Chapter 215: The Posturing Yan Taibai

After emerging from the Heavenly Mystery Mansion, Yan Taibai caught sight of Xin Ruyin, who had also just come out of a Heavenly Mystery Mansion.

"Brother Yan, you also rented a Heavenly Mystery Mansion."

Xin Ruyin said with a sweet smile.

"Ruyin, who did you encounter?"

Seeing this, Yan Taibai sensed a lingering baleful aura on Xin Ruyin; to the current Yan Taibai, such an aura was the most sensitive thing of all.

And such a pure baleful aura was clearly something stained upon one's person just after killing someone.

Given Xin Ruyin's character, she rarely ever killed others.

"I encountered a fellow with ill intentions, and Master told me to kill him. However, I obtained this item from him; does Brother Yan recognize it?"

Xin Ruyin took a box out of her Storage Bag. When the box was opened, there was a dazzling golden object inside, the size of a fist, looking hazy and indistinct.

Looking closely, it was an existence resembling a bubble, its surface flashing with an unusual golden light, while the center was transparent and empty. However, there was not a shred of spiritual energy on it, as if it were a mortal object.

Seeing this, Yan Taibai immediately took it into his hand, his fingers sinking into it. It was soft and supple, as if it were truly a bubble.

"This is? What, does Senior Dayan not know either?"

Yan Taibai remembered that Dayan Shenjun knew of it.

"Master said he has an impression of it, but it has been too long, and he cannot recall it for the moment. Does Brother Yan not know either?"

Xin Ruyin explained, then pressed him further.

In her impression, there were very few things that Yan Taibai did not know.

"That is not the case, it is just that this is not the place to talk. Let us find an inn and discuss it! The origin of this item is extraordinary."

Yan Taibai shook his head, looked around, and explained.

"Alright, this little sister knew that Brother Yan would certainly know."

Xin Ruyin said with a hint of triumph.

Before the words had even faded, a cold snort rang out in the ears of Yan Taibai and Xin Ruyin; it was none other than Dayan Shenjun.

Hearing his own disciple praise another man in such a way, even a legendary figure like Dayan Shenjun felt some dissatisfaction.

It was clear that he had long since regarded Xin Ruyin as his own daughter in his heart.

As for Dayan Shenjun's little temper, Yan Taibai and Xin Ruyin merely exchanged a glance, put away their respective Heavenly Mystery Mansions, and went to the rental office to return them.

"Brother Yan, this Heavenly Mystery Mansion is indeed a good thing, but it is a pity that living things cannot be placed inside."

After returning them, Xin Ruyin, who had gained some understanding of the Heavenly Mystery Mansion, said with great regret.

"If it could hold living things, it would not be called a Heavenly Mystery Mansion, but a Cave Heaven treasure. Treasures of that level are rare even in the Spirit World. It is simply not something we can get involved with."

Yan Taibai explained with a smile.

"But didn't the fellow Daoist just now say that their Heavenly Mystery Mansion headquarters has them?"

Xin Ruyin frowned slightly, recalling the words of the woman in charge of the rentals just now.

"There must be restrictions; it is impossible to carry them around. If you don't believe me, I will take you to their headquarters when the time comes, and you will know."

Yan Taibai thought for a moment and smiled.

"Alright! It's a deal."

Xin Ruyin revealed a smile, as if her scheme had succeeded.

"Alright, you are waiting for me here."

Seeing this, Yan Taibai was speechless and gave a bitter smile. "Hee hee, if I didn't do this, would Brother Yan have agreed?" Xin Ruyin smiled sweetly, looking somewhat triumphant.

She was not at all worried that Yan Taibai would be angry because of this.

"Fine! Once I have resolved the matter of Senior Sister Wan'er, I will take you to the headquarters of the Heavenly Mystery Mansion."

Yan Taibai had no choice but to agree.

"Many thanks, Brother Yan; this little sister is deeply grateful."

Xin Ruyin gracefully performed a curtsy, her face full of gratitude.

"You, next time just say it directly; why go through all this trouble?"

Yan Taibai said with a helpless expression.

"This little sister was just worried that Brother Yan would refuse! I only resorted to this poor strategy; Brother Yan is magnanimous, please do not hold it against me."

Xin Ruyin immediately put on a pitiful expression and begged for mercy.

"Fine, fine, fine, let us talk about the real business! You wanted to know what this thing is, right? I will tell you now."

Not long after, once they had entered the inn room, Yan Taibai spoke up.

"This treasure is an item refined by a ten-thousand-year corpse king, which was transformed from a high-ranking monk, using his own sarira. As for why it ended up on a Foundation Establishment cultivator, that is unknown."

Yan Taibai thought for a moment and said.

"That is correct, indeed; what Fellow Daoist Yan said is not wrong."

Dayan Shenjun's voice followed.

