Chapter 148: No Respect

"Lord, the Giant Wood Sect?"

Lin Zixi's eyes held a hint of surprise.

The two sisters, when they first left Nanshan Fang with Ruan Qingzhu, actually traveled together for several months.

When they separated after crossing the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, they were reluctant to part.

But Giant Wood City is far from Character: Liyang Immortal City, and they couldn't gather any news about Ruan Qingzhu.

Zhu Xiaochuan, seeing this, smiled and asked, "Dao companions, do you have any connection with the Giant Wood Sect?"

Xiao Zhangqing shook his head and said, "It's not really a connection; it's just that a friend went to Giant Wood Immortal City."

"That's normal. After all, although Giant Wood Immortal City is remote and its scale and prosperity are far inferior to Character: Liyang Immortal City, it is still the foremost Immortal City in the Western Region, ranking around the top ten in the entire Da Yu Cultivation World. Moreover, Giant Wood Immortal City, like the Giant Wood Sect, has a long history of over a thousand years, something Character: Liyang Immortal City lacks. In the whole Da Yu Cultivation World, aside from the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace, there are few lineages older than the Giant Wood Sect. Moreover, the vast desert contains many ruins that attract many explorer cultivators," Zhu Xiaochuan commented.

Then Zhu Xiaochuan shifted the topic to the auction.

"The posthumous Earth Soil, for the Giant Wood Sect's sacred tree, should provide some reinforcement. If the rumor is true, the sacred tree is on the brink of breaking through the tribulation; should it someday advance to the fourth stage, the Giant Wood Sect would take another step, breaking the millennial pattern of the Da Yu Cultivation World and becoming the third largest Nascent Soul force!"

"Of course, that's difficult. In a sense, the Giant Wood Sect's sacred tree breaking through the tribulation to the fourth stage is far less hopeful than our Character: Liyang Immortal ascending to become a Nascent Soul True Lord!"

"Even the probability of other Core Formation sects producing Nascent Soul True Lords is higher than that of the Giant Wood Sect."

"The Giant Wood Sect gathering posthumous Earth Soil and such treasures is merely doing their part and leaving the rest to fate, hoping for a chance."

Zhu Xiaochuan's commentary on the Giant Wood Sect was much bolder, unlike his earlier cautious remarks about the Blood Crow Immortal.

After all, the Giant Wood Sect isn't a faction of Character: Liyang Immortal City, so saying a bit of idle talk is fine.

Xiao Zhangqing wasn't very concerned about this.

Although Ruan Qingzhu went to Character: Liyang Immortal City, when they separated he only had a great completion of Qi cultivation, and now it's unknown whether he has successfully established a Foundation.

Even if he succeeded in establishing a Foundation, a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator is completely inconspicuous in a place like Giant Wood Immortal City, making it almost impossible to gather any information.

But the next moment, Zhu Xiaochuan's words made Xiao Zhangqing frown.

"By the way, the Giant Wood Sect's envoy came to Character: Liyang Immortal City not only to attend the auction and cooperate with us, but also for something rather interesting. I heard they're inquiring about a Foundation cultivator named Xiao Zhangqing who came from a small place in the Southwest Region called… Nanshan Fang."

"Hm?" Xiao Zhangqing and Lin Zixi exchanged another glance, both feeling surprised and curious.

If Xiao Zhangqing might be a namesake, then coming from Nanshan Fang leaves no room for misunderstanding.

The Giant Wood Sect's people are looking for him! Yet he has no connection with the Giant Wood Sect, hasn't even been to the Western Region, so the only possibility is that they're looking for him because of Ruan Qingzhu!

Lin Zixi wanted to say something, but stayed silent under Xiao Zhangqing's restraining gaze.

"Dao companion Zhu, the other party is the Western Region's largest Core Formation sect, why would they look for a mere Foundation cultivator?" Xiao Zhangqing asked nonchalantly.

Zhu Xiaochuan didn't have concrete information either, and said, "It seems this Xiao Zhangqing saved the life of an important disciple of the Giant Wood Sect; they're trying to find him to give a reward. Of course, I don't know whether that's true or what exactly is going on. I only happened to hear officials from the City Lord's Office mention it a few days ago. After the auction, if they still can't locate him, perhaps the Giant Wood Sect will ask the City Lord's Office for help."

