The appraiser, his face drenched in cold sweat, stammered.

  “I-I do not have such authority.”

  I let out a faint chuckle as I replied.

  “Then bring someone who does.”

  I leisurely sipped my tea.

  The appraiser quietly sighed and gestured to Lianhua.

  Pretending not to notice, I took another sip of spiritual tea.

  I found myself slightly curious about who would come this time.

  Would it be someone from the upper echelon of the city? Or perhaps a figure from the sect backing them?

  Come to think of it, I still did not even know the name of that sect.

  Our old man had mentioned something like Qing Xianzi back then.

  Next time, I should ask the Plum Blossom Elder about Qing Xianzi.

  As I drank my tea, lost in thought, a robust and imposing man entered.

  Behind him stood a gaunt, thin man.

  “I heard a distinguished guest had arrived and thus came to pay my respects. I am Meng, Pavilion Master of Okheon Pavilion, in charge of the overall affairs of this Qingluo Exchange Gathering. You may call me Pavilion Master Meng. This here is our city’s Formation Master.”

  I lifted my gaze slightly and examined the Formation Master standing behind him.

  A Foundation Establishment cultivator.

  Even across the entire city—and even the entire sect—there were said to be only a handful of Foundation Establishment Formation Masters.

  From that alone, one could see how difficult it was to advance as a Formation Master.

  A Formation Master could suppress cultivators of the same level, and even those of a higher level.

  If becoming a Formation Master were easy, everyone and their dog would attempt it.

  As for me? I simply had too much time on my hands. And perhaps a bit of talent as well.

  Pavilion Master Meng asked politely,

  “May we sit for a moment?”

  I deliberately grumbled.

  “Hmph. If I told you to remain standing, would you?”

  Pavilion Master Meng laughed heartily and took a seat.

  The Formation Master, sitting somewhat awkwardly beside him, stared at the Formation Plate with shining eyes.

  Yes, that was more like it.

  A Formation Master ought to behave that way.

  “If you wish to see it, then look.”

  I treated a fellow Formation Master with a hint of friendliness.

  That would make me seem even more eccentric.

  The Formation Master’s complexion brightened as he immediately immersed himself in studying it.

  “Now then, let us get to the point. How much can you reduce the commission?”

  Pavilion Master Meng smiled warmly.

  “We wish to show the utmost sincerity. We will retain only 0.5 hal as commission and let you take the rest.”

  0.5 hal?

  That was unbelievably generous.

  Auction commissions usually exceeded 3 hal.

  Something was suspicious.

  As expected, Pavilion Master Meng made a meaningful gesture.

  He glanced at the Seven-Leaf Immortal Spirit Grass on the table, then lightly nudged the Formation Master’s arm.

  The Formation Master, who had been fully absorbed in the Formation Plate, hurriedly lifted his head.

  “Pavilion Master, it is exactly as the appraiser said. We must secure it for our side…”

  Heh. Formation Masters really were simple.

  To expose their true intentions right before a deal.

  After a brief moment of awkwardness, Pavilion Master Meng sighed and made his proposal.

  “You must already know the situation of Qingliu City. At present, this formation is absolutely necessary here. The City Lord has promised full support as well. He was unable to come in person due to pressing matters…”

  Oh? Was it that important?

  Then it would not hurt to raise the price.

  “Hmph. If it is so important, should he not come personally to request it?”

  Of course, I absolutely hoped he would not.

  In negotiations, finding fault and putting on airs were essential.

  I might actually get addicted to this tyrannical act.

  Things were going far too smoothly.

  “Haha, my apologies. There have been many matters within the city recently…”

  “Well then, it cannot be helped. Since its auction value is uncertain, I will consider selling it for one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones.”

  Pavilion Master Meng’s brows twitched slightly.

  According to the appraiser, the Formation Plate was worth fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones at most.

  He had expected a price increase, but doubling it was quite bold.

  Yet he soon steeled himself.

  Qingliu City was not poor.

  With this formation, everything could be resolved.

  Not only the drought, but even the stain on a high-ranking figure within the sect could be erased.

  “…We accept that condition. We have no other choice.”

  I was slightly taken aback.

  I had only thrown out that number in anticipation of bargaining.

  Just how wealthy was Qingliu City?

  The gain exceeded my expectations.

  As I prepared to conclude the transaction, Pavilion Master Meng spoke again.

