Open up and break into another world

Every year, the Nine Cauldrons Merchant Guild holds several Treasure Contention meets, auctioning off treasures that are usually hard to come by.

Each Treasure Contention meet is also the liveliest time for the Nine Cauldrons Merchant Guild. The nobles and experts of the entire capital, and even the entire Flying Cloud Kingdom, gather here.

And this time's Treasure Contention meet has two new faces—Xu Ming and Sun Ji.

"It's been a while since I've seen Old Du," Xu Ming said suddenly, as he walked along the bustling streets of Cloud Arising City with Wen Shuai and Sun Ji.

"Old Du is in seclusion," Wen Shuai said. "Generally, Old Du is in silent cultivation most of the time. He only comes out when he encounters something important."

"No wonder," Xu Ming nodded.

Actually, it's normal. At Old Du's current age, status, and cultivation level, he has already seen through many things; peaceful and quiet cultivation is the best life for him.

"It would be great if Old Du could break through to the Perfected Stage of the Acquired Realm!" Wen Shuai sighed. "That way, I wouldn't have to worry about the battle for the throne!"

Old Du is currently at the late stage of the Acquired Realm, and is already hard to match in the Flying Cloud Kingdom; with him supporting him, Wen Shuai, whose power is weak, can still compete slightly with the powerful First Prince for the throne. If Old Du could break through to the Perfected Stage of the Acquired Realm, then he would be almost invincible in the Flying Cloud Kingdom, and could even directly push Wen Shuai to the throne.

This is the deterrent force of a master!

The three of them chatted all the way, and soon arrived next to the Nine Cauldrons Merchant Guild.

"Boss, Wen Shuai, do you know what I think every time I pass by the Nine Cauldrons Merchant Guild?"

"What is it?" Xu Ming asked casually.

"Every time, I think—damn it, when I become powerful in the future, I must rob this den of nouveau riche!" Sun Ji said, his eyes shining.

"Rob the Nine Cauldrons Merchant Guild?" Wen Shuai was speechless. "You dare to think! When you have Old Du's strength in the future, maybe you can try it!"

"Is the Nine Cauldrons Merchant Guild's force that strong?" Sun Ji asked incredulously.

"There are many people in the capital who want to rob the Nine Cauldrons Merchant Guild just like you. With such a large family business, if they didn't have the strength, they would have been looted countless times long ago. How could it be your turn to rob it!" Wen Shuai said, "Let me tell you, all the top-notch forces in the capital, such as the Nine Cauldrons Merchant Guild, the Myriad Beasts Fighting Arena, and the Flying Cloud Martial Pavilion, all have experts at the late stage of the Acquired Realm guarding them!"

"However…" Wen Shuai had pride on his face, "The number one expert in the Flying Cloud Kingdom is definitely my father!"

"Your father?" Xu Ming was slightly surprised.

Wen Shuai's father is the Emperor of the Flying Cloud Kingdom, isn't he?

"Your imperial family's affairs are too complicated, let's not talk about this for now!" Xu Ming said.

"It's indeed complicated!" Wen Shuai nodded sincerely.

In the imperial family, the battle for the throne has already become nakedly bloody.

Walking into the Nine Cauldrons Merchant Guild, there were already many upper-class people from the Flying Cloud Kingdom inside. Seeing Wen Shuai enter, many people had no choice but to come up and reluctantly greet him; even more people simply pretended not to see him.

"Brother, you're not doing well!" Xu Ming teased.

"I'm used to it," Wen Shuai said. "But I have to attend these occasions often to show my face. Let's go, let's quickly go to my private room. I hope I can see some useful treasures today."

"Yeah."

However, as he walked, Xu Ming also heard a lot of discussions about himself in the surrounding voices.

"That's Xu Ming, right? I heard that he's a rare genius in our Flying Cloud Kingdom's history!"

"Genius? Hmph, I've seen too many geniuses, but how many can become Acquired Realm martial artists?"

"Indeed, although talent is important, if you want to achieve the Acquired Realm, talent, comprehension, perseverance, and resources are indispensable! With so many conditions, how many can this Xu Ming occupy?"

"The key is that he's standing on the wrong side, standing on Wen Shuai's side!"

"I don't know how long this genius can live…"

Perhaps out of jealousy for Xu Ming's talent, these upper-class people from the Flying Cloud Kingdom didn't hold back at all when they spoke ill of him behind his back. After discussing for a long time, a group of people unanimously believed that Xu Ming would hardly achieve great things, and many people also felt that Xu Ming would not live long—because Xu Ming was standing on the opposite side of the First Prince.

"Not good, this is really unlucky!" Wen Shuai suddenly said in a low voice.

"What's wrong?"

Just as Xu Ming was puzzled, an overbearing laughter came head-on.

"Yo, isn't this my Third Imperial Brother? You're here to contend for treasures too!"

The First Prince!

Xu Ming immediately understood that the burly youth with a commanding presence in front of him was the First Prince—Wen Man—who had the greatest chance of inheriting the throne among the princes.

"Greetings, First Imperial Brother!" Wen Shuai said with a fake smile.

Seeing the First Prince come out, the upper-class people of the Flying Cloud Kingdom, who had looked lifeless when they saw Wen Shuai, instantly became as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood, and rushed towards the First Prince one by one.

However, when they rushed to within three meters of the First Prince, they all slammed on the brakes.

Then, this large group of greasy-faced upper-class people all bowed their waists, carefully surrounding the First Prince, and asked about his well-being.

"You can all disperse!" With a wave of the First Prince's hand, these people didn't dare to fart, and immediately dispersed, returning to their original positions.

"Third Imperial Brother." Then, the First Prince looked at Wen Shuai with a smug look, "Coming to participate in the Treasure Contention meet, did you bring enough money? If you don't have enough, your Imperial Brother can lend you some first."

"No need!" Of course, Wen Shuai knew that the First Prince's words were meant to humiliate him, not to really lend him money.

"Oh, it seems that Third Imperial Brother brought a lot of money! You can't back down if you see something you like later; after all, you represent the face of our imperial family when you do things outside."

Wen Man's subtext was: Later, no matter what you like, I will bid higher, so you can't get it comfortably!

"Don't worry, First Imperial Brother!" Wen Shuai said coldly, not showing any weakness.

"Who is this…" Only then did the First Prince turn his gaze to Xu Ming, as if he had discovered a new continent, "Xu Ming, right?—I heard that your talent can be called a rare sight in our Flying Cloud Kingdom's history? I have a few proud sons of heaven here who are not convinced, and want to spar with you later. I hope you don't retreat at the last minute, weakening your reputation as a genius!"

After saying these words, the First Prince left triumphantly.

"Sparring?" Xu Ming couldn't help but wonder.

Entering the private room, Wen Shuai immediately closed the door: "I didn't expect that Wen Man would also be here today, and it seems that he's targeting you!"

"Targeting me?"

"You don't know, after each Treasure Contention meet, there will be a highlight—a gambling battle! If I guess correctly, Wen Man must want to use the gambling battle to deal a heavy blow to you; therefore, if someone challenges you later, you must not respond!"

"So that's how it is…"

However, Xu Ming was not afraid of gambling battles.

If someone really wants to challenge him later, Xu Ming can just spend some Hanging Points to investigate him first; if he can win, he will fight, if he can't win, he will back down. In any case, Xu Ming is already in an invincible position.