Auction

As the Auction drew near.

The flow of people in the Market grew by the day. Many Monster Hunting Squads had also returned, waiting for the Auction to begin.

The Zhou Family could be said to have emerged from the darkest hour into brighter days. Not only had they gained a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but they had also become a living signboard the Two Major Sects needed to promote. They were flourishing with every passing day.

"Big Brother Lin, my boy was tested and found to have a Mid-Grade Spirit Root."

That day, Li Erniu's face was glowing red as he spoke excitedly.

Lin Chang'an was stunned when he heard this, then smiled and offered his congratulations. "Who would have thought the child had a Mid-Grade Spirit Root? He truly has promise."

Zhou Yifan was now twelve years old, the age at which one could have their Spiritual Root tested.

During childhood in the Cultivation World, one could only determine whether a child possessed a Spiritual Root or not. To test its specific grade, one had to wait until the child's body had initially developed, at around the age of twelve.

Of course, some major Sects and Lineages possessed more advanced testing artifacts and methods, allowing them to conduct such tests during childhood.

Seeing how delighted Li Erniu was, Lin Chang'an could not help but sigh inwardly.

"A Mid-Grade Spirit Root truly is an enviable aptitude."

At that thought, Lin Chang'an smiled to himself. Perhaps he would have envied it in the past, but now, he possessed an even better future.

Especially now that his comprehension of the Evergreen Art had deepened. Though he still had a Low-grade Spiritual Root, with such perfect compatibility, his cultivation speed was already nearly on par with that of a Mid-Grade Spirit Root.

"Er Niu, you really are something."

Little Marquis Shen Lie also smiled and congratulated him. At the same time, he teased the child in his arms, hope shining in his eyes. He hoped his own child's Spiritual Root would not be too poor either.

After all, both he and his wife possessed Spiritual Roots.

Yet as she watched Er Niu rejoice, an almost imperceptible trace of worry flickered through Lu Qingqing's brows. She secretly transmitted her voice to Lin Chang'an and her husband.

"Yifan was born into the Zhou Family. I wonder whether that is a blessing or a misfortune."

Sure enough, Lu Qingqing was more perceptive as a woman. Even Lin Chang'an only realized it now. Looking at the laughing Er Niu, he sighed faintly inwardly.

Zhou Yifan had been shaped by the environment he had grown up in, as well as by his temperament. If he had merely possessed a Low-grade Spiritual Root, that would have been fine. He could have lived an ordinary life.

But he had to possess a Mid-Grade Spirit Root. It would be fine if the Zhou Family could provide him with equal conditions, but if he searched his own heart, would it truly be fair if this happened to him?

"What a pity. The two spots within the clan have already been decided this time."

Li Erniu was still smiling broadly, imagining how his son would rise above the masses in the future.

Lu Qingqing seemed to think of something. She gave a soft laugh and teased him, "Er Niu, you must not hold the child back. With Yifan's aptitude, whether he joins a Sect or learns a craft, neither would be difficult. Another day, I'll ask Sister Yun for you."

Li Erniu did not think too deeply about it. Instead, he clasped his hands with a beaming smile. "Junior Sister truly is thoughtful. Yifan cannot follow my old path."

Seeing this, Shen Lie winked and made faces at Lin Chang'an from the side, as though proudly saying, Look at my wife. Clever, isn't she?

Lin Chang'an was also impressed. Sure enough, women were born masters of acting, and their minds turned quickly. In the blink of an eye, she had thought of a solution without piercing this layer of window paper.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, Fellow Daoist Shen, Junior Sister."

Wei Yiyi spotted them from afar and approached with a broad smile to greet them. Only when he saw Li Erniu did he reveal a smug grin.

Li Erniu nodded with a thoroughly displeased expression. The two seemed born with incompatible fates; in any case, they simply could not stand the sight of each other.

"What? Er Niu's child has a Mid-Grade Spirit Root?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Yiyi stared wide-eyed at Li Erniu, while Li Erniu looked immensely pleased with himself, as though he had finally won back some pride.

Unwilling to concede, Wei Yiyi snorted sourly. "What are you so proud of? My daughter has a Spiritual Root too."

Wei Yiyi had married a widow and later had a daughter. Over the years, he had earned quite a bit through his alchemy skills.

