Swallow Cloud City

What, still wanted to have their heads twisted off like vine gourds?

"Quick, retreat!"

No one knew who shouted, but only then did the others come back to their senses and think to run.

Big Senior had been twisted around like a toy. How would the rest of them dare go over and deliver themselves to death?

That they wanted to flee did not mean Lin Heng would let them go.

Meddling in other people's business was destined to make enemies for oneself, so the best method was to silence them all.

He did not want to provoke too many more enemies.

In but a moment, aside from the two people standing dazed beside the carriage, the surroundings were empty, without half a living thing left.

Lin Heng took the Storage Rings from their bodies, only to get some scrap metal. A dozen-odd people put together had not even scraped up twenty Spirit Stones.

"No... how are they all poor to this damn extent?"

"Was this little money worth risking their lives for?"

His gaze shifted over to Zhao Wanqing, and Zhao Wanqing hurriedly bowed slightly. "Many thanks for your life-saving grace, young master. This Daughter has no way to repay you."

"Who said that? Don't you have a jade pendant at your waist?"

"Ah?" Zhao Wanqing lowered her head and looked, then said in sudden realization, "Has young master taken a liking to this piece of White Tiger Essence Jade? That is fine as well. Let it serve as thanks for young master's kindness."

"Miss, you must not! That is something the master left you!"

"Uncle, no need to say more. If not for young master saving us tonight, our lives would be gone, so what use would there be in keeping a piece of jade?"

Lin Heng borrowed the jade pendant and weighed it in his hand. "Good, then I'll accept it. We'll meet again if fate allows."

"Young master!"

"What else is there?"

"This Daughter is Zhao Wanqing. I still do not know young master's name..."

"Lin Heng."

Leaving his name behind cleanly and neatly, Lin Heng departed at ease.

Looking into the night where he had vanished, Zhao Wanqing's eyes were clear as she murmured softly.

Lin Heng, was it?

"Miss, you should not have given him the White Tiger Essence Jade. When the master was alive, he often said you had to guard that jade pendant well."

"Though this person's appearance is quite fine, his attacks are extremely ruthless. He is certainly no ordinary man."

His impression of Lin Heng was not very good.

Zhao Wanqing shook her head slightly. "I have a feeling I can't quite explain. Judging from the direction he left in, he should be going to Swallow Cloud City. I have a premonition I will see him again."

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

Lin Heng whipped his horse onward and spent a full three hours before finally reaching the edge of Swallow Cloud City.

Swallow Cloud City's rules were strict. Outsiders needed to pay a certain amount before they were permitted to enter the city, and they were also not allowed to carry any weapons or similar items.

Lin Heng had only just approached.

A squad of armored guards immediately rushed over.

"Halt! Swallow Cloud City forbids carrying swords. Those who trespass will be killed without mercy!"

Lin Heng's brow lifted. They were acting like this was some sacred land.

They had every kind of bizarre rule.

After handing over his weapon and Spirit Stones, he entered the city smoothly.

Swallow Cloud City was worthy of being a top city-state of the Western Continent. Its architectural style was majestic and magnificent, its streets broad, and its shops stood row upon row like fish scales and comb teeth.

Its overall layout was similar to Golden Horse City, divided into four main streets to the east, south, west, and north, as well as some smaller side roads.

Lin Heng first found a restaurant, for one reason: to fill his stomach first.

The second was to ask around about the Auction.

If one wanted to gather information, a restaurant was undoubtedly the best choice.

This was the place with the greatest flow of people, and its sources of news were the most numerous and mixed.

"My lord, what would you like to eat? Things that swim in the water, things that fly in the sky, rare treasures and strange beasts, our establishment has them all."

"Bring one portion of whatever specialties you have!"

"Oh my, then you will have to make up your mind properly. Our establishment has too many specialties. Even two tables would not be enough to hold them."

"If two tables aren't enough, then make it three. No need to worry that I won't finish."

Lin Heng raised his hand and tossed out twenty Spirit Stones to prove his wealth.

The Shop Assistant's eyes immediately shone, and he instantly put on a welcoming face. "My lord, please come upstairs. I'll arrange a Heavenly Guest Room for you!"

