Chapter 113: The Hong Kong Auction

Xiao Kaitian was thoroughly satisfied as he saw off Huang Ming and Yu Zhengyan; his initial objective had been achieved. As concluded in their discussion, to establish a “small kingdom” within Hantang, such equitable exchanges were indispensable.

Xiao Kaitian was not seeking political sovereignty or anything of the sort. He only desired a place to protect himself and his loved ones. He believed that in expressing this sincere wish, there was no chance of refusal from the other party.

Moreover, the bargaining chip he offered was something capable of suppressing the martial arts world and even altering the global balance of power—his ultimate trump card.

No sooner had he seen the two off than his phone rang. He swiped to answer, and Yu Mei’s voice came through: “President Xiao, sorry to bother you. Regarding the martial arts auction you mentioned last time, I have a resource in hand. Will you be attending?”

“It will be held in Harbor City three days from now. Besides some martial artists, several enterprises have also been invited. If you decide to participate, I can secure a spot under the name of Qingtang World.”

“I’ll attend. Thank you, Manager Yu,” Xiao Kaitian replied without hesitation. There was no reason to refuse. He would soon be heading to the capital—territory controlled by Xiao Zhenglü and other families—a dragon’s den and a tiger’s lair. His strength needed to be further enhanced; he couldn’t always rely on Bai Kou by his side.

The timing for going to the capital had to be precise. Reckless arrival would be a self-demotion. The bait was already set, and this was a battle of patience. Xiao Kaitian was in no rush; he had ample time, at least on the surface.

He was waiting for Chen Jingming’s leading documentary to be released, so that the online public opinion could further ferment. This would strengthen the bargaining chips in his hands. What he was facing was not just an individual or a company, but a stable state system.

Martial artists existed legally in this world. Although he did not yet understand why, existence justified their right. He intended to disrupt this balance. The resistance from the martial arts world in the future was foreseeable.

For many reasons, immediate enhancement of his strength was his foremost concern. Besides cultivating the Divine Source Nine Turns, he needed additional assistance.

With Zhao Qixi now stationed at Qingtang World, Xiao Kaitian felt much relieved. This young woman was almost like a supercomputer; she could efficiently handle the daily accumulation of affairs with ease.

Bai Kou had originally worried about Zhao Qixi’s health, but Xiao Kaitian did not intervene. Zhao Qixi’s body was not unhealthy; rather, her organs functioned normally. She simply lacked the Divine Source to connect and draw from the central axis of the cosmic world, which made her appear frail.

As for why this phenomenon occurred, Xiao Kaitian did not know either. He certainly could not take Zhao Qixi out for detailed study.

He speculated it might be due to the low dimensional world, which concealed certain issues with Zhao Qixi. In any case, ascending dimensions remained the ultimate goal.

Bai Kou had wished to accompany him to the Harbor City auction, but Xiao Kaitian declined. If Bai Kou went, Zhao Qixi would also have to go, which would increase uncertainty—after all, it was a gathering place for martial artists.

Furthermore, he had secured only one invitation card, which cost fifty million yuan. For someone currently strapped for cash, this was a bit tight. He needed some funds left over to see if he could bid on anything he desired.

Or perhaps find something suitable for Zhao Qixi to temporarily alleviate her condition.

Upon hearing this, Bai Kou did not hesitate. She pulled out a black gold card. “There’s about five hundred million yuan in there. Go shop around, see if there’s anything good to bring back. As for the money, you can repay me later, no interest. I doubt you currently have that much cash, given how poor you are.”

Xiao Kaitian wiped his face. She was right—he was dirt poor. Silently, he accepted the card. With this five hundred million backing, he instantly felt the pressure ease.

Next, Xiao Kaitian returned home and took the Energy Enhancing Pill Bai Kou had obtained during the last challenge. His combat power rose by fifty, bringing his current total to 368—equivalent to a mid-stage Earth Realm level in this world. After leveling up, he had five Divine Source Lights activated, and he also carried a Meridians Opening Pill.

This pill was of little use; he and Bai Kou had long surpassed the stage for its use, and Zhao Qixi’s condition prevented her from taking it. The others around him had no martial arts foundation. He planned to sell it at the auction.

After all, it was an item only usable by martial artists below the Mysterious Realm, with limited value.

Traveling from Haidu to Harbor City required a ferry. In Xiao Kaitian’s Future Century project, there was mention of constructing a cross-river bridge directly linking the two cities. However, this required funding and local government support, making it unfeasible for the time being.

When the time came, Xiao Kaitian donned a custom Armani silver-gray suit, draped a black trench coat over it, and settled into a BMW 7 Series. Yu Mei was the driver.

“President Xiao, here’s your pass. All procedures are complete. You can freely travel back and forth multiple times within fifteen days,” Yu Mei said, wearing sunglasses as she started the engine. “I can only take you as far as the ferry terminal.”

“Harbor City is a free economic development zone under Hantang, with its own autonomous government. Allow me to remind you: when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Everything must follow local customs.”

“In a sense, much of Harbor City’s culture is influenced by island nations and the M Country, making it incompatible with our Hantang.”

Xiao Kaitian nodded; he had already researched this information. He naturally accepted Yu Mei’s good intentions.

“I have a friend over there. Here’s her card. She’s a friend, well, more like a former client,” Yu Mei explained with a smile. “I’m sure you understand what I mean—people in our line of work.”

“Understood,” Xiao Kaitian said as he took the card. It was a thick platinum-embossed card bearing only the name “Luo Yanxin” and a phone number.

“She’ll also attend the auction and will look for you. She has considerable connections in Harbor City,” Yu Mei added, slowly parking in the ferry terminal lot. “But to be honest, President Xiao, I’m not very close with her.”

“That’s fine,” Xiao Kaitian was already quite satisfied. This young woman looked like a consummate professional but had a kind heart. He casually asked, “Lin Xiang, general manager of Qixi Media, is an old friend of mine. I hope I haven’t caused you too much trouble.”

Unexpectedly, Yu Mei fell silent. Xiao Kaitian glanced over; her cheeks flushed red, as if she was facing some dilemma.

Fortunately, Xiao Kaitian’s wit was sharp enough not to press with a “What’s wrong?”

The ferry terminal had a checkpoint to verify the legality of travel to Harbor City. Yu Mei could not pass through. After bidding farewell, Xiao Kaitian shouldered his suitcase and proceeded alone.