Living in the deep palace

The next day.

In the heart of Black Iron City, at Wanbao Pavilion.

This is a magnificent building hollowed out from a single massive piece of meteorite iron, exuding a cold, metallic luster.

Today, Wanbaoge is a gathering place for powerful figures.

Not only were all the leaders of the major forces in Black Iron City present, but even the ruthless figures from several surrounding settlements also came to investigate.

On the streets, all sorts of strange mounts, and even flying boats made of bones, surrounded Wanbaoge.

"Look! That's 'Blood Hand Demon Lord' Zhao Wuji! A powerful expert at the late Golden Immortal stage. It's said that the blood-red blade in his hand was forged from the souls of nine thousand nine hundred Xuan Yu Immortals!"

"And that one sitting in the skeleton sedan chair is the 'Bone Mistress'! She's a poison master whom even the city lord has to give some face to!"

Exclamations of surprise could be heard from the crowd from time to time.

Su Chen blended into the crowd, his aura extremely concealed, like a follower or a low-level cultivator watching the spectacle.

He did not send an invitation.

But that's not a problem for him now.

At the entrance of Wanbaoge, several guards were stopping a group of cultivators who wanted to sneak in.

"No invitation? Get out!"

"Or verify your funds! If you're a penniless wretch with less than a thousand high-grade source stones, don't bother coming!"

Su Chen walked to the door, and before the guard could reprimand him, he raised his hand and spread his five fingers.

hum!
A faint golden aura of pressure flashed by.

That wasn't spiritual pressure, but pure, life-level "order" suppression!
That was a trace of the Heavenly Emperor's Bone.

The guards, who were only at the True Immortal level, instantly felt as if they were being targeted by a prehistoric beast. Their legs went weak, and they almost knelt down on the spot.

Cold sweat instantly soaked their backs.

"Can I... go in?" Su Chen asked calmly.

"Yes...yes! Please, senior, take a seat!"

The lead guard stammered, his eyes filled with fear.

He couldn't see through Su Chen's cultivation level, but he knew that in that instant, if Su Chen had wanted to, they would all be dead.

This is a monster in human skin!

At least at the high level of the Xuanxian realm!

Otherwise, it would be impossible to exert such pressure on them through the great formation.

See this.

Su Chen concealed his aura and strode into the Wanbao Pavilion.

He didn't cause any trouble.

It's not the right time yet. Before his strength recovers to the level of the fourth realm, he should keep a low profile.

otherwise.

If we provoke a being from the Fifth Realm, then everything will end prematurely.

……

……

The auction hall was extremely spacious, large enough to accommodate thousands of people.

In the center was a huge floating exhibition platform, surrounded by rows of seats, and above that were a dozen or so suspended private boxes, reserved for truly important figures.

Su Chen didn't try to grab a private room, but instead found an inconspicuous corner to sit down and close his eyes to rest.

He is waiting.

The longing within the Tree of Immortality was growing stronger.

"It's right here..."

As time went on, the hall became packed.

"when--"

A clear chime rang out, silencing all the noise.

A woman dressed in a red dress, exuding charm and allure, walked onto the stage.

She is the confidante of the Black Iron City Lord and the chief auctioneer for this auction, known as "Red Lotus Fairy".

He was a powerful expert at the Xuan Yu Immortal level.

"Welcome, fellow Daoists, to grace us with your presence."

Honglian's voice was soft and sweet, yet carried an unassailable air of authority: "Enough with the pleasantries, today's auction is officially beginning!"

One by one, the treasures were brought to the stage.

There are broken immortal artifacts unearthed from ancient battlefields, the inner core of some powerful Void Beast, and even a demonic cultivation technique called "Blood Fiend Soul Refining Technique".

The atmosphere at the scene gradually heated up, with bids rising and falling.

Su Chen kept his eyes closed, showing no interest in these so-called "treasures".

In his eyes, these things were nothing but garbage.

until……

"Next up is one of the highlight of this auction!"

Honglian's voice suddenly rose, and her expression became solemn.

Two Golden Immortals acted as guards, carefully carrying a tray covered with a black cloth as they walked up.

As the black cloth was lifted.

boom!
An aura of vicissitude, vastness, yet also carrying a sense of ruin and death instantly filled the entire hall!

It was a rock the size of a fist.

Its entire body is deep blue, and its interior seems to contain a miniature starry sky, with countless tiny starlight points slowly rotating inside. However, most of the starlight points have been extinguished, and only a faint starlight remains at the core.

"A fragmented... core of the Star Sea!"

Su Chen suddenly opened his eyes, and an unprecedented glint of light burst forth from his deep eyes!
The Longevity Tree within his body trembled violently, an extreme desire to devour the stone whole!
"Everyone!"

Honglian loudly proclaimed, "This is a core from a 'Middle Thousand World' that has already been destroyed!"

