Chapter 1 Brother and Sister

  Lu Chen didn't keep the two men, Qi Xianghai and Lin Hongjin, waiting outside the door for too long. He put on the Golden Cicada armor as his innermost layer and walked out with a satisfied heart.

  This time, being able to buy such a satisfactory symbol armor, Lu Chen was naturally very satisfied, and the feeling of waste after spending a lot of spirit stones was completely dispelled.

  As he stepped out, he saw Qi Xianghai and Lin Hongjin whispering to each other, but he didn't hear what they were saying. The two naturally stopped talking, and then the three of them chatted and laughed as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in years, walking down the second-floor corridor.

  Lin Hongjin suddenly became talkative, from upstairs to downstairs this short distance, almost all of it was him talking, Qi Xianghai smiled and watched, perhaps because of the age difference, Lu Chen also happily chatted with him for a few more sentences.

  As they were talking, the three of them reached the gate and had just stepped out when they suddenly heard a quarrelsome voice outside.

  With slight hesitation, the three of them stepped out.

  Outside the gate of Xianmeng Auction House, Lu Chen saw a Xue surname cultivator he had met twice in Honghuang and another cultivator wearing a Zhanchi attire seemingly arguing over something. The two men's voices grew louder and louder, and from afar, they looked somewhat flushed. Among them, the one who showed intense anger was that Xue surname cultivator...

  "Qian brother, you can't do this. We already agreed on it earlier. I've prepared the spiritual stone for you, and now you're raising the price? Where am I supposed to get that many spiritual stones in such a short time?" The surnamed Xue cultivator's words came out rapidly, clearly showing his anxiety about something. Although he was pleading with the other party, there was also a hint of resentment and accusation in his tone.

  That surnamed Qian cultivator clearly hadn't listened, raising an eyebrow and completely ignoring the Xue surname cultivator. He snorted: "Xue Yang, even if you beg me again it won't be of any use. I've said it many times already, but recently the production area of Yu Cong Liu has been occupied by a foundation-building demonic beast. Many senior experts have gone and suffered greatly. The supply of Yu Cong Liu has been cut off, so naturally the price will rise. This is what those above have decided, what does it have to do with me? Whether you borrow or beg from me, I don't care. As long as you can take out 6000 spirit stones, I'll immediately hand over the Yu Cong Liu."

  The two of them quarreled on, attracting a crowd of onlookers. Qian also saw that the situation was getting out of hand and became impatient. He turned around to re-enter the Xianmeng Auction House, just as he happened to see Lu Chen and his two companions coming out...

  "Xue Daoyou?" Lu Chen exclaimed in surprise.

  "Ah, it's Jade Lake Daoist friend." Xue Yang was apparently very anxious, afraid that Qian would also run away. He just nodded and chased after him, but before he could take two steps, he suddenly froze on the spot.

  Slowly turning around, Xue Yang looked at Lu Chen in astonishment and suddenly exclaimed: "Yu Hu Dao friend? You're not dead?"

  "Me... " Lu Chen's hatred was so intense that his teeth itched: "How dare you ask whether I'm alive or dead as soon as you see me, the master of this path?"

  He glanced at Lin Hongjin beside him, and someone coughed lightly, his face turned red like a pig's liver, deliberately raising his head, not looking directly at Lu Chen.

  Too lazy to bother with this kid, Lu Chen turned his gaze back to Xue Yang and asked, pointing at Qian: "Xue Daoist friend, what happened?"

  Xue Yang had previously not brought Lu Chen out of the Hongyuan due to his relationship with Chen and He, and he had some lingering regrets. After returning, he occasionally inquired about Lu Chen's whereabouts through his connections in the Xianmeng City over the past two years. When he discovered that Lu Chen never returned to Xianmeng City from that day on, he was certain that Lu Chen must have died in the Hongyuan.

  Because no one can stay in the wilderness for several months without returning, let alone Lu Chen, a fifth-level Qi cultivator.

  This time, seeing Lu Chen, although he was standing alive in front of his own eyes, Xue Yang still couldn't believe his eyes. However, at the moment he had something important to do, so he didn't say much, but walked to Qian Ye's side and sincerely begged: "Qian brother, please just lend me some this time, my younger brother is critically ill, only Yujingluo can save his life, no matter how many spiritual stones are missing this time, Xue Yang swears that he will definitely make up for it."

