighty clans behind them.

Translation: Not only the dissolute scions of the Twelve Executive Families, but also, among the thirty major regions under Three Linked City's jurisdiction, many heirs of the dominant great clans likewise have high‑level ancestors protecting them and powerful clans backing them from behind.

We need to keep meaning.

More importantly, their maternal clans mostly also originate from the twelve ruling families.

Translation: What's more, their maternal clans mostly also hail from the Twelve Executive Families.

They have countless ties with Sanlian City and do not fear those sons of the city's ruling families.

Translation: They have myriad ties to Three Linked City, and they do not fear those young masters of the city.

Thus they also frequently raise their hands--not only competing for that pair of winged-human maidens, but also actively flirting with Xuan Zhu, loudly announcing their identities and lineages, proclaiming their luxurious family backgrounds.

Translation: Thus they also frequently raised their hands—not only to bid on that pair of Feather People maidens, but also to actively flirt with Xuan Zhu, loudly announcing their identities and lineages, proclaiming their luxurious backgrounds.

The atmosphere in the venue became scorching, turbid, with desire like demonic flames blazing in the air.

Translation: The atmosphere in the hall became fervent and turbid, desire blazing like demonic flames that raged in the air.

Xuan Zhu, excited, her face flushed red, her body trembling slightly, she simply stood up, walked to the railing, and while throwing flirtatious glances at the countless decadent sons all around, she loudly called out a higher number.

Translation: Xuan Zhu grew excited, her face flushing, her body trembling slightly; she simply stood up, walked to the railing, and while throwing flirtatious glances at the countless dissolute young masters all around, she shouted out an even higher number.

Gold, silver, and wealth mean nothing to Xuan Zhu.

Translation: Gold and silver wealth meant nothing to Xuan Zhu.

She merely indulges in this perverse frenzy; the alluring aura given off by this twisted desire.

Translation: She merely reveled in this perverse fervor, the intoxicating aura given off by that twisted desire.

Those mad young masters direct their gazes at her, wishing to scorch her clothes to nothing with their fiery looks, letting her revel immensely. She seems to stand on clouds, looking down on countless lowly ants.

Translation: Those frenzied young masters stared at her with scorching gazes that seemed eager to burn her clothes to ashes, letting her revel immensely. She seemed to stand upon the clouds, looking down on countless lowly ants.

"You all... are indeed... merely... ants..."

Translation: "You…… are indeed merely…… ants……"

Xuan Zhu, excited, tensed her body and couldn't help letting out a soft moan.

Translation: Xuan Zhu tensed her body with excitement and couldn't help letting out a soft moan.

She had already strained to control her voice, but the attentive heirs of the great families in the surrounding private rooms, sharp-eared and clear-sighted, all heard her faint sound.

Translation: Though she had strained to keep her voice quiet, the attentive heirs of the great clans in the surrounding private boxes all heard that subtle sound.

Fengming and Longxiang instantly flushed, their bodies ignited with evil fire as they surged forward.

Translation: Feng Ming, Long Xiang, and the others instantly flushed, their bodies suffused with rising evil fire.

If it weren't for the crowd here, and if there weren't so many rivals, they would have long since rushed into Xuan Zhu's private room to employ their tactics and get close to her.

Translation: If it weren't for the crowd here, and if there weren't too many rivals, they would long ago have rushed into Xuan Zhu's box to employ their tricks and get close to her.

Xuan Zhu's forehead began to sweat; she narrowed her eyes, like a lazy cat preparing to hunt, she glanced at Fengming and Longxiang, smiled, suddenly yawned, and turned to walk out of the private room.

Translation: Sweat began to bead on Xuan Zhu's forehead; she narrowed her eyes, like a lazy cat preparing to hunt, glanced at Feng Ming and Long Xiang with a smile, suddenly yawned, and turned to walk out of the box.

Fengming and Longxiang were momentarily stunned, then they laughed and likewise left the private room.

Translation: Feng Ming and Long Xiang blinked in surprise, then smiled and likewise turned to leave the box.

Fengming is accompanied by two Phoenix Guards, and Longxiang by two Celestial Dragon Guards--these are the elders of their respective families, sent as elite clan members for their safety.

Translation: Feng Ming was accompanied by two Phoenix Guards, Long Xiang by two Celestial Dragon Guards—these were the elite sent by their respective clans' ancestors to protect them.

They hurriedly passed through the outer corridor of the private rooms, climbed a short flight of stairs, and then collided head-on with the flushed-cheeked Xuan Zhu.

Translation: They hurriedly passed through the outer corridor, climbed a short flight of stairs, and then bumped head‑on into the flushed‑cheeked Xuan Zhu.

