Inside the main hall, Lin Baoqing eloquently introduced a six-tier wish-fulfilling Magic Treasure, captivating the bidders. In the VIP rooms, various factions also turned their attention to it.
Seeing this, Li Mu decided to leave, but he still had to wait for Wan'er to bring the last item.
At this moment, the door of the room was pushed open, and Wan'er gracefully entered, offering a jade box with both hands. She introduced, "Senior, this is another item you bid on: the Bronze Ancient Bell."
Li Mu quickly reached out and took it, opening the jade box. A small bronze bell, covered in rust, lay quietly inside.
【soul suppression bell (Sealed)】
【Tier: six-tier spirit treasure】
【Properties: Soul Suppression, Soul Delusion, Soul Loss, Soul Seizing.】
【Status: Spirit lost, spiritual item self-sealed.】
【A six-tier spirit treasure - soul suppression bell, refined with six-tier Soul Suppression Stone, six-tier fierce Yao Beast bone, six-tier Witch Heart Copper, and Soul Divine Runes. Due to the erosion of long Years, the Spirit Treasure's spirituality gradually diminished, and its Spirit self-sealed, downgrading to a five-tier Soul Calming Bell. By investing a million refined souls for suppression, the Spirit can be reawakened. This item is a Legacy token of the Demon Suppression Sect. Activating the Soul Suppression runes allows entry into the top-level Hall of Dharma Transmission of the Demon Suppression Sect.】
Under his Heavenly Talent - Identify Myriad Spirits, Li Mu saw all the information of this five-tier bronze ancient bell. He immediately put it away with satisfaction, re-covered it, and stored it in his nine storage spiritual pearl.
"Not bad! I have other matters, so I'll be taking my leave!"
Li Mu looked at Wan'er and smiled as he bid farewell.
"Understood! Senior, Wan'er awaits your next visit at any time." Wan'er understood, did not see him off, and respectfully watched him go.
Li Mu nodded slightly, then rose and left.
Wan'er remained at the door of the room. Having given an early warning, she had already anticipated that Dao You Zhang would leave midway. She continued to guard the door, creating a facade to confuse others.
Outside each room, there was a maid waiting. If someone was outside, it meant the room's occupant was inside, so no one noticed.
However, Li Mu's departure was immediately noticed by one person in the venue: Daoist Wanling.
Daoist Wanling was listening to Lin Baoqing introduce the auction item. The next moment, his Spirit Treasure Pearl suddenly vibrated again, pointing towards the door. So, he turned his gaze and happened to see Li Mu's departing figure.
This is bad!
Daoist Wanling hurriedly got up, intending to follow. He never expected 'Dao You Zhang' to leave midway. If the other party left a hundred miles away, this Opportunity would no longer have anything to do with him.
Just as Daoist Wanling was about to pursue, a Nascent Soul cultivator in a purple robe suddenly walked up to him, blocking his path.
"Fellow Daoist Wanling, Honorable Being Ji Yun has an invitation for you."
Daoist Wanling, whose heart was burning with anxiety, had his path blocked. He was about to loudly scold, but upon hearing the Nascent Soul cultivator's words, he immediately dared not act rashly.
"What's going on, Fellow Daoist Zi Guang? Honorable Being Ji Yun is looking for me? What does she want with me?"
Seeing who it was, Daoist Wanling's heart sank. He wondered what Honorable Being Ji Yun wanted with him at this time!
"I don't know either. The Honorable Being has invited you, you'll know when you go!" Zi Guang Zhenjun responded indifferently, gazing at Daoist Wanling, waiting for him to follow.
Daoist Wanling anxiously glanced at the distant figure, sighing helplessly in his heart. The Ji Family was one of the Eight Great Families of the Central Continent, with a transcendent status, absolutely not something an ordinary Loose Cultivator like him could offend!
If he didn't go, it would be disrespectful, and he could very likely displease the other party, inviting a bloody disaster.
Fortunately, that 'Dao You Zhang' didn't know about his scheme yet, so he should still be able to follow up later.
Thus, Daoist Wanling followed Zi Guang Zhenjun to room eighteen.
Inside the room, a faint, elegant scent of rouge permeated, invigorating anyone who smelled it. Inside the room, a beautiful woman in purple sand cloud robes gazed out the window at the auction stage, ignoring Daoist Wanling who had entered.
