The cloth covering the box was finally pulled aside. The glass was clear like crystal, revealing a small mountain was perfectly white fur. It was very curious, the fur had volume and yet seemed like air at the same time. It was fluffy, snowy, and flawless; like the most luxurious material in the world. It was piled high so that something could have been hiding inside it without anybody knowing.
The eyes of the executive elders and clan heads gleamed with appreciation. As beast cultivators, they had a lot of experience with beast furs. This time, although it was not even a beast pelt but simply some shedded fur, the quality far surpassed their expectation. They could even feel a strange aura that pulled them towards it. It was as if they had suddenly gained an irresistible thirst. Many people gulped audibly and even started to sweat. All of them wanted this set of furs no matter what!
However, for the immortals present, their reactions were far more serious. From He Zicheng and Qu Shen to He Xinghan, Qiu Chuyi, Nan Lang, and Gu Lan; they were all frozen in their seats. Their eyes bulged out and their fists were clenched so tightly that veins began to pop. A frightful wind began to gust within the auction hall as the immortal auras that billowed out of the six mixed together. All of them could not control their inner urges while struggling to maintain an outer façade.
Hong Ling felt that the atmosphere was far too strange but she continued nonetheless, "As you all can see, this white fur is incredibly high quality. It still retains the powerful and unique aura of the immortal beast. And I am sure some of you have sensed it already, this fur came from a fox-type beast. As the Liu Wu Festival cherishes foxes of all species, it is especially fitting for such an item to appear in this auction, don't you think?"
Chen Wentian nodded along, hiding a smile. He glanced at Zhou Ziyun and Li Yuechan who had stony expressions. He wanted to laugh because he knew that those two were probably suppressing their own. The three of them clearly knew where this white fur came from. After all, this was their plan from the beginning.
It was Jasmine's fur.
Of course.
She was a divine beast but she was still a beast. With the changing seasons, she would shed like crazy, producing the large man-sized pile of fur that was currently on display.
"Enough!" He Zicheng suddenly said.
His spiritual aura pulsed with authority as well as simmering anger.
"Everyone, leave the building! Hong Ling, you stay!"
Many people shuddered in fright and made to flee.
Bang!
The chair under Qu Shen turned to dust as he stood up powerfully, "Not so fast!"
The two Spirit Kings glared at each other, once again at odds. It was clear that He Zicheng was trying to monopolize the situation and these furs. How could Qu Shen let it happen?
"Ahem," Chen Wentian spoke up at this time, drawing surprised looks from the others, "It seems that this item is far more special than anyone could have expected. It would be more suitable if the mortals left the premises and left this matter to the immortal lords."
Without waiting for their agreement, he waved his hands discretely behind him. Zhou Ziyun and Li Yuechan quickly got up and retreated out of the auction hall.
"I think Little Brother Chen is reasonable. You all, back off for now." Qu Shen said, waving his arm toward the executive elders and clan heads.
Those people stood up as one and left as commanded. Soon, the auction hall only had eight people, seven immortals and a lonely Hong Ling. The chief auctioneer put a brave face against this formidable lineup, remaining upright and calm.
He Zicheng turned towards Chen Wentian with a sneer, "You're an outsider, you can leave as well."
Qu Shen laughed, "Nonsense, Little Brother Chen is my ally."
He Zicheng gnashed his teeth but couldn't think of a comeback. He had hoped to deal with the matter of the fur on even ground. He didn't expect Qu Shen to be so shameless. Having suffered provocation from the eagle faction throughout the Liu Wu Festival, his temper was already at the limit.
"If he even so as speaks out of turn, I will kill him!" He Zicheng snarled. Turning to Hong Ling, his tone wasn't any better, "Explain quickly, which town did you get this fur from, in which province? How long ago was it, speak!"
Hong Ling finally couldn't hold on when directly confronted by the lion lord and fell to her knees, "Re-reporting to lion lord. It was Black Sand Town in the Rainbow Mountain Province. We obtained the furs only two weeks ago. The miners who sold it said they had found the den about another two weeks before that."
He Zicheng studied the old woman for a long time. He sensed no falsehoods and nodded, "You may leave."
Hong Ling bowed and slinked away. Her heart was probably crying from the loss. She had never expected things to get so out of hand. How could she have known that this fur came from the only taboo in the whole of the Beast God Sanctum. It was a secret that could not revealed to anyone.
"Qiu Chuyi, immediately head for Black Sand Town and search for this den." He Zicheng said.
"Yes, my lord!"
Before Qiu Chuyi could leave, Qu Shen's voice stopped him, "Where do you think you are going? Did I give you permission to leave?"
Several ferocious auras clashed together as the two sides faced off again. They all knew about Jasmine and that these furs came from her. They understood the seriousness of the situation and nobody was willing to back down.
He Zicheng and Qu Shen had been searching for Jasmine ever since she escaped. They had not even found a single hair after so long. However, a pile of her fur just so happened to appear today. It was enough to shock all of them to their core.
The underground nest where the miners had found the furs was probably Jasmine's hiding place for a long time. If she was hiding in the Northern Wasteland, it meant that there was a chance that she was still there. It was a chance to finally obtain their hearts' desire.
"Qu Shen, what do you want to do?"
"He Zicheng, hehe. What do I want to do? What do you want to do?"
These two old farts, each of them wanted Jasmine for themselves. They didn't even want to share the furs. They couldn't see eye to eye at all.
"He Zicheng," Qu Shen said, "Since you are the older brother, I will give you some face. You can have these furs. In exchange, Nan Lang and Gu Lan will be going ahead to investigate the wasteland."
"Pei!" He Zicheng spat, "You dare to speak about face? He Xinghan, you're going with Qiu Chuyi as well. Go now!"
At the lion lord's deafening roar, Qiu Chuyi and He Xinghan gathered their spiritual energy and flew into the air, directly heading for the teleportation array.
"You dare?" Qu Shen screeched and shot up into the skies as well.
"Back off!" He Zicheng charged and collided with Qu Shen directly.
At the same time, Nan Lang and Gu Lan chased after Qiu Chuyi and He Xinghan, with Chen Wentian following close behind them.
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