Chapter 22: Mirage

However, Su Yuanshan said lightly.

"There's no need for that. This Seat does not wish others to know of my arrival, so... just pretend you know nothing, and do not reveal it to anyone. Do you understand?"

The Yunmeng Hebo nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

"An incognito inspection...? Understood, understood! This minor god will keep his lips tightly sealed, absolutely sealed!"

At this moment he was somewhat trembling, sweat beading on his forehead, praying in his heart.

Please, please don't let some blind fool cause trouble for me, swatting a fly on a tiger's head. Otherwise, once the Prefect leaves, I'll flay them alive!

Seeing Su Yuanshan about to leave, the Yunmeng Hebo hurriedly stepped forward and presented an item with both hands.

"This is a mid-grade immortal artifact, the Lingkong Ring. I humbly hope the Prefect will accept it!"

Su Yuanshan's face darkened at the sight.

"How dare you! Yunmeng Hebo, are you trying to bribe This Seat?"

Not expecting Su Yuanshan's reaction, the Yunmeng Hebo gave a start and hurriedly explained.

"You've misunderstood, Prefect. Bribe? You couldn't lend me ten thousand guts and I'd still not dare! This item was left behind by the previous River Earl when he met with misfortune. This minor god dared not keep it privately, so I offer it up to you!"

An item left behind by the previous River Earl when he met with misfortune? There seems to be a story behind this?

Su Yuanshan sent out a wisp of divine sense to investigate, thinking to himself: it seems this immortal ring is indeed ownerless.

"Very well, This Seat shall hold it in safekeeping on your behalf."

With a look of utter helplessness, he tucked the immortal ring away, slipping it casually into his sleeve.

Seeing Su Yuanshan accept it, the Yunmeng Hebo seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. His mood greatly improved, and after a deep bow, he transformed into a wisp of light smoke and vanished.

"This river god is quite perceptive!"

Seeing the Yunmeng Hebo leave, the little white fox poked its head out from behind Su Yuanshan. Though it was already a subordinate deity of the City God, instinctively it still felt a natural dread of proper gods like the River Earl.

"Let's go! It seems the Xiao Luosha Haishi has already opened!"

Without needing the little white fox's special reminder, Su Yuanshan had already noticed the strange phenomena around them:

Two rows of bluish ghostly lanterns formed a great road leading straight up into the mist atop the mountain.

Su Yuanshan then suppressed the divine aura about his body, drew a wisp of spiritual energy from his spirit pearl, transformed it into a yin wind that wrapped around god and fox alike, and drifted toward the cloud-mist region at the mountaintop.

Along the way he saw many bizarre creatures—some transparent, some semi-transparent, some human in appearance but with tails, some with human limbs but the head of a civet. They all crowded toward the Market in a human-like fashion, carrying all manner of cultivation manuals, secret scriptures, and precious materials they wished to sell.

Upon entering the Market, Su Yuanshan discovered that the surroundings seemed shrouded in mist, the ground soft and spongy underfoot. The Market seemed to be both on the mountaintop and on the lake's surface; in any case, the streets were just as bustling as a human marketplace.

"One hundred spirit stones!"

"Any other bids?"

"One hundred spirit stones, first call!"

"One hundred spirit stones, second call!"

"One hundred spirit stones, third call!"

"Sold!"

Suddenly, the cries of a hawker from a nearby pavilion caught Su Yuanshan's attention.

The little white fox beside him explained in a low voice.

"Pref... oh no, Master Su... this place is a demon cultivator's auction house, called Sanli Hang. Good items are generally auctioned here!"

Su Yuanshan raised an eyebrow and said, hands clasped behind his back.

"Is that so? Let's go inside and have a look around!"

The auction house was very large, built along the street.

The building material was neither metal nor wood, glowing with a faint cyan sheen. Above hung a plaque inscribed with three large characters: "Sanli Paimaihang."

