“Will that female cultivator come?”

Standing before the Silver Building’s entrance, Duobao Daoist Zhou Jun, who had come representing Sweeping Dust Studio on behalf of the Master of One Life, also had the image of a female cultivator float through his mind. His thoughts became somewhat distracted, causing him to murmur this softly.

Today he had changed into a brand-new dark green Daoist robe and held a snow-white fly whisk, truly giving him the air of an immortal sage.

But standing here, he still felt inexplicably guilty.

Who told him he only had Golden Core cultivation?

Zhou Jun himself thought about it and couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

For this grand gathering at the Silver Building, naturally someone with only Golden Core cultivation like him wouldn’t even qualify to receive an invitation. But how could he help it when he now served the medicine king, Master of One Life?

Among Mingri Xinghai’s three great magnates, Master of One Life could be considered the one with the best “connections”—no one wanted to offend him.

He was obsessed with pill and medicine refining and had great interest in all kinds of rare treasures. When the Karmic Fire Red Lotus appeared sixty years ago, he had wanted to get his hands on it. Who would have thought this punk who came from nowhere would interfere and snatch it away, leaving him to sigh with regret.

Now that the Silver Building suddenly revealed news about this kid, didn’t that mean Master of One Life’s long-desired Karmic Fire Red Lotus also had a destination?

Though hope was slim, how could he miss this opportunity?

Thus he specially dispatched Zhou Jun to come. If there was a chance, he would take down Zuoliu—or rather, take the Karmic Fire Red Lotus.

Logically, Zhou Jun was just handling business for Master of One Life, so his heart should be at ease.

But when he actually arrived at the Silver Building and saw the surging crowds around him, hearing the boiling voices from all directions, a strong unease welled up in his heart instead.

All of this was because of what he had witnessed in the East Sea a few days ago.

That female cultivator.

The tribulation clouds covering hundreds of li of sea surface, the black long sword racing forth with flying sword intent, and that calm composure that remained unchanged in the face of danger, not to mention—

Her reaction upon seeing that large ship from the night sailing ship.

“Calculating the timing, that large ship was most likely transporting Zuoliu. When she saw that ship, she suddenly changed color and even pursued it. When she returned, she asked me about the night sailing ship…”

If there was no connection in all this, ghosts wouldn’t believe it!

But Zhou Jun didn’t dare think deeply about it.

What kind of person was Zuoliu?

Though he had no sect or school, he had shone brilliantly in the Left Three Thousand gathering, had hidden connections to the Blue Peak Nunnery incident, not to mention involvement with the two great magnates Yashan and Kunwu.

Anyone could figure out with their toes that the words he spoke could very likely stir up a bloody storm in the Left Three Thousand.

So what kind of identity should someone who paid such close attention to Zuoliu and even inquired about the night sailing ship have?

He didn’t dare think, didn’t dare think about it.

Zhou Jun, thinking of this, felt all his hair standing on end. When he looked around, he felt that everyone’s facial expressions had become strange and sinister, making him shiver involuntarily.

“Today’s Silver Building is probably going to see big trouble…”

At this time, the Silver Building had become the focus of attention for the entire Xinghai.

The red sun had already burst forth from the horizon, casting increasingly intense sunlight on the building that was as transparent and brilliant as a crystal palace.

In front of the gate building were countless cultivators who longed to enter but lacked the qualifications to do so.

Unable to enter but unwilling to leave, they could only stand outside and observe the important figures passing through the gate building one after another—

Even if they couldn’t go in, wasn’t it nice to see who went?

“Half of Xinghai’s top figures must have come, how amazing!”

“Yes, I never thought one Zuoliu could attract so many people. I just saw people from Sweeping Dust Studio—this means even Senior Medicine King wants to intervene!”

“Haha, I think it’s not that Zuoliu has great appeal, but rather the secrets behind him have great appeal.”

“Exactly.”

“But that’s not right. You’ve been analyzing and saying it’s closely related to Yashan and Kunwu. But I’ve been watching for so long and haven’t seen a single cultivator from Yashan or Kunwu. Could it be fake?”

