Casting the Bait, Suffering Betrayal

"The Foundation Establishment Pill. The starting bid is six thousand Spirit Stones."

"Seven thousand Spirit Stones."

"Eight thousand Spirit Stones."

"Eleven thousand Spirit Stones." Qin Yi raised the price straight to eleven thousand Spirit Stones, and the room fell silent. A price above ten thousand Spirit Stones was enough to make even Foundation Establishment cultivators think twice. After all, their Spirit Stones didn't come blowing in on the wind.

Only Qin Yi paid the Spirit Stones no mind. Huamei's Storage Bag alone had provided him with sixty thousand Spirit Stones, thirty thousand of which had been the deposit her buyer paid her to kill Li Ze. With his wallet bulging, Qin Yi felt more confident.

The steep price of eleven thousand Spirit Stones was a little too much for even the Foundation Establishment cultivators present. It had already exceeded the value of the Foundation Establishment Pill itself. After weighing it over, they gave up. After all, a pill usually cost seven or eight thousand Spirit Stones, and it was rare for one to go above nine thousand.

"Eleven thousand Spirit Stones, going once."

"Eleven thousand Spirit Stones, going twice."

"Eleven thousand Spirit Stones, going three times."

"Sold."

A satisfied smile appeared on Qin Yi's face. He felt a little lucky. After all, Song Qi had meant for him to find a way to snatch the Foundation Establishment Pill from a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but even Song Qi wouldn't have imagined that Qin Yi would strike it rich overnight and buy the pill at auction.

"Now, for today's final item: Deep-Sea Sunken Silver."

"Deep-Sea Sunken Silver?" The people present were somewhat bewildered. They had never even heard of the stuff. Only one Foundation Establishment cultivator on the second floor began breathing rapidly.

At that moment, a cultivator below the stage stared at the Deep-Sea Sunken Silver and fell into thought. Why does that thing look so much like that broken rock? That can't be right.

"It only takes one sentence to introduce this item: a Golden Core Stage cultivator can use it to forge a Law Treasure." You Yu's deeply alluring voice echoed through the auction hall, and the cultivators present all turned to stone.

"G-Golden Core Stage? A Law Treasure?"

The other two Foundation Establishment cultivators on the second floor grew excited as well. Compared to this thing, the Foundation Establishment Pill was worth shit. Foundation Establishment Pills were relatively common, but Deep-Sea Sunken Silver could only be found by chance, not sought. If they presented it to a Golden Core cultivator, how many Foundation Establishment Pills could they get in exchange?

Qin Yi looked at the excitement in the hall. He had achieved his goal: using the Deep-Sea Sunken Silver to draw the fire. There were three Foundation Establishment cultivators present. If they hunted him down for a single Foundation Establishment Pill, how would he escape?

Now the appearance of the Deep-Sea Sunken Silver had immediately drawn their attention. While they fought over it, Qin Yi could leave with the Foundation Establishment Pill. He would earn a few fewer Spirit Stones, but was he short of Spirit Stones?

"Deep-Sea Sunken Silver, starting at ten thousand Spirit Stones."

Qin Yi took advantage of the Foundation Establishment cultivators' bidding to get up and leave the auction hall. The three Foundation Establishment cultivators on the second floor had no time to pay him any attention now. The Deep-Sea Sunken Silver before them was their target.

After leaving the auction hall, Qin Yi found Jin Peng at the entrance to the Eight Treasures Pavilion. Jin Peng was very surprised to see him. "Senior brother, the auction isn't over yet. Why did you come out early?"

"Never mind that for now. Does the Eight Treasures Pavilion have a back door?" Qin Yi wanted to leave first, in case someone came after him when the auction ended. Although the Deep-Sea Sunken Silver was highly tempting to the three Foundation Establishment cultivators, it was better to be cautious.

"Of course."

"Take me there." Qin Yi then followed Jin Peng down beneath the Eight Treasures Pavilion. After passing through a long tunnel, they emerged at the boundary between Hui Mountain and the Blood-Colored Forest.

Qin Yi stepped out of the tunnel and let out a long breath as he looked at the brightly lit Eight Treasures Pavilion in the distance. He turned to Jin Peng and said, "Thank you. Hurry back."

Jin Peng smiled and walked back into the tunnel. Turning to Qin Yi, he said, "Don't worry, senior brother. I'll keep watch here in case anyone comes after you."

Qin Yi frowned and turned to leave. Suddenly, a talisman appeared beneath his feet. Before he could react, it exploded with a boom, and thick smoke billowed up. Jin Peng walked out of the tunnel with a longsword in hand.

"Qin Yi, that hit must not have felt good," Jin Peng said with a smile.

"Indeed, it felt quite comfortable."

The smoke dispersed, revealing Qin Yi once more. He held Cangyuan in his hand, and the jade pendant on his chest was glowing. His expression was calm as he pointed his spear at Jin Peng from a distance.

Seeing that Qin Yi was completely unharmed, Jin Peng shrugged and smiled disdainfully. "Sure enough, people like you have plenty of treasures."

Qin Yi knew why Jin Peng wanted to kill him. He was simply driven by jealousy and blinded by greed, wanting to murder him and seize his treasures. But what made Jin Peng think he could kill him with the strength he possessed?

Seeing that Qin Yi's expression remained calm, Jin Peng flew into a rage. "Do you know? What I hate most is people like you, always giving others the impression that you're a cut above them."

"Why do you get to enjoy so many Cultivation Resources, while I can only keep taking on tasks and currying favor with people? I spend every day living like a dog, a dog that can only eat by constantly fawning over its master."

"Are you finished?" Qin Yi waited until Jin Peng was done before speaking disdainfully. "If you are, I'll send you on your way."

Seeing Qin Yi treat him with such disdain, Jin Peng was so furious that he laughed instead. He shouted at Qin Yi, "Don't worry. I know I can't beat you, so someone else will kill you for me."

"Elder Li, this is the man who set a trap and killed your demon-hunting team."

An old man emerged from the darkness. He was none other than the Li Household's Foundation Establishment cultivator who had appeared at the Nine Separations Colosseum. Qin Yi's expression darkened slightly, and he frowned deeply as he stared into Jin Peng's eyes.

"I can understand you wanting to kill me, but you dared to betray me."

"You never trusted me in the first place, so how can you call it betrayal?" Jin Peng was delighted to see Qin Yi angry and interrupted him before he could finish speaking.

"I promise you'll suffer the most agonizing torture in the world before you die." An icy voice traveled from Qin Yi's mouth to Jin Peng's ears.

Looking at the undisguised killing intent in Qin Yi's eyes, Jin Peng suddenly felt a trace of fear.