48: Chapter 48 Gu Xingzhi

The surroundings went silent for a moment.

The Tooth-Seeking Envoy's ears stiffened at the sides of his head, and he even forgot to wipe the tea off his face.

Young Master Gu Xingzhi did not seem to think his words just now were astonishing at all; he kept looking at Jiang Yuhe, his tone so straightforward it was almost candid.

"Marry me, and join the Gu Clan."

"If you need to reach Foundation Establishment, I will provide the cultivation method. If you lack spiritual resources, I will seek them for you. Locations, spiritual atmosphere, guardians—the Gu Clan can provide all of it."

There was not a hint of frivolity or teasing in his speech.

He seemed to be betting a precious treasure on the spot, or perhaps like someone on a battlefield who had spotted an equal to fight alongside.

Jiang Yuhe finally spoke: "Does Young Master Gu usually talk to people like this?"

Young Master Gu Xingzhi's brows lifted slightly, his expression betraying an irrepressible arrogance.

"I grew up listening to 'The Tale of the Two Immortals of Zheliu'. Who on Guli Circuit doesn't know that back then, a female Cultivator surnamed Duan and the Young Lord of the Zhang Family fell in love at first sight? When their families refused, the Zhang Family's Young Lord betrayed his clan and ran away with her."

"Later, they both achieved the Purple Mansion and returned to their clan together. I have longed for this since I was a child, and thus, the thought took root."

Having said this, he looked at Jiang Yuhe.

"If you nod, I will never take a concubine in this life; I will marry only you."

The Tooth-Seeking Envoy sat to the side, his wet face wearing a smile that looked worse than crying.

His news hadn't even been sold yet, and the main subject had already come to the table himself.

Several Divine Senses swept across the tea stall, but before they could get close, the three Gu Clan disciples behind Young Master Gu Xingzhi simultaneously stepped forward half a pace.

All three were at the Late Stage of Qi Refining.

As they released their aura, it was like three short blades being unsheathed at once, striking back all the prying gazes that had drawn near.

The area around the tea shed instantly became much quieter.

The Young Lord of the Gu Clan fell in love at first sight and publicly proposed to a female Cultivator of unknown origin?

Several Cultivators who had intended to stay and watch the excitement exchanged glances and quickly lowered their heads to retreat.

No one dared to gamble their lives on what Young Master Gu Xingzhi's mood was like today. If this Gu Clan Young Lord were displeased and decided to casually dispose of them as people ruining his mood, they wouldn't even have a place to cry for justice.

The tea stall owner froze not far away, still holding a half-pot of hot tea in his hand.

He dared not be angry, nor did he dare to pack up his stall, and he certainly dared not approach to take a look; he could only stand there, his face looking miserable.

Young Master Gu Xingzhi's aura was extremely vigorous.

Like a mountain stream breaking through a stone wall, it was sharp and clean. There was no sinister intent about him, only a youthful spirit so intense it was almost scorching.

Behind him was the Gu Clan.

And behind the Gu Clan was that Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator on the east bank of the Baishi River.

The Jiang Family was currently just a mediocre, humble Family hidden in a desolate mountain, far from the time when they could confront the Gu Clan head-on.

Jiang Yuhe set down her teacup.

"I am not a Loose Cultivator."

Young Master Gu Xingzhi looked at her.

Jiang Yuhe said: "I have a Family. Matters of marriage will not be decided by me on a whim at a tea stall, nor will I nod just because someone I have never met says a few words."

Young Master Gu Xingzhi fell silent for a moment.

He was not angry; he thought seriously for a moment and then nodded.

"Reasonable," he said. "Then you may consider it first. After the Grand Auction ends, I will personally bring betrothal gifts to your door to propose."

"I will not annex your Family. If you join the Gu Clan, your Family will also receive sufficient benefits from this marriage."

After saying this, Young Master Gu Xingzhi turned and left, the Gu Clan disciples withdrawing their auras and following behind him.

