BTTH : I am Thunder Emperor

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**

One had to admit, when it came to business, the Mite-er Family had its own unique ways that allowed their enterprises to spread across the entire empire. 

Early the next morning, as soon as Mo Yu left the inn, he could hear people everywhere discussing the Mite-er Auction House. Clearly, they must have done a lot of advertising. 

After passing through several streets and asking for directions, Mo Yu, cloaked in a black robe that covered most of his face, finally arrived at a magnificent and grand auction house. 

Compared to the one in Wu Tan City, this auction house was far more towering and striking in appearance. 

As he gazed at the auction house, Mo Yu's mind wandered, and the image of a voluptuous woman in a red cheongsam, seductive and charming, slowly appeared in his thoughts. 

Shaking his head, Mo Yu chuckled, realizing that his sudden memory of Ya Fei was likely due to the side effects of his Heavenly Thunder Body. 

Approaching the grand, golden entrance, Mo Yu was about to enter when he was stopped by several guards. This was the Black Rock City auction house, after all, and even the guards employed by the Mite-er Family had the strength of Dou Shi. 

Since he didn't have an invitation, Mo Yu paid a hefty entrance fee of one thousand gold coins to be allowed into the auction. 

Of course, to Mo Yu, one thousand gold coins were nothing. Not only did he have the gold he split with Little Doctor Immortal from the mysterious cave, but he also had over a hundred thousand gold coins stored in Mo Yin's ring. 

Mo Yu's total wealth now roughly amounted to four or five hundred thousand gold coins, a sum greater than that of many small families. 

Entering the lavishly decorated auction house, Mo Yu was about to head inside when he suddenly heard gasps of admiration from the crowd, piquing his curiosity. 

Turning to look, he saw that in the VIP passage nearby, the guards of the Mite-er Auction House were respectfully bowing, welcoming someone. It didn't take long for two figures, one old and one young, to appear. 

The elder had a stern and dignified expression, exuding a deep and immeasurable strength. His fine black robe bore an emblem on the chest, intricately painted with four silver ripples over an ancient alchemy cauldron. 

A fourth-tier alchemist. Mo Yu was slightly startled—this elder was a fourth-tier alchemist, a highly esteemed figure in the empire. 

Standing next to him like a disciple was a beautiful young woman with long, waist-length silver hair. 

Her clear, cold eyes were like a mountain stream, and she wore a silver form-fitting robe that contrasted perfectly with her jade-like skin, adding an extra layer of icy allure to her beauty. 

On her black robe was also a mercury wave pattern, signifying her status as a first-tier alchemist. 

"That's Master Frank and Miss Xue Mei. I didn't expect Master Frank to be here, and it seems Miss Xue Mei has already advanced to a first-tier alchemist." 

"She's so young and already an official alchemist. Her future is boundless!" 

"Not only is Miss Xue Mei stunningly beautiful, but with her exceptional talent, it wouldn't be surprising if even the imperial prince sought her hand." 

... 

Hearing the discussions around him, Mo Yu finally understood. These were the head of the Black Rock City Alchemist Association, Frank, and his prized disciple. 

After figuring it out, Mo Yu lost interest and turned to enter the auction hall. 

While a fourth-tier alchemist was indeed impressive, they didn't catch Mo Yu's attention. His soul power was only a step away from also reaching the fourth-tier alchemist level. 

At that moment, as Mo Yu walked away, Frank's cloudy old eyes suddenly lit up, and he thoughtfully glanced in the direction where Mo Yu had left. A strange light flickered in his eyes. 

"Strange, this person may be wearing a black robe, but he seems young. Yet, there's an overwhelming soul power emanating from him that even I can feel a slight pressure. His soul power must be at least at the peak of the third-tier, if not the fourth-tier. When did Black Rock City produce such a talented individual? Could I be mistaken?" Frank muttered, shaking his head. 

"Teacher, what's wrong?" Seeing her teacher's astonished expression, the elegant young woman stopped and looked in the direction Frank was staring at. 

When she saw it was only a man in a simple black robe, she frowned. In Black Rock City, even a lowly alchemy apprentice would wear specialized alchemist attire. Why would such an ordinary-looking person attract her teacher's attention? 

