Patriarch Gong surveyed the surroundings and said, "Moreover, it appears there is more than just one Grand Perimeter Five Elements Array here. There is another set of formations threaded through it."
"An array within an array!" The speaker's face darkened. Even someone with no expertise in formations understood what an array within an array meant — it was several times more difficult than deploying two separate arrays.
"Even Patriarch Gong cannot tell?" asked a pale, beardless middle-aged man. He had assumed that with Patriarch Gong present, breaking the array would be trivial, yet here was the Patriarch looking troubled. This news only deepened his anxiety.
Patriarch Gong shook his head. "It is not that I cannot tell. It is simply hidden far too deeply."
"Then can Patriarch Gong break this array?"
Patriarch Gong said, "I can, but I am afraid there is not enough time."
With his abilities, given two or three days, he could break open an array like this. But two or three days — the auction would be long over by then, and the array would naturally open on its own. Why would he need to break it?
"Everyone, please remain calm."
Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind them. The group startled and turned to look, only to see Wu Ming standing not far away, smiling at them.
"What exactly does your Seven Radiance Trading Company think it is doing? Don't you owe us an explanation?" The pale, beardless middle-aged man leapt forward, glaring at Wu Ming in fury.
He had assumed Wu Ming was the one in charge of the Seven Radiance Trading Company, since it was he who had been greeting guests at the door.
The others all glared at Wu Ming with angry eyes.
Wu Ming smiled faintly. "You are all honored guests. What could I possibly do to you? It is simply that my master has given instructions — no one may leave before the auction is over. I must ask you all to return to your respective rooms. Once the auction concludes, my master will naturally withdraw the grand array."
"You can force a bull's head down but you can't make it drink! I came to this auction of my own free will, and I'll leave whenever I please! Withdraw the array at once and let me go!"
Wu Ming regarded the speaker with a light smile, saying nothing. He made no move either. Then suddenly the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged all around, and a five-colored blade materialized out of thin air, shooting toward the speaker like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Everyone cried out in shock, scrambling to dodge.
The Emperor Sovereign Realm expert who stood directly in the path of the attack went pale. He channeled his Emperor Essence in a desperate attempt to block it, but beneath the five-colored blade, all his resistance crumbled like paper. The blade pierced straight through his Emperor Essence barrier and tore a gaping hole in his chest.
Blood sprayed through the air.
The onlookers fell deathly silent, their eyes wide as they stared at the man.
He had not died immediately. He lowered his head to look at his own chest, then looked up at Wu Ming in disbelief, his voice trembling: "You..."
He managed only that one word before his body went limp and he collapsed to the ground.
The dozen or so Emperor Sovereign Realm experts felt their scalps go numb with terror. They could scarcely believe that the Seven Radiance Trading Company would dare kill someone right inside its own branch. As for what that five-colored blade was, none of them knew — only Patriarch Gong understood. It was not the power of a person, but the power of the array. The Grand Perimeter Five Elements Array possessed not only the ability to suppress heaven and earth, but also the might to slay enemies.
Wu Ming was still smiling, but that smile, imprinted upon their eyes, was more terrifying than anything under heaven.
Earlier, Yang Kai had indeed killed the old man in Room Seven during the auction, but there had at least been some trace to follow — he had thrown a punch and drawn a sword. But Wu Ming had killed a man without so much as lifting a hand. How could any human accomplish such a thing?
They suddenly recalled that he had mentioned a master.
Wu Ming himself was at the Emperor Sovereign Second Stage. If he had a master, would that not make the master an Emperor Sovereign Third Stage?
An Emperor Sovereign Second Stage disciple. An Emperor Sovereign Third Stage master, aided by a grand array — if a real conflict erupted, they would surely be swept aside like dust. Only now did the full weight of their fear sink in.
"Is there anyone else who wishes to leave?" Wu Ming looked around at the group, still smiling.
No one answered.
Wu Ming nodded. "Then please, go ahead."
He stepped aside and gestured for them to pass.
The group exchanged uneasy glances but dared not harbor any further rebellious thoughts. The dead man's body had not yet gone cold — a warning from the past was a lesson for the future. Though their faces were twisted with indignation, none dared voice their anger. One by one, they turned and walked back.
"Patriarch Gong." Wu Ming suddenly called out again.
Patriarch Gong halted and turned his head. "What does the young master wish of me?"
Wu Ming smiled. "You are too kind, Patriarch Gong. To think that a mere auction could bring you here across thousands of miles — my master was quite surprised. He would like to invite Patriarch Gong for a conversation."
"Your master is...?" Patriarch Gong frowned.
Wu Ming smiled. "You will know once you meet him, Patriarch Gong."
Patriarch Gong let out a bitter laugh. "Can I refuse?"