  “However, there is one more proposal I would like to make. You brought fifteen stalks of Seven-Leaf Immortal Spirit Grass, did you not? Please sell ten of them to the city first.”

  Hm.

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  It was possible, but selling them at auction would likely fetch more.

  Perhaps sensing my thoughts, he added immediately,

  “The price will be set according to the average price of the Seven-Leaf Immortal Spirit Grass sold at today’s auction.”

  “Hm, the average price? Would that not put me at a disadvantage?”

  Before I could press further, he preempted me.

  “And we will waive the auction commission entirely.”

  Wow. Generous indeed.

  It seemed the sect behind them had intervened.

  Foundation Establishment Pills must be precious to them as well.

  Well, what did it matter?

  As long as I was paid properly.

  “It is not a bad proposal… but it seems somewhat lacking.”

  Pavilion Master Meng nodded.

  A three-thousand-year-old Seven-Leaf Immortal Spirit Grass was worth that much.

  “Then state what you desire. We will accommodate you as much as possible.”

  “In addition to the average price, add one hundred mid-grade spirit stones of each attribute. Per stalk. Then I will accept.”

  Attribute-bearing mid-grade spirit stones contained the power of the Five Elements.

  They were immensely helpful in cultivation.

  Accordingly, they were difficult to obtain and rarely circulated.

  Pavilion Master Meng clenched his teeth.

  “So be it! Thank you for the transaction, Zhenren.”

  Shortly after, he handed me a high-quality storage pouch.

  It looked far superior to the one I usually used.

  A true gain.

  Inside were glittering mid-grade spirit stones.

  After injecting spiritual power to confirm, there were exactly one hundred thousand.

  It seemed they had paid for the Formation Plate first.

  “The payment for the ten stalks will be given immediately after the auction concludes.”

  I nodded readily.

  Naturally, the average price had to be known first.

  “Mm, I like how decisively you conduct business. Take this.”

  As I extended the Formation Plate, the Formation Master immediately grabbed it.

  Though Pavilion Master Meng seemed to hold higher status, he allowed such overstepping.

  Was the Formation Master’s position truly that high, or was his backing simply strong?

  I casually waved Pavilion Master Meng away.

  The appraiser handed me a contract, asking for my consent to place five stalks of Seven-Leaf Immortal Spirit Grass and the Purple Gold Essence up for auction.

  After carefully reviewing it, I infused it with spiritual power.

  Through the mask, I felt my aura completely altered.

  I did not forget to receive the receipt.

  Documents were more trustworthy than people.

  After the appraiser left, only Lianhua remained.

  She looked extremely awkward.

  “Why are you still hovering about? You may leave as well.”

  Her expression fell completely.

  Was it because the commission had slipped away?

  Hm…

  I felt a slight pang of pity.

  After some thought, I tossed her a single low-grade spirit stone.

  There was no other way to maintain character consistency.

  “Do not make such a long face. Take this and be gone. You are distracting.”

  Her lips trembled before she forced a reluctant smile and left.

  Sigh.

  My heart did not feel at ease.

  As expected, being tyrannical did not suit me.

  ***

  The auction began.

  Under Lianhua’s guidance, I took my seat in a private chamber.

  The inner hall of Okheon Pavilion was extravagantly luxurious.

  Private rooms filled a massive cubic chamber, arranged like the opera houses I had seen on television.

  The front of each chamber was covered by something completely transparent.

  From outside, nothing within could be seen.

  From inside, however, the center of the hall was perfectly visible.

  “When items are presented, you may enlarge them through the window before you to examine them closely,” Lianhua explained.

  Hm. A kind of touchscreen?

  I pressed my finger against it.

  The carved peony on the central platform magnified into view.

  The performance was impressive.

  “Mm, not bad. Which number is mine?”

  “Please look at this jade slip. It lists today’s items.”

  I examined it.

  The Purple Gold Essence was fifteenth, and the Seven-Leaf Immortal Spirit Grass twenty-first.

  With twenty-seven items total, the order was acceptable.

  I skimmed the other items.

  As expected, Dharma treasures dominated.

  There were puppets, spirit beasts, herbs, pills, ores, demon beast inner cores, even cultivation techniques.

  I sat quietly, sipping spiritual tea.

  Ha. I might be getting addicted to it.

  Before entering seclusion, I should purchase some.

