"Earth Grade Peak?!"

The middle-aged man beside Lu Chengfeng's face changed, and he moved to get up to shield Lu Chengfeng from the elder's oppressive force. Lu Chengfeng was sitting next to Jiang Chen, and since the gloomy elder hadn't targeted Jiang Chen specifically, even just the edge of such pressure was too much for Lu Chengfeng to bear.

Lu Chengfeng raised his hand to stop the middle-aged man, knowing full well of Jiang Chen's capabilities. Sitting beside Jiang Chen was safer than anything else.

Hum!

A wave of energy came through, and the Yan Hu by Jiang Chen's side became agitated, releasing an aura ten times more powerful than that of the gloomy elder's, surging into the sky and fiercely colliding with the elder's oppressive force.

Bang!

The gloomy elder's face changed, and he opened his mouth as if to shout.

But his body suddenly sank, and he opened his mouth.

"Puh—" He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and his knees buckled.

Thump! Thump!

The gloomy elder fell to his knees. Wang Shichong, who stood behind him, couldn't avoid it either. His face turned pale as he forcefully knelt down.

"Heavenly Peak Grandmaster!" The elder, without even having time to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, stared in horror at Yan Hu, who had somehow moved in front of Jiang Chen, his eyes filled with shock.

The middle-aged man beside Lu Chengfeng looked at Yan Hu in disbelief, a sense of relief welling up inside him.

When Lu Chengfeng returned from Dingjing, he couldn't stop praising Jiang Chen. The middle-aged man had been preoccupied with other matters at the time and hadn't been able to accompany Lu Chengfeng. Hearing Lu Chengfeng's praise of Jiang Chen, and especially hearing that Jiang Chen was only a young man in his twenties, he was deeply resentful.

He himself was a prodigy from the outer sect, having reached the Earth Grade Peak realm, and he didn't believe Jiang Chen could be stronger than him. He thought Lu Chengfeng was mistaken.

When he saw Jiang Chen today, he thought about challenging Jiang Chen after the auction, but now, seeing that even Yan Hu, who was standing respectfully beside Jiang Chen, was at the Heavenly Peak realm, he couldn't help feeling fortunate.

The difference between Heavenly Level and Earth Grade is just one realm, but they are entirely different matters. One can become a Grandmaster at Heavenly Level because they have gained a deep understanding of martial arts. Such individuals carry their own pride and would never condescend to be someone's bodyguard, which is why Wang Shichong and Lu Chengfeng's bodyguards are all at the Earth Grade Peak.

For someone who can have a Heavenly Peak Martial Artist as a bodyguard, he must be at least the Clan Leader of a top-tier family like the Flame Dragon, because in the Secular World, Heavenly Peak Martial Artists are treated as honored guests by all major families, not to mention the significance of the Heavenly Peak realm itself.

Therefore, both Yan Hu's martial prowess and Jiang Chen's identity were not something the middle-aged man could afford to provoke.

The middle-aged man glanced at Jiang Chen, muttering to himself that even the inner sect elders here wouldn't dare provoke him. Anyone accompanied by a bodyguard at the Heavenly Peak realm must be either the Young Master of a great sect or the direct heir of a hidden martial family!

"Chen Tao, this should convince you of Mr. Jiang's extraordinariness," Lu Chengfeng whispered, noticing the change in the middle-aged man's expression.

Chen Tao nodded secretly.

"Boy, who the hell are you?" Wang Shichong glared viciously at Yan Hu before fixing his gaze on Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen still ignored Wang Shichong, his eyes fixed on the Pill Furnace on the auction stage, thinking of studying it carefully after the auction ended.

Lu Chengfeng glanced at Jiang Chen, his eyes flickering before he turned to address Wang Shichong, "Young Master Wang, I am Lu Chengfeng. This gentleman is not someone you can provoke, so you better stop your clamor."

"Lu Chengfeng?!"

"Is that the Family Head Lu Chengfeng of the Lu Family?!"

"He's here too?"