"Junior Wanling, greets Senior!"
Daoist Wanling bowed slightly, respectfully saying.
"Wanling, you have many friends and are well-informed. Who is that Nascent Soul cultivator in room seven who repeatedly contended with this Senior for treasures? You must know, right!"
"Ah?"
Daoist Wanling's heart skipped a beat, feeling a sudden sense of unease.
Honorable Being Ji Yun frowned, turning to look at Daoist Wanling, her eyes sharp like a blade, questioning, "Earlier, when entering the cloud ladder, I saw you talking happily with an old Daoist. If I'm not mistaken, this person is the VIP in room seven. I want to know this person's background, which faction dares to be so audacious as to oppose this Senior!"
Upon hearing this, Daoist Wanling understood the reason. On the surface, he remained calm, but his mind was in a chaotic mess. After less than half a breath of frantic thought, he immediately replied, "Reporting to Senior Honorable Being, Dao You Zhang and I met by chance. It's just that I enjoy making friends, and we simply got along well. I don't know his background, only that he is a four-tier Pill Dao Great Master."
"Hmph, how preposterous, daring to deceive Senior!"
Zi Guang Zhenjun, behind Daoist Wanling, suddenly attacked, extending his tiger-like hand directly towards Daoist Wanling's shoulder, intending to crush it.
Daoist Wanling was anxious and wanted to resist, but he was suppressed by a single glance from Honorable Being Ji Yun. A single glance from a Transformation God cultivator could overwhelm him, and in an instant, he dared not act rashly.
"Senior, spare my life, Senior, spare my life! What I said is true, every word!" Daoist Wanling pleaded bitterly.
The next second, a massive Aura suddenly erupted from Honorable Being Ji Yun, the terrifying pressure of a Transformation God Peak Cultivator pressing down on Daoist Wanling with full force.
With a "bang," Daoist Wanling's knees buckled, and he fell to his knees, immediately breaking out in a cold sweat, the Aura of death repelling his brain.
"This Senior observed that you showed greed when you saw that person. When he left midway, you got up intending to pursue him, yet you still dare to say you don't know him!"
Daoist Wanling never expected his scheme to be exposed by Honorable Being Ji Yun, and he instantly lost his confidence.
"I'll give you one more chance. Tell me who the other party is, otherwise, die!"
Daoist Wanling secretly cursed his bad luck. He never thought that Honorable Being Ji Yun would keep the VIP in room seven in her heart, even monitoring his every move.
A woman who has lived for so many Years, her magnanimity and pettiness are truly not ordinary!
"What kind of person are you, Wanling? How could I not know! This person must be carrying a heavy treasure. You were planning to secretly eliminate him to seize the heavy treasure on him, right!" Honorable Being Ji Yun raised her spiritual wine cup and took a light sip, looking at Daoist Wanling with a half-smile.
"This!"
Daoist Wanling was terrified. He never expected his thoughts to be completely guessed by the other party. This woman's mind was as fine as a needle, and her wisdom was extraordinary, truly terrifying!
"I'll give you one last chance. Tell me the truth immediately, otherwise, die!"
Honorable Being Ji Yun's fingertips, three embroidered spiritual needles, subtly twitched, emitting terrifying true essence fluctuations. Each needle possessed the power to easily kill a half-step Soul Transformation Realm expert!
Daoist Wanling was terrified. How could he dare to conceal anything? He immediately confessed, "Reporting to Senior Honorable Being, Dao You Zhang and I met in Bihai City of Wangxing Sea. It seems the other party is not from any major School, as he doesn't even recognize the Kun Family, one of the Eight Great Families of Central Continent. I happened to possess a treasure-seeking spiritual item and discovered that the other party had a heavy treasure on him, which is why I harbored ill intentions and wanted to seize his treasure. I truly don't know his background."
Facing Honorable Being Ji Yun's terrifying observational ability, Daoist Wanling dared not conceal anything further. He spoke endlessly, recounting everything he knew.
As long as the green mountains remain, there will always be firewood!
If he dared to conceal anything further, he would be the one to die. It was better to abandon the heavy treasure and find a glimmer of hope. A hint of reluctance flashed across Daoist Wanling's face.
