The space within the main hall of the Divine Weapon Pavilion was boisterous yet far from chaotic. Hundreds of cultivators, wealthy merchants, and representatives of various factions, large and small, from across Azure Province City had already taken their seats. The soft light emanating from Night Marrow Pearls embedded in the ceiling shone down upon silken robes, creating a scene of opulence and nobility.
Tran Kien sat beside Elder Wei, quietly observing everything. He was like a silent boulder in the middle of a shimmering river. His eyes were not drawn to the glamour; instead, they drifted across each face, memorizing every detail.
He saw a group of young cultivators clad in cloud-blue Daoist robes, their sleeves embroidered with white clouds, seated in a secluded area. These were disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, their gazes brimming with pride. In a darker corner sat a group of people dressed in black, silent and somber—the men of the Black Dragon Stronghold. They were not here to trade, but to observe and gather information. Tran Kien's gaze halted at the front row, where an old man with hair as white as frost sat wearing fire-red robes embroidered with a hammer and flame. A member of the Divine Weapon Pavilion, Tran Kien silently surmised, but not the Pavilion Master.
Right then, all the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed. Every sound vanished. Every gaze converged upon the high platform.
Clang!
The clear chime of a gong resounded. The crimson silk curtains were slowly pulled to either side. Upon the high stage stood a middle-aged man of imposing stature, wearing a magnificent golden brocade robe with his hands clasped behind his back, looking down arrogantly. He possessed a square face, upturned sword-like brows, and eyes that were sharp and filled with haughtiness. The aura emanating from him was incredibly powerful; he was a true Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. He was the current Pavilion Master of the Divine Weapon Pavilion, Lu Nhat Thiet.
"Many thanks to all fellow Daoists for attending my Divine Weapon Pavilion's annual Treasure Auction Assembly!" Lu Nhat Thiet spoke with a resounding voice. "Lu will not waste words with idle chatter. Let the Treasure Auction Assembly officially begin!"
He clapped his hands three times. Two beautiful maidens immediately brought forward a tray covered with red cloth. Lu Nhat Thiet yanked the cloth away, revealing a translucent green longsword, as thin as a cicada's wing, radiating a chilly mist. "Our first treasure, a Low-grade Magic Tool: the Emerald Water Sword! Forged from Cold Iron retrieved from the bottom of Emerald Wave Lake. Starting bid: one hundred low-grade spirit stones!"
Bids rang out continuously. Eventually, the sword was sold for two hundred and thirty low-grade spirit stones. Following that, a succession of magic tools, medicinal pills, and rare talismans were presented. The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly heated.
Tran Kien continued to observe in silence. He was watching Lu Nhat Thiet. He saw the self-satisfaction and arrogance in the man's every gesture. Such a man would certainly not pass up the opportunity to flaunt the treasure he took the most pride in.
After more than ten treasures had been auctioned, Lu Nhat Thiet signaled for silence. His expression turned solemn and somewhat fanatical. "Fellow Daoists!" he shouted. "The items just now were merely the appetizers. Now, it is time for my Divine Weapon Pavilion to bring forth the true Pavilion-Guarding Treasure! A wondrous artifact that my grandfather spent immense effort to obtain!"
He gestured. This time, four towering guards in iron armor combined their strength to carry up a heavy stone pedestal. Resting upon the pedestal was an object covered by a jet-black brocade cloth. The entire hall held its breath. Even the disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect sat up straight.
Lu Nhat Thiet took a deep breath, then abruptly tore away the black cloth. An ancient, savage aura instantly flooded the hall.
On the stone pedestal, there was no divine weapon or medicinal pill. It was merely a triangular, irregular metal fragment about the size of a palm, its surface mottled with green bronze. But what caused everyone to be shaken were the patterns engraved upon it. These patterns were incredibly complex and ethereal, seemingly harboring some sort of laws of Heaven and Earth. Simply by looking at it, one felt their soul being sucked inside, their head spinning.
Lu Nhat Thiet burst into a boisterous laugh, looking exceedingly smug. "It is only natural that you do not recognize it. This metal fragment was named the 'Array-Breaking Divine Stele' by my grandfather. According to appraisals, it is a fragment of a 'Celestial Artifact' array from the Primordial Era! Though broken, the array inscriptions upon it still harbor unimaginable power. Any defensive array below the Foundation Establishment level will instantly crumble when exposed to the light of this divine stele!"
The entire hall erupted in gasps of astonishment. A treasure capable of breaking arrays!
But in a secluded corner, the moment Tran Kien saw those patterns, his entire body shuddered. The blood in his veins seemed to boil.
It's it! he roared in his heart. These patterns... though only a minute fragment, they were unmistakable! This was a fragment of the Grand Array of Lac Viet's Heavenly Cycle!
While Lu Nhat Thiet was rambling on with his boasting, an aged, calm, yet unnervingly clear voice rose from a corner, drowning out all the noise.
"Pavilion Master Lu."
Everyone turned their heads. Elder Wei slowly stood up. He did not look at Lu Nhat Thiet; instead, he stared intently at the metal fragment on the stage, his clear eyes flashing with a touch of sorrow and a bone-chilling coldness.
"That object is not called the 'Array-Breaking Divine Stele'."
"It has its own name."
"And it," Elder Wei spoke—his voice was not loud, yet it was like a sledgehammer striking the hearts of everyone present—"does not belong to your Divine Weapon Pavilion."