Chapter Sixty: Attending the Auction

To say nothing of anything else, merely monopolizing the resources of Panlong City could yield a monthly income exceeding ten million taels of silver—a gap only a few times greater than that of the top ten families. Previously, however, the Zhang clan ranked around sixty among all families in Qingxue County, possessing six masters of the Meridian-Opening Realm, and their monthly income was little more than five million taels of silver.

Now, the Lin clan had only two Meridian-Opening Realm experts, yet they sought to claim Panlong City with its monthly revenue of ten million taels, inevitably provoking the covetous gaze of other families. Unless, of course, the Lin clan was willing to surrender half their profits to the top ten families, seeking their protection.

But this was not what Lin Fan desired. He had separated Lin Fan from Xiao Bei City precisely to strengthen the Lin clan. If they sought protection, then no matter how powerful they became, they would remain mere vassals of the great families.

“Draw prizes with all remaining negative emotion points!”

Lin Fan gritted his teeth, pushing aside these thoughts, and spoke to the system. He had just spent forty thousand negative emotion points purchasing Vitality Fruits and Body-Tempering Fruits. Now, he had three hundred thirty thousand and eight hundred points left, enough for one hundred sixty-nine draws. He refused to believe he could not obtain something extraordinary.

Ding!

“Congratulations, Host. No prize won!”

Ding!

“Congratulations, Host. No prize won!”

Ding!

The lottery draws passed swiftly, and after one hundred sixty-nine attempts, Lin Fan’s face was dark with frustration—not because he had won nothing, but rather because he had acquired several good items.

For instance, a World Tree seedling, which could absorb the essence of flesh and blood to grow, eventually bearing fruit rich in spiritual energy, enhancing one’s cultivation. The strength of the fruit depended on the intensity of the blood it was fed.

He also obtained a Broken Divine Crossbow, two Thunder Essence Crystals, a bottle of Savage Beast Bloodline, three Vitality Fruits—things he would normally be quite satisfied to receive.

But now, what he truly wished for was the Life Origin Pill.

Only if he drew the Life Origin Pill could his injuries be instantly healed, enabling him to accomplish much. If he won two pills, he could claim Panlong City for the Lin clan, and, should any family dare challenge them, he would not hesitate to wield his soul power to annihilate their Meridian-Opening experts, making an example of them. Then, he would consume another Life Origin Pill and recover.

Yet, after one hundred sixty-nine opportunities, he had not obtained a single Life Origin Pill.

Certainly, the World Tree seedling would be of immense benefit in the future, while the Thunder Essence Crystals might be somewhat useful now. The Thunder Essence Crystal’s power equaled a full-force strike from a Meridian-Opening master of the early stage; used unexpectedly, it could seriously injure or even kill such an expert.

He would reserve the Thunder Essence Crystals, Vitality Fruits, and Broken Divine Crossbow for the family. The Savage Beast Bloodline and World Tree seedling he would keep for himself. The Savage Beast Bloodline was meant for beasts, and though he had no use for it now, it could become valuable once he acquired a pet. The World Tree seedling would require nurturing, and would not be useful in the short term.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. When Lin Fan once again set foot in Qingxue County City, he was alone. Zhang Yi and the others had been left behind to guard Panlong City, while, in secret, members of the Lin clan began migrating toward the city.

“Brother Fan!”

“Brother Fan...!”

Xiao Shuihan and the others, knowing Brother Fan would return today, had waited by the city gate, and then led Lin Fan directly to the Four Seas Auction House.

Soon, they arrived at the auction house—a vast estate covering twenty li, its decor far more ostentatious than the Four Seas Restaurant, lavishly adorned with gold and jade, exuding an impressive grandeur.

After Qian Jin presented a golden token, the guards at the entrance immediately adopted a fawning demeanor, guiding them to a private room on the second floor.

Lin Fan sat down, and Xiao Shuihan and the others followed suit. Qian Jin smiled and said, “Brother Fan, this is Private Room Number Thirteen. The auction will begin in a few minutes, and the items you sent ahead have all been arranged.”

“Very well, I understand. By the way, your Four Seas Commerce is so vast, your intelligence network must be formidable. Could you help me investigate whether there are any Meridian-Opening experts in Qingxue County who have not joined any major forces?”

Lin Fan nodded and smiled at Qian Jin.

This time, upon entering Qingxue County City, he had mostly resolved the issue of the five hundred million taels, but improving the Lin clan’s strength troubled him. Soon, he would depart Qingxue County for Tianshu Academy, and the Lin clan’s current power left him uneasy.