Indeed, upon hearing that Daoist Wanling possessed a treasure-seeking Spiritual Artifact, Honorable Being Ji Yun's Phoenix eyes slightly brightened.
Before he could even speak, Daoist Wanling proactively offered the treasure-seeking spiritual pearl with both hands.
Taking the Buddha beads, Honorable Being Ji Yun injected a trace of Divine Soul. With a casual wave of spiritual power, she erased Daoist Wanling's Divine Thought and refined it.
Honorable Being Ji Yun refined the Spirit Treasure Pearl and learned its functions and properties. Her spirits were involuntarily lifted, clearly very fond of this Spirit Treasure.
"Not bad, not bad, it's a good treasure! Considering your meritorious offering of the treasure, get up and speak!" Honorable Being Ji Yun looked at Daoist Wanling with satisfaction, signaling.
Daoist Wanling felt as if he had received a great pardon. He dared not look directly at Honorable Being Ji Yun and frankly said, "Thank you, thank you, Senior Ji Yun, for sparing my life. I have already told you everything I know, with absolutely no falsehoods."
The atmosphere was quiet for a few breaths. Honorable Being Ji Yun then waved her hand and said, "Given your initiative in offering the Magic Treasure, I will spare your life for now. Begone."
Daoist Wanling was overjoyed, a mix of happiness and worry. However, being able to preserve his life was already good. He dared not linger any longer and quickly left the room, fleeing as if escaping.
"Congratulations, Elder, on acquiring a heavy treasure!" Zi Guang Zhenjun bowed in congratulation.
"This Spirit Treasure can only detect heavy treasures within a hundred miles. That Nascent Soul cultivator doesn't even recognize the Eight Great Families, so he must be a School Cultivator from a barren place. Such a useless person yet possessing a heavy treasure, it must not be simple!" Honorable Being Ji Yun held the treasure-seeking spiritual pearl, and a cold glint burst forth from her Phoenix eyes.
Zi Guang Zhenjun understood her meaning upon hearing this and immediately said, "Elder, your subordinate will go and deal with him now and retrieve the heavy treasure!"
"This person can gain Lin Baoqing's attention, so he must have something extraordinary about him. I will go and retrieve it myself." As Honorable Being Ji Yun spoke, she had already left the room.
Zi Guang Zhenjun quickly followed closely behind.
Leaving Wanbao Pavilion.
Li Mu did not immediately leave Barren Ancient City. He merely temporarily left the North Wilderness Gate of Wanbao Pavilion, heading south all the way to the South Wilderness Gate.
The South Wilderness Gate was densely populated, a gathering place for many demon-hunting Cultivators and Loose Cultivators. Demon-hunting Cultivators were easy to distinguish, often engaging in battles with Yao Beasts, resulting in a body full of Evil Qi.
This was also the largest meat market in the entire Barren Ancient City, with countless stalls and shops selling Yao Beast flesh and blood, supplying meat to all the major restaurants and eateries in Barren Ancient City. The air was filled with a rich bloody smell, as well as traces of Yao Beast resentment Qi invisible to mortal eyes.
Li Mu was accustomed to this. He was currently in a spiritual tea house, having chosen a window seat, where he sat leisurely and ordered a pot of spiritual tea.
While sipping tea, he observed the pedestrians around him.
The roads were bustling with traffic. Occasionally, some Cultivators rode on Spirit Beast carriages or moved with phantom-like steps, their figures swiftly weaving through the crowd.
"Why haven't they caught up yet?"
Li Mu had already drunk countless cups of spiritual tea. The reason he wasn't in a hurry to leave was that he wanted to resolve the trouble of Daoist Wanling.
When he left the room earlier, Li Mu had also noticed Daoist Wanling's movements.
This hanger-on was a nuisance. Li Mu planned to deal with him first and, while he was at it, acquire the treasure-seeking spiritual pearl on him.
With that treasure in hand, finding high-tier spiritual items in the future would surely be twice as effective with half the effort.
However, what was the situation with Daoist Wanling?
He had already left Wanbao Pavilion for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, yet within the coverage of his Divine Sense, he hadn't detected him following.
This was a bit illogical, wasn't it?
Could it be that the other party, because he was in the room, suspected his noble identity, perhaps belonging to some major faction, and thus dared not offend him, choosing to give up?
That's unlikely, right?
