Chapter 377: Seeing the Gold Emperor Again! Not Only Detaching High and Low, But Also Deciding Life and Death!

Chapter 377: Meeting the Golden Emperor Again! Where there is a contest, there is a life-or-death decision!

Time within the Heavenly Feather God City seemed stretched by an invisible, majestic force, every inch of space saturated with an ancient and noble aura.

As the heart of the Feather Empire, this divine city was a supreme treasure in its own right, suspended above a singularity of the cosmos, inhaling and exhaling the quintessence of a billion galaxies.

The Myriad Feather Pavilion, where Qin Feng resided, served as the very heartbeat of this city.

A century is, to a mortal, the passing of several generations; to a cultivator, it is but a long retreat. Yet for Qin Feng, who had wandered the cosmos for two hundred thousand years, it was merely a fleeting nap.

During this century, he dwelt within a private spacetime plane arranged by the Pavilion, meditating in stillness, refining the vast, majestic power he had attained upon ascending to the rank of Emperor until it became introspective and seamless—like an ancient, bottomless pool, undisturbed by a single ripple.

His staggering fortune of thirty-seven trillion Feather Empire gold coins had, through the Pavilion’s most efficient operations, been converted into a dark gold card shimmering with the patterns of the World Tree—the World Tree Gold Card.

This card was not merely a symbol of wealth, but the highest credential of credit within the entire Empire, enough to make any Emperor pause in respect.

Today marked the opening of the Myriad Feather Pavilion’s millennial grand auction.

Qin Feng was not in the clamorous, magnificent hall, but in a galaxy carved out specifically for this event.

At the heart of this galaxy lay a star emitting a soft, white glow, and his seat was situated within a rustic, elegant white jade pavilion atop a vibrant, life-bearing planet.

Through a massive light screen set before the pavilion, he could clearly view the main stage—a brilliant plaza formed by the convergence of countless stellar fragments. A venerable elder, his aura unfathomable and draped in the ceremonial robes of the Feather priesthood, hovered at the center. He was the Emperor Yan, a figure of immense prestige among the Feather race, presiding over the auction.

The entire venue was partitioned into thousands of independent spacetimes like the one Qin Feng occupied.

Those who could enter were, at the very least, peak Kings, though the vast majority were Emperors of renowned fame across the universe.

Their auras, some veiled and others flamboyant, could be felt even across the barriers of spacetime as terrifying pressures that stirred the very laws of reality.

Qin Feng sat upon a white jade stool, his expression indifferent, his gaze as still as an ancient well. He was like a true mortal, observing a grand event that had nothing to do with him.

His goal for this trip was singular—the Tears of the World Tree. Until that item appeared, no treasure in the universe could stir the slightest ripple in his Daoist heart.

"Fellow Daoists, thank you for gracing this millennial grand event of the Myriad Feather Pavilion."

Emperor Yan’s voice was gentle yet resonant. Without the aid of any amplification artifacts, it echoed clearly in every independent spacetime, as if whispered directly into one's ear.

His gaze swept across the void, seemingly piercing through layers of spacetime to behold every guest.

"Without further ado, I declare this auction officially open!"

The moment his words fell, a stellar fragment behind him ignited. As the light dispersed, a fist-sized, chaotic liquid that constantly shifted its form hovered in the air, within which countless galaxies seemed to be born and perish.

"The first lot: a wisp of Chaos Source Marrow. This substance is the essence condensed from the primordial chaos at the dawn of the universe. For Emperors cultivating the Great Dao of Chaos or those forging an internal universe, its value is immeasurable. The starting bid is one trillion Feather gold coins, with increments of no less than ten billion."

No sooner had Emperor Yan finished than bids began to refresh like a tide on the main screen.

"One trillion one hundred billion!"

"One trillion two hundred billion!"

"The Heavenly Mystery Emperor from the Thousand Mystery Universe Kingdom bids one trillion five hundred billion!"

...

The bidding echoed incessantly, every participant an Emperor-level existence. Though the Chaos Source Marrow was precious, it was not a necessity for most, yet the price was driven to a staggering three trillion within mere dozens of breaths, eventually claimed by a mysterious Emperor.

