If Jayden was able to get all the shops that the Northmans owned in Sunway, he would have made a major contribution to the Stallone family."How about this? Let's bet on all the shops that the Northmans have in Sunway. If you lose, all the shops will be ours. If you win, we'll give you half of the shops that we have in Sunway's city center." Jayden's offer sounded generous, but all of the Stallones' shops added together wouldn't even be worth as much as half of the Northmans' shops.After all, Northstar Pharma was established more than 20 years ago. Although they had remained focused on the pharmaceutical industries, they also dabbled in several side industries. They even had assets in the jewelry industry. Therefore, the Northmans were very meticulous in choosing the location of their stores. After a few rounds of renovation and rebuilding, even the elite of Sunway often visited them.The rich and wealthy were the ones who really drove consumption."Alright, but I have one mor
Zane's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't help staring fixedly at Jayden and Lucian."Don't look back," Sebastian reminded him.Zane inhaled sharply. They were over 30 feet away. How had Sebastian known what Jayden's reserve price was?Could he read minds?As for whether the bowl was a counterfeit product or not, Zane didn't care at all. After all, the organizer would reveal the truth after every item was auctioned off.That was the most exciting part of the auction.At other auctions, the organizer or seller wouldn't even admit the buyers had gotten a counterfeit product. This auction, on the other hand, had already made it clear from the start. The audience knew that there were both real and counterfeit items being auctioned off. The purpose of doing so was to test the participants' judgment. It was also a way for all the elite who were attending the auction to show off their skill in antique appraisal."Let's have our first item for the night! This is from the first batch o
Celeste smiled and approached Jayden. She said softly and gently, "Mr. Stallone, you don't have to be discouraged. Keep going!"However, Jayden couldn't help feeling like she was smiling scornfully at him."Mr. Sadler, you— What's going on?" Jayden asked grimly when he returned to his seat, red in the face."Uh… well, everyone makes mistakes. Don't take it to heart, Mr. Stallone. We'll win it back in a jiffy," Joshua said very awkwardly. He had turned red."The next auction item is a painting called 'The King's Son.'" Celeste smiled and gestured toward the stage. "The King's Son" was then pushed out from backstage."Mr. Sadler, what do you think of this painting?" Jayden asked, staring nervously at Joshua.Joshua had been rattled by his failure. If he failed again, he would lose this job, which had an annual salary of 80 million. Not only that, his reputation in the antiques industry would be ruined overnight."Do you even have to ask? 'The King's Son' is a national treasure. Ho
"Damn! Mr. Northman was going for the beauty all along!""That's a classic example of someone who prizes love over his career."The crowd wasn't the only ones buzzing with speculation. Even Jayden and Lucian had slapped their thighs in regret.There was no one as beautiful as Cecilia in the whole of Sartvale or even in Harrenville. If they had known that this would happen, they would've fought for the fake painting, even if they had to lose half of the Stallones' shops.Zane was entranced by Cecilia's beauty. He forgot that he had just spent 35 million on buying a counterfeit item."Ms. Lucox, is your painting the legendary 'The King's Son'?" Celeste asked, smiling.Even Celeste couldn't help glancing admiringly at Cecilia. The gods were so unfair. How could she look so beautiful and enchanting? Celeste was rather jealous. "Congratulations. You are very lucky. This painting is authentic." Cecilia's melodious voice echoed through the entire hall.Silence fell in the hall. One
Sebastian knew the history of "The King's Son" very well!It was one of the authentic items in the collection of Belinda Dawson, who was one of the most vicious members of the Janover Lucox family!Belinda was the current head of the Lucox family, and she was a legend among the Nine Orders, Eighteen Principles and Thirty-Six Sects. Cecilia must be her daughter. Although Sebastian didn't know why Belinda had sent 'The King's Son' to Sartvale, the Northmans must not take it!"Mr. Ballard, what do you mean by that?""You have to give it back, and you've got to do it with a smile on your face," Sebastian said seriously.When Zane heard Sebastian, he frowned uncomprehendingly. Although a million questions were running through his mind, he dared not ask anything."What's more important to you, your life or your money?" Sebastian asked, smiling.Zane immediately came back to his senses. Someone who could own a national treasure like the painting would not be an ordinary person. Alt
"Young people just aren't as reliable. He probably just got lucky with 'The King's Son.'"Most people began criticizing Sebastian again. They thought that he had just gotten lucky when he got Zane to bid for "The King's Son", and that he hadn't done it based on his skill at all.However, a middle-aged man sitting behind Zane and Sebastian had heard everything that Sebastian had said to Zane.Ever since Sebastian had made Zane bid for 'The King's Son', the middle-aged man had been watching Sebastian very closely.He had even nudged his chair forward so that he could press his ear against the backs of their chairs. When the result of the auction item was revealed once more, the middle-aged man was flabbergasted.He was the only one who knew that Sebastian had recognized it for what it was and that he knew more than anyone there. The bronze horse was unlucky, which was why he had told Zane not to get it. As for Elton, whom Sebastian had mentioned, the man wasn't interested at all.
