Chapter 579: The Heavenly Book

"Is it to make an offering to the mountain god of Mount Xushan?"

"Why would you need such a good item for that!" another person said. "What's the difference between offering Boundless Gold and throwing several hundred thousand taels of silver into magma?"

"Boundless Gold must, of course, be used on divine artifacts! Using it on other magic treasures is simply a waste of heaven's gifts."

"You and I both think so, but that's the Ke family! Things done by the Ke family always have to be different from ordinary people." The onlooker gave a bitter smile. "Do you still remember the Flowing Fire Pearl unearthed when the Flowing Cloud Immortal Cave opened? That was a relic of an immortal that hadn't lost its vitality. The Ke family bought it back for the high price of 150,000 taels, and what was the result?"

"What was the result?" The bystanders were all listening intently.

"The result was that they put it in a lake to raise fish! Because those few dozen large fish stay in a constant-temperature environment, their body colors would be more vibrant!" The onlooker clicked his tongue twice. "Things that could be accomplished with a few arrays, they had to use an ancient relic like the Flowing Fire Pearl to do!"

"And then there was the hairpin ceremony for the Ke family's fifth young miss two years ago, that Rainbow Feather Garment..."

"And there's more..."

He Lingchuan scratched his head as he listened.

In this godforsaken world, the rich die of excess, and the poor die of want.

Although he didn't buy anything at today's Dun Garden auction, he had gained a lot and felt the trip was well worth it.

It is worth mentioning that in the subsequent auctions he patronized, three more treasures aroused the covetousness of the Divine Bone Necklace, which expressed a feeling of "really want to eat." But He Lingchuan remembered that strange ox horn and felt a chill in his heart, so he decided not to make a move.

Of course, the outrageous prices were also one of the reasons he didn't act.

Nothing here was cheap; money didn't seem like money anymore. He had just seen a gold comb auctioned off on the floor, inlaid with seven types of gemstones. However, the gemstones were not the reason it was valuable; using this comb regularly could make one's hair thick and lustrous. The starting price was 100 taels, so what was the final transaction price?

Three thousand taels, which is three million copper coins.

Most of the bidders were female guests, but the one who finally took it away was a lion king.

He Lingchuan touched his own head; fortunately, he had plenty of hair, which saved him 3,000 taels of silver. He could eat something good after returning home.

In the afternoon, Fu Shanyue had seen enough, so he left the venue early with He Lingchuan.

Fang Canran, the grand steward of the Golden Horn family, enthusiastically saw them off. Seeing He Lingchuan return empty-handed, he couldn't help but say, "Young Master He actually didn't find any treasures he liked? This is my dereliction of duty!"

He Lingchuan laughed, "I just accompanied the Crown Prince to join in the fun."

It wasn't that there were no good things, nor that there was nothing he liked, but the auction items at Dun Garden were simply too expensive! His net worth was considered substantial outside, but he couldn't even afford two good items here.

He had better keep a tight grip on his own purse, lest it all disappear the moment he started spending.

"How can that be?" Fang Canran said enthusiastically, "When a guest visits our Dun Garden, there must be something that catches their eye. What does Young Master He need? I will have people keep an eye out for it."

"Is that so?" He Lingchuan subconsciously glanced at the signet ring on his hand again, "Then please trouble Mr. Fang to keep an eye out for a Dreamland for me."

"Hmm?" Fang Canran looked at his own hand following his gaze, "A Dreamland?"

"Yes." He Lingchuan smiled, "When I was investigating a case at Baishajue, a spellcaster held a magic treasure that was a Dreamland contained within a conch shell. I thought it was very interesting and hoped to get one too."

Fang Canran gave an 'oh' sound, "Now that you mention it, I do have some impression. There are, there are, Dun Garden has sold such magic treasures before."

He Lingchuan had only asked casually and didn't expect him to be able to pick up the conversation: "At the autumn auction six years ago, there was a Dreamland magic treasure that was auctioned off. It was the dream of a small island city in the East Sea. The distinguished guest who bought it was doing it for their children to play with. The children had never been to the seaside, so they let them experience the island scenery."

"Uh, that works too?"

"Of course." Fang Canran smiled, "This is Lingxu City, after all."

Lingxu City is a place where everything is possible.

"Then I will trouble Mr. Fang."

"Once found, I will entrust someone to inform Young Master He."

"Good, thank you very much!" He Lingchuan bid him farewell and left with Fu Shanyue.

The long-armed ape stood behind with a few mantises, grinning and making a "keep in touch" gesture.

But He Lingchuan always felt a chill behind his back. When he turned his head, he discovered that apart from Fang Canran's full-faced smile, Zhongsun Ce and Hong Chenglue were both looking at him with sinister expressions.

Their unfriendly gazes followed him all the way until after he left the venue.

These two guys are like ticking time bombs; he has to think of a way.

That night, Mount Xushan.

Someone came to report to Bai Ziqi: "Lord Dushi, the Heavenly God's relic was auctioned off by an idler at Dun Garden, and it was sold at the starting price of three taels of silver. The Crown Prince of Chi Yan and He Xiao did not bid."

Bai Ziqi had just returned after a day of rushing about. At this moment, he was lying on a long chair, placing a hot towel on his face to relax: "Did they notice the Heavenly God's relic?"

"The Crown Prince of Chi Yan didn't even look at it. He Xiao lingered by the unknown curios display cabinet for a while, but only looked at other things and didn't pay attention to the Heavenly God's relic."

"Were they both present when the treasure was auctioned?"

"They were both there and heard it, but didn't show any interest. He Xiao yawned repeatedly." The person said, "They didn't raise their paddles from beginning to end."

"Were there any variables midway?"

