Chapter 21 - 97-104

Chapter 97: This Young Master Wants A Flower

He'd give Jiang Lei this: he was a far more pleasant training partner than Song Yuelin was. Chen Haoran hadn't realized it until they started, but he'd half expected Jiang Lei to make him eat dirt once they started practicing. As it turns out, that wasn't a universal practice, and Song Yuelin was just being an asshole. In all honesty, he should have realized that sooner. Despite them both being rather weird Liquid Meridian Realms, they couldn't be any more different. His eccentricities aside, Jiang Lei was far less infuriating to deal with in general compared to his erstwhile servant.

They had fallen into a rhythm over the coming days. Jiang Lei would grab him, and they'd go find a secluded place outside the city to train, switching locations every few days so as to avoid prying eyes. Chen Haoran would do his best to gut Jiang Lei with his Harmonization while Jiang Lei casually engaged in small talk while avoiding said gutting. It wasn't the worst thing he could do, all things considered, although it was a bit strange to talk about the weather while sundering the earth beneath them. It beat getting slapped in the face, at least.

It was during this training that he finally learned Jiang Lei stood at the First-Layer of Liquid Meridian. He had his suspicions about it before but couldn't confirm it with his sense. Despite being used to sensing Liquid Meridians now, it didn't mean he could discern which Layer they'd cultivated to. When one stood along the coast, all oceans looked the same size.

After being reprimanded by Jiang Lei that day, Wang Xiao never brought up dueling again. He didn't speak much or even show up beyond a few rare appearances. Chen Haoran didn't know what he was getting up to all he knew was that whenever he came to the training sessions, he watched Chen Haoran's Harmonization like a hawk. Perhaps he was trying to figure out how to defeat it? Or learn for himself? Either way, he barely interacted with them. It honestly made Chen Haoran curious as to what sort of organization they belonged to that it could nurture two people so opposite of each other. There were things he could infer from their interactions and what he'd seen so far, but those were all merely guesses.

The one thing he was no closer to figuring out was what Jiang Lei wanted from him. It really looked like he was interested in his Harmonization, but Chen Haoran couldn't— no, he refused to shake the feeling that some other purpose was afoot. He just didn't know what. He was once again mourning the loss of the White Tyrant's sensory abilities, such an immensely useful tool for information gathering, with the only downside being the personality that came with it.

He didn't let up on his other training while practicing his Harmonization. On the days Jiang Lei didn't show up, he practiced the Scattering Petal Palm within the confines of his courtyard. He set a small goal for himself to reach Lan Yao's level of skill before the year was over. It was cathartic practicing the Scattering Petal Palm. It was the one technique where he could see noticeable progress day by day. Far more than his Harmonization control and his cultivation.

It was depressing how futile his attempts to break through to the Liquid Meridian Realm were. In theory, it was simple. However, as Jiang Lei had so eloquently put it, simple did not equal easy. He wasn't starting completely from scratch, at least. His Harmonization training also required him to gather and hold the surging qi of the Canyon Carving Sword steady. It was so similar to trying to create a drop of liquid qi that Chen Haoran had to wonder if this was Song Yuelin's true purpose in introducing the skill to him. Similar was all it was however, trying to advance to the Liquid Meridian Realm was a whole order of magnitude higher. Just condensing his qi into a liquid form required him to manipulate practically all the qi in his body and hold it in an iron grip. It was an act that strained his control and ability to multitask to the limit. His limit was far short of what he required to succeed.

He needed help.

"Something that can help you advance to the Liquid Meridian Realm?" Jiang Lei asked. They were once again training outside the city. This time they had gone farther from the city to a picturesque gorge with trees that grew horizontally on its sheer rock walls. The sky-blue water of the Skyspear calmly flowed beneath them.

"If there's a certain trick or technique I can use," Chen Haoran said. "Or if there's a pill or something."

He doubted he was the only person who struggled to break through to the Liquid Meridian Realm. With how much power the next realm offered, there had to be research done to help cultivators advance.

Jiang Lei rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, you're already ahead of other cultivators. You're young, and despite your issues using it, you have mastered Harmonization. Just those means you'll have an easier time condensing your first drop."

"Is that it then? Time." Chen Haoran couldn't keep the disappointment out of his voice. It made sense that was all he needed, but for his safety, the sooner he broke through, the better.

"I'm not finished yet," Jiang Lei said, laughing. "What you want is a Heavy Core Pill."

"Heavy Core Pill?"

"It's hard to condense your qi into a liquid. The Heavy Core Pill is meant to attract your qi to a single point and serve as a focus. It won't do all the work on its own, but it at least makes it easier to gather your qi. I used a Wood-attribute Heavy Core Pill to advance."

Relief flooded through him. So there was a way. His attention was pulled towards Jiang Lei's last words, however. "Wood? Not water?"

"A Heavy Core Pill is essentially dropping a super dense chunk of qi in your meridians. If you're using the same element, then it's no different than a stronger cultivation pill. If it's a complementary element, however, then the difference in density turns it into a qi magnet."

So he needed a Wood or a Metal attribute Heavy Core Pill then. "Do you know anywhere I can get one?"

Jiang Lei's smile turned sheepish. "They're, ah, controlled substances."

Chen Haoran's heart fell. They were illegal? "Are they harmful or addictive or something?" If they were, then he'd have to give it up. He wanted to advance, but he didn't want to hurt himself doing it.

"Not that kind."

"Then wha—" Realization washed over him. He'd almost forgotten where he was. "The Empire?"

Jiang Lei nodded. "You can get still get them in Zumulu, but the official channels will make you run rings, and the unofficial ones are…" He considered his words. "Not so inclusive."

"But they're sold?" Chen Haoran asked.

"They are." Jiang Lei raised an eyebrow. "You seem to have an idea."

More than that. He had an invitation to a place that specialized in big-ticket smuggled goods.

"I'm gonna have to have my wallet ready."

"Welcome back, sir," Chanchu said. As soon as Chen Haoran entered the shop, he rushed over with two employees and greeted Chen Haoran with a bow.

Chen Haoran nodded. "I trust you've been well."

"Every day is a good day when you grace our store, sir."

That drew a laugh out of him. "I would hope so."

Chanchu smiled. "Will it be the usual today?"

"Yeah. Phelps enjoys your product. I want to look through your catalog too."

"Right this way then, sir. I'll have tea brought to the room."

Ever since his first visit to the Ever Spring Pavilion, he continued to purchase spirit herbs from them. It wasn't the only place he did so, he made sure to buy resources from every shop he sold to. However, he made the bulk of his purchases at the Ever Spring Pavilion.

Chanchu handed over the inventory catalog and personally poured tea for him. The room was filled with a strong fruity smell from the steaming amber tea. "This tea is called River King's Conquest, it's said that in ancient times a warlord in the Southern Region started a war just to control the territory this tea is grown in. Please enjoy."

"Getting fancy now, huh? You didn't have this before."

"It was a recent purchase. I was fortunate enough to acquire some."

"With my money, no doubt."

Chanchu laughed. "That's why I'm giving you the first taste."

Chen Haoran huffed and smiled. Perks of being a V.I.P. He was surprised to find the tea was filled with qi the flavor was practically infused into the energy. "It's good tea," he said, smacking his lips. "I'll have to add to my order from you."

Chanchu folded his hands and flashed a professional smile. "Perhaps our Ever Spring Pavilion could place an order with you instead, sir?"

Chen Haoran paused. He set the cup down and leaned back in his chair. "Oh? Has word been spreading?"

"Naturally not, sir. I'm merely friends with one of the merchants you've sold to."

Chen Haoran hummed and drummed his fingers along his leg. He'd been making sure to spread out his purchases between shops, but it was inevitable someone would notice. If he hadn't been in a rush to acquire funds, he could be more low-key with his sales. Perhaps a trip to the shops across the river was in order.

"I'm surprised you're in a rush to give me my money back," Chen Haoran said.

Chanchu smiled helplessly. "As you've perhaps noticed, my humble shop doesn't have much in the way of higher rank materials. My Ever Spring Pavilion is willing to buy however much you're willing to sell."

Chen Haoran was considering his options when he felt a spike of qi from his pocket. His hand instinctively gripped the Golden Lily Token, he didn't pull it out, however.

"Chanchu," he said. "Turn around."

Chanchu didn't hesitate at all and immediately left his seat and faced the wall. Chen Haoran's appreciation of the merchant raised several notches, and he pulled out the token. It looked like they could do business after all. Tiny golden letters burned across it.

Auction Assistant: Dreamwater

Liquid Liquor Bar

Interesting. Was it a benefit of having a Gold token? He didn't think they'd arrange a meeting before the auction itself. He played with the token. The room was silent.

If he was going to meet an auction employee, then he should try to bring something. If Lan Fen could put something up for auction, there was no reason he couldn't. What though? He cast his mind through all the Rewards he'd acquired. His eyes landed on Chanchu's back.