  Xian cultivators are proud, it's hard for them to lower their heads to others, and Xue Yang's humble posture at this time has apparently abandoned his self-esteem, he's almost kneeling down...

  Lu Chen and Xue Yang met, Qi Xianghai slightly furrowed his white eyebrows, looking at Qian Ye in a low voice: "Qian Ye, what's going on here?"

  "Qī Xiàng Hǎi's status is obviously much higher than Qiān Yě's. When Qī Xiàng Hǎi asked, Qiān Yě hastily replied truthfully: 'Reporting to Lord Qī, Xue Yang has always wanted to buy our Yuán Jīng Lù, but previously it was only sold for 5,400 spirit stones. However, since the Yuán Jīng Lù is out of stock, our store raised the price to 6,000... He came too late...'"

  Zhi Xianghai nodded and said to Lu Chen, "Indeed, due to a demon beast occupying the production area of Yu Congluo recently, there has been a shortage of Yu Congluo. That's why the price was raised in the market."

  Lu Chen finally understood and looked at Xue Yang, who had a worried expression, and asked: "Xue Daoist friend, how many spirit stones did you bring?"

  Xue Yang didn't know what Lu Chen was getting at, but he did recognize Qi Xianghai. Seeing that Lu Chen and Qi Xianghai had an unusual relationship, he hastily replied: "Yu Hu Dao friend, I've managed to scrape together a loan of 5402 spirit stones from all over the place. Alas, my younger brother really can't wait any longer."

  "Understood, understood." Lu Chen nodded repeatedly and said: "Give me the Ling Stone."

  Xue Yang didn't know what Lu Chen wanted to do, but he was puzzled in his heart. He handed over a masterless Qiankun bag to Lu Chen. Lu Chen opened the Qiankun bag and took out two pieces of Ling Stone, placing them in Xue Yang's hand. Then, he threw the Qiankun bag at Qian Ye's hands and said: "5,400 pieces of Ling Stone, not one less. I want a share of Yu Cong Lü."

  "This..."

  Qian was stunned, although he could see that the young man in front of him knew Qi Xianghai, but the auction house had its own rules, and a difference of 600 spirit stones was not something he dared to take charge of. He looked at Qi Xianghai.

  Qí Xiàng Hǎi and Lín Hóng Jǐn had long understood Lù Chén's intention. The two of them smiled, and then Qí Xiàng Hǎi instructed Qián Yě: "Qián Yě, go fetch the Yuè Níng Lù. He has a Xianméng Yuè Fú."

  "Huh?"

  Qian also heard this and was shocked for a moment. He looked at Lu Chen again, and the puzzled expression on his face became even more intense.

  "This kid doesn't seem that big, how can he possibly possess the Xianmeng Jade Token? Could it be that he's an important figure within the Daozong Seven Gates?" Qian repeatedly speculated.

  Xue Yang was also stunned on the spot, as far as he knew, Lu Chen had only recently arrived in Xianmeng City and was still a rookie, but in just a few months, how did he manage to get his hands on a Xianmeng Jade Token?

  Zi Xianghai smiled slightly and said to Qian, "Don't make wild guesses. Yuhu Daoist just made a deal with me, so he has the qualifications to own the Xianmeng Jade Token."

  Who is Qi Xianghai? Lu Chen may not be clear, but everyone present except him knows. The entire Immortal Alliance Auction House has one main host and two deputy hosts, under which there are three senior elders in charge of procurement, auction, and transportation. Among the three, the person in charge of procurement is a master of the Foundation Establishment period, and Qi Xianghai is this person's right-hand man. In the Immortal Alliance City, Qi Xianghai is someone who can be called by name, and his words basically represent the elder's meaning.

  Of course, this time the money was even more shocking: "Dealing with Qi Zhi of Xianmeng Auction House and getting a Xianmeng jade token? This kid is quite capable, did he trade in some kind of magical equipment or treasure? Or was it a transaction involving thousands of demon beasts?"

