Jin Bao'er, having just descended from the Sword Tomb, was completely unaware that her identity had been exposed. Even if she had known, she wouldn't have cared!
"Brother Jin! Look, I also picked out a spirit sword! Redwood! Heh heh, it's the same attribute as the Wild Lion Beast! The attack power is superb!"
Jin Bao'er glanced up, suddenly remembering Jin Huang, the creature she had contracted. She wondered when that little fellow would wake up. It was true that the shove she gave it back then had caused a premature birth, otherwise, why would it still be asleep after so long?
"Right, where are we going next?"
Hearing this, Jin Bao'er pondered. Judging by the timeline from her previous life, the treasure called Zhu Lu Yuan should have appeared by now…
"Let's go… we're going to the auction!"
A few days later, in Flowing Light City…
Two handsome men, one in black and one in white, walked down the street, drawing frequent glances from passersby!
The young man in black appeared to be no more than fifteen or sixteen years old. His features were exquisite, his aura cool and aloof, his gaze sharp yet clear – one could admire him from afar but not approach him!
The young man in white, with his flowing robes and peach-blossom like face, looked remarkably refined yet carried an air of casual freedom. He was all smiles, appearing very approachable.
"Heh heh, Brother Jin! With fellows like us walking the streets, the women around us are practically dying to devour us! Alas… being too handsome can sometimes be a sin!"
Jin Bao'er was accustomed to Li Qing Jiu's flippant narcissism and ignored him completely, her gaze fixed straight ahead until someone blocked their path.
"Please show your invitation, sir!"
The middle-aged man's aura was contained, and his robust, powerful build was quite intimidating. Although his words held a degree of respect, his posture was unyielding!
She almost forgot. In her previous life, she was still at the Misty Sect at this time and hadn't participated in this auction at all. Furthermore, how could a mere disciple like her possess such a thing?
It seemed she'd have to find another way to get in! Before she could turn around, Li Qing Jiu directly pulled out a token and said smugly.
"Look closely, I, your young master, am Li Qing Jiu, the young sect master of the Dragon Tiger Sect! I just forgot to bring the invitation, what? Uncle Lan, is this how you treat guests?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a young man with a smiling face hurried out, pushing the middle-aged man aside, and respectfully saluted Li Qing Jiu.
"Isn't this Young Master Li? Where are you coming from? These new guards are unacquainted with esteemed guests. Please, come in!"
Li Qing Jiu tilted his head and grunted, looking at Jin Bao'er as if to say.
'See! It still depends on me!'
The other party, however, ignored him and walked straight in!
This left Li Qing Jiu puzzled, and he quickly followed.
In the private room…
"If I hadn't just revealed my identity, you would have almost been unable to get in, and you still ignored me!!"
The young man looked at the boy aggrievedly, his tone full of complaint, like a big dog that had been wronged.
Jin Bao'er heard this and turned to look at him, her face expressionless.
"Even without you, I would have been able to get in later!"
With so many people attending the auction, she could just knock someone out and take their invitation to get in…
Li Qing Jiu! Defeated!
"Tch… this kid actually cares about you quite a bit!"
A disdainful voice echoed in her sea of consciousness. Jin Bao'er blinked, then reacted and said respectfully.
"Senior, you are overthinking it. He and I are merely friends!"
However, the other party fell silent again, as if the disdainful voice had been her hallucination.
Soon, the auction officially began!
"Welcome everyone for gracing us with your presence at today's auction! This grand event is sponsored by our Free and Unfettered Palace…"
After the seductive woman on the auction stage's lengthy preamble, it finally officially began…
"The first auction item! Grade three Tan Ning Pill! Starting bid, one thousand mid-grade spirit stones!"
As a pill that could rapidly replenish internal spiritual energy, just like the Spirit Gathering Pill, it was still quite rare even if its effects were somewhat inferior. In less than three minutes, the price had already been driven up to two thousand one hundred mid-grade spirit stones!
Li Qing Jiu munched on melon seeds with smugness, watching like an amused spectator and sneering.
"Grade three? Hmph! With you, a grade four alchemist, here, why would I buy such a thing? By the way, what are we actually here to do?"
Jin Bao'er remained seated with no reaction, her gaze quietly fixed on the auction stage below, as if waiting for something.
As the next two auction items, the Mu Ling Flower and the Tan Ning Grass, were sold, the fourth auction item finally appeared! A person walked up holding a tray, covered with a layer of red cloth…
"The fourth item, everyone please look!"
As she spoke, the seductive woman slowly lifted the red cloth, revealing a… dry branch on the tray? The scene immediately erupted in laughter!
"This… you guys from the Free and Unfettered Sect aren't joking, are you?"
"What the heck? A branch? What do we buy it for? To burn as firewood?"
"Didn't you say the treasures get rarer as we go on? You can find these things everywhere outside!"
"Exactly, are you playing with us? I ran all the way here not to be tricked!"
Let alone others, even Jin Bao'er was stunned. However, she quickly noticed the dense spiritual energy swirling around the branch. It was rumored that Zhu Lu Yuan had fallen from the upper realm thousands of years ago, and its spiritual energy had remained undiminished for millennia. Yet, to this day, no one knew its purpose!
In her previous life, Jin Bao'er had heard rumors while fleeing that this branch seemed to possess extremely strong defensive capabilities, capable of being the core of a top-tier formation. It could make a defensive formation withstand the full power of an Out-of-Body stage attack without damage!
This item, she had to have!
Facing everyone's doubts, the seductive woman remained unfazed. Covering her mouth, she let out a soft laugh, exuding charm.
"Guests, please don't rush. You are all distinguished individuals. My master would never try to fool you with an ordinary branch!"
Under her appeasement, the crowd gradually calmed down.
"This item is named~ Zhu Lu Yuan. Although its purpose is unknown, it must be something that fell from the upper realm. Its spiritual energy has remained undiminished for a thousand years! It must possess unique qualities! Starting bid, three thousand mid-grade spirit stones!"
As soon as her words fell, murmurs arose again from the crowd, but no one bid!
The seductive woman didn't panic either and waited patiently!
Just as Jin Bao'er was about to speak and bid, she was intercepted by someone. A voice, strong and resonant, drew everyone's gaze. A person was seated in the main hall on the first floor, dressed in plain grey cloth, looking very ordinary. He wore a straw hat, and a veil completely obscured his face.
"Three thousand one hundred mid-grade!"
Everyone was surprised! Although Zhu Lu Yuan was an item from the upper realm, it was ultimately useless to them. The spiritual energy on it was less than what they obtained from an hour of meditation. Yet, someone was actually willing to spend three thousand mid-grade spirit stones to buy it! He didn't look like a pampered young master from any prominent family!
The seductive woman, however, smiled.
"Three thousand one hundred mid-grade, going once!"
Hearing this, Jin Bao'er retracted her gaze and spoke softly towards the floor below! Her voice was androgynous.
"Three thousand five hundred mid-grade!"
As soon as her voice fell, regardless of how surprised the people below were, Li Qing Jiu, who was beside Jin Bao'er, widened his eyes on the spot!