Chapter 185: Selling Everything But the Pot

Guangyuan Prefecture.

Mountains rose in serried ranks, one peak piercing the sky like a divine sword plunged into the earth. Upon its heights, a cluster of palaces and halls nestled amidst swirling mists, resembling a realm of immortals.

This mountain had a name!

It was called Guiyuan – Returning Origin Peak.

And the sect upon it was naturally known as the Returning Origin Sword Sect.

These days, the Returning Origin Sword Sect exuded a palpable sense of vitality.

Inside the main hall.

A man clad in white robes sat upright in the center. His eyes were calm, yet they hinted at a sharp edge, a hidden power waiting to be unleashed.

This was Returning Origin Master!

The current Sect Master of the Returning Origin Sword Sect.

Each generation of Sect Masters, upon assuming their position, would relinquish their original name and inherit the title of Returning Origin Master, along with the mantle of leadership.

Below him.

Sat the many elders of the Returning Origin Sword Sect.

"News has arrived from the Yuanyang Auction House. In ten days, they will be auctioning three Grandmaster-level martial arts manuals at the capital’s black market. One is an external art, one is an internal energy cultivation method, and the last is a technique that Point Directly to True Intent. What are your thoughts on this?"

As Returning Origin Master spoke, his calm gaze swept across the elders. The keenness of his eyes, like the edge of a sword, caused some to feel a prickling sensation on their skin.

After a long silence.

One of the elders cupped his fist in salute and said, "If the information is accurate, then our Returning Origin Sword Sect should contend for one or two of them. Compared to the Heavenly Saber Sect and the Seven Luminaries Sect, what we lack is a living Grandmaster.

Those two factions have had Grandmasters since ancient times, and they possess Grandmaster martial arts techniques passed down through the generations.

Our Returning Origin Sword Sect has a shallow foundation. Although we have been established for many years, we ultimately lack top-tier sect-defining martial arts. If we could obtain one or two from this auction, and given some time, we might be able to close the gap."

As his words fell.

Other elders nodded in agreement.

"Elder Liu is correct. Grandmaster martial arts are something our Returning Origin Sword Sect cannot afford to miss. However, it has been a long time since Grandmaster martial arts have circulated in the Jianghu. The authenticity of this news from the Yuanyang Auction House remains to be seen."

Grandmaster martial arts.

Were incomparable to other martial arts.

They were the true pinnacle of martial arts within the Jianghu.

Even though the Yuanyang Auction House enjoyed a considerable reputation, in this matter, it was impossible for people to be one hundred percent convinced.

In the end.

An auction house, at most, was equivalent to a sect.

Even if its strength was slightly greater, that was all it was.

Returning Origin Master’s expression remained unchanged as he said lightly, "The Yuanyang Auction House’s message states that these three Grandmaster martial arts manuals come from the hand of an Earth-Rank Demon Slayer."

Earth-Rank Demon Slayer!

Upon hearing this.

All of the elders were shaken.

Grand Elder Cui Ping’s expression also changed slightly as he said, "Does the Sect Master mean that these three Grandmaster martial arts techniques all come from someone in the Demon Suppression Division!"

"Correct."

Returning Origin Master nodded.

"Since the Yuanyang Auction House dares to use the Demon Suppression Division’s name, there shouldn’t be any problems. The three Grandmaster martial arts techniques are also likely genuine."

Hearing this.

A trace of worry appeared on Cui Ping’s face.

"If it’s someone from the Demon Suppression Division, is it possible that the person is selling the Demon Suppression Division’s martial arts techniques privately? If that’s the case, even if we successfully bid for the martial arts manual, we won’t be able to keep it.

If it’s not handled properly, we could lose both our money and the martial arts manual."

In the past, there had been people who had sold the Demon Suppression Division’s martial arts techniques, and the results were naturally not pleasant.

If one was lucky, the taels of silver could be returned.

If one was unlucky.

Then there was no way to get a single coin back.

Moreover, those factions that lost their taels of silver could only swallow their anger and suffer in silence. There was no way they could go to the Demon Suppression Division to argue.

Cui Ping’s words made the other elders think of this problem, and worry appeared on their faces as well.

"That’s right, if that person is selling the Demon Suppression Division’s martial arts techniques, then we’ll be in big trouble."

"This matter needs to be carefully considered."

The meaning in everyone’s words was almost the same.

After they finished speaking, Returning Origin Master spoke.

"His name is Shen Changqing."

Shen Changqing!

Hearing this name, many people were shocked.

Cui Ping’s pupils contracted slightly.

"Shen Changqing, is the Sect Master talking about Shen Changqing, who slew a Barbarian General in Dahuang Prefecture!"

"How many Shen Changqings are there in the Demon Suppression Division?"

Returning Origin Master asked rhetorically.

Immediately.

Cui Ping fell silent.

After a long time, he spoke again.

"If it’s Shen Changqing, then the martial arts techniques he’s selling shouldn’t be from the Demon Suppression Division. More than a year ago, he came to Lin’an City to exterminate the evil, and later temporarily served as the County Magistrate of Lin’an City.

At that time, his strength was only suspected to be at the Innate Realm.

But not long after, news came that he had slain a Barbarian General. Jianghu rumors say that his strength is already at the Grandmaster Late Stage.

Without a powerful opportunity, even if his talent is high, it’s impossible for him to improve so quickly in such a short period of time.

So this old man suspects that he obtained a great opportunity in some place. I’m afraid that the martial arts techniques he’s selling now are also part of those opportunities."

"Grand Elder is correct."

Returning Origin Master nodded.

What Cui Ping said was similar to what he had expected.

If it were other people from the Demon Suppression Division who wanted to auction martial arts techniques, the Returning Origin Sword Sect would have to carefully weigh whether it was worth taking the risk.

