Chapter Eighty: At Least It Can Be Used Twice

The entire hall fell silent.

Who was Gou Jianren?

He was the master of the Gou family auction house in Huanglong Prefecture! In terms of cultivation, wealth, status, and connections, he stood at the very pinnacle of the city’s hierarchy. Frankly, there were fewer than five people in all of Huanglong City who dared address him by name.

Could the cultivators in this supreme private box truly be so formidable?

Ning Yuhe laughed wildly in his heart. Brothel riffraff! Country bumpkin! Though he didn’t know what trick this person had used to deceive the honored patron, once the master arrived, the truth would surely be revealed.

At that moment, the female cultivator from the Qin clan wore a dazed expression. Did she hear correctly—he wanted Gou Jianren to come in person? That wasn’t exactly impossible, but she had never summoned him before and had no idea how to go about it!

Inside the box, Su Yizhao toyed with the jade token in his hand. The white-robed female cultivator who had been exposed stood up and quietly wrapped herself in her veil before slipping away. Now that the patron had confirmed the authenticity and power of the jade token, Su Yizhao naturally felt at ease.

He spoke calmly once more: “Fellow Daoist Qin, just invite him in. There’s no need for you to concern yourself with anything else!”

After all, he didn’t dare step out himself.

Gou Jianren had to come in.

The female cultivator hesitated. “But… but I don’t know how to invite him!”

Su Yizhao’s voice was tinged with surprise. “Even as the chief of the auction house, you don’t know?”

“Who dares make this old man come in person?”

Just then, a deep, powerful voice rang out. Instantly, a wave of commotion swept through the crowd of over twenty thousand cultivators.

He’s really coming?

A middle-aged cultivator appeared and strode toward the box. “I’d like to see which familiar fellow Daoist dares play such a joke!”

His tone was calm, yet it was laced with anger. As the master of the auction house—a figure on par with the head of a sect—who would dare order him about?

Watching Gou Jianren enter the box, Ning Yuhe grinned.

“Young man, who are you?” The angry rebuke from within the box made Ning Yuhe laugh even harder, tears streaming down his face.

But after that outburst, not another sound emerged from the box.

Impossible!

The honored patron might be highly cultivated but had been away from the world too long and was easily deceived; that was understandable. But Gou Jianren, as the master, was a seasoned player in the cultivation world—how could he possibly be fooled?

A moment later, the curtain of the box was drawn aside, and Gou Jianren stepped out.

His face was calm, his eyes full of delight.

Ning Yuhe stared in shock.

The entire hall held its breath, waiting for the outcome.

Gou Jianren spoke lightly to the female cultivator, “The fifty million Xuan Stones from this fellow Daoist have been received. Bring the auction item in at once!”

Her hands trembled slightly as she held the tray. She quickly bowed and replied, “Yes, sir!”

A chorus of disappointed sighs rose from the assembled cultivators, and they began to leave the venue, losing interest.

Ning Yuhe was dumbfounded, covering his face in disbelief.

What in the world was going on? Yuquan, how did you get yourself tangled up with such a person?

“So this is the Goldstone Golem, on par with the Ten Void Realm?” Su Yizhao picked up a small golden figurine.

The female cultivator from the Qin clan stole a glance at him. He looked so young! His eyes so bright—not at all like a thousand-year-old monster.

Could he be the young master of some great sect?

Su Yizhao squeezed the figurine. It was incredibly hard. He chuckled, “Comparable to the Ten Void Realm, but only fifty million? Surely it isn’t single-use?”

Clad in a low-cut Daoist robe, the female cultivator bowed and replied, slightly flustered, “Senior, it is definitely not single-use. It can be used at least twice!”

“Ah!” Su Yizhao exclaimed in surprise, his gaze settling on her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two snowy peaks trembling gently.

Seeing the look of astonishment on his face—so unlike an ancient demon—she couldn’t help but giggle.

If he wasn’t an old monster, then he must be the heir of a powerful sect!

She explained, “The intricate array within the Goldstone Golem simply can’t withstand the force of the Ten Void Realm. That’s why, after the Xuantian Sect’s Array Hall developed it, they found it rather useless and didn’t manufacture them in bulk.”

Su Yizhao’s gaze grew somber.

“If you use it at the Eight Void Realm,” she said, “it works perfectly well!”

Su Yizhao brightened. The Eight Void Realm was still excellent—a real life-saver in a critical moment!

“How many uses then?” he pressed.

Her exquisitely beautiful face flushed. “At least ten times!”

Ten times! Five million per use? Still a little expensive.

But Su Yizhao couldn’t be bothered to haggle—after all, he hadn’t spent any of his own Xuan Stones. As for the debt to Gou Jianren, he’d pay it back when he had the means.

He put the Goldstone Golem away with a sigh. “The auction business really is lucrative.”

The female cultivator bowed again, embarrassed. “Normally, we explain the uses and functions clearly. But the Goldstone Golem is so well known that we didn’t mention it this time.”

So now he was being blamed.

But did they even know he wasn’t the one who made the first bid?

“So that’s why I said earlier that I would apologize for my rashness!” she said.

Su Yizhao stood up, magnanimously: “No need! Senior Gou Jianren said just now that I may use the Eternal Cultivation Chamber. Please take me there.”

She trembled, then looked up boldly at him.

Mid-stage Six-Spirit Realm. Fifty million to win the Goldstone Golem, now asking for the Eternal Cultivation Chamber—starting at ten million!

Her eyes sparkled with admiration. “This way, fellow Daoist. My name is Qin Hongyi. It’s an honor to serve you.”

Ning Yuhe kept his eyes glued to the curtain, deep in thought. Suddenly, he saw the curtain lift and the two of them walking out side by side.

A flush glowed on Qin Hongyi’s stunning features.

Ning Yuhe’s fists clenched instantly.

This… wretch! No, this scoundrel!

Su Yizhao glanced at him and offered a faint smile.

Ning Yuhe quickly loosened his fist and forced a friendly grin. “Fellow Daoist Su, you’re truly impressive! Where are you headed? I was waiting here precisely to escort you.”

Qin Hongyi was surprised—Su? But there was no powerful family named Su in Huanglong Prefecture.

Unless… could he be from Vast City?

She leaned closer to Su Yizhao and said to Ning Yuhe, “Fellow Daoist Su has already asked me to attend him, Ning Daoist. You may go about your own business.”

Just then, Su Yizhao whispered in her ear, “Are killings allowed here?”

Qin Hongyi stiffened at once, instantly standing straight.

The atmosphere had been rather congenial—why bring up violence so suddenly?

Su Yizhao felt the softness at his side vanish and regained his composure. “Is it permitted to kill for no reason?”

Qin Hongyi tugged her robe a little tighter. “Of course not. It’s forbidden in Huanglong Prefecture, and even more so in our auction house.”

Ning Yuhe sidled up, smiling. “Fellow Daoist Su wants to kill someone?”

Su Yizhao snorted coldly, placed his hand on Qin Hongyi’s nearly bare shoulder, and gently pushed her along as he walked forward, arm around her.

A wave of softness met his right hand.

“In what circumstances is killing allowed?”

“Only in cases of legitimate self-defense!”