This action immediately drew the attention of the other diners.

The value of twenty Spirit Stones was absolutely not small. Converted into the secular Spirit Coin ratio, it was two hundred Spirit Coins.

"Two hundred Spirit Coins. This meal is truly extravagant!"

"Judging by his attire, he doesn't seem to be from the city. He should be someone from outside..."

Amid the discussions, Lin Heng followed the attendant into the Heavenly Room.

This was a separate suite, not small in area, arranged elegantly. Landscape paintings hung on the walls, a thick, soft fleece carpet covered the floor, and a faint tea fragrance pervaded the room.

"Honored guest, please wait a moment. This little one will go to the kitchen and pass on the order."

Lin Heng nodded and casually swept a glance around, discovering that the furnishings in the room carried a rather antique flavor.

After quite a while, the door was knocked on.

"Young master, all the dishes you ordered are here. Please enjoy."

"Got it." Lin Heng casually waved his hand.

The attendant pushed open the door, and a burst of tempting fragrance assaulted his nose. Dish after dish was carried in, a dazzling lineup that truly looked like a fine feast.

"These dishes are quite pretty." Lin Heng picked up a bite with his chopsticks, tasted it, and offered a word of praise.

The attendant grinned, revealing snow-white teeth. "Heh heh heh, this is our shop's specialty, 'Drunken Immortal Meat.' You are truly blessed, sir. One jin costs three Spirit Stones."

As he spoke, Lin Heng had already eaten half a bowl of rice. Hearing this, he curled his lip.

Only three Spirit Stones. It was the very tip of a hair on one of nine oxen.

He now carried over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, plus a pile of valuable treasures. He had not yet reached the point of being stingy over this bit of money.

Still, the meat really was quite fragrant. It tasted like ox head, yet its texture was chewier than beef.

"Attendant, don't hurry off yet. I'll ask you something."

After Lin Heng finished speaking, he tossed him another two Spirit Stones.

The Shop Assistant's eyes lit up. "My lord, ask whatever you like. There is nothing that happens in Swallow Cloud City that I don't know."

"Good, then talk about the Auction."

As the Shop Assistant poured tea and water, he said, "You mean the Auction? It's said that this Auction Feast is being held by the Western Continent Royal Family. Many forces are participating, and even the Dynasty Envoy has come."

"The Dynasty Envoy? Does the dynasty value Swallow Cloud City so much? They are hosting it themselves, and also sending an envoy to participate." Lin Heng frowned and asked.

This sounded very strange!

Who would auction off something themselves, then have their own people take part in the bidding too?

Openly planting a shill?

"You have just come from out of town, sir, so it's normal that you don't know the ins and outs."

The Shop Assistant said with a chuckle, "This Dynasty Envoy is no ordinary person. He is a royal clansman, with a revered status. Every three years, they send an envoy to the Western Continent to worship the ancestors of past generations. Counting it up, it has been eight or nine years now. It is just that this year, they happened to catch the Auction Grand Ceremony."

"Oh, so there is that reason."

"This little one can see that you have an extraordinary bearing, sir, so you must be a major figure as well. This is how things are in the Thirteen Cities of the Western Continent. There is almost nothing that can stay hidden. Wherever there are good things, that place becomes a gathering point."

"Something like an Auction is not easy to explain in detail. Maybe those upper-class people have already divided everything up behind the scenes."

"People like us can at most watch the excitement. What insiders look at is not the tricks of the trade, but friendship and connections."

The Shop Assistant said quite a lot.

It did make sense.

With the dynasty taking part, as the tiger-snake dragonhead of the secular territory, how could those great clans and noble families in the thirteen cities possibly not take part in dividing the benefits?

Once an Auction reached this scale, it was no longer as simple as the highest bidder winning.

Whether one could obtain the auction item alive was itself a problem.

He did want to see, after Ye Tian showed up in Swallow Cloud City, what treasures he could fiddle out.

Anything Ye Tian could get, he could definitely get too.

He did not believe that Ye Tian's current net worth could be higher than his own.

"My lord, do you have any other instructions?"

"Not for now. You may withdraw."

The attendant answered, turned, and retreated.