283: On the eve of the auction

Seven days had passed since the conclusion of the Martial Arts Contest for Marriage Proposal and the Forging Competition.

During these seven days, the surface excitement of Juyan City gradually subsided, but undercurrents still surged. Qin Feng's group was in no hurry to leave, instead remaining in the city to recover while preparing for the upcoming Wanbao Auction.

Every morning, Qin Feng would practice his sword in the courtyard.

The ink plum sword felt like an extension of his own arm, and the Thunder-Fire True Intent gradually merged into his sword moves. Although the prototype of the Sword Intent had not yet fully formed, every thrust of the sword carried the faint sound of wind and thunder. Crimson and purple lightning intertwined within the sword light, its power a notch stronger than seven days ago.

Xiao Chun was busy in the alchemy room. Not only did she refine various Medicinal Pills for healing, detoxification, and assisting in cultivation for everyone, but under Qin Feng's instruction, she also quietly used the power of the Myriad Medicine Body to ripen a rare "Azure Yuan Fruit."

This Azure Yuan Fruit was originally just a two-hundred-year-old spirit fruit gifted by the Wood Spirit that day, having the effect of nourishing the Meridians. However, under the nourishment of the Myriad Medicine Body's Origin Qi from Xiao Chun, it actually spanned nine hundred years in just seven days, reaching a quality of over a thousand years! The skin turned a blue-gold color with mysterious patterns faintly visible on the surface, and the Spiritual Qi fluctuations it emitted were already no less than those of a High Grade Earth Rank Spirit Medicine.

"A thousand-year Azure Yuan Fruit should fetch at least five hundred thousand gold coins." Qin Feng looked at the fruit in the jade box, his heart settling slightly. "Combined with the funds left by the Valley Master, it should be enough to bid for the Heaven Rank sword technique fragment."

Before parting, Li Changqing and Sikong Ye handed two golden Crystal Cards to Xiao Chun and Qin Feng. These were "Gold Yuan Cards" commonly used across the continent, issued by the top chamber of commerce, "Wanbao Pavilion," which stored massive amounts of money and were convenient to carry.

Xiao Chun's card held five million gold coins, a portion of Medicine King Valley's accumulation over many years, with the Valley Master instructing it to be kept "for a rainy day." Qin Feng's card held two million, which was private money pooled together by several of his Masters.

"The Masters have really emptied out part of their savings," Qin Feng said with a bitter smile at the time.

Xiao Chun was very serious: "Brother Feng, Master said the trip to the Imperial Capital is dangerous and told us not to be stingy with money—spend it when needed. Problems that can be solved with money are not problems at all."

This was indeed true. Although the path of martial arts emphasizes strength, financial power is also an important pillar. Without resources, no matter how high one's talent is, it is difficult to grow quickly.

Little Fire had the most comfortable time over these seven days. The two sun crystal stones allowed it to complete a minor evolution. It was now an Early Stage Martial King Yao Beast, its intelligence greatly opened, allowing it to communicate simply with Xiao Chun. It daily devoured a large amount of fire-attribute Spirit Stones and Yao Beast meat; its appetite was staggering, but it grew rapidly because of it.

Xia Ya, Ji Ruxue, Tao Yuanyi, and Cold Peach Blossom were not idle either, each cultivating and improving their Martial Skills. Tao Yuanyi, in particular, after winning the Forging Competition, gained a surge of confidence in the path of Artifact Refining and had been pondering how to upgrade the rank of the ink plum sword these past few days.

After Ye Wuyou left, the team was down one person, but their cohesion became even stronger. Everyone understood that the road ahead required even more mutual trust and working together.

---

The night deepened, and the zi hour was approaching.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged in silence, his mind sinking into the System. Over these seven days, he refreshed the intelligence daily, but most of what he got was various gossip from Juyan City, with very little useful information regarding the auction.

1. [White Intelligence]: The owner of "Wang's Bun Shop" on the East Street of Juyan City has been secretly mixing rat meat into the filling. This has been discovered by regular customers, and business has plummeted recently. The neighboring "Li's Noodle Shop" took the opportunity to launch "Pure Pork Big Buns," stealing most of the customers.

2. [White Intelligence]: Xiao Cui, the personal maid of the City Lord Mansion's Third Miss Yan Chi, has developed secret feelings for the guard captain Wang Gang. The two often meet privately behind the rockery in the mansion's back garden. This has been noticed by the butler, but because he accepted a bribe from Zhao Gang, he chose to turn a blind eye.

