Heavenly Sword Saint
Jian Chen needed Gold Coins.
A considerable amount of them.
His next breakthrough would require resources far beyond what ordinary medicinal herbs could provide. The declining Jian Clan branch could no longer support his cultivation indefinitely, and Jian Chen had no intention of allowing a lack of resources to slow his progress.
Fortunately, he already possessed something valuable enough to solve that problem.
The Dragon Gathering Palm Technique.
As a Low-Class Profound-Tier martial technique, it was an extraordinary treasure in Moonriver City. A direct sale could already earn him a considerable fortune, but Jian Chen had no intention of accepting the first price someone offered.
If several major forces competed for the technique, its final price could rise far beyond what any private buyer would be willing to pay.
That was exactly what he wanted.
The more Gold Coins he obtained, the more resources he could purchase for his cultivation.
With his plan settled, Jian Chen entered the Treasure Hall.
A loose black robe concealed his figure, while a dark mask covered most of his face. He had also altered his voice before entering.
His identity was irrelevant.
Only the value of the treasure mattered.
The Treasure Hall stood at the heart of Moonriver City. Although it was merely a branch, its influence was impossible to ignore. Powerful clans, merchants, and cultivators regularly passed through its doors to purchase weapons, medicinal pills, spirit herbs, spiritual fruits, and other cultivation resources.
Yet the Treasure Hall's greatest strength was not its merchandise.
It was its reputation.
Transactions conducted through the Treasure Hall were treated with strict confidentiality. As long as a treasure was genuine and the transaction was lawful, the organization had little reason to investigate the seller's identity.
That was precisely why Jian Chen had chosen this place.
He approached the reception counter.
"I wish to meet the branch manager."
The attendant looked at him politely.
"May I ask what business you have with Manager Qiu?"
Jian Chen did not answer.
Instead, he placed a jade slip on the counter.
"I have a treasure to sell."
The attendant glanced at the jade slip.
Its appearance was ordinary, but the faint spiritual energy sealed within immediately caught her attention.
Her expression became more serious.
"Please wait here."
She turned and quickly disappeared into the inner hall.
Not long afterward, a middle-aged man in a dark blue robe appeared.
His bearing was calm and dignified, and the spiritual pressure surrounding him was unmistakable.
Qiu Han.
The manager of the Treasure Hall's Moonriver City branch.
His cultivation had already entered the next stage.
Qiu Han glanced at the masked youth before turning toward the attendant.
"Take our guest to the private room."
"Yes, Manager."
The attendant immediately led Jian Chen inside.
The private room was quiet and elegantly furnished.
Once the door closed, Jian Chen sat across from Qiu Han.
Neither side wasted time on unnecessary pleasantries.
Qiu Han's gaze settled on the jade slip.
"May I examine the treasure?"
Jian Chen pushed it across the table.
"Of course."
Qiu Han picked up the jade slip and infused it with spiritual energy.
Buzz!
The jade slip trembled faintly.
In the next instant, information surged directly into his mind.
Dragon gathering palm technique.
Low grade profound tier martial technique.
Qiu Han's calm expression changed.
Profound Tier.
Even the lowest class was an extraordinary treasure in Moonriver City.
He immediately examined the technique in detail.
The cultivation method was complete.
The circulation of spiritual energy was clearly explained, and every stage connected smoothly to the next. There were no missing portions or obvious flaws.
Several breaths passed as Qiu Han carefully verified every detail.
Jian Chen remained motionless.
He had complete confidence in the Dragon Gathering Palm Technique, but the Treasure Hall's verification still mattered. Once the technique entered an auction, even a minor flaw could damage both its value and the Treasure Hall's reputation.
Finally, Qiu Han withdrew his spiritual energy.
"The technique is complete and authentic."
Jian Chen nodded.
"Good."
Qiu Han carefully placed the jade slip on the table.
"A Low-Class Profound-Tier technique rarely enters the market through ordinary channels. Once news of this spreads, many forces in Moonriver City will take an interest."
"I know."
Jian Chen's voice remained calm.
Qiu Han studied him for a moment.
The masked youth clearly understood the value of what he possessed. There was no excitement in his voice, nor any hesitation or attempt to exaggerate the technique's worth.
That made Qiu Han take him more seriously.
"What do you intend to do with it?"
"I intend to sell it."
Before Qiu Han could continue, a knock sounded on the door.
"Manager Qiu."
A clear female voice came from outside.
Qiu Han immediately stood.
"Young Miss."
The door opened.
A young woman wearing a pale-blue dress entered.
Her name was Shen Qingyue
Jian Chen raised his eyes.
She was exceptionally beautiful, but her appearance was not what caught his attention.
It was her presence.
She carried herself with the calm confidence of someone accustomed to making decisions and being obeyed.
Qiu Han stepped aside and respectfully lowered his head.
"Young Miss Shen."
She gave him a slight nod.
"Manager Qiu."
Her voice was gentle, yet carried no uncertainty.
She walked to the table and took her seat.
Qiu Han remained standing behind her.
Jian Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
He understood immediately.
Shen Qingyue was not merely a distinguished guest.
She possessed authority over Qiu Han, and judging from his attitude, that authority extended throughout the entire branch.
Her gaze settled on the jade slip.
"Is this the treasure?"
"Yes."
Qiu Han handed it to her.
Shen Qingyue infused the jade slip with spiritual energy.
Buzz!
