Si Yangze walked toward Zhang Bin, and naturally, the experts guarding him followed close behind.
Each of these experts was a Cultivator who had reached at least the Golden Core Realm, though there were also SS-level Psychics among them.
It was an immense force. Combined, they could likely cause Heaven-Destroying, Earth-Extinguishing devastation.
Everyone cast sidelong glances, not daring to breathe too loudly.
This guy seems to be heading right for me. What's going on? Is there something special about me? Zhang Bin wondered, puzzled.
Before long, Si Yangze arrived at Zhang Bin's table.
Ma Rufei and Chen Chaoyue had already shot to their feet and were standing respectfully, their faces filled with reverence.
Zhang Bin, however, acted as if he hadn't seen a thing, continuing to sip his tea. He was deeply displeased with this man, so why would he acknowledge him? Why would he adopt a deferential posture like Ma Rufei and the other man?
Si Yangze's pace faltered for a moment, his gaze lingering on Zhang Bin for several seconds.
Everywhere he had walked, the experts in their seats had all risen—whether they were from the Island Nation, America, or other countries, they all stood. This was simply because Si Yangze was far too powerful; he was someone who had a real chance to vie for the title of one of the world's supreme powerhouses in the future.
As long as he reached Golden Core Realm Great Perfection, he could virtually be considered one of them. Because he was younger than other experts at his level and showed no signs of aging, his combat strength was naturally greater.
But he never expected that a young man would completely ignore him, acting as if he didn't even exist.
The experts following behind Si Yangze were furious, their icy glares fixed on Zhang Bin. If this weren't an auction, they might have already stepped forward to teach him a lesson.
What made them want to spit blood in frustration was that Zhang Bin remained completely unfazed, continuing to sip his tea. He was being utterly audacious, acting as if no one else was in the room.
This kid is really something else, so arrogant, many Cultivators murmured to themselves, looks of admiration on their faces.
Si Yangze quickly picked up his pace, walked past Zhang Bin's table, and found an empty space up front to sit. The large contingent of top-tier experts from China naturally sat down with him.
"Master, I'm finally convinced. You're incredible, truly incredible, unbelievably so," Ma Rufei said, looking at Zhang Bin with astonished eyes, his face brimming with admiration.
As for Chen Chaoyue, he nearly fell to his knees. The man before him was someone who dared to remain seated in the presence of Si Yangze.
Zhang Bin smiled wryly to himself. It wasn't that he was being 'incredible'; he was just thoroughly annoyed with the man.
Besides, a conflict between him and Si Yangze was inevitable. Si Yangze was destined to become one of his most formidable opponents. If he were to stand up respectfully now, wouldn't that make him a laughingstock? That man had seized his Flying Sword and precious Spiritual Medicine, yet he was supposed to show him respect?
He would never forget that it was Elder Fei Yiming of the Daoyi Sect who had sanctimoniously confiscated his Flying Sword, greatly diminishing his combat power. If not for the many pets he had raised, he would have been killed by that black-clad, masked woman.
When the Daoyi Sect punished him, they never once considered his feelings, nor did they stop to think that without his Flying Sword, his enemies might come to kill him. This was the source of his greatest anger.
Indeed, after a long period of surveillance by Tutu, he had finally determined that the black-clad, masked woman was not connected to the Daoyi Sect. Therefore, it was most likely that Hanbing Yun had sent her. It was for this reason alone that he hadn't considered unleashing a massacre upon the Daoyi Sect. He merely planned to go to the Daoyi Sect and seek justice.
But accomplishing that would be incredibly difficult. The Daoyi Sect was too powerful, and Si Yangze alone stood before him like an imposing, insurmountable mountain.
Si Yangze, you want to become one of the world's top powerhouses? Let me tell you, that's just a sweet dream, Zhang Bin sneered inwardly. Because I will become powerful soon enough, and when that time comes, I'll stomp you into the ground.
Coincidentally, in an inconspicuous corner of the hall, sat three American experts—two women and one man—who were also sneering.
The man, in his twenties, was tall and exceptionally muscular. His eyes were strange—one red, one blue—and from time to time, a violent aura pulsed from him. The two women were also quite striking; they were young and beautiful with slender, graceful figures and blonde hair. Their faces were identical—they were twins. Their gazes were icy and sharp, and the cold sneers on their faces were chilling.
Peak of the Golden Core Realm? Is that supposed to be impressive? a barely audible whisper escaped their lips.
Clearly, they were America's latest creation: Genetically Enhanced Humans. They didn't even seem to think a peak Golden Core Realm Cultivator was a big deal.
Zhang Bin didn't notice these three, but he did see many other powerful Cultivators and Psychics. By the time the hall was nearly full, he had counted at least a hundred Golden Core Realm Cultivators and at least a hundred SS-level Psychic Masters, among them many women. He even suspected Hanbing Yun and Lin Youlan were among the crowd. They had likely altered their appearances, however, making it impossible for him to be sure.
Experts are as common as clouds here. Truly, a gathering of masters. This place holds almost all of the world's strongest fighters. It's only here that I can feel my own weakness, Zhang Bin mused in shock.
He even suspected that more powerful beings might be present, perhaps hidden from view or simply so far beyond his level that he lacked the ability to perceive their strength. After all, if you haven't reached a certain Realm, you can't detect others at that level. At his current stage, the most he could sense were Golden Core Realm Cultivators, SS-level Psychics, and Genetically Enhanced Humans. If a stronger entity were to appear right in front of him, he probably wouldn't even sense their power.
Finally, the auction began.
Several experts from the Island Nation appeared on the stage. After a few brief opening remarks, they announced the official start of the auction.
The auctioneer was a middle-aged man, full of passionate enthusiasm. He spoke in English, the international common tongue.
And the first item was brought out.
It was a Thousand-Year Tianshan Snow Lotus!
A Spiritual Medicine over a thousand years old was, of course, exceptionally rare on Earth. Consumed directly, such a Spiritual Medicine could give a Cultivator in the Liquid State a chance to break through their bottleneck. If used as the primary ingredient to refine a special Elixir, its effects would naturally be even greater.
And the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus was the main ingredient for refining the Condensing Crystal Pill.
The primary property of the Condensing Crystal Pill was its intense cold, which could solidify the liquid True Qi in one's Dantian, allowing it to coalesce into a Golden Core.
The many Cultivators in attendance grew extremely excited. They began entering bids on the remote-like bidding devices at their seats.
On the massive screen on stage, a continuous stream of scrolling bids began to appear.