“Second Uncle, rest assured. This auction has been arranged flawlessly. All the cultivators bidding and purchasing are inconspicuous rogue cultivators we’ve already bribed. On the surface, these cultivators appear completely unrelated to our Ye Family. Moreover, once the auction concludes, these individuals will be silenced immediately—no leaks whatsoever. However, how is the situation with the Emperor? Why have the Taiyi Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect suddenly sent two old monsters, Xuan Qing and Qi Miao, to the palace? Could they have caught wind of something?” the beautiful woman asked hesitantly.
Upon hearing this, the black-crowned elder also showed a worried expression.
“Don’t worry. Eldest Brother has already probed their intentions. They’re here for the Mountain-Leveling Seal crafted by the Three Emperors. Now that the seal is nearing completion, the Three Observers are about to fuse its final components. These two sects have extensive networks—just a hint of the rumors we deliberately leaked was enough for them to vaguely discern what treasure we’re refining. This time, they’re pressuring our Ye Family to sell the treasure to them. That’s fine. With this bait out in the open, my true plan won’t draw their attention. However, as a precaution, all elders privy to the plan must travel in groups when venturing out recently. We can’t afford any carelessness, lest they fall victim to these two old monsters’ schemes and have their minds forcibly probed. Especially Qi Miao Zhenren from the Heavenly Demon Sect—he excels in soul-confusing secret arts. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator, if caught off guard, would involuntarily reveal everything.” The square-faced man’s muscles twitched as he spoke gravely.
“So that’s the case. That puts my mind at ease. But the Mountain-Leveling Seal was refined through immense effort—are we really going to hand it over to these two sects so easily?” the black-crowned elder said regretfully.
“Hand it over easily? Impossible! If only one sect had come knocking, we might have had no choice but to grit our teeth and comply. But since both are here, we now have room to fish in troubled waters. Eldest Brother has already made arrangements. Even if we can’t keep the Mountain-Leveling Seal, it won’t fall so easily into their hands to empower our enemies.” The square-faced man sneered coldly.
The black-crowned elder and the beautiful woman exchanged puzzled glances but wisely refrained from pressing further.
After chatting a while longer, the three parted ways to attend to their respective tasks.
…
Time passed swiftly, and soon the day of the grand auction arrived.
During this period, the Yin Luo Sect scoured everywhere for Han Li’s whereabouts, searching other marketplaces, inns, and gathering spots for cultivators near Jinjing. However, Han Li remained secluded in the Taoist temple, wholly focused on refining the Snow Crystal Orb and never once stepped outside, leaving them empty-handed.
Early that morning, Han Li altered his appearance, transforming into a dark-faced burly man and disguising the bamboo tube on his back as a longsword. He then left the temple quietly, heading straight for the Jinxi Market. Along the way, he suppressed his aura, lowering his cultivation to the Core Formation stage to avoid drawing attention.
As expected, the closer he got to Jinxi, the more high-level cultivator auras he sensed. Most were at the Core Formation stage, but there were also quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators. Low-level cultivators, however, were few and far between.
It seemed any cultivator with even modest means was unwilling to miss this grand auction.
When Han Li passed through the barrier and entered the marketplace, he found the streets teeming with cultivators of all kinds, many dressed in exotic attire.
Yet, with a single glance, he spotted several gloomy-faced black-robed cultivators at the entrance, scrutinizing everyone who entered. Among them was none other than Ge Tianhao. Strangely, the Tianlan Saintess was nowhere to be seen.
Han Li frowned inwardly but maintained an indifferent facade as he walked toward the main hall, deliberately ignoring the Yin Luo Sect cultivators. But the moment he took two steps, a faint spiritual sense swept over him, circled once, and then moved on to another newly arrived Core Formation cultivator when it found nothing.
The Yin Luo Sect’s practice of scanning unfamiliar faces—primarily rogue or suspicious cultivators—wasn’t applied to every entrant. Those affiliated with other sects were left alone. While Core Formation cultivators remained oblivious to these scans, a few Nascent Soul rogue cultivators who noticed bristled with anger, glaring coldly at the Yin Luo Sect members.
