28: Chapter 28 Wanbao Pavilion

"In previous years, whenever I reported this, Second Master would come. I don't know why Second Master didn't come this year."

As Qian Zhong spoke, he handed over a gilded invitation card with the words "Wanbao Pavilion" written on it.

Wang Shouren raised an eyebrow.

It was the usual practice in past years, so why didn't Second Uncle come this year? He immediately understood the reason.

Whether it was the joint attack formation drills, selecting Body Cultivator clansmen, or Sixth Grandpa's upcoming sermon, the clan likely couldn't spare any manpower.

Second Uncle was directly assisting Father with managing clan affairs, so he had even less time to attend some auction.

"In previous years, Second Master would bid on some rare Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts, with the Spirit Stones charged directly to the shop's account, making us Wanbao Pavilion's biggest customer in Wanshan County. Today, Wanbao Pavilion asked again when our Wang Family would participate. Young Lord, I cannot make this decision, what do you think?"

Qian Zhong spoke with a smile in his eyes.

Wang Shouren understood; this Qian Zhong was indeed someone who knew how to handle things.

"Give it to me. I will attend this auction in place of Second Uncle. Additionally, I need some cultivation resources. Here is a list; please purchase them for me, and when I return, I will pay you all the Spirit Stones together."

Wang Shouren pulled out a blank Jade Slip, inscribed the details of the resources Wang Shouxin wanted to exchange for spirit rice before he left, and handed it to Qian Zhong. He then took the invitation and walked toward Wanbao Pavilion.

Wanbao Pavilion was located in the most prosperous central area of the Wanshan County market, occupying an entire three-story pavilion with eaved roofs, painted rafters, and two majestic, fearsome white jade Pixiu statues in front of its doors.

In the entire Yue State, Wanbao Pavilion might not be top-tier, but on this small patch of land in Wanshan County, it was undeniably the number one firm.

At this moment, in a private room on the second floor of Wanbao Pavilion.

Zhiyao rested her chin on her hand, her slender fingers tapping rhythmically on the window sill. Her gaze drifted past the crowd outside the window, landing on a banner embroidered with a green lotus far down the street.

The doors of the Wang Family fish shop were tightly closed, and the "Temporarily Closed" sign hanging at the entrance had not yet been taken down.

She sighed and casually tossed the ledger in her hand onto the table.

"The Wang Family didn't come. I definitely won't be able to meet my quota this term," she muttered to herself, her tone full of annoyance.

Although she was at the ninth layer of Qi Refining and considered a high-level Cultivator in Wanshan County, Wanbao Pavilion was all about business and focused on profit.

The steward of each branch pavilion had an annual evaluation quota; if completed, there were rewards, but if not?

Regardless of your cultivation level, you would be demoted and have your pay docked.

She barely met the standard last year, relying entirely on Second Master Wang Yaowen spending three thousand Spirit Stones to win a batch of Medicinal Pills at auction to barely pass.

If she lost the big customer that was the Wang Family this year, her position as steward would likely come to an end.

"Steward, they are still waiting downstairs. Are we opening today's auction or not?" a shop attendant's cautious voice came from outside the door.

"Open it, of course we are opening it." Zhiyao rubbed her temples and forced herself to perk up. "Even if the Wang Family doesn't come, we still have to serve the other guests."

In front of the main entrance of Wanbao Pavilion.

Wang Shouren walked up to the door, and just as he was about to step inside, a sheathed saber crossed in front of him.

"Halt."

A burly man dressed in the uniform of a Wanbao Pavilion guard looked him up and down.

Wang Shouren's original Wang Family Disciple robe had been ruined during his ordeal in the secret room, so he was currently wearing an ordinary magical robe kept as a spare in his Storage Pouch, with a bamboo hat resting on his head.

No matter how one looked at him, he did not look like a prominent figure, but rather like an ordinary Loose Cultivator.

"Do you have an invitation?"

Wang Shouren handed over the gilded invitation.

The guard took the invitation, opened it, glanced at it, and frowned.

The invitation was genuine, but the person before him was far too shabby.

He closed the invitation and said in a stiff tone, "Pay fifty Spirit Stones for the entry fee."

Wang Shouren frowned slightly. "Even with an invitation, I have to pay an entry fee?"

The guard sneered and patted the invitation against his palm.

"Fellow Daoist, the Wanbao Pavilion auction isn't a place just any riffraff can enter. If you don't want to pay fifty Spirit Stones, you can also let us inspect your Storage Pouch. As long as your net worth exceeds one thousand Spirit Stones, you can still enter. Two choices, pick one yourself."

Several Cultivators queuing up nearby laughed upon hearing this.

A fat Cultivator wearing a silk gown fanned himself and spoke in a sarcastic, mocking tone.

