Chapter 682: The Li Family

True Person Xihu is an Elder of the Li family on Mount Doumi.

Moreover, this woman is unmatched in beauty, extraordinarily radiant and captivating.

Early in his career, when He Pingsheng had just ascended to the Spirit Realm, he was injured by the rules of the ascension channel, rendering him immobile and lying helpless in Yanzhi Mountain. Later, he was rescued by Li Yunyun of the Yanzhi Mountain Li family, and thus became entangled with the Li cultivation clan.

In the end, He Pingsheng helped the Li family resolve their difficulties and even intimidated the Nascent Soul cultivator from the Wu family who sought to force himself upon True Person Xihu.

He then departed in haste.

The key point is, True Person Xihu held great affection for him and repeatedly hinted that they could become cultivation partners.

He Pingsheng had not accepted at the time.

But now, upon meeting again, he finds True Person Xihu being auctioned off as a slave?

He Pingsheng's spiritual sense spun rapidly.

He wanted to know: what had happened?

Had the Li family suffered some calamity?

If not for a calamity befalling the Li family, how could True Person Xihu have become a slave?

And even if the Li family had met misfortune and True Person Xihu had been turned into a slave and put up for auction, the issue remains: Mount Doumi and the Li family both belong to the Tianpeng Emperor Domain, under the Tianhuo Divine Nation.

They are tens of thousands of miles away from this Zhuque Emperor Domain.

Why was True Person Xihu brought here to be auctioned?

Conspiracy?

Trickery?

Targeting me?

In an instant, He Pingsheng thought of many possibilities.

It made him feel a chill.

After reviewing everything, He Pingsheng was nearly certain this was arranged by the Tianhuo Divine Emperor, meant for him.

Of course, it might not be.

But He Pingsheng believed the likelihood this was the Tianhuo Divine Emperor's doing exceeded ninety percent.

Combined with his prior offense against the Tianhuo Divine Emperor's young princess, Tian Yao, this possibility rose further.

"Huh…" He Pingsheng took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening: What should he do?

Save her?

Or ignore her?

If he ignored her, He Pingsheng feared he could not pass his own Dao heart.

If he intervened, he feared falling into the Tianhuo Divine Emperor's trap.

After deliberation, He Pingsheng decided to act.

So what if it's the Tianhuo Divine Emperor's trap?

If you send a Void Refinement cultivator to capture me, that's a dream—I have Zhou Qingmei beside me and can slaughter at will.

If the Tianhuo Divine Emperor, a Body Integration cultivator, comes himself, that's fine too—I'll have Zhou Qingmei casually open a spatial wormhole and leave; can you still chase me?

Hmm…

That's settled!

With a strategy in place, He Pingsheng had no further worries.

"Though this woman is beautiful, she is only at the Nascent Soul realm. Here, I have a top-grade magic treasure with sixteen sealing layers!"

"A Qinglong Bathing Flame Spear—one!"

A cultivator stood up and produced a divine spear.

"Heh…" someone immediately countered: "Your top-grade magic treasure is precious and suitable for a Nascent Soul cultivator, but exchanging it for a Nascent Soul slave is still insufficient!"

"Elder Mo Sang, I have here a fifth-rank fire-elemental Dao origin!"

The second person bid.

"This young master has a top-grade ancient treasure: the Purple Jade Lotus Throne!"

The third person bid.

Soon, more and more people raised their bids.

He Pingsheng did not bid immediately.

He wanted to see more.

"This young master, Hu Tianci, bids a top-grade ancient treasure!" A youth in brocade robes stood up and produced a pearl with great wealth and arrogance.

The pearl was a top-grade ancient treasure.

"Hahaha…" Hu Tianci laughed loudly, his eyes greedy as he gazed at True Person Xihu: "Now, it should be mine, right?"

"I believe no one can outbid me!"

He Pingsheng glanced at the man and saw he was at Void Refinement Layer Three.

"Is this… the White Tiger Clan's Crown Prince?"

"Sssss… It's him?"

"Hu Tianci!"

"No wonder he's so wealthy!"

A few scattered murmurs rose through the hall.

Now no one dared bid further.

First, Hu Tianci's bid was high enough.

Second, Hu Tianci's status was high enough—no one wished to provoke him.

As no one else bid, Elder Mo Sang nearly raised his hammer to strike.

At that moment, He Pingsheng stood: "I bid three elixirs…"

Shhh…

Three porcelain vials were tossed beside Mo Sang, and He Pingsheng continued: "One top-grade Shengyuan Elixir, one top-grade Tuiying Elixir, one top-grade sixth-rank Huaxing Elixir…"

All three elixirs were sixth-rank.

All were top-grade quality.

As soon as the three elixirs appeared, the entire hall erupted in murmurs.

"Sssss… Shengyuan Elixir… After reaching the pinnacle of Void Refinement, consuming this can extend life by a thousand years!"

"My heavens!"

"Incredible!"

"If consumed by a Soul Transformation cultivator, it grants two thousand years of life!"

"Top-grade Tuiying Elixir—one pill guarantees advancement to Void Refinement!"

"And this sixth-rank Huaxing Elixir—though rarely used, its value is extraordinary!"

As the crowd murmured, Hu Tianci glared furiously at He Pingsheng.

But he dared not utter any threats, for this was the Jiaoyi Society.

The White Tiger Clan claims to be one of the Nine Heavenly Clans, but in truth, they are merely a branch of the White Tiger Clan.

Though this branch boasts itself as the true White Tiger and holds decent status within the Zhuque Emperor Domain, compared to the Jiaoyi Society's power, they are pitifully weak.

Silence fell.

After five or six breaths, no one raised another bid.

Mo Sang said: "If no one else bids, I shall declare the winner!"

Still no one.

Because the value of He Pingsheng's three elixirs was truly hard to surpass.

"Very well!" Mo Sang took a deep breath: "This cultivator's three elixirs win. But as I mentioned, this female slave was consigned here and requires a commission fee!"

"Since elixirs cannot be divided, please prepare other items to cover the fee!"

He waved his hand.

The Jiaoyi Society cultivator in silver robes led True Person Xihu to He Pingsheng's side.

Seeing He Pingsheng, True Person Xihu's eyes lit up: "Is… is… it you?"

He Pingsheng nodded: "It's me."

"Sit down first."

There were no other seats available.

There was no choice—True Person Xihu had to crouch and rest her head on He Pingsheng's lap.

He Pingsheng asked her: "How… how did you become someone's slave?"

"What happened?"

"What occurred with the Li family?"

True Person Xihu nodded: "Our Li family suffered an unforeseen disaster!"

"In one night, the entire Li family was wiped out—the family head died, and countless disciples perished!"

"Why?" He Pingsheng asked. "Who did it?"

"I don't know!" True Person Xihu shook her head: "I don't know why, but the one who destroyed our Li family was a supreme being—the Tianhuo Divine Emperor himself…"

"How could our Li family possibly resist such a being?"

"Wu… wu… wu…" True Person Xihu wept bitterly, her body trembling against He Pingsheng's lap.