220: Chapter 220 The Auction Begins

The main street of Liuli City was even more bustling in the evening. This was Hou Xiaojie's first time in such a prosperous city, and everything he saw was new to him; he felt as if his eyes weren't enough to take it all in.

The Mini Dragon Ape was even more excited, crouching on Ye Tian's shoulder with its little head turning this way and that. It was particularly interested in the sugar-sculpture vendors and monkey shows along the road, letting out low "ooh-ooh" cries from time to time.

Ye Tian shook his head helplessly, his Divine Sense continuously enveloping the surroundings.

He discovered that besides the Blood Blade Sect's scouts, there seemed to be two other distinct auras.

"It seems that the Blood Blade Sect isn't the only one watching us..."

Ye Tian sneered inwardly but remained expressionless.

He could probably guess that it likely had something to do with the little fellow on his shoulder.

He gently patted the Mini Dragon Ape's head, signaling it to behave.

Before long, a seven-story pavilion appeared before his eyes.

Just standing in front of the building, one could feel a sense of immense wealth and power.

This was Wanbao Tower, a business giant that ranked among the top in Liuli City and even the entire Northern Region.

There was a massive flow of people in front of the building, with Cultivators wearing various outfits and possessing varying levels of Qi entering and leaving.

There were children of prominent Families in luxurious clothes surrounded by attendants, steady-looking lone travelers with sharp eyes, and seemingly ordinary Sect Disciples like Ye Tian.

Ye Tian led Hou Xiaojie toward a side hall at the side of Wanbao Tower, following the flow of people.

This was the place the waiter had mentioned for the "capital verification" process for the auction.

Guards stood at the entrance of the side hall, and a long queue had already formed inside.

Capital verification was a method Wanbao Tower used to ensure that participants had the necessary financial resources, preventing people from making wild bids they couldn't afford.

One had to either present a sufficient amount of Spirit Stones or equivalent assets, or hold a VIP invitation issued by Wanbao Tower.

The queue moved slowly. When it was Ye Tian's turn, the person in charge was a middle-aged man wearing the attire of a Wanbao Tower Deacon, with a pale, beardless Face and a hint of arrogance in his eyes.

He looked up and glanced at Ye Tian, noticing his ordinary green Disciple robes and the "strange monkey" on his shoulder that he had never seen before. His brow furrowed imperceptibly, and his tone was flat, even slightly impatient: "Name, Sect. Capital verification proof."

"Ye Tian, Liuli Xuan Sect. Spirit Stone verification."

Ye Tian handed over his qingxuan ring.

The Deacon took the qingxuan ring and swept his Divine Sense inside.

When he saw the mountain of over a hundred thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones emitting pure Spiritual Qi in the corner of the ring, his Face instantly filled with shock!

This was Ye Tian's reward from the Illusory Sea Secret Realm. At the time, the Sect had rewarded him with a thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones. He had used about three hundred to achieve his Breakthrough to the True Martial Realm, and the rest he had exchanged for Mid-Grade Spirit Stones specifically for this auction.

Of course, some of the Spirit Stones came from looting opponents during his usual missions, including some low-level Spiritual Artifacts he had seized and exchanged for Spirit Stones.

One could say that Ye Tian was now something of a wealthy man.

The Deacon looked up again and scrutinized Ye Tian. The arrogance in his eyes faded significantly, and his tone became much more polite: "An elite of the Liuli Xuan Sect? My apologies.

The number of Spirit Stones is sufficient. This is your Number Plate, Earth Tier, Rank C, Number 27.

Please keep it safe; use this plate to enter on the day of the auction."

As he spoke, he handed over a jade plate engraved with the number.

"Thank you."

Ye Tian took the jade plate, his expression unchanged.

This amount of Spirit Stones was nothing to him now.

However, just as Ye Tian was about to take back the qingxuan ring and leave with Hou Xiaojie, a sarcastic voice suddenly came from the side: "Oh, look who it is. Such a grand display, even bringing a monkey for capital verification?

So it's an 'elite' of the Liuli Xuan Sect.

Tell me, Brother Ye, where did you strike it rich after not seeing you for a year?

