Heaven Trampling Severance

The second gong boomed, its reverberations shaking the entire auction hall, silencing whispers, and drawing every pair of eyes to the stage.

The auctioneer, with a friendly yet cunning smile, stepped forward. Behind him, two attendants, each exuding the aura of a trained Martial Master, carefully placed a long chest shrouded in black cloth upon a crystal pedestal. A mysterious, yet strangely fragile, aura emanated from beneath the fabric, causing some more experienced cultivators to lean slightly forward. They sensed something ancient within, but couldn't clearly identify it.

The auctioneer seized the black cloth, pulling it away with a dramatic flourish that thundered through the room. However, what was revealed was not a magnificent, intact sword, nor a gleaming ancient artifact. Instead, it was a severely damaged sword shard, only about a third of its original size. Its surface was dull, rusted in places, and bore horrific scorch marks, as if it had passed through hellfire, with deep cracks running along its length. A strange indentation, seemingly carved by time itself, appeared on one side, lending a mysterious nuance to its destruction. It looked utterly useless, not even fit to be a common kitchen knife.

The tense auction hall erupted in murmurs of disappointment, cynical laughter, and frustrated whispers.

"Just trash?!" a richly bearded merchant snorted, his voice filled with anger. "I came all the way from Tengjian Province just to see this garbage?!"

"What the hell?! This can't even be a kitchen knife! What a waste of time!" another shouted, his voice full of disgust.

Auras from the hidden Martial Grandmasters and Martial Lords now radiated clear dissatisfaction and anger. They felt mocked, their time and expectations wasted on a piece of scrap metal.

The auctioneer, usually smooth and confident, looked slightly awkward. His smile faltered, yet he tried to spin the narrative with his remaining charisma.

"Lords and Ladies, I understand your disappointment!" his voice boomed, trying to appease the agitated crowd. "However, I assure you, this is a... unique artifact! Remnants from an unknown past! We cannot ascertain its origin, but... its energy feels incredibly ancient! A fragment of an ancient blade, perhaps from the Era of Gods or even once wielded by a Heavenly Martial Saint!"

He paused for a moment, trying to gauge the audience's reaction. The air felt tense, filled with palpable skepticism.

"Indeed, its form may not be perfect. But this is a piece that defies common sense! Perhaps it could be a magnificent material for weapon reforging... or even an interesting decoration in your home, a story to tell!"

His hesitation was clear; even his tone sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than the audience.

"Starting bid... hmm, we'll begin with a very 'friendly' price considering its uniqueness... 10 Spirit Stones!"

Cynical laughter erupted throughout the hall. Ten Spirit Stones? For a rusted piece of junk? The bid felt like an empty mockery, a blatant insult to common sense.

"Hah! Even a beggar wouldn't take it if it were free!" someone sneered from the crowd.

However, in the dark corner of the hall, within Chen Tian's mind, Hei Xuan's voice exploded in brutal, almost hysterical excitement.

"Boy! This is it! This is your fortune! An artifact even I, the Demon Emperor, rarely saw!"

Chen Tian, who had only been coldly observing, felt a strange sensation from the sword shard. Despite its ruined appearance, a faint yet powerful resonance emanated from it, resonating with the Three-Eyed Moon Wolf Martial Soul on his wrist. A peculiar aura of destruction and creation swirled around it. Within him, his heart pulsed like a war drum, staking everything.

"What is it, Hei Xuan?" Chen Tian murmured inwardly, his heart pounding, feeling the primordial urge from the artifact.

"It's a fragment of the Eternal Blazing Yin-Yang Sword!" Hei Xuan thundered, his voice filled with rare awe, a tone seldom heard from the ancient demon. "That sword, at its peak, was a Primordial Relic Grade, an existence that could sever the laws of Dao! However, after the devastating battles of ancient eras, the sword shattered into fragments. This is one of them! An incredibly valuable fragment!"

Hei Xuan continued rapidly, his voice urgent, every word instilling burning urgency.

"Though broken and just a shard, this blade is still at least Sky Vein Grade! Or perhaps even a Heaven-Forged Grade fragment that has undergone destruction and descended in rank. It possesses conflicting yet harmonized fire and ice elemental properties! It can store techniques, strengthen your elemental attacks! This is the nascent form of your strongest weapon, boy! A weapon that can grow with you, absorb the Essence you absorb, and ultimately, surpass everything in this Mortal Realm! Don't let it go! This is your destiny!"

Chen Tian's breath hitched. A weapon. All this time he had relied only on his bare hands, speed, and his Martial Soul. He knew his weakness. This was a golden opportunity. A weapon that could grow with him, from the Martial Adept realm to perhaps one day breaking through to Soul Sovereign or even Heaven Breaker. The visualization of the sword, merging with him, becoming an unstoppable force, dominated his mind.

"But I don't have that many Spirit Stones,"

Chen Tian mumbled, his brow furrowed. He only had a few dozen Spirit Stones left from bandit loot, far from enough to bid on something like this, even if it sold cheaply.

"Fool! You have your entrance ticket! That Gold Grade Beast Essence Bead!" Hei Xuan urged, his voice sharp as a blade. "A small sacrifice for an invaluable reward! They don't know its worth! They'll see it as trash, and you'll get a hidden pearl! Offer your Gold Grade Bead!"

An internal struggle raged within Chen Tian.

The Gold Grade Beast Essence Bead was the only proof of his strength, the only thing that gave him honor in the eyes of others in this place. Sacrificing it for something others considered trash... it was a gamble. A huge gamble. Yet, his predatory instinct screamed to take the risk. His eyes were fixed on the sword shard, as if seeing his own destiny etched there.

