Chapter 2159: Voluntary Bait

Soon after, the Ten Thousand Gods Alliance received a notice from the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance in the Central Region. In a large city in the Southern Region of the Central Region, Lin Yuan City, a grand auction will be held, featuring two Divine Blood Fruits for sale.

However, the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance specifically had Li Hongtao remind Ye Liuyun.

Those two Divine Blood Fruits are provided by Zhongxing Wangchao, and they are designated to be auctioned in Lin Yuan City.

Ye Liuyun understood immediately; this is a trap set by Zhongxing Wangchao, and it remains to see whether he dares to go.

"You have been hiding in the Eastern Region and the Alien Battlefield; Zhongxing Wangchao never had a chance to strike you.

Now they are throwing a bait to make you take the hook voluntarily.

Although Lin Yuan City is not a Royal City, it has a Teleportation Array, so the dynasty's Martial Cultivators can teleport there, which is very convenient."

Li Hongtao also reminded Ye Liuyun.

As for whether Ye Liuyun will go, that is for him to decide.

Ye Liuyun smiled, thanked him, said neither yes nor no, and headed straight back to the Eastern Dynasty.

After returning, Ye Liuyun took Yuan Bin, Shen Kuo, Lu Yao, and Liu Yang—four Martial Cultivators he had marked with Slave Seals—and, using Thousand Illusion Technique to alter their appearances, passed through the Alien Battlefield and teleported to the large city near Lin Yuan City, Wang Hai City.

Wu Qingcheng used Thousand Illusion Technique to stand in for Ye Liuyun at the Royal Palace, dealing with the surveillance of Zhongxing Wangchao's spies.

After arriving in Wang Hai City, with more than twenty days left before the auction, Ye Liuyun was not in a hurry to rush to Lin Yuan City; instead, he began strolling around Wang Hai City and released Liu Yang, letting him wander the city in a frenzy.

"Find a local wealthy young master; we will attend the auction using his identity."

Ye Liuyun also told Liu Yang his true purpose.

Ye Liuyun thought that even if Zhongxing Wangchao discovered he had not left the Royal Palace, they would suspect he would send people to bid for the Divine Blood Fruit.

Therefore, he needed a local identity so as not to be easily suspected by Zhongxing Wangchao.

"Then we should go to a restaurant or a brothel; that would be easier to find one!"

Liu Yang reminded Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun and Liu Yang first went to a restaurant, where they met a few suitable wealthy youths, but they were surrounded by many people, and the restaurant was relatively quiet, making it inconvenient for them to act.

So they had to go to a brothel instead.

This time it was easy; they encountered many wealthy youths.

Liu Yang even paid to bribe the host and gathered information on all the wealthy youths who frequently came here.

In the end they zeroed in on a Martial Cultivator named Shi Lianfu, whose realm was the same as Ye Liuyun's—a mid‑stage of the Seventh Layer.

The Shi Clan is also a locally famous wealthy family, a lineage that specializes in making Formation Plates.

Shi Lianfu, as the sole heir of the main line, is the future successor of the Shi Clan and has been pampered since childhood.

Moreover, Shi Lianfu boasted that he would soon attend the Lin Yuan City auction, causing many surrounding wealthy youths to be envious.

Some younger men were dissatisfied, saying they also planned to go to the auction just to see the excitement.

"Ha ha, you are indeed just going to watch the spectacle.

I, however, intend to actually take part in the bidding.

And my family's master even arranged a private room for me.

If you don't believe it, look—my invitation is the same as your tickets, right?

You can only sit in the hall and watch the fun!"

Shi Lianfu proudly brandished his golden invitation and bragged.

"That fits perfectly!"

Ye Liuyun was also very satisfied with the target Liu Yang had selected.

"Then when do we make our move?"

Liu Yang asked Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun also thought they still had plenty of time before the auction; seizing Shi Lianfu too early would risk being discovered by others in the coming days.

"Let's keep an eye on him for a few days first!"

Ye Liuyun replied.

On Shi Lianfu's side, a few sycophantic youths immediately begged him to take them along to broaden their horizons.

Shi Lianfu merely pretended to consider it and had no intention of taking them.

But a slightly chubby boy said he could find a way to blend into Shi Lianfu's guards, and as long as Shi Lianfu agreed to take him, there would be no problem as long as he wasn't exposed.

Shi Lianfu thought about it, and as a favor, he agreed.

"We will split up and act separately.

You keep an eye on Shi Lianfu; before he sets out, do not act hastily.

I will watch that chubby boy."

Ye Liuyun thought that as long as there was an identity to blend into the auction, being a guard might even be less conspicuous.

Thus Ye Liuyun and Liu Yang each monitored the two, communicating via Slave Seals.

These wealthy youths had nothing proper to do each day; they either loitered in brothels or restaurants.

The slightly chubby boy, named Xue Li, actually went to find his uncle.

His uncle, the Shi Clan's head of the guard, could not resist his persistent pleading and eventually agreed, enlisting him into Shi Lianfu's guard unit.

That night Xue Li excitedly told Shi Lianfu that everything was arranged and he would go with him when the time came.

"Don't worry; when the time comes, just stay by my side and follow my orders!"

Shi Lianfu readily agreed, prompting a wave of envy among the others.

Then the group resumed discussing the Divine Blood Fruit.

"Who doesn't want it! But that thing is beyond our reach; we can only look at it! With so many strong contenders and major forces gathering at the auction, we have no chance!"

Shi Lianfu was quite self‑aware about that.

"How many great powers can be richer than your Shi Clan! Buying at the auction depends on wealth, not combat prowess!"

Someone again put a high hat on Shi Lianfu.

"Just afraid that the price will be too high later, not worth it."

"We'll see then, depending on the situation. If it's a Top‑grade Divine Crystal worth ten to twelve million, I can still afford it! If it's any more, buying it and taking it back will get me scolded by the old master!"

Shi Lianfu spoke as if a ten‑million Top‑grade Divine Crystal weren't a huge expense.

It also caused a group of young gentlemen to fawn and flatter.

"Exactly, that little Divine Crystal is just your pocket money!"

"Still, Shi Shao is extravagant! That many Divine Crystals, I wouldn't even dare to imagine!"

Shi Lianfu, amid everyone's praise, felt very satisfied.

Ye Liuyun and Liu Yang followed them for a few days, and before the auction, Ye Liuyun acted against Xue Li, pulling him into the Space World.

Then, using the Thousand Illusion Technique, he assumed Xue Li's appearance and mingled with Shi Lianfu and the others for a few days.

As for Liu Yang, Ye Liuyun didn't let him act, but directly pulled Liu Yang back into the Space World.

Shi Lianfu also prepared to set out three days early; in fact, he planned to linger in Linyuan City for a few days and have a good time at the brothels there.

Ye Liuyun, disguised as Xue Li, successfully followed Shi Lianfu to Linyuan City.

Upon arriving in Linyuan City, Ye Liuyun immediately noticed that the number of Martial Cultivator masters here far exceeded that of Wanghai City.

Obviously, these were all pre‑positioned by Zhongxing Wangchao here.

Holding a large auction here provides cover, so few will notice the increase of Martial Cultivators.

Many Martial Cultivators also hide their realms and blend into restaurants, inns, and other places.