The news reached the ears of every major figure, sending their hearts racing with wild elation.
An auction!
Though this format inevitably meant bloodshed and fierce competition — victory would go only to whoever could pile up the most Ling Shi.
Of course,
At his current level, there was absolutely no need for him to show up personally for such matters. Even if he did make an appearance, it would amount to little more than saying a few casual words.
Jiang Chen handed the entire auction over to the Peacock Sacred Mountain to manage.
On the day of the auction, the major sects of the human territories had all arrived without exception. Not only had their leading figures come in person, but they had also brought along large entourages of elites.
Clearly, everyone wanted to be part of the spectacle.
To underscore the supreme value of the Taichi Heaven-Mending Pill, Jiang Chen made a brief appearance even though he wasn't personally presiding over the event.
This single appearance by Jiang Chen completely overturned the sects' prior understanding of him.
When he had first become the young lord of the Glazed King City, how desperate had the situation been? How wretched? How many years had it been since then?
Jiang Chen had undergone a complete transformation, achieving the success he enjoyed today. This level of success was something the cultivators of the human territories likely could not match even in ten lifetimes.
For a moment, the guest areas buzzed with animated discussion.
"Young Lord Jiang Chen really was the one Emperor Peacock personally designated. Looking back now, when Emperor Peacock overruled everyone's objections to appoint this young man as young lord of the Glazed King City — what extraordinary foresight that was. Under Jiang Chen's leadership, the Glazed King City has flourished, its strength grown more than tenfold compared to before."
"Heh, Emperor Peacock's eye for talent is truly something to marvel at. It's a pity that there's been no word from him in all these years."
"Perhaps he's no longer among the living? That wouldn't necessarily be a bad ending. If Emperor Peacock hadn't died and returned, who would people listen to — him or Young Lord Jiang Chen? Either way, it would only cause damage to the current state of affairs."
"True. Even if Emperor Peacock came back now, he'd probably have no choice but to quietly support Young Lord Jiang Chen and content himself with playing a supporting role."
"That's not necessarily so. If Emperor Peacock were still around, his cultivation would surely have risen with the tide as well. Could it be that the successor he designated has now become an enemy?"
"No way. You underestimate Emperor Peacock far too much. He was the most far-sighted leader the human territories ever had. He must have foreseen today's situation long ago. He would certainly step aside and yield the throne to Jiang Chen wholeheartedly. All he'd need to do is provide quiet support from behind the scenes. After all, the new replaces the old. Forget about Emperor Peacock — even among all the past lords of the Glazed King City, how many could compare to Jiang Chen?"
"Young Lord Jiang Chen truly is a heaven-blessed talent. Some say Emperor Peacock may actually still be alive. Others claim that near the Glazed King City, someone once caught a fleeting glimpse of his figure, but no one can say for certain whether it was really him."
"That really is hard to say. Maybe Emperor Peacock is alive after all. I've also heard the rumors — that Emperor Peacock never actually died, but simply has no desire to return to the Glazed King City. He doesn't want to disrupt Jiang Chen's control over the city, nor does he intend to challenge Jiang Chen's authority. He's willing to step aside willingly and serve as a guardian of sorts for Jiang Chen."
"If that's truly the case, Emperor Peacock's selflessness and integrity are truly admirable."
The crowd below buzzed with discussion.
This time, even the reclusive Heavenly realm powerhouses had all come out to attend. Under Elder Crane's leadership, these Heavenly realm experts were present at the auction as well.
Elder Crane chuckled heartily. "Since ancient times, heroes have emerged from the ranks of the young. In Young Lord Jiang Chen, I have truly come to understand what that saying means. Young Lord Jiang Chen, your cultivation has already grown to the point of nearly breaking through to the high stage of the Heavenly realm, hasn't it?"
Elder Crane's voice was extraordinarily loud and resonant, as though he wanted the entire world to hear.