"The Lesser Thousand Worlds represent the early stage of the Fifth Realm, while the Middle Thousand Worlds represent the middle stage of the Fifth Realm!"

"Therefore."

Even if it is incomplete and damaged to the extreme, it still contains the origin of the world and the laws of the stars!

"If one can refine it, a Golden Immortal cultivator may have a chance to glimpse the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm! There is even a one or two in ten thousand chance of transforming into the Great Luo Immortal, which can only be achieved by the Taiyi Seed. Furthermore, one can use this to repair one's own fourth realm cave world!"

Starting bid: 10,000 high-grade source stones!

boom!
The whole place was excited!

Ten thousand high-grade source stones! That's an astronomical figure! Enough to buy ten small gangs in Black Iron City!

Even so, the bidding continued like a tidal wave.

"Just in case!"

"twelve thousand!"

"Fifteen thousand! I'll take this!"

From the private room on the second floor came the hoarse voice of "Blood Hand Demon Lord" Zhao Wuji.

"Twenty thousand!" The voice of the Bone Goddess followed closely behind.

Su Chen sat in the corner, quietly watching the revelry.

He felt in his pocket.

There were only a few low-grade source stones that had been stolen inside.

"Ha... I can't afford it."

Su Chen chuckled self-deprecatingly.

But in that smile, there was no helplessness, only...coldness.

"Since we can't afford it..."

"Then we'll have to... try a different approach."

Just as the price climbed to "35,000" high-grade source stones, and was about to be won by a mysterious powerhouse in the top-floor VIP box.

In the corner, Su Chen, who had been silent all along, slowly stood up.

His movements were very light, but they seemed somewhat abrupt at a time when everyone was focused on the booth.

"I'll make the offer."

Su Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it pierced through all the noise and resounded clearly in everyone's ears.

Everyone was stunned and turned to look at the "wild man" dressed in a tattered blue robe.

"Who is this person?"

"Dressed like a beggar, and you dare to bid?"

"Are you here to cause trouble?"

Honglian on the stage frowned slightly, but still maintained a professional smile: "Fellow Daoist, how much are you bidding?"

Su Chen slowly raised his hand and took something out of his pocket.

It was a broken horn, about three feet long, crystal clear, and radiating a strong spatial fluctuation.

The single horn of the Sky-Splitting Crystal Armored Rhinoceros!
And it's a whole, complete stick!

boom!
The moment the unicorn appeared, the entire hall fell silent once again.

Those who know their stuff recognized it instantly.

"That's... the horn of the Sky-Splitting Crystal Armored Rhinoceros?!" "My God! That's the beast king from the Shattered Star Forest?! It... it's been killed?!"

"And judging from the marks on the break... it was forcibly broken off?!"

Even Honglian covered her mouth, her eyes filled with shock.

While this unicorn may not be as valuable as the core of the Star Sea, it is still an absolute rare treasure!
"Use this to exchange for that stone."

Su Chen said calmly, "Is that enough?"

“This…” Honglian hesitated.

In terms of value, a unicorn is worth about 20,000 high-grade source stones, which is still far from the current bidding price.

"not enough."

Just then, a majestic and domineering voice came from the most luxurious private room on the top floor.

"I, the city lord, am determined to obtain this core of the star sea."

"This corner is good, but if you want to replace the core... it's far from enough."

That is the master of Black Iron City!

Tie Wuyai, a powerful figure who is half a step into the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm!

Su Chen raised his head, his gaze piercing through the void as he looked at the private room.

"Is it even that far off?"

Su Chen put away his unicorn horn, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Then add... your life, is that enough?"

These words struck like a thunderclap within the Wanbao Pavilion.

Everyone was stunned.

They wondered if there was something wrong with their ears.

In this Black Iron City, on Tie Wuyai's territory, someone actually dares to openly threaten the city lord?!

Moreover, he was a "wild man" who appeared to have no spiritual energy fluctuations?
Although Tie Wuyai was only at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, a section of the remains of a Great Luo Immortal had been fused into his body.

Therefore.

He is extremely powerful.

He is practically a fourth-realm being, an invincible being among Golden Immortals!
And now.

Someone actually dared to provoke him!

They even threatened Tie Wuyuan's life?
It's crazy.

"presumptuous!!"

"How dare you! You dare to disrespect the city lord!"

"Men! Seize him! Skin him alive!"

Before Tie Wuyai could speak, the cultivators who wanted to curry favor with the city lord, as well as the guards of Wanbaoge, roared and rushed forward.

More than a dozen beams of magical light and several magical treasures, accompanied by a whistling sound, slammed fiercely towards Su Chen!

However, Su Chen didn't even glance at them.

He kept looking up at the private room, his eyes fixed on the core of the Star Sea.

