Old and Young Compete

"Lan Chang'an, how many years have you been with the Mu Family?"

Mu Renlong carried an imposing presence, his voice deep and resonant, commanding awe without anger.

"Twenty years," Lan Chang'an answered.

"So long?" Mu Renlong could not help sighing. "Over these years, you've made no small contribution to the Mu Family. You can be considered one of our own."

"If you have your eye on any girl in the family, whoever she may be, I'll make the decision for you!"

Mu Renlong cast him an encouraging look, a trace of dominance seeping into his tone.

Without waiting for Lan Chang'an's reply, he rose and headed for the auction.

Lan Chang'an understood the implication behind Mu Renlong's words: he supported Lan Chang'an marrying Mu Xiuyun.

Even if Mu Maode disagreed, he would have to submit.

After all, Mu Renlong was in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Within the Mu Family, his word was law, and his style was even more overbearing than that of the previous Old Ancestor.

Mu Maode's expression darkened, and disappointment filled his heart.

His daughter was so outstanding—breathtakingly beautiful and a First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master—yet she was about to be rooted by a pig that looked harmless to man and beast.

But on second thought—

If Lan Chang'an were marrying into the family, then as an exceptional Talisman Master, with his striking appearance and steady conduct, he was quite suitable.

That way, neither of the two outstanding talents would be lost, and both would be firmly bound to the Mu Family.

Previously, he had been blinded by his elderly father's emotions.

By comparison, Mu Renlong had a better grasp of the overall situation. He was more rational and directly threw his support behind Lan Chang'an.

The Bamboo Leaf Mountain auction was held in a grand hall near the mountainside summit, one that had only recently been built.

The auction had fairly high standards. Participants had to verify that they possessed two hundred Spirit Stones or items of greater value.

This excluded those impoverished Rogue Cultivators who had come merely to join in the excitement.

The Mu Family were invited honored guests, so they naturally needed no verification and entered directly through a special passage.

"Brother Renlong! With you personally coming to support us, Bamboo Leaf Mountain is honored beyond its humble doors."

An amicable-looking seventy-year-old Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Huang Family greeted Mu Renlong.

"Huang Family Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor, Huang Changling."

Looking at the elderly man with prominent cheekbones, Lan Chang'an recognized his identity.

After all, he had spent so many years in the Marketplace. He had seen, or at least heard of, most of the Huang Family's important figures.

The Huang Family had three Foundation Establishment cultivators. Huang Changling's cultivation was not the highest, but he was highly senior and had guarded Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market year-round.

This auction was a matter of great importance. The Huang Family certainly had more than one Foundation Establishment cultivator present.

The auction hall was semicircular and exceptionally spacious.

Meditation Cushions were arranged across the floor, each separated by more than two zhang.

The Mu Family's VIP stand resembled a floating terrace and could accommodate ten people.

Besides its senior cultivators, the Mu Family had brought two young rising talents to broaden their horizons.

Lan Chang'an sat in the VIP stand, enjoying the spirit tea and spirit fruits served by a Maidservant.

From above, he overlooked every detail of the auction hall.

Lan Chang'an spotted Li Ergou, Zhao Siyao, and Lin Yi seated on neighboring Meditation Cushions.

Li Ergou grinned when he saw Lan Chang'an on the VIP stand as well.

"Lan Chang'an has really latched onto a powerful thigh!"

Seeing Lan Chang'an seated alongside Mu Xiuyun and the Mu Family's upper ranks, Lin Yi sighed inwardly.

Lan Chang'an might marry the Mu Family's Eldest Miss in the future. Even if he married into the family, that was already enough to make others green with envy.

"As expected of Big Brother."

Li Ergou admired him immensely. Thinking back, their batch of Immortal Seedlings had escaped death by the skin of their teeth. When they first saw that gentle, jade-like girl, how stunning she had been.

Marrying a daughter of the Mu Family was something they had never even dared dream of.

Half an hour later, the Meditation Cushions in the auction hall were nearly filled with figures.

Buzz!

A gentle pillar of light descended from the heavens, bathing the auction platform ahead in brilliance as bright as day.

"Welcome, fellow Daoists, to Bamboo Leaf Mountain. This old man is Guang Cheng Lin. With the host's approval, I have the honor of presiding over this auction."

The slightly plump Feather Robe Old Man beamed as he cupped his hands toward those above him and to either side below the stage.

"First, let me explain the rules. Divine sense intimidation, malicious bid-raising, private collusion... any act that disrupts the normal order of the auction will result in expulsion at best and the abolishment of cultivation at worst."

"Without further nonsense, the first auction item is the Clear Qi Pill."

"As everyone knows, the Clear Qi Pill is a Breakthrough Pill for advancing to the Qi Refining Mid-Stage. Five pills will be auctioned today. Each starts at one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with a minimum increase of five Spirit Stones per bid."

Before his words had even faded, a Maidservant in a graceful green dress entered carrying a tray.

"Clear Qi Pills!"

"The very first item is a Breakthrough Pill."

Cultivators from every side of the hall brightened with excitement.

Though the Clear Qi Pill was only a Breakthrough Pill for reaching the Qi Refining Mid-Stage, what faction or immortal cultivator did not have juniors?

