Meng Jiangchu stood beside him and said with a chuckle, "I should probably invite Old Brother Gu up. It's hardly proper for him to sit down there."
Gu Li shrugged and grinned. "Whatever you say, Uncle Meng."
Meng Jiangchu summoned the maidservant. She nodded in assent, her pretty eyes casually brushing past Gu Li.
Li Guanqi couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "Brother Gu is quite generous with his love."
Gu Li rubbed his nose in slight embarrassment, yet replied smoothly, "The pot shouldn't call the kettle black. I hear you're quite fond of tempering your heart in the mortal realm yourself, Brother Li."
The corner of Li Guanqi's mouth twitched. Just how much had Li Congxin blabbed to this guy?
Seeing his reaction, Gu Li burst out laughing and sent a secret voice transmission: "One of these days I'll take you somewhere great, Brother Li. My sworn brother truly lives up to his nickname—he's far too timid. Once we got there, all he did was drink and refused to get down to business. I wonder if he takes after his primary body."
Li Guanqi chose not to reply at all. Sitting down, he took a sip of the spiritual tea.
The moment the tea slipped down his throat, it dissolved into pure power circulating through his body. Its mind-calming and spirit-focusing effects were not inferior in the slightest to what he had once pilfered from Gu Yong.
The auction house had also thoughtfully prepared a separate jade casket of tea leaves and set it to the side.
Still drawing talisman seals, Gu Li said, "Take it, Brother Li! It's a waste to leave it. In a bit, I'll have them prepare another box so I can take one too."
Li Guanqi didn't put on airs either; with a flip of his hand, he stowed the jade box away.
Before long, the light screen rippled, and Gu Li's father, Gu Changsheng, walked in.
Li Guanqi rose slowly. The man glanced around, looked at Meng Jiangchu, and laughed heartily.
"Brother Meng, I trust you've been well! I was wondering where my little rascal had run off to—taking so long just to register his identity."
A smile tugged at the corner of Meng Jiangchu's mouth. The two shared a firm embrace, and with a trace of excitement in his eyes, Meng Jiangchu said, "It truly has been quite a while. Do the array plates and dharma artifacts I crafted for the old master last time need replacing?"
Gu Changsheng had an aura that felt remarkably reserved and unpretentious.
Patting Meng Jiangchu on the shoulder, he chuckled. "They still work fine. It's far too early to replace them. By the way, is this your son-in-law?"
The man turned his gaze to Li Guanqi, sizing him up before saying with a laugh, "Quite an impressive young man. Far better than mine."
Li Guanqi promptly bowed in greeting. "Junior Li Guanqi greets Senior Gu."
Straightening up, he glanced at the impatient-looking Gu Li beside them and smiled. "Brother Gu is exceptional as well. In my eyes, he is second to none."
Gu Li's eyes lit up, and he chuckled foolishly. "Dad, did you hear that? Your son isn't bad at all!"
Gu Changsheng gave Li Guanqi a deep, searching look. He had heard plenty of rumors regarding Li Guanqi.
He had even purchased a shadow-casting stone recording that final battle.
It had to be said that while Gu Changsheng considered himself quite strong, if he had encountered Lu Wuhen back when he was in the Void Refining Realm, his only fate would likely have been to perish with bitter regret.
The sight of Li Guanqi enduring two people's heavenly tribulations to temper his body just so he could slay his opponent had shaken him to the core.
The reason Gu Changsheng had paid attention to Li Guanqi in the first place was that Gu Li had mentioned swearing brotherhood with Li Guanqi's Void Spirit, Li Congxin. Finding the matter utterly absurd, he had decided to keep an eye on him.
The group took their seats. Meng Jiangchu smiled and said, "This auction is certainly grand. Powerful figures from nearly half the Coast of the Eastern Sea have come."
Gu Changsheng took a sip of tea, frowned, poured out the spiritual tea, and took out some of his own tea leaves.
"After all, Qin Imperial City hasn't held an auction in a long time. Furthermore, the relationship between the Six Domains and the Ancient Clan has seen some shifts recently, which naturally drew quite a crowd."