"Heh, it's nothing. I must have sensed wrong. Let's go. I hear there are some fine herbs at the auction today." Frank didn't voice his suspicion; it was simply too absurd to consider. 

Hearing this, Xue Mei blinked her beautiful eyes. For some reason, she had a faint feeling that the black-robed young man had left quite an impression on her teacher. 

"Could he be a disciple of the president of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Association?" She raised her eyebrows at the thought but quickly dismissed it. 

As the most outstanding alchemist of the younger generation in Black Rock City, Xue Mei was confident that even the disciple of the renowned Pill King Gu He might not surpass her. 

Following her teacher into the auction hall, Xue Mei scanned the room, but the black-robed figure was nowhere to be seen. She quietly set the matter aside. 

Meanwhile, Mo Yu had found a hidden spot in the auction hall after entering and began observing the surroundings. Black Rock City, being a major city in the empire, was indeed incomparable to Wu Tan City. 

In the hall alone, Mo Yu sensed the presence of over a dozen Da Dou Shi, not to mention the countless Dou Shi. 

In the VIP section ahead, Mo Yu even faintly detected the aura of a Dou Ling. Such experts were among the top-tier powerhouses in the empire. 

Following Mo Yu's gaze, he saw the fourth-tier alchemist Frank conversing with a distinguished-looking middle-aged man. 

The middle-aged man wore luxurious clothing and had a thin face. Based on the information Mo Yu had gathered the night before, this man was Ye Cong, the head of the Ye family in Black Rock City, an eight-star Da Dou Shi. 

It was rumored that the Ye family had an ancestor who was a three-star Dou Ling, but he had been in seclusion for many years and had not appeared in public. 

While Mo Yu was quietly observing, the auction officially began. 

The auction in Black Rock City was not much different from the one in Wu Tan City. In the center of the hall, under bright lights, a beautiful woman in a blue dress was explaining the features of the auctioned items in a seductive voice. 

Though this woman wasn't as alluring as Ya Fei, her captivating presence still stirred many men's hearts. It seemed the Mite-er Auction House was skilled at using beauty to heighten the atmosphere. 

Under the woman's sweet and sultry voice, even mundane items were sold for far more than their actual value. 

Seeing this, Mo Yu couldn't help but admire the Mite-er Family's prowess. It was no wonder they were one of the three great families of the empire. If every city had a beautiful auctioneer like this, it wouldn't be an easy feat to match. 

The earlier auction items were fairly ordinary, so Mu Yu lost interest after a brief glance. 

As he casually surveyed the room, he noticed that Ye Cong and Master Frank, seated in the front row, had finished their conversation. Ye Cong's expression was heavy, clearly troubled by something. 

Mu Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. It had been a long time since the Ye family's ancestor made an appearance, and now the family patriarch looked deeply concerned. Could it be…? 

While Mu Yu speculated, the auction continued in full swing, and a particular item suddenly captured his attention. 

"Golden Sunwood, a rare wood that grows over a century within molten volcanic terrain. If you're cultivating a wood-element technique or have talent in forging, you won't want to miss this. Starting price: 10,000 gold coins." The seductive voice of the auctioneer echoed through the hall, leaving Mu Yu momentarily stunned. 

"Golden Sunwood!" Mu Yu's eyes brightened as he saw the branch brimming with fiery yang energy. 

This was the final material he needed to forge the Fire Binding Net. He had already planned to travel to the Mulan Empire if he couldn't find it elsewhere. To stumble upon it here was pure luck. 

"12,000!" A bidder shouted almost immediately after the auctioneer finished speaking. 

"13,000!" Another voice followed closely behind. 

... 

The price rose steadily, reaching 17,000 gold coins in no time. 

Mu Yu glanced at the bidders and noticed that most of them were cultivators practicing wood-element techniques. Shaking his head, he thought, Using such a high-quality forging material for cultivation? What a waste. 

"20,000!" Mu Yu called out as the bidding began to slow. 

