This elder was quite advanced in age, yet his voice carried tremendous vigor. No matter which corner of the Silver Tower’s third floor one stood in, every word could be heard crystal clear.

Thus, the scattered murmurs that had previously filled the surroundings all vanished completely at this moment.

On the third floor, countless people stopped what they were doing and turned their gazes toward the Gean Platform that was embraced at the center by the Silver Tower.

The grayish-white elevated platform was constructed entirely of stone, bearing traces of many years of weathering and age. Presumably because this platform had been used by cultivators for sparring and combat in days past, its surface was marked with numerous scars from blade and axe strikes, and there were even large areas stained with a murky dark brown color, resembling ancient bloodstains.

The elder stood proudly erect at the very center of this elevated platform, turning his body as he cupped his hands toward all four directions.

This posture showed not a trace of the obsequiousness and flattery typical of merchants; instead, it carried a natural air of pride. He did not consider himself inferior simply because he stood on the platform presiding over today’s auction.

“This person is named Zhendao Ren. Since the very beginning of his cultivation, he has been obsessed with the art of artifact refinement, to the point of neglecting his own cultivation. Not only has he achieved nothing in artifact refinement, but his cultivation has also made no progress whatsoever. Though he successively joined three different sects, he was ultimately expelled from all of them.”

Tantai Xiu had wandered the Star Sea for quite some time and knew the life stories of these people like the back of his hand.

“It was only decades ago that the Silver Tower discovered his talents and forcibly enhanced his cultivation using pills, enabling him to successfully refine a mid-grade spiritual treasure. From that point on, his reputation soared.”

Jian Chou was immediately somewhat surprised.

She still remembered when she first entered Yashan, Qu Zhengfeng had explained to her the classification of the various magical artifacts across the Nineteen Provinces: Magical Artifacts, Spiritual Treasures, and Mystical Treasures. Within these three major grades, each was further divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers.

Yet artifact refinement was known alongside formation arrays and pill refinement as one of the three most mentally taxing arts…

Able to refine a mid-grade spiritual treasure?

What this meant, Jian Chou understood all too clearly: a mid-grade spiritual treasure was something that could perfectly match the cultivation of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator. If one could refine one, there was a very good chance of refining a second, a third…

Given this, how could any Nascent Soul stage cultivator not flock to him?

One must understand that in these Nineteen Provinces, not every sect could be like Yashan, possessing a nearly inexhaustible armory. Not every cultivator could have the fortune to own magical artifacts suited to their cultivation level.

“So this Zhendao Ren could be considered a celebrity of the Star Sea.”

As Jian Chou spoke, she also moved to the window. With just one glance, she easily determined the cultivation level of this Zhendao Ren on the Gean Platform: mid-stage Nascent Soul, with a floating aura and scattered divine light in his eyes—not as concentrated as other cultivators of the same level.

It appeared his realm had indeed been enhanced through pills.

“A celebrity? Ha, barely,” Tantai Xiu didn’t hold Zhendao Ren in any regard, merely lifting one corner of his mouth as he leisurely observed the scene below.

“His natural talent was limited to begin with, and there are limits to how much pills can enhance one’s cultivation. To obtain a master artifact refiner, the Silver Tower spared no effort and has long since damaged his cultivation foundation. I’m afraid Zhendao Ren’s cultivation will never advance another inch in this lifetime. The art of artifact refinement is ultimately connected to one’s cultivation level. He’ll be stuck at the mid-grade spiritual treasure level for the rest of his life.”

The subtle hostility toward the Silver Tower in these words was becoming increasingly obvious.

Listening to this, Jian Chou couldn’t help but turn to look at Tantai Xiu again. But Tantai Xiu’s gaze remained fixed on the scene below, with flowing brilliance flickering in his eyes, as if he were anticipating a good show to unfold.

“However, he is at least a master artifact refiner now. When he presides over this auction, everyone must give him some face. Look.”

He pointed with his hand.