Just at this moment, a streak of black light shot out from the Spirit Beast Bag at Yan Taibai's waist, landing on the table and transforming into a miniature monkey about an inch tall, with a coat of oily, pitch-black fur.

Once the little monkey appeared, it immediately sniffed a few times with its nose, its gaze instantly falling upon the golden bubble in Yan Taibai's hand, a look of hesitation appearing on its face.

"This Tihun Beast seems interested in this thing?"

Seeing this scene, Xin Ruyin said in surprise.

"Naturally it is interested; for the Tihun Beast, this thing is a great tonic."

Hearing this, Yan Taibai smiled and beckoned to the Tihun Beast, which then felt at ease and immediately surged with black yin energy.

Under Xin Ruyin's incredulous gaze, it dove straight into the golden bubble.

Afterwards, the golden bubble Xin Ruyin had obtained flared with light, and wisps of gray flames surged out, wrapping the Tihun Beast within.

For a moment, under Xin Ruyin's puzzled yet worried gaze, a look of pain appeared on the Tihun Beast's face, and just as she was about to say something, she was stopped by Dayan Shenjun.

Next, one could see the black Yin Qi on the Tihun Beast's body actually merging with the gray flames inside the golden bubble, clearly using the gray flames to cultivate within the golden bubble.

At the same time, after this gray flame appeared, the golden bubble suddenly became brimming with spiritual energy, emitting astonishing spiritual ripples as if out of thin air.

"Is this, is this the Tihun Beast cultivating with the help of the gray flames?"

Seeing this scene, Xin Ruyin also understood what the Tihun Beast was doing.

"This Spirit Beast is truly formidable. You must know, these corpse flames have already turned gray-white; they are undoubtedly pure Corpse Fire over ten thousand years old. Ordinary cultivators' Spirit Beasts would die instantly upon contact, yet this Spirit Beast actually dares to devour them. Tsk tsk, it really is extraordinary. However, this thing should not have been refined and claimed by a master yet; otherwise, the Corpse King behind it could recall it with a single thought."

Dayan Shenjun was also clicking his tongue in wonder at this moment.

"This Tihun Beast is indeed very powerful; otherwise, I would not have cultivated it so meticulously. As for what stage it can reach in the future? I cannot be certain either, I can only do my best to cultivate it."

Yan Taibai nodded and explained with a smile.

"Not bad, this Spirit Beast has infinite potential and is indeed worth cultivating well," Dayan Shenjun also agreed.

Just at this moment, the golden bubble on the stone table trembled, and a green light the size of a grain of rice suddenly shot out from within the golden bubble, flying toward the inn window.

Then, a crystal light flashed between Yan Taibai's brows, and a massive barrier of divine sense appeared throughout the entire room.

With a "Bang," the green light collided with the divine sense barrier. Before it could react, the Tihun Beast snorted, and a sheet of rosy light shot out from below, instantly rolling the green light back into the golden bubble and swallowing it into its belly.

"It looks like it should be a split soul of the Corpse King. If there are no accidents, the Corpse King must have wanted to use the old man from just now to deceive others, thereby using the split soul within this treasure to devour the primordial spirits of the deceived low-level cultivators to increase its own strength. Tsk tsk tsk, I wonder how many low-level cultivators have been fooled."

Dayan Shenjun directly deduced the approximate truth.

"Mm! It should be exactly as the senior said."

Knowing the truth, Yan Taibai nodded in agreement.

And at this time, two streaks of light, one after the other, rushed into the inn room.

They were none other than the Sound Transmission Talismans from Le Shennü of the Mulan Tribe and Lin Yinping, the Tianlan Saintess of the Tutu Tribe.

The two women had been competing for hundreds of years, and even sending a Sound Transmission Talisman required determining who was faster and who won, which left Yan Taibai truly speechless.

The content of the Sound Transmission Talismans was roughly the same: telling Yan Taibai and Xin Ruyin that their world for two was over, the auction was about to begin, and asking if they were interested in going in to take a look.

"Let's go! Let's go take a look."

After Yan Taibai and Xin Ruyin each finished reading the information in the Sound Transmission Talismans, they looked at each other and said.

Subsequently, the two left the inn side by side, and as soon as they came out, they saw Le Shennü and the Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping waiting side by side, yet ignoring each other, looking exceptionally eye-catching.

Seeing this, Yan Taibai and Xin Ruyin could not help but find it incredibly funny, and could only say one sentence each.

"Let's go! Let's go to the auction and take a look."

"Fine!"

"Mm!"

The two women nodded their heads in unison, then snorted coldly again.

Regarding this, Yan Taibai and Xin Ruyin did not interfere, simply walking side by side toward the bustling auction hall in the plaza.

As soon as the group arrived at the entrance of the hall, a white-robed cultivator walked over and said respectfully.

"To avoid having too many idlers, according to the regulations for participating in the auction, every fellow Daoist must pay three Spirit Stones."

