After positioning a few abacus beads, his fingers began to dance rapidly, followed by the clattering sound of the beads.
As the abacus beads moved up and down, Qian Duoduo felt invisible threads pulling and intertwining within his Spiritual Awareness.
After a while, Guan Tusheng flicked an abacus bead with a snap, his eyes fixed on the Heavenly Bead.
The Heavenly Bead spun, then slowly came to a stop.
After a careful look, Guan Tusheng said, "Great fortune follows great misfortune."
Qian Duoduo was startled, "How great is this great misfortune?"
But at this point, there was no escaping it.
The Ba Ling Sect's Treasure Appraisal Conference had to be held, whether he liked it or not.
However, he only had about a thousand Magic Treasures on hand, which was barely enough for an Appraisal Fair for a single peak, but not enough for the entire sect. He also didn't have the financial resources.
Qian Duoduo thought for a moment and decided to go find Zeng Zifang.
She was the one who brought him back to the sect, and this Treasure Appraisal Conference was arranged by her Old Ancestor, so she had to take responsibility.
"Tell those who buy Magic Treasures that in seven days, they should go to Right Eyebrow Peak."
After instructing Guan Tusheng, Qian Duoduo went out to find Zeng Zifang.
Nose Peak went straight up and down. Qian Duoduo climbed around the mountain for an hour until he finally saw Zeng Zifang's Immortal Cave.
Around Zeng Zifang's Immortal Cave was a patch of spiritual bamboo.
Each spiritual bamboo tree was tens of feet tall, layered upon layer, blocking the view, making it impossible to see the inside from the outside.
If Guan Tusheng hadn't been a Disciple of Nose Peak and told him Zeng Zifang's residence and its characteristics, Qian Duoduo wouldn't have been sure there was an Immortal Cave inside.
"Cough!" Qian Duoduo cleared his throat.
During the last Appraisal Fair, Elder Ma of the Sect Law Enforcement Division wanted to arrest him, and Zeng Zifang came out to help. Qian Duoduo didn't believe she just happened to be passing by.
As a Grand Elder, she must have been able to notice some movements within Nose Peak.
When he came to find her, she probably already knew.
After waiting for a long time, there was no sound from within the spiritual bamboo.
Thinking of Zeng Zifang's ruthlessness, Qian Duoduo steeled himself and shouted,
"Disciple Qian Duoduo of this peak requests an audience with the Grand Elder!"
As soon as his voice fell, a lazy voice came from within the spiritual bamboo.
"Come in."
The voice was Zeng Zifang's, but why did it sound like she hadn't woken up yet?
Qian Duoduo was hesitating when Zeng Zifang reminded him from inside.
"Follow the peony patterns on the ground; don't step randomly."
His scalp tingled again. Qian Duoduo widened his eyes, identified the peony patterns on the ground, and carefully stepped onto them.
Around Zeng Zifang's Immortal Cave, many Formations were set up, and triggering any one of them would result in injury.
After turning two corners, Qian Duoduo still hadn't seen the main entrance, but the spiritual mist within the spiritual bamboo became thicker and thicker, gradually obscuring the view, so he could only use his Spiritual Awareness to find his way.
After stepping over more than thirty peony patterns and turning three more corners, Qian Duoduo was wondering where the door was when Zeng Zifang's voice sounded from the spiritual mist about a zhang away from Qian Duoduo, "Just stand there; there's no more path ahead."
Qian Duoduo cupped his hands towards the spiritual mist.
"Grand Elder, Ancestor Zeng just ordered me to hold a sect-wide Treasure Appraisal Conference on Right Eyebrow Peak."
"What?"
Qian Duoduo heard the sound of water splashing.
There was also a fragrant scent in this spiritual mist. Was Zeng Zifang bathing?
Quickly turning his head, Qian Duoduo stood with his back to the sound.
"How did Ancestor Zeng find you?"
After a while, Zeng Zifang asked.
"I went to Right Eyebrow Peak to find Teng Libin. Then, Ancestor Zeng gave the order," Qian Duoduo said softly.
"Teng Libin? What did you want with him?" Zeng Zifang's voice turned cold.
"He sent me an invitation, saying that the Nose Peak Appraisal Fair was well-run and he wanted me to hold one on Right Eyebrow Peak as well. I didn't know the details, so I went to visit, and I didn't expect Ancestor Zeng to finalize the matter and even make it sect-wide."
Qian Duoduo knew he had made a mistake in this matter.
Before seeking out the Grand Elder of another peak, he should have consulted Zeng Zifang.
"Haha." Zeng Zifang sneered twice, then began to pick on Qian Duoduo.
"Impressive! Qian Duoduo, truly worthy of being someone from the Upper Road. As soon as you entered the sect, you gained the favor of Grand Elder Teng."
"Grand Elder, I was wrong!"
Qian Duoduo quickly admitted his mistake.
Zeng Zifang chuckled, "What's wrong with you? You're amazing. A sect-wide Treasure Appraisal Conference is unprecedented in history."
Qian Duoduo said in a low voice, "How can I handle that? But I wouldn't dare refute Ancestor Zeng's words. I came here immediately to ask the Grand Elder for advice."
"Ask me for advice! What advice do you want me to give!"
Suddenly, Zeng Zifang's voice became sharp, followed by a strong fluctuation from within the spiritual mist.
Then, a stark white figure stood before Qian Duoduo.