Qin Feng watched quietly, his eyes unchanged. Three trillion could buy a small universe kingdom, but here, it was merely an appetizer.

For the next several hours, treasures capable of inciting bloodbaths in the outside world appeared one after another.

There was the Eternal Sand, a divine metal containing the property of "immortality," used to forge life-bound Emperor-grade artifacts; there was the legendary Fleeting Bloom that grew on the banks of the River of Time, which, when consumed, allowed an Emperor to experience ten thousand years of time in an instant, greatly increasing the probability of enlightenment;

There was even the relatively intact remains of an unknown "Venerable" level entity, the fragments of Dao laws contained within its flesh and blood driving countless Emperors to madness.

The atmosphere of the auction was pushed to a climax time and again.

The wills of the Emperors collided in the void, each bid representing the foundation of a vast power.

Though they sat in separate spacetimes, the tension of their confrontation permeated every inch of space.

Qin Feng remained an outsider, watching with cold eyes.

These treasures were fine, but to him, they were mere external objects.

His "Ultimate Body" had already fused with the Undying War-Bone Divine Metal, rendering him immune to all laws; his "Primordial Singularity" Dao foundation encompassed all paths, requiring no external aid for enlightenment.

He sat like a sculpture from the dawn of time, waiting for his own moment.

Just then, a domineering, arrogant, and metallic aura of terrifying intensity descended upon the auction house without warning.

This aura made no effort to hide its aggression, like a burning steel star crashing into a calm lake.

Every powerhouse in their independent spacetimes felt this pressure.

Some weaker Kings even felt their bodies of law tremble, as if they were about to be sliced apart by the sharpness contained within that aura.

"It is... the Golden Emperor!"

"An Emperor of the Starry Sky Behemoth race, the Golden-Armored Behemoth! Why is he here?"

"Rumor has it his temper is volatile and his actions tyrannical. It seems this auction is about to get lively."

Threads of hidden divine sense wove through the void.

Qin Feng’s eyes finally opened slightly at this moment, a flash of imperceptible sharpness crossing them.

He knew this aura too well—tyrannical, savage, and filled with the desire for destruction and conquest.

The Golden Emperor!

The nemesis who, outside the "Furnace Village," had abandoned the opportunity of the "Eternal Mountain" just to hunt him down, only to be forced back by the joint efforts of the five Human Emperors.

"Enemies are bound to meet."

Qin Feng thought calmly.

He felt no emotional fluctuation at the sight of his foe.

Having ascended to the rank of Emperor and wandered the mortal world for two hundred thousand years, his state of mind was no longer that of the "Ultimate God-Marquis" who once needed to endure and calculate.

Today, the Golden Emperor was nothing more than a pebble in his path.

Had they not been in the capital of the Feather Empire, he would not have minded erasing him on the spot.

Of course, meeting him here saved him the trouble of seeking him out later to settle their karma.

The Golden Emperor’s arrival made the previously heated atmosphere somewhat heavy.

The independent spacetime he occupied flared with light, transforming into a blinding golden sun, asserting his overbearing presence.

Just then, Emperor Yan introduced the next lot.

It was a piece of cyan metal the size of a millstone, its surface covered in natural Dao patterns, exuding an aura of heaviness, resilience, and the capacity to bear all things.

"Myriad-Year Hollow Bronze Mother, a top-tier divine material for forging defensive Emperor-grade supreme treasures. Its 'Hollow' property can significantly weaken law-based attacks. This item has been extinct in the universe for countless epochs; its value needs no elaboration from me."

Emperor Yan’s voice rang out again, "Starting bid, five trillion!"

It was a staggering price, but for those who needed it, it was worth every coin.

"Five trillion one hundred billion."

A voice sounded with slight hesitation, coming from the spacetime of a King. Clearly, this King was bidding for the Emperor behind him, or had exhausted his entire fortune.

"Five trillion five hundred billion."

Another Sovereign immediately followed suit.

"Six trillion."

The price climbed steadily, soon breaching the eight-trillion mark.

The voice of the King who had made the initial bid now carried a tremor of desperation.

"Eight trillion and three hundred billion! This is the entirety of the Thousand-Feather King's wealth! I beg the Sovereigns to grant me this small favor!"