As the group walked along the bluestone path outside the tea shed, the surrounding Cultivators consciously avoided them. It was not until Young Master Gu Xingzhi's figure disappeared into the crowd of the market that the tea shed slowly regained its noise.

The Tooth-Seeking Envoy finally dared to raise his hand to wipe his face.

He wiped for a long time, but the red hair at his temples remained damp and plastered down, making him look somewhat disheveled.

"Young Miss..." The Tooth-Seeking Envoy looked at Jiang Yuhe cautiously, his voice very low.

"This Young Master Gu Xingzhi actually had another purpose in coming out this time: to find a female Cultivator who catches his eye to become his Dao Companion."

Having said this, he stole a glance in the direction Young Master Gu Xingzhi had left.

"According to his own words, the young ladies in the Gu Clan are either of poor talent, arrogant in temperament, or pampered and spoiled; he doesn't fancy a single one of them. When this little demon said he had a connection to you just now, this is what I meant."

The Tooth-Seeking Envoy apologized with a smile.

"How does the Young Miss feel about this piece of news now?"

Jiang Yuhe took two Spirit Stones from her Storage Pouch and placed them on the table.

She said nothing more and simply stood up to walk toward the back of Canghu Pavilion.

The auction was about to begin.

The front hall of Canghu Pavilion connected to the Lan Terrace in the back; the further in one went, the brighter the lights became. A row of bronze bells hung under the eaves, emitting a very faint sound whenever a Cultivator passed by.

As soon as Jiang Yuhe entered, a man in front of the terrace raised his eyes to look at her, then signaled the attendants on both sides to greet her.

"Please wait, honored guest."

The man's smile was steady; he had clearly already received instructions.

"Someone has reserved a private box for you, and there is a dedicated attendant to escort you. If you have any questions about tonight's auction items, you may ask at any time."

Jiang Yuhe paused for a moment and did not refuse.

An attendant greeted her, dressed in a light blue dress with a Canghu Pavilion wooden plaque hanging from her waist. She did not look old, yet she already possessed cultivation at the Early Stage of Qi Refining.

"Please follow me, honored guest."

She led Jiang Yuhe up the stairs from the side corridor.

Box No. 12 on the second floor.

The box was not large but was elegantly furnished. A transparent water curtain hung on the side facing the terrace; from inside, one could clearly see the tiered seating below and the central exhibition stage, but those outside could not see in.

The attendant said in a low voice: "If you need to place a bid, honored guest, just inform me. If you have questions about the auction items, you may also ask me directly."

Jiang Yuhe nodded.

After sitting down, she waited for about a quarter of an hour.

The area outside the water curtain suddenly lit up.

Formation patterns emerged in circles at the four corners of the exhibition stage, and the noise in the building gradually faded away.

A female Cultivator walked to the front of the stage; it was the middle-aged female Cultivator from the front hall of Canghu Pavilion. Today she had changed into a plain gold long dress, her aura steady, and her voice carried throughout the building via the Formation.

"Honored guests, thank you for waiting."

"The Canghu Grand Auction begins today. Here, we only discuss Spirit Stones, not the origin of goods. We only look at bids, not backgrounds. All items have been verified by Canghu Pavilion; if there is any error, this pavilion will compensate according to the price."

She raised her hand in a salute.

"The first auction item is a spiritual resource of the Water-Merging Dao, Medium Grade of Qi Refining: the Cangjian Convergence Pearl."

A jade box was brought up by an attendant.

The jade box opened, revealing a water-blue spirit pearl inside. Inside the pearl, two currents of water patterns merged and slowly rotated, like two tiny streams converging within the pearl.

The middle-aged female Cultivator introduced: "This pearl comes from the confluence of two streams; it can regulate water Qi and nourish the meridians. It is most suitable for middle-to-low-tier Cultivators like Rain Water and Grain Rain to stabilize their Qi and nourish their pulses. The starting bid is ten Spirit Stones."

Someone below quickly placed a bid.

"Twelve."

"Fifteen."

"Eighteen."

The price went all the way up, finally settling at twenty-five Spirit Stones.

Jiang Yuhe watched as the Cangjian Convergence Pearl was sent down, and she gradually gained an understanding.

