Han Li silently transmitted a few words via voice transmission. By the time he stepped out of his residence, Xue Po, Zhu Guo’er, and others were already waiting respectfully outside.
Han Li issued a command, instructing Hua Shi the Elder and the twelve incense maidens to remain behind. He then took only Xue Po and Zhu Guo’er with him, transforming into a radiant streak of light that soared into the sky, heading straight for the center of the town.
Shortly afterward, beams of light flickered from several other buildings within the dense forest, as others also took to the skies on their own magical radiance.
Almost simultaneously, from the guest pavilions in the town designated for outsiders, numerous streaks of light surged forth like a tide, all converging toward the same location.
By the time Han Li’s radiant streak arrived above the towering pagoda, many had already entered.
Han Li swept his gaze over the hundred armored guards stationed outside the pagoda before descending with the two women to the entrance.
Just then, a figure emerged from within the pagoda—Flying Cloud Fairy, who gracefully stepped forward and bowed to Han Li with a smile.
“Senior Han, welcome to the auction. If you don’t mind, I’d be honored to escort you inside personally.”
It seemed she had been waiting for him.
“Since you’re so kind, I’ll trouble you then,” Han Li replied without surprise, nodding slightly with a faint smile.
The purple-robed woman brightened at his words and waved off the nearby guards. Without even needing to present any identification, Han Li and his companions strode confidently into the stone pagoda.
The moment Han Li stepped through the entrance, he sensed an unusual fluctuation in the air. The surroundings blurred as if rapidly receding.
What seemed like a single step transported him instantly from the entrance to the foot of the staircase leading to the pagoda’s upper floors.
Ahead on the stairs, two pale-skinned foreigners were enveloped in shimmering halos of light, their forms growing indistinct.
With a flash, the two vanished into thin air, leaving behind only faint traces of spatial disturbance.
“So this is the true entrance to the auction venue?” Han Li mused aloud.
“Indeed, Senior. From here, we can directly enter the pocket realm,” the purple-robed woman replied with a charming smile.
Han Li nodded and stepped onto the stairs. A surge of spatial energy washed over them, distorting their figures as they ascended…
After the time it took to finish a meal, Han Li and his group found themselves inside an exquisitely decorated private chamber.
The chamber spanned over ten zhang in size, with a nearly transparent screen at the front. Looking out, they could see a vast square below, surrounded by densely packed stone seats and a sea of moving figures.
At the edges of the square floated dozens of silver-hued stone rooms, suspended dozens of zhang in the air. Each was inscribed with faint golden runes, preventing outsiders from detecting any activity within.
Han Li and his companions were now inside one of these floating rooms, with the purple-robed woman standing nearby, smiling.
At first glance, the setup seemed no different from an ordinary auction.
However, Han Li’s gaze was fixed on the sky a thousand zhang above the square, where multicolored clouds drifted. Hidden within them were countless black-armored warriors, and the entire sky was laced with restrictive formations, enveloping the entire venue.
Looking even higher, above the clouds, loomed a resplendent palace complex. Though somewhat indistinct, celestial music occasionally drifted down, inducing an inexplicable sense of relaxation.
“Your alliance has truly left no room for error, holding the auction within a pocket realm and preparing so many contingencies,” Han Li remarked with a faint smile.
“We must be cautious. The treasures auctioned this time far surpass previous ones—some can even suppress or delay the Great Heavenly Tribulation. We can’t afford to let certain seniors entertain any… ill intentions,” the purple-robed woman replied lightly.
“With such arrangements, I doubt many would dare entertain such thoughts,” Han Li chuckled meaningfully.
“I hope so. Senior Han, the auction is about to begin, and I must attend to other matters. I’ll take my leave now,” she said, glancing at the square outside the screen.
“Go ahead. There’s no need to stay on my account,” Han Li waved dismissively.
The woman bowed slightly, offered a few polite words, and then exited the stone chamber, leaving only Han Li and his two companions.
“Treasures that can delay the Great Heavenly Tribulation… No wonder the Helian Trading Alliance is being so cautious,” Xue Po exhaled, her tone tinged with awe.
“Only such items could drive those at the Mahayana stage to desperate lengths,” Han Li remarked indifferently.
“Senior, aren’t you tempted by such treasures? Even if you don’t need them now, they might prove invaluable in the future,” Xue Po couldn’t help asking.
“Heh, the future is the future. Even if I wanted such things, I wouldn’t seek them here. With dozens of Mahayana cultivators present, competing would likely be more trouble than it’s worth. Our main goal remains securing the teleportation slots,” Han Li replied calmly, as if entirely unbothered.
Though Xue Po had her own thoughts, she could only nod in agreement.
Meanwhile, Zhu Guo’er watched the bustling crowd outside the screen with excitement.
After about half an hour, the massive square was completely filled, with tens of thousands of cultivators at the Void Refinement stage and above gathered in one place.
Then, with a thunderous rumble, the center of the square split open, and a stone platform rose from below.
A flash of light later, a red-haired elder appeared atop it.
The elder, though not particularly tall, exuded an overwhelming aura the moment he appeared, silencing the murmurs among the crowd.
“I am Ming Zun, the overseer of this continent for our trading alliance. Many of you already know me, so I’ll keep this brief. The rules of this auction are no different from others. Those who break them… well, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Now, let the auction begin!”
With that, the elder transformed into a silver streak and vanished into the multicolored clouds above.
Simultaneously, another flash of light on the platform revealed a voluptuous, enchanting woman with a captivating gaze.
Her mere glance sent a ripple of excitement through the nearby crowd, and her three fluffy pink tails swayed gently behind her, adding to her bewitching allure.
“A Three-Tailed Enchanting Fox! So such creatures truly exist in our Spirit Realm!”
“Where did the Helian Trading Alliance find her? And to have her host the auction!”
The square buzzed with murmurs, many male cultivators staring at her with predatory intensity.
Unfazed, the woman smiled coquettishly and spoke in a honeyed voice:
“I am Hu Yushuang, honored by Senior Ming’s trust to host this auction. Rest assured, though I am but a woman, I have overseen many such events and will ensure your satisfaction.”
“Hosted many auctions? Surely you jest. With your… talents, we would have heard of you before,” a skeptical voice called out from the crowd.
Hu Yushuang chuckled. “If you mean this continent, then yes, this is my first time.”
“What? You’re not from our continent?” someone exclaimed.
“I’ve spent most of my time in the Blood Sky Realm and only arrived in the Wind Yuan Continent a year ago. No wonder I’m unfamiliar to you all,” she replied with a smile.
“Ah, so you’re not from our land. What a pity! Had I known such a peerless beauty existed, I wouldn’t have remained a solitary cultivator all these years,” a rough male voice teased from a corner.
Hu Yushuang giggled. “How fortuitous. My late husband passed not long ago. If you’re truly interested, I might just give you a chance. But if you’re bold enough to say such things, why hide? Step forward and repeat your words to my face.”
As she spoke, her allure intensified, her presence becoming irresistibly magnetic.
Under her spell, a fair-faced middle-aged man near the platform stood up, eyes glazed, and began reciting his admiration loudly…
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