He even revealed his title, hoping to force his competitors to retreat.

Yet, the moment his words fell, a cold voice like grinding metal echoed from the space-time that resembled a golden sun.

"Ten trillion."

A mere three words, yet they held an unquestionable will.

The entire auction hall fell into an instant, suffocating silence.

Everyone knew that the Golden Sovereign had made his move.

He did not raise the price incrementally; he had jumped to a figure that would make even most Sovereigns wince in pain.

This was no longer a mere bid; it was a demonstration, a tyrannical declaration.

The independent space-time housing the Thousand-Feather King flickered, his aura instantly wilting. He knew he had lost his chance entirely.

Facing a figure as notoriously vicious as the Golden Sovereign, if he dared to bid again, he would likely never leave the Heavenly Feather City alive, even if he won. This was no longer a contest of wealth, but naked intimidation.

"The Golden Sovereign has bid ten trillion. Is there any higher?"

The Fire Sovereign's voice remained steady, though he sighed inwardly. The rules of the Myriad Feather Pavilion dictated that the highest bidder wins, yet before absolute power and reputation, rules often appear frail.

The hall remained silent. No one was willing to offend the mad beast that was the Golden Sovereign for a treasure that was not a matter of life and death.

"Since there are no further bids, then the Myriad-Year Bronze Mother..."

"Ten trillion and one hundred billion."

Just as the Fire Sovereign’s gavel was about to fall, a voice of utter indifference drifted out from the unremarkable independent space-time where Qin Feng resided.

The voice was soft, devoid of emotion, and carried no pressure, as if merely stating a fact.

Yet, this flat tone struck like lightning through the dark, plunging the auction hall into dead silence.

The consciousness of every powerhouse present converged instantly upon Qin Feng’s location.

He’s mad!

That was the first thought in everyone’s mind.

After the Golden Sovereign had displayed his tyrannical intent and suppressed the room with his absolute aura, someone dared to jump out—and with a provocation as slight as a hundred-billion increase!

This was not bidding; this was a slap to the Golden Sovereign’s face!

"BOOM!!!"

The golden sun erupted with billions of rays of light, and a terrifying Sovereign’s pressure, like a materialized tsunami, swept toward Qin Feng’s location!

The space-time of the entire auction hall shuddered violently, as if on the verge of collapse.

"Who is it?! Who dares to oppose me!"

The Golden Sovereign’s roar transformed into a tangible storm of laws.

His massive phantom, a hideous beast clad in golden armor with a single horn, flickered within his space-time, his eyes—vast as stars—burning with a rage capable of incinerating galaxies.

However, this pressure, enough to shatter the spirit of an ordinary Sovereign, vanished like a stone into the sea upon reaching Qin Feng’s sector, neutralized by an invisible barrier without even a ripple.

Qin Feng sat calmly in his pavilion, not even lifting an eyelid, as if the world-destroying wrath of a Sovereign were nothing more than a gentle breeze.

This sight chilled the hearts of all the Sovereigns watching from the shadows.

To withstand the Golden Sovereign’s wrathful pressure unscathed—this mysterious bidder was definitely of the same level, or perhaps... even stronger!

The Feather Clan’s Fire Sovereign flashed a sharp look and declared aloud: "Violence is forbidden within the Myriad Feather Pavilion. I ask the Golden Sovereign to restrain himself. This guest has bid ten trillion and one hundred billion; the bid is valid. Is there any higher?"

His words effectively dampened the Golden Sovereign’s erupting fury. This was, after all, the Feather Clan’s territory; no matter how tyrannical, the Golden Sovereign dared not openly challenge the rules of the Myriad Feather Pavilion and an Ancient Sovereign of equal standing.

The Golden Sovereign’s rage subsided slightly, but his cold, beastly eyes remained locked onto Qin Feng. His icy voice echoed once more: "Very well. I shall see just how much wealth you possess! Eleven trillion!"

He raised the price significantly again, attempting to crush his opponent with sheer financial weight.

"Eleven trillion and one hundred billion."

Qin Feng’s voice, devoid of any worldly agitation, followed immediately, adding only that same hundred billion.

It felt like a primordial beast charging with all its might, only to be toyed with by a weightless feather—powerless and utterly stifled.