"Say nothing... come with me." Xuan Zhu smiled faintly and eagerly grabbed the hands of Longxiang and Fengming.

Translation: "Don't say a word…… come with me." Xuan Zhu smiled enigmatically and eagerly seized the hands of Long Xiang and Feng Ming.

The two exchanged a glance, their looks complex.

Translation: The two exchanged a glance, their looks complex.

But Xuan Zhu's body emitted waves of subtle spiritual fluctuations; the two seemed spellbound, casting aside all thoughts and wholeheartedly following Xuan Zhu into the nearest lounge.

Translation: But waves of subtle spiritual undulations emanated from Xuan Zhu's body, and the two, as if spellbound, cast aside all their thoughts and followed her into the nearest resting chamber.

Anyway, they've done this sort of thing before.

Translation: Anyway, they've done this sort of thing before.

Wu Tie looked thoughtfully at Xuan Zhu's private room, then gave a cold chuckle.

Translation: Wu Tie gazed thoughtfully at Xuan Zhu's box, then gave a cold chuckle.

Fengming and Longxiang, these two fellows, are likely to be in trouble. Wu Tie recalled Taotie Jia, that fellow who almost died at Xuan Zhu's hands; even now, mentioning Xuan Zhu makes Taotie Jia's face fill with terror.

Translation: Feng Ming and Long Xiang, those two fellows, are likely in for bad luck. Wu Tie recalled Taotie Ji—that fellow had almost been tortured to death by Xuan Zhu. Even now, whenever Taotie Ji mentions Xuan Zhu, his face is pure terror.

Divine envoy...

Translation: Divine Envoy……

Wu Tie muttered to himself, "This so-called divine envoy might not even be a 'person.' Who knows what hideous true form lies beneath her gorgeous flesh?"

Translation: Wu Tie muttered to himself, "So‑called Divine Envoy—she might not even be human. Who knows what hideous true form lies beneath her gorgeous flesh?"

At the very least, when Old Tie mentions Xuan Zhu, he simply says the two words "demon".

Translation: At the very least, when Lao Tie mentions Xuan Zhu, he simply spits out the two words "evil demon."

Wu Tie recalled the Celestial Crystal Demon whose skull he himself had processed; Old Tie said Xuan Zhu also belongs to the demon kind, so we truly cannot imagine what her real appearance looks like.

Translation: Wu Tie recalled the Celestial Crystal Demon, whose skull he had personally dealt with. Lao Tie said Xuan Zhu also belongs to the evil‑demon kind, so who knows what her true appearance actually is.

Xuan Zhu left, and Fengming and Longxiang left as well.

Translation: Xuan Zhu left, and Feng Ming and Long Xiang left as well.

Many people on the scene noticed their departure.

Translation: Many people on the scene noticed their departure.

The faces of many powerful young masters darkened; they kept shouting out outrageous high bids while glancing enviously and jealously at Xuan Zhu's former private room.

Translation: The faces of many young masters from major powers turned ugly; they called out one exorbitant bid after another, while glancing with envy and jealousy at the box where Xuan Zhu had been.

The pair of winged-human twin sisters finally sold for 1,700,000 gold coins.

Translation: A pair of Feather People twin sisters finally sold for 1,700,000 gold coins.

The standard gold coin minted in Sanlian City weighs the equivalent of three gold-snake stones from the Waigu; thus the twins' total value exceeds five million gold-snake stones.

Translation: The standard gold coins minted in Three Linked City weigh as much as three gold‑snake stones cast in Wa Valley; thus the combined worth of that twin‑sister pair exceeds five million gold‑snake stones.

Sanlian City is indeed rich; even a casual playboy's fortune here far surpasses that of the heirs of major clans in the Waigu region.

Translation: Three Linked City is indeed rich; even a casual dissolute young master here has a fortune far greater than that of the young masters of the great clans in the regions surrounding Wa Valley.

"Everyone's rich..." Wu Tie felt a twinge of worry.

Translation: "They're all rich……" Wu Tie felt a twinge of worry.

With all these wealthy folks, can Mu Xu successfully buy the Gray Master?

Translation: "These folks are so loaded—can Mu Xu possibly win the Grey Master's bid?"

Wu Tie glanced at Mu Xu, who remained calm and silent; he recalled rumors that after the Bodi tribe's twenty-thousand-strong expedition was annihilated, Mu Xu has been marginalized in the Bodi tribe these past months.

Translation: Wu Tie unconsciously glanced at Mu Xu, who remained seated, calm and silent. Wu Tie recalled some rumors about her—he thought the Bodhi Clan's 20,000‑strong expeditionary force had been utterly wiped out, and that Mu Xu had been sidelined in the clan these past months.