“I haven’t seen any either. This shouldn’t be right.”

“How ridiculous! What kind of existence are Yashan and Kunwu? If people came, would you be able to tell?”

…

Zhou Jun had already grasped his invitation and was about to step into the building when he heard this mocking laughter nearby. An inexplicable chill rose in his heart, and he couldn’t help but stop and was about to turn around to look.

But unexpectedly, there was someone behind him. When he turned and stopped, he almost collided!

“Oh my—”

Zhou Jun was startled and quickly stepped back two paces.

“How rude of me!”

“Ha, it’s fine.”

The cultivator who nearly collided with Zhou Jun laughed, appearing quite easygoing and not minding at all.

Zhou Jun looked up and discovered this person was extremely handsome.

With bright eyes and clear features, wearing a snow-white long robe decorated with light landscape paintings and depicting cranes and ancient pines, creating an elegant atmosphere. Standing there, he looked like a painting scroll come to life.

The only flaw was that this person’s left hand, half-hidden in his sleeve, was missing a finger, leaving only four.

Though Zhou Jun had never met this person, he somehow felt a pang of regret.

It was as if the person before him should have been perfect and flawless.

“Are you going inside?” came a voice filled with laughter.

Hearing this, Zhou Jun realized he had been staring at the other person in a daze for a while. He quickly came to his senses, and upon sensing the other’s cultivation level, he became even more shocked and quickly replied: “Senior is too kind. This junior was spacing out just now. Please go first, please go first.”

Upon hearing this, the other person slightly raised an eyebrow but didn’t say much more, peacefully thanking him and walking past Zhou Jun toward the Silver Building.

“Today really has important figures everywhere. Anyone you bump into randomly is a master whose cultivation I can’t fathom… Does Xinghai have such people?”

Zhou Jun stood in place, watching the other’s retreating figure for a long time, finally touching his nose and couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

If not for Master of One Life’s orders, he wouldn’t want to wade into today’s muddy waters!

But now that things had come to this, he had to bite the bullet and go in.

Zhou Jun calmed his mind and was about to enter the Silver Building first to look at today’s auction catalog. But today’s heavens seemed determined to play jokes on him and frighten him—

Before he could step through the door and hand over his invitation, a tremendous uproar of exclamations suddenly erupted from the crowd behind him!

“My goodness!”

“Tongguan Station, it’s people from Tongguan Station!”

“They actually came, this is so incredible, are we sure this is right?”

“Shen Yao, it’s Grand Marshal Shen Yao!”

“What fortune in three lifetimes to have the chance to see her…”

“It’s Shen Yao!”

“Shen Yao has come!”

…

As soon as the name Shen Yao came out, Zhou Jun immediately couldn’t move his feet. His heart leaped while he couldn’t control the countless curiosity and anticipation that arose within him.

Shen Yao—they were talking about Shen Yao!

In recent years, Shijiu Zhou hadn’t produced many great figures.

Aside from some legendary powerhouses so impressive they were jaw-dropping and could only be observed from afar, the most stunning had to be this Grand Marshal Shen Yao of Tongguan Station who had emerged from the Southeast Barbarian Wasteland!

No one knew who she was, no one knew where she came from, and no one knew from whom she had learned her strange cultivation…

Everything about her seemed shrouded in a mysterious veil.

But this female cultivator of unknown origins had managed to defeat all opponents at the great assembly where the Three Demon Paths competed for Tongguan Station, including Yong Zhou, the young sect master of Heroes’ Tomb, successfully ascending to the position of “Grand Marshal”!

Grand Marshal of Tongguan Station—what an enviable title!

Possessing this title meant, in a certain sense, having the qualification to command the Three Demon Paths!

It could be said that Shen Yao might not be the person with the highest cultivation in the Three Demon Paths, but she was definitely the person with the greatest power in the current Three Demon Paths!

A genuine important figure!