You didn't happen to have some stroke of dumb luck and pick up some unlucky bastard's Storage Pouch, did you?"

Ye Tian turned his head and saw a young man in a brocade robe with a mean look in his eyes, holding a seductive female Cultivator and looking at him with a Face full of mockery.

Ye Tian had some recollection of this person; he seemed to be a member of a small Family subordinate to the Tianjue Sect, surnamed Wang. A year ago at an auction, he was a sycophant following Xue Li around.

His voice wasn't quiet, immediately drawing the attention of many people around them.

Many people looked at Ye Tian's ordinary clothes and the "strange monkey" on his shoulder, then looked at the Wang Family member's posturing, their eyes showing a desire for drama.

Even the Deacon in charge of capital verification folded his arms, acting as if it were none of his business.

Hou Xiaojie's Face turned red with anger, and he wanted to argue back, but Ye Tian stopped him with a glance.

Ye Tian merely gave the man a faint glance, not even bothering to say a word. He looked away and said to Hou Xiaojie, "Let's go."

Such a buffoon wasn't worth wasting his breath on.

His mind was now entirely on the auction in two days and those potential enemies.

Seeing that Ye Tian completely ignored him, the young man surnamed Wang's Face turned ugly. Feeling like he had lost Face in front of his female companion, he wanted to say more.

But Ye Tian had already turned and left the side hall with his companion. That total disregard made him feel more stifled than any retort could.

"Senior Brother, that guy was too much! Why didn't you let me scold him!"

Walking out of the side hall, Hou Xiaojie was still fuming.

"If a dog barks at you, are you going to get down on all fours and bark back?"

Ye Tian smiled and rubbed his head. "Remember, a truly strong person doesn't care about the yapping of stray dogs by the roadside.

Our goal is the items at the auction."

Hou Xiaojie nodded, seemingly understanding yet still a bit confused.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

During these two days, Ye Tian and Hou Xiaojie kept a low profile, spending most of their time Cultivating in their inn room.

Ye Tian continued to consolidate his understanding of the Illusory Sea Heart Sutra while also nurturing his Divine Sense.

The Mini Dragon Ape was quite well-behaved, doing nothing but eating and sleeping. Occasionally, it would wake up and curiously peer out the window. Its aura remained around the second layer of the True Martial Realm, and so far, there were no abnormalities.

The scouts from the Blood Blade Sect and other forces were still watching outside.

On the day of the auction, many Cultivators arrived from all over the Northern Region and even further away.

By the time Ye Tian and Hou Xiaojie arrived, the front of Wanbao Tower was already a sea of people.

After showing their Number Plate, they were led inside the auction venue by a pretty maid.

The interior of the auction hall was even more striking than it appeared from the outside.

The entire hall was circular and divided into three levels.

The bottom level consisted of ordinary open seating, which was currently packed with people and quite noisy.

The second level had semi-private booths separated by bead curtains, prepared for guests with a certain status and wealth.

And the highest third level consisted of completely independent private rooms with closed doors and windows. Nothing inside could be seen from the outside, clearly reserved for truly important figures.

Ye Tian's Earth Tier, Rank C, Number 27 seat was in a booth on the second level.

The position wasn't the best, but it provided a clear view of the auction stage below.

After the maid served Spiritual Tea and snacks, she respectfully withdrew.

Ye Tian sat in his chair, scanning the entire auction hall.

At the same time, he spread his Divine Sense to perceive the auras in the room.

"There really are quite a few experts..." Ye Tian felt a slight chill in his heart.

Just in the second-level booths and third-level private rooms, he sensed no fewer than ten True Martial Realm auras!

And in the open seating on the first floor, he also saw a few "acquaintances."

The Blood Blade Sect Leader, Xue Wuya, sat in an inconspicuous corner with a gloomy Face, flanked by several Elders with strong auras.

That young man surnamed Wang from before was squeezed into the front row of the open seating, looking around.

Additionally, he sensed the auras of Disciples from the Tianjue Sect, Lieyang Valley, and other Sects. There was even an extremely subtle, ethereal aura that felt like a dream, which flickered by, causing Ye Tian's heart to skip a beat.

"Yun Zhiying... she's here too?"