Hurricane Mountain endured ceaseless gales year-round. The Ju Family Stronghold, perched atop this mountain, had faced the threat of hurricanes since its very founding.
The Ju Family Stronghold had stood on Hurricane Mountain for several centuries. Pitting human strength against natural disaster, they had faced near-annihilation multiple times yet always managed to survive by the skin of their teeth. But this time, they faced a once-in-a-century mega-hurricane.
The Ju Family Stronghold could no longer hold on. It collapsed under the wrath of nature.
The terrifying hurricane destroyed even their Yuan Spring. The Ju Family suffered catastrophic losses, losing the very foundation of their stronghold. They had no choice but to leave their homeland and come to Shang Clan City, placing themselves under the Shang family's protection in hopes of rebuilding.
Shang Clan City had exorbitant prices. To make ends meet, the Ju Family was forced to sell off their possessions.
For the Ju Family, this was a catastrophic disaster. For everyone else, however, it was a rare opportunity.
Though the Ju Family was only a small clan, the fact that they had endured on Hurricane Mountain for centuries without being toppled by natural disaster meant they clearly possessed deep reserves.
The Ju Family's liquidation of their assets gave this auction an extraordinary allure.
As soon as the news spread, it immediately drew the attention of the vast majority of Shang Clan City's residents.
Seven days later, the auction proceeded as scheduled.
The venue was packed. The spacious hall was filled to capacity, and the private boxes on the upper levels had been claimed long before.
Fang Yuan and Bai Ningbing used their two Bauhinia Tokens to secure a private box.
Fang Yuan cracked open the window slightly and stood to one side, feeling the heated atmosphere inside the hall.
The auction had yet to begin. Nearly a thousand people buzzed with discussion, a cacophony of overlapping voices.
"What a shame about the Ju Family. Standing for centuries, only to finally fall to the hurricane. The might of heaven and earth — mortal strength cannot withstand it," someone sighed.
"It's not really that big of a deal. New families will always rise, and old ones will always fall. Just a few years ago, the three families on Qing Mao Mountain were wiped out in a single stroke. The Ju Family's demise is perfectly normal," someone remarked dismissively.
"The Ju Family's misfortune is our good fortune. I hear this auction has quite a few fine goods," someone said with barely concealed schadenfreude.
"With so many Ju Family members flooding into Shang Clan City all at once, it's going to put pressure on every trade in the city," someone else observed with a longer view.
Just then, the crowd suddenly erupted.
"Look — that's the Young Master, Shang Qiuniu!"
Fang Yuan looked toward the voice. Sure enough, he saw Shang Qiuniu striding in through the entrance.
His build was powerful, his steps steady. He had just turned thirty this year — Shang Yanfei's eldest son.
"Young Master Qiuniu, greetings!"
"Good to see the Young Master."
"For us common folk to lay eyes on the Young Master — what an honor."
In an instant, many people hurried forward to offer their respects.
"Everyone, please." Shang Qiuniu was a man of few words. A faint smile appeared on his face as he handled the situation with composure.
Finally, under the gaze of the crowd, he walked into a private box.
The auction hall settled into calm.
But before long, it stirred once more.
"Young Masters Chaofeng and Fuxi are here too!"
"They've been close since childhood. Sure enough, they've come together today as always."
Fourth among the siblings, Shang Chaofeng still wore his hair in wild dishevelment, exuding an untamed air. Thirteenth, Shang Fuxi was refined and scholarly in appearance.
The two conversed as they walked toward the boxes, with servants clearing the way ahead. They paid no attention to those around them.
Fang Yuan watched with cold, narrow eyes.
In his memories of his previous life, Shang Chaofeng had nearly seized the position of Shang Clan Patriarch, making him Shang Xinci's greatest rival. His temperament was ruthless, yet he possessed the courage to make decisive cuts — in this, he was very much like Shang Yanfei.
Shang Fuxi was his greatest supporter, content to stand in his shadow. He was shrewd and skilled in scheming. In the future war between the Righteous and Demonic Paths at Yitian Mountain, he would devise stratagem after stratagem, inflicting devastating losses on Demonic Path Gu Masters and making quite a name for himself.
One who could decide, one who excelled at planning — they complemented each other perfectly. The former controlled the fighting arena, the latter managed the auction house. Both were crucial domains within Shang Clan City, and their power base was firmly established. They now formed the third-largest faction among the ten Young Masters.
Before Shang Chaofeng and Shang Fuxi could even enter their box, another group arrived at the entrance.
Shang Pulao, Shang Suanni, and Shang Bixi chatted and laughed among themselves as they walked in together.
These three ranked eighth, ninth, and tenth among Shang Yanfei's children. United by shared interests, they had formed a small alliance — the second-largest faction among the Young Masters, with formidable influence that currently overshadowed Shang Chaofeng and Shang Fuxi.
Shang Pulao oversaw Shang Clan City's pleasure houses, elegant and debonair, a true libertine among beauties. Shang Suanni managed the restaurants and silk shops — lion-mouthed and broad-nosed, exhaling two streams of yellow cloud-like smoke with every breath. Shang Bixi was short and stout, also a strength-path Gu Master. His core Gu was the Turtle Embryo Gu, granting him the strength of ten turtles.
Shang Suanni and Shang Bixi were formidable in martial prowess, while Shang Pulao was refined in literary arts — the natural leader of the three. Two warriors and one scholar, they had always worked together seamlessly.
These three Young Masters did not choose a private box. Instead, they took their seats right in the main hall.