Chapter 525: You All Follow Crooked Paths

Chapter 525: Chapter 525: You All Follow Crooked Paths

Duan Lang was at a loss for words, but he didn’t dare show any dissatisfaction. He could only manage an awkward laugh. "Master Cheng, please, you go ahead. We can talk after you’re finished."

A snort of laughter escaped Miao Shijie.

"Busy? Busy carving? Hey, Cheng! If you can’t do it, just say so. Why put on an act?"

Cheng Yuan merely shrugged in response. He couldn’t be bothered to remind Miao Shijie that this was a damaged Magical Artifact. If Miao Shijie wanted to be a sucker, that was his business.

Seeing that Cheng Yuan wasn’t taking the bait, Miao Shijie felt like he’d punched at empty air. He had no choice but to shift his target to Zhong Mingtang.

"Master Zhong, you’re one of the top three Magic Masters on Hong Kong Island. What’s your take? Care to lend us your expert eye?"

The corners of Zhong Mingtang’s mouth curled up slightly. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have fallen for Miao Shijie’s goading.

But he was the one who had brought this Nine Dragon Plate from Hong Kong Island; Liu Hong was merely his agent.

To maximize the benefits from the Nine Dragon Plate, Zhong Mingtang slowly rose to his feet and stated bluntly, "In truth, neither Master Liao nor Master Chen truly unleashed the divine might of the Nine Dragon Plate. They merely used unorthodox tricks to stimulate it."

Hearing this, Liao Hufa lowered his head in utter shame. If a hole had opened in the ground at that moment, he would have gladly jumped in.

Chen Juzheng, however, stared at Zhong Mingtang with a defiant look on his face.

"Master Zhong, you claim my methods are unorthodox. In that case, perhaps you could trouble yourself to use your so-called proper methods to unleash the divine might of the Nine Dragon Plate and enlighten us!"

"Of course."

Zhong Mingtang smiled faintly.

The next second.

Zhong Mingtang’s entire demeanor changed!

He transformed from an amiable old man into a majestic, imposing figure!

Like a high and mighty god!

Everyone gasped involuntarily. Overwhelmed by Zhong Mingtang’s aura, Chen Juzheng was forced back several steps before he barely managed to steady himself!

’Such a powerful aura!’

Chen Juzheng watched Zhong Mingtang with a wary expression.

Zhong Mingtang’s long robe suddenly billowed out, and his hair and beard whipped about as if a powerful gale had suddenly sprung up around him!

The scene was so surreal that no one in the crowd dared to speak, all staring at Zhong Mingtang with expressions of pure awe!

Even Cheng Yuan stopped his carving, looking over at Zhong Mingtang with keen interest.

’Such strong Spiritual Power!’

’Such immense Magical Power!’

This was, without a doubt, the most powerful Magic Master Cheng Yuan had encountered since he began his journey.

Before his Double Pupil had advanced, Cheng Yuan might not have been able to defeat Zhong Mingtang relying solely on his Magical Ability.

As everyone watched, Zhong Mingtang raised his hand into a seal, then abruptly pointed at the Nine Dragon Plate and bellowed, "Two Dragons Playing with the Pearl! Arise!!"

A beam of white light, visible to the naked eye, struck the Nine Dragon Plate!

VMMMM!!

The previously silent Nine Dragon Plate suddenly began to vibrate with incredible intensity!

The nine dragon engravings seemed to come to life!

Two of the dragon engravings grew brighter and brighter!

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The two engravings transformed into two Divine Dragons that soared into the air, twisting around each other as if fighting over something!

Soon, the more powerful guests figured out what was happening.

The two Divine Dragons were fighting over a small sphere made of white light!

What shocked the guests most was the terrifyingly immense energy contained within that small sphere!

Even Duan Lang and Miao Shijie, both Martial Emperors, felt a profound sense of danger. They were absolutely certain that a direct confrontation with it would leave them gravely injured!

An incomparably greedy light flashed in the eyes of Duan Lang and Miao Shijie!

They had to have this Nine Dragon Plate!

"Master Zhong is truly incredible! He can actually activate an Upper Grade Magical Artifact like the Nine Dragon Plate! He’s allowed us to clearly feel the might of such an item!"