Zhou Jun thought about this, his heart growing heated, and he looked back—

He saw the sky was azure blue, cloudless for thousands of li, pure to the extreme. At this moment, however, a fantastical rainbow suddenly flew from the horizon, light as a swan’s feather, floating and swaying as it landed on the ground not far ahead, arousing nearly intoxicating exclamations from the surroundings.

What an alluring countenance was this?

What a graceful posture was this?

The fantastical rainbow light, the moment she landed, transformed into flowing, colorful gold embroidered patterns that obediently gathered onto the spread hem of her skirt.

Wide sleeves, accompanied by slender white palms, were drawn back and hung at her sides.

High cloud-like hair ornaments, beautiful eyebrows, red lips—these were perfect features; shoulders sculpted, waist slender, elegant neck and beautiful nape, pure white skin revealed, adding several traces of tenderness to her dignity.

In that instant, the entire area in front of the Silver Building was quiet.

Everyone could clearly hear their own breathing and heartbeat, yet couldn’t move their gaze away from this appearing female cultivator.

She was like a richly colored peony still bearing morning dew, moving to the extreme.

Not a peerless beauty, yet making hearts flutter.

Even the greatest cultivation was useless at this moment.

Zhou Jun watched almost dazedly, not even reacting much, only feeling a gentle fragrant breeze brush past his side.

This female cultivator was approaching with a smile on her lips and graceful steps.

However, not toward him, but toward a corner by the Silver Building’s gate.

“Sword Marquis Xue, it’s been a long time. Greetings.”

A voice as gentle as water, accompanied by the smile on her face, appeared to everyone present to perfectly embody the phrase “like bathing in spring breeze.”

However…

This smile and posture didn’t feel so good to the person being greeted.

Standing in the corner was Purple-Robed Sword Marquis Xue Wujiu.

In his usual purple robe, still holding his sword while standing, but at this moment, his usually relaxed brow was furrowed, faintly revealing extremely deep and hidden wariness.

“Grand Marshal Shen is too kind. I truly didn’t expect the Silver Building would have the ability to invite you to come. This is really surprising.”

He hadn’t entered the Silver Building today, only because he was waiting for someone.

After all, Qu Zhengfeng had never clearly answered whether he was coming or not, so he was waiting outside to see, and it was harmless to also observe who else came.

But who would have thought he wouldn’t see Qu Zhengfeng but would first encounter this “uninvited guest”!

Xue Wujiu’s words sounded normal, but the flavor of keeping people at a thousand li distance wasn’t particularly concealed.

In Shen Yao’s bright, starlike eyes, a trace of understanding light immediately flashed. She raised a delicate finger to cover her lips and smiled lightly: “Sword Marquis Xue speaks incorrectly. I thought you were very clear that I came from the distant Southeast Barbarian Wasteland not for the Silver Building. I wonder if I might have the honor today to visit His Majesty the Sword Emperor?”

Visit the Sword Emperor!

As soon as these words were spoken, gasps of shock immediately arose from all sides: “No way? Could it be that the Sword Emperor is also coming today?”

Xue Wujiu’s brow furrowed deeply. He calmly glanced at the surrounding crowd before returning his gaze to Shen Yao’s face, seemingly very apologetically smiling: “The Sword Emperor isn’t coming today, I’m afraid Grand Marshal Shen will be disappointed.”

“Oh?”

Not coming…

Shen Yao was somewhat surprised, stunned for a moment, then reacted and sighed with some disappointment: “Then today we have no fate, but there’s always the future. Please ask Sword Marquis Xue to convey that Shen Yao will visit Jiexing Mountain Manor another day with important matters to discuss, and hopes His Majesty the Sword Emperor can spare time for a meeting.”

Important matters to discuss?

Nonsense.

The Southeast Barbarian Wasteland was in the Southern Domain, while Mingri Xinghai was in the Central Domain. Though the two regions had some intersection, they had always minded their own business. What could Shen Yao, who now commanded the Three Demon Paths, have to discuss with the new Sword Emperor, one of Mingri Xinghai’s three great magnates?

