"How do you guard the gate? Don't you know those cultivators outside have ulterior motives? Why do you run errands and deliver messages for such people, Master? I didn't expect those guys to be persistent. There are still people trying their luck, that unnamed alchemist..." Before Master Hu Gu could speak, Sang Shuo, who walked out behind him, scolded the guards delivering messages.
"Shut up!" Master Hu Gu silenced his uneasy disciple and turned to the guards, realizing the importance of maintaining the image of the city lord's mansion.
"Master..." Sang Shuo was concerned.
Ignoring his disciple's attitude, Master Hu Gu apologized to the guards and eagerly took the letter. The guards explained, "The messenger insisted on delivering it to Master Gu, and the letter contains information about Young Master Hu's whereabouts."
Sang Shuo was uneasy but dismissed it, suspecting it might be a ploy to attract Master's attention. Master Hu Gu, however, was delighted, quickly opening the letter, and his expression changed dramatically. "Where is the messenger? Take me to him!"
The guards couldn't find the messenger, and when asked about the messenger's appearance, they realized they couldn't recall it. Another guard inquired, "Master Hu Gu, do you know who the messenger is?"
"It's my grandson, Wei Cai! He chose to send the letter but not meet me in person!" Hu Gu regretted not paying attention earlier.
Sang Shuo and Wan Siqing, who overheard, were surprised. They never expected the letter to be personally delivered by the second young master. Why would he avoid meeting his grandfather?
Sang Shuo regretted his impulsive actions, worried about the impression he left on his master. Wan Siqing suggested staying behind to continue the search for the younger disciple.
Hu Gu appreciated their understanding, deciding to stay a few more days until the elders from Changxian Sect left. Sang Shuo volunteered to search for clues immediately.
At another moment, Tian Feirong brought news about a large auction in the city. Interested, the group considered attending to see items from Changxian Sect. Despite the potential treasures, they knew their limited wealth wouldn't make much impact in the city.
Still, they decided to go, and Tian Feirong mentioned that the auction was hosted by the city lord's mansion, making it a significant event.
Entering the auction, they attracted envy with their generous entrance fees. Observers speculated about their identity, linking them to the wealthy families and the prestigious Tianfu Academy.
As the group ventured into the auction, discussions about their status and wealth echoed among the onlookers.
The auction was not unfamiliar to Gu Yao; it seemed similar to scenes in the Interstellar Alliance. Once, Gu Yao's potions were highly sought-after items at major auctions. Now, he could only find a corner to sit and wait for the auction to begin, reminiscing about the glorious days.
As someone approached from behind, about to pat their shoulders, Chi Changye suddenly turned, nearly startling the person attempting to sneak up on them.
Seeing Chi Changye's emotionless gaze, Zhou Shixiong felt a bit uneasy. "Changye is also interested in the auction. I happened to see a few junior brothers here and came over to say hello."
Genuinely, it was just a greeting, not an attempt to scare anyone. Zhou Shixiong tried to convey sincerity with his eyes, hoping Chi Changye would believe him.
Chi Changye smirked, then turned back without responding. Fortunately, the warm greetings from Gu Yao and the others saved Zhou Shixiong's dwindling self-esteem.
Zhou Shixiong directed them to a location. Despite the bad reputation of Tianfu Academy, it still had some support from the dean and several Foundation Establishment cultivators. Hence, the auction house arranged a private box for them. Zhou Shixiong had noticed the three entering mysteriously.
Not wanting to return to the box, Zhou Shixiong insisted on joining them. Sitting down, he explained, "Senior Fang's mood has been low these days. Staying in the same box with him is suffocating. Luckily, you guys came." It was just an excuse to escape and clear his mind.
"Is it because of the visit from Changxian Sect?" Gu Yao asked.
Zhou Shixiong glanced around and, seeing no one paying attention, whispered, "What Senior said that day is just one aspect. You don't know, every time Changxian Sect comes every ten years, they not only bring things but also take away much more. Why do you think they insist on leaving after the auction? It's to seize the opportunity to amass wealth. Even our Tianfu Academy has to regularly provide resources to the city lord's mansion."
The resources provided naturally ended up in Changxian Sect's hands, making the continent poorer over time. Zhou Shixiong mentioned the increasing difficulty for cultivators to reach Foundation Establishment, a situation he had heard of before.
Gu Yao could only pat his shoulder reassuringly. The weak had to bow to the circumstances.
Perhaps in a thousand years, even Foundation Establishment would become challenging, resembling the situation in Distant Sun Town.
When the hall filled with people, the auction finally began, hosted by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a woman who appeared sweet but spoke with a sharp tone.
"No more nonsense. Let's start with the first item: Cloud Mist Pill, a high-grade eighth-rank pill that can help Foundation Establishment cultivators advance a small stage. Starting bid, one hundred spirit stones. Each bid must be no less than ten spirit stones. Bidding starts now!"
On the central display platform, a hologram projected the auction item—a Cloud Mist Pill surrounded by clouds and faint golden patterns. The hall immediately buzzed with excitement. This was a top-quality pill, and the bidding quickly escalated to several thousand spirit stones. Gu Yao, initially astonished, eventually became numb.
Gu Yao commented, "I didn't expect there to be quite a few wealthy people. I guess I haven't seen much."
This is just the beginning; how many spirit stones could he amass throughout the entire auction? To him, it was like an astronomical figure.
"That's a top-grade pill," Senior Zhou explained, "Even Master Hu Gu might not be able to refine it. Missing this opportunity means waiting for another ten years to encounter such a pill again. Better start bidding aggressively."