Following his gesture, Jian Chou saw that as Zhendao Ren cupped his hands in greeting to everyone, quite a few people had emerged at the windows of the elegant chambers on the two floors below, all returning his salute with cupped hands. Some even called out cheerfully to greet Zhendao Ren.

It was indeed very supportive and respectful—after all, he was a master artifact refiner.

However, she also observed a very interesting phenomenon: the Silver Tower had opened three floors for hosting guests this time. But when Zhendao Ren was making his greetings, not a single person on the topmost floor made any gesture of acknowledgment.

It seemed the Silver Tower’s seating arrangements did follow some pattern.

Jian Chou’s heart stirred slightly, and she became curious about the identities of these people who could remain unmoved by the presence of a master artifact refiner. She decided to pay attention to this in what followed.

This Zhendao Ren was indeed now a member of the Silver Tower, and it was thanks to the Silver Tower that he could achieve his current accomplishments and status.

Therefore, when he was assigned to preside over today’s auction, he harbored no resentment whatsoever.

After completing his round of greetings, he straightened his sleeves and announced loudly: “The catalog of today’s auction items has been delivered to each distinguished guest. I trust everyone has already reviewed it. There are thirty-six auction items in total, each one a precious treasure. The first item is an upper-grade spiritual treasure—the Wutong Hook!”

“Clap clap!”

As Zhendao Ren reached this point, he lightly clapped his hands. The crisp sound of applause, accompanied by ripples of spiritual power, spread outward.

The originally flat Gean Platform immediately responded to this sound and transformed.

With a “whoosh,” gentle white light appeared before Zhendao Ren. Judging by its lines and shape, it was actually a hidden teleportation array.

After the white light faded, a graceful beauty dressed in a goose-yellow gown appeared on the platform, holding a white jade box in her hands.

The customs of the Star Sea were obviously much more liberal than elsewhere, not to mention at this time, place, and occasion.

The gauze-like gown revealed the soft curves of this female cultivator’s figure, creating an alluring silhouette.

Unfortunately, everyone’s attention was focused elsewhere at this moment.

Every person’s gaze fell unanimously upon that white jade box.

Zhendao Ren stepped forward and, with considerable solemnity, reached out to open the box.

In that instant, azure light poured forth from the white jade box, transforming into the phantom of a phoenix. Everyone faintly seemed to hear the ethereal cry of a phoenix!

When the sound faded and the light scattered, an exquisitely crafted small azure jade hook finally revealed its form.

Half a foot long, about the thickness of an infant’s finger.

It didn’t possess the cold and sinister aura typical of “hook” weapons. Instead, its body was engraved with patterns of phoenixes perching on parasol trees, and its overall design resembled a Buddhist ruyi scepter more than anything else, giving people a sense of peace and auspiciousness.

“I believe everyone has heard of the great name of the Wutong Hook.”

“This hook was created by the hands of Master Fukong Zi, a grandmaster of the Northern Region’s Yang Sect. It was merely a practice piece he made before crafting the legendary Tianming Axe. Yet even so, it already possesses the aura of a peak upper-grade spiritual treasure.”

“Later, this hook was gifted to Monk Yichen, the foremost of the three masters of the Chan Sect, and was used to slay the demons of the Western Sea, absorbing Buddhist energy, which enhanced its quality by another level.”

Zhendao Ren didn’t touch the Wutong Hook, merely allowing countless spiritual senses from all directions within the Silver Tower to examine the quality and authenticity of this spiritual treasure. Meanwhile, he recounted its various histories as if they were family treasures.

Jian Chou had always been someone who lacked for magical artifacts.

Even though the Ghost Axe was currently lost in the Extreme Domain and couldn’t be retrieved, she still possessed the Deer-Cutting Blade gifted by Abbot Buyu, and even Xie Buchen’s Human Emperor Sword. Each of these was likely no less than a mid-grade spiritual treasure.

Therefore, she actually had little interest in this Wutong Hook.