"An Upper Grade Magical Artifact is on another level! The Magic Flute I just won can’t even be mentioned in the same breath as the Nine Dragon Plate!!"

As Mages, Chen Juzheng and Liao Hufa felt even greater pressure!

Liao Hufa’s back was soaked in cold sweat. Staring at Zhong Mingtang in shock, he was certain that the master could kill him in a single move!

Every last shred of Chen Juzheng’s pride had been shattered by Zhong Mingtang.

Chen Juzheng gave a bitter smile and bowed to Zhong Mingtang, addressing himself as a disciple.

"So, I am in the presence of a True Master! This disciple was merely displaying his amateurish skills before an expert. I hope the True Master will not take offense!"

Zhong Mingtang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his disdainful gaze sweeping over everything before landing condescendingly on Chen Juzheng.

"Xiaochen, the fact that you have succeeded in Entering the Dao is already a sign of great fortune. If you can properly seize your opportunities, you might become a True Master within ten years!"

Despite being demoted from Master Chen to Xiaochen, Chen Juzheng wasn’t the least bit angry. On the contrary, he cupped his fists in excitement.

"Thank you for your guidance, True Master!"

Cheng Yuan stared at Zhong Mingtang without blinking.

In terms of the total amount of Magical Power in his body, Zhong Mingtang surpassed him.

’But for some reason, I don’t feel any sense of danger. My total Magical Power is only a third of Zhong Mingtang’s, yet I feel like I could kill him instantly.’

’Why is that?’

Cheng Yuan activated his Double Pupil to its fullest, and finally understood.

Zhong Mingtang had a large amount of Magical Power, but it wasn’t sufficiently refined.

Ten units of Zhong Mingtang’s Magical Power weren’t as potent as a single unit of Cheng Yuan’s.

To put it in terms a modern person could understand, one could compare Magical Power to fuel.

Zhong Mingtang’s Magical Power was diesel, while Cheng Yuan’s was the highest-octane aviation fuel.

Their potency was, naturally, incomparable.

Having determined that Zhong Mingtang was no match for him, Cheng Yuan lost interest and returned his attention to the Jade Marrow Small Sword.

The Array Pattern within the Small Sword was already beginning to take shape. All he had to do was inscribe the nodes, and the Small Array would be complete. Then, this Jade Marrow Small Sword would become a true Magical Artifact!

Soon, all the nodes were inscribed.

A faint, imperceptible pulse of Magical Power began to circulate within the Array. With a single thought, Cheng Yuan could now activate the Array and unleash a Technique!

What Cheng Yuan had inscribed was the ’Five Thunders Demon Extinguishing Array,’ a relatively powerful Array from the Celestial Witch Inheritance!

Cheng Yuan decided to name the Jade Marrow Small Sword the ’Five Thunders Sword’!

When the ’Five Thunders Demon Extinguishing Array’ was activated at full power, the resulting might would be more than ten times greater than that of the ’Two Dragons Playing with the Pearl’!

Even if the Nine Dragon Plate were in perfect condition and could unleash the ’Nine Dragons Struggle for the Throne,’ it would still be a notch below the Five Thunders Sword—to say nothing of its current, damaged state!

Cheng Yuan was very pleased with his first Magical Artifact, turning it over and over in his hands as he admired it.

The Two Dragons Playing with the Pearl gradually faded, and the Nine Dragon Plate slowly grew still.

Zhong Mingtang’s pupils constricted slightly. He discovered that faint cracks had appeared on the three surviving Divine Dragons.

This meant the damage to the Nine Dragon Plate had worsened!

It would probably be completely useless after one or two more uses!

’I can’t drag this out any longer!’

Zhong Mingtang discreetly shot Liu Hong a meaningful look.

Liu Hong snapped back to his senses. He cleverly covered the newly cracked dragon engraving with his fingers and smiled at the crowd.

"Master Zhong has demonstrated the divine might of the Nine Dragon Plate, so everyone should feel assured now, yes? I hereby declare that the auction for the Nine Dragon Plate has officially begun! The starting price is two billion, and the highest bidder takes it home!"