Eternal Heavenly Emperor

"Ma Long, don't you trust me?" Lin Yuqi pleaded with a twinge of grievance, her alluring large eyes brimming with teary turbulence, appearing utterly pitiable and heartbreakingly captivating.

Ma Long instantly felt a surge of pity and he hurriedly said, "How could I not trust you! It's all this guy's nonsense, rest assured, I consider him as merely blathering!"

Only then did Lin Yuqi break into a smile from her tears, her coquetry as a little woman displayed to the fullest.

Chu Hao only felt waves of nausea and waved his hand, saying, "Don't block the way, don't you know this is very rude?"

"Chu Hao, with me here today, you won't be able to buy anything!" Ma Long declared, having failed to gain the upper hand on the topic of women, he switched angles to strike at Chu Hao.

Chu Hao couldn't help but laugh out loud. Did this guy even think before he spoke? Does he know how much silver Fortune Full Building makes in a day? Indeed, the Chu Family couldn't compete with the Ma Family in terms of financial resources, but after all, you, Ma Long, are just a junior in the Ma Family. How much assets can you really use?

"Chu Hao, what are you laughing at?" Ma Long said angrily.

"Of course, I'm laughing at your stupidity!" Chu Hao was merciless.

"You! You!" Ma Long pointed at Chu Hao, looking ready to act yet forcibly restraining himself.

This was an auction house, where the City Lord's Mansion had explicitly forbidden disturbances! Not to mention Ma Long not being able, his father Ma Jicheng couldn't either, not even the city's Eight Great Nobles had such a privilege!

Lin Yuqi couldn't help but sigh silently. The previous Chu Hao was indeed a fool, but now? In comparison, Ma Long was just too childish, completely like a child in front of Chu Hao!

"Let's go!" she tugged at Ma Long's sleeve.

Ma Long was reluctant, but after she whispered a few words in his ear, he nodded his head and went to sit far away with Lin Yuqi.

This woman is like a venomous snake, probably brewing up some vicious plan again! Think about it, it's nothing but waiting for an opportunity to get rid of him! Ha, he will eventually pull out her fangs!

People gradually arrived, and soon, the auctioneer took the stage and started the auction process.

The items first up for auction were of course not the best—mostly handicrafts like jade carvings and gold and silver jewelry. These luxury goods naturally held no interest for Chu Hao, who was almost bored to sleep.

"Next up is a material!" the auctioneer's voice rose an octave, sounding very excited, "This is a chunk of Red Iron, weighing a full three pounds, and its purity is extremely high, ready for immediate use in weapon forging!"

"Everyone should know what Red Iron is, right? Once forged into a Sharp Sword, it can even tear through the defenses of the Great Mahayana realm! Besides, it's extremely solid, extremely hard, and extremely tough, arguably one of the best materials for Divine Weapons!"

Chu Hao's eyes brightened immediately; he had seen the auction catalog beforehand and had been waiting for this material to come up.

"The starting bid, one thousand taels of silver!" the auctioneer announced loudly.

"One thousand five hundred taels!"

"Two thousand!"

No sooner had he spoken than the bidding voices immediately rang out.

"Ten thousand!" Chu Hao said in a deep voice.

Ten thousand!

Honestly, the final transaction price of three pounds of Red Iron was definitely more than ten thousand taels, but jumping from two thousand to ten thousand all at once really intimidated a lot of people with its momentum.

After Chu Hao's bid, there was suddenly no one else raising the price.

"Eleven thousand!" Silence was only temporary, and soon someone raised the price again.

It was Ma Long!

He glanced at Chu Hao with a sneer. He had said it; he wouldn't let Chu Hao buy anything!

"Twenty thousand!" Chu Hao raised the bid indifferently.

He was now poor with nothing left but money!

Red Iron was indeed good, but considering it only weighed three pounds, twenty thousand taels of silver should be close to the limit! If it were a normal situation, it would definitely take a long competition to push the price to such heights.

But now, the price had soared to a massive twenty thousand taels right at the start!

"Twenty-one thousand taels!" Ma Long gritted his teeth and called out another number.

He was just a member of the Ma Family, although the only son of the current Family Head, he had a much higher status than the average Ma Family junior, but the wealth he could use was only thirty thousand taels.

And that was only once a year!

But Chu Hao's bid increases were so fierce, others increased by a few hundred taels, but he jumped by ten thousand taels! Thirty thousand taels... it really didn't seem like much money!

As long as Chu Hao raised once more, he could only watch helplessly!

"Thirty thousand!" As expected, Chu Hao raised the bid without hesitation.

Ma Long couldn't hold back anymore and said, "Chu Hao, do you really have that much money? Intentionally raising the price is a crime! I request checking his silver notes to prevent malicious bidding!"

During an auction, guests indeed had the right to make such a request, as malicious bidding was something everyone hated.

"Young Master Chu, please let us see your funds! Rest assured, we will not disclose the specific amount!" the auctioneer said to Chu Hao.

Chu Hao nodded and handed a stack of silver notes to an auction house clerk who came over. After counting them, the clerk returned the silver notes to Chu Hao, then walked up to the stage and whispered a few words to the auctioneer.

"I can assure everyone on behalf of the auction house that Young Master Chu's funds are substantial, and malicious bidding is not possible!" the auctioneer announced to the public, then asked, "Is there anyone else who would bid higher?"