However, when she heard Zhendao Ren mention “Master Fukong Zi of the Northern Region’s Yang Sect” and “Tianming Axe,” Jian Chou’s eyes involuntarily widened.

Several traces of unexpected surprise appeared in her pupils.

The Northern Region’s Yang Sect, Fukong Zi, and the Tianming Axe he refined…

She still remembered when Fudao Shanren had explained the Ghost Axe’s origins to her, he had mentioned that its previous owner, who was also the skilled craftsman who refined it, had originally been a traitor from the Yin Sect who later joined the Yang Sect and ultimately created the Ghost Axe.

And before the Ghost Axe had slain ten thousand ghosts in the Yin-Yang Realm battle, it had once borne another name that carried no murderous aura—

Tianming Axe!

This Wutong Hook was actually refined by the Ghost Axe’s former owner?

In that instant, Jian Chou felt somewhat moved and considered collecting this Wutong Hook.

However, the intense bidding quickly forced her to abandon this idea.

After Zhendao Ren finished recounting the Wutong Hook’s various origins, accompanying his words “starting bid of three thousand spirit stones,” voices began rising one after another throughout the Silver Tower.

“Four thousand!”

“Five thousand!”

“Five thousand five hundred spirit stones!”

“Haha, this item is rare indeed. It would be useful even for those at the World Entry stage. I’m determined to have it—six thousand!”

“Six thousand five hundred!”

…

One voice followed another with hardly any pause.

Everyone knew that while the Silver Tower’s main attraction today was Zuoliu, none of the items presented beforehand would be inferior goods. Especially the first item—it had to carry some weight.

An artifact made by Master Fukong Zi of the Northern Region’s Yang Sect and used by Great Monk Yichen of the Western Sea’s Chan Sect added another layer of prestige.

Everyone present wasn’t ignorant of quality, so those with interest naturally didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

Therefore, as soon as the bidding began, the situation became heated.

As the number of bids increased, the price of the Wutong Hook continued to climb. The number of bidders gradually decreased, finally settling at the intimidating figure of sixteen thousand spirit stones.

“Haha, congratulations to this fellow daoist! Sixteen thousand spirit stones—the Wutong Hook is yours!”

Zhendao Ren’s voice became much more exuberant. He was clearly quite satisfied with the price of this first auction item. After no one else made additional bids, he finalized its ownership with a decisive declaration.

The woman standing on the Gean Platform gracefully descended and walked toward the elegant chamber where the successful bidder had called out. It appeared she was going to deliver the Wutong Hook immediately.

Seeing this, Jian Chou felt somewhat regretful.

In her past cultivation, she had followed her heart and rarely needed to use so many spirit stones, thanks to the abundant spiritual energy of heaven and earth. She had never felt that such things were particularly important in the cultivation world. Now that she was financially constrained, she discovered that no matter where one was, “money” was always crucial…

Fortunately, among today’s auction items, there weren’t many things like the Wutong Hook that sparked her interest.

So for the next hour and more, she could maintain relative calm and composure, observing every detail of the scene as a bystander.

After the Wutong Hook came the Stepping Moon Pill, the Mother-Child Reflecting Mirror, Ten Peacock Gallbladders…

One item after another.

The Stepping Moon Pill was a divine pill that could forcibly enhance a Golden Core stage cultivator’s cultivation by one minor level. For cultivators with limited talent or those stuck at bottlenecks with no progress, it was truly a life-saving elixir. It ultimately sold for the high price of eighteen thousand spirit stones.

The Mother-Child Reflecting Mirror was similar to communication pearls, but unlike communication pearls that only transmitted sound, the Mother-Child Reflecting Mirror allowed users to see the situation on the other side when communicating. This would prove uniquely useful in certain situations, so it also sold for the pleasing price of fourteen thousand spirit stones.

Then there were the Ten Peacock Gallbladders, rare materials for pill refinement and medicine preparation.

The one who bid for it was naturally Duobao Daoist Zhou Jun, who had come representing the Medicine King Yiming Xiansheng. When he stood at the window to bid, Jian Chou recognized him immediately.

