Chapter 547: Eternal Life: My Steady Farming-Style Cultivation Chapter 547 — Lambs Waiting for Slaughter!

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Upon hearing this, both Su Jinli and Yu Shi froze for a moment, a flicker of surprise flashing in the depths of their pupils.

Although Su Jinli spoke little, she had also seen the movements within the hall clearly.

Frenzied bidding — that is the norm when cultivators vie for rare treasures.

The fat cultivator spent lavishly; at most it only showed deep pockets, and there was truly no sign of anything "off."

Yu Shi, on the other hand, frowned slightly; having witnessed aristocratic clans throwing spirit stones around since childhood, the wealth on display at a fifth-floor auction struck him as merely a routine high-end affair.

This so-called "off" feeling seemed more like Xu Zhangqing's excessive vigilance.

The two exchanged a glance, each seeing the same doubt in the other's eyes.

They were both Earth-grade Golden Core cultivators; whether in Divine Sense keenness or breadth of experience, they should by rights far surpass Xu Zhangqing at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Why was it he who first detected the so-called major problem?

"You... speak clearly!"

"What exactly is the situation?"

"Where does the problem come from?"

After much thought, both Su Jinli and Yu Shi chose to send voice transmissions to inquire.

Xu Zhangqing replied quickly, or rather explained: "The offness lies in the details; you're used to high-end affairs, so you didn't notice these abnormal behaviors..."

First is the fat cultivator.

Medicine Worms can attract spiritual intelligence; the Spirit-Suppressing Cauldron can both refine and forge.

The two items seem unrelated, yet both are niche treasures, snatched up with excessive precision — not at all like a spur-of-the-moment decision, as if premeditated.

Even stranger, he spent over three hundred thousand without blinking, yet showed not the slightest vigilance in protecting his treasures.

His entire demeanor was like he was deliberately putting on a show for someone; there is absolutely something fishy here.

Second is the bidding on the Talisman Scripture.

For the first two hot items — the Medicine Worm and Spirit-Suppressing Cauldron — people still genuinely probed and wrestled; but this remnant scroll jumped in price the moment bidding opened, and all the previously silent ones emerged, yet not a single person asked which part the remnant lacked or whether the talisman arts were complete.

Cultivators seizing a cultivation method — when do they not take it seriously?

What's more, this is a treasure worth hundreds of thousands of middle-grade spirit stones!

Even more suspicious: their bids all stuck to the "ten thousand" minimum increment; no one dared bid higher, as if agreed upon in advance.

This isn't seizing treasure; clearly they're colluding to drive the price up, just waiting to hook the real sucker who wants this thing.

Similar tricks were seen often in loose cultivator markets before.

Praise-and-inflate.

Ambush and kill afterward.

The more it looks like rich men in a chaotic brawl, the more you must guard against the knives behind you.

It doesn't look like the Wan Family pulling tricks; rather, this group of bidding cultivators has too much tacit understanding — hot when hot, cold when cold, as if pre-arranged.

If an outsider can't see through it, staying here makes them lambs waiting for slaughter.

After hearing Xu Zhangqing's description, Su Jinli's gaze detached from Xu Zhangqing and swept over the crowd in the hall; her Divine Sense spread out like fine threads, utterly silent, and she thoroughly became a mere observer.

Wan Niang still maintained her enthusiasm on the stage; her gestures and tone were flawless, and even when someone bid, she would subconsciously glance at the bidder.

The higher the price, the more radiant the smile on her face.

Only, her pupils likewise contained a touch of astonishment.

This further corroborated Xu Zhangqing's judgment.

The Wan Family itself may not intend to break the rules; the problematic ones are this group of competing fellows.

"Two hundred sixty thousand!"

"Two hundred seventy thousand!"

"Three hundred thousand!"

Aside from a minority few who did not participate, the rest were all bidding.

But in reality, only a fixed few were truly calling prices; the rest either followed along to make up numbers or bid once then stopped — not a single one truly dared to deadlock with the fat cultivator.

Moreover, the fat cultivator who had already secured several items — when he bid, his eyes actually glanced toward Xu Zhangqing's trio, as if probing whether they were genuine buyers.

Beside them, Yu Shi's brows furrowed even tighter.

He finally realized: this isn't some high-end affair's liveliness; on the surface you fight me, but in reality it's all routines — more insidious than the aristocratic clans' open struggles.

In other words, if we followed along and bid, we would certainly become lambs waiting for slaughter.

This group truly has audacity, acting with utter recklessness.

But thinking in reverse, it also fits the style of this "No-Management Area" — order is chaotic to begin with, what rules could there be? Only greedy hearts.

Therefore, in the time that followed, Xu Zhangqing's trio simply thoroughly retreated to the position of observers, no longer revealing the slightest intention to bid.

At first, the fat cultivator and the others would still glance over from time to time, probing with their gazes several times in a row; seeing the three consistently show zero interest in bidding, they gradually withdrew their gazes and shifted attention to other cultivators eager to try.

"We probably haven't been targeted anymore."

Xu Zhangqing glanced at Su Jinli beside him, her expression still cold, and added: "Yu Shi and I haven't revealed our wealth from start to finish; we don't look like suckers.

The one most likely locked onto is Elder Sister Li, you."

After all, when Su Jinli just bought the ancient Alchemist's handwritten notes and the Spirit Mirror Jade, her motion of producing spirit stones was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Such a wealthy appearance, in the eyes of this group looking to cause trouble, is undoubtedly the most eye-catching target.

To this, Su Jinli said carelessly: "Let them come."

Unless there are Nascent Soul Stage powerhouses among this group, no matter how many come, they'll all die.

She was already at Golden Core Perfection, and moreover was a Fire Spirit Root cultivator whose combat power ranked second only to Metal Spirit Roots.

On top of that, backed by an immortal sect, she used top-grade resources, practiced complete Earth-rank cultivation methods and spells, and even her magic tools were high-grade.

To be honest, I can't think of how she could lose!

Xu Zhangqing was first stunned, then laughed helplessly: "True enough."

Su Jinli dares to come out and roam, which shows she has sufficient strength and confidence.

Though these fellows before them are clearly of one party, wanting to take down a Golden Core Stage immortal sect Disciple like her is no small difficulty.

What's more, they've already shifted their attention onto others.

On the Left Side, those few being closely watched by the fat Xiuxian Zhe and others are the true "sheep awaiting slaughter."

Though judging by their clothing and bearing, their identity and background are presumably not bad, this is the No-Management Area, and no one will care about such things.

Once the Mask is on, no one is loved.

Once the black robe is worn, life and death are seen lightly.

Put plainly, here having no rules is the biggest rule.

For some reason, those few being targeted particularly want the Longhu Talisman Scripture.

Even though the price has already reached four hundred and fifty thousand, they still show no intention of giving up.

The fat Xiuxian Zhe suddenly shouted: "Four hundred and eighty thousand!"

This price is enough to buy quite a few rare items.

For example, just now's Ancient Alchemist's Handwritten Notes could buy nearly three sets.

But just as the words fell, not only Xu Zhangqing and others, even the rest of the onlookers were all startled.

The next second, among those few on the Left Side, a tall man suddenly walked out, stepped forward half a step, and said in a loud voice: "Five hundred thousand!"

Instantly, the entire Fifth Layer fell silent, all filled with the sound of sharp hissing intakes of breath!