Three hundred perfect crystals for a pair of [Natural Gate]... these were unprecedented extravagances!

"Is there nothing priced higher than this?" he bellowed. After his call echoed unanswered for a long moment, the gavel fell, sealing the deal.

The auction concluded. The items displayed were simply too astonishing; with the perfect crystals and the [Natural Gate], the Pason Auction House instantly became renowned across the continent.

Chen Feng rose, and sure enough, a young man approached.

"Sir, please follow me," the youth said, immediately taking the lead.

The information relayed via the seating area's teleportation device meant that while the bidders might not know the buyer, the auction house kept meticulous records—otherwise, if someone falsely claimed a bid and fled, the house would face ruinous losses.

Chen Feng followed the youth through several passages to a spacious private room.

"Please wait here for a moment!" The youth turned and stepped out.

Less than five minutes later, the door swung open, and four figures entered. Leading them was an elder cloaked entirely in black; beside him was Adam, the owner of the Pason Auction House.

"You are the one who purchased the [Natural Gate] for three hundred crystals?" the black-robed elder asked Chen Feng, seating himself unceremoniously in the primary chair at the center of the room.

Chen Feng glanced at the elder, ignoring him completely. He looked at Adam and said coolly, "Bring the [Natural Gate] here. Money for goods, trade concluded!"

"Insolence!" the two middle-aged men flanking the black-robed elder roared in unison. "Our Elder is speaking to you. Did you not hear him?"

Chen Feng paid the two men no mind whatsoever and continued addressing Adam. "And those ten Thunder-Warden Arrows!"

One of the middle-aged men, seeing such disrespect, moved to intervene, but the black-robed elder waved his hand, signaling them to stand down.

"Adam, go retrieve the items for this young brother!"

Adam nodded respectfully, turned, and exited. He returned shortly with a tray holding the ten Thunder-Warden Arrows in one hand, and in the other, a small, square box.

The box exuded a potent energy; the [Natural Gate] appeared to be sealed within it.

Adam glanced at the black-robed elder, then placed both items on the table before them.

Chen Feng stepped forward and swept his right hand out. The items on the table vanished into his waterskin, and simultaneously, the three hundred perfect crystals intended for the [Natural Gate] and the payment for the Thunder-Warden Arrows appeared on the table.

"This is my payment!" he declared, turning immediately to leave.

"Young brother, how about we strike a bargain?" the black-robed elder called out as Chen Feng started to depart.

Chen Feng paused. "Hear it."

The black-robed elder spoke, "I heard you possess one unit of perfect crystal. I wish to purchase it immediately."

"The price?"

"I will naturally not undervalue it. How about the same price you set last time?" the elder proposed.

Chen Feng considered for a moment. Since the man wanted these crystals, there was no need to go through multiple transactions. He replied, "Fine. Hand over the money first!" He could tell these individuals were not affiliated with the auction house, so for safety, he required payment upfront.

"How dare you! Would our master default on a debt?" the same middle-aged man snarled.

Chen Feng offered no defense, implicitly confirming his demand. This incensed not only the middle-aged man but also caused a flicker of displeasure in the black-robed elder, though his composure was such that he managed to suppress it.

"Here is the payment in cash," he said, casually tossing out a commerce card. "It holds eighty crystals. The remaining seven hundred perfect crystals are yours as a bonus from me!"

Chen Feng took the card and swept his spiritual energy over it. A string of figures immediately appeared. Confirming the amount was correct, he casually tossed the remaining seven hundred perfect crystals onto the table.

"Heh heh…" the black-robed man chuckled. "Young brother, if you acquire more perfect crystals in the future, perhaps we should establish a long-term transaction?"

Chen Feng stated flatly, "I have none left, only these!" He turned and walked out, soon disappearing from the auction house.

…………

"Elder… why did you let him leave?" the middle-aged man asked anxiously.

An imperceptible, sharp glint flashed in the black-robed elder’s eyes. "Let him leave? Heh heh, not so easily!" He leaned back against his chair. "I had intended to detain and interrogate him, but… this boy seems quite clever. Even if we caught him, we likely wouldn't extract anything useful. You two, follow him discreetly. Investigate his background, but do not engage him rashly!"

Without sparing the two men another glance, he gently closed his eyes.

"Yes!" The two bowed in acknowledgement and turned to leave.

…………

Chen Feng merged into the dispersing crowd, knowing that blending in would keep him inconspicuous.

Having met the elder only once, he was certain the man would not be one to easily let matters rest, so he had already prepared an escape route.

However, before he had gone far, a man in white blocked his path directly ahead.

"I am Max, a White Bishop of the Kega Pontificate," the man in white stated calmly. "You are requested to accompany me to the Pontificate."

"To the Pontificate?" Chen Feng shook his head, replying, "No—"

Max sneered. "That is not for you to decide. You will go whether you wish to or not!"

"And if I refuse?" Chen Feng asked.

"Then you die!" Max declared.

