Qin Sang put on a mask.
It looked as though it had been carved from a piece of old tree bark, and the craftsmanship was so crude it was painful to look at. Yet, it was a medium-grade magic tool whose sole function was to block gazes and spiritual sense; the moment anyone peered at him, Qin Sang would immediately detect it.
Looking at the people gathered before the grand building, most were dressed similarly to Qin Sang—either wearing cloaks or masks, or simply wrapped in heavy robes, cloaking themselves from head to toe.
Even those swaggering about with bare faces could not be trusted; in the cultivation world, magic tools and spells for shape-shifting and altering appearances were plentiful.
After all, Yinshan Pass only guaranteed absolute safety on Stone Island.
Once his mask was in place, Qin Sang spotted an opening and walked toward the entrance with his head slightly lowered.
Several Qi Refinement stage cultivators stood at the entrance. Despite only being in the Qi Refinement stage, none of the auction attendees dared treat them with the slightest disrespect, for their Daoist robes were embroidered with a miniature image of Yinshan Pass—a symbol marking them as disciples under the command of the Yinshan Pass City Lord.
They were checking tokens, and anyone without one was barred from entering.
Qin Sang's token had been given to him by Manager Pu, so he had never looked into how to qualify, though he assumed it would not be too difficult for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Handing his token to the guard, Qin Sang received permission to pass. Just as he was about to step inside, a figure caught the corner of his eye, causing him to pause slightly, a flicker of surprise passing over his face beneath the mask.
"Little brother, take a look for me—this token is genuine, right?"
A burly cultivator, a full head taller than Qin Sang, held a token and was asking the gatekeeping disciple with a hint of urgency in his voice.
The token looked like a toy in his massive hand.
He wore a cloak-like magic tool over his head, with faint wisps of black mist swirling around his crown. Combined with his imposing stature, he blocked the radiance of the night pearls set into the grand building, casting Qin Sang entirely in his shadow.
Judging by the voice, he was a male cultivator.
Looking at that build, surely no woman could be built like that anyway?
Qin Sang reached out to take back his token, discreetly sizing up the burly man out of the corner of his eye.
The man made no attempt to conceal his aura, making it easy to tell he was at the early Foundation Establishment stage, though of course, one could not rule out him feigning weakness.
A build as massive as a bear was rare among cultivators; fortunately, his Daoist robe appeared able to adjust its size freely, or it would have burst at the seams.
For some reason, upon seeing this man, Qin Sang felt a vague sense of familiarity and could not help but wonder why.
Qin Sang had met no small number of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Casting his mind back, he could not recall anyone like this, leaving him at a loss as to where this strange familiarity stemmed from.
"Senior, your token is genuine. Please enter!"
Having inspected the token, the gatekeeping disciple respectfully invited the burly man inside.
The burly man seemed to let out a sigh of relief, thanking him repeatedly before hurrying inside.
Qin Sang walked in at an unhurried pace. Unable to recall where he might have seen the man, he chose not to dwell on it.
It was possible the man's physique had been altered through illusion, or he was simply a stranger who happened to share some trait with someone Qin Sang had met before.
Whatever the case, in a place like this, it was best not to pry rashly, lest one be suspected of ill intent.
Entering the hall, there were no walls or passageways ahead, only a curtain of darkness. Qin Sang sent out his spiritual sense to probe it, only to find nothingness within; as soon as anyone stepped into the gloom, they seemed to vanish completely.
Without breaking stride, Qin Sang entered as well. After just a few paces in the darkness, his vision blurred, and he found himself standing before a seat in an auditorium.
The hall was square, yet it too had no surrounding walls, wrapped in the same enveloping darkness.
Directly ahead of the seating area was a raised platform. No one stood atop it yet, save for ten maidens clad in Yinshan Pass attire standing with their hands folded at their sides along the platform's flanks.
The moment Qin Sang appeared, a maiden's voice transmitted directly into his ear: "Senior, please be seated. The auction will begin shortly. Allow this servant to explain the rules of the auction..."
Qin Sang already knew the auction rules, but he did not stop her. Listening to her voice, as crisp and pleasant as an oriole's song, he surveyed his surroundings.
By now, quite a few people were seated in the hall, yet it was exceptionally quiet as everyone waited patiently for the auction to commence.
Qin Sang soon spotted the burly man in a corner.
The man was hunched motionless in his seat, his fists clenched tightly with blue veins bulging on the back of his hands. For some reason, he appeared restless and uneasy.
That sense of familiarity had been vague and sudden from the start; Qin Sang still could not discern where it came from, and figured it had likely been an illusion.
Frowning slightly, Qin Sang shifted his gaze away.
Just then, a flash of black light gleamed before Qin Sang's eyes, and another cultivator landed right beside him.
Startled by the sudden sight of Qin Sang so close by, the newcomer instantly assumed a defensive stance. Only after taking in the hall's layout did he apologetically transmit his voice: "Forgive my brashness, Fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang nodded and looked away, settling into his seat to rest with his eyes closed.
Afterward, more and more people entered the hall.
Halfway past the hour of Hai.
The seats in the hall were seventy to eighty percent full, and fewer and fewer people were arriving. After another brief wait, ripples suddenly stirred in the darkness behind the raised platform.
The cultivators in the hall perked up, straightening in unison. A file of cultivators dressed as Yinshan Pass garrison guards marched out, splitting to both flanks to secure the four corners of the hall on high alert.
Finally, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in brocade robes, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, stepped into view.
Walking steadily onto the platform, he paused briefly, cupped his fists in salute, and announced in a resonant voice, "I am Gao Yi, humble Commander of the Yinshan Pass Guards. I shall be presiding over this auction. Should there be any shortcomings, I ask all Fellow Daoists for your forbearance!"
As soon as Gao Yi's voice fell, a flurry of complimentary remarks echoed through the hall.
Qin Sang observed Gao Yi covertly. He had learned this man's identity from Manager Pu: the foremost Grand Commander of Yinshan Pass, whose cultivation was on par with Senior Brother Qi Yuanshou—a False Core stage expert!
He was widely renowned and ruthless, having slaughtered countless cultivators.
Some privately held him to be the number one figure below the Core Formation stage throughout the Lesser Cold Domain.
Since the participants at this auction were all Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement cultivators, there was no need for a Golden Core expert to oversee it; Gao Yi alone was more than enough to maintain order, and no one would dare act out of line.
"All Fellow Daoists are already well aware of the auction rules, so I shall not repeat them at length. However, there is one reminder I must give..."
Gao Yi's expression abruptly darkened, his voice laden with killing intent. "Whatever little schemes you may harbor, you had best keep them to yourselves! Otherwise, regardless of your origin or status, Yinshan Pass will execute you without mercy!"
Intimidated by Gao Yi's imposing aura, the hall instantly fell dead silent, thick with a chilling air.
Chapter 321