Chapter 1114 No Matter the Cost
Chen Yang's actions in the black market did not go unnoticed by many.
The Combined Core Venerables of the black market were well aware that someone had long been targeting the residual human bloodline.
This time, they not only gathered the black market forces from the auction venue but also secretly brought in people from other black markets.
On the night the auction commenced, the surrounding Forget Worry Sea area of the black market began to buzz with activity.
Chen Yang, wearing a hood, entered the venue only to discover that Anda had not arranged a private room at the auction house for him.
Faced with Chen Yang's questioning, Anda replied with a troubled expression, "It's not that I'm unwilling, but there are many attendees at this auction. The organizers stated that they would not provide private rooms to anyone without the foundation of the Combined Core Venerable realm."
Chen Yang snorted coldly, but he thought this was for the better, as it placed him closer to the auction stage.
A few minutes later, Chen Yang realized that the auction hall, with its capacity for at least a thousand people, was already filled.
Moreover, the attendees were all at the Foundation Establishment realm!
There were even a few individuals whose cultivation realms he couldn't sense at all.
Chen Yang speculated that they were likely Combined Core Venerables who had concealed their true identities.
As for the private rooms situated higher up behind him, Chen Yang noticed that many people disdained to hide their true identities.
Anda explained in a low voice, "These individuals are either direct descendants of a Combined Core realm cultivator or have a powerful faction backing them."
"During the auction later, be very careful not to offend anyone."
"Even the City Lord of Demon Bone City would mind his reputation if he came here."
Chen Yang waved his hand dismissively at Anda's reminder, "I'm not here for anything else this time."
Chen Yang found it strange. With so many people attending the auction, was it solely for a residual human bloodline?
Chen Yang certainly knew that human bloodlines were of great assistance to cultivators in the mortal realm.
However, causing such a stir seemed somewhat… excessive.
As Chen Yang pondered, the auction officially began.
The auctioneer on stage swept his gaze across the crowd and said solemnly, "The highest bidder wins. No disturbances, or you will be killed without mercy!"
The audience below immediately began whispering amongst themselves.
But in the next second, a powerful aura from a Combined Core Venerable swept over them, suppressing everyone: "Silence!"
Under the pressure of this aura, everyone fell silent.
The aura of a Combined Core Venerable was not something anyone dared to challenge.
Even those at the Great Perfection stage of Foundation Establishment were mere ants before a Combined Core Venerable.
After the auction commenced, Chen Yang's mind was not focused on the items being auctioned.
However, when Foundation Establishment realm cultivation techniques later appeared, Chen Yang couldn't help but express surprise, "Foundation Establishment realm cultivation techniques can be auctioned, so what about Combined Core realm techniques?"
Anda immediately shook his head, looking at Chen Yang with a troubled expression, and said bitterly, "Young Master, if you had a Combined Core realm cultivation technique, would you sell it?"
"These are items that can be passed down through generations, and if a cultivation technique falls into the hands of an enemy, wouldn't that be seeking your own demise, handing them a knife?"
"Unless a Combined Core Venerable dies, their cultivation techniques are very difficult to obtain."
"Even if some exist, they are hidden away. No one would be foolish enough to auction Combined Core realm cultivation techniques."
Chen Yang nodded slightly. He himself possessed a Combined Core realm cultivation technique.
After studying it for some time, Chen Yang realized that the gap between the Combined Core and Foundation Establishment realms was not merely about raw power, but a difference between Dao and technique.
The Foundation Establishment realm was still about following the flow, whereas Combined Core Venerables, while using power, also integrated their own Dao.
About half an hour later, a prisoner cart was slowly wheeled onto the high platform, and Chen Yang's mood became agitated.
It was that human girl!
"The item to be auctioned next, I believe, is something you've all heard about."
"It is the residual human bloodline. I won't elaborate on its benefits here."
"There's just one point I hope you all understand: this human girl failed to break through to the Combined Core realm. Whether you can extract the Combined Core realm cultivation technique from her depends on your own methods."
"Starting bid, two thousand mid-grade spirit stones!"
As soon as this price was announced, the entire auction hall erupted.
If it were two thousand ordinary spirit stones, people might have had a chance to participate.
But now, the price was two thousand mid-grade spirit stones, equivalent to two hundred thousand ordinary spirit stones.
This was not an amount that they, at the Foundation Establishment realm, could afford!
It was clear that this auction had nothing to do with them.
Anda was also stunned, turning to look at Chen Yang with a conflicted expression.
Seeing Chen Yang's extremely grim face, Anda knew that he had led Young Master Chen into trouble this time.
He had initially mentioned that the highest price for a human bloodline was only ten thousand spirit stones, referring to ordinary spirit stones.
But now, the price was directly twenty times the estimated maximum.
Of course, everyone understood where this twenty-fold increase came from!
The Combined Core realm cultivation technique.
As long as they could extract the cultivation technique from this person's mouth, any price would be worth it.
"Two thousand one hundred!"
"Two thousand three hundred!"
As the bids increased, Chen Yang's face turned ashen.
Although Chen Yang possessed mid-grade and top-grade spirit stones, they had all been invested in his black market business a while ago.
Even with all his spirit stones combined, calculating them at approximately two thousand mid-grade spirit stones, Chen Yang had accounted for all his resources.
This included the top-grade spirit stones he had not yet given to Wu Min and the others.
Chen Yang said sternly, "Gather everyone onto the ship now and prepare everything."
At these words, Anda's eyes welled up with tears.
Ultimately, it had come to this.
"I'm entrusting my life to you!"
Upon hearing Chen Young Master's words, Anda nodded heavily, "Rest assured, whether we can escape or not is another matter, but even if we die, I will be with you."
Anda, after leaving the black market, considered whether he should gather everyone onto the ship and have them await Young Master Chen, while he himself lingered in the black market for a while.
But upon reflection, if Young Master Chen were exposed, his appearance would make it difficult to hide in the black market.
After much deliberation, he finally decided to leave with Young Master Chen.
While Anda was making preparations, the bidding at the auction venue had already reached three thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
Chen Yang looked at the top-grade spirit stones he had accumulated, throwing everything he had into the pot, including pills.
He could still contend, but these resources were meant for other cultivators to break through.
When the price reached three thousand mid-grade spirit stones, the bidding did not cease.