Large auctions have many people, so items also have inflated prices.

She had paid the Tooth-Seeking Envoy two Spirit Stones, and now only sixty-nine remained in her Storage Pouch. If this trend continued, it would be difficult to even secure one truly suitable High Grade spiritual resource or Spell.

The auction continued.

The second item was a Fire-attribute talisman artifact, the third was Yao Beast bones, and the fourth was a scroll of an incomplete minor Spell.

Although the previous items each had their uses, Jiang Yuhe had no intention of bidding.

It was not until the fifth auction item was brought up that her eyes flickered.

Before the jade box on the stage had even opened, a faint sense of rain seeped out.

The middle-aged female Cultivator said: "The fifth item is a spiritual resource of the Grain Rain Dao, High Grade of Qi Refining: the Qingyuan Condensed Dew."

The jade box opened.

Inside the box was a drop of cyan water suspended without falling; inside the drop, it seemed as if a small rain cloud was hidden, with mist curling finely.

"This item was taken from the Grain Rain Eye of the Qingyuan Valley in the Southern Territory; it is dew condensed over a hundred years, suspended and not dispersing. It can be used as a main material for Medicinal Pills and Spiritual Artifacts, and also as a spiritual guide for the Grain Rain substitute participant before Foundation Establishment."

"The starting bid is fifty Spirit Stones."

As soon as the words fell, several auras in the venue stirred.

Before the Cultivators below could speak, a familiar voice suddenly came from Box No. 5.

"Seventy."

The voice did not use an attendant to report; it came directly from the box.

As soon as Jiang Yuhe heard it, she recognized it.

Young Master Gu Xingzhi.

Other boxes mostly had attendants report bids, but only he spoke himself, as if he didn't care at all that others knew who was sitting in Box No. 5.

Grain Rain spiritual resource?

Jiang Yuhe felt a slight doubt in her heart.

Could it be that he also cultivates the Grain Rain?

The attendant on the side seemed prepared and explained in a low voice: "When that gentleman reserved the box for you, honored guest, he specifically left a message."

Jiang Yuhe looked at her.

The attendant said: "He said that he also cultivates the Grain Rain. When he finished his secluded cultivation and came down the mountain this time, he had learned nearly ten Spells, among which is the Listening to Rain Spell, which is why he could hear other people's conversations."

"Young Master Gu Xingzhi also said that he pays special attention to you, honored guest, precisely because he can sense that you are also of the Grain Rain lineage."

Jiang Yuhe was silent for a long time and did not speak.

Often, the appearance of a major power competing means that raising the price is an expression of hostility. No one else dared to bid for the Qingyuan Condensed Dew, and it was eventually taken by Young Master Gu Xingzhi for seventy Spirit Stones.

Afterward, the auction items passed one by one.

The sixth, seventh, and eighth items had high and low prices, and the atmosphere in the venue was gradually heating up.

It was not until the twelfth auction item was brought onto the stage that the Formation light around the exhibition stage suddenly changed slightly.

The middle-aged female Cultivator raised her hand, signaling the attendant to bring out a cyan-white Jade Slip.

Jiang Yuhe's gaze locked onto it.

The middle-aged female Cultivator announced loudly: "The twelfth auction item is a High Grade Spell of the Clear Qi Dao."

"An offensive Spell."

"Named 'Cheng Feng'."

The venue instantly became much quieter.

Clear Qi is already rare, and High Grade Clear Qi Spells are even rarer.

The middle-aged female Cultivator continued: "This Spell uses Clear Qi as a blade, allowing for the layering of Spell power. It can break the continuity of protective spiritual light, and also cut off the residual momentum of an opponent's Spell during a duel, causing their Spell to dissipate without a root."

"If cultivated to a deep level, one's own Dharma body will not be contaminated by filthy Qi; it is even better at breaking Formations. It is not limited to this Spell; even other Spells will be influenced by it."

Her gaze swept across the seats below and then looked toward several boxes.

"The starting bid is fifty Spirit Stones."