However, though the Ten Peacock Gallbladders were precious, the final transaction price wasn’t very high—merely ten thousand.

The reason was that Zhou Jun had revealed his identity too early.

In the Star Sea, plenty of people knew his identity and whom he represented. Moreover, this was an item needed for medicine refinement—who wouldn’t give Yiming Xiansheng some face?

Therefore, after Zhou Jun made his bid, no one else competed, and the Ten Peacock Gallbladders were sold at this “low” price.

“Eight thousand!”

“Ten thousand!”

“Thirteen thousand spirit stones!”

…

The bidding continued. Of the thirty-six treasures, thirty-four had already been sold. The “Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method” incomplete scroll that Jian Chou had previously noticed was placed in the second-to-last position.

One must know that today’s biggest draw at the Silver Tower was Zuoliu, so Zuoliu was the grand finale.

But for the “Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method” to surpass all the previous treasures with just an incomplete scroll and be placed in the position second only to Zuoliu demonstrated its preciousness.

Zhendao Ren spared no praise for this item.

“The great name of the ‘Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method’ needs no elaboration from this old man.”

“I know that among today’s distinguished guests, there happen to be several from the three paths of demons, devils, and monsters of the southeastern wilderness, who must know the origins of the ‘Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method’ far better than I do. One might even say—”

“The ‘Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method’ is to the three demonic paths what the ‘Nine Curves River Chart’ is to the Nineteen Provinces!”

“Such a treasure is truly priceless. Though this is merely an incomplete scroll, it may be worthless to some, but if it falls into the hands of someone with purpose, it might have countless wonderful uses.”

“We at the Silver Tower acknowledge we lack the ability to set a price for this incomplete scroll, so this ‘Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method’ incomplete scroll will have no reserve price today!”

“Everything depends on your bids—highest bidder wins!”

No reserve price!

The venue immediately stirred with excitement. Even from a distance, Jian Chou could feel the sudden fervent atmosphere all around, with whispered conversations seeming to emerge from everywhere.

However, this atmosphere lasted only briefly before mysteriously subsiding again.

Standing beside Jian Chou, Tantai Xiu immediately sneered disdainfully: “No reserve price—those who don’t know might think the Silver Tower is being generous and daring. It’s nothing more than underhanded tricks!”

Hearing this, Jian Chou initially didn’t understand, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the “Zhilin Sou Daily News” on the table. A thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately guessed what was happening.

She didn’t respond, instead picking up the jade folder and turning to the page listing the Silver Tower’s invitation recipients. Then she understood everything.

She smiled accordingly: “What a clever calculation indeed. The three demonic paths of the southeastern wilderness all received invitations from the Silver Tower. Moreover, Puppet Sect’s Young Master Shen Wenxing has already arrived, and that legendary Grand Marshal Shen Yao of Tongguan Station is now also in the building…”

Since the “Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method” was to the three demonic paths what the “Nine Curves River Chart” was to the entire Nineteen Provinces, one could imagine that the demonic paths would attach great importance to this incomplete scroll.

Even if they might not be able to research anything from it themselves, they couldn’t let their opponents obtain it!

Therefore, as long as cultivators from the demonic paths were present, the price of this “Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method” would definitely not be low!

The reality matched Jian Chou’s expectations exactly.

The commotion in the venue lasted only briefly before someone decisively made a bid: “Ten thousand!”

“Fifteen thousand spirit stones!”

“I bid eighteen thousand!”

“Nineteen thousand spirit stones!”

“Twenty thousand!”

“Twenty-three thousand!”

…

Voice after voice, the situation immediately became intense.

Among them, Master Sujian from the elegant chamber on the second floor had already bid three times. Seeing the price climb higher and higher, he finally became angry, directly sweeping aside the bamboo curtain at his window and stepping out, shouting: “Thirty thousand spirit stones! I’m putting my words out there—none of you compete with me!”

Thirty thousand!

Jumping directly from twenty-three thousand to thirty thousand?

