"Sir, you are mighty, ridding the world of evil!"
"Your merits will last for ages, benefiting all generations!"
The guests were quick to read the winds and change their tune.
Seeing He Chongxu knocked to the ground by Ying Chen's palm and lying still, they immediately turned their allegiance, prostrating themselves before Ying Chen.
They shouted all sorts of flattering slogans, putting on a grand display.
Those who had been hesitating about transferring money now did so faster than anyone. Zhuang Ruoting's phone immediately started buzzing non-stop.
"Sir, my one hundred million protection fee has been transferred. My surname is Zhao! Just call me Xiao Zhao!"
"Sir, my one hundred million protection fee has also been transferred. My surname is Ai, just call me Lao Ai!"
"Sir, my family of three is so grateful for your immense kindness. Otherwise, we would have gone bankrupt! Wuwuwu... When I get home, I will definitely erect a tablet of longevity for you, praying that you live for five hundred, a thousand years!"
*Swish!*
Ying Chen looked at the man who wished him longevity, a glint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
The man shivered and collapsed onto the ground.
He didn't understand. This was clearly a good thing, so why was Ying Chen looking at him like that?
Had he made a mistake by wishing Ying Chen to live for five hundred, a thousand years?
He clearly didn't know that Ying Chen was already over two thousand years old. Wishing him to live for a thousand years was tantamount to cursing him to die immediately!
It was no wonder Ying Chen didn't give him a good look!
"Wh... why?"
At this moment, He Chongxu, whom everyone thought was dead, suddenly struggled to sit up and asked with a look of despair.
"I've already reached the eighth realm of術法 (shùfǎ - magical arts), I've already reached the pinnacle of power in this world, why am I still no match for you?"
"What realm are you in? Are you a Heavenly rank expert?"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! Even if Heavenly rank experts exist in this world, they would never be someone as young as you!"
He Chongxu muttered to himself, filled with both confusion and unwillingness regarding Ying Chen.
Ying Chen looked to be only in his early twenties, more than twenty years younger than him.
Why could Ying Chen cultivate to such a realm at such a young age, while he, having reached the eighth realm of術法, was still utterly crushed by Ying Chen?
Ying Chen glanced at He Chongxu and showed a hint of relief. "You're not dead? That's great!"
"I almost thought I'd used too much force and flattened you with one palm!"
His expression suggested he was worried about Ying Chen's background or something else, as if he were afraid of killing He Chongxu.
"Huh?" Even He Chongxu instinctively frowned. "Does he know my background? Does he know that if he killed me, he would incur the wrath of my martial uncle?"
"Who exactly is this guy? His martial arts are incredibly high, but he's also so well-informed. There doesn't seem to be anyone like him from the mainland! Even if there were, they would surely hold important positions in one of the Five Great Sects. There's no reason for them to come to Hong Kong to fight and kill over such a small matter!"
He Chongxu was deeply perplexed.
With Ying Chen's skill, if he wished, he could definitely secure a guest elder position in one of the Five Great Sects.
With that guest elder status, Ying Chen wouldn't need to come himself. A single command would be enough for the Liao family to obediently hand over the money.
After all, the formidable foundation of the Five Great Sects was something a small family like the Liao family could not resist!
The Liao family might dare to renege on a debt to Ying Chen, but they would absolutely not dare to renege on a debt to the Five Great Sects!
However, Ying Chen did not do this. Instead, he came in person and was even set up by the Liao family.
This indicated that Ying Chen did not have any powerful background.
"Could it be... he's a disciple of a declining ancient martial arts sect? These declining sects might only have a handful of members left, but because their ancestors were once prominent, their foundations remain."
"Once they find a talented prodigy, they can immediately cultivate a top master."
"Yes! That must be it! Otherwise, so many people here wouldn't have seen him before, let alone know his origin!"
He Chongxu, thinking he was being clever, believed he had guessed Ying Chen's background.
Ying Chen, however, had no intention of indulging He Chongxu's thoughts. He strode forward and lifted He Chongxu.
This made He Chongxu's eyelids twitch and his face change dramatically. "You... you... don't be rash!"
"It's the rules of the martial world, a point of contention is enough. I have no strength left to fight, I admit defeat! You cannot kill me!"
"Otherwise, you will be scorned by the entire martial and mystical world!"
Ying Chen let out a scoff.
Scorned by the martial and mystical world?
So what?
Ying Chen didn't rely on them for his survival.
However, Ying Chen did not intend to kill He Chongxu. Instead, he held He Chongxu up and gave him a gentle shake.
*Rustle!*
As if shaking off snake skin, he instantly pulled off the divine immortal Taoist robe, the *Hecang* (a type of ancient Chinese robe), that was wrapped around He Chongxu.
He Chongxu fell to the ground with a thud.
He was both relieved and indignant.
Relieved that Ying Chen hadn't killed him;
Indignant that Ying Chen was shameless, stealing his means of livelihood!
This divine immortal Taoist robe was almost equivalent to his life-bound magical artifact!
It was his very foundation of survival!
Now that it was taken by Ying Chen, not only was his loss heavy, but his combat power was also significantly reduced!
It was more severe than a tiger having its claws cut off, a venomous snake having its fangs pulled, or an eagle having its feathers plucked!
If his enemies found out, they might come to seek revenge overnight.
"Tsk tsk, it's truly a good item." Ying Chen examined the divine immortal Taoist robe, praising it repeatedly.
With every praise from Ying Chen, He Chongxu felt his heart bleeding.
Just as He Chongxu thought Ying Chen was going to keep the divine immortal Taoist robe for himself, Ying Chen did something peculiar.
Ying Chen strode directly onto the auction stage!
Seeing Ying Chen's action, everyone was stunned.
They didn't understand what Ying Chen was going to do.
Ying Chen picked up the microphone on the stage and blew on it gently.
Then, he loudly announced, "The auction will continue!"
"Next, we will auction an ultimate treasure!"
"This ultimate treasure is different from the golden jade robe. It's not an ancient artifact, but it possesses a charm that is even more captivating than ancient artifacts!"
"Because..."
"It is a magical artifact!"
"Its name is - the Divine Immortal Taoist Robe!"
*Plop!*
He Chongxu, who had just struggled to sit up, collapsed onto the ground again upon hearing Ying Chen's words.
His eyes were wide open, his face filled with intense shock and disbelief.
Even a thief would find a secluded corner to examine their loot and then fence it!
Ying Chen, on the other hand, started fencing the goods on the spot in front of the victim!
He didn't care about the victim's feelings or considerations at all!
"Beast!"
"Shameless!"
"Unscrupulous!"
He Chongxu lay on the ground, pointing at Ying Chen and cursing.
When he heard the starting price of the divine immortal Taoist robe that Ying Chen announced, he choked on his breath and almost suffocated!
"The auction begins! The starting bid is forty billion!"
"A friendly reminder to everyone to bid rationally and not get carried away."
Ying Chen said the starting price and then added a considerate reminder.
Everyone present had a dark look on their foreheads.
With a starting bid of forty billion, how could anyone get carried away?
Did they think everyone was stupid?