Chapter 144: The Meng Family and the Auction Pagoda

Chu Han witnessed the scene and was instantly shocked. He quickly dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding the spreading black mist. Those who came into contact with the black gas all met untimely deaths, their skin rotting and faces grotesquely disfigured.

After completing this, Zhang Yuxi fell from the sky and crashed onto the ground. The black glow in her eyes vanished, and she immediately lost consciousness.

Chu Han hurriedly stood up and examined her. Fortunately, she had only fainted from extreme fright and exhaustion. Relieved, he allowed himself a breath.

But the memory of the black mist emanating from her body filled him with dread. Even with his strength, he felt utterly incapable of dealing with such a force.

This gas was terrifying beyond measure, imbued with an overwhelmingly powerful death energy. Anything it touched was doomed to perish. Around the eastern outskirts, the trees were visibly withering before his eyes.

He approached one of the trees and looked at its already withered leaves. The death energy was fully entrenched within the wood. Gazing down at the prone Zhang Yuxi, he was deeply puzzled.

He had already sensed it earlier—there was not a trace of true energy within her. She was an ordinary person. How could she unleash such a formidable death force? Moreover, during the release, not even a hint of true energy leaked out, proving she had no cultivation.

He racked his mind but could not fathom this unprecedented phenomenon. It must be connected to her mysterious teacher. To find answers, he would first have to locate this teacher.

Lifting her in his arms, Chu Han did not return to the Taiyi Sect. Instead, he found a modest inn, rented a room, and laid her gently on the bed.

Her condition was bizarre and alarming. From now on, caution was imperative. If she continued to emit such energy, innocent bystanders would be endangered. And judging by appearances, she could not control this death power. He needed to devise a solution swiftly.

Seeing that her strength was utterly depleted and she would require time to awaken, Chu Han stepped out of the inn. Before leaving, he set up a protective barrier and a simple formation at the door to prevent anyone from entering and harming Zhang Yuxi.

Once outside, he walked through the bustling central city. It was noon, and the city was alive with noise and activity. He noticed many elegantly dressed individuals entering a vast, magnificent building—undoubtedly the city’s landmark, grand and imposing.

Curious about the gathering, Chu Han approached a bystander and quietly inquired, “Brother, may I ask what this place is? Why are so many wealthy people gathered here?”

“You must be from out of town, huh? This building is the Auction Tower. Auctions are held here periodically. Today’s event is hosted by the Meng family. You should know—the Mengs are wealthy beyond measure. Their family treasures are countless, making them the richest clan in Central City. Their auctions attract all the notable figures in the city.”

“But ordinary people like us can’t attend. Only premium clients of the Auction Tower are allowed inside. I wish I could see it; when the Meng family holds an auction, only the finest items are on offer—nothing defective.”

The man explained with admiration for the Auction Tower. Chu Han smiled politely, thanked him, and stepped aside.

Indeed, the Meng family and the Auction Tower held great influence in Central City, attracting prominent figures and inspiring awe even among common folk. Clearly, they possessed something remarkable.

Chu Han’s eyes shifted thoughtfully. Seizing the moment when no one was watching, he melted into the shadows. With swift precision, he knocked out a recently dismounted man and dragged him into a deserted alley, all without attracting attention. Only the horse remained behind.

Looking at the middle-aged man’s ample belly lying on the ground, Chu Han couldn’t help but smile wryly. “Sorry, uncle. If I’m to get inside, I’ll have to rely on you.”

He searched the man’s pockets and soon found a gold card and a black card bearing five stars—a black VIP card from the bank.

The gold card was likely the access pass to the auction house. Chu Han recognized the black card as well; it was the bank's black VIP card, granted only to those with at least ten million gold coins in deposit, capped at twenty million.

Weighing the cards in his hand, he smiled faintly. “Sorry, I’ll keep these for now to get inside. I’ll return them to you later.”

He exited the alley, casually donned a set of black clothes and a mask, and entered the Auction Tower, gold card in hand. His attire did not raise suspicion; many wealthy visitors concealed their identities similarly, never flaunting their wealth openly.

Inside, Chu Han seated himself wherever he pleased, grateful the seats were unassigned; otherwise, his identity would be compromised.

Observing the crowd, he saw many distinguished figures had arrived. Even the Taiyi Sect had sent an elder he did not recognize, dressed in their long robe. After a moment’s scrutiny, Chu Han composed himself, preparing to witness the auction’s grandeur.

“Everyone, please quiet down. The auction is officially starting. We won’t waste time. The first item up for bid is the Multicolored Mysterious Gold Pill, starting at three million gold coins.”

An elder stepped forward, presenting the first auction item without ceremony—the Multicolored Mysterious Gold Pill.

Chu Han was astonished. This auction was incomparable to those in Jingyuan City. Usually, auctions began with less valuable items, reserving the best for last. Yet here, the first item alone was a Multicolored Mysterious Gold Pill.

This pill was an intermediate-level human-grade elixir capable of reviving someone on their last breath—a miraculous remedy. Its refinement was notoriously difficult, even more so than heavenly-grade pills. In his past life, Chu Han had reached the threshold of the Celestial Sovereign and only then managed to produce one. That alone spoke to its rarity.

Such a pill was essentially a second chance at life. Someone was putting it up for auction—and right at the start. Clearly, the wealth on display was immense. Chu Han felt vindicated in attending this event; perhaps he could acquire something he needed.

Though intrigued, he was not particularly interested in the pill himself. His Immortality System was equivalent to having infinite supplies of the Multicolored Mysterious Gold Pill. Besides, the pill could only revive those barely clinging to life, not resurrect the dead, so his curiosity was limited.

Nonetheless, many bidders coveted the pill; possessing it meant an extra life. Who wouldn’t want that? The price quickly soared to thirteen million gold coins.

However, this was only the first item, and no one expected to wager their entire fortune. The bidding was more symbolic, ending at fifteen million gold coins. The lucky winner’s face beamed with delight.