An idea bloomed.

"Chanchu, my friend. How much are you selling that 300-year-old Moonflower for?"

Chapter 98: This Young Master Wants to Auction

The Liquid Liquor was a humble hole-in-the-wall wedged directly next to the river between the docks and warehouses. It was a place for laborers, sailors, and the working folk of Stonebridge who kept the industry flowing. It was also a place visited and patronized exclusively by locals.

Chen Haoran felt eyes on him as soon as he entered the bar. Even though he wrapped himself in a large cloak and concealed his face under its hood, he felt exposed as the foreigner he was.

"You know, wearing something like that in a place like this doesn't really help you go unnoticed," Jiang Lei said. Unlike Chen Haoran, he made no move to hide his face and boldly looked around the bar. The few cultivators in the room quickly paled and lost themselves in their drinks rather than lock eyes with him.

Between the two of them, he considered Jiang Lei to be the more eye-catching one "Being noticed is fine so long as I go unrecognized."

They made their way to the bar, where the bartender looked decidedly unfazed at seeing two powerful cultivators enter the establishment. "What'll it be?" he gruffed.

"Dreamwater," Chen Haoran said.

The bartender gave him a once over, and Chen Haoran flashed the Golden Lily Token from his cloak.

"Up the stairs and to the left."

"Thank you."

As they ascended the steps, Jiang Lei couldn't hold his curiosity back. "You told me I could make some easy money. I wonder how you plan to do that here?"

"Don't worry," Chen Haoran said when they reached the top. He knocked on the door.

It silently swung open. Behind it was a woman wearing a well-fitted robe cinched with a white sash embroidered with yellow lily pads. A golden cloth mask obscured the upper half of her face. A quick glance with his sense revealed a Ninth-Layer cultivation. "Welcome, honored guest. I am Dreamwater." She stretched a hand to the simple table within the windowless room. There was no other furniture save for a few simple candle stands scattered around the room for light. "Please."

Chen Haoran brushed passed the attendant without a word and sat himself down. Jiang Lei remained next to the door. He offered Dreamwater a cheeky smile as she looked between the two of them. Chen Haoran wasn't surprised. It was a special situation where the weaker cultivator took the lead. Dreamwater gingerly sat across from Chen Haoran and pleasantly smiled at him. Another professional. He was meeting a lot of those lately.

"How may I help you today, honored guest?" she asked.

"I don't know," Chen Haoran said. He leaned back into his chair and causally tossed his token on the table. "You tell me."

"Is this your first time doing business with us?"

"One of your people gave me this thing after I purchased a few knickknacks. I didn't bother getting an explanation then." It wasn't entirely a lie either, although more because he wanted to get out of there than ignoring the Association.

"Allow me to introduce myself once again, then. I am Dreamwater. I am here to assist you and see to your needs for the duration of the auction in Stonebridge."

"Such as?"

"If you desire your purchases to be sent to a specific location then I can help arrange that. If you require an unobserved exit from the city, I can also help you with that."

"Can you tell me about the auction itself?"

She shook her head. "You will be notified of the auction date and your pickup location through your token. At that time, I will meet with you and bring you to the venue." Her eyes drifted to Jiang Lei. "Shall I prepare two chairs?"

"Three," Chen Haoran said. For safety's sake, he wanted to bring Jiang Lei to the auction as well. Although he was sure that if he didn't invite him, the Liquid Meridian would pester him until he did. To that end, he may as well invite Wang Xiao as well and head off Jiang Lei's inevitable asking. It would win him some brownie points, at least. He drummed his fingers along the table. "What about the items to be auctioned."

Dreamwater smiled, pulled a cream-colored pamphlet from the folds of her robe, and handed it to Chen Haoran. He could feel the quality of the paper beneath his fingers. The pamphlet was elegantly handwritten with gold ink, and each item came with a simple description of its effects, where it was sourced, and it's starting prices. He'd sigh in amazement if he weren't putting up an act right now. The Golden Lily Association's reputation for quality was well-earned.

"I will have the pamphlet prepared on the day of the auction for you to peruse as well. If I may draw your attention to the top of the list, you will see our highlight for the auction, a Five-Element Heaven-Rank technique."

Jiang Lei's sharp intake of breath told Chen Haoran plenty about how valuable the technique was. His eyes traced over the golden name of the technique and its following information.

Seven-Colored Steps of the Rainbow Stairs

Baghmar Republic

Starting Price: 10 million Gold Taels

It was a movement technique. Each of its seven steps corresponded to a different color, and when mastered in full, any attack on the user would be as futile as finding the end of a rainbow. It was quite the ostentatious claim, but given its 10 million gold tael price tag, he had to assume there was some truth in it. It was already double the price of the Stygian Lotus back in Clearsprings. The final cost would no doubt be enormous. Already his head was swimming with questions. What did it mean for it to be Five-Elements? Did it require someone to have all five before using it? Was acquiring all five even possible? Not just that but…

"Why is the Golden Lily Association Auction selling something like this?"

Dreamwater smiled in the way a retail employee did when a customer asked something they wouldn't answer. He shouldn't have bothered asking. There was no way an attendant would know. His estimation of the Golden Lily Association rose higher. How powerful were they that they would sell a Heaven-rank technique rather than keep it for themselves? By all accounts, Heaven-rank anything were vanishingly rare. Techniques and cultivation methods, especially, were things jealously guarded.

Well, his speculation was all meaningless anyway. Whatever the Golden Lily Association's intentions, he was far removed from them. Still, at least from the prices involved, he could see that Stonebridge had money. That was good. It was exactly what he wanted.

He tossed the pamphlet on the table. "Arrange one of those exits for me."

Dreamwater gracefully bowed her head. "Of course, sir. I'll inform you of the specifics when we next meet. Is there anything else I can assist you with?"

"I want to enter something into the auction. Are you able to arrange that?"

Dreamwater's smile became even more professional. Chen Haoran recognized it at once. It was the 'Prepared to gently let down the customer's ridiculous demand and get yelled at for it,' smile. It seemed that the language of customer service was universal no matter the time period or, indeed, the world.

"If you desire to enter an item, I am trained in the appraisal arts and can evaluate it right now if you so wish," Dreamwater said. "However, I must warn the honored guest in advance that while we do evaluate submissions, we may not accept them."

Translation: 'If your shit isn't valuable, we don't want it.'

Chen Haoran reached into his storage bag and pulled out a deep green jade box. Its surface was etched with images of spring in bloom and thrummed with vital qi. A single leather band was tightly wrapped across its top with a brass latch closing it. He had purchased it from Chanchu for a pretty penny, and even then, the merchant had been reluctant to part with it. Dreamwater's professional mask turned into genuine interest.

Chen Haoran looked around the room with an air of indifference. "How private is this room?"

Dreamwater observed his expression and looked back down at the jade box. If she were as professionally trained appraisal as she purported herself to be, she would have recognized the box was meant to contain and preserve the energies of delicate spiritual materials. After a moment, her hands disappeared into the sleeves of her robes, and her qi flared. The walls around them lit up with complex patterns and scripts, and the air in the room shifted. Chen Haoran could feel the ambient qi in the room rapidly scatter before becoming unnaturally still when the patterns on the walls disappeared. Chen Haoran cast his sense to the wall in search of the formation and found nothing.

"Nothing will leave this room, honored guest," Dreamwater said.

Chen Haoran placed a single finger on the leather band's brass latch. It opened with a pulse of qi, and as soon as the box lid loosened, a faint blue mist started seeping from its seams. When he removed the lid, the mist poured out in a flood, covering the table and spilling to the floor. The room suddenly became cooler, and what light the candles gave off was devoured by the mist. However, it did not become darker because after devouring the candlelight, a soft white light emerged from the mist itself as if it were backlit by the moon. Accompanying the mist was a faint floral scent. Chen Haoran breathed deeply and smelled a wet, moonlit night. The scent sank into his meridians, and despite him being at the peak of the Qi realm and having no more space for energy, it still found corners and crevasses to fill in.

The blue flower that was the source of the phenomena lay in the jade box, giving off the impression of frailty and softness, yet at the same time looking as still and unmoveable as a mountain. Chen Haoran chalked the strange feeling up to the wondrous nature of qi. He slammed the lid back down onto the box and broke the beautiful scene. Jiang Lei and Dreamwater looked at him with shocked silence.

He couldn't help it. He smirked. "30-thousand-year-old Moonflower. Please appraise it."

Chapter 99: This Young Master Has No Answers

"How in the world did you get your hands on something like that?"

Those were the first words Jiang Lei said to him after they had left the inn and gotten far enough away. They weaved between various alleys and into and out of crowds. While Jiang Lei said they weren't being followed, it was still best to be careful.

