Chapter 69: Auction Incident

There are no impenetrable walls in the cultivation world; the news that Bai Yi Garden's Lan Ming, an artifact refiner, obtained the top wood-element technique, the Qingdi Changsheng Gong, finally spread on the fifth day.

Soon, many furtive cultivators gathered outside Bai Yi Garden.

They only dared to observe from outside, not daring to intrude.

After all, Lan Ming had openly participated in the auction and obtained the Qingdi Changsheng Gong.

They had no justification to make Lan Ming, an artifact refiner, hand over the technique he held.

Tie Lanshan and his four companions sat cross-legged above Cautious Garden, watching the cultivators constantly passing by.

After dealing with Li Ye, they knew this day would come; thus, at this moment, aside from Wang Ye going to help Zhang Zuo with his hair, Tie Lanshan, Great Master Liaoru, Wu Yue, and Ouyang Hua directly came to the sky above Cautious Garden to protect Lan Ming.

Tie Lanshan silently watched the cultivators constantly passing below, yet his mind continually wondered why the other three had come to protect the law.

He did this for two reasons: first, Wang Ping is his benefactor, owing him life-saving and vengeance debts; Tie Lanshan is not a good person, but over all these years of fleeing, he has never forgotten one thing: to repay kindness!

Second, because he had seen Lan Ming make a move; despite being only at the late Qi Condensation great perfection cultivation, he could actually block the Jing Clan's Nine Yin Arrow.

This combat power moved him; for both gratitude and personal reasons, he must protect Lan Ming.

The attitudes of the other three, however, left him puzzled.

Great Master Liaoru had been guarding Lan Ming since the first night, which made him even more bewildered; he had asked before, and Great Master Liaoru said, 'Lan Practitioner, I have a karmic affinity with you.'

Hearing this, Tie Lanshan silently rolled his eyes, thinking, 'What karmic affinity? Do you still want to convert Lan Daoist into a monk?'

As for the other two, they spoke in unison, saying Lan Ming was fine and willing to protect him for a time.

Tie Lanshan temporarily chose to believe their words.

The fact that Lan Ming had four friends protecting him outside Cautious Garden spread throughout Market City.

Soon, it aroused envy among many cultivators.

At the same time, some rogue cultivators without background temporarily extinguished their ulterior motives.

Those four are: one a Formation Master, one a Talisman Master, one a Puppet Master, and another a Spirit Chef who is also a monk.

It is said they also have two other friends: one a Pill Master, one a Beast Master, plus Lan Ming the Formation Master.

This fearsome combination is something even some Foundation Establishment forces dare not provoke.

Thus, under the invisible deterrence of Treasure Gathering Pavilion, with Tie Lanshan and his companions providing protection, they passed two days in peace.

Today is the last day of Market City's auction, and also the last day of the Foundation Establishment cultivators' auction.

Over these two days, Market City could be seen everywhere with Foundation Establishment cultivators bringing their juniors in and out of the auction hall.

Especially today, it is rumored that the climax item is related to Golden Core formation.

Once this news spread, it even overshadowed the recent buzz about the Qingdi Changsheng Gong that had been discussed for days.

In the Western Droop region, no Golden Core cultivator has appeared for nearly a century.

If an item related to Golden Core cultivators truly appears at today's auction, it is likely that before long a fourth Golden Core True Person will emerge.

Treasure Gathering Pavilion and Soul Refining Hall excluded, in the eyes of the many cultivators of Western Droop, these two major powers are not considered forces of Western Droop.

After the auction began, Market City fell into an uncommon silence, as everyone awaited to see who could bid on the item related to Golden Core formation.

Tie Lanshan and his four companions also looked toward the Auction Pavilion; it can be said that the ownership of the Golden Core-related item largely determines the upcoming power division.

Time trickled by, and soon it approached noon.

Chirp!

Many cultivators were waiting when a sharp birdcall suddenly rang out from the direction of the Auction Pavilion.

Before they could react, a huge blue water dragon suddenly appeared above the Auction Pavilion.

A person of broad knowledge exclaimed, 'Dao Technique—Water Dragon Chant!'

Chirp!

The birdcall from just moments ago rang out again; under the gaze of the city's cultivators, a red fire bird engulfed in flames shot up from below and began battling the blue water dragon in the sky.

Someone else exclaimed, 'Dao Technique—Scarlet Bird Dance!'

Boom!

One bird and one dragon entangled with each other in the air!

At the same time, a voice sounded in the sky above Market City:

'Damn it! Zhu Tianying, you dare to act in Market City!'

'Hahaha! Stop spouting nonsense! I've already punched a hole in your Auction Pavilion, and you're still questioning me. Zhang Mingri, your Water Dragon Chant is nothing special!'