"You court death!" The Golden Sovereign’s patience reached its limit.

"Twelve trillion!" he roared.

"Twelve trillion and one hundred billion." Qin Feng’s voice remained as flat as water.

"..."

Inside the hall, every Sovereign held their breath, watching this sudden clash of titans with keen interest. They could all see that this was no longer about the value of the treasure, but a battle of pride between two top-tier powerhouses.

The mysterious man was clearly determined to disgust the Golden Sovereign.

The Golden Sovereign’s massive form heaved within his space-time, his heavy breathing sounding like a brewing cosmic storm. He suppressed the urge to strike, his divine sense frantically scanning Qin Feng’s area, attempting to discern his true identity.

However, that sector was shrouded in a mist he could not penetrate; the moment his sense approached, it was gently repelled by a vast, seamless power. This sensation felt strangely familiar.

As if... he had felt a similar aura somewhere before.

It was a form of extreme restraint, as if containing the entire universe within oneself, showing no sharp edges on the surface. Yet, it was this very restraint that made him feel a tremor of dread.

Who was it?

Was it the [Heavenly Secret Sovereign] who had caused him such a loss outside the "Eternal Mountain"?

No, the Heavenly Secret Sovereign’s path was the ethereal, shifting trajectory of fate, not this sense of all-encompassing vastness.

Was it the [Nether Sovereign] he had crossed paths with in the [Chaos Ruins]?

Also no; the Nether Sovereign’s aura was cold and deathly, the polar opposite of this.

Hundreds of names of powerhouses he had clashed with or made blood enemies of flashed through the Golden Sovereign’s mind.

As a Sovereign of the Starry Beast race, he had lived for tens of millions of years, conquering far and wide, offending countless others.

For a moment, he could not reconcile this familiar yet strange aura with any enemy in his memory.

Perhaps it was some minor character he had once crushed, who had luckily risen to power and returned for revenge?

At this thought, the killing intent in the Golden Sovereign’s eyes intensified.

In his long life, such things were not uncommon. But he did not care; whoever dared to challenge the majesty of the Golden-Armored Beast race had only one fate—death!

"Fifteen trillion!"

The Golden Sovereign issued his final bid, far exceeding the actual value of the Bronze Mother and approaching the limit of the wealth he had brought.

He stared fixedly at Qin Feng’s direction, enunciating each word: "Sir, if you bid again, this Bronze Mother is yours. But let me offer you a word of advice: some things, even if you obtain them, you must have the life to use them!"

The naked threat and undisguised killing intent made the temperature of the entire auction hall seem to plummet.

Yet, the only response to him was that same voice, as still as an ancient well.

"One hundred and fifty trillion and ten billion."

"Pfft!"

It was as if an invisible, heavy fist had slammed ruthlessly into the Golden Emperor’s face.

He gave up entirely.

Not because he lacked the funds, but because he realized the stranger did not care for the divine copper at all; the intent was purely to spite him. No matter how high he bid, the other would use that extra ten billion to humiliate him.

To continue the dispute would only make him the laughingstock of the entire universe.

"Good! Good! Good!"

The Golden Emperor laughed in his fury, repeating the word three times, each utterance heavy with monstrous murderous intent. "I have marked you! I hope that when this auction ends, you can still remain so composed!"

With that, the golden sun he inhabited suddenly withdrew its radiance and plunged into a deathly silence. He ceased all bidding, clearly hoarding his rage to settle the score later.

Qin Feng, however, turned a deaf ear to the threat.

The Myriad-Era Void Bronze Mother was respectfully delivered to his private space by an attendant; he tossed it into his storage, not even sparing it a second glance.

The item was useless to him; he had bought it simply because the Golden Emperor wanted it.

Nothing more.

He wanted to tell the Golden Emperor, in the most direct and indifferent way possible, that the times had changed.

The "Limitless God-Marquis" who was once chased to the ends of the earth by him now stood at a height that required the Emperor to look up.

Of course, the Golden Emperor did not yet know this.

To him, this was merely a mysterious enemy who had emerged from nowhere, possessing immense power and staggering wealth.

Having walked the universe for millions of years, who didn't have a few enemies?