Many people gasped in shock at this price. Several voices that had been competing with Master Sujian immediately fell silent.

Too high.

This price was simply too high.

Though the “Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method” was precious, what the Silver Tower had was just an incomplete scroll. No one knew how “incomplete” it was or what could be researched from it.

To invest thirty thousand spirit stones in such an uncertain item truly exceeded most people’s acceptable limits.

So the previously heated scene immediately cooled down.

The entire venue fell silent.

Master Sujian, with his long sword at his waist, surveyed all directions. Hearing no one dare to match his bid, he laughed triumphantly and cupped his hands toward all sides: “Haha, thank you all for yielding. Master Sujian is grateful and—”

“Hmph!”

A cold snort suddenly interrupted before his words could finish. Though soft, it was strangely clear to the extreme, striking everyone’s ears.

In that instant, Master Sujian’s words were abruptly cut off!

Such powerful cultivation!

Such sharp aura!

Master Sujian was no mediocrity. When he spoke, he was maintaining his breath, so he wouldn’t be easily interrupted. Unless the person interrupting him had cultivation far superior to Master Sujian’s!

“Today’s Silver Tower is truly full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers…”

In the Lihuo Chamber, Jian Chou silently thought to herself, but her eyes became bright: clearly, a good show was about to unfold.

Master Sujian in the venue also hadn’t expected anyone to interrupt him.

Initially stunned, he didn’t react for a moment. But after recovering, he erupted in fury, his face turning cold as he said icily: “Who dares to interrupt? What do you wish to say!”

That earlier cold snort had come too brief and sudden for people to determine its source.

But after Master Sujian’s questioning, the bamboo curtain at a window opposite Jian Chou’s chamber quietly rolled up.

A young man in a dark blue robe appeared silently at the window.

Dark blue was a very deep color.

Worn by this person, it created an unspoken sense of oppression, especially when paired with the silver mask covering half of this young man’s left face.

His thin lips curved upward in obvious mockery.

The young man raised his eyes toward Master Sujian on the floor below, his voice carrying eternal coldness and sarcasm: “No instruction intended, but thinking to collect our demonic paths’ ‘Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method’ with a mere thirty thousand spirit stones is truly wishful thinking!”

“You!”

Master Sujian never expected such sharp words from his opponent—thirty thousand spirit stones described as “mere” in the other’s mouth!

He was momentarily too angry to speak.

But the young man hadn’t finished. Instead, he stood firm at the window, laughed lightly, and made his own bid: “I bid fifty thousand spirit stones.”

“…”

If the previous thirty thousand had been daunting, this fifty thousand completely extinguished everyone’s last bit of fighting spirit.

Someone claiming to be from the demonic paths, with such financial resources, willing to spend lavishly—not to mention that silver mask on his face like a trademark…

Many people had already guessed this young man’s identity.

And Jian Chou, positioned directly opposite him, almost immediately recalled Tantai Xiu’s earlier gesture and words—

The demonic paths, Puppet Sect’s Young Master, Shen Wenxing!

The moment she identified his identity, she instinctively looked toward Tantai Xiu.

Sure enough, Tantai Xiu was now gazing at Shen Wenxing through the bamboo curtain, his lips already showing a strange smile.

“Fortune turns in cycles, this year it comes to my house…”

The Puppet Sect was wealthy and powerful, earning countless ill-gotten gains through their filthy business of creating human puppets. At this moment, Shen Wenxing must think that with his astronomical bid of fifty thousand, no one would dare to compete, right?

What a pity…

Tantai Xiu raised his hand and drawled: “I bid—”

“I bid sixty thousand.”

Two voices rang out almost simultaneously!

The first was Tantai Xiu’s, the second was a woman’s voice filled with laughter, composed and steady, revealing no emotional fluctuation.

Jian Chou was startled, and Tantai Xiu was also stunned.

His pupils suddenly contracted slightly, clear surprise appearing on his face, but after a moment’s thought, he narrowed his eyes and smiled again.