Hearing this, several competitors backed out. For most of them, the Golden Sunwood's value lay in its rich wood-element energy, which could be replaced by other resources. Paying 20,000 gold coins for it wasn't worth it to them. 

With fewer competitors remaining, only two or three bidders continued briefly. In the end, Mu Yu secured the item with a final bid of 30,000 gold coins. 

While 30,000 was a hefty sum for most, it didn't faze Mu Yu, whose fortune exceeded hundreds of thousands. For a skilled forger like him, the value of the Golden Sunwood far surpassed its auction price. 

After acquiring the wood, Mu Yu found that the remaining auction items couldn't pique his interest. It wasn't that the auction lacked good items—his standards were simply too high. 

A few medicinal herbs even drew Master Frank into the bidding. One herb, called Blue Spirit Starflower, was sold for a jaw-dropping 300,000 gold coins, leaving Mu Yu slightly awed. 

As time passed, the number of items dwindled. Just as Mu Yu was about to leave, an unexpected item caught his attention. 

"Hehe, next up is the final item of today's auction—the Sixfold Grand Void Sword." The woman in the blue dress carried a jade tray to the stage, placing a sword on display. As the stage lights illuminated it, the sword's majestic aura radiated throughout the hall. 

The sword measured three and a half feet long, its blade forged from rare Heavenly Essence Iron. It emitted a faint, chilling gleam. The hilt featured a golden dragon sculpture, exuding dignity and power. The sword's edge was razor-sharp, seemingly capable of cutting through void itself. 

However, the Sixfold Grand Void Sword was badly damaged. The tip was broken, as if shattered by tremendous force, and the entire blade was riddled with cracks. A once-glorious weapon, now it resembled an aged warrior at the end of his journey, fragile and on the brink of collapse. 

The moment the sword appeared, Ye Cong locked his gaze onto it. His expression turned solemn, as if burdened with complex emotions. 

"This sword was the personal weapon of a Dou Ling expert who used it to slay countless foes. However, it was severely damaged during a great battle. Although its physical form is compromised, the sword's intent remains intact. If reforged by a skilled forger, it could become an extraordinary weapon once more. The starting bid is 200,000 gold coins!" 

The woman in the blue dress introduced the sword enthusiastically, but many in the audience shook their heads in disappointment. 

Indeed, if the Sixfold Grand Void Sword were intact, even a Dou Ling expert wouldn't hesitate to bid a fortune for it. But in its current condition, restoring it would require a talented forger. 

Hiring a forger was no simple task. Not only were skilled forgers rare, but the top-tier ones were nearly impossible to find. Spending 200,000 gold coins on what was essentially a broken weapon felt like a foolish decision. 

As the auctioneer's words faded, the hall fell into an awkward silence. Few were willing to spend so much on what many considered a worthless piece of metal. 

From the front row, Ye Cong frowned deeply, disappointment flickering across his face. 

Meanwhile, Mu Yu studied the damaged sword, a strange feeling welling up inside him. 

This sword wasn't as worthless as it seemed. Judging by its craftsmanship, it was a fourth-tier weapon, only slightly inferior to the Divine Might Black Thunder Spear. 

Despite its severe damage, the Sixfold Grand Void Sword felt alive—much like Mu Yu's companion, Zi Huo. It gave him the impression that it wasn't truly ownerless but a lost child longing for home, carrying a faint remnant of its master's will. Though subtle, Mu Yu's sharp senses detected it. 

Frowning, Mu Yu thought, A reputable auction house like the Mite-er Auction House would've verified the origins of every item they sell. If the sword truly belonged to someone, they wouldn't auction it without permission—it'd only cause trouble. So, they wouldn't make such a mistake... unless they did it on purpose! 

Realizing this, Mu Yu's mind raced, and a thought suddenly clicked into place. His gaze shifted toward Ye Cong, whose face was tinged with disappointment. At that moment, everything became clear to Mu Yu, and a sly smile curled at the corner of his lips. 

"200,000! I'll take it!" Mu Yu's voice rang out. 

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For exclusive access to 150+ advanced chapters and more, visit my Ko-fi page and support the journey: ko-fi.com/laoyao95

Laoyao with L yeahh..thanks for the support.