He did not care for one more; he only needed to find him afterward and crush him with his own hands.

He etched that aura deep into his heart and stopped thinking about it, turning his attention back to the auction, though the murderous intent in the depths of his beast-like pupils was a hundred times more intense than before.

After this clash, no one in the auction hall dared to underestimate the space where Qin Feng resided. Everyone marked him as a terrifying existence on par with the Golden Emperor, if not superior in wealth and temperament.

Following this brief disturbance, the auction proceeded methodically.

Rare treasures were presented one after another, only to be snatched up by various Emperors at sky-high prices.

The atmosphere grew heated once more, but everyone tacitly avoided the area occupied by Qin Feng and the Golden Emperor, fearing they might be drawn into the vortex between these two giants.

Qin Feng returned to his state of absolute stillness, waiting quietly.

His goal, from beginning to end, had been singular.

This grand event, which drew the eyes of the masses, was for him nothing more than a prelude to a long-awaited moment.

The ripples had already been stirred, and a greater tide was slowly brewing beneath the horizon.

...

The disturbance caused by the Myriad-Era Void Bronze Mother was like a boulder cast into the deep sea; though it raised towering waves, the surface recovered faster than anyone could imagine.

For the Emperor-level powerhouses who had lived through endless epochs, petty disputes were common, but true life-and-death struggles required careful consideration.

The Golden Emperor’s silence did not cool the auction’s atmosphere.

On the contrary, having witnessed the collision of wealth and will between two top-tier existences, the other Emperors became even more engaged. After all, a mysterious powerhouse capable of making an entity like the Golden Emperor suffer was, in itself, a new and unpredictable variable.

Time lost its inherent meaning within this independent space of the Myriad Feather Heavenly Pavilion.

Small auctions alternated, and cosmic curiosities took the stage one after another.

There were broken ancient artifacts salvaged from the "Return to Ruins," inscribed with the Dao and laws of a previous cosmic civilization, causing several Emperors specialized in ancient history to argue until their faces turned red.

There was the "Myriad Dream Core," left behind after the fall of the legendary "Nightmare Clan" empress, capable of constructing incredibly realistic illusions—a supreme treasure for tempering the Dao heart and nurturing disciples.

There was even a sealed energy crystal from a "Higher-Dimensional Universe"; though no one could analyze its structure, the aura of laws contained within, so distinct from this universe, still fetched an unfathomable price.

Qin Feng remained seated.

The Golden Emperor was equally silent.

The golden sun representing him remained suspended in the void, yet it had retracted all light, like a dying star, harboring a storm within capable of destroying everything. He was like a dormant beast, waiting for the chance to deliver a fatal blow.

Everyone knew the grudge between these two was not over; it was merely suspended.

The grand event continued in an atmosphere that was both heated and eerily oppressive.

One day.

One month.

Ten years.

A hundred years.

...

Time slipped away; for the outside world, it might have been a mere blink, but for the powerhouses immersed in the auction, every bid, every contemplation and analysis of a treasure, required intense concentration.

A full year passed in silence.

This grand auction, spanning myriad races and gathering countless top-tier existences of the universe, finally reached its finale.

The Feather Clan’s "Flame Emperor," who presided over the auction, remained as steady as a mountain, yet his ancient eyes revealed a hint of unprecedented solemnity. He slowly raised his hand, and the world fell into absolute silence.

The images of all previous lots vanished, replaced by a void.

"Ladies and gentlemen,"

The Flame Emperor’s voice was more resonant than ever, containing a strange Dao rhythm that could soothe the mind and ignite desire. "The final item of this millennium grand event is about to be presented."

He did not use the power of laws to manifest it from thin air; instead, with great gravity, he retrieved from his inner world an ancient wooden box carved from "Soul-Nurturing Divine Wood."

The moment the box appeared, an indescribable, pure life force instantly permeated the entire hall.

Powerhouses in every independent space, regardless of what they were doing, stopped in their tracks. Their bodies of law and their immortal Dao hearts resonated with joy under the wash of this life force.

Some Emperors, who had practiced for tens of millions of years and carried indelible Dao wounds, even felt their injuries showing signs of healing under this aura.

Such miraculous effects from just an aura!