Sebastian had immediately realized that it wasn't an ordinary antique. It was an ancient, sacred object, just like the Sky Devouring Bottle. It was the Mirror of Rain!Sebastian had already gotten the Healer's Needles and the Sky Devouring Bottle. If he could get the Mirror of Rain, he would be able to make a huge breakthrough with his skills in the mystic arts and in the Way of Wisdom. He could also use the three sacred objects to bring people back from the dead.He had to get the ancient mirror."The starting price for this item is 500 thousand with each bid increasing by increments of 50 thousand dollars. Please begin the bidding!" As soon as Celeste finished, a man in the corner who was raising his sign for the first time suddenly said, "One million!"Everyone turned to look. To most people, the item onstage was the most worthless one out of all the auction items from that day. Even Joshua estimated that it would not be worth more than 800 thousand. It was clear that Seba
"Thank you, sir." Sebastian didn't tell Archibald the truth. Secret arts like this were recorded extensively in the legacies of the Sacred Medicine Society, but he would only make Archibald regret auctioning off the mirror if he were to tell him the secret.Sebastian said goodbye to him and sat back down, holding the Book of the Mirror of Rain and the ancient bronze mirror."Mr. Ballard, this book appears to also be an antique," Zane said, staring at the Book of the Mirror of Rain that Sebastian was holding.The book was made of paper as well, but it was different from modern paper. It looked like linen, and it was the kind of paper that had gone out of use after the Torren Era. The book had probably been made even before the Torren Era.Sebastian glanced at the yellowing pages and said to Zane, "This book has a history of at least 1000 years. However, the contents of this book will only lead those who read it astray."Archibald had given it to Sebastian, so he wasn't planning t
If Sebastian was too absolute, he would only attract the hatred and revenge of more people. That was why he had killed Titan, but not Tatum. He had to have a reason to kill every time he did so."The mystic sects?" Rose smiled and shook her head as she said, "With skills like yours, who among the mystic sects can do anything to you? There's probably barely anyone.""Do you want me to end up on the run? What will happen to Rosalie and Whitney? What about the Northmans? They will be sure to suffer a bloody revenge as well." Sebastian shook his head, smiling wryly.If he didn't have anything that he was concerned about, he would be fearless. However, the people around him were all ordinary people who barely had any strength. Sebastian could escape, but what about the others?…It was late at night when Tatum finally crawled back to the Caelbane Sect, covered in blood. The apprentice who was standing guard ran in to report to Anthony when he saw the wretched state that Tatum was i
Tatum had turned pale with fright. His shirt became drenched with cold sweat almost instantly."You… did you just kill one of the Caelbane Sect members?" Tatum still couldn't accept it.There was a snap as Sebastian broke both his legs with a single kick instead of wasting time talking to him.There was a thump as Tatum fell heavily to his knees. The impact crushed his kneecaps as well."Aargh!" Tatum screamed in pain like a dying pig."Shut up. If you scream again, I'll cut out your tongue," Sebastian said, looking down at him. Tatum stopped shouting at once and stared up at Sebastian in abject fear.Since he was a child, he had been the one bullying others. This was the first time he had been treated as if he were a lamb being led to the slaughter!"Apologize to the old lady!" Sebastian pointed to the old lady that Titan had slapped. "Sebastian, we're the apprentices of the sect leader of the Caelbane Sect. You want me to apologize to her? Aren't you afraid that the Caelba
Every Warrior treated the Martial Arts Association like a god. Therefore, that would make the Caelbane Sect even higher than a god!"Are you both not right in the head? I don't owe your sect leader money, yet he's trying to ask me for something? Even beggars aren't this desperate!" Sebastian looked at Titan and Tatum as if they were idiots. "We're not beggars, damn it! I'm telling you, cut both your hands off right now and let us take them. Otherwise, we'll take your life!" Tatum yelled, pointing at Sebastian."What the hell are you looking at? Are you sick of living?" Titan slapped a passing old lady.The old lady had been planning to buy some house protection charms from Sebastian, but Titan slapped her so hard that she fell to the ground, blood trickling out of the corner of her mouth.Titan didn't even look twice at the old lady. He felt that anyone who even glanced their way twice when the Caelbane Sect was conducting their business deserved to die!Slapping her was already