Thus, he asked, hoping to recruit some experts for the family.

As for the conditions for recruitment, he possessed countless supreme techniques and battle arts in his mind, any of which far surpassed the so-called River Realm methods. He did not fear that these experts would remain unmoved.

Just as when he left Panlong City, he had already taught some powerful battle arts to Zhang Yi and the other eight subordinates he had subdued.

These ten were controlled by contract, so he had no worries, only wishing their strength would grow as high as possible.

Were it not for the fact that cultivation methods differed somewhat from the world’s underlying rules, he would have taught even those.

After all, the key to cultivation is not how strong your battle techniques are, nor how mighty your martial arts; it is the cultivation method, the very foundation of all training.

No matter how formidable your battle arts, remember: brute force overcomes skill.

You may rely on techniques to fight across realms, but how many levels can you cross? How many realms?

Battle arts may be infinitely powerful, but the human body is finite. No matter how strong the arts, once you reach a certain point, further improvement is impossible—your body can no longer withstand it.

Unless you break through.

Otherwise, suppose you can fight undefeated across one realm; but someone two realms higher could still crush you. If you can cross two, someone three realms higher can still kill you.

For example, Lin Fan himself, though his mind held countless supreme arts, only the lowest-level battle techniques could be truly used. Even if he could use battle arts to fight across realms, against Meridian-Opening experts, without soul power, he could not withstand more than a few moves before being killed.

Just as with Zhang Lao Qi—without resorting to mental attacks, he would have died.

He had taught Xiao Shuihan and the others the Wind and Thunder Force, which, normally, could not be used beyond the Qi Pulse Realm. The difference in power was simply too great; it was impossible to amplify one’s strength several times over.

Now that he was in the Vitality Realm, thanks to the purity and strength of his Vitality Threads, upon reaching the late stage of the Vitality Realm, the Wind and Thunder Force would cease to be effective.

Even if he could use other martial arts to crush same-realm experts, or sweep through another realm with blade intent, he would still be unable to contend with Meridian-Opening experts.

Why must he attend Tianshu Academy? Because it is the place with the most cultivation methods in the entire Ice and Snow Kingdom!

Once he corrects his previous life’s peerless methods, his cultivation speed will surely soar by leaps and bounds.

It would be no less than the improvement brought by the Ascendant System.

Therefore, raising one’s realm is the true path; battle arts are merely its accessories.

Just as constructing a grand building, a solid foundation is the true path, while luxurious decoration is merely incidental.

Now, he needed to find some Meridian-Opening experts who had not joined any forces, or those from minor factions, lure them with battle arts, and use Zhang Yi and Grandfather Lin Batian as leverage to compel their allegiance, thereby strengthening the Lin clan.

“Meridian-Opening experts who haven’t joined a force?”

Qian Jin heard this and exchanged glances with Shuihan and the others, then suddenly understood.

Brother Fan intended to recruit people to the Lin clan and enhance its strength.

Although Lin Fan hadn’t told them about the Mo Li clan relinquishing Panlong City, they believed the Lin clan’s entry into Panlong City was a foregone conclusion.

After all, the resources there far surpassed those of Xiao Bei City. For family development, it was essential.

They had originally planned to help Brother Fan gather a hundred Qi Pulse experts.

Unexpectedly, Brother Fan had subdued Zhang Yi of the Zhang clan, albeit with the help of a mysterious master—Brother Fan’s teacher.

Even so, Zhang Yi’s strength, his control over the Zhang clan’s power, combined with an alliance with the Mo clan, made their gathering of a hundred Qi Pulse experts unnecessary.

Plans never keep pace with changes!

They still regretted not helping Brother Fan in his hour of life and death, but now, hearing his words, their spirits lifted.

“Brother Fan, I know of Meridian-Opening experts who haven’t joined any forces!”

“Brother Fan, I do too!”

“Divine Fist Fierce Tiger!”

“Overlord Spear Yin Peng...!”

Latest chapter address for Era of the Gods:

Full text reading address for Era of the Gods: /66613/

Era of the Gods txt download address:

Era of the Gods mobile reading: /66613/

For your convenience, you can click “Bookmark” on the right to record your reading progress (Chapter 60: Attending the Auction), and next time, just open your bookshelf to continue!

If you like “Era of the Gods,” please recommend it to your friends (via QQ, blog, WeChat, etc.)—thank you for your support!