The jade slip trembled faintly.
The information within immediately appeared in her mind.
Dragon gathering palm technique.
Low class profound tier cultivation technique.
A subtle flicker appeared in her eyes.
She continued examining the contents.
Her expression remained calm throughout the process, but her attention was clearly focused.
After verifying the technique, she withdrew her spiritual energy.
"For a martial technique of this level, a direct sale would not be the best choice."
She looked toward Qiu Han.
"We will place it in the upcoming auction."
"Understood."
Qiu Han accepted the decision without hesitation.
Shen Qingyue then turned her attention toward Jian Chen.
"A Profound-Tier martial technique will attract far more attention through an auction than through a private sale. Once the major forces learn that it is genuine, each will want to obtain it before one of their rivals does."
A faint smile appeared beneath Jian Chen's mask.
"That is exactly what I want."
Her eyes flickered with understanding.
"So you aren't looking for a quick sale."
"No."
"You want the highest possible price."
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Then we'll make it the final treasure."
Qiu Han's expression shifted slightly.
"The final treasure?"
"Yes."
Shen Qingyue rested one hand lightly on the table.
"The final item receives the greatest attention. By the time it appears, every major force attending the auction will already know that something valuable has been reserved for the end."
Her gaze returned to Jian Chen.
"They will have time to prepare their Gold Coins. Those who truly want the technique will make certain they have enough to compete."
Jian Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
He immediately understood her strategy.
She was not merely trying to make the auction more impressive.
She was creating anticipation.
Once the major forces learned that a genuine Profound-Tier martial technique would be sold as the final item, they would begin preparing their wealth for the bidding.
And when the auction began, none would want to lose the technique to a rival.
Shen Qingyue turned toward Qiu Han.
"Have the appraisers determine an appropriate starting price."
"Yes, Young Miss."
"Increase security around the technique until the auction."
"I'll arrange it."
"Send invitations to the major forces personally."
Her tone remained calm.
"Make certain they know that a Profound-Tier martial technique will be the final treasure."
Qiu Han nodded.
"Understood."
Jian Chen watched silently.
Every instruction was precise.
Shen Qingyue had entered the room, understood the situation within moments, recognized his objective, and immediately turned the transaction into an opportunity for both sides.
More importantly, Qiu Han followed every instruction without hesitation.
There was no doubt about who held authority in this branch.
Jian Chen finally spoke.
"What commission does the Treasure Hall charge?"
"Ten percent of the final selling price."
There was no hesitation in Qiu Han's answer.
Jian Chen nodded.
"Fine."
Shen Qingyue looked toward him.
"The remaining amount will be paid after the auction concludes."
"Understood."
She paused.
"Do you have any other requirements?"
"My identity remains confidential."
"Naturally."
Her answer came immediately.
"The Treasure Hall protects the identities of its clients. Your name will not appear in the auction records, and the buyers will know only that the technique was provided through the Treasure Hall."
Jian Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
That was exactly what he wanted.
The entire city could learn about the technique.
No one needed to know who had brought it there.
"Then there is nothing else."
Shen Qingyue picked up the jade slip and handed it to Qiu Han.
"Keep it secured until the auction."
"Yes, Young Miss."
"Personally."
Qiu Han's expression became serious.
"Rest assured. I will handle it myself."
She nodded before turning her gaze toward Jian Chen.
"Will you attend the auction?"
Jian Chen considered the question for a moment.
"Perhaps."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Then perhaps we will meet again."
She rose and walked toward the door.
Qiu Han immediately followed behind her.
When the door closed, silence returned to the private room.
Jian Chen remained seated for several breaths, considering what had just happened.
The transaction had gone better than expected.
The Dragon Gathering Palm Technique would not simply be sold through the Treasure Hall.
It would become the final treasure of the upcoming auction.
That gave it the best possible chance of reaching a price far beyond what a private sale could offer.
More importantly, the Treasure Hall would handle everything without exposing his identity.
Jian Chen finally stood.
Three days.
That was how long the major forces of Moonriver City would have to prepare.
By then, rumors would have spread throughout the city.
The clans would hear.
The merchant houses would hear.
Wealthy cultivators would hear.
Some would doubt the news.
Others would immediately begin gathering Gold Coins.
But once the Treasure Hall confirmed the technique's authenticity, doubt would quickly disappear.
Competition would take its place.
Jian Chen adjusted his black robe.
If everything went according to plan, the auction would provide enough Gold Coins to obtain the resources he needed for his next breakthrough.
He could not afford to waste them.
His cultivation had only just begun.
As his strength increased, so would the resources required to advance.
The declining Jian Clan branch would eventually be unable to satisfy his needs.
He had to build his own path.
And the Dragon Gathering Palm Technique was his first step toward doing so.
Jian Chen walked out of the private room.
The Treasure Hall remained as lively as before.
Cultivators moved through the halls while attendants carried boxes of treasures from one room to another.
No one paid attention to the masked youth as he passed through the entrance and disappeared into the crowd.
Behind him, preparations for the auction had already begun.
Within three days, Moonriver City would know that a genuine Profound-Tier martial technique was about to appear.
But no one would know who had brought it.
Beneath his mask, Jian Chen's eyes gleamed.
Three days.
That was all he needed to wait.
Once the auction ended, the Gold Coins he needed would be within reach.
His next breakthrough would no longer be a question of whether he could achieve it, but when.
Jian Chen disappeared into the crowd.