Chapter 72: Eastern Fragrance

  With a "pa" sound, a hundred pieces of Ling Stone were thrown onto the table on Ku Gu Feng's side.

  The three words "Tian Mo Palace" suddenly appeared, and many people were shocked. Three women in black cheongsam dresses with long hair stood in a triangular formation. The first one had a tall and slender figure, but her face was covered with a black silk scarf, making it impossible to see her features. However, despite standing casually, her calm and dark eyes instantly stole the spotlight from everyone else. She exuded an aura of proud isolation, as if she were the only person in the world. Even in the midst of a crowded street, her intense coldness was palpable.

  "Tianmo Palace, Dongfang Xiang!"

  After being stunned for a long time, someone finally couldn't help but let out a soft cry.

  This is the most talented disciple of this generation, known as a rare genius in cultivation who appears only once in a hundred years. Since entering the Tianmo Palace, no outsider has been fortunate enough to see her again. However, this did not prevent people from recognizing her at a glance, and she was none other than Dongfang Xiang of the Tianmo Palace.

  Tianmo Palace, the strongest cave mansion under the Yin Xie Sect. For hundreds of years, it has firmly occupied the first position. The majestic power accumulated over time is far beyond what ordinary people can imagine. In this session, Leidong not only took Dongfang Xiang, who ranked first in terms of qualifications, but also got a girl named Wu Yanhuan, who ranked sixth in terms of qualifications, and Zhou Qinghong, who ranked fourteenth.

  It's clear that the two women following Dongfang Xiang, dressed in the same attire, are Wu Youhan and Zhou Qinghong. Their cultivation is also astonishing, one at the peak of the 11th layer of the Refining Qi stage, and the other at the peak of the 10th layer, neither of whom can be underestimated. The one who spoke earlier and threw out the spirit stone was Wu Youhan, whose cultivation is even higher than Bai Lixing's.

  Baili Yun and his group were silent, their faces flushing red one by one. Unexpectedly, they had just slapped a few loose cultivators in the face. The retribution came so quickly, and the people of Tianmo Palace actually took action for those loose cultivators. However, Baili Yun deeply knew that Tianmo Palace was not something he could afford to offend. Fighting with the disciples of Wangu Cave was nothing, as his ancestor would support him in establishing his authority. But Tianmo Palace... if he offended them, his ancestor might directly bind him and take him to Tianmo Palace to apologize.

  After a long while, Baili Yun's face slowly regained some of its composure: "Dance Master Sister, do your words represent Dongfang Master Sister's intentions?"

  "What? If I'm the one who's being bullied, then it doesn't count?" The handsome face of Wu You Han raised an eyebrow and said: "Or do you think, Baili Yun, that I, Wu You Han, am easy to bully?"

  A hundred miles of cloudiness, it's clear that you're bullying me. But he knew that the barren bone peak couldn't compete with the heavenly demon palace at all. Especially when Dongfang Xiang was present, there wasn't even a desire to say a few harsh words to hold up the scene, and could only learn from those scattered cultivators, blushing and finding last year's disciples of the barren bone peak to set up a table.

  "You few come over and sit down." Yu Rou Han called out unexpectedly to those scattered cultivators.

  Those scattered cultivators looked at each other in dismay, but didn't dare to disobey Wu Youhan's words. They walked over and sat down with trepidation, feeling as uncomfortable as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

  "Don't worry, if Kugua Peak dares to retaliate against you because of this." Wu You's voice was cold and detached as she gazed at the group from Kugua Peak: "I will take responsibility for you." Including the former disciples of Kugua Peak, one by one, their faces turned pale and they lowered their heads. The Tianmo Palace was simply too powerful, so powerful that it made them not dare to harbor any thoughts of resistance.

  Several loose cultivators, upon hearing this, hastily expressed their gratitude. The thirty-something loose cultivator, with a face full of gratitude, respectfully asked: "Thank you, ladies, for taking charge on our behalf. However, where will you ladies sit?"

  "We will naturally have a place to sit." After resolving the matter, Yu Youhan took two steps forward and arrived at Lei Dong's table. His gaze fell on Ding Wenyuan, who was equally extraordinary, with some curiosity and respect, he bowed his head and said: "Yu Youhan, I've met Master Sister Ding." He completely ignored Lei Dong and Zuo Chao.

  "Thank you, Master Mei." Ding Yuanyan stood up and returned the courtesy.

  "My family's Eastern Uncle, has admired you for a long time, and wants to sit at the same table with you... " Yin Xie Zong said that in the end, it is still the strong who are respected, and everything is spoken of in terms of cultivation. If not for Ding Wenyuan being so outstanding, her cultivation was almost on par with Dongfang Xiang's. I'm afraid that Dancer Youhan wouldn't be so polite."

