Evil Buddha Ming, with his ugly smile, ignored her completely, focusing on Zhang Wei instead. "Young man," he began, his voice unsettlingly calm, "did you use the Hand of Buddha back then?"
Zhang Wei's brow raised in mild surprise. These two were both martial ancestors, same as Du Yun'er, and from the looks of it, they were not on friendly terms.
His mind worked quickly, sensing an opportunity to turn the situation to his advantage.
Without hesitation, he allowed a powerful dark aura to unfurl from within him. "Yes, I did."
Evil Ming and Evil Hu's eyes sharpened as they locked onto Zhang Wei, their interest piqued. After a brief pause, they exchanged a look before nodding in unison.
"Very good," Evil Ming said, his voice filled with dark satisfaction. "If you truly possess the Dark God's inheritance, we would be willing to recognize you as the Saint of the Dark Monastery. For now, just for showing us the Palm of Buddha, allow us the pleasure of dealing with this righteous fool."
The two laughed in unison, their sinister chuckles reverberating through the air, while Du Yun'er's face darkened in response.
"You're with the Dark Monastery?" she hissed, her voice filled with disbelief as she glared at Zhang Wei. A wave of disappointment washed over her. "I wondered why my master ever held you in such high regard!"
Zhang Wei merely shrugged, his expression indifferent. "I use anything to get stronger..I would even refine you for strength..."
The system chimed in, amused. [Said exactly like an evil cultivator!]
Du Yun'er's glare intensified, and she shifted her focus back to Evil Ming and Hu. "You two cultists intend to interfere with the Martial Arts Association?" Her voice crackled with anger, but there was also a hint of uncertainty.
Evil Hu and Evil Ming exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter again, their voices loud and mocking.
"Hahaha! Elder Ming, this girl believes only she has the right to use power and background to bully the weak," Evil Hu said, slapping his companion on the back as if they were sharing a joke.
Evil Ming's pale face split into a chilling smile. "The Dark Monastery fears no one! Phoenix Fairy, perhaps your master forgot to teach you proper etiquette." His voice was calm, but the threat behind it was unmistakable.
Du Yun'er's face flushed with visible anger, her fists clenched tightly. She gritted her teeth, her fiery aura rising, but she knew the truth: the fight was now two against one.
Even for her, it would be reckless to engage both Evil Buddha Ming and Evil Hu simultaneously.
The Auction Hall sparkled beneath the fading hues of dusk, its towering structure filled with grandeur and ambition.
Flames from flickering lanterns danced along the carved phoenixes and dragons that adorned the walls, casting long shadows across the lavish entrance.
Inside, the atmosphere was filled with anticipation.
The main hall, a sprawling expanse of wealth, buzzed with the low hum of whispered conversations.
At the center of it all stood Jiang Yueqing, the sultry auctioneer from the prestigious Jiang family.
Draped in a clinging dark blue silk gown that shimmered like clean lake, she had the attention of every pair of eyes in the hall. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of midnight, and her ruby-red lips curved into a smile that promised temptation and peril in equal measure.
With an elegant wave of her hand, she began, her voice a smooth and seductive.
"Honored guests," she purred, drawing out the syllables as though savoring each one, "welcome to the Phoenix Auction Hall, where the extraordinary becomes reality, and even the impossible can be yours... for the right price." She winked teasingly at one of the wealthier patrons, causing him to nearly spill his wine.
"The items tonight are not just treasures. They are legends made tangible. Artifacts of such power that even the great sects would tremble before them! Our first item..." she paused dramatically, her eyes glittering with barely-contained mischief, "is none other than the Abyssal Spirit Gem, said to boost one's cultivation by an entire small realm in a single night! But be warned... this little gem has been known to drive men to madness... or worse."
Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Only the bravest—and wealthiest—should dare place a bid."
A ripple of excitement ran through the room, but Jiang Yueqing's sly smile hinted that she enjoyed toying with her audience just as much as selling the treasures.
She glanced up at the VIP boxes on the fourth floor, where the real power players were seated. "Let's see if our honored guests above dare make a move first..."
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In the highest box, nestled within the lavish confines of silk cushions and priceless possessions, sat the three most important members of the Chen family.
Long Tian, his aura crackling with suppressed power, sat at the forefront, his eyes half-lidded as though bored by the proceedings.