“Looks like I don’t need to drive up the price—this is interesting.”

Tantai Xiu seemed to have guessed who this competing bidder was.

Comparing with the invitation list she had previously reviewed, Jian Chou also had her own suspicions. But many people in the Silver Tower didn’t react as quickly or think as sharply, and they began discussing among themselves.

No one had expected that after the price climbed to fifty thousand, someone would still compete.

Moreover, they raised it by ten thousand in one bid!

Not to mention the cultivators who couldn’t afford to bid and were just watching the show, even Zhendao Ren standing on the Gean Platform couldn’t help but show some shock.

Standing at the window, Shen Wenxing’s expression immediately darkened, his blade-like gaze instantly turning cold as he directed it toward the source of that voice.

His voice seemed to grind out from between his teeth.

“Shen Yao!”

“Boom!”

The moment these two words emerged, the Silver Tower exploded in commotion!

Shen Yao?

Who else could make Shen Wenxing call out a name like this? None other than the new Grand Marshal of Tongguan Station, Shen Yao!

Good heavens, no wonder she could afford such a price.

This was the rhythm of the demonic paths’ own people fighting among themselves!

Many people immediately understood, but more had never seen the legendary Shen Yao and couldn’t help but cast curious glances in that direction, hoping to catch a glimpse of this person.

However, the other party clearly had no intention of showing herself.

The same voice from before continued: “After our parting at Tongguan Station, I haven’t seen Young Master Shen for a long time. I didn’t expect to have the fortune of encountering you here by chance today. Earlier, not knowing you were present, I failed to pay my respects. How discourteous of me.”

Peaceful and gentle.

As if soaked in dew and emanating fragrance, just listening to it created an urge to become intoxicated. Not to mention the bearing of a high-ranking person revealed in these words…

However, no matter how gracious the words, they sounded like piercing mockery to Shen Wenxing’s ears.

His uncovered half-face was already showing signs of distortion: “Is Tongguan Station determined to compete with me for this ‘Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method’ today?”

“Young Master misunderstands. I have no intention of competing with you. I merely think your words are absolutely correct: the ‘Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method’ is extremely important to our demonic paths. Now that it’s being auctioned at the Silver Tower, it’s already a disgrace to it. As the current Grand Marshal of Tongguan Station, how could I bear to let it be looked down upon by the world’s cultivators due to a low price?”

The most high-sounding words in the world could be none other than these!

Even Jian Chou, listening to this, couldn’t help but silently exclaim “Excellent!” It was truly using one’s own methods against oneself.

Others in the Silver Tower heard this and could clearly detect the sharp sarcasm hidden within and the subtle confrontation!

If ordinary people could hear it, how could Shen Wenxing not?

His complexion had already turned iron-blue to the extreme. His originally relaxed body tensed instantly, like a fully drawn bow ready to shoot deadly arrows at any moment!

“I am determined to have this incomplete heart method!”

“Oh?”

The slightly rising tone from behind the window finally contained a trace of amusement.

Clearly, the speaker had become much happier after hearing Shen Wenxing’s “determined to have,” but her words chilled everyone who heard them.

“So I misunderstood.”

“Earlier I heard people say that Young Master Shen had traveled thousands of miles to come here because he had his eyes on Zuoliu’s ‘Red Lotus Body’ after consuming the Karma Fire Red Lotus, intending to make him into a top-grade blood servant puppet, and was ‘determined to have’ him.”

“Now you say you’re determined to have the ‘Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method’…”

Her voice paused, her amusement deepening: “It seems the Puppet Sect’s deep foundation and vast wealth is indeed true.”

“…”

After her words fell, Shen Wenxing’s expression suddenly froze for a moment, and even the aura circulating around his body stopped briefly.

Though Shen Yao hadn’t shown herself, based on his understanding of this woman, he could almost envision the false yet confident smile on her face at this moment.

Determined to have…

Tongguan Station wasn’t to be trifled with either.

He had come for Zuoliu today.