Qin Feng’s eyes, which had remained as still as an ancient well, finally shimmered with true brilliance.

He had arrived.

He had waited two hundred thousand years for this.

The Flame Emperor looked solemn, his hands forming seals as he chanted ancient Feather Clan prayers.

The wooden box opened amidst a soft green glow.

There were no earth-shattering phenomena, no roar of collapsing laws.

There was only a crystal-clear tear, as if it were the most perfect work of art in the world.

The tear was only the size of a thumb, floating silently in the air.

Within it, it seemed to contain an entire, nascent universe in the process of evolution.

Billions of stars swirl within it, and endless lives are born and wither in its depths; from the most minuscule creature to the most magnificent behemoth, the mysteries of universal evolution seem condensed into this mere fraction of an inch.

It is life itself.

It is the source of the Dao.

The Tear of the World Tree!

"The World Tree, mother of all cosmic life, has existed since before our current epoch," the Flame Emperor’s voice carried a note of reverence and awe. "This object is a divine tear shed by the World Tree as it witnessed a great universe transition from birth to finality, moved by the cycle of life."

"I need not elaborate on its efficacy. It can mend any flaw in a foundation below the Imperial rank, rendering your essence flawless; it can heal any Dao-wound etched into the origin of laws, returning you to your zenith; it may even... allow you to personally perceive the supreme mysteries of cosmic creation and destruction, granting a glimmer of possibility for your ascent to the legendary realm of the Saint."

"The Tear of the World Tree. Starting bid: ten trillion Feather Clan gold coins. Minimum increment: one trillion."

The moment the words fell, the entire venue sank into a ten-second silence.

Every Emperor present was stunned by the opening price.

Ten trillion was the total spoils of a top-tier Imperial war.

But the silence lasted only ten seconds.

After those ten seconds came a volcanic eruption of madness!

"Eleven trillion!"

A sharp, hurried voice broke the stillness, belonging to an aged Emperor whose aura was fading, his lifespan clearly nearing its end. This divine tear was his only hope to extend his life and live once more.

"Twelve trillion! You old ghost, you’re half in the grave already, why bother competing!" another booming voice roared.

"Hmph, it is precisely because I am half in the grave that I must compete! Fifteen trillion!"

"Sixteen trillion!"

"Eighteen trillion!"

...

The numbers on the light screen danced with unprecedented speed. Every participant was a top-tier Sovereign whose mere footfall could shake a star system. Many had remained silent throughout the auction, waiting for this ultimate opportunity.

In a mere quarter-hour, the price of the Tear of the World Tree was driven to a terrifying thirty trillion!

At this level, most Emperors were forced to withdraw. It was not that they lacked desire, but their wealth could no longer sustain such a high-stakes gamble.

Then, the golden sun that had been silent for a year erupted once more with blinding radiance.

"Forty trillion."

The Golden Emperor’s voice boomed like thunder from the heavens.

With a single utterance, he raised the price by a hundred units of "one hundred billion," his tyranny and resolve laid bare.

He, too, suffered from a Dao-wound, a remnant of a failed attempt to reach a higher realm that had long constrained his power.

This Tear of the World Tree was something he was determined to possess.

The Golden Emperor’s aggressive entry brought a fresh hush to the hall.

Many who were still hesitating weighed the pros and cons and chose to yield. It was unwise to thoroughly offend a mad star-beast for a mere hope.

"Forty-one trillion."

Yet, there were those who did not fear him.

An ancient, distant voice spoke—an reclusive ancient Emperor of the Feather Clan.

"Forty-two trillion."

Another demonic Emperor, whose aura was as deep as an abyss, joined the fray.

"Fifty trillion!"

The Golden Emperor’s roar echoed again, carrying an undisguised threat.

The ancient Feather Emperor and the Demon Emperor fell silent for a moment, ultimately choosing not to bid further.

Though they did not fear the Golden Emperor, the Tear was a luxury rather than a necessity for them.

It was not worth fighting the Golden Emperor to the death.

"Heh, a bunch of trash."

The Golden Emperor let out a disdainful sneer, already envisioning the divine tear in his grasp.