"Does anyone dare to bid more than 10 Spirit Stones?" the auctioneer asked, his voice sounding resigned, as if he had already given up.

Silence enveloped the hall. No one bid. The high-tier bidders scoffed, the Martial Grandmasters shook their heads. Some in the crowd, who perfectly concealed their auras, glanced at Chen Tian with slightly prolonged stares, as if suspecting something, but no one acted. They wouldn't trade something valuable for what they considered junk.

Suddenly, Chen Tian's voice broke the silence, hoarse yet clear, echoing throughout the hall.

"I offer a Gold Grade Beast Essence Bead!"

The auction hall exploded in an uproar. Whispers turned to shouts of shock, then to laughter and murmurs of foolishness.

"What?! He offered a Gold Grade Essence Bead for that trash?!"

"Crazy! He must be insane! Does he know the value of that Gold Grade Bead?!"

"Hah, maybe he's a bumpkin from a remote village who knows nothing!"

The high-tier bidders, even Elder Zhao hidden in the shadows, turned towards Chen Tian, their eyes scanning. Some of their expressions showed furrowed brows, sensing something strange about Chen Tian's behavior or the bead itself, but no one knew the truth. No one would exchange something valuable for what they considered junk.

The auctioneer, who had been resigned, was now transfixed. His eyes widened, staring at Chen Tian with a striking mix of astonishment and doubt on his face.

"A... Gold Grade Beast Essence Bead?" He stammered, his voice barely audible amidst the din. "Are... are you sure, Young Master?"

"I'm sure," Chen Tian replied, his voice flat, emotionless. A cold glint flashed in his blood-red eyes, silencing the last whispers in the hall. A chilling silence once again enveloped the room, a whisper of new danger.

Silence returned to the hall. No one bid higher than the Gold Grade Beast Essence Bead. Chen Tian's foolishness had defeated their greed and doubt. The auctioneer, though stunned, returned to his professionalism.

"Alright! In that case, the Gold Grade Beast Essence Bead from this Young Master... no one bids higher?" He waited a few seconds, scanning the crowd.

"Sold! To the Young Master in the corner!"

Chen Tian stepped forward onto the stage, under the curious, mocking, and slightly suspicious gazes of the crowd. He handed his Gold Grade Beast Essence Bead to a guard, who immediately examined its authenticity carefully. The bright golden light from the bead briefly illuminated the guard's face, before he nodded in satisfaction.

"Genuine," the guard announced, his voice clear.

Chen Tian reached for the sword fragment. As his rough fingers touched the dull, damaged blade, a faint yet powerful burst of Qi emanated from the fragment, visible only to Chen Tian's eyes and the exceptionally sensitive Elder Zhao in the distance. A strange bond formed, as if the blade itself had been waiting for its owner's touch. He felt an ancient pulse within it, a hidden promise behind the destruction that no one else understood.

"Hah! There it is! The blade responds to you, boy! A sign of destiny!" Hei Xuan exclaimed within Chen Tian's mind, sensing the newly formed bond between Chen Tian and the fragment. "It hungers for your blood, and you hunger for its power! The new symphony of steel is about to begin!"

The auctioneer, having now regained his composure, smiled broadly.

"An unusual transaction, Young Master! As a token of our appreciation for your bold participation and your 'courage' in bidding on this unusual item, the Iron Dragon Sect has a small gift for you!"

He gestured to another attendant. The attendant brought out an ordinary longsword, its blade faintly gleaming.

"This is the Light Wind Flying Sword, a Spirit-Forged Grade Martial Weapon," the auctioneer explained. "It may not compare much to your Gold Grade Bead, but it's a very efficient means of transport and can be useful on your journey."

Murmurs of astonishment again spread among the audience.

"He bought trash with a Gold Grade Bead and got a flying sword instead? This is a joke, right?"

Some people began to see it as a joke, others wondered if there was something they had missed.

Chen Tian received the flying sword with a flat face, hiding his profound surprise. A flying sword! This was a very unexpected and incredibly useful bonus for him, who had previously relied only on his legs. Even if it was just Spirit-Forged Grade, it was a huge upgrade. The Golden Qi flowing in his veins felt vibrant, as if the sword itself sensed his potential.

He returned to his seat, holding the dull sword fragment in one hand and the flying sword in the other. He felt a strange bond with the blade fragment, as if he could feel an ancient pulse within it.

"Fool! Don't be too happy yet,"

Hei Xuan snorted, though there was a note of satisfaction in his voice.

"They may think you're an idiot, but some have already sniffed something out. Especially that old Zhao. You've traded one danger for a greater one.

That Gold Grade Beast Essence Bead will be a powerful magnet. The Iron Dragon Sect will surely track its original owner. This auction is just the beginning, boy. Remember, every step you take now is under surveillance, every shadow could be an eye."

Chen Tian could feel several pairs of eyes watching him more intensely than before, especially from individuals who perfectly concealed their realms. Among the shadows, Elder Zhao observed Chen Tian with a colder, sharper, and more calculating gaze. He had seen something no one else had, a dangerous potential. He was certain there would soon be another encounter with this

"Red-haired demon."

The auction continued. The auctioneer, after the interruption, immediately introduced the next item, a much more conventional high-grade Cultivation Pill, diverting the attention of most of the crowd. However, Chen Tian knew he was now at the center of unwanted attention.

He had obtained his weapon, his ticket to move faster, and he had embedded himself deeper into the vortex of Stone-Gloom City's underworld intrigues. The real game had just begun. The broken blade in his hand, seen as trash by everyone else, now held a promise. A promise of a symphony of steel he would carve upon ruins and blood.