An Old Friend, After All

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the courtyard grew heavy. This bid nearly doubled the previous price, soaring well beyond what most of those present were willing to endure. Paying such an exorbitant sum for half of a jade pendant whose purpose remained unknown seemed foolish to most. One by one, they leaned back in their chairs, abandoning the bidding. Beneath his black robe, Wu Kun's palms were drenched in cold sweat. He watched the crowd's reaction with mounting excitement. It seemed this prize would soon be his. *This will certainly please Old Chu!* The auctioneer called out several times, but no one responded. Just as he raised his gavel to finalize the sale, Li Guanqi spoke in a calm, soft voice. "Four thousand." That single bid instantly shattered Wu Kun's hopes! Wu Kun glared fiercely at the black-robed figure across from him, feeling an odd pang of familiarity. Calculating the spirit stones he had left, he gritted his teeth and barked, "Four thousand two hundred!" Li Guanqi countered languidly, "Five thousand." Wu Kun slammed his fist down hard onto the table! *Bang!* "You fucking did that on purpose!" "Do you have any idea who I am?!" Consumed by fury, Wu Kun had never imagined Li Guanqi would cut in so aggressively at this crucial juncture. Yet he felt he had to obtain this jade pendant at all costs, and this price was already pushing the absolute limit of what he could afford. None of the other guests were willing to spend a fortune on an unknown item. Spending a little to satisfy their curiosity was fine, but now... Concealed within his black robe, Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes at Wu Kun and tilted his head slightly. That seemingly casual gesture sent a cold sweat breaking out across Wu Kun's brow. The others present also felt the faint, indistinct pressure rolling off Li Guanqi. Wu Kun was already beginning to regret his reckless outburst. Anyone who could enter this gathering was either a formidable power or someone of immense status. After all, the old woman at the entrance would not admit just anyone. Even he had only gotten in after pleading relentlessly with every connection his clan could muster. Li Guanqi did not utter a word. He sat motionless in his chair, tapping a finger lightly against the armrest. Then he turned his head toward the auctioneer. The old man's expression grew awkward, then quickly chilled into displeasure as he cast an unfriendly glance at Wu Kun. With a cold snort, the old man barked mercilessly, "Black market or not, our rules aren't just for show. If you want it, pay up! If you don't have the coin, get the hell out!" *Boom!* A terrifying pressure erupted from the old man's body as he spoke—a force so immense that even Li Guanqi felt a twinge of shock! *That aura... This old man is definitely not simple!* Wu Kun froze in his seat, his entire body locked rigid and unable to move an inch. As a mere mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, how could he possibly withstand the old man's unbridled aura? Shivering in spirit, he realized he had crossed a forbidden line. The old man swept his gaze around the room and declared in a low, resonant voice, "Since there are no further bids, this jade pendant belongs to this fellow Daoist." With that, he raised his hand and presented the jade pendant to Li Guanqi first. A single touch told Li Guanqi that this was indeed the matching half! Suppressing the surge of excitement in his chest, he tucked the pendant away without revealing a trace of emotion. After paying the sum, he did not leave immediately, wanting to see what else would be offered. However, the subsequent items failed to pique his interest, consisting merely of standard magic treasures and cultivation manuals. He had no use for such manuals; with a sword spirit by his side, every technique he practiced began at the Heaven rank. These Earth-rank and Black-rank manuals were simply beneath his notice. Yet what held no value to him was fiercely coveted by the others. The remaining buyers fought tooth and nail for the techniques. For any clan or sect, such methods could be passed down for generations. Out in the open world, an Earth-rank manual would easily fetch an astronomical price. Most of these manuals had dubious origins, of course, which was why no one dared auction them openly. An hour later, thoroughly bored, Li Guanqi used teleportation to leave the courtyard. Wu Kun witnessed his sudden departure. The moment Li Guanqi vanished, Wu Kun began panting heavily, soaked in cold sweat. He immediately contacted the elders of his clan to come and escort him, terrified that the stranger might lie in wait to ambush him. After all, Wu Kun had spent a vast sum to purchase a magic treasure of his own. Yet Li Guanqi had never spared him a second thought, regarding him as nothing more than a clown. If anyone had caught his interest at all, it was the six-fingered youth who had accompanied him. To Li Guanqi's discerning eye, the boy possessed a steady, potent aura and long, slender fingers. The weapon he wielded was almost certainly not an ordinary blade or sword. When Li Guanqi returned to his room, however, he found an elderly man sitting calmly before the desk. Seeing him enter, the elder rose slowly, a slight smile gracing his face. Li Guanqi had not expected anyone to be inside. Looking at the old man with a flicker of surprise, he kept his black robe drawn tight and asked guardedly, "Who are you?" Though he sensed no malice from the elder, anyone who intruded into his private quarters uninvited could hardly be considered a welcome guest. Chu Xingxian looked at him with keen amusement, wondering what business had prompted the boy to dress up in such attire. With a chuckle, Chu Xingxian said, "You're quite cautious, lad. That's good." He tossed a jade slip toward Li Guanqi and smiled. "This old man is Chu Xingxian, Sect Leader of the Wind Thunder Sect. Lu Kangnian and I are as close as brothers. I came today simply to meet you, and to invite you to visit the Wind Thunder Sect as our guest." Li Guanqi was momentarily taken aback. He had never expected to encounter a close friend of his sect leader here. Still, judging by appearances, the gap in their ages seemed rather vast... Half-doubting, he caught the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense. It truly belonged to Lu Kangnian; the aura within was unmistakable. Moreover, sharp as Li Guanqi's divine sense was, he had failed to detect even a shred of the elder's presence before stepping into the room. The old man's aura was as profound as an abyss. When Li Guanqi probed toward him, his perception vanished like a clay ox plunging into the sea, leaving not a trace behind. It was clear that the disparity in their strength and cultivation realm was vast. If someone of this caliber harbored ill intentions toward him, Li Guanqi would likely have lost his life long before he realized it. Even so, he discreetly sent a message to his master, Li Nanting. Moments later, Li Nanting's voice drifted from the jade slip, laced with distinct surprise. "That old bastard Chu Xingxian sought you out?! Guanqi, let me make one thing clear: no matter what conditions he offers, our Great Xia Sword Sect can match them! Don't you dare go jumping ship! Hey, old bastard, are you listening?! I'm telling you right now, don't even think about poaching my disciple!" Dark lines spread across Li Guanqi's forehead. He had only wanted to confirm whether his master knew about this old man's ties to the sect leader.