Chen Haoran stashed his cloak in his storage bag while Jiang Lei still struggled to process what he'd seen. "In all my life, I've never seen someone just casually pull out a 30-thousand-year-old spirit plant like that." Jiang Lei's friendly older brother facade was gone now in favor of open shock.

"So what I gave her was pretty valuable, huh?" Chen Haoran asked. He left the Moonflower with Dreamwater. Despite being 'fully trained' in appraising, per her words, she couldn't quote him a price for the spirit plant then and there and would have to refer it to her seniors. He'd get the starting price the day of the auction.

"Pretty valuable?" Jiang Lei sputtered. "Do you really not know the value of what you handed over?"

Chen Haoran waved his hand in a so-so motion. "I know theoretically that it's worth a lot, but not specifics."

"So you don't know what it's worth, and you still handed it over? Are you not afraid the Golden Lily Association will steal it?" Jiang Lei asked.

He shrugged. "If they do, then that's that. It'd be a shame, but I'd move on. Besides, I'd assume the Golden Lily Association wouldn't ruin their reputation like that. They make more money than what they'd get taking that flower."

"And what if I decided to steal it then?" Chen Haoran paused and looked at Jiang Lei, who merely smiled at him. "Now that I know you have something that good, who's to say what else you have? I am the stronger of the two of us. It would be trivial for me."

It was a good question. Jiang Lei was essentially a stranger to him. At any time, he could decide to rip Chen Haoran's storage bag off his waist, and there'd be nothing he could do to stop him. But…

"I know you wouldn't do that," Chen Haoran said.

Jiang Lei raised an eyebrow in askance.

"We're friends, aren't we? Friends don't rob friends. And if you really wanted to rob me, you wouldn't be going through the potential risks with me."

Jiang Lei was silent for a moment as he studied Chen Haoran. Ultimately, he laughed and threw an arm over Chen Haoran's shoulders. "Of course we're friends."

Chen Haoran, thankfully didn't flinch. Of course, every word he spoke was a damn lie. Rather than betting on this nonsense friendship Jiang Lei was pushing, he placed his faith that Jiang Lei's other objective, which had him sticking near Chen Haoran, was more important. In a way, his inviting Jiang Lei to meet the Golden Lily Association attendant was part for security and part test. He might not know the true value of a 30-thousand-year-old Moonflower, but now he at least knew it wasn't worth enough for Jiang Lei to break face with him.

He was stirred out of his thoughts by Jiang Lei's finger poking his chest. "Are you really sure about selling it, though? Most would consider using a spirit herb that powerful for themselves."

Chen Haoran grabbed his finger and pushed it away. "Use it for what? I'm already at the peak of the Qi Realm. In any case, old or not, it's just a Moonflower. I was in the mountains picking flowers like those for the girl I liked. Whatever benefit it has comes more from its age than the flower itself."

"For someone who says he doesn't know the value of what he sold, you seem to have a pretty good idea of what it's worth."

Chen Haoran rolled his eyes. "Just the basics. What do you think? I don't know much about spirit herbs."

"Well, natural spirit herbs that old are impossible to find. You'd be lucky to find anything over a thousand." Jiang Lei pursed his lips in thought. "Almost impossible. There are stories of cultivators who ventured into the forbidden depths of the jungle coming back with plants that old, but that was a long time ago. The majority of powerful spirit herbs on the market are grown now."

"Damn, they really wait 30 thousand years for plants to grow then?" It said something about cultivators' long-term planning if that were the case.

"Heavens no. That's insane. There are techniques and formations to help them grow. Some secret realms as well are beneficial for growing spirit herbs." Jiang Lei looked at Chen Haoran in surprise. "You didn't think the age was literal, did you?"

"I told you I don't know anything about them."

Jiang Lei shook his head. "I really don't know what to make of you. One moment I swear you're from some great power, and then the very next moment, you sound like some backwater cultivator."

Chen Haoran snorted. "That's precisely what I am."

"Backwater cultivators don't have strong Earth-Rank cultivation methods or pull out insanely old spirit herbs. I swear on all the water in Zumulu, you're more important than you're letting on."

Well… he wasn't wrong per se. Chen Haoran considered and decided it was worth the shot to ask. "Have you heard of the Chen Family?"

"No," came Jiang Lei's instant response. "Should I? There's a bunch of Chen families."

Chen Haoran felt a sense of deja vu. On the one hand, he expected it. On the other hand, he didn't know how to feel about Jiang Lei and Xie Jin having nearly the exact same answer. He was a bit sad Xie Jin wasn't here to meet Jiang Lei now.

"Oh wait! Are you from that Chen Family?"

Chen Haoran froze. Did he really know them?

Jiang Lei continued, oblivious. "I think I remember a Liquid Meridian pirate gang down south calling themselves that." He narrowed his eyes at Chen Haoran. "You're not a pirate, are you?"

Chen Haoran's rush of emotion deflated. He thought back to the Crystal Transformation City Lord quivering in fear of his father Chen Qitao's name. He thought of Song Yuelin. Pirate didn't seem to cut it. "No," he sighed. "I'm not a pirate."

"Good," Jiang Lei cheered. "I would have to arrest you if you were."

"Right," Chen Haoran dryly said. He shrugged off Jiang Lei's arm. "I'll let you know when the auction is, and you can bring Wang Xiao with you."

"Wait a minute." Jiang Lei grabbed his arm. "Where do you think you're going?"

Chen Haoran frowned. "To make money?"

Jiang Lei pointed at himself. "What about my money?"

Ah, right. He almost forgot about that. He thought for a moment and held up one finger.

"One hundred thousand? Barely acceptable, I suppose." Jiang Lei didn't even blink, quoting such an outrageous number.

"One percent of whatever the final bid of the Moonflower is."

This time Jiang Lei did blink. "Well, I'm not averse to being handed more money."

"For your sake, I hope it gets a good price."

"Oh, it will absolutely. I'm already looking forward to it."

"Enough to buy that Heaven-rank technique?"

Jiang Lei hesitated. "That… you have a big appetite. As you said, it's only a Moonflower."

"I take it that being Five-Elements attribute makes the technique insanely valuable?"

Jiang Lei once again looked at Chen Haoran with disbelief. "It's the Five Elements," he said slowly as if he were a teacher explaining it to a child. "It means that it's not restricted by affinity and can be learned by anyone."

Chen Haoran let out a low whistle. "I'll have to work harder then."

"You'll be competing with every major power in the city then. Perhaps outside it as well. I don't think I have to tell you that Crystal Transformation Realms will be participating."

"The Golden Lily Association really pulled out all the stops, huh?" Chen Haoran considered competing, but if the Moonflower couldn't get him the funds he needed, so be it. Even for him, it would be a bit too much to show up with another 30-thousand-year-old plant to auction.

"I've never heard of anything like this before," Jiang Lei said. "This might end up being the biggest auction in Zumulu. I just don't know why such a powerful Heaven-rank technique showed up." He furrowed his brows. "We're lucky it's just a movement technique. There'd be a bloodbath if it were a cultivation method."

"Bloodbath, huh?" He couldn't help but recall the last Golden Lily Auction he'd participated in. In a way, that auction involved a bloodbath as well. Lan Fen had auctioned a powerful wood treasure to feed the paranoia against the Lan Family, which led to their demise in the end. "Political, maybe?" he muttered subconsciously.

"What was that?"

"Forget it," Chen Haoran said, shaking his head. At the end of the day, it didn't matter what the reasons were.

He just had to prepare for the auction.

Chapter 100: This Young Master And His Flower

Five-Gold Market. Noon.

The golden words vanished from the Golden Lily Token, and Chen Haoran put it away.

He heaved out a sigh. "Daytime, huh?"

It made sense. With Stonebridge's curfew, it would be much more suspicious for people to move around at night. He stopped training and went inside to gather his things. Laid out on the table was a stack of golden banknotes. He counted all two hundred thousand taels of his accrued funds and placed the banknotes in his storage bag. It was a paltry sum compared to some of the items up for auction today, but it was more than respectable for a month's work. Well… not that he was the one working.

When he went back outside, Phelps landed on his back, and Chen Haoran stumbled.

"Damn, you've gotten heavier."

Phelps squealed.

Not just heavier. He grew bigger too. The arms wrapped around his neck were corded with muscles he didn't think a sloth should have, and even his claws seemed sharper somehow.

Chen Haoran poked Phelps on the nose. "If you still want to ride on my back, you need to stop growing." He didn't want to try carrying an SUV-sized sloth anytime soon.

Phelps squealed in annoyance, and Chen Haoran felt a slight wave of qi escape him. It was a lapse of control he didn't often see from Phelps. He could feel the warmth of Phelps's new Ninth-Layer cultivation through his back. Feeding Phelps the 300-year-old Moonflower from Chanchu had seen the sloth finally break the limit and soar ahead into the new Layer. Although it seemed the only thing that really advanced was his stomach. Like the gluttonous little trooper he was, Phelps ate every spirit herb Chen Haoran could stuff him with and then asked for seconds.