Xiao Zhangqing nodded, neither confirming nor denying.

He saved someone?

Does it refer to him saving Ruan Qingzhu? Or Ruan Qingzhu's son Ruan Bufan?

There is no one else.

But Ruan Qingzhu has such great influence in the Giant Wood Sect that she could have Fake Core True Person deliver a message to find someone?

That shouldn't be the case.

If Ruan Qingzhu truly possessed such great power, she wouldn't have been relegated to Nanshan Fang for years without being utilized, eventually becoming a target that could be easily suppressed.

The Giant Wood Sect's strength and foundation far exceed those of Baihua Valley.

"If that's the case, then this Xiao Zhangqing is truly fortunate. A top Golden Core sect like the Giant Wood Sect wouldn't be stingy in repaying a favor; they'd likely offer treasures, techniques, and inheritances freely. Even if one is willing to follow the Giant Wood Sect back to the Western Region and become a distinguished guest at Giant Wood Immortal City, the future would be even brighter," Zhu Xiaochuan said enviously.

Xiao Zhangqing, however, held a different view.

He thought the matter was somewhat abnormal, likely odd.

If he truly is an ordinary Foundation cultivator from a small place, the 'reward' from a top Golden Core sect like the Giant Wood Sect might indeed tempt him. After all, even a tiny benefit from a Golden Core sect can be immensely advantageous to an ordinary Foundation cultivator.

Just as today the Giant Wood Sect spent 170,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones to purchase a batch of posthumous Earth Soil, something an ordinary Foundation cultivator could hardly imagine.

But Xiao Zhangqing has no interest in the Giant Wood Sect's reward and would never follow them to the remote Western Region.

A city of scattered cultivators like Character: Liyang Immortal City is most suitable for him.

Going to Giant Wood Immortal City, a place controlled by sects, offers too little freedom; top‑tier resources, especially the treasures needed for Core Formation, are almost unattainable without joining the Giant Wood Sect.

By comparison, Character: Liyang Immortal City is far more relaxed.

"But what exactly is Ruan Qingzhu doing in Giant Wood Immortal City—has she leaned on some patron or what? If there's a chance, it can still be investigated," Xiao Zhangqing thought to himself.

When they first separated, the Lin sisters also asked Ruan Qingzhu why she sent her son to Giant Wood Immortal City early, but Ruan Qingzhu seemed to have an unspeakable secret and didn't wish to make it public; the Lin sisters understood and didn't press further.

At the time of their parting, the Lin sisters had also asked Ruan Qingzhu why he had sent his son to the Giant Tree Immortal City so early, but Ruan Qingzhu seemed to have an unspeakable secret and did not wish to make the matter public; the Lin sisters understood the limits and therefore did not press further.

The auction lasted over two hours, selling dozens of treasures with prices ranging from a few thousand to just over two hundred thousand.

It covered everything imaginable. Xiao Zhangqing also participated in several bidding rounds later, but the items he coveted were all expensive, and the competitors were too fierce; in the end he gave up and couldn't win.

Thus his only gain this time was a single Jiao Long Essence Pill.

But that one alone was enough!

With this treasure, his auction turned into a huge profit.

The auction ended.

Someone concealed their figure and hidden their aura, and under the organizer's cover, hurried away.

At the auction venue, the Nine‑Union Chamber and the City Lord's Office were present, and no one dared to act recklessly.

But after leaving the auction, especially for cultivators not from Character: Liyang Immortal City who need to rush away, it's uncertain whether any mishaps will occur en route.

The Character: Liyang Immortal City auction's influence is so great and its reputation widespread that sects from the Da Yu Cultivation World thousands of miles apart send cultivators specifically to attend, naturally resulting in many calamity cultivators obtaining information.

Beyond Character: Liyang Immortal City, even within the city, there are countless disguised calamity cultivators lying in wait; no one can say for sure.

Fortunately, the auction officials are considerate; any guest who makes a purchase and successfully wins a treasure can apply to the organizers for a 'protection mechanism'.

Essentially, the City Lord's Office can provide cover, allowing them to leave the auction site silently, and no one knows where they went.

Basically, the city lord's residence can provide cover, letting him silently leave the auction venue, and no one knows where he went.

Of course, cultivators who are overwhelmingly powerful or have sufficiently strong backing need not worry about being robbed.