"The relic was originally supposed to be auctioned at Tianyu Pavilion, but later they went to Hanxiang Hall, so we asked Dun Garden to coordinate and changed the location; someone came to find He Xiao, and we waited until he returned and sat down before starting the auction of the relic."

Bai Ziqi sat up abruptly and grabbed the towel: "Being so deliberate, it would be strange if he didn't get suspicious!"

The subordinate stammered and dared not say more.

Bai Ziqi also knew that the situation at the auction was complex, with unexpected developments and wealthy people who didn't care about money everywhere. It was not easy to slip in a treasure that He Xiao could afford but that other wealthy suckers wouldn't care about.

After all, things that could be favored by the Great Fanghu, how could they be ordinary items?

Bai Ziqi rubbed his face: "Does the person who auctioned off the Heavenly God's relic have any relationship with the Chi Yan people?" Could it be a proxy bid? "We are currently monitoring."

"The Heavenly God's relic cannot be left outside. If the buyer truly has no relationship with the Chi Yan people, you go and take the relic back, don't make a scene."

Like others, these two seemed to have little interest in the Heavenly God's treasure. Forget it, if this opportunity is missed, it is missed.

The easiest method had already been tried and didn't succeed; did he have to change tactics? Bai Ziqi straightened his clothes and set off for the Zhaixing Tower.

After he knelt before the altar and finished reporting, the flame of the eternal lamp in the wind-proof temple suddenly flickered twice, and words slowly appeared on the Heavenly Book: Test again.

Sure enough, as long as it involved the Great Fanghu, the gods would never be at ease.

If the gods are not at ease, they start to torment people.

Bai Ziqi said respectfully: "Please give your instructions, Holy Venerable."

Every time the Heavenly God descends an oracle, it does not necessarily require the Demon Emperor to be present. Most of the time, they only communicate with the Lamp-Guarding Envoy or the Dushi Envoy.

These are their "own people."

Therefore, in the absence of the Demon Emperor, the words flashed on the Heavenly Book were very plain, and even unadorned: "Check the fate lines of these two people, have they been twisted! Fate interfered with by the Great Fanghu cannot remain the same!"

Bai Ziqi just watched and didn't speak.

He knew very well that it wasn't his turn to speak yet.

Sure enough, a line of words flashed on the Heavenly Book immediately after: "No! Lady Mitian's specialty is whitewashing peace. Even if Lady Mitian has fallen, the Great Fanghu is likely still affected."

It seems this was a debate.

Bai Ziqi looked at his nose and his heart, remaining calm as usual.

The Heavenly Book returned to being blank.

After a long while, words reappeared: The second flash of the Heavenly Net, what happened in northern Chi Yan?

It was finally Bai Ziqi's turn to answer. He thought for a moment and recounted the scene that night: "Nothing major happened in those six counties that night, except for Cheng Yu's failed attempt to plot against He Xiao and suffering a backlash, and He Xiao chasing him to the Tongfu Inn, where he fought a great battle with the Fan Sheng and Fan Bao brothers who were guarding there."

"He Xiao explained not long ago that Cheng Yu sent a Yin spirit to plot against him, but it was knocked back by his Purple Gold Pestle instead." Bai Ziqi continued, "This statement is very likely true. I interrogated the Cen Mansion guards who looked after Cheng Yu afterwards, and also looked at the Dreamland where Cheng Yu hid his soul. He was clearly not avoiding ordinary ghostly things."

Heavenly Book:

"We suspect the Great Fanghu is hiding in the Azure Void."

"The Azure Void?" Bai Ziqi thought thoughtfully, "The Holy Venerable says it is not in the Divine Realm, not in the human world, but hiding in the Azure Void? Does the Great Fanghu have the ability to escape into the void?"

This time, the words on the Heavenly Book were more numerous, and it turned a page: "During Lady Mitian's control, the Great Fanghu seemed to derive new abilities. It merged with Panlong City. For the past hundred years, the lonely souls of the desert have all been swallowed by it, and during the sandstorm season, it released the dead spirits of the Great Wind Army and the Three Corpse Insects. How could it not have the power to escape into the void?"

"This disciple has been taught." Bai Ziqi said immediately, "That is to say, the second flash of the Heavenly Net star might be because He Xiao encountered an attack by a Yin spirit, and the Great Fanghu, which was originally hiding in the Azure Void, automatically protected him, and the released energy was sensed by the divine object."

Heavenly Book:

"Exactly, might as well do it again."

"You want He Xiao to suffer such an attack again? If it triggers the divine object's response again, or if the Great Fanghu protects its master directly, it can be confirmed that the Great Fanghu is on him!" Bai Ziqi understood, "This is a brilliant plan. The movement is small and won't attract attention from all sides."

The Heavenly Book went blank again for a long time.

The night wind blew the curtains, and the hall was filled with cold air.

Bai Ziqi knew that this was the Heavenly God thinking.

About a quarter of an hour later, two words finally appeared on the Heavenly Book: "Judgment."

Bai Ziqi was shocked: "Holy Venerable, for a mere mortal, must we conduct a soul judgment? This price..."

There was no one in the temple, only the flame of the eternal lamp flared twice more.

"Yes, we will go and prepare now." Bai Ziqi did not approve, but at this moment he could only say heavily, "Ten days later, it can be conducted."

￥￥￥￥￥

South of the city, Tongxin Guard Camp.

There was no one else in the large room. Fan Sheng and Fan Bao stood, and the person behind the table sat, with his legs propped high on the table.

Fan Sheng's back was straight, but he lowered his head and didn't speak.

"Weren't you full of ambition before going south?" The person snorted, "Why are you like a frost-bitten eggplant now?"

(End of chapter)