A maid led him into a private box. Yu Shi's face was ashen, and he was clearly in a foul mood.
After the deaths of his four capable disciples, especially his true disciple Yan Yunkun, his standing within the sect had deteriorated considerably. The sect master had also guessed something of what had happened and imposed a few covert punishments, cutting his stipend substantially and transferring him to an idle elder's post in the valley. His prestige was a shadow of what it had been.
Resentment simmered in his chest. Though he was still far from a breakthrough, he wanted to try to secure a pill first, in preparation for his eventual attempt to reach the innate realm.
His gaze swept around, and he nodded in greeting to two or three acquaintances. His eyes passed over Lin Ziwei and Zhao Feng's box without lingering.
When Yu Shi looked their way, Zhao Feng kept his eyes fixed on the auction floor, but a flicker of wariness stirred within him.
Before long, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe stepped onto the platform on the first-floor auction floor. He had a round face and a genial gaze. Smiling, he first bowed with clasped hands in every direction, then said, "Honored guests, I am Zhou Xing, chief auctioneer of the Hundred Treasures House. Welcome to the Hundred Treasures House's auction in the capital! Today, we will present a range of treasures to meet your needs. Cultivation methods, Treasure Materials, magical artifacts—we have them all, and I am sure you will leave satisfied. Without further ado, let the auction begin!"
As Zhou Xing finished speaking, a maid carried an exquisite wooden box onto the platform. Intricate patterns were carved into its surface. Zhou Xing opened it to reveal a yellowed ancient book. Its cover