Meng Jiangchu nodded quietly. That was indeed the case; if the Ancient Clan had continued to remain in seclusion, there would never be so many people here.
While the elders chatted, Gu Li finally couldn't hold back any longer.
He leaned close to Li Guanqi and whispered conspiratorially, "Brother... Brother Li... do you really have a true dragon?"
Li Guanqi's eyelid twitched. It was just as he had suspected.
He glanced at Gu Li without denying it, saying frankly, "I do. But you'd better drop any ideas you have about it right now, or watch me beat you to a pulp."
Fearing Gu Li might think he was joking, Li Guanqi added, "I mean it."
Gu Li pouted in frustration and muttered under his breath, "Not even a tiny bit of essence blood? Just a little drop... I know a Blood Dragon Curse Talisman, and sub-dragon blood is a pile of dogshit compared to the real thing."
Li Guanqi considered for a moment, then reached out and offered a palm-sized dragon scale, asking softly, "Can you use this?"
Gu Li's eyes widened when he saw the dragon scale. Tossing his brush aside, he cradled the scale in both hands and examined it closely.
"As expected of a true dragon's scale—truly flawless... A pity the grade is slightly low."
Li Guanqi knew the grade wasn't particularly high either; this was a scale Jiuxiao had shed upon breaking through to become a rank-six great demon.
"If you can use it, you can have the whole thing. But I want half of the talismans you craft."
Gu Li waved his hand grandly. "No problem! Whatever kind of talisman you want, I can draw it—and I'm not bragging. When it comes solely to crafting talismans, even that 'Judge's Brush' Ji Yuchuan from your Guanyun Pavilion is no match for me."
Meng Jiangchu chimed in at this point, "Gu Li possesses talent in the dao of talismans that ordinary people can never hope to rival."
Saying that, Meng Jiangchu added offhandedly, "Ah, I wonder if anyone will gift me a few scales the next time Jiuxiao molts."
Li Guanqi chuckled inwardly. Just as he was about to speak, Gu Changsheng coughed and said, "Ahem, I would like some as well. Of course... I certainly will not let our young friend suffer a loss."
Gu Li immediately grew frantic. "Dad! Why do you want some too? I haven't even asked for more yet!"
Gu Changsheng answered naturally, "The clan has two pill formulas that require true dragon scales as ingredients, but we've always lacked the materials. Now that the opportunity is here, of course I have to ask our young friend for some."
Li Guanqi smiled and nodded in agreement. "Father-in-law, Senior Gu, I promise to set some aside for you the next time Jiuxiao sheds his scales. However..."
He looked toward Gu Li.
"Don't even think about dragon blood. Jiuxiao is exceedingly weak right now. If there's anything at this auction that can replenish a demon beast's essence blood, I plan to buy some as well."
Gu Li waved his hand dismissively. "I'll buy it for you! Don't worry about the cost—as long as it's useful, I'll buy it for you."
*Clang!*
A mysterious chime of a bell rang out, followed by a woman's cool, melodious voice drifting through the room.
"Good evening, distinguished guests. I am tonight's auctioneer, Ru Meng."
Her voice arrived before she was seen.
Immediately after, a silvery-white fissure spanning the auction stage slowly parted.
A woman clad in a red gown stepped out from within, ducking slightly.
Her eyes were like deep lake waters, rippling with enchanting waves, gleaming with charm and alluring grace.
Her nose was straight and exquisitely sculpted like jade, lending her profile a striking, dimensional beauty.
Her lips curled up faintly with an enigmatic smile, sensual and captivating.
Her hair fell over her shoulders like a waterfall, brushing gently against her pale skin, silky and smooth.
Ru Meng's figure was voluptuous yet gracefully curved.
The neckline of her gown dipped low, revealing her fair collarbones.
A black sash was tied at her waist, accentuating its slender silhouette.
The hem of her gown trailed along the floor like a blooming blossom, bringing out her nobility and elegance.
Li Guanqi's eyes flickered with surprise, and he murmured in admiration, "Middle Void Refining Realm, born with bones of allure... Ru Meng indeed."
Chapter 830