But today’s reserve price for Zuoliu had been set at the terrifying figure of “one hundred thousand,” which was quite overwhelming. If he insisted on obtaining the “Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method,” he would likely have to fight a bitter battle with Shen Yao.

In that case, how could he have enough capital to be “determined to have” Zuoliu?

For a moment, Shen Wenxing felt a breath caught in his chest. He wanted to throw caution to the wind and ruthlessly slap Shen Yao’s face, but reason forced him to swallow this breath.

Inwardly, he burned with rage!

Yet standing at the window, he truly restrained himself, clenching his fists tightly, saying not another word!

Including making another bid!

The Silver Tower once again fell into eerie yet tense silence.

In the Genshan Chamber.

A delicate white porcelain wine pot sat on the table, accompanied by two small wine cups.

Xue Wujiu sat beside the table, holding a wine cup, unable to drink, watching the scene unfold. Finally unable to restrain himself, he sighed: “Though this Puppet Sect member is a ruthless character, he’s still a step short of Shen Yao. She’s got him by the throat.”

The person sitting across from him also observed the outside.

But after hearing these words, he calmly withdrew his gaze. His slender fingers gently turned, hooking the wine cup, using his callused fingertips to lightly caress the rim, letting the freshly brewed green ant wine swirl in the cup.

Then he slowly drained it without speaking.

Xue Wujiu hesitated: “This ‘Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method’ is said to be the foundation of all laws for the demonic paths. Legend has it that the three great demon lords achieved their current accomplishments because they obtained one volume of this method years ago and studied it for many years. Should we…”

“What use would taking it be…”

The empty wine cup was gently placed back on the table with a soft “tap,” accompanied by his low voice, creating an indescribable sense of rhythm.

Xue Wujiu was immediately stunned.

In that instant, he recalled Zhendao Ren’s earlier words, remembered the layers of bloody storms that had occurred around the person before him over the years, and also recalled the true source of those bloody storms…

Yes indeed.

What use would taking it be?

It was merely an incomplete scroll of the “Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method.” How could it catch this person’s eye? What he held in his hands was the “Nine Curves River Chart” that had once stirred the winds and clouds of an entire era.

Remembering this disparity, Xue Wujiu finally shook his head helplessly and smiled, saying nothing more.

Outside, there was also complete silence.

Since Shen Yao’s bid of sixty thousand spirit stones, it seemed everyone had lost the heart to compete. Even the previously arrogant Shen Wenxing had closed his mouth after Shen Yao’s few words.

The final result was self-evident.

“Sixty thousand spirit stones, no second bidder!”

Zhendao Ren finally came to his senses, suppressing his turbulent emotions as he stepped forward with a face full of radiance, loudly announcing the result.

“Congratulations to Grand Marshal Shen for winning the ‘Nine Revolutions Heavenly Demon Heart Method’ incomplete scroll!”

The hammer fell, leaving no room for doubt.

Many who had previously participated in the bidding let out disappointed sighs, clearly regretting missing such a treasure.

In the Lihuo Chamber, however, all was quiet.

This development had clearly exceeded Tantai Xiu’s initial expectations. He slowly turned back to look at Jian Chou and suddenly said: “This Grand Marshal of Tongguan Station is not simple…”

Not simple indeed?

With just a few words, she had achieved the effect of using softness to overcome hardness, easily grasping Shen Wenxing’s weakness, bringing the essence of “striking the snake at its vital point” to its ultimate expression.

Jian Chou even suspected that she actually knew Shen Wenxing’s financial capacity and knew who would compete for Zuoliu today.

Though she hadn’t seen the person, just hearing her voice revealed that this person was definitely not famous without reason.

After sixty years away from the Nineteen Provinces…

This vast land had indeed produced some formidable characters.

Jian Chou thought abstractly, gazing at the vaguely graceful silhouette behind the bamboo curtain diagonally ahead, and still smiled, unable to hide the admiration and praise in her heart: “A person of exceptional talent, a heroine among women indeed!”