"Pssh!" Ma Long scoffed, his face alternating between red and white, looking very displeased.

He had boasted earlier, but he hadn't even been able to stop Chu Hao's first bid, which was embarrassing! Especially since Lin Yuqi was sitting right next to him!

"He's just a nouveau riche, don't worry about it!" Lin Yuqi consoled gently.

Ma Long's heart soared, feeling his fiancée truly understood people! Yet, for some reason, what Chu Hao had said earlier about the "worn-out shoes" kept prickling at him. What is a man's greatest intolerance? Of course, it's when his honor is tainted green!

Laughter erupted from around them; the feud between the Chu Family and the Ma Family was known by almost everyone in Eastern Cloud City. Everyone initially thought that after the death of Chu Tianyun, the Chu Family would decline, but unexpectedly, Chu Hao, who was deemed a fool, had shocked everyone with his capabilities!

It seemed that the success of Fortune Full Building was no fluke!

"Thirty thousand taels for the first time!"

"Thirty thousand taels for the second time!"

"Thirty thousand taels for the third time!"

"Sold!"

The auctioneer finally hammered down, announcing that the Red Iron belonged to Chu Hao.

Chu Hao revealed a smile, now that he had the material for crafting a sharp weapon, all he needed was the swordsmanship.

"Next up we have a readymade weapon, named..." the auctioneer continued his duty, praising extravagantly.

Chu Hao started dozing off again. According to the auction catalog, next up was the auction for a sword manual named "Izumo Sword Technique." This technique was an Intermediate Martial Technique, characterized by one word: Speed! It was perfect for him to learn.

With the Izumo Sword Technique and a sword crafted from Red Iron, his killing power would greatly increase, allowing him to travel outside the city.

Chu Hao's ambitions were grand, and he was restless; he could not be content staying in small Eastern Cloud City forever.

After waiting for half an hour, it was finally time for the Izumo Sword Manual to be auctioned.

Martial Techniques, passed down through generations, can be said to be the most valuable things! Moreover, as it was an Intermediate Martial Technique, the starting price was set at five thousand taels, which made most people shy away.

"Ten thousand taels!" Ma Long immediately raised his hand and called out, planning to buy the manual and gift it to Lin Yuqi.

Lin Yuqi gave him a tender smile in return. She was skilled with the sword. Previously in the Chu Family, she only obtained an Elementary Swordsmanship manual—unfortunately, the former Chu Family, though nobility, really didn't have much savings and could only afford an elementary manual.

And she wasn't truly part of the Chu Family, so naturally, she couldn't inherit the Sneaky Shadow Sword.

She was determined to win this Intermediate Swordsmanship!

"Twenty thousand taels!" Chu Hao made a bid.

What, this guy again!

Ma Long's face changed instantly; he only had thirty thousand taels in funds. Why did Chu Hao always have to oppose him? At that moment, he completely forgot his previous competition with Chu Hao over the Red Iron. He just felt that this guy was utterly detestable!

It must be that he couldn't accept Lin Yuqi's departure, so he purposely caused trouble!

Damn! Too infuriating!

"Thirty thousand!" he gritted his teeth.

"Forty thousand!" Chu Hao, calm and collected, continued bidding.

What to do? What to do? Was he going to lose again?

Ma Long's face trembled; he didn't want to lose!

"I still have twenty thousand taels here, take it for now!" Lin Yuqi spoke up.

Immediately, Ma Long shook his head and said, "How can I use your money?"

"Once we are married, everything of mine will be yours. There's no 'yours' or 'mine'!" Lin Yuqi coyly said.

Ma Long's soul nearly left his body, his confidence greatly increased. He raised his hand and called out, "Fifty thousand taels!" He didn't believe Chu Hao had that much money; considering Chu Hao had already spent thirty thousand taels, he must have at least eighty thousand taels or more in assets to continue bidding.

"Sixty thousand taels!" Chu Hao stated casually.

Damn it! Ma Long felt indignant and stood up, saying, "I suspect this guy is maliciously bidding. I request to check his funds again!"

"Young Master Ma, please do not cause trouble without reason!" the auctioneer said unkindly, as an employee of the auction house, he didn't need to fear the Ma Family.

Ma Long had no choice but to sit down.

An Intermediate Martial Technique was eventually auctioned for sixty thousand taels, definitely exceeding the rightful price for the Izumo Sword Manual. As people's money wasn't simply blown in by the wind, naturally no one would continue bidding as a fool.

The manual smoothly ended up in Chu Hao's hands.

Having achieved his goal, Chu Hao naturally didn't need to stay any longer. He stood up and went backstage to settle the account, paying ninety thousand silver notes in return for a piece of Red Iron and a sword manual.

"Chu Hao, are you trying to get back at me this way?" As he prepared to leave, he saw Lin Yuqi leaning against the wall of the corridor, speaking in a disdainful tone, though it was unclear what excuse she used to leave Ma Long and come to see Chu Hao alone.

"You think too highly of yourself!" Chu Hao shook his head, not stopping his steps.

"Give me the sword manual, and I'll pretend today's events never happened!" Lin Yuqi said again.

"Daydreaming!"

"Chu Hao, you'll regret this!"

"Hah! Hah!"

Chu Hao strode away, not caring that Lin Yuqi was staring at his back with a venomous gaze. He needed to immediately go and forge a sharp blade and master the Izumo Sword Technique.