But he simply could not stand Li Erniu. Wei Yiyi turned around with a broad smile and joked with Lu Qingqing and Shen Lie that the two sides could become in-laws in the future.

While the four were talking in the Market, Wei Yiyi seemed to spot something, and a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Young Master Huang."

Wei Yiyi hurried over with an eager smile, fawning over a man dressed in luxurious clothing.

Li Erniu spat disdainfully at the sight, but Lin Chang'an merely smiled without saying a word.

People had their own paths, and rats had their own burrows. One could not simply declare another person's way of survival wrong.

"So, you are old acquaintances of Fairy Yun."

The other man walked over. Beneath his luxurious Dharma Robe, he politely made friends with the group, and they all returned his greeting.

"This is Young Master Huang."

Wei Yiyi eagerly introduced him to everyone, then secretly transmitted his voice to them.

"Huang Yuntian is his father. He is currently a Li Fire Palace steward in the Market, so do not offend him."

Yet at close range, a strange glint flashed through Lin Chang'an's eyes. This humble and courteous young nobleman before him seemed to possess several different, faint mana auras within his body.

Ever since his comprehension of the Evergreen Art had broken through to the Supreme Realm, his senses had become even sharper.

"Fairy Yun came from the same Sect as my father."

Before outsiders, Huang Shaohai greeted everyone with a humble smile. Yet when he saw Lu Qingqing, a lewd gleam flashed in the depths of his eyes.

"The Auction is about to begin. Let's hurry inside."

As the Auction drew near, everyone began entering the venue.

This Auction was held to a high standard. Participants had to prove they possessed one hundred Spirit Stones or items of equivalent value before they could enter.

After all, there were too many Rogue Cultivators who merely wanted to watch the excitement. If everyone were allowed in, the venue simply could not accommodate them.

To ensure the privacy and safety of cultivators, the Auction had formations that concealed mana auras and blocked divine-sense inspection.

Everyone wore identical opera masks and dispersed through the darkness. When Lin Chang'an came to his senses, he was secretly shocked.

So this is the power of formations. Truly marvelous.

Some cultivators from major Lineages or Sects, however, sat on the raised platforms without concealing themselves in the slightest.

This was a symbol of status and strength.

Beneath the banners representing the Two Major Sects were separate VIP platforms, with the major Lineages seated below them.

"Look, Fairy Nishang of the Mystic Sound Pavilion is here too."

"I heard Fairy Nishang has already reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage."

"Fairy Yun of the Li Fire Palace is here as well."

The crowd buzzed with discussion. Lin Chang'an, seated on a meditation cushion, also saw this prodigy of the Cultivation World whom he had heard about when he had first entered the cultivation path.

Fairy Nishang wore a colorful palace gown, ribbons circling her body. With a delicate face and moth-like brows, she wore a veil over her head, revealing only a pair of clear eyes like moonlight.

Beneath the white veil was the hazy beauty of a face like flowers and moon. It could not conceal her peerless elegance or her ethereal, dustless temperament.

Yun Yao of the Li Fire Palace, meanwhile, wore a plain white fitted outfit. Compared to the fairies of the Two Major Sects—

One had brows like verdant peaks and a valiant, heroic bearing; the other wore a splendid palace gown and carried herself with graceful dignity. Each possessed her own distinctive charm.

Bzzng!

With the sound of a bronze gong, the semicircular Auction began.

"Welcome, fellow Daoists, to the Green Bamboo Mountain Market Auction. I am Han Lin'er of the Mystic Sound Pavilion, and I will be presiding over this Auction."

A delicate young woman with a pure appearance clasped her hands toward the crowd, her voice as clear and sweet as a nightingale's.

What an extravagant display. They actually sent a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator.

Lin Chang'an was secretly shocked. Although the formation blocked perception, Han Lin'er had deliberately released her pressure, clearly displaying the Sect's strength.

A Female Cultivator at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer was actually assigned to do this. Just how powerful was that?

"This Auction is hosted by the Li Fire Palace and our Mystic Sound Pavilion. The rules prohibit threats through divine sense, malicious bid raising, private collusion... Anyone who disrupts order must first consider whether they can afford to offend our Two Major Sects!"

One moment, she was solemnly introducing the Sects. The next, her sweet and gentle voice carried a smiling threat through the venue.