  Qian also couldn't help but size up Lu Chen's appearance, analyzing his age, and the more he looked, the more unbelievable it became. In fact, it was no wonder that he would have such an emotionless reaction. At this moment, the crowd that had gathered around them after Xue Yang and Qian You started talking also began to point and whisper about Lu Chen.

  "Hmm~, this kid doesn't look like much, yet he's actually able to wield the Xianmeng Jade Token. He's really young and promising."

  "Yes, you see, even Director Qi is being extremely polite to this young man."

  "What's this kid's name? I've never seen him before."

  "It seems to be Yu Hu, just now Qi Ze Shi also directly called him Dao You, it's not simple."

  "Does anyone know if this kid has a girlfriend or not..."

  Unconsciously, the voices of discussion grew louder and some even began to harbor evil intentions towards Lu Chen.

  Lu Chen stood at the door, feeling a chill that wouldn't subside, but he couldn't say anything. Qi Xianghai also didn't expect such a small matter to cause such a stir, his eyes turned cold and he glared at Qian Ye.

  Zi Xianghai's words couldn't be ignored, so Qian hastily made a bow and rushed back to fetch the Yu Conglu, handing it over to Xue Yang.

  Xue Yang grasped the bottle containing Yu Cong Liu, his hands involuntarily trembling as he thought of his brother's injuries. He had been rushing about for three years, saving up all the spiritual stones to treat his brother's illness, without even improving his own cultivation by a single bit. He had thought that gathering enough spiritual stones would allow him to buy the spiritual medicine that could cure his brother's condition, but instead found out that the price had skyrocketed. From being full of hope to nearly despairing, Xue Yang almost couldn't suppress his madness. It was at this time that he met Lu Chen, and encountered another glimmer of light.

  Although Lu Chen only said one sentence, it weighed more in Xue Yang's heart than anything else.

  "Hum..."

  On the main street of Xianmeng Auction House, Xue Yang knelt down on both knees and knocked his head three times.

  "Xue Yang thanked Jade Lake Daoist for saving his life..."

  Xue Yang's actions startled Lu Chen, who quickly helped Xue Yang up and asked: "Brother Xue, what are you doing?"

  A majestic and powerful man, now with tears welling up in his eyes. This scene is enough to move people's hearts: "Brother Yuhu, we met by chance like floating water plants, but you stood up for me with righteousness. I, Xueyang, will never forget this kindness and virtue."

  Although Lu Chen has always shown a playful and irreverent side, he actually has a straightforward heart that repays kindness with kindness and resentment with resentment. Seeing Xue Yang's sincere words, Lu Chen smiled and said: "There's no need for this, Fellow Daoist Xue. Back in the Hongyuan, didn't you also meet Yuhu by chance? Yet you still intentionally offered to help him. Now that it's just a matter of lifting a hand, there's no need for you to be so polite."

  At this time, Qi Xianghai and Lin Hongjin on the side seemed to understand what was going on, and they looked at Lu Chen with a different gaze.

  "What an interesting kid......" Qi Xianghai's eyes sparkled with interest, and then he fell into thought.

  "Hey, this guy is quite righteous, can be a true friend."

  Xue Yang wiped away the tears that had not yet fallen and grabbed Lu Chen's wrist, saying: "Yu Hu Dao friend, I've made friends with you, please come home with me. After saving my brother, we'll have a good drink."

  "Ugh..." Lu Chen really didn't want to show his face: "Fine, go then..."

  After bidding farewell to Qi Xianghai and Lin Hongjin, Lu Chen followed Xue Yang out of the Immortal Alliance Auction House.

  The crowd gradually dispersed, and everyone was enthusiastically discussing the emergence of another mysterious holder of the Xianmeng Jade Token in Xianmeng City. However, including Qi Xianghai, no one noticed that at a certain tea stall on the street corner, a pair of small eyes were staring at the two figures' backs, revealing a faint, cold glow.

  "Is it Jade Lake?"

  If Lu Chen had been a bit more careful, or if he hadn't wanted to draw too much attention and waited for the crowd to disperse, he would have discovered that the owner of the cold light was none other than Li Tao, an "old acquaintance" he had met when he first entered Xianmeng City.