So after the auction ended, many cultivators called friends, rekindled old ties, or made new acquaintances.

For example, Xiao Zhangqing found himself in such a situation.

After the auction, Xiao Zhangqing, accompanied by Lin Zixi, prepared to head straight back to Jinxiufang; he could hardly wait to test the effect of the Jiaolong Essence Pill.

But he was called out.

The one who called him was not an acquaintance.

Gu Zongyuan was very busy today, and Zhu Xiaochuan still had some wrap‑up work after the auction.

As for Jiang Jiyue and Mu Chunfeng, they have not yet publicly revealed themselves to Xiao Zhangqing, to avoid any mishap.

The feud between Xiao Zhangqing, the Song family, and the Blood Crow Real Person seemed to have reached a pause; that day at the Drunken Moon Tower, the Song family head Song Wentian said and did nothing further. Yet anyone with eyes knows that the animosity between Xiao Zhangqing, the Song family, and the Blood Crow Real Person has become increasingly irreconcilable, even reaching a life‑and‑death hatred.

It no longer concerns merely He Yuan's face; the young master Song Changning, whom the Song family had high hopes for, died at Xiao Zhangqing's hands.

The Song family's heirloom Magic Treasure also remains in Xiao Zhangqing's possession.

The Song family now either cannot find a reason or dares not act, but the grievance in their hearts cannot be swallowed.

As for the Blood Crow Real Person, their stance remains unclear.

Thus, when the auction ended and Jiang Jiyue and Mu Chunfeng emerged from the Jiang family's VIP box, they spotted Xiao Zhangqing from afar; the two sides exchanged only a brief glance, then pretended not to know each other and went their separate ways.

"Dao Companion, please wait."

Xiao Zhangqing was about to Sword Flight when he heard the words and couldn't help but stop, turning his head toward the fair‑faced female cultivator with a ponytail who walked over.

"Ding Dao Companion?"

Xiao Zhangqing asked tentatively.

Although he did not recognize the face before him, he guessed the other's identity from the clear, oriole‑like timbre of her voice.

She is Ding Yanran, a core disciple of the Xingyue Palace of the Nascent Soul Sect! Xiao Zhangqing remembered her well because during the bidding for the Jiaolong Essence Pill, Ding Yanran was his main rival, along with Li Xuelian of the Seven Star Sword Sect; the two of them bid against him for several rounds.

In the end, Xiao Zhangqing raised the bid by twenty‑thousand Low‑grade Spirit Stones, causing the two to retreat.

"Dao Companion, your keen hearing guessed my identity at once," Ding Yanran said flatteringly, though her face showed a hint of arrogance and aloofness, and continued, "Dao Companion, would you honor me with a cup of tea?"

Xiao Zhangqing shook his head and said, "Ding Dao Companion, just speak plainly if you have business; I still have urgent matters to attend to."

Ding Yanran slightly frowned, hesitated a moment, then said, "Since that's the case, I'll get straight to the point. Dao Companion, could you transfer the Jiaolong Essence Pill from the auction to me? I lack enough Spirit Stones, having only 115,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones... However, I could owe you a favor; how does that sound?"

Xiao Zhangqing: "..."

So she really came to ask him for the Jiaolong Essence Pill? Though she had just called him, he had guessed this possibility.

But the terms Ding Yanran offered truly left him at a loss.

You propose to buy later, spending a few more Spirit Stones than at the auction, and call that sincerity.

Yet your price is lower than my own bid, as if I'm robbing the rich to aid the poor on my own account.

"Ding Dao Companion, your favor is precious; I dare not be greedy," Xiao Zhangqing said patiently, explaining, "But this Jiaolong Essence Pill is very important to me and cannot be transferred, so you need not consider it."

Ding Yanran, hearing this, grew a bit irritated and said, "Then I'll purchase it at the original price of 130,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones, and give you the remaining 15,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones tomorrow; that should settle it, right?"

"It's not a matter of Spirit Stones. I said this Jiaolong Essence Pill is very important to me. Even if Ding Dao Companion offered 200,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones, I could not resell it," Xiao Zhangqing reiterated.

Ding Yanran narrowed her eyes slightly, a clear anger flashing in her gaze; after a pause she said coldly, "It seems Dao Companion is not giving me face, is that so? Then will you grant face to the Guang Qin Real Person?"

(End of chapter)