However, just as he grew complacent, that familiar, calm, and indifferent voice—the one he had loathed for an entire year—resounded once more through the auction hall.

"Fifty-one trillion."

It was Qin Feng.

He had finally made his move.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still.

Every gaze, every will, focused on that unremarkable star system and the radiant golden sun.

The fated confrontation had arrived at last.

"It is you again!" The Golden Emperor’s fury was ignited. The resentment and killing intent accumulated over a year transformed into a tangible storm, ravaging the independent space he occupied, crushing stars into dust with his leaking aura.

"I knew you, you skulking rat, would eventually crawl out!"

"Sixty trillion!" he roared madly, his vast will striking against the spacetime barriers of the Myriad Feather Pavilion, causing a teeth-grinding screech.

"Sixty-one trillion."

Qin Feng’s voice remained ripple-free, as if he were merely stating an insignificant number.

This calm, in stark contrast to the Golden Emperor’s violence, served as the ultimate humiliation.

"Who... exactly are you?!" The Golden Emperor’s divine sense struck like an invisible hammer toward Qin Feng’s location, only to be effortlessly dissolved by that unseen barrier.

"Seventy trillion!"

"Seventy-one trillion."

"Eighty trillion!! Even if I must bankrupt myself, I will crush you into dust today, you bastard!!" The Golden Emperor was acting like a madman.

"Eighty-one trillion."

...

The bidding had devolved into a pure clash of will and foundation.

Every jump of the numbers on the screen represented enough wealth to purchase several powerful cosmic nations.

The other Emperors present were now mere spectators, watching this monumental gamble with such shock that they barely dared to breathe.

Both of these men possessed wealth and audacity far beyond their imagination.

When Qin Feng nonchalantly called out "Ninety-one trillion," the golden sun flickered violently, and finally, the frenzied roaring ceased.

He had no more money.

Or rather, his liquid assets had reached their limit.

"Hah... hah..."

Heavy, ragged breathing echoed across the expanse of space, as if the very air were burdened by the weight of it. It was the sound of the Golden Emperor’s fury and resentment, suppressed to the point of breaking.

"Very well."

The Golden Emperor’s voice turned glacial, stripped of all warmth. "The Tear of the World Tree is yours. But the debt between us, now, it is time to settle it!"

"BOOM!!!"

A terrifying pressure, surpassing any that had come before, erupted from the golden sun. It was no longer mere intimidation; it coalesced into a colossal golden claw forged of pure law, tearing through the barriers of space and time to strike directly at the star system where Qin Feng resided!

He had defied the laws of the Myriad Feather Pavilion, striking with reckless abandon!

Under the weight of that claw, ordinary high-level cosmic empires would have been ground into dust in an instant.

Yet, just as the claw was about to touch that star system, the Yan Emperor, who presided over the auction, finally moved.

His eyes, which had remained half-closed, snapped open, emitting two beams of gentle, white light.

"Hum—"

A sovereign will, equally vast but far more ancient and harmonious, descended. Before this presence, the golden claw dissolved like snow in the sun, crumbling inch by inch until it vanished into nothingness.

"Your Majesty, you have overstepped," the Yan Emperor’s voice carried a hint of coldness for the first time.

"Friend of the Feather Clan, this matter does not concern you!" the Golden Emperor roared. "This man has provoked me time and again. Today, I must kill him! Whoever dares to stop me stands as an enemy to the Golden Armored Behemoth race!"

"Rules are rules." The Yan Emperor did not yield an inch. Behind him, the phantom of a tree that spanned the heavens appeared—the manifestation of the Feather Clan’s supreme heritage. "Within the Myriad Feather Pavilion, no one may resort to violence."

"Fine!" The Golden Emperor’s aura surged rather than waned. "Then I shall wait until the auction concludes. I will block the exits of this Heavenly Feather God City and wait for him to emerge!"

A clash between emperors threatened to erupt in the heart of the Feather Clan’s capital, a prospect that would deal a devastating blow to their prestige.

At this tense, hair-trigger moment, a meaningful smile suddenly appeared on the Yan Emperor’s aged face.

"Your Majesties, why go to such lengths?"

He spoke slowly, his voice resonating across all dimensions. "We are all here for the Tear of the World Tree. Since wealth alone cannot decide the victor, perhaps... we should try another way."