Such Breakthrough Pills had always been scarce goods.

"I bid one hundred and five!"

"One hundred and twenty!"

Bids rose one after another from all around the hall.

In the end, the first pill sold for nearly two hundred Spirit Stones, equivalent to the value of a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact.

Afterward, the remaining four Clear Qi Pills were all fought over and sold.

"Next, the second auction item: the Mid-Grade Magical Artifact, Azure Steel Twin Swords..."

The Feather Robe Old Man raised a hand with a smile.

"A Mid-Grade Magical Artifact! A complete set of artifacts!"

The eyes of those Qi Refining Mid-Stage and Qi Refining Late-Stage cultivators shone brightly.

Lan Chang'an was tempted. The Azure Steel Twin Swords were somewhat more powerful than the Flying Shuttle artifact he had obtained from Ge Alchemist. They were considered exceptional among artifacts of the same grade, roughly comparable to that Black Net.

But in the end, he did not join the bidding.

One more fine Mid-Grade Magical Artifact would not noticeably increase his strength.

He had his eye on something at this auction and needed to concentrate his firepower.

One auction item after another was presented, occasionally stirring waves of excitement through the hall.

"The sixteenth auction item is the First-Order Longevity Pill. There are three pills in total, each capable of extending one's lifespan by five years. Let me remind everyone that for Longevity Pills of the same grade, only the first pill extends one's lifespan. Their effects cannot stack."

"First-Order Longevity Pills?"

The young cultivators showed little interest, but the middle-aged and elderly cultivators had light bursting from their eyes.

Several old men who had been dozing instantly perked up.

"First-Order Longevity Pills, sacred medicine that renews one's life! Bidding starts at two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with each increase no less than ten Spirit Stones."

The Feather Robe Old Man looked energized as he announced it loudly.

"Two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!"

A white-haired old man covered in wrinkles, at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, bid impatiently.

He had raised the bid by fifty Spirit Stones in one stroke.

Yet that price did not scare off the other competitors.

"Two hundred and sixty!"

"Two hundred and eighty!"

"Three hundred!"

In mere moments, the price of one Longevity Pill had soared by half over its starting bid.

"Three hundred and ten!"

"Four hundred!"

An incongruous young voice joined the bidding, plunging the other bidders into a brief silence.

A single increase of nearly one hundred!

"Brother Lu?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Li Ergou stared in astonishment toward the VIP stand above.

The Mu Family's upper ranks—Mu Renlong, Mu Maode, and even Mu Xiuyun—looked at Lan Chang'an in surprise.

"Lan Chang'an, have you cultivated some secret technique that drastically reduced your lifespan?"

Mu Maode stared coldly at Lan Chang'an, then could not help glancing at his daughter.

"Maode, Lan Chang'an is in the prime of his youth, with ample yang energy. He is certainly not marked for a short life."

Mu Renlong chuckled, equally curious.

"This junior entered cultivation late, which left my potential insufficient. I wish to buy a Longevity Pill to make up for the years I lost."

Lan Chang'an had prepared this explanation long ago and spoke without the slightest panic.

"Uh... that's the reason?"

The Mu Family members exchanged looks, unable to refute his reasoning.

But ordinarily, unless a cultivator was nearing the end of their lifespan, they would not pay such an immense price simply to extend it.

With those Spirit Stones, it would be better to purchase precious pills and raise one's cultivation as much as possible.

Besides, whether a cultivator could advance into a higher major realm was not something that would be decided by five years more or five years less.

A person's upper limit in cultivation was often determined in their youth.

Lan Chang'an bid on the Longevity Pill because the cultivation of the Evergreen Art required absorbing the aura of passing years, while using its secret healing technique also consumed lifespan.

The words "extend lifespan" in Longevity Pill were closely intertwined with the effects of the Evergreen Art.

He wanted to test what effect a Longevity Pill would have if he took it.

"Four hundred and ten!"

A cold snort sounded as an aged Qi Refining Late-Stage cultivator added ten Spirit Stones.

No Foundation Establishment cultivators participated in the bidding for First-Order Longevity Pills.

That was because elderly Foundation Establishment cultivators had mostly already taken First-Order Longevity Pills, making additional pills ineffective.

"Four hundred and fifty!"

Lan Chang'an raised the price brutally, looking determined to win.

This scene made the elderly men cast sidelong glances at him, their vicious gazes fixed upon him.

A brat with no worries about his lifespan was actually competing with old fossils like them, who already had one foot in the grave, for Longevity Pills?

The crowd was instantly incensed!

Yet Lan Chang'an was too young. He was merely a hotheaded fool and likely not the true bidder, so there was no need to get angry with him.

This fellow was seated on the Mu Family's VIP stand?

"Mu Maode! What is your Mu Family doing? Sending a young man to compete with us centenarians for lifespan?"

"Mu Renlong! Back then, your father and I were close friends. Ignoring your status as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, you are acting so viciously—do you want to force old fellows like us to die sooner?"

These white-haired elderly cultivators gnashed their teeth and turned their spearheads toward the Mu Family's upper ranks.