Xue Wujiu didn’t remember Qu Zhengfeng mentioning even half a word about this.

But since he wasn’t Qu Zhengfeng himself, conveying a message was no big deal. He replied amiably: “I will certainly convey the message. Please rest assured, Grand Marshal Shen.”

“Thank you, Sword Marquis Xue. Then we’ll meet again another day.”

Having received Xue Wujiu’s answer, Shen Yao smiled slightly, gracefully curtsying in farewell. She took her leave temporarily and, accompanied by four blue-robed attendants of considerable cultivation, entered the Silver Building entrance and departed elegantly.

After her dignified figure completely disappeared, quite a few disappointed sighs arose from all around, obviously feeling they hadn’t seen enough.

But many people’s attention then shifted to Xue Wujiu.

Everyone knew that Purple-Robed Sword Marquis Xue Wujiu had a close relationship with the new Sword Emperor.

Now Xue Wujiu was here, yet said the Sword Emperor Qu Zhengfeng wouldn’t come today? Then… what was Xue Wujiu doing here?

Actually, Xue Wujiu didn’t know either.

He just felt he should make this trip, first for the old grudge with the night sailing ship, to see what tricks they were playing; second for Zuoliu, since the Blue Peak Nunnery hidden realm incident sixty years ago was full of mysteries and still had no clear explanation.

Encountering Shen Yao…

This was completely unexpected.

Xue Wujiu couldn’t figure out her purpose. Seeing that Shen Yao had already entered and the auction time was approaching, and since he hadn’t seen Qu Zhengfeng’s shadow either, he simply turned and went inside too.

He handed over his invitation, and naturally someone led him to the previously arranged top-floor “Gen Mountain” room.

“Sword Marquis Xue, please.”

The grand manager led him to the door as usual, then quietly withdrew.

Xue Wujiu hummed in acknowledgment. He had heard of the Silver Building’s rules and didn’t mind, so he pushed the door and entered.

The top three floors were all named according to the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, and their interior decorations generally matched their names.

Inside the “Gen Mountain” room, the table held miniature potted ancient pines arranged by terrain, both sides displayed various strangely shaped and colored rocks, and an absolutely wonderful fragrance drifted from the window, making one’s heart and spirit intoxicated upon smelling it.

However, every bamboo curtain by the window was now tightly drawn.

The outside light was blocked, making the room extremely dim. Xue Wujiu could only see the blurred outlines of a few flower pots and couldn’t distinguish what they actually were.

He turned to close the door and was about to go to the window to roll up these bamboo curtains.

Unexpectedly, after taking only three steps toward the window, a laugh of unclear meaning suddenly came from the heavy shadows ahead.

“Who’s there!”

Xue Wujiu was greatly shocked. He never expected that in this room arranged by the Silver Building, there would be someone else! And he hadn’t detected them at all when he entered!

What terrifying cultivation must this be?

His brow immediately furrowed, Xue Wujiu’s expression became extremely stern, his finger pressed on his sword, and he was about to draw it from its sheath.

However, the next voice from those shadows made him stunned.

“You’ve come, but not very early.”

“You…”

This voice!

It held no laughter, only giving a sense of straightforwardness, yet it concealed a soul-stirring power! Especially this tone…

Xue Wujiu had been close friends with him for many years—how could he not recognize his voice?

He was truly shocked, angry, and confused: he wanted to ask “didn’t you say you weren’t coming?” but in a blink, he thought of an even more crucial point and couldn’t help but feel his scalp tingling.

“How did you get in?!”

This was the Silver Building!

Not to mention today’s auction of Zuoliu—the place was already surrounded like an iron barrel, not to mention the layers of great formations protecting it.

If he had come by presenting an invitation, Mingri Xinghai would probably have exploded long ago!

But if he hadn’t come by presenting an invitation…

“Does how I got in matter?”

The voice carried a hint of carelessness. His figure shifted slightly, finally separating from the heavy shadows by the window, revealing a blurred outline. Everything was dim, only the faint gold embroidered patterns on his robe flickered with flowing light in the darkness.