Chen Feng had not anticipated the Pontificate adopting such an aggressive stance, and a murderous intent surfaced in his eyes. He had not yet taken a life since arriving in this world, but that didn't mean he was prepared to become a pacifist.

Max immediately sensed the dense killing aura emanating from him, but with his strength as a Ming Sage, he scarcely registered such a youth as a threat. A smile played on his lips. "Don't force my hand. If I have to act, I fear you will perish right here!"

With that, Chen Feng felt the air around his body tighten, as if he were instantly bound within a small, constricting space, like being encased in a fishing net.

Ming Shi cultivation is divided into four stages: Initial Glimpse of Nature, Understanding Nature, Merging with Nature, and Utilizing Nature. A Ming Venerable in combat is only Merging with Nature, whereas a Ming Sage is Utilizing Nature.

Utilizing Nature allows for the manifestation of spatial lockdown, trapping Chen Feng in the center.

Chen Feng, feeling his body restricted, was surprisingly delighted rather than panicked. Facing an opponent of Ming Sage level for the first time ignited an intense surge of fighting spirit within him. His muscles rapidly swelled, like balloons inflating, causing his loose priest's robes to lift slightly.

"It's useless!" Max observed Chen Feng’s movement, recognizing the prelude to a Golden Armored Warrior's assault. He mocked, "A Nature Bind cast by a Ming Sage—trying to break it is sheer delusion!"

Chen Feng ignored the words, closed his eyes, and suddenly raised his left hand, letting out a great shout as a ball of flame swiftly materialized in his palm. Instantly, his entire body erupted in fire, glowing with a purplish-red light, transforming him into a war god of raging flames.

The people on the street, witnessing the confrontation beginning, scattered instantly with a collective gasp. The crowded thoroughfare was now utterly deserted.

"Crack… crack…"

The spatial shackles surrounding Chen Feng began to shatter under the intense heat of the flames. A fire dragon shot forth from his left hand!

Eight Forms of the Serpent Pheasant!

"I didn't expect you to have some tricks up your sleeve!" Max laughed, not taking the fire dragon seriously. He waved his right hand, and the Serpent Pheasant immediately shifted direction, soaring upward!

"Altering the trajectory of the surrounding space?" Chen Feng was startled. A Ming Sage, leveraging the power of Nature, could effortlessly manipulate the spatial state before them, redirecting any attack aimed at him. Essentially, it was advanced leveraging—the ability to deflect such fire attacks outward.

A Dou Saint powerhouse merely borrows the momentum of Heaven and Earth to manipulate energy; a Ming Sage can manipulate the power of Nature to change spatial trajectories! If they were to truly fight, the Ming Sage might even hold the advantage over the Dou Saint.

However, Chen Feng held no fear. A Ming Sage relies on Ming Si (Mystic Contemplation) to harness the power of Nature. Ming Si resembles spiritual perception but is an entirely different concept. Ming Si is the precise focal point for feeling and manipulating Nature—a delicate, wave-like form of spiritual energy whose environmental penetration exceeds that of standard spiritual perception by tenfold!

In the past, when White used it, his 'father,' Jun Wunian, could use Ming Si to easily detect an unsuspecting fish taking the bait. Chen Feng lacked this ability, highlighting the difference between Ming Si and spiritual perception.

Because Ming Si possessed such deep environmental penetration, it allowed Ming Sage level individuals to skillfully borrow the power of Nature. But this very depth of penetration was what made Chen Feng their nemesis!

Just as Max redirected the incoming fire dragon, he felt a cloud of purplish-red mist rush toward his face. An intense will to slaughter was transmitted directly through Ming Si, piercing him with a pain so agonizing he nearly went mad.

This was the precise opportunity Chen Feng was waiting for. His left hand flashed with light, and he shot forward like a phantom. His hands, now bearing the hardened knuckles of Wujin (Dark Gold), fiercely clawed toward his opponent!

In an instant, beneath his twin strikes, the air churned into a vortex, rotating back and forth like blades slicing across Max's body.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Max's body seemed to be struck by millions of bullets, blood erupting constantly from all over, making him feel as if he were undergoing a slow execution!

"Die!" Chen Feng roared without restraint, wrapping both hands around the elder's head and lifting him up. A purple flame burst forth from his palm with a 'Peng!' as he simultaneously spun and hurled Max behind him!

This rapid sequence was the True Eight Virgins technique! Goenitz's True Eight Virgins was unleashed upon a person for the first time!

Max lay on the ground, his eyes wide open in disbelief. "You… impossible…" He drew his last breath, unable to comprehend even in death how he had been instantly defeated.

Chen Feng exhaled, daring not to linger. He pushed off the ground with both feet and shot straight toward the sky!

Less than three seconds after he departed, two middle-aged men emerged from the interior side of the auction house doors. They stared, dumbfounded, at the deceased Max, exchanged a look, their eyes filled with disbelief! (To be continued, for further events, please log onto www**, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!) First release