Liuyunchuan.
In just one day, the air in Liuyunchuan seemed to be permeated with spirit stones, carrying a restless, money-grubbing smell.
The streets were several times more crowded than usual, with all sorts of colorful streaks of light swirling like fish crossing a river. Cultivators dressed in different sects' attire thronged together, their cultivation auras mixed together.
Foundation Establishment cultivators were at the bottom of the hierarchy, while the pressure from Golden Core cultivators swept over the crowd like an invisible tide, and occasionally, one could even catch a few wisps of the chilling, somber aura belonging to Nascent Soul experts.
The signboard of Yuntai Immortal City is like a giant, walking magnet, attracting almost half of the top power in Lingzhou.
After all, the sect competition, which is crucial to the sect's resources for the coming year, is just around the corner. Who wouldn't want to find more of their most treasured possessions for their disciples?
The banners of the five top sects fluttered arrogantly above the luxurious pavilions in the heart of Liuyunchuan.
Among them, the flag of the Tianyan Sect with its black background and gold cloud pattern was the most eye-catching.
The leader of the Tianyan Sect this time was Elder Qingxuan, who was able to keep Yan Qiubai in check when he suddenly defected from the sect.
Elder Qingxuan, dressed in an elegant blue robe, had a refined face and a gentle smile on his lips. His gaze swept calmly over the noisy crowd. Wherever he looked, the heavy pressure belonging to the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage quietly spread out, but it was not oppressive. Instead, it was like a spring breeze and rain, strangely calming the restless spiritual energy around him caused by the large number of high-level cultivators.
However, this gentle and comforting feeling was crushed just two steps behind him.
Gu Xuanchen wore a black robe with gold patterns, the fabric of which shimmered in the sunlight, exuding an air of nobility.
He slightly raised his chin, his eyes filled with an indifference that seemed to transcend the masses. When the crowd saw him, it was as if an invisible hand had parted the tide, automatically creating a wide passage and leaving behind a sea of awe and fear in their eyes.
Yun Wan'er followed closely beside Gu Xuanchen, dressed in white, pure and immaculate, like a celestial being who had mistakenly descended to the mortal world.
She lowered her eyelashes slightly, her posture gentle and serene, yet when her eyes occasionally swept over the dazzling magical treasures and spiritual materials on the stalls on both sides, there was a hint of pickiness and self-righteousness.
Wherever she went, eager inner disciples would rush ahead and discreetly keep away any low-level cultivators who tried to approach, strike up a conversation, or try to sell themselves to her, clearing out a spotless area for her. They acted as if they were afraid others wouldn't know that she was the most precious treasure in the heart of the Tianyan Sect's leader.
Behind them followed dozens of inner and outer disciples who had come out to "see the world." They all straightened their backs, their faces filled with pride and arrogance, and their gazes toward the surrounding cultivators unconsciously carried a hint of condescension.
The banner of the Tianyan Sect is the source of their confidence.
However, just as this grand procession rounded a street corner piled high with shimmering, colorful ores, it was met with an even more scorching crimson.
Chixiao Sect.
The leader of the group was a burly old man with a full beard and hair. This man was none other than Elder Fenyan, the most hot-tempered and most doting elder of the Crimson Cloud Sect, who also doted on Pei Lang the most.
Fen Yan had heard that Gu Xuanchen had tried to use his power to suppress his own son during the newcomer competition. Now that he had met him, he naturally didn't intend to give him any face and just shouted loudly, as if he wanted half of Liuyunchuan to hear: "Yo, Brother Qingxuan."
"I heard that your Tianyan Sect displayed all sorts of cunning and ruthless tactics at the newcomer competition in Yunqi City, yet you didn't even manage to secure a single spot in the finals?"
"Ha, back when the five major sects were ranked, your sect wasn't like this at all. How come you've fallen so low in just a few years?"
"hiss!"
The onlookers, who had been suppressed by the oppressive aura of the Tianyan Sect and dared not even breathe loudly, suddenly erupted into a cacophony of buzzing discussions, as if a silencing spell had been broken.
"Insidious poison? What insidious poison?"
"You didn't know about this?! Look, that pretentious Yun Wan'er, I heard that even though she and her fellow disciples were in trouble, she was still thinking about those few spirit cores and refused to help her fellow disciples who were dying!"
"ah?!"
"No, really? I thought Junior Sister Yun was quite gentle and charming, how come..."
Each comment, like a winged dagger, whistled into the ears of the Tianyan Sect members.
Gu Xuanchen's knuckles were clenched under his wide sleeves until they turned white.
Yun Wan'er, standing beside him, gasped for breath. Her drooping eyelashes trembled violently, and she bit her lower lip hard to suppress the heat and embarrassment that rushed to her face.
Qingxuan's head was buzzing as he listened to the almost tangible murmur of discussion behind him.
I'm mentally exhausted.
I'm truly exhausted.
He longed to be like Yan Qiubai, simply packing his bags and leaving.
But he couldn't do it.
His master's prophecy was like a sword hanging over his head, and the sect's fate for ten thousand years depended on these two. What else could he do but hold his nose and protect them?
Qingxuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the pent-up frustration in his chest, and put on his usual gentle and peaceful mask again.
He even nodded slightly to the red-browed, red-haired old man opposite him, his tone carrying a hint of helpless tolerance, as if comforting a silly old child: "Brother Fenyan is joking."
His voice remained clear and gentle, without a trace of anger.
"How can we take the gains and losses of the younger generation so seriously? On the other hand, your sect has a profound foundation and produces many talented people. I'm sure you've prepared some truly eye-catching treasures for this warm-up auction at Liuyun Immortal Market."
Warm-up auction.
As the name suggests, all cultivators participating in the Cloud Terrace Immortal Market, regardless of whether they are sect leaders or small-time rogues, can bring out a treasured item to participate in this auction before the official auction.
The spirit stones auctioned off will be temporarily held by the organizer of the Immortal Market, "Yuntai Alliance," as reserve funds for the righteous path's future campaign against demonic cultivators.
That's what they say, but everyone knows the truth.
This pre-auction event was nothing more than a stage for the top sects to show off their wealth and put on a show of arrogance.
The more prestigious the sect, the more they compete in this matter, wishing they could pull out an earth-shattering treasure to repeatedly humiliate their rival sect and demonstrate their unfathomable strength.
This also serves as a warning to rivals to be cautious during formal auctions and not to mess with those they can't afford to offend.
Fen Yan was choked by Qing Xuan's words, which effortlessly deflected the pressure of flaunting wealth, and his old face twitched.
Their Chixiao Sect has a strong foundation, but can they compete head-on with Tianyan Sect, which has Lingxiao Zhenren in charge and also controls a top-tier mineral vein?
"snort!"
Elder Fenyan snorted out two thick breaths that seemed to carry sparks, trying to salvage his image, "Rare treasures? Of course we have them! It's better than some sects that use their energy on crooked and evil ways!"
"What are you kids doing hanging around there? Get back here right now, or you'll get some unclean bad luck on you!"
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