The resources she once held were also reclaimed by the Bodi tribe.

Translation: The resources she had once held in hand were also reclaimed by the Bodhi Clan.

Now she probably has hardly any gold coins left.

Translation: She probably doesn't have many gold coins left now.

Wu Tie couldn't help regretting that he should have had Jin Manchu send some gold coins to Mu Xu.

Translation: Wu Tie couldn't help regretting that he hadn't had Jin Man Cang send some gold coins over to Mu Xu.

After the first pair of winged-human sisters found a buyer, a squadron of one thousand winged-human slave warriors was presented. The white-haired elder on the platform earnestly explained their advantages: they are born to command storms, and even with merely Sensory Mystic cultivation their flight speed rivals that of twenty-plus layers of the Heavy Tower realm's high-level cultivators.

Translation: The first pair of Feather People sisters found a buyer; next came a thousand‑strong Feather People slave‑warrior regiment. A white‑haired elder on the platform earnestly introduced their merits: they are innately able to command storms, and even with merely a Gan Xuan Realm cultivation, their flight speed rivals that of high‑level cultivators above the twentieth layer of the Chonglou Realm.

Moreover, they excel at archery; from high altitude they can rain arrows and precisely strike targets the size of a fist several miles away.

Translation: Moreover, they excel at archery, able to rain arrows from on high and strike precisely at fist‑sized targets more than ten li away.

Thus, even Sensory Mystic-level winged-human warriors can pose a grave threat to Heavy Tower realm cultivators; with sufficiently powerful arrow-type elemental weapons, a dozen Heavy Tower realm warriors could oppose an early-stage Pool of Fate cultivator.

Translation: In other words, these Feather People warriors, even if they are only at the Gan Xuan Realm, can pose a grave threat to Chonglou Realm cultivators; and if equipped with sufficiently powerful arrow‑type elemental weapons, a dozen or so Chonglou Realm‑level Feather People warriors could match an early‑stage Ming Chi Realm cultivator.

The price for one thousand winged-human slave warriors is not high.

Translation: A thousand Feather People slave warriors are not priced highly.

A pair of beautiful winged-human twins fetched 1,700,000 gold coins, while one thousand elite winged-human slave warriors went for only 73,000 gold coins!

Translation: A beautiful pair of Feather People twin sisters fetched 1,700,000 gold coins, while a thousand elite Feather People slave warriors brought only 73,000 gold coins!

The buyer of those one thousand winged-human warriors was none other than Mu Xu.

Translation: And the buyer of those thousand Feather People warriors was none other than Mu Xu.

Wu Tie stared in disbelief at the dozen or so winged-human warrior "samples" standing on the platform.

Translation: Wu Tie stared in astonishment at the dozen or so Feather People slave‑warrior "samples" standing on the platform.

Jin Mancang sensed Wu Tie's doubt and transmitted via secret art: "Sanlian City is just like this--luxurious, enjoyable things are valuable... elite warriors, cultivators... they don't lack these; 73,000 gold coins is a fair price."

Translation: Jin Man Cang saw Wu Tie's doubt and sent him a secret mental transmission: "Three Linked City is just like that—luxuries and pleasures are valuable… elite warriors, cultivators and the like… heh, they don't lack those; 73,000 gold coins is a fair price."

Wu Tie remained silent.

Translation: Wu Tie remained silent.

Jin Mancang murmured, "Mu Xu got a bargain--one thousand elite winged-human warriors."

Translation: Jin Man Cang murmured, "Mu Xu got a bargain—a thousand elite Feather People."

Next up for auction is a fully formed bronze dwarf army.

Translation: Next up for auction was a fully organized Bronze Dwarf army.

This is an elite legion composed of three thousand bronze dwarves, where the ordinary soldiers are all pure peak Ganxuan Realm cultivators; the officers such as squad leaders, company commanders, and regiment commanders all possess Chonglou Realm strength.

Especially these bronze dwarves have activated a thread of Giant Bloodline, making them more robust and tall than ordinary dwarves; even the most ordinary soldiers are about the same height as normal humans, and among the dwarf race they are considered true stalwart giants.

Such a three-thousand-strong elite regiment, yet not a single young master from the Twelve Executives Clan made a move.

Several young masters from great families attached to Three Linked City lazily began bidding, raising the price from the starting bid of ten thousand gold coins after calling out offers several times, until it reached thirty-two thousand gold coins.

To those pampered young masters, the three thousand elite soldiers were merely something optional.

The white-haired old man couldn't help but sigh; just as he was about to strike the hammer to finalize the bid, Mu Xu raised her right hand.

"Fifty thousand gold coins, they're mine." Mu Xu shouted softly, and the entire hall fell silent.