3. [Yellow Intelligence]: The Hehuan Sect's secret post in Juyan City, "Drunken Red Pavilion," recently welcomed a mysterious distinguished guest. This person wears a black robe covering their face and has a cold aura, suspected to be a high-level member of the Blood Spirit Gate. Since Flower Without Intent left, contact between the Hehuan Sect and the Blood Spirit Gate has clearly increased.

4. [White Intelligence]: Yan Chi wanted to cook a meal for her father, but ended up burning down three kitchens and was strictly forbidden from approaching the stove.

5. [White Intelligence]: City Lord Yan Di had a secret romance with a certain princess from the Imperial Capital in his youth, but it was ended due to personality clashes. That princess is now a Noble Consort, and this matter has become a past that Yan Di is unwilling to mention.

6. [White Intelligence]: When Yan Chi was 15, she disguised herself as a man and joined the Yan Guard Army for half a year, becoming the Rookie King without anyone knowing.

7. [White Intelligence]: The Eldest Young Master Yan Lie secretly recruited three Artifact Refining and forging experts in the city. Because of unequal treatment, two left in anger. Yan Lie could only try to retain them by promising to sign new contracts and treat everyone equally.

8. [White Intelligence]: While cultivating recently, Yan Chi often uses Qin Feng's Thunder Fire Sword Intent as an imaginary enemy, pondering ways to counter it. She even created a move called "Blazing Sun Thunder Breaker," specifically designed to counter thunder-type Martial Skills.

9. [White Intelligence]: The Hehuan Sect's influence in the Northern Territory is quietly shrinking; Flower Without Intent has returned to Frost Sky City to recover from his injuries.

Nine entries in a row, eight white and one yellow.

Qin Feng frowned slightly. Although this intelligence was interesting, it wasn't much help for tomorrow's auction. Especially the ones about Yan Chi... they left him somewhat amused and exasperated.

"That girl... she really is a natural-born battle maniac. Blazing Sun Thunder Breaker..." Qin Feng shook his head.

"Is auction intelligence really this hard to get?"

He could only wait for tonight's zi hour.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Junior Brother Qin, it's me." Cold Peach Blossom's voice came through.

Qin Feng opened the door and saw Cold Peach Blossom standing outside with a solemn expression.

"Senior Sister Leng, what's wrong?"

Cold Peach Blossom walked into the room and lowered her voice: "I went into the city today to gather information and heard some rumors—tomorrow's Wanbao Auction might not just have the Heaven Rank sword technique fragment."

Qin Feng's gaze sharpened: "What else?"

"It's said there's a Low Grade Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, a Peak Earth Rank weapon, and several rare Artifact Refining Materials," Cold Peach Blossom said. "These are all finale items, and the competition will be extremely fierce. Especially that Low Grade Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique—even if it's just Low Grade, it's still Heaven Rank after all, enough to drive many small and medium-sized factions crazy."

She paused and added: "I also heard that Young Master Yan Lie is determined to get that Heaven Rank technique. His recent efforts to win over Martial Emperors are likely to raise funds or... to suppress others with his influence."

Qin Feng's heart sank.

If Yan Lie really was determined to get the Heaven Rank technique, the difficulty of bidding would increase significantly. After all, the City Lord Mansion's financial power was immense, far beyond what they could compare to.

"Also," Cold Peach Blossom continued, "people from the Hehuan Sect have arrived. Although they haven't shown their faces, someone saw Flower Without Intent's maid near the auction house. They might also be interested in certain auction items."

Qin Feng silent for a moment before slowly saying, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The rule of the auction is that the highest bidder wins. As long as we have enough funds, we don't need to fear the competition."

That being said, he knew in his heart that five million plus two million made seven million gold coins in total. The budget for the Heaven Rank fragment was around five million, as he couldn't spend all the team's money.

"Then we'll do our best." Determination flashed in Qin Feng's eyes. "We must obtain the Heaven Rank sword technique fragment. As for the rest... we'll do what we can."

"Alright."

After Cold Peach Blossom left, Qin Feng looked at the System panel again.

"The thousand-year Azure Yuan Fruit ripened by Xiao Chun should sell for a good price."

Qin Feng pondered, "Plus some Materials and Medicinal Pills we have on hand that we don't need, we might be able to scrape together another few hundred thousand."

System, the zi hour is almost here. I hope there's some useful information about the auction this time.