The Auction

Undisguised greed gleamed in Wu De's eyes.

He rubbed his hands. "Fellow Daoist, honestly, I know that hidden passage inside out! It leads straight into the inner reaches of the Mass Grave! Right now, the Li, Lin, and Su lineages are in there tearing into each other like dogs, and the outskirts are a complete mess.

"All we have to do is sneak in and pick up a few scraps that slip through their fingers, and we won't have to worry about Spirit Stones for cultivation for the rest of our lives! I provide the route, you provide the fighting strength. We split it fifty-fifty. How about it?"

Looking at the face before him, with "blinded by greed" written all over it, Lin He sneered inwardly.

Do you really take me for one of those Long Aotian protagonists who can't move an inch the moment they hear "secret realm" or "big haul"?

Having read countless novels in his previous life, Lin He knew this setup all too well: a low-level rogue cultivator discovered a hidden map and dragged the protagonist along on an adventure. Nine times out of ten, it was a trap. Either they used you as cannon fodder to clear the mines, or they stabbed you in the back over an uneven split of the spoils.

Besides, he still had Fairy Su, that "gold-devouring beast," clamoring to be fed at home. Wasn't it better to grow spirit rice safely and earn money drawing talismans? Venture deep into the Mass Grave and fight the three great lineages' ruthless characters for scraps? Was he tired of living?

"Not interested." Lin He's hoarse voice came through the black robe.

Wu De froze.

He clearly hadn't expected the other party to reject such a windfall so decisively. "Wait, no, Fellow Daoist, think it over! We're talking about the inner reaches! Normally, formations protect it, and you can't even get inside. This is a once-in-a-thousand-years-"

Whoosh-

Lin He couldn't be bothered to listen to his nonsense. With a flick of his wrist, the short-handled woodcutting saber that had just hacked into people, its blade still stained with blood, swept right past Wu De's ear.

The rest of Wu De's words lodged in his throat, and his legs involuntarily began shaking again.

Lin He stared fixedly at him from within the black robe, lowering his voice until it carried an oppressive weight. "The waters of the cultivation world run deep. You can't handle them..."

Lin He deliberately paused, lightly tapping Wu De's scrawny shoulder twice with the back of the saber. "Next time, this blade won't just be chopping bandit cultivators. Understand?"

"Yes, yes, yes! This lowly one understands! Take care, Fellow Daoist. I'll get lost right now!" Wu De's face went white with fright. Bowing repeatedly with clasped hands, he turned and scrambled away into the bushes deep in the night.

As they returned to the wild path leading to the market, Su Qiuran, lying on Lin He's back, lightly traced a circle on his back through the thick quilt cover.

It was a signal the two had developed recently, meaning "nicely done."

"Well, wifey? Wasn't I ridiculously handsome when I drew my blade to warn him just now?" Lin He lowered his voice, his tone returning to its usual roguish teasing.

"Stop admiring yourself." Su Qiuran's cool voice came from beside his ear. Though she deliberately kept it low, Lin He still caught a hint of laughter. "I really was afraid those few Spirit Stones would go to your head and you'd agree to go off and die with him in a moment of hotheadedness."

"Are you kidding? Even a dog wouldn't accept a side quest that's obviously a death trap." Lin He curled his lip. "Our top priority right now is to quietly make a fortune. You have that freakish Spirit Root that absorbs a hundred percent of Spiritual Qi, plus heaven-defying talent for drawing talismans. As long as we keep developing steadily, sooner or later we'll trample all these cultivation lineages underfoot. Why go adventuring?"

Su Qiuran said nothing more, but Lin He could feel that her arms around his neck seemed to tighten a little.

Less than half an hour later, the two entered the cultivation market again, clad in that bulky, misshapen black robe.

Far from declining because of the fighting at Green Mountain's Mass Grave, the market exuded a sickly prosperity. Injured and even bloodstained rogue cultivators could be seen everywhere, hurrying between stalls and haggling. The air was filled with the foul mingled odors of blood-staunching herbs and blood.

Knowing the way well, Lin He squeezed into the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

The old shopkeeper was clicking away on his abacus. When he looked up and saw that familiar "black tower," his professional fake smile instantly became somewhat more sincere. However, when his sharp gaze swept over Lin He's chest, his pupils contracted slightly.

There was a conspicuous gash torn by a wind blade in the black robe sewn from quilt covers, with a trace of violent Spiritual Qi fluctuations still lingering along its edges.

The old shopkeeper's heart gave a jolt. This black-robed man is no ordinary fellow! Judging by that tear, he definitely took a solid hit from a Qi Refinement Realm wind blade, yet he walks with the stride of a dragon and a tiger, without even breathing hard. It seems this "reclusive talisman master's" representative isn't just an errand runner, but a formidable body cultivator too.

"Oh, Fellow Daoist, you've certainly kept this old man waiting!" The old shopkeeper hurried out to greet him, smiling so broadly his eyes nearly disappeared.

