Yunding Auction House

Ye Feng returned to the other two, looking refreshed and thoroughly satisfied. "Heh, Boss is open-minded after all." "I thought you wouldn't let me do anything." Li Guanqi shrugged and said softly, "People like that are just begging for a beating." "Still, doesn't he belong to some Yundan Pavilion?" "And he looks like a troublesome guy to deal with." Beside them, Cao Yan rubbed his nose upon hearing this, a bright smile spreading across his face. "If he's troublesome, just make sure he doesn't get the chance to cause any trouble." Ye Feng blinked, giving Cao Yan a deep look before muttering, "Old Third isn't any kind of saint either. Boss, I think we ought to keep an eye on Big Head. Between the lines, I always get the feeling this kid has a rebellious streak in his bones." Li Guanqi smiled faintly. Knowing Ye Feng was just joking around, he did not say much. As for Cao Yan, Li Guanqi actually felt that beneath his gentle and refined demeanor lay someone even more fond of battle. Otherwise, he never would have taken up a fierce, close-quarters boxing style. In the cultivation world, sword and blade cultivators made up ninety percent of practitioners, with the rest split among everything else. Though there was a touch of exaggeration in the saying, it was undeniably close to the truth. Li Guanqi said softly, "No need to take it to heart. We're only here to check out the auction house and won't have any dealings with that fellow anyway. There's no reason to let him ruin our mood." As the three chatted, they arrived at the grand hall of Yunding Auction House. The moment they stepped inside, they were struck by the sheer magnificence before them. The floor beneath their feet was entirely paved with tiles carved from low-grade spirit stones, each slab etched with exquisite patterns. The massive chandeliers above were encrusted with jewels of every color, casting a gentle, shimmering glow. Cultivators came and went in endless streams, and numerous counters bustled with activity. Just as the three walked in, an exceptionally attractive woman with a striking figure came forward to greet them. Her red-and-blue dress accentuated her supple curves to perfection. She had an oval face, a high nose bridge, and a pair of peach-blossom eyes that seemed naturally inclined to smile. Her bright eyes and pearly teeth were a delight to look upon, and an immaculate smile curved her lips as she approached gracefully, unbothered by their appraising gazes. Bowing to the three, the woman spoke in a voice as sweet and melodious as a mountain spring. "This humble one is Yao Hua. Might this be your first time visiting, esteemed guests?" Li Guanqi nodded slightly and replied softly, "It is our first time. We just wanted to browse around and see if there's anything we need." With an easy, natural expression, the woman led them deeper inside, introducing the auction house as they walked. It was straightforward enough: aside from particularly precious auction items, the establishment also handled regular trades. Yunding Auction House held an auction every day, but whenever something exceedingly rare surfaced, they would announce it half a month in advance. As luck would have it, a grand auction was scheduled to take place in two hours. Before long, Yao Hua brought the three into an elegantly furnished private room. After they took their seats, she knelt on the floor to brew tea for them. The leaves were no ordinary blend, but spiritual tea infused with the essence of heaven and earth, offering a mellow flavor that soothed fatigue. Listening to Yao Hua's introduction, the three picked up their teacups and took a sip. The woman rose gracefully and inquired softly, "Would it be convenient to ask what items you are looking for, esteemed guests? Yao Hua can look into it on your behalf. If not, I can leave behind a catalog of today's auction lots. Once you have browsed it, you may call for me." Li Guanqi pondered for a moment, set down his cup, and said, "Leave a catalog with us, then." Smiling faintly, the woman reached into her bosom, produced a milky-white jade slip, and handed it over. Ye Feng's body stiffened slightly as he took the jade slip. Then, feigning composure, he passed it to Cao Yan. Cao Yan took it without understanding, paused slightly in surprise, and cleared his throat before passing it to Li Guanqi. *Tap, tap, tap.* By then, Yao Hua had already turned and was slowly exiting the room with alluring, measured steps. The moment she was gone, Ye Feng whispered, "Warm! It's still warm! Right, Big Head?!" Feeling a bit embarrassed, Cao Yan gave a slight nod, confirming he had felt it too. Both of them turned to look at Li Guanqi, making him feel a bit awkward as well. "Ahem... yeah, I know." "Still, you two should be careful when we're out and about." "None of the women in a place like this are simple. Take her, for instance—she must have practiced some kind of charm technique. But she balanced it just right, making you feel she's attractive without ever crossing the line." Both men felt a chill in their hearts upon hearing this. They hadn't noticed it before, but with Li Guanqi pointing it out, a brief moment of thought made it glaringly obvious. Ye Feng marveled, "No wonder I felt something was off the moment I laid eyes on her." "So that was it..." Li Guanqi smiled faintly and sent a strand of divine sense into the jade slip. Instantly, the complete catalog of items slated for the upcoming auction appeared in his mind. When he saw the lots listed within, he was momentarily taken aback—he actually saw an alchemy furnace. The furnace was azure all over, merely three feet in size, with two handles and three legs, its surface carved with many delicate patterns. Looking closer, he discovered that its grade was actually that of a top-grade spirit tool! As for the starting bid, it was one hundred mid-grade spirit stones! He glanced at Cao Yan and began tallying the spirit stones in his possession. What he had gathered from looting after the consecutive battles, after deducting all expenses, left him with nearly two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. If he sold off the other miscellaneous items seized from Changfeng Villa and the Dark Blood Alliance to the auction house, he could probably scrape together another fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones. Converted into mid-grade spirit stones, that was only two thousand five hundred. Furthermore, this furnace was listed among the final featured lots. He had not spotted any Longevity Pills in the catalog. Yet on second thought, it made sense; a Longevity Pill could extend a Core Formation cultivator's lifespan by a century, making it extraordinarily precious. Li Guanqi pondered for a moment and quietly resolved to buy a furnace for Cao Yan. Only then could any heavenly treasures or rare spiritual plants they found in the future be put to their greatest use. He did not want to see Cao Yan's talents go to waste, but he did have a thought he wanted to discuss with him. Setting down the jade slip, Li Guanqi spoke softly. "Old Third, let's have a chat." Cao Yan straightened his posture, his expression turning serious. "Go ahead, Eldest Brother." Li Guanqi paused briefly before saying, "I know you're exceptionally talented, but I think you should direct more of your focus toward your own cultivation." "Whether it's alchemy or talisman crafting, they are merely tools and means to earn money to sustain cultivation." "In fact, I feel you could even drop talisman crafting entirely and just concoct some pills now and then to supplement our own training." Cao Yan felt a violent jolt in his chest. He looked deeply at Li Guanqi, and only after a long pause did he nod heavily. Beside them, Ye Feng found no fault with Li Guanqi's words either; a person's energy was limited, and one could not possibly excel at everything. Li Guanqi smiled. "In any case, you can think it over. After all... there must be things in your heart that you feel you have to do. You can weigh the priorities yourself." Cao Yan smiled and nodded, then summoned Yao Hua to guide the three of them to the auction floor. Prior to that, the woman had asked to inspect the amount of spirit stones they carried, which served as their entry qualification. Along the way, the woman did not mention a single word about their earlier clash with Wang Heyang, but Li Guanqi understood well enough: the reason they were being personally received by her was likely due to their performance back then. Under her guidance, the three soon arrived at the auction floor, where they were assigned seats on the second floor near the stage. The number was an auspicious one: 188. Meanwhile, in a private box on the third floor, an ashen-faced Wang Heyang stared down at the jade slip in his hand bearing the number 250, so utterly enraged that he smashed several furnishings to pieces.