"Thanks for all the hard work, bud," Chen Haoran said, scratching Phelps under his chin. "I'll get you something nice from today's auction. I'm gonna need you to get off now, though."

He waited.

Phelps didn't move.

He shook Phelps's arms. "Bud?"

Phelps yawned, but he still didn't move.

He tried nudging Phelps with his elbow but only got an irritated squeal directly in his ear.

Right. The hard way it was then.

What followed was an exercise in futility. Chen Haoran laid on his side. He sat down. He flipped into a handstand. He spun. He did jumping jacks. He hugged the willow tree. All to no avail. Eventually, he was able to pry off Phelps's arms through superior cultivation. Chen Haoran's joy only lasted for a moment before Phelps activated his floating power and, like a snake, twisted around and grabbed Chen Haoran from the front instead. Phelps's head nuzzled his chin.

Chen Haoran looked up to the sky in despair. "Phelps, I have somewhere to be. I really can't take you with me."

He didn't want to leave Phelps behind, but bringing him along would be too recognizable. It wasn't like there was anyone else going around with a sloth on their back. It was why he didn't bring Phelps with him when he was buying spirit herbs. Perhaps that was the issue? He'd been spending a lot of time apart from Phelps recently. For all that Phelps had adjusted well to leaving the Spa Cavern, he was still being dragged from one unfamiliar place to another.

Chen Haoran sighed. "Let's do it like this, then."

"That's not what I think it is, is it?" Jiang Lei asked. He looked dubiously at Chen Haoran's bulging cloak.

He met up with Jiang Lei and Wang Xiao and they made their way over to the Five-Gold Market. Chen Haoran didn't bother answering his question. Unfortunately, the subject of his question popped his furry head out of Chen Haoran's cloak. Phelps swung his head around. When he saw Jiang Lei, he squealed. When he saw Wang Xiao, he hissed.

Chen Haoran pushed his head back down. "Back inside."

Jiang Lie huffed. "Dare I ask why?"

"When you take in a pet, you have a responsibility," Chen Haoran said.

"How illuminating," Jiang Lei chuckled.

Wang Xiao clicked his tongue in annoyance. "I don't even know why I'm here."

"Ask your Senior Brother," Chen Haoran said.

Jiang Lei blinked in confusion. "I didn't ask you to bring him. You're the one who offered."

"I knew you'd want to bring him along."

"I appreciate the thought, but if you didn't want my Junior Brother to come, I wouldn't have forced the issue," Jiang Lei said.

So he underestimated how considerate Jiang Lei was and was paying the price for it. Chen Haoran sighed. He couldn't just shoo Wang Xiao away now, either. That would be too rude…

Chen Haoran frowned. Why did he care about being rude? He looked at Wang Xiao. "Shoo."

Wang Xiao impressively went through five different stages of disbelief before settling his face into a sneer. "I will be accompanying my Senior Brother."

"Damnit."

"So," Jiang Lei interrupted. "Where is that attendant from last time?"

"I don't know. Give me a minute," Chen Haoran said. He pulled out the Golden Lily Token. Golden words burned.

Red carriage. Lion.

"It's a red carriage," he said, looking around the bustling market.

"There," Jiang Lei said, pointing.

Chen Haoran followed where was pointing and found the carriage sitting at the entrance of an alley. The sides were painted with bright silver lions.

"Game face, gentlemen." He pulled on his mask and soothed Phelps. "…and Wang Xiao."

Wang Xiao grumbled something under his breath as he and Jiang Lei put on cloth masks. When they arrived at the carriage, the door swung open on its own. Dreamwater was already inside and bowed as they entered.

"It's nice to see you again, honored guest."

The door closed automatically when they sat down, and the carriage was immediately isolated from the outside world. The only thing that even indicated they were moving was the occasional bump in the road.

"You wouldn't happen to be tracking me through this token? This level of preparedness is a bit scary." He didn't think they did. Lan Fen would have made him get rid of the token were that the case.

Dreamwater laughed. "Of course not. With how varied and talented our clientele is, it would only be a matter of time before such a thing was discovered. The Golden Lily Association has no reason to ruin its own reputation like that. The tokens are strictly one-way communication."

"So, what's the situation with the Moonflower?"

"It has been accepted, of course," Dreamwater said. "Would you like to know the price now, or would you prefer to wait until we arrive?"

"I have a question before that. When the Moonflower is sold, can I use that money to buy other items?"

Dreamwater nodded. "You may. As a Gold Token holder, you are afforded certain liberties the Association wouldn't give others."

That was good. It did mean the time he spent collecting funds was a bit wasted, but he could always use the money for something else.

"Regarding those liberties, your escape route has been prepared." She pulled a slip of paper with a golden pattern drawn on it from her sleeve. "This talisman will be your key. I will lead you to the exit whenever you desire."

Chen Haoran took the talisman. "I don't suppose I can still give you things to auction?"

"While the Golden Lily Association appreciates your business, I'm afraid it is too late."

"I figured." Not that he had anything else to auction anyway. Nothing else came close to the Moonflower in value. "So about the Moonflower-"

The carriage ground to a halt.

Dreamwater gracefully rose, and the door opened. "We are here, honored guest."

Already? It hadn't been that long since they were picked up. When he stepped out of the carriage, there were naturally no details of where they were. A fabric tunnel had been set up to isolate him. All he could tell was that wherever they were was much cooler than outside.

"The Golden Lily Association's thoroughness lives up to its reputation," Jiang Lei said.

"Thank you for the compliment, sir. Have you done business with us before?"

"No, I'm beginning to regret that." Jiang Lei's tone sounded regretful, at least. "The last auction I went to, I got ambushed."

"The Association offers Ambush Insurance if you are interested."

What the hell?

"I will have to decline," Jiang Lei demurred. He smiled at Chen Haoran. "I already have someone who will reimburse me anyway."

"The hell you do."

Dreamwater led them through an environment carefully obscured with sheets and partitions to allow not even the tiniest detail to be exposed. It was a familiar sight for Chen Haoran. What wasn't familiar was when Dreamwater brought them to a box instead of a tent like his last auction. Three plush chairs were lined up, facing a large window. Two small tables were placed between the chairs, and another table laden with pitchers and platters of fruit and small snacks sat on the side. Three stands with a blue crystal for bidding stood before each chair. The space outside the window was dark save for lines of light down below that illuminated tents much like the one he stayed in during his first auction.

"Your catalogue, honored guest." Dreamwater handed over the pamphlet he had flipped through last time. Chen Haoran passed it to Jiang Lei without another glance.

In the time it took for them to sit down and Dreamwater to present them with drinks, the space before them was lit with spotlights centered on a large stage. It was a theater, Chen Haoran realized, albeit one far larger than he'd ever seen back on Earth.

On the stage was a cloaked figure, and beside him was a large table with a small jade box atop it.

"Welcome, honored guests," the cloaked figure said with a monotonous, almost robotic voice. "We will now be beginning today's auction." He waved his hand over the jade box and opened it. A bright blue flower bloomed out and spread a thick blue mist over the table. "30-thousand-year-old Moonflower. The bidding will begin at 7 million gold taels."

"About the Moonflower," Dreamwater said in the ensuing silence. The damn woman sounded cheeky. "We did eventually figure out a price."

Chapter 101: This Young Master's Auction Goes Bad As Expected

The bids fell like rain.

"8 million," the Auctioneer said in a cold robotic tone. "8.7 million. 9 million."

Jiang Lei and Wang Xiao watched in stupefied silence as the price of the Moonflower was jacked up by the hundreds of thousands and millions. Chen Haoran was similarly impressed, but he'd quite literally dropped bigger numbers before, so the price wasn't so shocking to him.

"14 million."

Chen Haoran frowned, and he waved Dreamwater over. "What's going on with these jumps in prices? He didn't announce the bidding increments."

Dreamwater made a sound of realization. "You must have attended an auction in a…" She took a moment to find the words. "…financially challenged area. The Golden Lily Association uses bidding increments in those places to better ensure an item hits its projected sale price. For wealthier places like Stonebridge—"

"20 million."

"Such measures don't typically need to be taken," she finished.

"I see," Chen Haoran said. When the clientele had oodles of cash they were willing to throw out at a moment's notice, then it was indeed better business to let them do so. He had to admit, though, given how much he ended up spending at the Clearsprings Auction, it made his eye twitch to hear it called a 'financially challenged area.'

"30 million."

