Chapter 8: Martial Market
Stepping into the Martial Market, Zhang Ruochen headed straight for the central auction house.
A spirit-grade lower-rank martial technique was not something ordinary shops could handle. Only by taking it to the central auction house and selling it to the major clans could the technique's value be maximized.
Just as Zhang Ruochen entered the auction house, a neatly dressed, pretty maidservant approached him. Seeing his mysterious attire, she showed no surprise and said politely, "Sir, how may I assist you?"
"I wish to see the head steward of your central auction house!" Zhang Ruochen slightly altered his voice, making it sound deep and steady, like a man in his thirties or forties.
Who could this be? Asking to see the head steward right away—clearly someone of importance.
"I will go inform the head steward at once, but he is usually very busy receiving VIP clients and may not have time to see you. Please wait a moment."
With that, the maidservant stepped through a large door to report to the head steward.
Zhang Ruochen was in no hurry. He stood quietly in the main hall, waiting.
Before long, the maidservant returned, leading a slightly plump, elderly man in luxurious robes. She pointed toward Zhang Ruochen and said, "Head Steward, that is the person."
The head steward glanced at Zhang Ruochen from a distance, his gaze settling on Zhang Ruochen's feet. His aged eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of sharpness flashing within them.
The boots Zhang Ruochen wore were called "Kirin Gold-Inlaid Boots." Only those from the royal palace were qualified to wear such footwear.
Zhang Ruochen had deliberately exposed his boots. After all, he was about to auction a spirit-grade lower-rank sword technique, which would inevitably attract covetous eyes. With his current martial arts cultivation, he could not possibly protect such a technique.
But if people believed he was a high-ranking figure from the palace, then few would dare to scheme against him.
When one's own strength is insufficient, pretending to be powerful is a necessary tactic to intimidate others.
"This is no ordinary person!"
The head steward thought to himself as he looked at the boots on Zhang Ruochen's feet.
His attitude toward Zhang Ruochen immediately became respectful. Treating Zhang Ruochen as a major figure from the palace, he approached and said in a low voice, "Sir, this way, please!"
"Hmm!"
To maintain his intimidating presence, Zhang Ruochen clasped his hands behind his back, exuding an air of authority, and nodded lightly.
The martial artists in the hall, seeing the head steward's deferential attitude, secretly speculated that a truly important figure had arrived at the central auction house.
Ascending to the third floor of the central auction house, Zhang Ruochen sat steadily in the highest seat. Taking the teacup handed to him by a maidservant, he spoke in the tone of a superior: "I have a treasure here that I wish to consign for auction at the central auction house. Summon your top appraiser to examine it."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's commanding demeanor, the head steward became even more convinced that he was a key figure from the palace. He immediately sent someone to fetch the appraiser.
Soon, an old man with graying hair entered.
The old man appeared to be in his seventies or eighties, but his eyes were sharp and spirited. He glanced at Zhang Ruochen and was startled to find that he could not see through the other's cultivation level.
The old man immediately bowed respectfully to Zhang Ruochen. "This old man is the chief appraiser of the central auction house. May I ask what item you wish to auction, sir?"
Not being able to see through someone's cultivation could mean three things: first, the other person's martial arts cultivation was higher than his own.
Second, the cultivation technique the other practiced was far superior to his own.
For example, a martial artist practicing a human-grade technique generally could not see through the cultivation of someone practicing a spirit-grade technique. They could only guess based on details and the aura the other person emitted.
Of course, if the techniques were of similar rank, a higher cultivator could still see through a lower one's cultivation.
Third, the other person possessed a treasure that concealed their cultivation.
The second and third cases were uncommon, so the old man instinctively assumed the first case—that Zhang Ruochen's cultivation surpassed his own. Hence, he immediately bowed respectfully.
Little did he know, Zhang Ruochen was cultivating the "Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture," an exceedingly profound technique. Unless he deliberately revealed the meridians within his body, almost no one in the entire Yunwu Commandery could see through his martial arts cultivation.
Moreover, in his past life, Zhang Ruochen had been a peak Heavenly Extreme Realm powerhouse. Although reborn in an ordinary body, his understanding of martial arts and the spirit and energy carried by his soul were no different from a peak Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist.
To see through his cultivation, one would need a martial realm above the Heavenly Extreme Realm.