"You are both supreme beings standing at the pinnacle of the universe; a war of words is beneath you. My Feather Clan is willing to provide a platform for you to settle your grievances and determine the victor."

He pointed upward, toward the sky above the plaza of stardust. The space rippled like water, and the phantom of an ancient, desolate arena, reeking of iron and blood, slowly emerged. Every brick of that arena seemed soaked in the blood of gods and demons.

"The Feather Clan Arena. I trust you have both heard of it."

The Yan Emperor’s voice was persuasive. "It is a universe unto itself, indestructible, capable of withstanding any battle below the level of a Venerable. You may enter, fight, and decide the outcome. The winner shall have the right to purchase the Tear of the World Tree at the price of ninety-one trillion. The loser shall yield, and the debt shall be considered settled."

"In this way, you preserve your honor, and the rules of my Myriad Feather Pavilion remain intact. What say you?"

The proposal sent a wave of shock through the assembly.

Deciding the ownership of a treasure through a duel was unheard of in the history of the Myriad Feather Pavilion! It signaled that, in the eyes of the Feather Clan, these two figures had reached a level of power and status that demanded such a formal resolution.

"Very well! I agree!"

The Golden Emperor did not hesitate.

All eyes turned to Qin Feng’s location, awaiting his response.

After a moment of silence, that calm voice sounded once more.

"Agreed."

A single word, yet it carried the weight of a mountain.

To the onlookers, this was merely a high-stakes duel to settle the ownership of a treasure—a refined "sparring match."

After all, at their level, no one would lightly initiate a fight to the death.

That was what the Golden Emperor believed.

He assumed he would, at most, cripple his opponent, force a surrender, seize the treasure, and heap humiliation upon him to shatter his Dao heart.

Yet, he did not know that within that tranquil star system, a cold, bone-chilling murderous intent flickered in Qin Feng’s eyes.

To slay the Golden Emperor!

That was his true objective.

The Tear of the World Tree was merely the perfect "excuse" to legitimize it all.

The old hatred from the Furnace Village, the bitterness of the long pursuit—today, in this arena watched by all, he would settle it all with the blood of an emperor!

"Since both have agreed, then..."

The Yan Emperor raised his hands.

"Arena, open!"

"Rumble—"

The phantom arena solidified instantly, and a portal of light, piercing heaven and earth, tore open in the center of the auction hall. Beyond the gate lay a silent, frigid, and boundless expanse of stars, heavy with the scent of slaughter.

"Whoosh!"

A streak of golden light tore through the void. The Golden Emperor’s true form—a colossal beast clad in divine golden armor, radiating a violent aura—was the first to charge into the portal. He did not even bother to shift his form; he descended upon the battlefield in his most lethal state, his terrifying imperial pressure swirling through the cosmos without restraint.

He would meet his opponent in his absolute prime.

Immediately after, under the gaze of the multitude, a figure emerged from the independent space where Qin Feng resided.

He was a human man in simple black robes, his features plain, his aura restrained to the point of invisibility, as if he were a mortal who had never cultivated a day in his life.

A faint mist shrouded him, preventing anyone from seeing his true face or sensing his real power.

This was Qin Feng’s perfect disguise, crafted through the Twin Masks and his own understanding of the Dao of the "Limit."

What he projected was a powerful, vast, yet entirely unfamiliar imperial aura.

The Golden Emperor’s eyes, vast as stars, stared fixedly at him, his divine sense scanning him repeatedly, yet he could not reconcile this strange face or this unfamiliar aura with any enemy in his memory.

He simply assumed this was some peerless expert he had offended inadvertently, one who had since risen to greatness.

It did not matter.

Whoever he was, today, he would die!

Qin Feng stepped forward, vanishing from his spot, and in the next instant, he appeared before the portal. Without a moment’s hesitation, he walked calmly into the battlefield prepared for them.

As he entered, the massive gate of light, under the watchful eyes of all the emperors, slowly closed.

The entire arena transformed into a cage, completely severed from the outside world.

A duel that everyone perceived as a contest of skill was about to begin, between a hunter harboring a heart of murder and a prey who knew nothing of the blade at his throat.