Fortunately, the Yin Luo Sect had no intention of provoking conflict. After the scans, they took no further action, leaving the disgruntled high-level rogue cultivators no choice but to swallow their irritation and move on, much like Han Li.
“Elder Ge, I heard that man is skilled in disguise and transformation. Standing guard like this is probably useless,” a newly arrived triangular-eyed elder said impatiently after finding nothing.
“I never expected this method to immediately uncover him. This person’s abilities are formidable, and we lack the means to see through his true form. But by making a show of searching for him, we might unsettle him into revealing a clue. Even if he remains composed, don’t worry. The Tianlan people have ties with the Heavenly Demon Sect. Fellow Daoist Lin has already borrowed the Mystic Sound Treasure Mirror from Qi Miao of the Heavenly Demon Sect and is refining it at his residence. In two or three days, it’ll be ready for use. If we can’t find him now, at least we’ll lull him into complacency. By the auction’s final days, under the mirror’s power, he’ll have nowhere to hide, and we can strike like lightning.” Ge Tianhao glanced at the elder and spoke calmly.
“So that’s the plan. I should have known Elder Ge wouldn’t waste effort on something futile. If this works, we won’t even need the sect master’s arrival—just the few of us can capture him and claim a great merit for the sect.” The triangular-eyed elder brightened with excitement.
“Let’s hope so.” Ge Tianhao gave a dry laugh and glanced toward the Treasure Light Hall.
The target they were dealing with was clearly no pushover—someone who might have even killed the sect’s fourth elder, a peak mid-Nascent Soul expert. Success was far from guaranteed, and surprises were to be expected. Caution was paramount.
Ge Tianhao’s expression darkened as he brooded silently.
…
Meanwhile, Han Li stood before the massive stone hall he’d seen earlier, now enveloped in a shimmering five-colored light barrier, exuding an air of mystery.
To his surprise, another single-story white stone hall floated above the Treasure Light Hall. Though smaller—only a third the size of the lower hall—it spanned hundreds of zhang, an imposing sight in the sky.
Before him, a Foundation Establishment attendant in yellow robes respectfully explained the arrangements. Han Li, now openly exuding his Nascent Soul aura, listened with feigned indifference, though the attendant dared not show any impatience.
Other attendants nearby were similarly attending to high-level Nascent Soul cultivators, while Core Formation cultivators had to make do with reading the rules inscribed on a stone tablet by the hall’s entrance.
“So the Nascent Soul auction is being held in the Nine Heavens Hall above, while the Core Formation auction remains in the Treasure Light Hall. Also, entry fees are one thousand spirit stones for Nascent Soul cultivators and one hundred for Core Formation. Did I get that right?” Han Li finally said, glancing at the attendant.
“Your insight is impeccable, Senior. Indeed, that’s the case. This year’s auction has drawn thirty percent more participants than usual, necessitating the urgent borrowing of the Nine Heavens Hall from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. The spirit stone requirement is the same as previous years—to prevent overcrowding. Of course, esteemed Seniors like yourself wouldn’t balk at such a sum. Otherwise, if anyone could enter freely, even a venue ten times larger couldn’t accommodate them.” The yellow-robed attendant smiled obsequiously.
“One thousand spirit stones? Quite the hefty toll. But as you said, if I acquire what I desire, this amount is negligible. The Core Formation auction holds no interest for me—I’ll attend the Nascent Soul auction.” With a flick of his wrist, Han Li tossed ten mid-grade spirit stones to the attendant.
“Please proceed, Senior. The Nascent Soul auction begins this morning. Here’s your jade token—it grants you access for the entire duration.” The attendant’s smile widened as he handed Han Li a numbered jade plaque.
Han Li took it without a word, his body flashing with cyan light as he transformed into a streak of light shooting toward the floating hall. Others had already begun flying up as well.
Upon reaching the Nine Heavens Hall’s entrance, Han Li found only a pale white barrier—no guards in sight.
With a slight raise of his brow, he channeled a wisp of spiritual power into the jade token and waved it at the barrier. A red beam shot forth, parting the light curtain effortlessly.
Without hesitation, Han Li stepped through, the barrier sealing behind him.
Over the next two hours, hundreds of Nascent Soul cultivators streamed into the Nine Heavens Hall.
Then, with three resonant bell tolls, the grand auction officially commenced.
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