Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1353 - 700: Luoyun City (Part 2)

"Don’t forget our current situation."

Gu Sheng leaned close to his ear, speaking in a very low voice.

"The City Lord’s son is still in our hands."

These words were like a cold shower over Ling Xiao’s head.

He pouted but finally quieted down, though his eyes still unwillingly scanned the more comfortable seats below.

Gu Sheng secretly sighed in relief, but his gaze involuntarily fell on a young man in a brocade robe sitting in the front row of the third tier.

The man was lazily leaning back on his chair, surrounded by several fawning attendants, clearly a young master from a prominent family.

"Who is that?"

Gu Sheng asked the elder.

The elder followed his gaze and his expression slightly changed.

"The young master of the Qin Family, Young Master Qin. The Qin Family is one of the top cultivation families within a thousand miles, supposedly with a Nascent Soul ancestor presiding over them."

He paused, lowering his voice even more.

"This young master’s temper isn’t the best, so you’d better not provoke him."

Gu Sheng nodded, but an unusual feeling rose in his heart.

The voice of this Young Master Qin, he felt like he’d heard it somewhere before, but couldn’t recall at the moment.

At this moment, a man in white, scholarly in appearance, slowly walked out onto the central auction stage of the Sky Cloud Pavilion.

As soon as he appeared, the entire Sky Cloud Pavilion instantly quieted down.

"Thank you, fellow cultivators, for attending Sky Cloud Pavilion."

The white-robed man’s voice wasn’t loud, yet it clearly permeated every corner.

"Today’s auction now begins."

The hall erupted in a burst of cheers and applause.

Ling Xiao couldn’t help but get excited, craning his neck to look at the stage below.

"The first auction item—"

The white-robed man smiled slightly, motioning with his hand. A woman in a black dress gracefully walked onto the stage, holding an exquisite sandalwood box.

The woman walked to the center of the stage, and under countless expectant gazes, slowly opened the box.

"Boom!"

A green light shot up into the sky, instantly illuminating most of the Sky Cloud Pavilion.

At the same time, a rich pill fragrance spread, and Gu Sheng immediately felt his spiritual power circulating faster through his body, as if a warm current was flowing through his meridians.

"Is this... about to break through?"

A cultivator beside him exclaimed, hurriedly sitting cross-legged to meditate.

The white-robed man looked at everyone’s reaction with satisfaction and spoke in a clear voice.

"A Fourth Grade Breaking Realm Pill, capable of helping Golden Core Stage cultivators break through small realm constraints, with an eighty percent chance of directly forming a core for Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators! Starting price, ten Fourth Grade Spirit Pills, or equivalent treasures."

As soon as he finished, someone on the third tier shouted.

"Fifteen!"

"Twenty!"

A veiled female cultivator on the second tier was not to be outdone.

Ling Xiao watched, blood boiling, fists clenching involuntarily.

"Gu Sheng, should we..."

"No."

Gu Sheng interrupted him decisively.

"The spirit pills we brought are for buying that item; don’t complicate things."

Ling Xiao pouted but did not insist further, though his eyes remained fixed on the alluringly glowing pill.

"A mid-grade Xuan Rank Spirit Sword!"

A burly man on the fourth tier suddenly stood up and roared.

The white-robed man nodded slightly, and an invisible intent seemed to sweep over the Spirit Sword from behind the auction stage. A moment later, he announced.

"Appraised, this sword is equivalent to fifty Fourth Grade Spirit Pills. Any higher?"

"Sixty!"

A cultivator wearing a bronze mask in the hall on the first floor suddenly stood up, his voice filled with determined resolve.

The auction hall was momentarily quiet.

"Sixty-five!"

A hoarse voice came from a box on the second tier.

The bronze mask-wearing cultivator sat down in frustration, fists clenched but helpless.

"Sold!"

Chu Qianxuan called out.

"Congratulations to this fellow cultivator for obtaining the Breaking Realm Pill!"

Gu Sheng slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

"Looks like someone is in urgent need of a breakthrough."

Ling Xiao yawned.

"Boring, this kind of pill in our..."

His words stopped abruptly, warily glancing around.

"The next auction item, I believe, will be a feast for the eyes."

Chu Qianxuan took a crimson long blade from his attendant. As the blade was unsheathed, the temperature in the auction hall rapidly increased.

