Chapter 385 - 345: Star Purple Eyes, the Auction Begins

Tomorrow was the day the Beicang Auction would officially begin. The people of Beicang Town had been waiting for a long time, and the day had finally arrived. Tonight, Qingya Tower was destined to be exceptionally lively.

Chen Ping’an’s hearing was astonishing. Even before he stepped into Qingya Tower, he could hear the waves of clamor from within. All sorts of discussions reached his ears without end.

Most of the talk was about the Beicang Auction tomorrow.

Topics ranged from which famous masters had already appeared at the auction grounds and secured early entry, to which masters had yet to make an appearance, and of course, speculation about the final, major auction items...

When Chen Ping’an walked into the tower, he drew a flurry of gazes. The sound of conversation even died down a little.

Ever since Lan Yingjun’s public challenge, quite a few people knew that Chen Ping’an was staying here. With many having done their homework, a good number of them recognized him.

Chen Ping’an’s expression remained placid as he made his way upstairs. By the time he reached the second floor, the chatter on the first floor slowly returned to normal. Snippets of conversation drifted into his ears.

"Did you see that? The one who just passed was Chen Ping’an of the Garrison Commandant’s Office! A prodigy from the Rising Star Chart!"

"I saw him! He’s the famous Mang Blade Mang Vajra? He doesn’t look the part, judging by his build!"

"At first, I also thought Mang Blade Mang Vajra would be some burly fellow. I never expected him to be such a refined young master, so slender he looks like he couldn’t even truss a chicken. Still, you can’t judge a book by its cover. For him to have made such a name for himself, he definitely has some tricks up his sleeve!"

"You’re right! But... how come I’ve heard Mang Blade’s reputation isn’t so great these past few days? Rumor is he used an injury as an excuse to duck Little Five Poison’s challenge! Makes you question his strength, doesn’t it?"

"Oh, that! Let me tell you, I was right there on the scene that day..."

"..."

Similar comments occasionally reached Chen Ping’an’s ears, but he paid them no mind, heading straight for the fifth floor of Qingya Tower. The scenes he encountered on the floors he passed were much the same as on the first.

Seeing him go upstairs prompted the patrons, who had been engrossed in their own conversations, to turn and look. It was clear from this that Chen Ping’an’s fame in Beicang Town was considerable!

His reputation couldn’t compare to the truly established masters, of course, but among the younger generation, he was one of a handful of prominent figures.

A rank of twenty-first on the Rising Star Chart was nothing to scoff at. Combined with the earlier rumors and Lan Yingjun’s challenge, his fame had been pushed to new heights. Of course, with the incident of him avoiding a battle hanging over his head, public opinion of Chen Ping’an was split down the middle.

However, the real major event was the upcoming Beicang Auction. The crowd’s focus on Chen Ping’an lasted only a moment before they returned to the hot topic of the day.

As he reached the fourth floor, Chen Ping’an overheard a few snippets about the death of Cao Yingxiong. It seemed Cao Yingxiong’s demise had caused quite a stir over the past few days.

Cao Yingxiong had been in charge of the Qiankun Bureau’s Weishui Branch. He held an official position and was a top-tier expert among the very best. His status was far higher than the likes of Demon-Subduing Spear Lu Dong, Celestial Deformed Leg Li Dongshan, Heartless Stick Leng Wu Ya, or the Exquisite Water Hibiscus!

Even within Beicang Town, he was a renowned and powerful figure!

The death of such a person caused ripples and shockwaves far greater than anyone had imagined.

’His death is certainly sparking a lot of discussion. I suppose Cao Yingxiong got a worthy death after all!’

Chen Ping’an smiled to himself. Lost in thought, he soon arrived at the fifth floor of Qingya Tower. The fifth floor, the very top of the building, was an Observation Platform that offered a panoramic view of most of Beicang Town.

When Chen Ping’an reached the fifth floor and stepped outside, an evening breeze washed over him, an intoxicating sensation. The wind carried the unique freshness and elegance of the mountains, filled with the faint scent of grass and trees. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling as if it could cleanse his very soul.

’Qingya Tower truly lives up to its name.’

Besides Chen Ping’an, there were quite a few others on the Observation Platform. They stood in small groups, admiring the scenery. Chen Ping’an’s arrival didn’t cause much of a stir.

Chen Ping’an gazed out at the surroundings. In the distance, mountains rose and fell, range upon range. Closer by, Beicang Town bustled with life and noise. Tonight, Beicang was destined to be a sleepless city.

Feeling the crisp air and the vastness of the world around him, Chen Ping’an felt his mind expand.

’It really makes a difference to get out and see the world!’

Within Beicang Town, besides the crisscrossing streets and rows of densely packed shops and Treasure Pavilions, there were also numerous scenic ponds. When Beicang Town was first planned, it wasn’t just designed as a stronghold and a fortress, but as a city built into the mountains.

The town was brightly lit everywhere, and in the distance, the Blessed Land glowed brilliantly, like a lustrous pearl.

’So bright and ostentatious. They must not be afraid of attracting Demon Beast attacks.’

The thought surfaced in Chen Ping’an’s mind, but it was gone in a flash.

Since Beicang Town was built here, it naturally had no fear of Demon Beast raids. In fact, to ensure the safety of the trade routes, Beicang Town regularly dispatched forces to exterminate and drive away the Demon Beasts in the surrounding areas, preventing them from gathering in numbers large enough to threaten the Long’an Trade Route.

This was, after all, a world dominated by humanity. Even powerful Demon Beasts that had cultivated an Inner Core—a perfectly formed one at that, Inscribed with a True Seal—still had to hide deep in the mountains and flee into the forests when faced with the myriad Martial Arts Cultivators of the human world.