  "Welcome, Lei Shidi, Zuo Shidi. I'll trouble you to bring a few more stools." Ding Yuanyan instructed softly. Originally, this kind of thing could be left to the maids to do. However, towards the powerful existence of Tianmo Palace, it was better to show a bit more respect. Although Ding Yuanyan had a gentle temperament, she also understood human relationships and worldly affairs.

  Zuo Chao had always been obedient, and now he felt it was only natural to help his master's sister save face at this time. He immediately responded with a "yes" and got up to fetch the stool.

  "Hold on." Yu Rou Han glanced at Lei Zu and the other two, her voice calm as she said, "My senior sister Dongfang isn't used to sitting at the same table with men. Please, both of you junior brothers, go sit with those upperclassmen from the Wan Gui Ku instead." Although there was a word of politeness in her words, her tone and expression were completely devoid of courtesy.

  Zuo Chao let out a sound, and walked away with his feet lifted without any temper. However, Lei Dong's smile froze, and his face immediately turned extremely cold. He didn't even bother to pick up the stool, and directly sat back down with a thud. With his legs crossed, he slowly sipped his tea, as if Yu Han didn't exist at all, not even giving her a glance. Zuo Chao saw this and rubbed his head, somewhat at a loss.

  "Please sit down, Young Master." Ding Yuanyan's expression also changed from politeness to indifference, and she turned to Wu Youhan again: "Your Highness' palace is elegant and refined, while my humble abode is a small cave, I'm not worthy of comparison. It would be better for you, Wu, to go find your fellow disciples to dine with."

  Zuo Chao nodded and sat down obediently.

  However, Yu Wu Han's pale face turned slightly red with anger, and she was about to say something. A cold voice came from behind her, seemingly from the depths of the nine hells: "Ding Shifu, Xiaowu doesn't understand the rules, please forgive her. Xiaowu, Qinghong, go bring a few stools and add some tea water, apologize to Ding Shifu."

  "Yes, elder sister." Wu Youhan and Zhou Qinghong, although somewhat unwilling, did not dare to disobey Dongfang Xiang's order.

  After the stool was moved over, Yu Han again apologized to Ding Wanyan with a cup of tea in hand. Only then did the three sit down together. This time, Ding Wanyan didn't refuse them again. After all, it wasn't easy to mess with Tianmo Palace. The fact that Dongfang Xiang was being so polite to her already showed great respect.

  Gu Valley, at this point in time, had almost fallen asleep. Although he possessed the strength of the sixth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage, when facing these few rising stars with great reputations, he didn't dare to be careless in the slightest, especially towards those two known as the Dark and Sinister Twin Geniuses, Dongfang Xiang and Ding Yuanyan. Having merely cultivated for ten years, they had each already reached the peak of the 12th layer of the Qi Refining stage, only a single line away from being able to take their first step into the Foundation Establishment stage. This kind of talent and potential was enough to make Gu Valley's face turn pale with shame.

  "Cough, cough, since everyone is here. Then, close the big gate, the auction begins." Gu Lao said solemnly: "First, please bring out the first item for auction, a top-grade artifact-level battle boot, made of...". As he introduced it in an orderly manner, someone's interest was quickly piqued, after all, the first item was a high-quality one. The starting price is 800 Ling, and each bid increase must not be less than 50 Ling."

  "Eight hundred."

  One thousand two.

  One thousand three...

  In the end, this decent pair of combat boots was lifted to 1,500 yuan and was bought by a extremely gloomy fellow disciple from the same sect.

  The auction continued non-stop. What middle-grade spiritual artifacts, some powerful talismans, and even ten sets of Yin-Yang Thunderbolts. A messy mix of things, indeed everything was available. Among them, there were also things that caught Lei Dong's interest, unfortunately, his pockets were empty. All the remaining properties were exchanged for food for the ghost soldiers and his own elixirs.

  "Top-grade flying artifact, Yinxia Sword. Maximum speed: 1,500 miles in one hour. Starting price: 3,700 spirit stones. Each bid increase must be at least 100 spirit stones."

  The most valuable among the top-grade artifacts is undoubtedly the flying artifact. Top-grade flying artifacts are extremely hard to come by. Among the disciples participating in this grand competition, those who possess a top-grade flying artifact can be counted on one hand. It's also because of this that when such an item appears, it lifts the spirits of the vast majority of people. However, the starting bid is enough to make many people give up on the idea.

  ……