The contingent from the Fang family arrived, and immediately personnel from Situ Merchant House stepped forward: "The Fang family guards, please follow this way. You can rest temporarily on the adjacent training grounds." Hundreds of people were already gathered near the garden entrance, causing a slight congestion, so all visiting entourages were directed elsewhere.

"The Fang family of Danyang City?"

Teng Qingshan couldn't help but turn his head to look. Leading the Fang family group was a slender middle-aged man clad in a black fur coat. Teng Qingshan instantly spotted a familiar figure behind this man: 'Fang Hong,' the personal guard of Young Master Li, whom Teng Qingshan had killed previously.

At such close proximity, Fang Hong naturally saw Teng Qingshan as well, his eyes widening in shock.

"Patriarch, Patriarch," Fang Hong called out repeatedly.

"Hmm?" The Fang family patriarch frowned and turned his head over. "What is it?"

"Patriarch, look, that young man in the white robe ahead—that's Teng Qingshan, the one who killed the Young Master!" Fang Hong stated. Though Fang Hong hadn't known Teng Qingshan’s name when Young Master Li died, the fact that Teng Qingshan had slain him enraged the Fang family, prompting them to immediately investigate thoroughly.

Teng Qingshan’s identity was clearly ascertained within Danyang City, even within the marketplaces. They had found his name.

"Teng Qingshan?" A sharp glint flashed in the eyes of the slender middle-aged man as he looked forward intently.

Teng Qingshan looked over at the same moment.

Their gazes locked!

A faint smile touched the corner of Teng Qingshan's lips before he turned and entered the garden alongside Li Jun and the Second Elder of the Rising Sun Merchant House.

"Second Brother, that handsome young man ahead... is that Teng Qingshan?" asked another middle-aged man, who bore a slight resemblance to the Fang family patriarch, standing beside him. "He looks quite young. Based on the residual traces at the battlefield outside the city, that Teng Qingshan is a Martial Saint of the Innate Golden Elixir level."

The Fang family patriarch snorted coldly, "Stop the nonsense and let's go in!"

The Fang family patriarch led the four others inside.

Within this garden, there was a corridor shaped like the Chinese character 'Kou' (a square frame), the walkway nearly two zhang wide. On this 'Kou'-shaped corridor, tables made of dark obsidian stone had been set up. Around each stone table were six high-quality sandalwood chairs. The nearly thirty attending families currently present occupied close to thirty tables within this garden!

Attending each table were two beautiful maids.

Near a dark obsidian table closest to the entrance corridor, a voluptuous woman in a purple fur coat was holding the hand of a girl dressed in pink sable fur. "Xiao Qing, the last time you passed by my place, you barely stayed a few days. After this auction, you must come stay with me for a while. Your auntie misses you dearly."

"I know, Sister Lan," the girl replied, a smile gracing her face, blossoming like a flower in winter. Beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, her eyes were like autumn water, captivating and soul-stirring.

"You little thing, you're growing prettier and prettier," the woman sighed before glancing around at the distance. "Look, many young masters from the various families here are looking over at you. Even Young Master Murong called you the number one beauty under heaven before. There are plenty who wish to marry you."

The girl snorted lightly, "Hmph. Let them become Martial Saints first!"

"Oh, the Second Elder of the Rising Sun Merchant House is arriving," the girl noted, looking toward the entrance.

She saw the Second Elder accompanying Teng Qingshan and Li Jun as they approached. Teng Qingshan was tall, with a relatively refined face, and his eyes resembled black jade. While not classically handsome, there was an innate aura of power in his bearing. Most people, entering an occasion like this, would instantly feel intimidated.

"Who are those two?" the girl inquired.

"I don't recognize them," the woman in purple fur replied, shaking her head in confusion.

"It seems the Second Elder of the Rising Sun Merchant House holds that young man in high regard. He is walking in the center of the three!" The girl was puzzled. "Where did this person pop up from?"

Along the 'Kou'-shaped corridor, many family members turned to look, whispering amongst themselves.

In the circles of top-tier figures on the Duanmu Continent, there were only so many individuals.

Aside from the major noble clans, there were only a few powerful Martial Saints. Generally, they should all recognize each other! Yet, very few of them recognized Teng Qingshan.

After Teng Qingshan and his party entered the garden, the Fang family contingent followed in.

"Mr. Teng!" A loud voice suddenly rang out, causing many to turn their heads. It was 'Wang Meng,' the patriarch of the Wang family of Nanshan City, who was smiling and walking towards them.

"Sir, you've arrived as well."

A hearty, booming voice followed as Fu Dao, carrying a massive broadsword on his back, also stood up to greet them.

This scene surprised many of the assembled families.

"Who exactly is this person? Even the Thunder Blade Martial Saint, 'Fu Dao,' calls him Sir?"

"What is this young man's identity?"

Despite their shock, the high-ranking figures of the various families, conscious of their status, remained seated at their respective tables, merely discussing among the friends nearest to them.

"Look, the First Elder of the Rising Sun Merchant House is going up to meet him too!"

"The First Elder, the 'Rising Sun Martial Saint,' is personally greeting him?"

This sight was even more astonishing.

Whether it was the status of the 'First Elder'—the supreme power holder of the Rising Sun Merchant House—or the title 'Rising Sun Martial Saint,' proclaimed as invincible below the War God, both afforded the First Elder an extremely high standing on the Duanmu Continent. Yet, this Elder stood up to welcome the young man...