“Did you encounter Shen Yao outside?”

Xue Wujiu was immediately speechless.

He knew this person’s cultivation had reached a transformative state, stuck only at the last step before breaking through to entering the world, but he hadn’t expected it to be so transcendently high that he could clearly see what happened outside.

“You saw everything, so why ask? How is it, do you and Shen Yao…”

“Her origins are quite strange. I’ve only involved myself with Mingri Xinghai and haven’t had any plans for the Three Demon Paths, yet now it’s not me seeking her, but her seeking me.”

“Click,” his finger flipped with a crisp sound.

Xue Wujiu looked over and saw him holding a finger-length deep blue jade slip decorated with silver patterns between his fingers. If he remembered correctly, this should be the “auction catalog” provided by the Silver Building to all guests.

“This woman has schemes?”

“In a couple of days, it should become clear.”

The figure hidden in darkness laughed, but without any confusion, only an unshakeable steadiness and composure.

“Today, you and I should still focus our minds and observe this great show at the Silver Building…”

A great show?

Xue Wujiu’s thoughts stirred, and he looked up at him, seeing his figure move as he turned around. Thus, that familiar face hidden by heavy shadows slowly became clear.

One hand reached toward him.

Between the fingers was that jade slip; in the voice was a laugh that one couldn’t tell was cold or warm.

“The auction catalog—don’t you want to see it?”

See it?

Jian Chou looked at the slender palm extended before her and at the jade slip between his fingers, but hesitated rarely.

Dantai Xiu couldn’t help but laugh at her: “I see Miss is also very interested in this auction. Don’t you really want to know how much this Zuoliu is priced at?”

How much…

Jian Chou immediately felt helpless: she had come for Zuoliu, but helplessly her purse was light, and she didn’t have the ability like her little marten to accumulate all the world’s wealth. Even if Zuoliu’s starting price was low, once everyone started bidding, the price would go up—where would she have a chance?

But since Dantai Xiu was expressing such goodwill, she naturally had no reason to refuse.

“Thank you, Young Master Dantai.”

She didn’t hide anything, thanked him, took the jade slip and looked. Her spiritual consciousness quietly probed in, and all the information recorded on the jade slip flooded into her mind.

Parasol Hook, Moon-Treading Pill, Mother-Child Reflection Mirror, Ten Peacock Gallbladders, incomplete scroll of “Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method”…

Each auction item had an extraordinary origin.

There were even Ten Peacock Gallbladders, divine pill-refining materials rarely encountered in a century, not to mention this “Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method” famous throughout the Three Demon Paths!

Even though Jian Chou wasn’t very familiar with the various rare treasures of Shijiu Zhou, looking at this catalog now, she couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of suffocation.

If she hadn’t seen some of the world, she would probably have been envious long ago.

She secretly took a deep breath and quickly skipped these names, her spiritual consciousness directly scanning toward the end. Thus, the four characters “Final Auction Item” leaped into Jian Chou’s consciousness.

In that instant, even with Jian Chou’s amazing composure, she almost bit off her own tongue in shock!

“One, one hundred thousand?!”

Final auction item: Zuoliu!

Starting bid—

One hundred thousand spirit stones!

Was she dreaming?

Jian Chou simply couldn’t believe her eyes, staring at the jade slip in her hand for a long time. Though she was clearly inside the Silver Building, she felt as if she had fallen into clouds and mist, feeling light and floating beneath her feet.

“This…”

Why didn’t the night sailing ship just go rob people!

Though Jian Chou had never handled any trivial matters of Yashan, she had heard the elders and junior brothers chat casually and roughly knew a sect’s spirit stone expenses.

One hundred thousand—what concept was one hundred thousand?

A medium-sized sect in Central Domain’s Left Three Thousand with about a hundred people spent only over ten thousand spirit stones a year. One hundred thousand spirit stones would be enough for almost ten years!