Hearing this, Yan Taibai directly handed the other party one Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone, which surprised and delighted the several white-robed cultivators; they immediately gave the four of them one palm-sized jade plate each, as well as a Jade Slip, and said.

"Fellow Daoists, the Jade Slip contains the auction items for this time; you can take a look in advance to see if there is anything that suits your heart."

After finishing speaking about the contents of the Jade Slip, the white-robed cultivator then opened the entrance.

And after Yan Taibai expressed his thanks, he entered the entrance with the three beauties in his arms, under the envious gazes of the several white-robed cultivators and other cultivators.

After passing through a passage over twenty zhang long, there were four more cultivators on the opposite side, and behind them was a white, misty gate filled with spiritual light.

Upon seeing the four of them approach, they glanced at Yan Taibai with some envy, but did not say much. Yan Taibai, Xin Ruyin, Le Shennü, and the Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping naturally did not waste words on them, walking straight past, pushing open the gate, and entering the main hall.

"Five-hundred-year Phoenix Tail Flower, seven hundred and ninety Spirit Stones. Good, no other fellow Daoist is raising the price; this medicinal herb belongs to this fellow Daoist. Please, fellow Daoist number one hundred and thirty, go to the back later to pay the Spirit Stones and take the medicinal herb."

Seeing this, Yan Taibai lowered his head and glanced at the number on the jade plate in his hand.

"Five-two-zero!"

Seeing this number, Yan Taibai was instinctively stunned for a moment, then looked at the three beauties beside him, his expression showing a trace of awkwardness, but he did not say anything, just continuing to find a place to sit with Xin Ruyin and the three women.

After sitting down, it was naturally the same situation of having them in his arms, making many male cultivators envious to the point of jealousy.

After all, not to mention Xin Ruyin, although her beauty was not as great as the two women, her temperament was not inferior in the slightest.

And as for Le Shennü and the Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping, there was even less need to say; both were peerless beauties of national beauty and heavenly fragrance, rarely encountered in a hundred years.

Appearing in the auction house, they were simply more attractive than the auction items, and Yan Taibai also received many hostile gazes.

But Yan Taibai did not care at all, instead happily and comfortably waiting for the good things in his memory to appear.

After all, if it were not for these good things, he would not have come here.

As for the three women, although they attracted many gazes, no one dared to come forward to inquire about the situation.

After all, judging from the temperament and appearance of the four, they were all extraordinary cultivators; as long as one was not blinded by lust, one would naturally not come to look for trouble.

Just like that, half an hour passed, just when Yan Taibai thought that the good thing would not appear.

The middle-aged man in charge of the auction on the stage had someone bring out a tray, and on the tray were three deep red crystals. The red light flashing from these three crystals was like a raging fire, very eye-catching.

"Three Fire Melting Crystals, excellent materials for refining top-grade fire-attribute magical artifacts, starting price five hundred Spirit Stones. Interested fellow Daoists may place their bids."

The middle-aged man stated the name, use, and price of the items on the tray.

Seeing this, Yan Taibai smiled slightly and placed his bid.

"One thousand Spirit Stones."

Hearing this, Le Shennü and the Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping both felt quite surprised.

"Brother Yan, is there something special about these Fire Melting Crystals?" The two women really did not understand how such ordinary Fire Melting Crystals could attract a high-level cultivator like Yan Taibai to take the initiative to bid and compete.

It was truly inconceivable.

Although Xin Ruyin also did not understand, since Lin Yinping and Le Shennü had already asked, she found it difficult to ask more, but she still kept her eyes on Yan Taibai.

"Wait a moment, I will explain it to you after I buy them."

Yan Taibai feigned mystery and smiled.

Seeing this, Xin Ruyin immediately consulted Dayan Shenjun.

"Master, do you know what is special about that Fire Melting Crystal?"

"This master truly hasn't discerned it, but it shouldn't be an ordinary artifact-refining material."

Dayan Shenjun said quite awkwardly. It was not the first time he had been thwarted by Yan Taibai, and it was truly somewhat embarrassing.

"Oh." Xin Ruyin could only wait in disappointment for Yan Taibai to win the "Fire Melting Crystal" at auction.

Before long, the "Fire Melting Crystal" that Yan Taibai had been longing for and which had made the three women so curious was successfully auctioned and obtained.

"Brother Yan, this shouldn't be a Fire Melting Crystal, right?" Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping parted her lips slightly and guessed.

"Correct, this is indeed not a Fire Melting Crystal; it should be called a Demon Core Fossil."

Yan Taibai smiled slightly and explained,

"Demon Core Fossil! What is that?"

The three women looked at each other and asked in surprise.

"This is a type of material formed when a Demon Core has been underground for many years and gradually crystallizes. If refined into a medicinal pill, it is a highly toxic substance, but if it is carefully ground and refined into a needle-shaped magical treasure, it becomes the most formidable needle-shaped magical treasure."

Yan Taibai continued to explain.

(End of this chapter)