Everyone present at the auction was a senior mber of their respective studios.
Whether it was the gold-farming teams or the land-clearing squads, the amount of silver and gold each studio could accumulate in a month might vary slightly—but not by much.
Warring States Ga Studio’s three land-clearing teams were not capable of miracles.
Two thousand five hundred taels of gold—this was undoubtedly the most aggressive, most desperate bid the studio had ever made.
“She’s insane!”
“That crazy woman!”
The final competitor opened and closed his mouth several tis, but ultimately did not dare raise the bid again.
Once a niche technique broke past the astronomical price of one thousand taels of gold, any further increase would invite ridicule.
Thus, the third niche manual was swiftly delivered to Bai Jingtang.
Without hesitation, she flipped through it and converted the sky-high manual into a line of data.
Exhale.
Only then did she finally allow herself a smile.
She had succeeded.
Though one final manual remained.
But she still held one thousand three hundred taels of gold in Gold Notes.
No one could stop her.
Her smile blood like an epiphyllum in the night—brief, stunning, unforgettable.
All the studio executives assud she had already achieved her objective.
Yet when the final niche technique was fiercely bid up to nine hundred and fifty taels of gold—
Bai Jingtang spoke again.
“One thousand one hundred taels of gold.”
A single bid.
Crushing.
Every competitor felt as though sothing was lodged in their throat. Not one dared utter another number.
Only then did they truly realize that Warring States Ga Studio’s financial strength had reached such heights.
All four niche techniques were secured by Bai Jingtang.
She calmly converted the last manual into data, rose without flourish, and departed the auction hall.
She would enter seclusion to cultivate and attempt her breakthrough to Fourth Rank.
The day she erged would be the day she stood at Fourth Rank.
As she stepped outside the auction hall, she glanced toward Huishui County and smiled faintly.
“When I erge, you should have reached Second Rank as well.”
…
Su Wangchuan had not yet broken through.
He stood at the very threshold when devastating news reached him.
Gang Leader Yang Feiyue had attended the Sanhe Commandery auction and sold a Five Poison Cauldron. He had also purchased, for three hundred taels of gold, a concealed-weapon belt crafted by the Tang Sect.
However, on his return to the water stronghold, he was ambushed at the Heilong County dock by a powerful expert and severely wounded.
At the critical mont, the concealed-weapon belt—worth three hundred taels of gold—repelled the attacker.
Ox-Hair Needles shot out, piercing the enemy’s palm, chest, and abdon.
When the attacker realized the needles were poisoned, he imdiately abandoned pursuit and forced his way through the encirclent of Song Minshu, Fang Kui, and the Yulong Gang’s inner disciples, fleeing the scene despite his injuries.
Several carrier pigeons flew with utmost urgency to Huishui County and the water stronghold, demanding that a physician be dispatched imdiately to Heilong County to treat Yang Feiyue.
When Su Wangchuan received the ssage, his mind went blank.
There was no doubt.
The one who attacked Yang Feiyue had to be an expert from the Beggar Sect’s Sanhe Commandery hall.
Captain Bai’s warning had co true.
He simply had not expected the victim to be Yang Feiyue himself rather than the Heilong County hall.
The Beggar Sect intended to dismantle the Yulong Gang in one stroke.
Su Wangchuan imdiately summoned Physician Liao, ordering him to bring all trauma dicine, antidotes, and life-preserving pills. They boarded a fast boat and sped toward Heilong County.
The vessel was manned by skilled helmsn—all inner disciples.
Su Wangchuan personally escorted Physician Liao, accompanied by Chen Ergou and Zhao Heiniu.
To guard against further incidents, Su Wangchuan prepared a batch of Armor-Piercing Arrows and coated his refined steel throwing daggers with snake venom.
Four additional fast boats sailed alongside as flanking escorts, each led by martial artists.
The flotilla reached the Heilong County dock in just over half an hour.
The dock was under complete lockdown.
More than two hundred inner and outer disciples sealed off the plaza with heavy vigilance.
An inner disciple stepped forward respectfully.
“Hall Master Wangchuan!”
“Take
to the Gang Leader.”
“Yes!”
All other disciples remained outside.
Su Wangchuan led Physician Liao inside.
Along the way, he saw shattered cargo crates and fresh blood yet to be cleaned, his expression darkening.
Several yan runners stood at the hall’s entrance.
Under escort, Su Wangchuan, Zhao Heiniu, Chen Ergou, and Physician Liao entered the heavily guarded courtyard.
Yang Feiyue sat pale-faced in the yard, speaking with Song Minshu and Fang Kui. He appeared stable, without imdiate danger to his life.
Relief flooded Su Wangchuan.
“Gang Leader!”
“Wangchuan, you’ve arrived.”
Yang Feiyue’s eyes flashed with satisfaction.
“Sit.”
“Physician Liao, check the Gang Leader’s pulse.”
“Yes.”
Physician Liao stepped forward.
Yang Feiyue laughed.
“Do not worry. It is not as severe as the letter made it sound. Though the attacker was a Third-Rank martial artist and his Black Sand Palm was fierce, he did not know I was wearing inner armor. That palm would not take my life. Instead, he struck iron.”
Though Yang Feiyue’s face remained pale, his voice was strong and resonant.
Physician Liao finished taking his pulse and nodded.
“The Gang Leader is fortunate. Aside from surging blood and so disturbance of the ridians, with minor shock to the lungs and internal organs, the rest is fine. With proper rest for a few days, he will fully recover.”
Su Wangchuan smiled with relief.
“That is excellent. When I received the ssage, I truly feared for the Gang Leader’s safety. Without leadership, our Yulong Gang might have followed the Qingyi Sect’s fate.”
“Qingyi Sect.” Yang Feiyue snorted coldly.
“Today’s incident is likely connected to Feng Shaoguang. The attacker was either an expert of the Five Poison Sect or a mber of the Beggar Sect.”
His tone turned sharp.
“Our Yulong Gang may be only a minor gang under the Caobang, but we are not so easily slaughtered or extinguished.”
He clenched his jaw.
“That attacker took Tang Sect concealed weapon ‘Ox-Hair Poison Needles.’ They pierce armor and flesh alike. Within an hour, the poison will claim his life.”
“Hall Master Song, Fang Kui—now that Wangchuan has arrived, you may mobilize. Lead n beyond the city and search. Identify the corpse. I want to know who dared attempt to take my life.”
He gritted his teeth.
The concealed-weapon belt had been a life-saving treasure. Once fired, it was expended forever.
Three hundred taels of gold—gone in a single exchange for survival.
“Yes!”
Song Minshu and Fang Kui clasped their fists in acknowledgnt.
They nodded to Su Wangchuan.
“Wangchuan, this place is in your hands. Protect the Gang Leader.”
Song Minshu departed with his n.
In the courtyard remained only Su Wangchuan, Zhao Heiniu, Chen Ergou, and Physician Liao.
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