Chapter 273: Wushuang City
Wushuang City.
Headquarters of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
This city is said to be unmatched in treasures, with all the world's finest artifacts gathering here—thus the name Wushuang City.
Though the Myriad Treasures Pavilion is not a sacred cultivation ground, there are Saints stationed in Wushuang City.
Whether righteous cultivators, demonic cultivators, or members of the hundred clans, none dare cause trouble within the city.
Each year, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion holds a grand auction. The decennial auction is renowned, and during a centennial event, even sacred artifacts may appear.
As a result, the number of cultivators arriving each year to attend the auction is countless.
Only one month remains before this year's annual auction—coinciding with the centennial grand event.
Wushuang City is in a state of extraordinary bustle.
All the inns are filled to capacity, and fights over room availability between cultivators break out frequently.
At times like this, Wushuang City dispatches guards to patrol the streets. Any private combat is punished without leniency.
Of course, if both parties agree, they may resolve their dispute on the city's Life-and-Death Stage.
To accommodate such duels, every street has a temporary Life-and-Death Stage set up.
The Four Seas Inn is one of the ten largest inns in Wushuang City.
Naturally, it is also one of the primary lodging choices for auction participants.
The innkeeper and the waiters were already run ragged with work.
A group of strangely dressed young men and women entered the inn in unison.
Among them, a tall young cultivator draped in a silver cloak, with a fierce tiger at his side, said, "Innkeeper, do you still have a private courtyard available?"
At the mention of a courtyard, the innkeeper's eyes lit up. Courtyards were ten times more expensive than even the highest-tier rooms.
"Yes, we still have one last courtyard. One thousand lower-grade spirit stones per day."
Cao Youqian didn't so much as flinch at the price. He casually tossed over a storage pouch. "We'll take it for one month."
Just as the pouch landed on the counter, a sharp female voice called out from outside the door.
"Hold it!"
Cao Youqian ignored the voice and said calmly, "Innkeeper, why are you still standing there? Quickly take us to the courtyard."
The innkeeper didn't dare delay. That tiger beside the man was already in the Heavenly Origin realm—far beyond what he could handle. He quickly said, "Yes, I'll register the guests now."
As he reached for a brush to register them, a wave of sword intent suddenly swept in.
"Innkeeper, I told you to wait. Didn't you hear me?"
Cao Youqian showed no reaction to the sword intent—his expression remained unchanged, and he didn't even attempt to block it.
Instead, Ye Beixuan, clad in green robes, reached out and caught the incoming sword. Looking at the group of female cultivators entering through the doorway, he said coolly, "Are you suggesting we settle this on the Life-and-Death Stage?"
The words caused the newly arrived group of female cultivators to visibly react.
A red-robed woman wielding a sword scoffed, "Hmph, do you think I'd be afraid of you? If you know what's good for you, hand over that courtyard obediently. Otherwise, I'll show you just how powerful Wangqing Palace really is!"
The bystanders in the inn stopped what they were doing at the mention of Wangqing Palace. It wasn't every day one witnessed a disciple of a sacred land making a move.
Even the innkeeper paused mid-stroke. Though Wushuang City treated all factions equally, a sacred land was still a sacred land. A small Four Seas Inn couldn't afford to offend them—after all, their backer was only a Half-Saint.
Ye Beixuan looked at the red-robed woman and said flatly, "You are unworthy to be my opponent."
The words were like a spark to dry tinder. The red-clad young woman immediately exploded in anger, releasing the pressure of a fifth-stage True Fate cultivator and shouting, "You're courting death!"
The surrounding onlookers instinctively stepped back several paces, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
Some even whispered, "As expected of a prodigy from Wangqing Palace. She looks just over thirty and is already a True Fate expert."
Han Paopao, who stood behind Ye Beixuan, took a step forward and said calmly, "Senior Brother Ye is right. You're not worthy to face him. If you want to fight, I'll be your opponent."
"You… how dare you insult me!"
As she spoke, the red-robed woman suddenly swung her sword fiercely toward Han Paopao.
At that moment, a slender jade-like hand grasped the woman's wrist.
A cold, emotionless voice came from the side.
"Hongye, that's enough."
Yan Hongye turned her head upon hearing this, looking at the veiled woman in white beside her, and asked in confusion, "Senior sister, they're insulting us. How can you just swallow that?"
The woman in white said coldly, "Silence. Step back."
Though dissatisfied, Yan Hongye still stepped back with a sullen expression.
The woman in white stepped forward and cupped her hands slightly toward Cao Youqian, Xiao Chen, and Qin Qin.
"Daoist Xiao, Daoist Cao, Daoist Qin—my junior sister is unruly. I hope the three of you will forgive her offenses."
Cao Youqian laughed and said, "I didn't expect the Jadeheart Fairy of Wangqing Palace would still remember us."
Jadeheart Fairy's tone remained cool and aloof. "The Invincible Sword, the Peerless Overlord Fist, and the White-Robed Zither Demon—your names are still fresh in my memory. I didn't think I'd encounter the three of you here today."
Hiss...
The crowd in the inn all sucked in a breath.
The name "White-Robed Zither Demon" might have been unfamiliar to most, but "Invincible Sword" and "Peerless Overlord Fist" were renowned across the world, hailed as the Twin Stars of Wendao—young elites without rival.
Yan Hongye stood frozen in place. She never imagined she'd flaunted her strength in front of such figures.
This time, she had caused major trouble.
Cao Youqian said with a laugh, "Since you know who we are, then I suppose you know what to do next?"
Jadeheart Fairy replied, "Hongye, hurry and step forward to apologize."
Yan Hongye, still frightened stiff, only returned to her senses upon hearing her senior sister's words. She took a few timid steps forward and said softly, "Senior brothers and sisters, I was wrong."
"Forget it. Since we're all from sacred lands, I'll spare your life this time. But next time, don't let me catch you. My Ultimate Dao Divine Fist doesn't show favoritism."
Cao Youqian said coldly.
"Y-Yes."
Yan Hongye replied twice in a trembling voice, then quickly withdrew.
Jadeheart Fairy also turned to leave with her fellow disciples, clearly not intending to linger at the Four Seas Inn.
The innkeeper did not dare delay in the slightest and immediately arranged the courtyard for Cao Youqian's group.
After receiving the keyplate, Xiao Chen led the group toward the courtyard under everyone's gaze.
The crowd of onlookers stared at the dozen or so figures as they disappeared, remaining stunned for a long time.
The moment Xiao Chen and the others checked in at the Four Seas Inn, word of their arrival for the once-in-a-century auction had already spread across all of Wushuang City…
Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 2 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 32 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/Alex_Cruise