Lin He didn't respond. Maintaining his hoarse, fierce voice, he walked up to the counter and flicked his wrist.

Smack!

Three Fireball Talismans, along with one elementary Light Body Talisman, landed neatly on the counter.

The old shopkeeper immediately took out a glass monocle and leaned in to examine them closely. A moment later, he sucked in a sharp breath and looked up at Lin He, his eyes fervent. "Top quality! Every one of them! Especially this Light Body Talisman. Its spiritual resonance is contained within, and the cinnabar brushwork is simply divine! That person behind you... ahem, that master truly is a prodigy of the talisman Dao!"

Lin He laughed inwardly. Some reclusive master. She's yawning on my back right now.

"Name your price." Lin He spared his words as though they were gold.

"The current rate for Fireball Talismans is two Spirit Stones each. As for this Light Body Talisman, means of escape are in the greatest demand amid this chaos. I'll take it upon myself to offer three Spirit Stones! Nine low-grade Spirit Stones in total. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?" The old shopkeeper was very straightforward, even voluntarily offering a small premium.

Lin He felt a sharp sensation on his back as Su Qiuran jabbed him firmly with a finger.

Deal.

"No need to pay in Spirit Stones," Lin He said roughly. "Last time, you said you'd buy unlimited quantities of Spirit-Clearing Detoxification Talismans and Vajra Protection Talismans. Bring me a talisman book with instructions for drawing both, plus two stacks of good talisman paper and a jar of mid-grade cinnabar. Refund the difference or I'll make it up."

The old shopkeeper's eyes brightened further at that. The other party was planning to supply him in bulk!

He quickly turned and brought out a sandalwood box from a concealed compartment at the very top of the counter, opening it with great care.

"Please take a look, Fellow Daoist. This is the True Explanation of Elementary Talismans. It contains not only the detoxification and protection talismans, but also three other practical talismans. As for materials, I'll get you the finest green vine talisman paper and hundred-year cinnabar. Together, these have a market price of thirty-five Spirit Stones. After deducting your nine from just now, you'll need to pay another twenty-six."

Lin He's heart ached. The Spirit Stones he had just looted from the bandit cultivators, plus the money from selling talismans, hadn't even warmed in his hands, and he already had to cough up more than half. Cultivation really was a damn money-burning business.

His movements, however, were utterly decisive. He took the little cloth bag containing his spoils from inside his robe, counted out twenty-six Spirit Stones, and pushed them over. With that, his savings fell back to eighty-seven.

With the transaction complete, Lin He carefully tucked the talisman book and materials inside his robe, then turned to leave.

"Please wait, Fellow Daoist!" The old shopkeeper suddenly lowered his voice, took a stiff card with black-and-gold edging from his sleeve, and offered it with both hands.

Lin He stopped but didn't take it. "What's this supposed to mean?"

"Please don't take offense, Fellow Daoist." Wearing an ingratiating smile, the old shopkeeper explained quietly, "Things have been getting fierce over at Green Mountain lately. Quite a few rogue cultivators, and even people from the great lineages, have some 'hot goods' on their hands that can't see the light of day. Our market and several seniors are organizing a black-market auction at the underground money house south of town in three days."

The old shopkeeper gave Lin He a meaningful wink. "There'll be plenty of good things. Immortals' relics, high-grade Law Artifacts, all sorts of rare spiritual materials. From what I can see, Fellow Daoist, you have exceptional skills and an expert backing you. You shouldn't miss an event like this. Consider this invitation a first-meeting gift from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Let's be friends."

Lin He stared at the black-and-gold invitation, thoughts racing through his mind.

An auction?

Although they weren't short of Spirit Stones for the moment, now that Su Qiuran had broken through to the second level of Qi Refinement, the resources they needed would surely increase exponentially. Relying solely on drawing basic talismans would lead to a bottleneck sooner or later. Visiting the auction to broaden their horizons and learn the prices in the cultivation world's higher-end circles might even turn up something useful to Su Qiuran. Most importantly, Lin He now had a little confidence in his blade-and-spear-proof body. As long as he didn't provoke any Foundation Establishment Realm big shots, he should have no trouble protecting himself.

Maybe I can snag a bargain or something, Lin He muttered inwardly.

Just then, the familiar sensation came from his back again.

Su Qiuran poked him lightly twice.

It meant: take it.

The two were surprisingly in sync on this point. Lying low was all well and good, but they absolutely couldn't pass up a proper trading channel that could broaden their horizons and might even let them make a windfall.

Lin He reached out with his large hand and snatched away the black-and-gold invitation, coldly tossing out a remark. "Thoughtful of you."

Watching Lin He stride away, the old shopkeeper stroked his goatee, his smile growing ever brighter. "A chance to befriend a high-level body cultivator and a talisman master. This was the right move!"