Should he wait a bit longer?
Li Mu decided to wait for another incense stick's time. If the other party still didn't come, then it meant the other party was lucky, and he would no longer covet that treasure-seeking spiritual pearl.
Just like that, Li Mu waited for a full incense stick's time, but Daoist Wanling still didn't arrive.
"Consider yourself lucky!"
Li Mu gave a wry smile, drank his spiritual tea, and rose to leave.
Li Mu would never have guessed that in the building opposite him, on the third floor by the window, Honorable Being Ji Yun had long been observing his every move.
"Elder, why aren't you making a move?"
Zi Guang Zhenjun asked in confusion. They had been sitting there for half a cup of tea without any action, which was quite strange.
Honorable Being Ji Yun said with a normal expression, "Don't you see? That Nascent Soul cultivator seems to be waiting for Daoist Wanling to take the bait."
"Hmm? Elder, are you saying...?"
Zi Guang Zhenjun was startled, feeling a bit shocked in his heart!
Honorable Being Ji Yun did not answer. Her gaze followed the direction Li Mu had left. She dropped some Spirit Stones and coldly advised Zi Guang Zhenjun, "Stop talking nonsense, just follow him."
"Uh!"
Zi Guang Zhenjun dared not ask further. He concealed his Aura and quickly followed.
After confirming that Daoist Wanling had not followed.
Li Mu immediately set off from Barren Ancient City. Outside the city gate, there was still a bustling queue of people entering the city, as well as various strange, uneven Spirit Ships and merchant ships with different functions.
Li Mu paid no attention. He immediately summoned his Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship. After entering it, it instantly transformed into a streak of light, rapidly flying towards Yin Yang Valley.
At the same moment, Honorable Being Ji Yun, who was following closely behind, held the spiritual pearl, pointing directly forward.
"Purple Thorn Cloud Boat!"
Honorable Being Ji Yun patted the storage Magic Treasure at her waist, and a spiritual boat, even larger and more imposing than Li Mu's Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship, appeared in the air.
Honorable Being Ji Yun and Zi Guang Zhenjun flashed inside.
The next moment, the spiritual boat activated, instantly transforming into a flash of lightning and disappearing outside Barren Ancient City.
Inside the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship, Li Mu was about to check his total gains from this time. He had just taken out his storage Magic Treasure but hadn't even looked through it when he felt a terrifying Evil Qi rapidly approaching him.
Hmm?
They've caught up?
Li Mu was surprised. He extended his Divine Sense and detected a Purple Thorn Cloud Boat behind him, approaching at an astonishing speed.
This made Li Mu become vigilant.
Heavenly Talent - Identify Myriad Spirits activated. Li Mu saw that the spiritual ship rapidly approaching from behind was actually a five-tier spiritual ship.
"Damn it! Who could it be!"
Li Mu frowned. The path to Yin Yang Valley was extremely wide, covering a thousand miles in every direction. The spiritual boat behind them could have flown in any other direction.
But the reality was quite the opposite; the other party was heading straight for him, clearly targeting him.
Now, it was too late to dodge.
The five-tier spiritual boat, as fast as a lightning bolt, and in the blink of an eye, the massive Purple Thorn Cloud Boat rushed to the front of the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship.
The Purple Thorn Cloud Boat performed a dragon-tail whip, nearly colliding with the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship. Li Mu quickly changed direction and stopped the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship's advance.
Li Mu's gaze grew cold. As his Divine Sense spread out, he detected two extremely powerful Auras within the spiritual ship ahead.
The Purple Thorn Cloud Boat suddenly hovered and stopped. A graceful figure in a purple gauze dress, fluttering in the wind, slowly flew out.
Next, a purple-robed Daoist followed closely behind.
"Come down!"
Honorable Being Ji Yun stood in mid-air, her gaze fixed on the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship, speaking in a commanding tone, ordering him down without room for refusal.
Inside the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship, Li Mu was puzzled. He didn't recognize this beautiful woman, so why would she come looking for him?
Facing the powerful Transformation God female Cultivator, Li Mu's frantic thoughts yielded no conclusion. It was better to meet her.
Thus, Li Mu flew out of the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship, activated his Spirit Fox Mask, and transformed into a young Sword Cultivator carrying a sword on his back!