Timing

A few days later.

The Desolate Region, Stone Kingdom Imperial Capital.

Lin Fan strolled along the bustling streets, gazing at the dazzling array of shops. He touched something here, bought something there, and hummed a tune, in an excellent mood.

"How many years have I walked alone...

A dream, gone in a flick of the fingers...

Who can understand these triumphs and defeats..."

His singing carried a carefree sense of freedom that made people want to hum along, drawing countless gazes from the street.

"Hey, why did we have to come all the way to the Desolate Region to train? Couldn't we have gone somewhere else?" Yue Chan asked. Even now, she was still bewildered, unable to work out what he was plotting.

Especially since he had done nothing but shop and sightsee after arriving in the Desolate Region, like a little brat who had not seen the world in ages.

"Wifey, you'd better enjoy life while you can. You won't have the chance later." Lin Fan gave a sly smile without explaining and headed toward the auction house, where news flowed most freely.

"What do you mean, I won't have the chance? What are you planning?" Yue Chan could not help shivering, a chill creeping down her back. She always felt that following him would lead to no good.

Besides, his skin was astonishingly thick. They had not even become Dao partners, yet he was already calling her "wifey." What a shameless rascal.

Before long, they arrived beneath a grand, towering building called the Bone Gu Auction House. It was the most renowned auction house in the Stone Kingdom, housing countless treasures and a wealth of rarities.

Of course, to people like Lin Fan and Yue Chan, who came from major powers, this place seemed utterly unremarkable.

They had not come to bid on anything, however. They were here to gather information and purchase a detailed map of the Great Wilderness, preparing for the training ahead.

"Oh? Whose child is this? So pretty..."

A girl of thirteen or fourteen stepped down from a bronze carriage. Dressed lavishly, she had an extraordinary bearing and was lively and adorable, like a little hot pepper.

She had a slender waist, long legs, waist-length black hair, an oval face, and skin as white as snow. Her large eyes sparkled like stars, and a group of powerful experts accompanied her.

Lin Fan glanced sideways but paid her little attention, entering the auction house with Yue Chan.

"What's with him? So cold at such a young age? He won't even acknowledge a princess like me." The girl pouted, feeling rather unhappy.

Her words revealed that her identity was anything but ordinary. Since she dared to call herself a princess, she was presumably the princess of a kingdom.

Indeed, that was precisely the case. Her arrival immediately caused a stir.

"The Ninth Princess is here!"

Everyone craned their necks. This princess was deeply cherished by the Stone Kingdom's Human Emperor, and her wild, unrestrained personality had made her quite famous throughout the imperial capital.

Afterward, more groups arrived one after another, all with extraordinary standing in the Stone Kingdom or even the Desolate Region.

Among them were older-generation experts such as kings and marquises who had come in person, their auras terrifying. Some even arrived together, apparently attaching great importance to this auction.

There were also several boys and girls who entered the auction house in succession. They seemed to be young talents from the Stone Kingdom, here to bid.

As for Lin Fan, he had simply chosen a top-tier private room and sat inside drinking wine, with two beautiful young maids attending him.

"Are you here to have fun or to train? If it's the former, I won't be keeping you company!" Yue Chan said coldly. Displeasure covered her fair, lovely face as she rolled her eyes at him.

"What's the rush? Or are you jealous, wifey?" Lin Fan raised an eyebrow. A single glance was all it took for the maid beside him to pour another cup of fine wine. He was perfectly relaxed and at ease.

After all, in Uncle Liu's words, "I've fought for so long. Can't I enjoy myself a little?"

"Stop calling me that. I'm not your wife yet." Yue Chan ground her teeth. She had no fondness whatsoever for that form of address.

If she could have beaten him, she would have dearly loved to crush him into submission. He was simply too tormenting, chattering in her ear nonstop for days.

It was "wifey" one moment and "darling" the next, leaving goosebumps all over her.

He was only nine, yet he knew more than some adults, constantly saying things that made her blush to the tips of her ears. He was a little lecher through and through, fouling her eyes and ears.

"Uh..."

Even the two beautiful young maids attending them froze. They had never imagined the pair had that kind of relationship. Or were young boys these days all so precocious and adventurous?

Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the auction hall, drawing everyone's attention.

"Look! Shi Ziteng is here-the father of that boy born with double pupils from the Martial King Manor!"

"I hear there's more to it. That Shi Yi is also a born supreme..."

A crowd discussed the young man entering through the doorway. He looked extraordinary and otherworldly, his fair skin gleaming like jade. His features were handsome, and he appeared quite refined.

"Double pupils and a born supreme-a twofold First Generation?!" Yue Chan was startled. Naturally, the surrounding discussions had reached her ears.

"Holy Maiden, young master, this boy Shi Yi has exceptional talent. He is well worth recruiting into our Heaven Mending Sect."

An aged voice rang out. It belonged to one of the guardians accompanying Yue Chan and Lin Fan on this journey-an old man and an old woman, both at the peak of the Venerable Realm.

"Once Shi Yi matures, he will surely become an overlord of the Desolate Region. He would greatly benefit the Heaven Mending Sect. We absolutely cannot let another power get to him first, or else..." Toward the end, the old woman's voice turned somewhat chilling.

Clearly, both guardians from the Heaven Mending Sect attached great importance to Shi Yi and held high hopes for his future. Neither could remain calm.

Although Shi Yi was still young, only seven or eight, word had it that he had already set several records in the starting grounds of the Void God Realm. He had the makings of a sage.

As more people shared what they knew, the old woman could no longer sit still. Her tone grew urgent; she wanted to recruit the double-pupiled boy into the Heaven Mending Sect immediately-and eliminate him if she could not.

"Holy Maiden, young master, what do you think?" the old woman asked.

Yue Chan had some thoughts, but she remained silent and turned to Lin Fan instead, wanting to hear his opinion.

"No need. He only has double pupils, and his character isn't particularly good. That Supreme Bone of his wasn't obtained legitimately, either..." Lin Fan shook his head, giving the matter little thought.

Who wasn't a First Generation these days? There were heaps of them throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, but only a handful truly reached their potential. What mattered was the individual.

"His Supreme Bone wasn't something he was born with?" Yue Chan caught the implication.

Lin Fan nodded and casually explained, "That bone came from his younger cousin. Someone who forcibly steals another person's bone might betray the sect one day if we recruited him. He isn't worth it."

"So that's it. Stealing someone else's bone and grafting it into his own body-how vicious." Yue Chan immediately lost interest.

Still, she was curious about how Lin Fan knew. Wasn't this his first time coming to the lower realm?

"In that case, we cannot let him live," the old woman spoke again, a trace of killing intent in her voice.

Lin Fan was speechless. Granny Xihua was far too bloodthirsty. Although she was considering the Heaven Mending Sect's interests, she could easily set herself ablaze while playing with fire.

At that moment, the other guardian advised, "Xihua, don't be rash. The Holy Maiden's and young master's safety comes first. This is the Stone Kingdom Imperial Capital. Its foundations are not simple."

"Elder Yu is right. There's no need to bother with Shi Yi. Every villain has another villain to grind him down. Someone will deal with him," Lin Fan said indifferently.

His only concern was the Supreme Hall's inheritance. Everything else was unimportant.

Judging by Shi Yi's age, Milk Baby was around three or four now. In other words, this was precisely when the Mountain Treasure would emerge. The timing was just about right!