Three days later, Xiao Yu arrived at the Artifact Refining shop. Sure enough, the middle-aged scholar was there, and he immediately came forward to greet Xiao Yu.
"Greetings, Senior. You're here! Today is the Secret Shop's auction. I can take you there!"
"Mm. Lead the way."
The scholar then led Xiao Yu through one alley after another, twisting and turning until they reached a solitary, dilapidated little house. Its door was tightly shut and bore no markings. It was utterly ordinary, unlikely to attract anyone's attention.
The scholar stepped forward and tapped rhythmically on the wooden door. It opened from within, and a woman of about thirty stepped out.
"Madam Zhang, I've brought you a new customer." Before the woman could speak, the scholar stepped aside to reveal Xiao Yu behind him.
Once Madam Zhang saw that Xiao Yu was a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, the corners of her lips rose, and she said with a faint smile:
"Please come in, Senior!" Although she was only at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, she showed little awe toward Xiao Yu. Clearly, she had seen her share of grand occasions.
"Senior, this is as far as I can take you. I'll take my leave now!" Seeing that Xiao Yu had been accepted, the scholar bid him farewell and left.
Xiao Yu nodded to the scholar, then followed the woman into a general store cluttered with all manner of goods.
Just as he began to wonder what was going on, the woman walked to a corner of the room, reached out, and pressed down on the floor. A large opening immediately appeared, revealing a flight of stairs leading underground.
It turned out to be a mundane mechanical device, without the slightest fluctuation of spiritual power. No wonder he had failed to sense