69novels Page 217
Page 217
It made a crisp metallic sound when the nail was driven into the wooden post behind him.
"Why should Young Master Wei get involved in this mess? The three million taels from the royal family are enough for you to live a carefree life in the martial world for ten years."
The hidden spiritual force in the words struck Wei Changxuan's sea of consciousness, but was gently repelled by the warm aura of the golden pages of the Earth Book.
Instead, a scene of the "Azure Jade Slip" resonating with the key to the underground palace appeared in his mind.
The commotion downstairs was like a thunderclap.
The red-clad youth, Meng Lang, kicked the door open, and the wine spilled from his nine-ringed sword ignited blue flames on the ground—it was Baichuanlou's unique "Burning Heart Wine," which would ignite upon contact.
He tilted his head back and gulped down a mouthful of wine, the clinking of knife hilts mingling with his drunken laughter:
"Those bastards in the Dark River want to steal the jade slip? They'll have to ask my sword if it'll allow it first!"
The blade sliced through the air, leaving charred marks on the gilded gate.
Just as the hidden assassins behind the door were about to make their move, Wei Changxuan raised his hand and shook it lightly—revealing his identity now would only make the auction situation more chaotic.
The auctioneer carried a jade tray onto the stage; the jade tablet on the mutton-fat jade tray gleamed with a warm, bluish light.
The cloud and thunder patterns engraved on the edge shone slightly under Wei Changxuan's gaze.
He heard the Earth Book tremble slightly in his sleeve, the golden patterns on its pages resonating with the engravings on the jade slip.
It's like a contract made millions of years ago.
The moment the gavel fell, the ivory plaque representing the Northern Li royal family was already raised high:
"One million taels!" The voice was filled with an unwavering determination.
Yueyao's sedan curtain was lifted half an inch, and Cangwuzi's calculating fingers suddenly paused.
The price quoted from inside the sedan remained steady: "One and a half million."
Wei Changxuan caught a glimpse of the faint light emanating from the jade bracelet on her wrist—
That was the sensation from the "Tianji Mirror" of the Outer Heavens, probably deducing the connection between the jade slip and the immortal book.
Lu Shaoyou's folding fan snapped open, and the two characters "Qingxiao" on the fan surface shone brightly from the force of his internal energy.
"Two million taels! Wushuang City is willing to contribute its sincerity to the jade slip."
The scabbard of his Azure Sky Sword jingled softly as twenty-eight bodyguards formed a sword formation according to the Big Dipper constellation.
The cold glint of the sword blade made the jade slip's blue light shine even brighter.
Meng Lang suddenly leaped onto the display platform, his nine-ringed sword slamming heavily against the edge of the jade plate.
The sparks that flew up landed on the jade slip but left no trace:
"Damn it! I'll offer three million taels of silver—plus the lives of three hundred brothers from Baichuanlou!"
The knife scar on his neck turned red with excitement, and the stopper on the gourd at his waist popped open.
When the Burning Heart Wine was poured onto the display stand, it unexpectedly ignited crimson flames that intertwined with the azure light of the jade slip.
Shen Mo's zither music suddenly changed tone, and ice shards transformed into a rain of swords that slashed towards Meng Lang.
However, the latter's blade cleaved it into shards of ice, and the ice crystals landed on the lightning patterns on Wei Changxuan's robes, melting into water droplets crackling with lightning.
Chapter 401 The Divine Punishment!
"Four million taels." Wei Changxuan finally spoke, his voice trembling with the golden pages of the Earth Book, instantly freezing the clamor in the entire hall.
He glanced at the auctioneer's shocked expression, his fingertips pressing against the Earth Book within his sleeve—the resonance he had just experienced with the jade slip.
This has confirmed to him that this is indeed the "Heavenly Key" that unlocks the underground palace.
The half-jade slip that Lei Qianjue had given him was now burning hot against his chest.
Yueyao's sedan curtain was suddenly flung open, and Cangwuzi's gaze towards him became more solemn.
"Young master, do you know what kind of rift in the Heavenly Dao this jade slip would cause if it were combined with the items in the Lei family's underground palace?"
"This junior only wants to protect those who should be protected and break the deadlock that should be broken."
Wei Changxuan smiled faintly, the thunder pattern silver thread on the hem of his clothes shimmering slightly under the lamplight, echoing the cloud and thunder pattern on the jade slip.
Shen Mo's zither music suddenly turned obscure, and he saw a golden phantom flash in Wei Changxuan's sea of consciousness.
This is the "messenger of divine punishment" phenomenon recorded in the fragments of the Primordial Scripture.
Lu Shaoyou slowly closed his folding fan, realizing that the young man before him was no ordinary martial arts practitioner—the aura emanating from him...
It was able to simultaneously affect the nerves of the Thunder Gate, the Outer Heaven, and even the Imperial Family.
When the auctioneer's gavel fell for the third time, the dome of the Treasure Pavilion suddenly shook.
A poisonous mist bomb from an assassin from the Dark River broke through the window, but was burned to ashes by the lightning barrier that Wei Changxuan had set up in advance.
Meng Lang seized the opportunity to snatch the jade slip, but screamed the moment he touched it—lightning patterns suddenly appeared on the surface of the jade slip.
The creatures wrapped around his arms like living things, a testament to the Earth Book's rejection of those "not of the bloodline of divine punishment."
"Let go of me!" He swung his sword to strike, but saw golden pages swirling at Wei Changxuan's fingertips.