Everyone looked at Mu Xu, and then someone understandingly laughed.

The Bodhi Clan had lost twenty thousand elite warriors; these three thousand bronze dwarves were a not insignificant reinforcement of strength for the Bodhi Clan.

Only the Bodhi Clan, and only Mu Xu, would be interested in them. No wonder she had just bought a thousand feathered warriors, and now she bought three thousand bronze dwarves.

As before, no one bid against Mu Xu, so these three thousand bronze dwarves smoothly came under her name.

Next came another moderate surge of excitement.

The Twelve Heavenly Palace continuously presented seven or eight groups of stunning female slaves for auction, and the young masters of the Twelve Executives Clan instantly became excited, each shouting out extremely high prices.

Although not as astronomically priced as that pair of feathered maiden girls, even the cheapest group of thirty girls fetched a fine price of two hundred seventy thousand gold coins.

Wu Tie's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

The values of Three Linked City are undoubtedly twisted, extremely twisted.

When a troupe of twelve tall, muscular young men with perfect proportions and muscle lines, like statues of strongmen, stepped onto the platform and struck alluring poses to the white-haired old man's shout, the venue suddenly erupted in earth-shaking cheers.

Those letting out the loudest cheers were none other than the noble ladies from the great families.

They all rose to their feet, each with a flushed face, gazing at the handsome men on the platform.

Besides them, the young masters of the great families also shone with strange light, staring fixedly without blinking at the twelve handsome men on the platform.

The white-haired old man smiled, raising his hands high: "Ladies and gentlemen, next up for auction are twelve handsome men named after the twelve zodiac signs... they have undergone the Twelve Heavenly Palace's secret training, mastering every skill you could want them to have."

"No matter your desires, whether you are old or young, male or female, they can fulfill all your wishes." The white-haired old man's tone turned extremely mysterious as he whispered: "Then the first lot is Aquarius's Ai Qisi."

"Ai Qisi was born into nobility; his family once had an elder who had reached the Life Pool Realm. But unfortunately, in the brutal war to overthrow the Great Peacock Dynasty's tyrannical rule, Ai Qisi's family elder and the evil Great Peacock King perished together, his family was split and annexed, and the fortunate Ai Qisi, from childhood, entered our Twelve Heavenly Palace, receiving our careful education."

"Aquarius Ai Qisi, a innate controller of flowing water and freezing ice, possessing cultivation of the twelfth layer of the Chonglou Realm, opening bid..."

"A woman in her forties could not wait any longer and shrieked: 'One million gold coins!'"

The white-haired old man smiled and nodded, not announcing Ai Qisi's opening bid; obviously, the woman's bid had far exceeded the opening price set by the Twelve Heavenly Palace.

The atmosphere on site once again became frenzied beyond compare.

Each young man fetched a price that left Wu Tie bewildered by its height.

What especially left him speechless was the background of these twelve handsome men. Like Ai Qisi, they had once come from great families, but in the war to overthrow the Great Peacock King clan's rule, the experts of their families fell one after another.

The Twelve Executives Clan showed no acknowledgment of their merits; their families were all annexed, while they themselves were reduced to slaves.

It was cruel, dark, and equally real.

This is Three Linked City.

Extremely corrupt, extremely depraved, extremely... making one feel no future or hope.

Wu Tie secretly glanced at Mu Xu.

She sat alone in the spacious private booth, her expression tranquil as water, still emanating an icy aura that warned others to keep away.

After more than two hours, having endured wave after wave of frantic bidding, Xuan Zhu, her face flushed, returned to her private booth.

Feng Ming and Long Xiang's legs went weak, they staggered three steps for every one as they followed behind Xuan Zhu.

They sat one on each side of Xuan Zhu, their three bodies pressed tightly together.

Anyone could tell at a glance that something indescribably strange had certainly occurred among them.

Feng Ming and Long Xiang wore smiles of extreme satisfaction, yet many could sense that their breath had become erratic, giving a feeling of extreme weakness, like two sugarcane residues drained of juice, their skins exuding a dry, bland taste.

"Tsk, drained dry." In a neighboring booth, a youth of the Mantra Clan muttered lowly, both envious and jealous.

At that moment, on the auction platform, the white-haired old man once again raised his hands high.

He loudly announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, today we have prepared another extremely unique, extremely rare auction item for you..."

"A learned sage."

"A truly wisdom-filled sage."

"He once served as the household tutor of Lord Huaguang, deeply trusted by Lord Huaguang."

"He is the Grey Werewolf Grey Master... his opening bid is... one gold coin!"

"An iron cage rose onto the platform; inside the cage, Grey Master wore a coarse hemp garment, sitting calmly within, his deep eyes flashing with a faint, cold light."