But Shen Changqing –

He was able to advance from just entering the Demon Suppression Division to the Grandmaster Late Stage in a short period of time.

In the Jianghu.

Almost everyone understood that the Demon Slayer possessed a great opportunity.

If this opportunity were on someone else, even a powerful sect with a Grandmaster would be surrounded by wolves vying for it.

After all.

An opportunity that could allow someone to advance to the Grandmaster Realm in two or three years was enough to make everyone go crazy.

Although major sects were strong, they weren’t strong enough to suppress the entire Jianghu.

Therefore.

If this opportunity were placed on someone in the Jianghu, it would inevitably lead to a bloodbath that would sweep through the Jianghu.

However.

This opportunity was on Shen Changqing, and he had another identity: a Demon Slayer from the capital’s Demon Suppression Division.

The Demon Suppression Division was an existence that completely surpassed the Jianghu sects.

Among the various Demon Suppression Divisions, the capital’s Demon Suppression Division was the leader.

Don’t even talk about advancing to the Grandmaster Realm in two or three years, even if he had the opportunity to advance to the Grandmaster Realm on the spot, no one would dare to covet it.

It was very simple.

Grandmasters were strong, but that was only in the Jianghu.

For the Demon Suppression Division, Grandmasters could be wiped out with a wave of their hand.

Over the years.

There were not a few major sects with Grandmasters who were annihilated after offending the Demon Suppression Division.

To put it bluntly.

The Demon Suppression Division’s reputation was completely built on slaughter points. Even the top sects in the Jianghu didn’t dare to say half a word in front of the Demon Suppression Division.

Cui Ping looked emotional.

"Others who obtain opportunities hide them and dare not reveal them at all, but that person publicly releases them for auction, and in such an undisguised manner. As expected of someone from the Demon Suppression Division."

"He has the Demon Suppression Division backing him, so he naturally has such confidence. Don’t even mention that he’s already a Grandmaster Late Stage expert. Even if he were a Body Forging Realm martial artist, who would dare to do anything?"

Returning Origin Master shook his head and chuckled.

Cui Ping said, "The Demon Suppression Division’s power has been growing stronger in recent years. Everyone says that the Demon Suppression Division is declining now, but how much has it really declined? When the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect was visited by the Demon Suppression Division, they didn’t dare to say half a word.

The sect-defining martial arts techniques, the Great Sun Scripture and the Tathagata Golden Body, were also obediently handed over—"

Speaking of this.

He helplessly shook his head.

The Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect was very strong. It was a truly top-tier faction in the Jianghu. Even ordinary factions with Grandmasters couldn’t compare to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect.

But even so powerful, they still didn’t dare to resist in the slightest in front of the Demon Suppression Division.

Sect-defining martial arts.

The Demon Suppression Division copied them as they pleased.

Returning Origin Master said, "The price of the three Grandmaster martial arts techniques will definitely not be low. Based on past auction situations, even the cheapest external martial arts technique will cost at least three or four hundred thousand taels of silver.

Moreover, Grandmaster martial arts techniques have not appeared for many years, so the price will definitely increase.

How much ready money can the sect currently take out?"

Hearing this.

A thin old man cupped his fists and replied.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, the sect currently only has about three hundred thousand taels of silver that can be used. If we want to bid for them with one hundred percent certainty, I’m afraid it will be a bit difficult."

More than three hundred thousand taels of silver.

For a sect that only had Innate Realm experts, it was already a lot.

Returning Origin Master said, "Then what if we sell off some of our assets?"

"The total value of the sect’s various industries is currently around eight hundred thousand taels of silver."

"Sell off two-thirds of our assets, plus the existing cash. I need to gather eight hundred thousand taels of silver. When the time comes, I’ll go to the black market to participate in the auction. Among the three Grandmaster martial arts techniques, apart from the external martial arts technique, which can be abandoned, we must win at least one of the other two."

Returning Origin Master looked calm.

What the Returning Origin Sword Sect lacked now was a martial arts technique that could allow people to match Grandmasters.

Obtaining the martial arts technique.

Even if the sect fell silent for a few years, it would be completely worth it.

With the martial arts technique, the Returning Origin Sword Sect would eventually have a day to rise again.

The thin elder looked embarrassed. "If we want to sell off our assets, it will be a bit troublesome to sell them off in a short period of time. Moreover, if all the silver is used for the auction, there will be problems with the sect’s support in the future.

I hope the Sect Master will think twice before acting."

"There’s no need to consider it. What we lack now is a Grandmaster martial arts technique. If we can obtain it, our Returning Origin Sword Sect will eventually be able to advance to a major sect. At that time, all the losses will be worth it.

The last time demon essence blood appeared in Lin’an City, our Returning Origin Sword Sect couldn’t compete with them because we lacked the foundation of a Grandmaster!"

Returning Origin Master waved his hand and made a decision directly.

That defeat more than a year ago was still fresh in his mind.

To tell the truth.

If the Returning Origin Sword Sect had a Grandmaster inheritance, they would definitely not be weaker than the Heavenly Saber Sect and the Seven Luminaries Sect.

In the end, the demon essence blood fell into the hands of the Heavenly Saber Sect because the Returning Origin Sword Sect did not have a Grandmaster, and he, Returning Origin Master, was only a martial artist at the Innate limit.

If he could break through the limit and enter the Grandmaster Realm.

That Heavenly Saber Sect’s Grandmaster wouldn’t be his opponent.

Hearing this.

The thin elder opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only nod his head.

"Yes!"

"There are still ten days until the auction. Apart from the time for traveling, I need to see eight hundred thousand taels of silver within five days. Is there a problem?"

"No problem!"

End of Chapter