"You don't even know the rules for entering an auction? Is this your first time? You can't even produce fifty Spirit Stones, yet you want to go in and join the fun?"

Another tall, thin guy chimed in, "Exactly. Look where you are! This is Wanbao Pavilion's auction. Those who enter are all prominent figures. Do you think this is a street vendor's stall?"

Wang Shouren remained calm, but he reflected inwardly.

Having lived a quiet, secluded life all these years—either Cultivating at Lotus Pier or farming at Qinhu Mountain—he indeed knew little of the rules outside.

Inspecting his Storage Pouch was naturally out of the question; he hid far too many secrets on his person, and there was no way he would lay out his entire net worth just to prove his eligibility.

As for the fifty Spirit Stones, he had only come today to see what was being auctioned off, and it wasn't mandatory for him to attend.

He drew the invitation back into his sleeve, turned, and walked away.

Behind him, the fat Cultivator's sarcastic voice followed: "Heh, I told you, he can't even produce fifty Spirit Stones, yet he tries to act like a big shot! Loose Cultivators these days dress decently enough, but it's a pity their pockets are cleaner than their faces!"

The tall, thin man sneered as well.

Wang Shouren acted as though he hadn't heard. Having lived two lives, he possessed at least this much composure, and he wasn't one to blow his top at the slightest provocation.

The guard snorted coldly. He had seen plenty of such people—picking up an invitation from somewhere and wanting to sneak in to gain experience, only to put on a disdainful front and leave when stopped.

The tall, thin man's eyes darted around, and he immediately sent a voice transmission to the fat man: "Brother, help me act out a scene. This guy clearly has no backing as a Loose Cultivator. Since he came to attend the auction, his Storage Pouch must have something good. How about a 60-40 split when it's done?"

The fat man's eyes lit up. "Excellent! A Loose Cultivator makes things easy!"

The tall, thin man felt around his waist, then suddenly looked left and right.

"Where did my jade pendant go? Who stole my ancestral jade pendant? Stop right there! I'm talking to you, stop right there! You were the one who bumped into me just now!"

Wang Shouren frowned slightly and did not stop.

"Damn it, did you hear me calling you? I'm certain he stole my jade pendant!"

"I, Fatty, bear witness! This Fellow Daoist's jade pendant was indeed stolen by that guy wearing the bamboo hat."

Discussions erupted around them. Any discerning person could tell this fat and thin duo was intentionally picking a fight, but nobody was willing to speak up.

Between helping a Loose Cultivator and offending two prominent figures versus standing by to watch the show, they knew full well what to do.

Seeing the bamboo-hatted man treating them as if they were invisible, the two grew furious. What was a mere Loose Cultivator acting so arrogant for!

The two stepped forward briskly to block Wang Shouren.

Wang Shouren stopped in his tracks.

He turned back, his gaze indifferently sweeping over the faces of the fat Cultivator and the tall, thin man.

With just that single glance, both of them shuddered simultaneously.

An invisible sense of pressure emanated from him. Under the gaze of those eyes, the two felt as if they were engulfed in a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

"What did you say?"

Having been severely corrupted by the black lotus, even though he had now escaped, the murderous intent originating from the black lotus had not yet fully dissipated.

"Such intense... Killing Intent! You... you..."

The fat Cultivator's mouth froze halfway open, the rest of his words choked in his throat, unable to utter a single sound.

The tall, thin man shrank back half a step, fine beads of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"Stop right there! To steal something on Wanbao Pavilion territory and dare to harbour murderous intent—do you hold Wanbao Pavilion in no regard at all?"

The guard stepped in. He didn't know what the two had seen, but today was the auction; if the steward found out someone was causing trouble at Wanbao Pavilion on his watch, how could he keep getting paid?

This must be handled strictly!

In the private room on the second floor, the beautiful woman was resting her chin on her hand, gazing out the window.

She had heard the commotion downstairs long ago, but originally paid it no mind.

It was nothing more than another Loose Cultivator trying to sneak into the auction and getting stopped by the guard.

But when the bamboo hat was lifted at a corner, revealing that young face, her entire body shuddered violently, her hand resting on her chin freezing in midair.

That face and figure bore a vague ninety-percent resemblance to that member of the Wang Family who wore snow-white robes, possessed handsome features, and carried a black lotus mark between his brows.

Wang Shouren, the number one person among the Wang Family's third generation.

Zhiyao covered her mouth—they were picking a fight with her God of Wealth!

Almost slamming open the window, she flipped directly down from the second floor, her purple robes fluttering wildly. "Fellow Daoist Wang! It's all a misunderstanding, please show mercy!"

Wang Shouren's gaze landed on the purple-robed woman's face.

"You know me?"