Chapter 802: Top-Level Facade

As they left the city, tens of thousands of citizens from the main city of Shen Du came to observe. Everyone was gazing with admiration at the Sacred Flame Alliance caravan, led by Xu Yang. Their ancient exotic beast mounts alone elicited wave after wave of amazed cheers. Without a doubt, the grandeur of this procession had reached an unprecedented peak.

The people began to discuss among themselves, marveling at the unprecedented scale of the ten-thousand-strong escort. Such a high-level arrangement had never been seen at the auction house. They observed that 'A Yang' truly commanded respect, suggesting that the Sacred Flame Alliance's true rise was imminent. Within the Sacred Flame Alliance team, from the Five Heavenly Kings down to the elite soldiers, everyone felt an unprecedented surge of excitement. That feeling of being highly regarded, respected, and looked up to captivated them. And they all clearly understood that their current status and strength were entirely thanks to their Sect Master, Xu Yang.

According to regulations, when conducting transactions at the auction house, the escort team's furthest allowed travel distance was a maximum of two prefectures. Thus, the ninety-thousand-strong army escorted the convoy for a full three prefectures, which was an unprecedented maximum.

The deputy general of the Shen Du Alliance, riding a tall steed, spoke with Xu Yang to finalize the handover. He apologized, stating that this was already an unprecedented escort distance for the auction house, and they were unable to proceed any further. He advised them to be cautious for the remaining approximately half of the journey, as the significant impact of this auction was bound to attract ill-intentioned individuals.

Xu Yang replied, assuring him there was no need to worry. He asked the general to convey his thanks to the leader of the Shen Du Alliance upon his return, expressing anticipation for their next collaboration. He added that the Sacred Flame Alliance supported long-term reservations for top-tier weapons and equipment. He suggested that if they acquired any more rare items, they needn't go through such trouble; they could simply send someone to set the price and deliver the item list to the Sacred Flame Alliance, which would purchase everything.

Upon hearing Xu Yang's words, the Shen Du Alliance deputy general before him couldn't help but swallow. Having handled auction house transactions for so many years, he had seen many wealthy individuals, but never anyone as extravagant as Xu Yang. Even the direct descendants of the imperial family were not as generous with their spending. What it meant to spend money like water? This time, in Xu Yang's presence, the deputy general truly understood.

The deputy general assured Xu Yang that he was their auction house's most valued exclusive client, and in the future, they would naturally think of him first for any valuable items. He then bid farewell.

The ten-thousand-strong escort army turned around at this point and began to return the way they came.

At this moment, Xu Yang, with his two thousand elite troops and thirty thousand sets of top-tier golden armor, was still in the desert border region of Bieyun Ridge. This area had previously been frequented by bandits. However, as the influence of the Shen Du Alliance auction house steadily grew, more and more top-tier forces from other alliances began to conduct transactions here. Over time, the bandits in the vicinity fled upon hearing of this, and naturally no longer dared to target the auction house.

However, this time, due to the full involvement of Xu Yang's Sacred Flame Alliance, the procession was highly publicized, yet the escort team consisted of only two thousand people. At least on the surface, this did not appear to be a very large force, naturally making them a prime target in the eyes of various petty criminals near Bieyun Ridge.

The Five Heavenly Kings all cast bewildered glances at Xu Yang, wondering why they hadn't moved out yet. Xu Yang, however, simply swept his gaze across the different directions around Bieyun Ridge, a cold smirk playing on his lips, and let out a roar into the void. He then called out, effectively challenging anyone hiding to reveal themselves: the Shen Du Alliance guards had already departed, so what were they waiting for?

True to his words, the moment Xu Yang's voice fell, countless figures rapidly moved in the depths of Bieyun Ridge, and group after group of strong individuals, disguised as bandits and robbers, appeared. To the great astonishment of the Martial Heavenly King of the Sacred Flame Divine Sect, the sheer number of these powerful bandits seemed far greater than ordinary robber forces. As many as ten to twenty thousand of them surged out, completely surrounding Xu Yang's two-thousand-strong team.

One of them couldn't help but exclaim in disbelief, wondering if the bandit forces had truly grown to such a terrifying extent. Xu Yang, however, merely sneered. He dismissed them as a mere facade, instructing his team to observe their movements and the equipment they were wearing. The moment Xu Yang finished speaking, the Five Heavenly Kings' attention was immediately drawn to the bandits' weapons and equipment. They noticed that all the attackers wielded standardized samurai swords, prompting Lang Xian to ask, wide-eyed, if they were disciples of the Enforcement Hall.

Xu Yang sneered that if he was not mistaken, these people were all under the command of 'Big Beard' from the Fifth Alliance. By blocking them here, he explained, they were not just trying to save face; they also wanted them to leave empty-handed.

The moment Xu Yang spoke, sure enough, a hearty laugh soon echoed from deep within the dense forest. Big Beard, surprisingly perched on the shoulder of an immense flying wyvern, quickly entered everyone's field of vision. Big Beard remarked that he hadn't expected Xu Yang to be so meticulous, surprised that he had guessed everything. Big Beard's mount flapped its wings in the air for a while, finally landing steadily in the center of the twenty-thousand-strong army. His gaze towards Xu Yang was full of mockery, as if he was already the victor of this ambush. He challenged Xu Yang, asking what it mattered if he had seen through their plot, and if he thought he could still leave alive today. Big Beard then declared that he had dominated the Northern Region for many years, and no one had ever dared to be as reckless or challenge his authority as Xu Yang was today. He vowed to take Xu Yang's life.

Upon hearing Big Beard's words, Xu Yang couldn't help but burst into laughter. He mockingly asked 'Little Beard' if he believed that not only would Xu Yang slap his face, but he would also pull out every single hair from his beard, one by one, from his face. Not only that, he continued, but he would do it in front of Big Beard's twenty thousand subordinates, who would be able to do nothing but watch him be tormented.

Xu Yang gave Big Beard no chance to react. In an instant, a gigantic Tai Chi totem simultaneously emanated from beneath the feet of all twenty thousand people surrounding the battlefield. This was precisely the Ghost Valley Qi Men method, a technique from Xu Yang's primordial power cultivation! With Xu Yang's current strength, the range covered by the Ghost Valley Qi Men formation could reach its limit of tens of thousands of square meters! It effortlessly enveloped all twenty thousand-plus individuals. Approximately every thousand people were assigned to a corresponding formation position, and all the soldiers' sensory perception and judgment rapidly vanished, as they each became immersed in unique illusions corresponding to their assigned formation points.

As for Big Beard's location, which was the node of the life and death gates of the entire Ghost Valley Qi Men formation, he only felt an incredibly dense killing aura wildly enveloping him. What truly terrified him was that the presence of the twenty thousand-plus warriors around him had completely vanished from his perception. He could not sense whether those people were alive or dead. In Big Beard's vision, Xu Yang, a presence like a master who judged the fates of all beings, became the only target whose presence he could lock onto. He cried out, "You! What exactly have you done to me!"