Boom!
With a deafening roar that seemed to shake the heavens and the earth, the entire earth trembled violently, throwing the city of Zhongzhou into chaos.
Even after the commotion subsided, Shen Hanbing remained stunned in place.
“Well, you lost with dignity,” Jiang Yuan said while gently patting Shen Hanbing’s head before turning and walking away, paying no heed to her.
Shen Hanbing remained in a state of shock for quite some time before eventually regaining her composure.
When she turned to look back, her eyes widened in disbelief and horror at the shocking sight before her.
What she saw was unforgettable—a massive hollow had torn through the continuous mountain range tens of thousands of meters away.
This hollow with a diameter exceeding ten thousand meters, not only pierced through the nearby mountains but also extended to the distant ones. Even the dark clouds above were dispersed by the force of the impact, revealing the clear blue sky.
“Master… How powerful have you become?” Shen Hanbing looked at Jiang Yuan’s departing figure, her gaze increasingly reverent as if she were beholding a deity.
She had no doubt that if Jiang Yuan’s punch had struck Zhongzhou City, the entire city would have been obliterated in an instant!
She had naively thought that after this comprehensive enhancement, she would be able to narrow the gap between her and Jiang Yuan.
But now she realized that the disparity between them could never be bridged!
*
After returning to Zhongzhou City, Jiang Yuan and Shen Hanbing went straight to the auction house.
Because Shen Hanbing’s weapon had been broken during their sparring session, she had to go to the auction house to buy a new one.
The auction house in Zhongzhou was also one of the Tang Chamber of Commerce’s industries.
Unlike ordinary shops, the auction house was a place for selling high-end goods where every item was of great value.
The people who frequented the auction house were nobles and wealthy merchants.
Since Shen Hanbing was accompanying him this time, Jiang Yuan was not stopped at the door and entered the venue smoothly.
Inside the auction house’s hall was a huge semicircular space with hundreds of chairs arranged inside. In front of these chairs was a square display platform.
The hall was already filled with various distinguished guests, all of whom held positions of influence.
After Jiang Yuan and Shen Hanbing arrived at the venue, they found seats in a corner.
Although the positions they chose were quite secluded, they still attracted the attention of the crowd.
Because Shen Hanbing’s appearance was too striking.
Everyone was mesmerized by her beauty and looked at her with infatuated gazes.
But they could only look and think in their hearts, they dared not make any inappropriate moves towards Shen Hanbing.
After all, Shen Hanbing was a top-ranked expert, someone whom these wealthy merchants and nobles could not afford to offend.
To them, Shen Hanbing was like a celestial being. They could only admire her from afar and not desecrate her.
Due to Shen Hanbing’s conspicuous presence, Jiang Yuan also entered the sight of the crowd.
Many people who noticed Jiang Yuan began to inquire about his identity.
“Who is this man? How did he end up accompanying Miss Shen?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before. And look at how he’s dressed, he doesn’t seem to be from a prominent family.”
“I heard that Miss Shen despises those idle heirs and only appreciates those who surpass her in strength. Could this man be an extraordinary genius?”
“An extraordinary genius? Where in Zhongzhou can you find a genius stronger than Miss Shen? And do you think this man looks like a top genius? Personally, I don’t sense any aura of cultivation from him!”
The crowd whispered among themselves, speculating about Jiang Yuan’s identity.
Soon, the auction officially began.
The discussions about Jiang Yuan ceased as everyone turned their attention to the items on the display platform.
The first few items showcased were some medicinal pills, runic symbols, or rare treasures, none of which were the weapons Shen Hanbing wanted to purchase.
After half an hour passed like this, the auction finally reached its climax.
The auctioneer cleared his throat and solemnly addressed the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, the next item up for auction will be the highlight of today’s event!”
After the auctioneer’s announcement, a middle-aged man with bronze skin and eight swords on his back walked onto the stage, carrying a black sword in his hands.
“It’s the Weapon Master again. Looks like he has forged a new treasure and has come here to auction it off.”
“But why is he personally bringing the treasure on stage? Isn’t it usually the maid who brings his creations on stage?”
The middle-aged man with bronze skin was familiar to everyone.
He was none other than the 10th rank of Earth Ranking in Zhongzhou.
The Weapon Master, whose original name was Zhao Tiezhu, was the most famous weapon refiner in Zhongzhou. He was on par with Tang Haoshan, the Medicine Master; Murong Yang, the Runic Master; and Sima Yu, the Inscription Master which are collectively known as the Four Grandmasters of Zhongzhou.
The Weapon Master was not only a top-ranked expert but also a supplier for the Tang Chamber of Commerce. He frequently forged various treasures and auctioned them off at the auction house. Therefore, those who frequented the auction house were no strangers to him.
However, what surprised everyone was that usually, it was the auction house maids who brought his crafted treasures onto the stage.
But today, he personally brought the treasure onto the stage.
Was there something different about today’s treasure compared to his usual creations?
Soon, the crowd’s doubts were answered.
After the Weapon Master took the stage, an overwhelming pressure that made it difficult to breathe emanated from the sword he held.
The pressure crushed the surrounding space, forming a ten-meter radius area of intense pressure that even shattered the floor of the display platform, forcing the auctioneer to awkwardly retreat from the stage.
“So… so powerful! Even from dozens of meters away, I find it hard to breathe…”
“What’s the origin of this sword? Did the Weapon Master forge it?”
“I doubt it. His previous creations never had such oppressive power!”
“Only treasures above the Profound Grade can possess such formidable pressure!”
For a moment, the crowd erupted into intense discussion.
Even though they were dozens of meters away, the pressure released by the sword made it difficult for them to breathe.
One can imagine the immense pressure the Weapon Master must be under as he held up the sword.
Faced with such a powerful aura, ordinary maids couldn’t even approach so only the Weapon Master himself could bring the sword onto the stage.
Shen Hanbing also developed a keen interest in the sword, her eyes fixed firmly on it.
The sword’s hilt was shaped like a cross, its surface engraved with mysterious and ancient runes, exuding an aura of primordial antiquity.
