News of the Auction
"Fellow Daoist Shen, have you heard? There's an auction on Kaiyang Island recently, supposedly jointly organized by Kaiyang, Yaoguang, and Yuheng Islands. There are many good items, and a large number of cultivators will surely attend. Would you be interested in taking a look?"
The voice transmission came from Fairy Miaoyin of Thousand Sounds Workshop. Shen Ge had met her a few times before when he was selling Law Artifact. They had argued once because of the quality of the Law Artifact, but in the end, they became good friends. Shen Ge had even heard her play the yaoqin.
Ten years have passed since Shen Ge arrived on Yaoguang Island. Besides refining artifacts to earn Spirit Stone, he has been cultivating. Because he often sells Law Artifact, Shen Ge's name has gradually become well-known, and he knows more and more people. So he occasionally attends some gatherings and has become quite well-known within the sphere of influence of Yaoguang Island.
Upon receiving the telepathic message, Shen Ge took out a sea chart and began to look at it. "Kaiyang Island is here, only separated from Tianquan Island by Tianxuan Island, very close. Since I have some free time, I'll go take a look. If I have the chance, I might as well try the mission that woman gave me."
Having made up his mind, Shen Ge immediately replied, "Fairy Miaoyin, if you'd like to give me a ride, it wouldn't be impossible. After all, it's quite dangerous for me to travel to Kaiyang Island alone. What if I encounter some pirates Demon Beast? My life might be in danger."
Soon, the echo came from the other side:
"..."
"Of course I asked you to come along. Our Thousand Sounds Workshop is participating in this auction, and the other two families are also going, so we've assembled a fleet to travel together. Come to the dock tomorrow, and we'll come pick you up by boat."
"Thank you very much."
Just as Shen Ge put down the communication token, another communication came through. "Fellow Daoist Shen, there's an auction on Kaiyang Island, are you interested?"
The person who sent the message was Zhang Lingyu, the head of the Zhang Household family on Sea Billow Island. They had met through some transactions. He was a good person, generous and magnanimous, and not pretentious. Shen Ge had even exchanged some Star Sand with him.
"Go, why not? It's rare for the three islands to jointly hold an auction, and it's not too far away. We'd be losing a fortune if we didn't go," Shen Ge replied.
"Alright, Fellow Daoist Shen, if you don't mind, our Zhang Household's boat is quite large and can pass through. I'll come to the dock to pick you up tomorrow."
These people are so enthusiastic! Shen Ge quickly transmitted his voice, "Brother Zhang, Fellow Daoist Zhang, don't trouble yourself. Fairy Miaoyin just said they'll pick me up tomorrow, and it's on their way, so there's no need for Brother Zhang to make the extra trip."
"The Fairy Miaoyin?"
"Fellow Daoist Shen, I haven't heard of this. How did you two meet? Fairy Miaoyin's beauty and music are both exceptional. Fellow Daoist Shen, you must seize this opportunity."
"What are you thinking? We're just friends, why are you overthinking things? Brother Zhang, Fairy Miaoyin not only plays the Pure Heart Melody on the Yaoqin well, but her Killing Melody is also quite good. Would you like to give it a try?"
"Then let's forget it, there's no need, absolutely no need. Since Fellow Daoist Shen has someone to guide him, I won't make this extra trip. We'll meet again when we reunite."
See you when we meet.
After that, several more messages came through, all asking if he planned to go to Kaiyang Island for the auction. Some were just letting him know in case he didn't know, some had boats available to take him, and others wanted to invite him to join a team.
It took Shen Ge a long time to properly reply to these telepathic messages. She really needed to learn how to handle interpersonal relationships; otherwise, she might offend someone with a single sentence and get stabbed in the back without even realizing it.
The next day.
Shen Ge arrived at the dock early in the morning. Before long, a large ship sailed in from the east, with a large guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) printed on its sail.
"They've arrived."
Shen Ge leaped into the air, transforming into a streak of light as he flew towards the ship.
On a tall watchtower by the sea, a young man watched this scene with a slightly strange expression. "It's rare to see a man board a ship from the Thousand Sounds Workshop Pavilion."
An elderly man with white hair standing nearby said, "It is quite rare, but it's nothing. Although Feng Huan of Thousand Sounds Workshop betrayed us eight hundred years ago and took away most of the male disciples, it doesn't mean that those women hate all men. They just have higher standards."
So, that person is actually not bad?
The old man said, "Golden Core Stage cultivation is quite impressive. You should know that our Yaoguang Immortal Sect only has twenty-one. Thousand Sounds Workshop currently has two Golden Core. Fairy Miaoyin is only at the Early Golden Core Stage, and her master, Fairy Gu Yao, is only at the Late Golden Core Stage."
"However, this person is probably Fairy Miaoyin befriended. After all, given Fairy Gu Yao's personality, she wouldn't even befriend a man; she might even resort to violence if she said the slightest thing wrong."
"Elder Di, I remember Gu Yao doesn't seem to have many years left to live, right?" the young man asked thoughtfully.
"Her time is running out; she probably only has thirty years left. And with her Late Golden Core Stage cultivation, she won't be able to reach the Nascent Soul in thirty years without an extraordinary stroke of fortuitous opportunity."
"Even though I'm already at the Golden Core Peak, I don't have the confidence to break through to the Nascent Soul, let alone her. So, she doesn't have many days left to live."
"Then tell me, what are the chances that Fairy Miaoyin will agree if I go to the Thousand Sounds Workshop to propose marriage?"
"Young Master, you are currently at the Foundation Establishment Peak, and after this auction, you will be able to break through to the Golden Core stage. If you really take a fancy to Fairy Miaoyin, even if the Sect Master proposes marriage, the chances are probably only 20%."
"After all, with Gu Yao dead, Fairy Miaoyin is now the sect leader of Thousand Sounds Workshop Pavilion. They have five hundred disciples; it's unrealistic to expect her to abandon them."
"Unless their Thousand Sounds Workshop produces another Golden Core cultivator, there might only be a 30% chance of a marriage proposal."
"Why only a 10% increase?"
"After all, young master, you're not familiar with Fairy Miaoyin. Why would she want to become your dao companion? If you were capable, you wouldn't have proposed marriage directly. How could she possibly agree to something so coercive? Judging from Fairy Miaoyin's style, she's probably the type who'd rather die than surrender. She probably wouldn't compromise even if it meant her entire family was wiped out. I only added 10% because I was afraid my analysis was wrong."
"Elder Di, that's going too far. What do you mean I'm incapable? I was just born a few decades too late. Give me time, what's the Early Golden Core Stage? The Golden Core Peak stage is a sure thing."
"It's good that you have this confidence, young master. I'll give you an extra 20% then."
"Forget it, it's pointless to talk to you about this. A 50% chance is nothing if the other party says it. It's completely meaningless."
"Then it'll have to be up to you, young master. Fairy Miaoyin is indeed quite remarkable. Whether you can win her over depends on your own abilities. In any case, it's not really my place to offer advice."
The young man's ears twitched, and he raised his hand to signal the old man to be quiet. "Listen, it's the Immortal Ascension Melody. I didn't expect Fairy Miaoyin to treat this person so formally."
The old man listened with his eyes closed, nodding occasionally, completely absorbed in the music. Only after the boat had drifted away and could no longer be heard did he sigh, "The Fairy Miaoyin truly lives up to her title as a master of the zither. Although I've heard this piece several times, each time I immerse myself in its artistic conception, my heart is filled with emotion."