And this was still Zuoliu’s “starting price”—no upper limit!

Originally thinking that by selling everything she owned, she might still have a chance to rescue Zuoliu, but now…

Jian Chou felt bitter and couldn’t help wanting to sigh: if that little punk Zuoliu from the past knew his current worth, would he laugh proudly?

But she now only felt her heart sinking gloomily.

But in front of Dantai Xiu, she couldn’t show too much emotional fluctuation, only forcing the corners of her mouth up with a bitter expression: “This pricing is too high, isn’t it? Will there really be people willing to pay this amount for one Zuoliu…”

She was somewhat doubtful.

Hearing this, Dantai Xiu laughed and shook his finger at her in a serious manner: “Miss is worrying unnecessarily. Many important figures came today, and there might even be people from Yashan and Kunwu secretly intervening, so quite a few can afford this amount. Not to mention, there’s humble me.”

“Young Master Dantai?”

Jian Chou was slightly surprised and stunned.

She hadn’t reacted immediately, but this expression fell into Dantai Xiu’s eyes as doubt about him. He immediately feigned displeasure and complained: “Miss really doesn’t believe me at all. You should know that in Mingri Xinghai, few people dare compete with me in financial power!”

“…”

This wealthy?

Jian Chou’s narrow eyes slightly lifted at the corners, and a faint dark light appeared in her rippling eyes.

Dantai Xiu didn’t notice this inconspicuous change, only hanging a bit of spring breeze-like pride at his eyes and eyebrows. He paced to the window and pointed toward another window.

“Does Miss know who’s over there?”

That window had bamboo curtains drawn, so Jian Chou couldn’t see anything.

She shook her head: “I don’t know.”

“Over there is Shen Wenxing, young master of the Puppet Sect, one of the Three Demon Paths. The Puppet Sect excels at making puppets, and Shen Wenxing’s creation of blood servants and living dead is particularly outstanding. For excellent puppet material like Zuoliu, he’ll definitely fight to get it.”

As Dantai Xiu spoke, the smile at his lips had already turned cold.

“This person has a great feud with me. I came today half for Zuoliu, half for him.”

“Oh?” Jian Chou vaguely guessed his meaning. “Young Master Dantai wants to compete with this person?”

“Compete? How could I not compete?”

Dantai Xiu’s fingers tapped the window frame, his face full of killing intent, but his voice became increasingly leisurely.

“I, Dantai Xiu, have nothing else, but I have plenty of money. Miss, do you know? Besides dual cultivation, I’m actually best at one other thing—Miss, have you heard of ‘price manipulation’?”

Price manipulation?

Jian Chou was stunned, feeling this term was extremely novel, but the meaning hidden within was extremely sinister. Yet she actually…

Had an irrepressible urge to cheer!

Someone offering a pillow when sleepy.

Such good fortune she had actually encountered?

Jian Chou’s thoughts had become active from the moment Dantai Xiu said he was wealthy. Now looking at Dantai Xiu, she was like looking at her little marten with the universe hidden between its teeth in the past, like looking at a shining golden mountain that had just revealed a corner on the sea surface!

She gently clenched her fingers and smiled: “This term is obscure. I’ve never heard it before.”

“No rush, Miss will know soon enough.”

Several traces of laughter flashed through Dantai Xiu’s dark silver pupils. When he looked back at Jian Chou, he felt her smile seemed much more sincere all at once, but in a blink, this feeling disappeared again.

Thus, he was rarely puzzled.

But soon, as a bell sound that pierced the clouds came from outside, this puzzlement was thrown to the back of his mind—

“Dong!”

The deep sound arose from somewhere unknown, echoing in the sky-reaching heights of the Silver Building.

On the Isolation Platform, a red-faced old man with long beard and white hair had somehow appeared. When the bell sound fell, he opened his mouth with hearty laughter: “Everyone’s presence today truly brings great honor to our humble building. We’ve kept everyone waiting long, and this old man is deeply ashamed. The time has now arrived, and the Silver Building auction will begin immediately!”