Ye Qinghe's fair face instantly turned pale. His lips trembling, he said, "I'll go and gather information right now. We'll split up."
Yong Shanling nodded. This was the best solution. After all, if they separated, they could cover a wider range of areas.
Anxiously, she walked into a teahouse, hoping to overhear some valuable information. But she heard nothing of use. Disheartened, she walked on the street. Suddenly, her attention was caught by a pawnshop. The sign read, "We'll take whatever you pawn, and we have whatever you want to buy."
She walked in on a whim and was immediately drawn to an old man with an otherworldly air. Softly, she said, "Hello, grandpa. I'd like to buy a piece of information."
The old man looked up, sizing Yong Shanling up. His gaze was calm. "Fifty mid - grade spirit stones."
Yong Shanling let out a sigh of relief. As long as he was willing to name a price, she wasn't afraid of not getting the information. Looking at the old man seriously, she said, "A person went missing from the Vientiane Hotel last night. I want to know where I can find this person."
The old man stretched out his hand. "Spirit stones."
Yong Shanling quickly handed over the spirit stones. The old man put them away, summoned a notebook, and flipped through it rapidly. He soon stopped and gave a pitying smile.
A sense of foreboding washed over her. Then she heard the old man say softly, "You can find the person you're looking for at the auction."
Yong Shanling thanked him repeatedly. The old man just waved his hand and motioned for her to leave.
Yong Shanling rushed back without delay. She didn't notice that after she left, the old man in the shop slowly changed his appearance. The area around the old man was empty and desolate. He showed a blood - thirsty smile as he watched the direction Yong Shanling had left.
"Xiao Qinghe, I've found Uncle Shu's location. We'll go to the auction tonight. Remember to take the disguise pill." Yong Shanling saw Ye Qinghe and quickly gave instructions. Then she rushed back to her room. She needed to prepare well. If Uncle Shu was really being auctioned, with the vast merits on his body, it would be hard for him to get away easily.
She tidied up her supplies. Most of them were materials she'd obtained from various monsters, as well as some spirit stones left by her master. There were a hundred high - grade spirit stones, six hundred mid - grade ones, and ten thousand low - grade ones. This amount was quite substantial even for a noble family or a sect. But Yong Shanling didn't know this, so she set her sights on the Washing Spirit Pills.
After all, good materials were scarce, and alchemists were even rarer. It was a money - burning profession that relied on practical experience.
Thinking that neither Uncle Shu nor she would need the pills for the time being, and Ye Qinghe, being a single - spiritual - root cultivator, didn't need them either, she decided to keep one as a spare and auction the other.
After getting everything ready, she just had to wait for the auction to start. There was still a day to go.
In the following two days, Ye Qinghe was also desperately in seclusion, refining pills to relieve some of Yong Shanling's burden. After all, snatching an auction item from some powerful noble families was no easy task. It required not only financial resources but also matching strength.
Late at night, Yong Shanling and Ye Qinghe, both dressed in black robes and wearing masks, walked into an auction house. The waiting attendant respectfully led them to two seats in the hall.
After that, people gradually filled the seats around them. Most of them were wearing masks. Only a few people with a powerful aura or whose background was completely unclear weren't wearing masks.
The lights in the room dimmed, and only the auction stage was illuminated.
"Hi, everyone. I'm A Qiu from the Henggu Auction House. I'll be hosting this auction again." A clear and melodious voice came, and an elegant yet lively figure appeared on the stage.
Everyone perked up, excited. This was the largest auction house in China, and the annual auction always managed to present a few items that would be hotly contested. Whether it was a human, a demon, or a spiritual beast, one could find what they wanted here. And all those who came to auction their items could get a good price. Most importantly, the people here wouldn't ask how one had obtained the items. This had become an unspoken rule among all the people who came to the auction.
Gradually, Henggu had become the number one auction house.
Yong Shanling didn't say a word. She just quietly waited for what she wanted.
"The first item up for auction is a defensive magical weapon that can withstand a full - force attack from a Core Formation stage cultivator. It can be exchanged for a Tribulation - Crossing Pill or start at three hundred mid - grade spirit stones." A Qiu carried the tray in a charming way.
"Five hundred mid - grade spirit stones."
"Five hundred and fifty mid - grade."
"Six hundred mid - grade."
...
Many people were tempted. After all, even if they didn't need it themselves, their juniors might.
After that, many weapons, defensive magical tools, and various refining materials appeared one after another. In the middle, there was even a book that recorded a high - level talisman. Yong Shanling was extremely tempted, but thinking of Uncle Shu who hadn't appeared yet, she had to reluctantly give it up.
"Well, this auction item can increase one's cultivation, and even do so in the long - term." A Qiu's voice got lower and lower, but it seemed to whisper in everyone's ears. The once - calm crowd became restless again.
"What is it? It can increase cultivation in the long - term?"
"I've never heard of such a thing."
"Could it be..."
Some smart people seemed to have guessed something and showed a thoughtful look in their eyes.
"However, this auction item is only useful for demon cultivators or demon - race cultivators. Due to these restrictions, this human pill will start at one hundred high - grade spirit stones, with no upper limit."
Then, a figure confined in something like a coffin appeared on the stage.
"This auction item was obtained thanks to the information provided by a demon - race cultivator. So this demon - race cultivator will have a VIP membership of our Henggu Auction House and can know all the auction items in advance." A Qiu said with a smile, as if she didn't see the commotion below.
Some righteous cultivators were shocked and angry to see a decent person being treated as a so - called human pill. One of them shouted, "Bold demon sect! You're disregarding human life. Today, I'll act on behalf of Heaven!"
Saying that, he picked up his sword and charged at A Qiu.
A Qiu remained calm, smiling at the approaching person. Just as he was about to reach her, a person wrapped in a black robe suddenly grabbed his neck and snapped it forcefully.
"Crunch!"
The sound echoed throughout the auction house.