"He must be an extraordinary master," the young woman in the pink sable fur remarked, her eyes lighting up.

...

Teng Qingshan observed the First Elder before him, and the First Elder was likewise observing the young man.

The First Elder had heard of some matters concerning Teng Qingshan and knew this young man possessed astonishing strength.

And Teng Qingshan knew that the title 'Strongest Below the War God' was certainly no idle boast.

'Strongest Below the War God? I am confident that below the Void Realm, no one is my match. My title of 'Strongest Below the Void Realm'—I wonder who is stronger when compared to this Rising Sun Martial Saint!' Teng Qingshan mused internally. Even without a contest, Teng Qingshan held absolute confidence!

Confidence in his own strength!

'This First Elder, his appearance is youthful,' Teng Qingshan noted as he looked at the 'First Elder,' silently praising him. 'The First Elder must have been very young when he reached the Innate level. Otherwise, it would be hard to maintain such a youthful appearance!'

Teng Qingshan was like a refined youth.

The First Elder, though appearing young, had faint streaks of silver at his temples, his eyebrows like twin sharp blades, and his gaze as deep as a dark pool.

"Teng Qingshan!" The First Elder let out a faint smile.

Although he regarded Teng Qingshan with importance... Teng Qingshan was not yet qualified to be addressed as 'Sir' by the First Elder.

"First Elder." Teng Qingshan’s gaze lingered briefly on the handle of the battle saber behind the Elder's back, which looked menacing even from a distance.

The Second Elder beside them chuckled, "Let's take seats over there."

With more personnel, the Rising Sun Merchant House occupied two dark obsidian tables.

"Whoosh~~"

Nearby maids immediately poured tea for Teng Qingshan and Li Jun.

"Brother Teng, many people are looking over here," Li Jun whispered with a smile. "That young lady over there is truly beautiful."

Teng Qingshan scanned the other parts of the 'Kou'-shaped corridor, simultaneously spotting the girl in the pink sable fur. A glance was all it took for Teng Qingshan’s eyes to brighten! In terms of appearance, this girl was definitely among the absolute best he had seen. A notch above Li Jun, and comparable to Zhuge Qing.

'Qingqing...' A vision of that pure, ethereal maiden flashed through Teng Qingshan's mind.

"Brother Teng, what's wrong?" Li Jun asked softly.

"Nothing," Teng Qingshan shook his head, saying no more.

In the center of the 'Kou'-shaped corridor was a pond, and built in the middle of the pond was a waterside pavilion! A black stone path connected the corridor to the pavilion.

Teng Qingshan and the First Elder conversed casually.

"First Elder, when does this auction begin?"

"At noon! If everyone arrives early, we will start sooner," the First Elder replied with a smile.

"The Tianfeng Family has arrived!"

A high-pitched, resonant voice rang out from the garden entrance. The entire garden instantly quieted, and almost everyone turned to look at the entrance.

"The Tianfeng Family... the number one family on the Duanmu Continent?" Teng Qingshan also looked over.

Uniformly dressed in thick, snow-white fur robes, eight figures walked in together, including two beautiful women. The leader looked to be in his late thirties or early forties, and one could faintly discern that he must have been exceptionally handsome in his youth. This man stroked his thin mustache, surveyed the garden, and displayed a slight smile.

"Brother Helian!"

"Haoxing!"

Many people along the corridor stood up, greeting each other enthusiastically.

However, there was no reaction from the Rising Sun Merchant House side.

"Brother Teng, this man is called Helian Haoxing! He is the third brother of the current patriarch of the Tianfeng Family. He is quite capable," the First Elder explained with a smile. "If the Tianfeng Family intends to go all out to contend for this Gallium Stone Slab today, things might get a bit troublesome." Saying this, however, Teng Qingshan sensed...

...that the First Elder's tone held no real apprehension towards the Tianfeng Family.

"Brother Teng, some people are carrying boxes over there," Li Jun murmured softly.

Teng Qingshan looked towards the pavilion in the center of the pond. He saw three burly men, each carrying an iron chest, swiftly walking towards the pavilion, setting the three chests down by the edge, and then departing quickly.

'Those three iron chests probably contain the Gallium Stone Slabs,' Teng Qingshan thought to himself.

"Esteemed Guests!" A deep voice echoed throughout the entire garden.

A slightly stout elderly man, dressed somewhat loosely, leading three subordinates, walked along the black stone path to the pavilion in the center of the pond. He smiled down at the assembled crowd. "Haha, I, Situ Fan, feel truly honored to gather the various great families and masters from across the world here today."

"Old Situ, just open the boxes and let us take a look," a laugh chimed in, immediately followed by laughter from the various families along the surrounding corridor.

Situ Fan chuckled, "All right, I won't waste time."

"Open the boxes!"

Upon Situ Fan’s command, the three subordinates immediately opened the three iron chests with a loud clank, revealing layer upon layer of Gallium Stone Slabs stacked inside.

A sharp gleam flashed in Teng Qingshan's eyes as he focused on the pavilion in the center of the pond.

"Hmm?" Teng Qingshan scanned his surroundings. 'Judging by the atmosphere, all these families have designs on these Gallium Stone Slabs... I hope the gold I prepared is enough to buy one,' Teng Qingshan felt uncertain about his chances of winning a Gallium Stone Slab in the bidding.

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