Chen Haoran picked a fruit off a platter prepared by Dreamwater and bit into it. Phelps stuck his head out of his cloak, and Chen Haoran fed him a few fruits. Wang Xiao looked over, saw how casual Chen Haoran was being, scowled, then schooled his own features into faux nonchalance. Jiang Lei, meanwhile, was calculating under his breath the taels he'd be getting from his one percent share with every increase in bid. Chen Haoran had to wonder if it was really that big a sum for him or if the Liquid Meridian was just that money-obsessed. He couldn't forget how easily Jiang Lei had given him and Xie Jin spirit stones when they first met. In the month he'd spent in Stonebridge he'd yet to see even a low-grade spirit stone being sold.

"40 million."

Now that he had a good idea as to his funds, he could properly plan what items he was going to purchase. Chen Haoran snapped his fingers at Jiang Lei and wordlessly held his hand out to the auction pamphlet in his hands. Whether he was deliberately ignoring him or was truly that focused on counting his money Jiang Lei didn't respond. The point was made moot when Dreamwater proffered another pamphlet she had pulled from who knew where. He would really have to tip her when all was said and done.

Chen Haoran scanned the pamphlet and picked out the items that caught his eye. Things he could use right now. Things he could feed to Phelps for better returns. Of course, he'd have to reserve some of it to bid on the Heaven-Rank technique. And then keep extra to move to a better villa.

"50 million." The Auctioneer paused. "Once. Twice. Sold for 50 million gold taels."

The declaration of sale returned the breath back to Jiang Lei and Wang Xiao. Jiang Lei smiled at him. "Congratulations."

"I'm a little sad it didn't go higher," Chen Haoran said, leaning back into his chair.

"It's a good price for this area," Dreamwater said. "While the Moonflower is a powerful Yin treasure, there are other Yin spirit herbs superior to it. If you were to auction the Moonflower in the Central Region or the Capital, it would not go for nearly as much."

"She's not wrong," Jiang Lei added. "The stronger spirit herbs aren't circulated as much in Zumulu anymore since the occupation. It was probably purchased by a force that lacks the background to source high-level spirit herbs."

"Interesting," Chen Haoran murmured. Dreamwater poured a glass of qi-infused water and offered it to him. Chen Haoran swirled it around as the Auctioneer introduced the next item.

"Vermilion Flame-Patterned Steel. 150 thousand taels."

It was quite the drop compared to the opening. Jiang Lei perked up when he saw it. He held his hand over the bidding crystal and paused. He glanced at Dreamwater.

"You can directly state how much you're bidding after inserting your qi," she said.

Jiang Lei smiled. "Perfect." He placed his hand on the crystal. "10 thousand taels," he declared.

"160 thousand taels," the Auctioneer simultaneously said.

"That's both cool and creepy," Chen Haoran said.

Dreamwater nervously laughed. "Thank you, honored guest."

Jiang Lei continued to bid and eventually looked at Chen Haoran with a pleading expression. "My good friend, could I borrow some taels?"

Chen Haoran snorted and turned to Dreamwater. "Pull 500 thousand taels from my earnings and give it to him."

"Right away, honored guest."

"So about those taels," Jiang Lei said.

"Be happy with your one percent."

"Damn," Jiang Lei swore.

Jiang Lei eventually purchased the Flame-Patterned Steel for 230 thousand taels. After being taken down from the main stage, it and the gold taels were brought directly to their box. Just another convenience for a Gold Token member. Chen Haoran could get used to it. They watched several items go by. Jiang Lei and even Wang Xiao placed bids on various things that caught their interest.

Then it was Chen Haoran's turn.

"Profound-Rank Deep Well Pills. Sold"

"Profound-Rank Meridian Cleansing Pills. Sold."

"400-year-old Paradise Pomegranate. Sold."

"Ninth-Layer Liquid Meridian Jade Elephant Tusk."

"Earth-Rank Clear Heart Mirror Armor. Sold for 12 million taels."

Chen Haoran removed his hand from the bidding crystal with a pained expression. He didn't regret his purchases. Everything he chose was a necessity. That didn't make spending nearly 15 million taels any easier, though. The level of this auction was certainly higher than that of Clearsprings City, that was for certain. There was nary a Mortal-Rank in sight. The worst thing on offer was Profound-Rank at a minimum, and even then, they were several times more expensive than the Profound-Rank's he'd purchased back then. Chen Haoran didn't think it was a matter of smuggling markup either. Going by the descriptions of the items in the pamphlet they were, on a whole, superior despite being the same rank.

It created some interesting questions. Were there quality differences within the ranks themselves? That seemed self-apparent now. It led him to wonder about the ranks more. If cultivation methods and techniques were created by visualizing some greater scenery, did the same hold true for artifacts and pills?

He was distracted from further thoughts when a Heavy Core Pill finally appeared. Chen Haoran cycled qi to his eyes, and the red pill showed up in sharp relief. It was a Fire-attribute pill, not for him then, but there were several other Heavy Core Pills up for auction tonight. Just from the sight of it, he could see it was a large pill, bigger than any he had seen before. It was a bit intimidating to look at, in all honesty. He wasn't looking forward to scoffing down that choking hazard.

The fire pill was quickly sold and was followed by a spate of Heavy Core Pills. Chen Haoran half-heartedly bid on a Metal-attribute one but gave up on it in the end. Metal was good but given he was practicing the Scattering Petal Palms, now he wanted a Wood-attribute. If he were lucky, it would help him improve his use of wood qi. The Wood Heavy Core Pill he wanted came next, and Chen Haoran fiercely bid for it. The price shot up all the way to 1.2 million taels before he finally secured it.

Chen Haoran slumped in his chair. "What the hell."

Jiang Lei laughed. "You didn't think they'd be cheap, did you? The qi density in those pills uses some expensive materials to make. On top of that, Water spirit roots are incredibly common in Zumulu, so you're competing against many people."

Jiang Lei's point was proven as the heavy bidding continued for the several Metal and Wood Heavy Core Pills that appeared after. Chen Haoran took one look at the prices and gave up on trying to purchase another one.

He sighed. "There's no way I'm getting that Heaven-Rank." Even if he didn't spend a single tael, it was clear he wouldn't have enough.

Wang Xiao sneered. "As if you ever had a chance."

Chen Haoran ignored him and instead focused on Dreamwater. She walked to the door and returned, pushing a cart with his purchases. He zeroed in on the jade box holding the Heavy Core pill and opened it. He was immediately assaulted with a dense, spicy scent like someone had made a concentrate of lawnmower clippings. Just by smelling it, he could feel his qi begin to rise to his head. He quickly corked the bottle and stowed it away. He debated feeding it to Phelps but decided against it. Beyond how suspicious it would look to everyone, he wasn't sure if eating the pill would hurt Phelps or not. He put away the armor and the tusk in his storage bag and took the Paradise Pomegranate in hand. Its seeds were used as a main ingredient in various high-level healing pills and could even be consumed in place of one in a pinch.

He split the fruit open and gave it to Phelps. He took one sniff and immediately stole it from Chen Haoran's hands with a speed entirely inappropriate for a sloth. The other occupants of the box watched with barely disguised shock as Chen Haoran fed the expensive fruit to Phelps. Even Dreamwater's professional comportment slipped as she stared wide-eyed. Chen Haoran ignored them all and patted Phelps's head, occasionally feeding him Meridian Cleansing Pills to help him digest the pomegranate's qi.

Received Hundred-Fold: 40 thousand-year-old Paradise Pomegranate

Received-Hundred-Fold: Earth-Rank Meridian Purification Pills

Jiang Lei shook his head. "You are definitely some poor family's profligate scion."

Chen Haoran smirked. "Sounds like something poor people say."

Jiang Lei sighed, and Wang Xiao's scowl got even deeper.

The Auctioneer's cold voice overwhelmed them all. "Seven-Colored Steps of the Rainbow Stairs. Five-Elements Heaven-Rank. Starting bid 10 million taels."

It was like blood being dropped into shark-infested water. Immediately several auras flared, and the air was filled with an oppressive presence all too familiar to Chen Haoran.

Crystal Transformation Realm.

He would never forget feeling the Clearspring's City Lord's presence weighing down on him like a mountain when they first met. He was a kitten compared to the tigers that were eyeing the auction stage now. Even when they weren't the focus of their attention Chen Haoran and the rest felt their breathing stifled. Ridiculously the Auctioneer looked unaffected despite being at the forefront of the storm and calmly called out bids.

"20 million. 30 million. 50 million. 80 million. 120 million. 200 million."

In a matter of moments, there was more money dropped on the technique than what Chen Haoran had dropped on Song Yuelin's head, and it was still rising. The Auctioneer was reading the bids so fast that he scarcely finished one before the next came in. The auras of the Crystal Transformations grew so intense that Chen Haoran wouldn't be surprised if, at any moment, they shattered the windows of their booths and yelled their bids directly. All of it for the innocuous book resting on a plush velvet cushion next to the Auctioneer.

That was when the ceiling caved in.

Another metal-fanged aura sank its teeth into the auction hall as light spilled in and illuminated the shadowed hall.

"Criminals of the Golden Lily Association!" Boomed a powerful voice. The glass window in their box cracked. "How dare you flout the Emperor's word in my territory!"

A man clad in scarlet armor flew down from the hole he'd made. A wicked halberd was clutched tightly in his hand. He waved it once, and the auras of the other Crystal Transformations were scattered to pieces.

"Perish in the name of the Empire."

Chapter 102: This Young Master's Auction Can't Get Worse

"The Garrison Commander," Jiang Lei whispered. He and Wang Xiao shot out of their chairs. Chen Haoran held Phelps close to him.

Above them, the Garrison Commander had placed himself between the auction hall and the light spilling through the hole in the ceiling. Standing in the air, he looked like a bloody angel descending. Scarlet light coalesced around his halberd and dripped to the floor, melting anything they touched. One large drop fell atop a tent and dissolved it instantly. Its occupants ran out screaming, red light eating their limbs away. Chen Haoran watched them erode into nothingness. Even their blood wasn't spared. The only evidence there was once something there were the gouges where the red light ate pieces of the floor.

The Garrison Commander raised his axe and swung. The red light fell.

There was a sigh.

On the stage, the Auctioneer raised his hand. The falling red light stopped and, like it had met an opposite force, flew back up. The Garrison Commander did not move as the red light washed over him to no harm and chewed away the entire roof. The dark auction hall was immediately exposed to the daytime sky. The abrupt change had Phelps squealing in pain and Chen Haoran blinking stars out of his eyes.

The Auctioneer held his other hand out to the Heaven-rank technique, and the book flew into his sleeve. An aura rose from him, it was understated and less overbearing than the Garrison Official's but no less powerful. Chen Haoran found he could breathe again. He didn't even realize he wasn't.

"Commander Lu," the Auctioneer said. "Have you come to participate in today's auction?"

The newly named Commander Lu snorted derisively. "The Golden Lily Association stands accused of smuggling illegal contraband and cooperating with foreign influences to disturb the Emperor's Peace. The punishment for both is the same: death."

Commander Lu pointed his halberd to the sky. The scarlet light banished from the Auction Hall gathered into a cloud and fell back down, stopping where the roof used to be. Or rather, it was stopped. Flashes of gold lightning sparked above them as the red cloud of light tried to press down and devour them all.

"Come now," The Auctioneer said. "It's just business."

Commander Lu grunted and swung his halberd down. The Auctioneer flew into the air and pulled from his sleeve three gold coins. He threw them forward, and they met the halberd head-on. Rather than be knocked away, they stuck to the halberd like magnets and stopped its momentum dead. Under the coins' gold light, the scarlet light covering the halberd receded and vanished. The Auctioneer flicked his hand left, and the coins followed the motion, dragging the halberd with them.

Commander Lu let go of his weapon and let it fly away, he looked at the Auctioneer with a dignified expression. "The Treasure-Defeating Coins. So it's you, Gold-Eater. I've caught a big fish today."

"Unfortunately, here you have to pay before eating." Auctioneer Gold-Eater took a casual step and ascended into the air. "All guests, please calmly make your way out of the building. Our employees are available for directions if you require them. Thank you for attending today's auction, and we look forward to your business in the future."

"Money grubber," Commander Lu said. He opened his palm, and scarlet light gathered and shaped itself into a halberd. He twirled it around in his hand, and the light snarled and snapped at the air like a beast. With every snap came a chorus of roars like a horde of monsters had suddenly dropped into the hall. It reverberated in Chen Haoran's chest like all loud sounds did and stayed there, circling around his heart like predators did prey.

Suddenly several other auras filled the hall, and it took Chen Haoran a minute to remember that there had been other Crystal Transformation Realms in attendance. Would they intervene? They were here for the Heaven-rank technique, after all. Them taking action would at least let a little guy like him escape, but Chen Haoran wasn't looking forward to the potential free-for-all. Escaping under the cover of chaos was all well and good until a stray attack evaporated him.

"You have five seconds," Commander Lu said.

The auras vanished.

Chen Haoran blinked. His sense which had been pressed up against the immense presences now floundered like the rug had been pulled beneath it. Where there had been many, there were now only two. "They ran?"

"We should learn from our seniors," Jiang Lei said, pulling him to his feet.

Right. Focus. Chen Haoran cycled his qi and felt his head clear. He turned to Dreamwater. "Where—"

The Auctioneer and Commander Lu clashed. The window shattered, and the building shook so hard Chen Haoran was nearly thrown off his feet.

"The exit!" he roared at Dreamwater.

She pointed to the auction hall. "Down there!"

"And go through that fight?" he asked, dumbfounded.

"Senior Brother," Wang Xiao urgently called. His ear was pressed to the door. "There's fighting in the hall."

"We don't have time," Jiang Lei said, taking command. "The building is most likely surrounded. We have to chance it. Follow me."

He leaped out the window, followed by Wang Xiao. Chen Haoran cursed and held Phelps close to his chest as he jumped after them. He landed heavily on his legs and dispersed the force with his qi. He cast his eyes up to see Commander Lu slam his screaming halberd onto a gold lightning storm the Auctioneer summoned. The storm shattered into lightning sparks and wrapped around his red armor. Before Commander Lu could chop the Auctioneer in half, the gold sparks flashed. The Auctioneer twisted his hand, and Commander Lu was thrown away by some invisible force. He snarled and flushed the gold sparks away with scarlet qi and avoided another golden storm.

Even though he was closer to the fight in the box, being underneath them only intensified the pressure he felt. Chen Haoran let out a shuddering breath and flinched when Dreamwater landed next to him.

"Where now?" he asked her.

"Use the talisman," she said.

Right. Chen Haoran fumbled through his storage bag and pulled out the talisman Dreamwater handed him before the auction, and quickly channeled qi into it. A dark blue light flashed from the paper and covered the five of them. The bright auction area changed once more before Chen Haoran's eyes, the whole hall taking on a dark blue tint. Glowing blue lines covered the entire floor beneath their feet.

"It's an Obscuring Formation," Dreamwater explained. "We won't be seen so long as we stay near the talisman."

"Incredible," Chen Haoran said. He meant it with every fiber of his being. "Where do we go now?"

Dreamwater pointed to the stage. The stage that was across the auction hall from where they were at.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me. Did I really pay money for such a shitty exit?"

"You didn't pay anything," Dreamwater snapped. Her professionalism cracking. "It's a service we offer to paranoid guests afraid of being robbed."

"Should we look for an alternate way?" Wang Xiao asked Jiang Lei.

"Where does that escape route lead?" Jiang Lei asked.

"Directly outside the city," Dreamwater said.

"We'll have to cut our way through if we go outside anyway else," Jiang Lei finally said. "If they bring the Gu Department, then we'll never escape. That exit is our best bet."

Chen Haoran's curse was cut short when the air itself shook from the clash going on above their heads.

Damn it all, they didn't have the time. "Go," Chen Haoran said. "While the Auctioneer is still in control."

With Chen Haoran as the center holding the talisman, they rushed as quickly as they could across the auction hall. Around them, cultivators of all sorts fled in every direction from their tents. The air was awash with qi from techniques and treasures being activated. Across the hall Chen Haoran could see other people glowing completely blue in his eyes. His fellow Gold Token members using their own talismans, most likely. Above them, the battle raged on. Under the Auctioneer's golden light however, its aftershocks were kept mostly in check though he even couldn't completely stop Commander Lu's scarlet light from raining down on them between attacks. Every droplet of light splashed out like a ravenous beast and devoured anything it fell on.

A large droplet fell directly onto an unlucky cultivator right next to them. As the man fell to the ground screaming, the scarlet light pounced directly at them despite their invisibility. Jiang Lei's peach-colored liquid qi surged and drowned the scarlet light. Before even an instant passed, the beastly light had already eaten through it.

"Move!" Jiang Lei roared as he sacrificed more liquid qi to the light.

They leapt to the stage. Dreamwater was leading the way to the back. They were almost out. Chen Haoran couldn't help but spare a glance back.

"I'll be billing you for the damages," the Auctioneer said. Golden lightning crackled in his hands. "For your sake, I recommend keeping them down."

"You can send your invoice from hell," Commander Lu snarled.

The Auctioneer raised his hands to throw more golden storms when a red blur broke through the wall a shot toward him. The Auctioneer hastily brought his up to block as the red blur slammed into him and sent the Auctioneer shooting down into the stage.

Chen Haoran didn't even have time to cry in alarm before the stage was blown to pieces. One moment he was on the ground. The next moment he found himself tumbling wildly through the air. He felt Phelps's qi cover him in an attempt to cancel their momentum, but the force was too much. Phelps was flung out his hand, and Chen Haoran crashed into the ground. The breath fled out his lungs, and it almost felt like his qi flew out with it as it absorbed the shock of his fall. His head spun, and his vision alternated between normal and pitch black. His only stable sense was the feeling of his qi rushing to return his body to normal. Even so, he was aware enough when the red blur that knocked the Auctioneer out of the air spoke.

"Can an old soldier get a veteran's discount?" The second Imperial Crystal Transformation Realm asked.

Chapter 103: This Young Master's Auction Got Worse

Move

Chen Haoran willed his qi to cycle. After one revolution, he felt his head clear. After another revolution, he could move his fingers. After the third revolution, a dragon's roar sounded out from his chest, and he picked himself up—

—Only to fall to his knees when two terrifying presences took notice of him. Chen Haoran paled, and his breath came up short. The talisman. He had dropped the talisman. They could see him.

The rubble of the stage exploded, and Chen Haoran was spared from the attention of the Empire's Crystal Transformation Realms. The Auctioneer rose out of the wreckage. The sneak attack he suffered had blown his cloak to pieces to reveal a surprisingly normal-looking old man. He was small, with a bald head and a bushy white beard. To Chen Haoran's horror, his arm was missing up to the elbow, but instead of blood, the stump leaked yellow light. The Auctioneer noticed his lack of arm when he tried to brush the sawdust out of his beard and came up several inches short. He snorted, and in the next moment, hundreds of yellow crystals flew from around the auction hall as if drawn by magnets and reassembled into a crystal arm. He flexed his new arm as easily as a real arm, and as he did, the yellow crystal faded away into normal skin. In the span of a few moments, it looked as if he had never lost an arm at all.

"Commander Han," the Auctioneer greeted the new Crystal Transformation Realm. "The Garrison Authority must really not want to give my Golden Lily Association a way out if they deployed the both of you."

Commander Han chuckled and balanced his sword on his shoulder. "How do you say it? This is just the cost of doing business."

The Auctioneer sighed. "So it seems. You're really making me work for my profit today."

The Auctioneer waved his hand, and Commander Lu was suddenly surrounded by golden lightning. With a startled shout, the Garrison Commander flew to the ceiling and was nailed to the golden barrier stretched across it. In the same motion, the Auctioneer pulled out a silver sack and opened it. Countless gold taels spilled from its depths and assembled themselves into a sword that shot toward Commander Han. The old soldier easily shattered the tael sword, only for the pieces to reform and strike him again.

Chen Haoran rushed qi to his legs and stood up with the encouragement of a dragon's roar. "Phelps!" he shouted. "Phelps!"

His words were drowned out by an angelic chorus. Commander Han whirled his sword, each swing a different direction for some unseen orchestra, and the tael sword broke into fine gold dust. The Auctioneer upended his silver sack and flung out another larger tael sword.

Chen Haoran desperately cast his eyes across the ruined stage, looking for Phelps. They were running out of time. Despite the Auctioneer's prior good showing, it wasn't a guarantee he could really defeat the two military officials. If, at any moment, the Auctioneer decided to cut his losses and leave, then Chen Haoran would be left at the mercy of the Crystal Transformation Realms.

"Phelps!"

There was an answering squeal. The rubble moved, and Phelps floated out unharmed. Chen Haoran's flooded his legs with qi and was at Phelps's side in a moment and bundled the sloth into his arms.

"Chen!"

Chen Haoran turned and found Jiang Lei and Wang Xiao at the back of the stage, beckoning him. He sprinted over and was halfway to them when he remembered Dreamwater. He looked behind him and scanned the stage, quickly spotting her slumped form 15 feet behind the Auctioneer.

"Fuck." It was too dangerous. Chen Haoran spun on his heel and shot toward her, his qi pumped furiously through his meridians, and his legs became a blur, and he pushed his body to its limits. He fell to his knees and skidded in front of Dreamwater. Her head was freely bleeding. She had taken the impact the worst out of all of them. There was no time to be gentle, however, he scooped her up onto his shoulder and—

Froze.

Gooseflesh prickled down his neck and arms. Phelps became extraordinarily still. Chen Haoran turned his head. The Auctioneer was watching him. Their eyes locked.

The Auctioneer blinked first.

"Why are you here?" The Auctioneer asked, shock coloring his tone. He shook his head and suddenly laughed. To Chen Haoran's ears, however, it sounded helpless. "Dragon King, you scary bastard. Is this fate?"

Chen Haoran's brief confusion became pale terror when he realized he couldn't feel his mask. His heart fell, and he didn't even have the time to wonder what those words meant when the Auctioneer pointed his hand at him. He desperately grabbed his scimitar, but when the realms were this different, even the microseconds it took to think of the action slowed him enough to damn him.

"Young one, this is the second interest-free loan of my life." A golden light shot out of the Auctioneer's sleeve and hammered into Chen Haoran's chest.

His precious breath left him once again as the light picked him up off his feet and sent them all hurtling across the stage. Phelps squealed and tried to cover them with his energy, but every attempt broke when it touched the golden light. Chen Haoran rallied his qi to brace for the impact. His back hit something hard, and Chen Haoran heard a grunt as arms filled his vision. Jiang Lei and Wang Xiao caught them, and he felt their qi rise. There was a sound of breaking wood as they all skidded back for a few seconds before Jiang Lei planted his feet and halted their momentum.

They had scarcely caught their breaths when an overwhelming presence washed over them. Commander Han fell on them like a diving raptor. He reached out his hand to grab them, and though it was a regular-sized hand, at that moment, it felt like he would pick them all up in his palm with one scoop.

That moment never came to pass. The Auctioneer came in between them and forced Commander Han back with a storm of golden energy. "Now, now, Commander Han. I heard you treated your juniors with kindness. Why bother them when this old man is in front of you?"

"That's why it was my hand and not my sword," Commander Han said. He sliced apart the golden storm, but when the lightning sought to wrap itself around him like it did Commander Lu, it was mysteriously chopped to pieces. "What about you Gold-Eater? Since when did you give things away for free?"

The Auctioneer waved his hands dismissively. "Who said it was free? It's been properly paid for." He snapped his fingers, and a golden barrier shimmered into place in front of Chen Haoran and the others.

Jiang Lei pulled Chen Haoran back and held out his hand. He had somehow found the talisman after Chen Haoran lost it in the commotion. The blue light washed over them and hid them from view.

"We have to leave," Jiang Lei urged.

There was a roar from above. Commander Lu erupted with scarlet light and shattered a hole in the golden barrier covering the ceiling. The scarlet cloud rushed through the newly made opening, and Commander Lu dragged it down with him as he hurtled like a meteor atop the Auctioneer's head. Commander Han struck simultaneously, whipping his sword and stirring up a killing elegy.

The Auctioneer laughed and faced them head-on. He pointed a single finger to the ground, and a large golden toad statue rose beneath his feet. Standing on the head of the toad, he slammed his foot down, and the statue opened its mouth to reveal a gullet crackling with endless golden lightning. The two commanders expressions shifted, and they flung themselves back. The toad breathed in, and a storm was born. The scarlet cloud, the killing music, the debris, the building, anything, and everything was drawn into the golden toad's mouth and disappeared into its stomach. Even the ambient qi visibly rippled and was sucked in. Commander Han and Commander Lu flew back to the edges of the auction hall and resisted with their qi but still couldn't completely avoid the pull of the vortex.

Even though they were behind the storm and protected by the Auctioneer's barrier, Chen Haoran felt himself slip toward the toad. He cycled his qi and firmly planted his feet. Even so, he could feel slips of his qi being dragged out of his body and absorbed by the toad. Spikes of ice-cold fear ran down his spine. This was the technique of a Crystal Transformation Realm?

Jiang Lei pushed Chen Haoran and Wang Xiao and dragged them away from the statue, into the back of the stage, and out of sight of the battle. They didn't stop for even a moment, rushing through the halls until the talisman flashed blue.

"This way," Jiang Lei said, and under the direction of the talisman, a bright blue rectangle was opened up in an otherwise blank wall. They dove in without hesitation and entered a square tunnel lit with gold light and green light.

Chen Haoran sighed in relief. "Safe."

"Chen Haoran," Jiang Lei gravely said.

"I know, I know, not safe till we're out of the city," he replied. He shifted Dreamwater into a more comfortable position on his back. "But it's safer here than the auction hall, that's for sure."

"No," Jiang Lei said. He pointed at his chest. "Chen Haoran, what is that?"

What? Chen Haoran looked down, and his heart stopped.

The tunnel wasn't lit with gold light. He was. There on his chest, stuck to it with golden lightning, was a book. Even looking down from above, he could see the title printed with colorful ink.

Seven-Colored Steps of the Rainbow Stairs.

Chapter 104: This Young Master And His Trouble Magnet

Who knew a Heaven-Rank technique would make such a good flashlight? While the tunnel had some light coming from the glowing green talismans placed along its walls, they were few and far between enough that they served better as markers rather than illumination. That was the only comfort Chen Haoran had as they raced down the escape tunnel.

