Seeing the fragment map again, the Zhang and Han Families enter the Auction Hall

"Daoist Ji..."

The moment he entered the Exquisite Treasure Pavilion, Manager Xue Yuling greeted him with a smile.

After the two sides exchanged greetings and pleasantries, Ji Haoyuan asked with a smile,

"Daoist Xue, for this Auction being held by your Exquisite Treasure Pavilion, how many Foundation Establishment Pills will be put up for auction?

And will other Foundation Establishment spiritual items also be auctioned alongside them?"

Ji Haoyuan knew that asking such questions before the Auction officially began was against the rules.

But with resources at stake, he still wanted to try and see whether he could learn some inside information in advance.

Xue Yuling was not displeased by this. Instead, she answered with a smile,

"Why is Daoist Ji in such a hurry?

Once the Auction begins, you will naturally know.

However..."

At this point, Xue Yuling paused slightly before continuing with a smile,

"What I can tell you, Daoist Ji, is that this Auction held by our Exquisite Treasure Pavilion will certainly not disappoint you."

Though Xue Yuling's words seemed to answer nothing, they had actually revealed quite a bit.

First, she had not denied either of Ji Haoyuan's questions.

In other words, there would definitely be more than one Foundation Establishment Pill at this Auction.

Second, other Foundation Establishment spiritual items would certainly appear at this Auction as well.

It seemed this Auction of the Exquisite Treasure Pavilion truly was making a grand move.

Even at Auctions held by the Crimson Cloud Treasure Tower, there were likely never so many Foundation Establishment spiritual items.

At this moment, Ji Haoyuan and the others could practically imagine it.

The Shopkeeper of the Crimson Cloud Treasure Tower would definitely not be looking too pleased.

But then again, the one holding this Auction was the Exquisite Treasure Pavilion.

Even though the Crimson Cloud Treasure Tower had been established by the Crimson Cloud Sect, there was nothing it could do to the Exquisite Treasure Pavilion.

That was the confidence of a merchant association capable of spanning the entire Southern Wasteland Domain and opening shops everywhere.

Even Nascent Soul-level forces had to give it sufficient face, let alone the Crimson Cloud Sect.

"By the way, there are still roughly half a day before our Exquisite Treasure Pavilion's Auction officially begins. Why don't you all head to the private room in the Auction Hall on the top floor and rest for a while?"

Xue Yuling suddenly suggested with a smile.

Ji Haoyuan did not refuse.

In any case, they had nothing else to do here. Familiarizing themselves with the Auction Hall beforehand was not a bad thing.

Soon, a young woman with delicate features came over and led Ji Haoyuan's group toward the Auction Hall on the top floor.

"Esteemed Seniors, this is the private room Manager Xue specially prepared for you."

Upon arriving at the top-floor Auction Hall, the young woman led them directly into a private room.

The private room was not particularly large, but it was decorated in an exquisitely elegant manner.

Various spiritual fruits and spiritual tea had also been placed atop the tea table.

Ji Haoyuan smiled and thanked the woman.

After she left, Ji Haoyuan stepped forward and picked up a Jade Scroll from the tea table.

The Jade Scroll clearly recorded some of the items that would be auctioned at this Auction.

Though the contents were not particularly detailed, they could still provide Ji Haoyuan and the others with plenty of reference.

"It seems that Daoist Xue is rather considerate toward you, Haoyuan."

Ji Bochang spoke with a smile from the side.

Ji Haoyuan did not reply.

That was because his gaze had landed on an item recorded in the Jade Scroll.

It was a map.

More accurately, it was a somewhat incomplete map.

It looked somewhat similar to the Fragment Map he had obtained from Han Pengshan's Storage Pouch back then.

It was presumably one part of that Fragment Map.

He simply did not know whether, if he obtained the Fragment Map recorded in the Jade Scroll, he could complete the Fragment Map in his possession.

With that thought in mind, Ji Haoyuan had already decided that, if possible, he would definitely bid for the Fragment Map in the Jade Scroll.

"Mm... Haoyuan, look..."

Just then, Ji Bochang beside him suddenly gestured toward him.

Following Ji Bochang's gaze, Ji Haoyuan soon saw a group of people entering through the entrance of the Auction Hall.

They were Zhang Mingyuan and Zhang Mingze of the Zhang Family.

And among them was Zhang Zhilong, the Heavenly Spiritual Root disciple who had already joined the Crimson Cloud Sect and become the direct disciple of a Golden Core cultivator.

Judging by the aura Zhang Zhilong was currently displaying, he was clearly not far from peak Qi Refining.

As expected of a Golden Core disciple with a Heavenly Spiritual Root—such cultivation talent was truly beyond the reach of ordinary people.

However, what further caught Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang's attention were the two men beside the Zhang Family cultivators.

Judging by their attire, those two should both be from the Han Family of Danyang Prefecture.

Could they be the Han Family's other two Foundation Establishment cultivators?

Han Penghu and Han Pengfeng?

Seeing how they chatted and laughed with Zhang Mingyuan and Zhang Mingze, their identities were likely correct.

For no apparent reason, Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang both narrowed their eyes slightly.

Since when had the Han Family and the Zhang Family gotten together?

That was not good news for their Ji Family.

Especially at a time like this.

If things went poorly, it could bring them considerable trouble, even threats.

Of course.

That was Ji Bochang's current line of thinking.

As for Ji Haoyuan, he did not care all that much.

Compared to that, Zhang Zhilong's behavior concerned him more.

It seemed that what had happened last time had not truly created any irreparable rift between Zhang Zhilong and the Zhang Family.

He did not know what the Zhang Family had done afterward to make Zhang Zhilong once again grow so close to his clan.

He simply did not know whether other Crimson Cloud Sect cultivators were hidden in the shadows behind him this time, accompanying him to this Auction.

Such thoughts flashed rapidly through Ji Haoyuan's mind.

He did not continue paying attention to the Zhang Family members. Instead, he closed his eyes and sat in meditation, patiently waiting for the Auction to begin.

Time passed bit by bit.

Finally.

As the time approached the hour of the Rooster, Xue Yuling, dressed in a flowing blue gown, slowly appeared in the Auction Hall.

She then walked onto the high platform with a smile, looked over the crowd below, and said,

"Welcome, fellow Daoists, and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the Auction held by our Exquisite Treasure Pavilion.

I will be presiding over this Auction.

First, let me briefly explain the rules of this Auction."

They were roughly the usual rules: everything would be conducted through bidding, and the highest bidder would win.

Once Xue Yuling had finished explaining the general rules, a tray wrapped in brocade cloth was brought up from below.

"Alright, without further ado, let us begin with the first auction item."

As she spoke, Xue Yuling reached out and lifted the brocade cloth from the tray, revealing a blue crystal placed within a transparent Jade Box.

When the people in the Auction Hall saw the blue crystal in the transparent Jade Box, astonishment appeared on all their faces, including those of Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang.