Grand Celebration Tower Bidding

"City Lord, this is how it happened." The steward embellished the account of his meeting with Zhang Yang. "They showed us no respect whatsoever. They even threatened to hold a public... bidding event at Grand Celebration Tower. I suppose they mean to sell openly."

The Anqing City Lord sneered. "Do those Azure Cloud Sect people think this is still the old days? They actually dare disregard me, the City Lord? Since that is the case, we shall show them a little color."

The steward was startled and hurriedly advised against it. "City Lord, would it not be unwise to offend them now?"

The Anqing City Lord smiled faintly. "What is there to fear?

The empire's Flying Dragon Army, made up of cultivators, exists precisely to deal with cultivators like them.

A squad of the Flying Dragon Army is currently stationed here. Dealing with them should not be a problem.

Go and send word to every commerce association and Lineage power in Anqing City: none are permitted to go to Grand Celebration Tower for this... bidding event. Whoever dares defy this order will answer to me.

I want to see who the Azure Cloud Sect will sell their Talismans to.

When the time comes, I will make them come begging at the City Lord's Manor and sell them to me at a bargain!"

The steward's eyes lit up. "The City Lord is wise!"

He hurriedly sent people out to deliver the order.

News of Zhang Yang's intention to sell Talismans had already reached the ears of those with keen senses in Anqing City. When they heard that the Azure Cloud Sect planned to help sell the Talismans, everyone grew extremely excited, for they all realized just how much profit lay within.

Thus, every household sent someone capable of making decisions, all heading for Grand Celebration Tower.

Every one of them had made up their minds to secure this Talisman partnership.

As these people set off, the smaller commerce associations and minor factions in Anqing City finally caught wind of what was happening and also hurried toward Grand Celebration Tower.

In a quiet little courtyard in the south of the city, a middle-aged man in blue hurriedly pushed open the door and entered. "Miss, our chance has come," he said urgently.

"What chance?" A woman with the beauty of Calamity stepped out.

"I just learned that the Azure Cloud Sect intends to sell Talismans in Anqing City. This is our best opportunity. If we want to establish ourselves in Anqing City, we must have something unique, and the Azure Cloud Sect's Talismans are exactly what we need. Besides, the Azure Cloud Sect is far from simple. Cooperating with them will greatly benefit us at present," the man in blue said excitedly.

Calamity nodded slightly, then asked doubtfully, "If this news is true, it is naturally wonderful. But there has been no word of the Azure Cloud Sect operating outside for a very long time. Could this be false information?"

The man in blue smiled. "It cannot possibly be false! The entire Anqing City is heading to Grand Celebration Tower. I heard they are taking part in... bidding?"

"Bidding? Interesting!" Calamity smiled brilliantly. "Then we shall go as well."

She brushed a hand across her face, and her appearance immediately changed, becoming "utterly ordinary."

Then she took her maidservant with her, with the man in blue following behind, and headed for Grand Celebration Tower.

At Grand Celebration Tower, after Zhang Yang brought out Spirit Stones and revealed his identity, the shopkeeper did not dare slight him and directly invited Zhang Yang to the top floor.

The five-story Grand Celebration Tower was not the tallest building in the city, but it was among the very tallest. From the top floor, one could overlook the entire city.

"Immortal Masters, we have excellent Immortal Tea. Would the two of you like a pot?" the shopkeeper asked cautiously as he looked at Zhang Yang and Ling Yunzi. "It only costs one hundred Spirit Stones. Though it is somewhat expensive, that should be nothing to the two of you now. Moreover, Immortal Tea calms the mind and focuses the spirit, making it most beneficial for cultivation."

The moment Ling Yunzi heard that a pot cost one hundred Spirit Stones, he wanted to refuse on the spot.

That had been the Azure Cloud Sect's entire fortune not long ago. How could it be squandered on a single pot of tea?

"Bring it up!" Zhang Yang waved a hand. "If you have any good spirit wine, bring that up as well."

The shopkeeper froze for a moment, then was overjoyed. "We have Hundred-Spirit Wine, said to be brewed from over a hundred kinds of spirit herbs and capable of accelerating the gathering of spiritual energy. A pot of Hundred-Spirit Wine costs five hundred Spirit Stones. Shall I bring a pot for the two Immortal Masters?"

Though the shopkeeper was not a cultivator, he sounded exceedingly knowledgeable whenever spiritual treasures were mentioned.

"Bring two pots!" Zhang Yang gestured.

Ling Yunzi's teeth ached. He rather wanted to slap this spendthrift.

He could not help sending a voice transmission. "Though we have some Spirit Stones now, we must use them sparingly. Have you forgotten that we took in more than eighty people, and we have yet to prepare their cultivation resources?"

"Martial Uncle, we are not indulging ourselves. We are here to discuss business!" Zhang Yang said with righteous solemnity.

Ling Yunzi did not understand such worldly dealings. Why did discussing business require ordering such expensive things?

However, after observing Zhang Yang for the past few days, he had discovered that Zhang Yang handled everything methodically, so he said nothing for the time being.

A moment later, the shopkeeper entered with his old face smiling like a chrysanthemum, carrying two pots of wine and one pot of tea.

"Immortal Masters, your Immortal Tea and spirit wine. Please enjoy them at your leisure."

Zhang Yang gestured for the shopkeeper to withdraw. He picked up the Immortal Tea and poured a cup each for himself and Ling Yunzi. "Martial Uncle, please!"

Ling Yunzi blinked. Weren't they here to discuss business?

Zhang Yang ignored Ling Yunzi. He raised the spirit tea and drained it in one gulp, feeling a burst of comfort spread from his chest throughout his body. The Golden Core in his Spirit Sea actually trembled, undergoing a slight change.

Zhang Yang was overjoyed. That was more like it. This was cultivation!

Was it not wonderful to cultivate into immortality through eating and drinking? Why insist on living on wind and dew, why insist on sitting in meditation until dawn?

Ling Yunzi looked at the mist curling from his teacup, then at Zhang Yang, and drained it in one gulp.

"Martial Uncle, you have worked hard following me all over the place these past days, all to protect me. You have truly suffered." Zhang Yang opened a pot of Hundred-Spirit Wine and began pouring. "This disciple offers Martial Uncle a cup!"

"I am your Martial Uncle. Protecting you is only right."

This time, Ling Yunzi did not hesitate. He raised his cup and drained it.

It was truly delicious!

Without waiting for Zhang Yang to act, he picked up the wine pot himself and poured another cup.

Zhang Yang secretly laughed, raised his cup toward Ling Yunzi, and drained it as well.

The Hundred-Spirit Wine entered his stomach, and he immediately felt surging spiritual power rampaging through his Meridians. He hastily circulated his cultivation technique, guiding the turbulent spiritual power into his Spirit Sea and nourishing the Golden Core.

The spiritual power in a single cup of wine would have taken him at least a month of Qi Refining to obtain on his own.

This money had been well spent!

Just as he filled his second cup, the door opened and a thin old man walked in.

The instant he entered, the old man smelled the rich fragrance of spirit wine and Immortal Tea. He could not help quickening his steps as he introduced himself with a smile. "This old man is Huang Qiao, manager of Grand Fortune Commerce, Anqing City's largest commerce association. I have come in all sincerity to discuss the sale of Talismans with the two Immortal Masters."

Zhang Yang nodded. "Please sit. Wait half an hour. Once the others arrive, we can discuss matters in detail."

Huang Qiao nodded repeatedly and plopped down.

As a manager of a commerce association, it was not as though he had never tasted spirit tea or spirit wine. Yet with his salary, such things were still relatively rare luxuries.

Now that he could drink them for free, why not enjoy them?

Huang Qiao had barely sat down, and before the wine could even be poured, the second person arrived. Almost on his heels came a third...

There was no need to wait half an hour. In the time it took to burn a quarter of an incense stick, decision-makers from seven or eight factions were already seated together.

The decision-makers of the various factions exchanged glances. Their eyes held hostility, though on the surface they all smiled at one another.

"Since nearly everyone has arrived, let us share a cup of Grand Celebration Tower's Hundred-Spirit Wine before we begin discussing the exclusive sale of Talismans." Zhang Yang began pouring the wine.

The wine had only just been poured when hurried footsteps sounded. A young man rushed in and whispered a few words into Huang Qiao's ear.

Huang Qiao's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly rose to his feet. "Everyone, my concubine has given birth at home. I must take my leave!"

Even as he spoke, he hurried outside, looking genuinely desperate.