The hundred thousand worlds were created by extracting different periods from the same Earth and treating each as a separate plane. Heaven’s plan was to turn these hundred thousand Earth planes into an endless source of military recruits.
Through various methods of stimulation and cultivation, countless heroes from Earth could grow stronger and join the cosmic battlefield. Their participation was meant to support the already devastated future and reverse the fate of Earth, which was on the brink of destruction by the Reapers.
However, something had gone wrong when the plan had been executed. The Reapers had struck back, and an Eden appeared within Chongque City. Now, the human situation on the cosmic battlefield was dire. The rear had also been infiltrated by the enemy.
Yet, there were still those who were short-sighted and greedy, thinking only of personal gain. They were willing to risk everything for power and wealth.
The auction continued as Zhu Yunwen was purchased by a middle-aged man. The final bid was 52,000 kilograms of celestial jade.
"Some people believe that even the emperors of the natives carry a form of Fate Qi, which makes them quite sought after," Huang Dinggou whispered.
"Fate Qi? What use does it have?" Li Xiaofei asked.
Huang Dinggou replied, "Some use it for cultivation, others for alchemy or forging."
Li Xiaofei felt a chill run down his spine. The next auction items all came from different planes of Earth. They were all living people. There were also royal artifacts from various kings and dynasties. All of them were contraband.
Li Xiaofei did not place any more bids. Instead, he committed each bidder’s identity and face to memory. In the end, the auction concluded smoothly.
As the final gavel fell, a young man in a white suit seated at booth number 22 slowly stood up. He turned to Li Xiaofei and said, “Hall Master Li, as the saying goes, courtesy demands reciprocity. I let you have that Earth female celebrity, shouldn’t you also show some appreciation?”
Li Xiaofei asked, “What kind of appreciation are you expecting?”
He did not have a good impression of this young man in the white suit. Among all the attendees, he had placed the most bids on contraband items and won the most as well. Of course, the real issue was his condescending attitude, an air of superiority that clashed completely with Li Xiaofei’s presence.
“Her,” said the young man in the white suit as he pointed to Ah Qing, who was standing behind Li Xiaofei. “How about giving me that sword slave of yours as a return gift?”
Li Xiaofei’s expression darkened instantly. He shook his head and said, “Not happening.”
“Hm?” The young man in the white suit was visibly surprised. “Are you refusing me?”
"What else am I doing?" asked Li Xiaofei in a cold and sharp voice.
The young man in the white suit chuckled in disbelief. "Haha, this is truly amusing. I never thought someone would actually dare to refuse me in front of so many people."
The distinguished guests in the auction hall had not all dispersed yet. Countless eyes, filled with either schadenfreude or sympathy, turned toward Li Xiaofei in unison.
Wushuang City’s Vice Hall Master, Zhou Chenguang, seized the opportunity and said, "Hall Master Li, young people shouldn't be too impulsive. Do you even know who this lord is?"
Li Xiaofei sneered and replied, "Even if he was the Heavenly King, it wouldn’t make a difference."
A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.
Zhou Chenguang continued, "This gentleman is Chief Cao of the Business Disputes Department under the Internal Affairs Bureau of the Inner Division."
There were four divisions under the City Lord’s Office. There were sixteen bureaus beneath the four divisions, and each bureau oversaw multiple departments. The Business Disputes Department of the Internal Affairs Bureau was considered a powerful institution under the Inner Division.
Thus, as its chief, Cao Shaoang was indeed a man of authority. No wonder Zhou Chenguang and the others were so eager to flatter him.
"Now do you understand?" Cao Shaoang smirked coldly. "I have taken an interest in your sword slave. Hand her over, and I will overlook your previous rudeness."
"I'm interested in your mother too." Li Xiaofei said, "Why don't you hand her over to me?"
A wave of gasps erupted throughout the auction hall. People couldn't believe their ears.
Has Li Qingchen gone mad?
A mere gang member dared to say such words to a high-ranking official?
Even Xia Mengxi, the chief auctioneer known for her composed demeanor, betrayed a rare look of shock. She had never encountered such a reckless brute before.
Does he not think before speaking? This rising figure is surely going to die here today.
That was the only conclusion Xia Mengxi could reach.
Sure enough, Cao Shaoang completely lost his patience after the blatant ridicule. He turned around and said coldly, "Kill him."
Behind him, a tall, gaunt man with a horse-like face bowed slightly in acknowledgment. He grinned as he looked at Li Xiaofei. "I heard you killed Nangong Longjian. If you think that gives you the right to be arrogant, then I will show you just how terribly wrong you are."
He took a step forward. His figure flickered and vanished, traversing the air in an instant. He arrived at Li Xiaofei’s booth in the blink of an eye.
His hand moved toward his waist. But before the meticulously refined Wandering Dragon Sword could even leave its sheath, the tall, gaunt man suddenly saw light flash before his eyes.
A cold sensation spread between his brows. In that instant, all the strength in his body seemed to drain away. He widened his eyes in shock. Li Xiaofei was just as astonished. Then, he slowly turned around.
Ah Qing, the sword maiden who had been cradling Black Emperor in her arms, was now holding a bamboo sword. No one knew where it had come from.
The streak of blinding sword qi just now... Did it come from that bamboo sword in Ah Qing’s hands?
Li Xiaofei glanced at the tall, gaunt man in front of him. This man was a true expert. At the very least, he was at Nangong Longjian’s level. And yet, he had been killed in a single strike? Suppressing the shock in his heart, Li Xiaofei slowly placed his hand on the man’s face and gave a gentle push.
The corpse collapsed onto the ground.
In that instant, Li Xiaofei made up his mind and wasted no words. He swiftly reached into the void and grasped the hilt of a weapon. A massive spear materialized in his grip.
It was a Blood Dragon Spear made of celestial iron, something he had purchased online after returning. It cost 5,000 kilograms of celestial jade, and was forged entirely from Tearstone Divine Gold Alloy. The sharpness, weight, and qi of the weapon was fused together. The weapon was designed for Planet level and Neutron Star level lifeforms.
With the spear in hand, Li Xiaofei took a deep breath. Then, he struck. The moment he moved, he unleashed a killing technique from the Three Spears of Storm and Cloud. Across from him, three guards threw themselves in front of Cao Shaoang as spear light flickered. They sacrificed their bodies to block the first strike, Star Shatter.
Zhou Chenguang, who had been forcibly thrust forward by Cao Shaoang, bore the brunt of the second strike, Void Annihilation.
But the third strike, Demon Suppression, obliterated Cao Shaoang entirely, along with the protective gear he had barely managed to activate. He was reduced to a rain of blood.
This sudden and brutal turn of events shocked everyone. They could never have imagined that someone in Chongque City would dare to launch such a ruthless strike against an official powerhouse.
Yet, Li Xiaofei did not stop. His eyes burned with killing intent. He thrust his spear again. Several elite experts from Wushuang City, who had rushed in upon hearing the commotion, turned into lifeless corpses under his strikes.
"The Demon Hunting Bureau is conducting official business. Anyone who stands in my way dies!" Li Xiaofei shouted.
At the same moment, the entire Wanjie Auction House suddenly trembled violently. It was as if an earthquake had struck.
The external energy shield and protective formations were abruptly shattered. Then, dozens of figures streaked inside like shooting stars. The leader, clad in pure white, was so dazzlingly handsome that it seemed almost unfair. His voice boomed like thunder as he shouted, "The Exploding Star Gang is here! Anyone who doesn't want to die, get out of the way!"