"Wait! Is the Lu Family Head accompanying that young man? Who is that young man, to deserve such personal attention from the Lu Family Head?"

The banquet hall erupted once again with surprised murmurs about Jiang Chen and Lu Chengfeng.

Hua Zhiqiang glanced at Lu Chengfeng, cursing under his breath at the cunning old fox, and said urgently, "Young Master Wang, I am Hua Zhiqiang, the chairman of Thriving Group, and I advise you not to provoke Mr. Jiang."

"Thriving Group?!"

"That international mega-corporation?!"

"That guy actually came with two tycoons accompanying him? Who is he?"

"This, this, this... No wonder that kid dared to disrespect the Wang Family, he's got serious backing!"

The guests in the banquet hall were already stunned, feeling like their brains couldn't quite process it all. Such mighty figures had descended upon their small Pingchuan City!

The auctioneer on the stage's eyes lit up as he loudly called out with satisfaction, "Ten million for the first time!"

The crowd was slightly stunned before they remembered they were at an auction. The successive shocks had made them forget where they were.

Wang Shichong's complexion changed dramatically. He was already struggling to deal with Lu Chengfeng, and with Hua Zhiqiang added to the mix, he was completely out of his depth.

Jiang Chen glanced at Wang Shichong and gave a slight wave of his hand.

Yan Hu got the message, retracted his aura, shot a fierce glare at Wang Shichong and the gloomy old man, and sat back down.

Hua Feng'er's eyes sparkled with an extraordinary light. She took a deep look at Jiang Chen, this youth whom she once looked down upon. Now, he had managed to make a second-in-command of the Wang Family kneel without uttering a word.

Most importantly, the calm expression on his face revealed his substantial confidence.

Just how capable was this man!

So domineering!

Wang Shichong and the gloomy elder embarrassingly got up from the ground and left the banquet hall with their tails between their legs, Wang Shichong's face filled with a venomous look!

After coming back to their senses, the people in the banquet hall continued sitting quietly in their seats, thinking that if Wang Shichong himself didn't dare to compete with Jiang Chen, let alone a Jiang Chen who didn't even consider Wang Shichong worth his attention.

"Ten million for the second time!"

"Ten million for the third time, sold!"

The gavel struck, sealing the deal. The pill furnace was bought by Jiang Chen for ten million.

As the auctioneer brought down the gavel, Jiang Chen stood up and walked toward the auction stage, followed by Yan Hu, Hua Zhiqiang, and a few others.

"What's your name?" Jiang Chen asked softly as he approached the auctioneer.

The auctioneer was taken aback and looked at Jiang Chen puzzled, "Sir, my name is Sun Zhenfeng. Is there something you need?"

"You offended that kid just now; he certainly won't let it go. I quite like your straightforwardness. If you're willing, you can come with me," Jiang Chen said calmly.

Sun Zhenfeng was startled, a hint of amusement appearing in his eyes. He turned his gaze with interest and nodded, "Alright, I'll go with you."

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, a trace of confusion arising in his heart. Does this man not fear any consequences? Does he have something to rely on, or is he unaware of the gravity of the situation? Did I just recruit a foolishly brave man?

"Mr. Jiang, everything is settled," Hua Zhiqiang came up to Jiang Chen and spoke softly.

While Jiang Chen was talking with Sun Zhenfeng, Hua Zhiqiang had already completed the transaction with the auction organizers!

"Good!" Jiang Chen nodded, then turned to Lu Chengfeng, "Director Lu, I am grateful for your support just now."

"There's no need to mention it, Mr. Jiang," Lu Chengfeng replied with a light chuckle, waving off the gratitude while secretly feeling pleased; this was exactly what he had anticipated from joining Jiang Chen.

"Hu Zi, take the furnace," Jiang Chen instructed Yan Hu, then turned and walked toward the exit of the banquet hall.

Yan Hu nodded, walked up to the pill furnace, bent down to embrace it, and loudly exclaimed, "Up!"

This action, however, elicited sneers from bystanders.

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