His first instinct had been to rip the technique manual off. While he had wanted to get his hands on the Seven-Colored Steps of the Rainbow Stairs, there was a clear difference between buying it and having it nailed to his chest by the Auctioneer. Unfortunately, the golden lightning had completely fastened the book to his chest and remained put despite his pulling. He quickly gave up after his first attempt failed. He didn't have the time to spare while they were still in danger.

He did have plenty of time, however, to wildly guess as to what just happened in the Auction Hall. One thing was clear, the Auctioneer recognized who he was on sight. Such a thing would chill Chen Haoran's heart even if it weren't a cultivator two realms above his own doing it. It had to be the Chen Family. He had no other reason that could explain the Auctioneer's reaction. What was their relationship, though? For him to give Chen Haoran the Seven-Colored Steps of the Rainbow Stairs meant it couldn't be something simple. He had called it an interest-free loan. Was he expecting something in return? Was he being truthful when he said it had already been paid for? Or was he expecting something in return? From him? From the Chen Family? From whoever the Dragon King was?

"Fuck." He couldn't help the curse. He had come to Zumulu to avoid his family and anyone else who might know him only to run into them once again in the worst way possible. Was this karma? Was he being punished for accidentally screwing over Xie Jin? He cursed again.

"Dare I ask what your relationship with the Golden Lily Association is?" Jiang Lei asked.

"Fuck if I know," Chen Haoran sighed. He shifted Dreamwater on his back. "Maybe he rewarded me for going back for her."

"I will eat my sword if that's the reason," Wang Xiao interjected.

Jiang Lei nodded in agreement. "Your background becomes more and more mysterious, Chen Haoran. I'm starting to worry about what I've gotten myself into."

If Chen Haoran weren't currently running for his life, he would have come to a full stop right then and there and picked a fight with Jiang Lei for the outrageous bullshit he just spouted. Fortunately, before his mouth could write a check, his body couldn't cash; Dreamwater stirred.

Chen Haoran slowed down as Dreamwater groggily rose and looked around with unfocused eyes.

"Dreamwater?" Chen Haoran tentatively called.

Her blank gaze immediately sharpened, and in a strange display of priorities, her hands first went to her mask, then to the bleeding wound on her head. She pulled a small pill from out her sleeves and downed it. Immediately the bleeding stopped, and color returned to her pale skin. "What happened?" She asked.

"We got caught in the crossfire of the fight," Jiang Lei said. "Chen Haoran pulled you out of danger. We're in the escape tunnel now."

Dreamwater let out a sigh and marginally relaxed. "Thank you for your aid, Young Master Chen. You can let me down now."

After seeing the effects of her pill, Chen Haoran didn't argue and let her down. As soon as she saw the book stuck to his chest, her eyes went wide.

"What—"

"I don't know," Chen Haoran interrupted her. "In fact, I have to ask, who the hell is that Auctioneer or Gold-Eater or whatever his name is?"

Dreamwater hesitated. Her eyes flickered between him, Jiang Lei, and Wang Xiao. "I am not allowed to disclose that information."

"Nevermind," Chen Haoran said. "A second Commander from the Empire showed up. Can the Auctioneer handle it?"

"The first rule of the Golden Lily Association: All auctions must be hosted by a Supervisor capable of suppressing the local forces." Dreamwater recited it as if she were reading directly from the book. To Chen Haoran, however, it sounded like she was saying it more to reassure herself than him.

"Just another reason to get out of here as soon as possible," Wang Xiao said.

For once, Chen Haoran agreed with him.

In the depths of the jungle, a square of earth suddenly vanished as if into thin air and revealed a dark hole. From that hole leaped out Jiang Lei, who, after briefly surveying the area, whistled out an all-clear. Wang Xiao immediately emerged from the hole, followed by Dreamwater, then Chen Haoran.

Jiang Lei turned to Dreamwater. "I must say. I'm quite impressed with the Golden Lily Association's thoroughness." He paused in thought. "I don't suppose I can still purchase that Ambush Insurance?"

"I am afraid it's too late for that, honored guest," Dreamwater blandly replied.

"Pity." Jiang Lei actually looked sad as he said it too.

"Where are we?" Chen Haoran asked.

"Just outside the northern side of the city," Dreamwater said. "While we are out of view of the walls, if they send any patrols, there's still a chance we will be found. I recommend leaving soon. On that note, I will part ways with you here." She pinched her dress and curtsied. "We of the Golden Lily Association thank you for purchasing with us today. We look forward to your business in the future."

Without letting them get a word in edgewise, Dreamwater palmed a talisman and, with a spike of qi, disappeared in front of their eyes.

Taking a cue from Dreamwater's speedy escape, they quickly shot into the jungle. Under Jiang Lei's lead, they navigated the wilderness at a dead sprint. Cycling their qi to the extent that their bodies became a blur as they put as much distance between themselves and the city as they could. Eventually, after running for what seemed like hours, they stopped and took shelter under a large tree to catch their breaths. Phelps, perhaps finally sensing the danger had passed, distressingly squealed at Chen Haoran.

Chen Haoran patted Phelps's head with a wan smile, but he couldn't give the sloth much attention when he still had a problem to deal with. He looked down at the glowing book stuck to his chest.

He grasped the edges of the book, cycled his qi, and pulled.

Nothing.

He pulled harder.

Still nothing.

The dragon roared in his chest.

The book didn't budge.

He tried taking his robe off, but that failed too. The book was pressed so tight to his chest that it pinned the fabric there. He'd sooner tear off the rest of his garment before he would slide a centimeter of the cloth underneath the book out.

"Damnit. Jiang Lei, help me pull this off."

Jiang Lei raised an eyebrow. "And trigger a defensive response from a Crystal Transformation Realm's qi? No, thank you."

Chen Haoran paled and let go of the book as if it burned him. Did he have an actual bomb strapped to his chest and not just a metaphorical one? "Can it really do that?"

Jiang Lei shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm in no hurry to find out. It can't last forever, though. I'm sure it will wear off eventually."

There were five stages of grief, and Chen Haoran fast-forwarded all the way to acceptance. "There's no helping it then."

"There's a bigger issue at hand," Jiang Lei said, frowning. "The Garrison Commanders saw your face."

A line of fear raced down Chen Haoran's spine. He'd been blocking acknowledging that fact. Even if the Commanders didn't recognize he was from the Chen Family like the Auctioneer did, the consequences of them knowing he had the Heaven-Rank technique were obvious.

"What's the punishment for people caught buying from the Golden Lily Association?" Chen Haoran weakly asked.

"Heavy fines usually. Sometimes harsh labor." Jiang Lei's mouth was set in a grim line. "I don't think it needs to be said that your ending won't be as merciful as those if the Commanders catch you."

Chen Haoran's conclusion was instantaneous. "I need to leave Zumulu."

Wang Xiao snorted disdainfully. "With that light stuck on your chest? You'll cross the jungle and avoid the soldiers the Commanders will have searching for you? You?"

"The fuck else am I supposed to do, asshole?" Chen Haoran snarled.

Jiang Lei forcefully placed himself between them. "That's enough, Junior Brother. He won't be helped with those sorts of comments."

"I'm not wrong, though. He can't do it. He'll be caught in an instant."

Chen Haoran forced himself not to grab his scimitar. Much as he hated to admit it, Wang Xiao had a valid point. He couldn't even sneak past the city guards, let alone the professionals a military commander would have on hand. Even if the military didn't find him, anyone who knew he had a Heaven-rank technique on him would start hunting him down. Was that the Auctioneer's plan? Was he trying to screw him over instead of helping?

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder and startled him out of his spiraling thoughts. "It's not like there's no hope," Jiang Lei said. "Your shaman friend, Xie Jin. He's returned to his home, am I correct?"

Chen Haoran hesitated but eventually nodded. "Yes."

Jiang Lei smiled. "That's where we'll go then. No matter how far the Commanders may stretch their fingers in Zumulu, the Basin is one of the few places even they cannot lightly enter. If you hide there, then you won't be easily discovered."

Chen Haoran felt hope bloom in his chest, but reality quickly settled in. "I don't know how to get there." And even if he did. Would they really let him hide there? Could he ask that of Xie Jin?

Jiang Lei patted his back reassuringly. "Do not fear. We shall take you there."

Chen Haoran narrowed his eyes. He looked from Jiang Lei to Wang Xiao. "You would do that?"

"Of course!" Jiang Lei laughed. "My favorite thing to do is screw over the Empire. My second favorite thing to do is help my friends." He stretched out his hand to Chen Haoran. "This just combines my favorite things. We'll be sharing drinks with your friend Xie Jin in no time at all."

Chen Haoran looked down at the outstretched hand. Slowly he raised his own to grab it. Jiang Lei's smile grew even wider.

Then the light of day turned to gold. In the distance, a golden pillar of light emerged from Stonebridge and shot into the heavens.