Wensleydale had been overly enthusiastic with them. Not only had he been extremely hospitable, he had even arranged for several young and beautiful women to cater to them.When one went overboard, it would make everything seem insincere.Titan couldn't for the life of him think of any benefit that he could offer Wensleydale. The old man already had one foot in the grave, and the Caelbane Sect would never accept someone of his age. The more he thought about it, the more Titan felt that what Tatum had said made sense."Forget about him. Let's go to Steinberg ourselves tomorrow morning," he said, his eyes narrowing.Even if Wensleydale had tipped Sebastian off, where could the latter escape to in just a single day?He could run, but he couldn't hide. Sebastian also owned the Arctic Snow Group in Steinberg, which was a massive corporation.Besides, according to reliable news from Ethan, Sebastian's ex-wife was also the CEO of Frostwave Corporation. He couldn't possibly pack up all
Sebastian laughed and said nothing. He rubbed the brand new copper coin in his pocket with one hand.Only Lyanna would be capable of doing something like that. The illusion had been cast by her.Without her help, Sebastian would probably be in huge trouble. No matter whether or not he was in the right, there should have been severe consequences for slaughtering more than 100 elite members of the Martial Arts Association.Lyanna had even made the souls of those people her food. It was terrifyingly cruel. "Everything's alright now, everyone. It seems that Mr. Flumen repented after realizing how terrible his crimes were and killed himself," Sebastian said politely, smiling as if nothing had happened."Maybe your character and charisma convinced them, Mr. Ballard." Hans didn't know what to say.Zane swallowed and laughed as he said to Sebastian, "Mr. Ballard, you really… you really are… amazing.""Since you're all here, don't be in such a rush to leave. I'll treat you all to a meal
However, Wensleydale didn't care. He would have killed his own son if it meant that he could live!Without another word, he hacked off Humphrey's arm. Before Humphrey could scream, Wensleydale stabbed him in the heart. He gripped the handle of the knife and twisted it grimly. Humphrey stared at Wensleydale, his eyes bulging, right until the moment he died. He had died a violent death. Wensleydale looked at the corpses scattered all over the ground. Like the man with the dragon-topped cane, they all decayed rapidly and were blown off into the air by a slight breeze, leaving no trace behind. Wensleydale turned slowly and gazed mournfully at Sebastian. He looked into Sebastian's ice-cold gaze and finally realized that the latter wasn't going to forgive him, even though he had hacked off his own arm and killed his apprentice. Instead of dying in great pain like the others, he might as well give himself a quick end! Tears streamed down Wensleydale's face as he held the knife to
"Mr. Ballard! I was wrong! Please, have mercy on me…""Mr. Ballard, we'll never do it again. I don't want to die.""Mr. Ballard, I have an 80-year-old mother at home. Please have mercy!" There was a series of thumps as more than 100 people fell to their knees. They were genuinely afraid. What Lyanna had said had made their last defenses crumble completely. The moment they knelt, the corpse of the man with the dragon-topped cane began to decay rapidly right in front of their eyes. In the end, only pale white bones remained. A slight breeze swept over them from out of nowhere. With a gentle gust, the skeleton disappeared. It was as if the man with the dragon-topped cane had never existed."Mr. Ballard, you mustn't show any compassion at all to these hypocrites," Rose said. She slowly pulled out her short sword and tossed her sheath away. Sebastian closed his eyes and nodded slightly. There was a series of squelching noises as over a dozen heads fell to the ground. More dark
Wensleydale's expression changed at once. He had made the call to the police because he had been planning on maiming or even killing Sebastian in front of everyone in the Martial Arts Association.However, things had turned out very differently from what he had expected. He had dug a huge hole for himself and had jumped in without a thought. "Mr. Ballard, you and I are both martial arts practitioners, and we prize the idea of righteousness," he began. "Why don't you kill me and let them go?"Wensleydale wasn't really that generous. He was a shrewd man who always did what benefited him more. Even his apprentice, Humphrey, was shocked to hear him say something so selfless. Had he really chosen to do good in the face of imminent death? However, Sebastian saw through his little trick immediately. Wensleydale hadn't escaped because he was too afraid to do so. Whoever ran out of the black fog would become a bloody puddle of water. If Sebastian agreed to let them go, he would remo
Sebastian pointed at the hundreds of Martial Arts Association members gathered at the door and said, "Since you all dared to come here and accuse me, then you must be prepared to die here! I am pleased to inform all of you that you have succeeded in provoking me to anger!" The crowd was immediately incensed. "You wouldn't dare!""There are so many of us! Even Larys wouldn't dare to do anything to us, let alone you!" "Sebastian, who do you think you are? We've got more than 100 people here today. Would you dare to kill us all?" Accusatory and defiant questions piped up all around Sebastian, but he only smiled faintly. "Why wouldn't I dare to do so?" he said and shot Lyanna a pointed look. Lyanna chuckled and invited Hans and the rest back into the convenience store. "Please come and sit inside. What's about to happen next may be too gory."Zane quickly turned to walk inside. Sebastian always did what he said he would do. Without a doubt, what was about to happen would be a b