The artifact-testing area of the appraisal grounds: looking at the testing artifact beneath the black light that had completely lost its spiritual light and clattered to the ground, the treasure appraiser offered a light word of praise and was about to make a final valuation as a reference point for the auction when an order arrived from the central hub.
He paused in surprise, then beamed a smile at the cultivator holding the gourd: "Congratulations, guest. Your artifact has been confirmed and may enter the treasure grounds directly!"
The treasure appraiser was well-experienced in this line of work and his attitude remained fairly mild, but that cultivator simply froze on the spot, utterly dazed by the sudden good news.
More dazed than him was the suspected Black Heaven Cult member who had been waiting and tailing him from the outside. Watching his target emerge with a face full of delight, he was just about to follow when he unexpectedly saw the man make a turn midway and, instead of entering the auction grounds, led by an attendant through a different doorway and away to parts unknown.
Aside from him, no one else witnessed this situation, and even if they had, it would not have aroused suspicion.
Just as everyone was entirely unaware of the exact location of the treasure grounds, no one knew which path led to them either.
Only the Black Heaven Cult member vaguely sensed where the problem lay, yet that doorway was guarded, and without a permit, it was utterly impossible to enter. He tried it once, retreated in sullen frustration, and for a moment had no idea what to do.
By this time Yu Ci had settled down and even began to have the leisure to listen to Zhai Que'er and Gu Zhi trading verbal jabs.