"Since you refuse to change..."

"Then let's rob it."

boom!
Su Chen stomped his right foot hard on the ground!
It was not an outburst of magical power, but purely a physical shock!
Boom-!
The entire Wanbao Pavilion trembled violently, and a terrifying shockwave, visible to the naked eye, spread wildly outwards from Su Chen as the center!

Those guards and cultivators who rushed up were like fallen leaves in a gale. Before they could even get within three zhang of Su Chen, they were directly blasted away, coughing up blood!

boom! boom! boom!
Some people slammed their heads against the wall, others smashed tables and chairs, and there was a chorus of wails.

One powerful kick clears the field!

"Ok?"

A soft exclamation came from inside the top-floor private room.

Immediately afterwards, a figure slowly walked out.

He was a burly middle-aged man wearing black iron armor.

His face was cold and hard, and he was surrounded by a heavy, earthy-yellow aura of law, which was a branch of the law of earth—the law of gravity.

Tie Wuya, a half-step immortal Da Luo!

He looked down at Su Chen, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but more so disdain.

"So it was a form of self-cultivation."

"No wonder it was able to kill the Sky-Splitting Crystal Armored Rhinoceros. It has some brute strength."

"But to flaunt your power in front of me, the city lord... you're courting death!"

Tie Wuyai snorted coldly and pressed down with one hand.

"Your Majesty!"

boom!
The space inside the Wanbao Pavilion instantly froze.

A terrifying gravitational field, like an ancient divine mountain collapsing, pressed down heavily on Su Chen!
This gravity is enough to instantly crush a Golden Immortal cultivator into a pulp!

"This...this is the city lord's 'Ten Thousand Times Gravity Domain'!"

"This kid is dead!"

The surrounding cultivators retreated in fear, lest they be caught in the crossfire.

however.

Under that gravity strong enough to crush space itself.

Su Chen's body remained ramrod straight, without even bending his knees.

He simply shook his shoulders slightly, as if brushing off the dust from his body.

"gravity?"

Su Chen laughed, a very contemptuous laugh.

"Your laws... are too weak to suppress my body."

The words have not yet fallen.

Su Chen's figure disappeared!
It's not teleportation, but a speed so fast that it's impossible for the naked eye to detect!

next moment.

He had already appeared in mid-air, right in front of Tie Wuyai!

"what?!"

Tie Wuya's pupils contracted violently.

How is this possible?! How can he still possess such speed under ten thousand times the force of gravity?!
But he was, after all, a renowned expert at the half-step immortal level, and his reaction was extremely fast.

"Black Iron Shield!"

Countless streams of black metallic light converged in front of him, instantly forming a heavy shield.

But that makes no sense.

Su Chen simply threw a punch.

This punch was devoid of any fancy moves, only featuring a faint golden sheen on the fist.

[Eternal Life - Heavenly Emperor's Bone]!
Under order, all laws are broken!
boom--! ! !
A deafening roar shook the heavens!

That black iron shield, which was strong enough to withstand the bombardment of a low-grade immortal artifact, was as fragile as glass in front of Su Chen's fist and shattered instantly!

The punches continued unabated, charging straight in!
"Do not--"

Tie Wuyai let out a terrified roar, trying to retreat, but it was too late.

boom!
Su Chen's fist slammed heavily into his chest armor.

That incredibly sturdy low-grade immortal treasure armor dented and then disintegrated under the immense force!

puff!
Tie Wuyai coughed up blood and slammed into the wall of the private room behind him like a cannonball, smashing a large hole in the meteorite iron-forged wall and flying out of Wanbaoge!

"This……"

There was deathly silence in the hall.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the scene.

One punch?!

Just one punch!
That half-step Taiyi expert who had dominated Black Iron City for hundreds of years was just blasted away?!

"Roar—! You damned scum! I'll tear you to pieces!"

A furious roar came from outside.

boom!
A beam of earthy yellow light shot into the sky, and Tie Wuyai rushed back with disheveled hair.

Although he looked disheveled with a sunken chest, he was still very strong and did not die immediately.

"Dharma Body of Heaven and Earth! Black Iron Giant!"

Tie Wuyai has completely gone mad.

He burned his life essence, and a black iron giant phantom, hundreds of feet tall, appeared behind him. The phantom wielded a giant hammer and smashed down on Su Chen, who was floating in the air, with a world-destroying power!

This strike is already infinitely close to the true power of the "Great Immortal Luo"!
"The Dharma form of a half-step Great Luo Golden Immortal..."

“I can sense that there are indeed the remains of a Great Luo Immortal inside this Dharma Image, although this Great Luo Immortal is only at the initial stage.”

"However, as long as one is a Great Luo Immortal, even in the early stage, one can crush the vast majority of Great Luo Immortals at the peak."

"I'll take it." (End of Chapter)