"The Spirit Rhinoceros Breaking Illusion Blade, a Xuan Rank supreme grade Spiritual Artifact with a Fire Attribute, starting at thirty-five Fourth Grade Spirit Pills, and only spirit pill bids are accepted!"

Chu Qianxuan waved his hand, and a crimson sword qi swept out, causing ripples on the specially crafted protective shield. The audience immediately erupted in exclamations.

"Forty!"

"Forty-five!"

"Fifty!"

The price climbed rapidly, and Ling Xiao had already started counting the Luminous Pearls on the ceiling out of boredom.

"Sixty pieces!"

A cultivator engulfed in flames shouted excitedly, unable to suppress the thrill in his voice.

"What’s so special about this broken blade?"

Ling Xiao curled his lips.

"It’s not even Earth Rank."

Gu Sheng chuckled softly.

"Not everyone is as accustomed to good things as we are."

"Are the two young friends not interested in these treasures?"

A gentle voice came from behind.

The pair turned around to see an elderly man with a childlike face and gray hair smiling at them. The old man wore a simple gray robe, with a Green Jade Gourd hanging at his waist. Though his aura was restrained, he gave off a profound impression.

"The senior is joking."

Gu Sheng clasped his hands in respect.

"These items are of little use to us."

The elder stroked his snow-white beard.

"The auction is just beginning; the good things come later. This time, I am here to seek a treasure that can extend life."

Ling Xiao’s eyes lit up.

"Senior requires life extension? With your cultivation..."

The old man waved his hand, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"It’s not for myself, but for an old friend."

"An old friend?"

Ling Xiao wanted to inquire further, but the old man had already turned his attention to the auction stage, clearly unwilling to discuss it further.

Meanwhile, in the corridor on the fifth floor, two cultivators in luxurious clothes were furtively looking around.

"Are you sure that kid is on this floor?"

The short and stout cultivator asked in a low voice.

"Absolutely!"

The tall and thin one said through gritted teeth.

"I’d recognize that back even if it turned to ash! He’s the one who trapped us in the Array for three days and nights!"

The short and stout cultivator’s eyes filled with resentment.

"Young Master Qin was injured by him, and his chest still hurts.

This time, we’ll definitely make him pay!"

As they moved along the wall, the tall one suddenly grabbed his companion and pointed toward a nearby box.

"Look! There he is!"

Through the slightly open door, Gu Sheng’s profile was clearly visible.

He was talking to Ling Xiao, a faint smile on his lips.

"Yes, that’s the kid!"

The short and stout cultivator’s voice trembled with excitement.

"Go quickly and tell Young Master Qin!"

"Wait!"

The tall one held him back.

"This kid’s cultivation is no small matter, let’s not alert him. First, report to Young Master Qin on the third floor and let him decide!"

Chu Qianxuan stood on the auction stage in a purple and gold robe, lightly tapping a jade hammer, producing a clear and melodious sound.

"Fellow Daoists, the first half of the auction has concluded, and now we will proceed to the second half, which I believe everyone has been eagerly anticipating."

His gaze swept across the venue, pausing for a moment on the first row of the third floor.

There sat several cultivators with retracted auras, each one looking calm, having not even blinked at the treasures in the first half.

"Have the fellow brothers and sisters from Purple Mist Sacred Land specifically come for the grand finale item?"

Chu Qianxuan asked with a smile.

In the center of the third floor, a cold and elegant woman in a robe with Purple Mist patterns nodded slightly.

"Chu, no need to ask further; just continue."

"Haha, alright!"

Chu Qianxuan laughed loudly.

"Then we shall—"

"Wait!"

A low voice suddenly came from the fifth floor.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a young man in a brocade robe standing with a gloomy face; it was Young Master Qin of the Qin Family.

Beside him stood the towering Tie San, both of their gazes locked onto a figure in the corner of the fifth floor.

"Gu Sheng!"

Young Master Qin said through clenched teeth.

"I didn’t expect you to dare to show up in Luoyun City!"

In the corner, the man in the green robe, Gu Sheng, smiled calmly.

"Young Master Qin, long time no see. Could it be that the Sky Cloud Pavilion auction only allows you to attend?"

Rage flared in Young Master Qin’s eyes, just as he was about to lose his temper, Tie San pressed a strong hand on his shoulder.

"Young Master, it’s not suitable to cause trouble at the auction. It’s best to act afterward."

"But if he takes the opportunity to escape in the chaos..."

Young Master Qin said reluctantly.

Tie San took out a green Jade Pendant from his pocket.