At this moment, another voice rang out: 'Zhu Tianying, you have defected to the Soul Refining Hall, slaughtered many cultivators, and dare to show yourself today; if so, don't leave!'

Having said that, a dazzling sword light rose from below, followed by a tumultuous sword aura that spread out.

This time, no introduction needed; the cultivators of Western Droop all knew the Heavenly Sword Sect had made a move.

'Heavenly Sword Master, if you dare to act, today I will let you fall dead here, becoming the first example of a sect leader of the three sects being killed.'

Boom!

Three figures rose from below, obviously Zhu Tianying, who radiated fiery red spiritual light; at this moment he was actually fighting two opponents of equal rank simultaneously without falling behind.

In the sky a hundred meters above Market City, a thirty-zhang-long fiery red Scarlet Bird, emanating a fierce aura, faced off against one dragon and one sword, occasionally flapping its fire wings, lunging or biting, or spewing fire to counter the water dragon's water column, or using its fire claws to block the Heavenly Sword's attacks.

Its formidable combat power caused the watching cultivators to frequently glance sideways.

Above Cautious Garden, Wu Yue took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, saying, 'Dao Techniques are indeed terrifying!'

Ouyang Hua nodded, saying, 'Yes! Each spark falling from that fire bird is enough to kill us!'

Tie Lanshan shook his head, saying, 'Dao Techniques performed with late-stage Foundation Establishment perfection cultivation aren't this terrifying; they must have used their natal treasures!'

'Natal treasure!'

Wu Yue and the other exchanged a glance, wanting to ask, but restrained by the setting, they did not speak, instead once again silently gazing upward.

At the hundred-meter height in the sky, Heavenly Sword Master and Zhang Mingri exchanged a glance, each seeing surprise flash in the other's eyes.

Heavenly Sword Master shouted even louder, 'Zhu Tianying, I never expected the Scarlet Bird Ring to upgrade to a supreme treasure; no wonder you dare to act against us simultaneously!'

Zhu Tianying, true to his name, not only has an eagle-hooked nose, but also a pair of arrogant, unruly eyes.

At this moment, hearing Tianjianzi's words, he laughed heartily.

"Tianjianzi, today is your death day! Zhang Mingri, if you don't want to die, just obediently roll to the side; who knows, I might still spare your life!"

Zhang Mingri's face darkened, his gaze hostile as he stared at Zhu Tianying; the hand seal he formed shifted, and a blue flying sword inside the blue water dragon trembled violently, causing the originally blue water dragon to suddenly open its maw.

Ang! Ang! Ang!

A wave of sound, one higher than the next, erupted from the water dragon's mouth, like a dragon's chant; Zhu Tianying, bearing the brunt, couldn't help but frown—the sound truly vexed him, and in his irritation he involuntarily shouted loudly:

"Damn noisy! Do you think only you can call? Crimson Sparrow! Cry for me!"

Zhu Tianying's whole body erupted in red light that rapidly expanded, releasing a terrifying aura of spiritual pressure.

Chirp!

The next moment, a birdcall capable of piercing metal and splitting stone rang out.

Two terrifying sound waves collided in midair, and on the ground, the shopping mall's protective grand formation had already been activated.

Even so, many Qi Refining cultivators below were shaken to the point of ear pain.

Moreover, those with lower cultivation simply fainted on the spot.

The sound wave emitted by the water dragon was quickly defeated; Zhang Mingri, who had unleashed the Water Dragon Chant, turned pale, and immediately spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Having lost the magical duel, suffering a backlash from the Dao technique and adding the opponent's sound wave attack, he instantly sustained severe injuries.

His inner spiritual energy went into chaotic turmoil, nearly causing him to lose balance and fall.

At the critical moment, Tianjianzi supported him and gave him a pill to swallow.

Zhang Mingri knew he had no strength left to fight, so he clasped his fists and flew downward.

Opposite him, Zhu Tianying's face also flushed red, indicating that he, too, had sustained considerable injury in the earlier clash.

Tianjianzi once again performed the Heavenly Sword Technique, and a brilliant sword light slowly emerged.

"Zhu Tianying! Summon the people of the Refined Soul Hall! Don't think you alone can run amok again!"

Zhu Tianying gave a heh-heh laugh, not bothering to show off further, and roared toward the heavens: "Lian Wuxue! I've already shown my worth—why haven't you appeared yet!"

Soon, a hearty laugh rang out from within the shopping mall below.

"Brother Zhu, your combat power is astonishing—truly admirable!"

Then, facing the many Foundation Establishment cultivators below, he clasped his hands and said with a smiling gaze:

"Everyone! I am Lian Wuxue of the Refined Soul Hall; please advise me!"

Above Prudent Garden, Tie Lanshan let out a sigh and said:

"Looks like a fierce battle is inevitable today!"