He gently touched the jade slip, and the thunder pattern transformed into a gentle band of light that meandered around the boy's wrist.
"This jade slip can only be held by those of the Heavenly Punishment bloodline." Cangwuzi's sigh mingled with the sound of his zither.
"The rules left behind by the Primordial Immortal have finally come true."
Wei Changxuan took the jade slip, his fingertips touching the four characters "Qingxiao Returns to Its Position" engraved on the back. Suddenly, the golden pages of the Earth Script detached from his body.
Transforming into a stream of light and merging into the jade slip—in an instant, all the thunder-patterned bricks in the Treasure Pavilion lit up simultaneously.
A muffled rumble came from the direction of the underground palace, as if the Earth Key was responding to the Heaven Key's call.
Yueyao's jade bracelet cracked with a sharp "snap," revealing a fine line. She gazed at the intertwined golden and blue light in Wei Changxuan's palm.
Suddenly, I recalled Cangwuzi's words: "The true essence is revealed above the Nine Palaces"—perhaps this so-called "true essence"...
It was never the power of the Immortal Book, but rather the ability of someone who could simultaneously control both the Thunder Punishment and the Heavenly Dao.
Shen Mo's zither music gradually faded, and the icicles melted into spring water at his fingertips.
When it dripped onto the ground, it condensed into the rudiments of the characters "Divine Punishment".
Meng Lang, rubbing his arm burned by the lightning patterns, suddenly grinned and laughed:
"Interesting! I'd like to see just how much trouble you, kid with the gold leaf, can stir up in this martial world!"
Outside the Treasure Pavilion, night had fallen, yet countless shadowy figures converged towards the underground palace—spies from the Dark River, the Hundred Rivers Pavilion, and even the Northern Li royal family.
They all came out after sensing the unusual movement of the jade slip.
Wei Changxuan gazed at the jade slip in his hand, now infused with the golden pages of the Earth Book, feeling the heartbeat within him synchronized with the earth's veins.
Knowing that the real test had only just begun—the journey to the underground palace three days later,
Not only must they face the ambush of the underground river, but they must also unravel the ultimate secrets of the Immortal Book and the Primordial Scripture.
The earth book in his sleeve, the thunder patterns on his clothes, and even the jade slip in his palm...
These will all become the most crucial keys to breaking the deadlock in this "divine punishment" situation.
Chapter 402 Everyone is shocked! The auction venue!
At this moment, the auctioneer announced the sale with a trembling voice, his tone tinged with awe.
In his decades-long career, he had never seen a single auction item attract so many powerful figures in the underworld.
I have never seen anyone make the Azure Jade Slip willingly recognize its owner.
As Wei Changxuan turned around, he caught a glimpse of Cangwuzi putting the "Heavenly Dao Token" into his sleeve. The old man's gaze towards him...
There was both relief and worry: "Young friend, remember this: once the rift in the Heavenly Dao opens, it can bring about both good fortune and calamity..."
Before he could finish speaking, a thunderous roar, signaling the activation of the Thunder Punishment Array, suddenly came from the direction of the underground palace.
The golden pages of the earth script in Wei Changxuan's sleeve appeared again.
Everyone present saw that at the center of the star map was Wei Changxuan holding a jade slip—
Like a prophetic scroll, it slowly unfolds in the lamplight of the Treasure Pavilion.
This foreshadows a new world dominated by lightning and the Heavenly Dao, about to unfold a brand new chapter under the key of the Immortal's Book.
In this bustling auction house filled with a dazzling array of treasures,
The atmosphere was as heated as a burning flame, and the appearance of each rare item triggered a fierce bidding frenzy.
At this moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on the jade slip on the stage, which was emitting a mysterious aura.
This jade slip is said to contain the unparalleled martial arts techniques of an ancient master, making it coveted by various forces, all of whom are determined to obtain it.
Wei Changxuan, dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, sat upright in the VIP section.
He lightly waved his folding fan, a casual smile on his face, but in reality, he was secretly observing the situation on the field.
Just as he was about to raise the bidding paddle in his hand,
A subtle yet clear sound, like a silk thread, quietly entered his ears.
He paused slightly, his gaze instinctively turning towards Sikong Yan, the one who had sent the telepathic message.
Sikong Yan remained calm, as if nothing had happened, and simply flicked his fingertip lightly.
The seven copper coins rolled smoothly on the smooth tabletop, eventually coming to a stop, forming the hexagram "Zhen".
He closed his folding fan, gently tapped his palm, and spoke with a faint smile, his voice clear and resonant, yet capable of carrying throughout the entire hall:
"Three million taels of silver. In addition, I am also attaching a rubbing of the ancient Thunder Pattern Sword Manual."
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent instantly, followed by an uproar.
All eyes turned to Wei Changxuan, their eyes filled with shock and confusion.
Lei Qianjue sat in the corner, his previously leisurely expression vanishing instantly, his pupils contracting sharply as if struck by lightning.
This Thunder Pattern Sword Manual is a secret passed down within the Thunder Sect, and has never been leaked in the slightest.
Now that Wei Changxuan can use this as leverage, it is clear that he has already reached some kind of tacit understanding with Lei Men.
Thinking of this, Lei Qianjue couldn't help but feel a complex mix of emotions, including admiration for Wei Changxuan's methods and worry about the spread of his family's secret manual.
"What a brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone." Cangwuzi had been resting with his eyes closed, seemingly detached from the situation.