Zhang Ruochen reached into his sleeve, touched the Time-Space Crystal, and his hand directly entered the inner space of the crystal. He retrieved the "Heavenly Heart Sword Technique" manual and handed it to the gray-haired old man.
"This is the spirit-grade lower-rank sword technique I wish to auction!" Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
The chief appraiser had just taken the "Heavenly Heart Sword Technique" manual when he heard Zhang Ruochen's words and was slightly startled. Auctioning a spirit-grade lower-rank sword technique?
The chief appraiser immediately unrolled the bundled paper and began studying it carefully.
The head steward, standing nearby, also stepped over to examine the "Heavenly Heart Sword Technique" manual together with him.
Both the chief appraiser and the head steward were martial arts experts. They quickly reached a conclusion and nodded simultaneously.
"Indeed, it is the manual for a spirit-grade lower-rank sword technique. May I ask how many sword stances you possess, sir?" the head steward inquired.
The manual and the sword stances must be combined to unleash the true power of a spirit-grade lower-rank sword technique.
Even if the head steward and chief appraiser forcibly memorized the manual, without the corresponding sword stances, the memorized text would be useless.
Zhang Ruochen replied, "The complete sword technique consists of twelve stances. The original copy of the technique has been lost. The 'Heavenly Heart Sword Technique' I possess was personally illustrated by a Heavenly Extreme Realm expert, depicting the sword stances. It is no different from the original."
The chief appraiser pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, we will set the starting bid for the 'Heavenly Heart Sword Technique' at two hundred thousand silver coins. However, there is a condition: after the auction is successful, the buyer must verify the sword stances and manual. If it is found not to be a spirit-grade lower-rank technique, the auction result will be void."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "Everything will follow the auction house's rules!"
The auction of the "Heavenly Heart Sword Technique" was scheduled for that very evening, serving as the grand finale of the central auction house's event.
Before the auction began, the central auction house immediately spread the news to the major clans in the royal city.
Key figures from each clan rushed to the Martial Market with substantial funds, all eager to bid for the complete spirit-grade lower-rank sword technique.
Zhang Ruochen was not concerned with the auction process itself, only the outcome.
About two hours later, the auction concluded, and the results were announced.
Amid the fierce competition among the major clans, the price of the "Heavenly Heart Sword Technique" was driven up to one million two hundred and forty thousand silver coins, ultimately won by the head of the Lin Clan.
"The Lin Clan, huh!" Zhang Ruochen was slightly surprised upon hearing the result.
Before long, under the head steward's guidance, Lin Fengxian, the head of the Lin Clan; Lin De, an elder of the Lin Clan; and Lin Ningshan, one of the four great young beauties of the Yunwu Commandery, entered the room.
"Clan Head Lin, this gentleman is the owner of the 'Heavenly Heart Sword Technique.'" The head steward smiled, pointing toward Zhang Ruochen, who sat at the highest seat.
Lin Fengxian's gaze lingered briefly on the "Kirin Gold-Inlaid Boots" on Zhang Ruochen's feet. He nodded slightly and cupped his hands in greeting. "I am Lin Fengxian, head of the Lin Clan. May I ask how I should address you, sir?"
Before entering, Lin Fengxian had heard the head steward's description of this mysterious figure and knew he was likely a major figure from the palace.
Thus, upon entering, Lin Fengxian deliberately lowered his posture as the Lin Clan head.
Seeing Lin Fengxian and Lin Ningshan, Zhang Ruochen became even more cautious, careful not to be recognized.
Zhang Ruochen cleared his throat twice, making his voice deep and steady: "You need not know my name. Here are the manual and sword stance diagrams for the 'Heavenly Heart Sword Technique.' Clan Head Lin, please examine them."
As he spoke, Zhang Ruochen retrieved the manual and sword stance diagrams from his sleeve and placed them on the table.
Lin Fengxian did not immediately examine the manual. He trusted that the central auction house had already verified it before the auction.
He unrolled the sword stance diagrams, revealing twelve small human figures drawn on the paper.
To an ordinary person, the twelve figures would appear unremarkable. But when Lin Fengxian's eyes fell on the paper, the twelve small figures holding swords seemed to come to life, dancing across the paper with sword techniques.
Each sword stance was exquisitely subtle, containing profound martial arts intent. Even mastering just one stance would be immensely beneficial.
"This sword technique is absolutely top-tier among spirit-grade lower-rank martial techniques. What a bargain!" Lin Fengxian's heart surged with excitement.