  I could afford such luxury now.

  Soon, the auction curtain rose.

  The auctioneer stepped forward beside a large gong.

  He was an elderly man with a pleasant countenance.

  “Welcome to the flower of the first day of the Qingluo Exchange Gathering—the auction! This is the first exchange gathering held exclusively for righteous human cultivators, without demonic cultivators or demon clans present!”

  His delivery was smooth.

  Neither his pace nor volume had fault.

  Yet somehow, I still thought the Plum Blossom Elder was better.

  Perhaps that was simply bias from familiarity.

  “One could say a new era has begun. Let us begin the first auction of this new era!”

  Four Dharma treasures were presented in succession.

  Each possessed the might to shatter skies and split mountains.

  With my ability, I could not even dream of using them.

  The moment I activated one, my spiritual power would be drained dry, leaving me a desiccated corpse.

  I had no desire to test whether I would survive becoming a mummy.

  There was also a rare spirit beast.

  A Flamecry Bird, with flames blazing along its tail.

  Said to carry the bloodline of the ancient true spirit Phoenix, it sold for fifteen thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

  Next was my Purple Gold Essence.

  I leaned forward slightly, rubbing my hands together.

  How much would it fetch?

  “This next item is an exceedingly rare ore. Across the entire history of Qingluo Exchange Gathering auctions, it has appeared only a handful of times. It is none other than Purple Gold Essence!”

  The gong rang.

  The ore appeared upon the central platform, shimmering brilliantly under the light.

  Gasps erupted from all directions.

  Perhaps to heighten excitement, bids were not soundproofed.

  Competition loosened purse strings.

  “There is no one here who does not know its effects. As you can see, it is roughly the size of two adult fists. Bidding begins at eight thousand mid-grade spirit stones!”

  Private Chamber Eleven lit up.

  “Nine thousand five hundred from Chamber Eleven!”

  Indeed, only Core Formation cultivators and above were present.

  Their spending was bold.

  Merely listening made my scalp tingle.

  How did they all live so well?

  The auction intensified.

  “Twelve thousand from Chamber Seventeen!”

  In the end, my Purple Gold Essence sold to Chamber Eleven for eighteen thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

  My palms grew damp.

  Something appraised at five thousand sold for eighteen thousand.

  Of course, that had only been the minimum estimate…

  Human psychology was terrifying.

  Ah. I should avoid competition and proceed safely.

  ***

  At that moment.

  Within a hall of the Heavenly Palace.

  Qing Xianzi stood gazing at mist-covered peaks, his expression hollow.

  Lately, he had been experiencing a sense of ennui.

  The friends he once knew had either departed or entered seclusion.

  He had no blood relatives or disciples left to care for.

  Once he had, but all had died of old age.

  Having sworn a Heavenly Dao oath and renounced Ascension, he no longer feared tribulation nor craved cultivation.

  Only the Heavenly Palace, where he had grown up, anchored his heart.

  Even Heavenly Treasures appearing in succession left him indifferent.

  To one who had abandoned Ascension, such treasures only brought chaos.

  He sighed.

  He recalled someone who would flush red and charge at him whenever they met.

  Still, things had been more interesting when that fellow was around.

  As he sank into thought, someone approached.

  It was Yuan Shu, City Lord of Qingliu City and his youngest junior brother.

  “Senior Brother, are you gazing at the mountains again? Why not attend the exchange gathering?”

  “Heh. No need. It is troublesome.”

  Yuan Shu frowned.

  Qing Xianzi, a Spirit Severing cultivator, was the pillar of the Heavenly Palace.

  He could not allow him to remain so despondent.

  “There is a rather unusual figure among the participants.”

  No reaction.

  “He seems talented in formations. He developed a Formation Plate capable of resolving Qingliu City’s drought.”

  Qing Xianzi’s brows lifted.

  Indeed, exceptional Formation Masters always drew his attention.

  “…Is that so? What kind of person?”

  Yuan Shu answered awkwardly.

  “He attended the exchange gathering anonymously… but it is said he wears a tiger mask…”

  Before the words finished, Qing Xianzi spun around.

  Rare excitement appeared on his face.

  “What? A tiger mask? Is that true?”

  His beard trembled as he exclaimed,

  “This will not do. I must see for myself. A tiger mask?”

  ‘Could it be…That fellow had appeared once more?’