Flanking the entrance of the Sanli Paimaihang were two stone beast statues—not the common stone lions of the mortal world, but two long-horned narwhals.

The steps gave off a faint white glow; their material was not stone.

Su Yuanshan stepped up the stairs, crossed the threshold, and went inside, greeted by a hubbub of bustling noise.

The interior was very spacious. At the far end stood what looked like a constructed stage, upon which was placed a long table bearing a wooden mallet and an item.

The item was covered with red silk, resting on a brown base that showed faint yellow grain patterns—clearly a top-grade piece of petrified agarwood.

Standing beside the table was a strange being with a catfish head, clad in a suit of cyan scales, with flying silk wrapped around both arms. With a single yank he pulled the red silk off the item, and a blaze of crimson was suddenly revealed before them.

The catfish head opened his great mouth wide and bellowed.

"A fine spiritual material—four-hundred-year-old Red Jade Coral! The consumer may lengthen their lifespan, calm the spirit, and concentrate Qi! Starting bid, one hundred spirit stones—any takers?"

He had to shout twice before someone responded.

"I bid two hundred spirit stones!"

"I bid three hundred!"

The catfish head raised the wooden mallet and brought it down with a "Bang!" as he shouted.

"Any other bids?"

"Three hundred spirit stones, first call!"

"Three hundred spirit stones, second call!"

"Three hundred spirit stones, third call!"

"Good! Sold!"

The one who won the Red Jade Coral was an old turtle; it was clearly not very advanced in cultivation, having not even evolved into human form.

It spat three hundred spirit stones from its mouth, only then placing the red coral on its back, and ambled away unhurriedly.

The catfish head called out again.

"Please welcome the next lot—Amber Spirit Jade. This jade......."

However, Su Yuanshan had no interest and continued watching others bid. Just as he turned to leave, he suddenly heard someone call out.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment!"

When Su Yuanshan turned his head to look, he realized the one calling out to him was an old clam spirit. He was flapping two pale purple shells, which shimmered with a rainbow-like luster. Apart from those two shells, he looked no different from an ordinary elderly human man—hair and beard all white, leaning on a walking stick that seemed to be carved from white jade and was worth no small sum.

Su Yuanshan couldn't help but slightly furrow his brow.

"Is there something you need?"

The old clam spirit cupped his hands and smiled.

"I see the young master's bearing is extraordinary, and I wish to make the young master's acquaintance. Might you do me the honor of visiting my humble abode for a chat?"

Su Yuanshan gave a faint smile.

"I'm afraid the old gentleman has misjudged. I am nothing but a humble little demon—I dare not aspire to such company!"

But the old clam spirit stroked his beard and smiled.

"Though these old eyes are dim, I can still sense the treasure-light hidden in the young master's sleeve!"

"To be frank, I am the proprietor of this establishment! This is no place for a proper talk—might I ask the young master to step into the inner chambers for a chat?"

He hadn't expected this old clam spirit to actually be the owner of the auction house. Su Yuanshan was somewhat surprised. After a brief pause, he nodded.

The old clam spirit chuckled.

"Young master, please follow me!"

As he left, he deliberately cast a glance at the little white fox—a look that seemed to carry some deeper meaning.

The so-called inner chambers were actually just a residence behind the auction house. Standing guard at the gate were two green shrimp spirits, who, like the catfish-headed auctioneer, wore green armor. Clearly, that armor was transformed from their scales, hence its pale green color.

After following the old clam spirit into the main hall of the residence and sitting down,

The old clam spirit ordered two beautiful clam maidens to serve fragrant tea. It was unclear what kind of leaves the tea was brewed from—the fragrance filled the air. But Su Yuanshan did not take a single sip; he was cautious by nature.

This old clam spirit was a complete stranger to him—who knew if he might tamper with the tea? After all, the heart is hidden behind the belly; he had no idea of this old clam spirit's origins or what was going on in his head.