Ling Xiao had just been able to use the Vajra Five Transformations Technique to restore his body, and of course, the Three-Part Return to Origin Qi was also inextricably linked. If the Grand Elder knew Ling Xiao had practiced on his own last night to restore his meridians, he would be shocked, for this was a sign of minor success in the second transformation, "Tension Refining."
Back then, the Grand Elder had endured immense hardship, spending nearly a year to achieve minor success in the second transformation, "Tension Refining." Ling Xiao had achieved this in just two weeks—a truly astonishing speed.
Ling Xiao had just emerged from the cave. After two weeks of intense training, his clothes were tattered like a beggar's. Yet, this couldn't conceal his imposing figure, his handsome features defined by sharp angles, and his eyes, sparkling and clear.
Just as Ling Xiao was about to begin his training, Xiao Mei ran over, breathless.
Before she could get close, she was stopped by one of the warriors. With the exception of Bai Yuxi, who was allowed to visit Ling Xiao during the day, no one else was allowed to disturb him. This was the Grand Elder's order. "Young Master, help!" Xiaomei was stopped, but she desperately called out to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao glanced back, immediately recognizing her maid and hurried over.
"What happened to Xiaomei?" Ling Xiao asked, puzzled.
Xiaomei gasped for breath, continuing, "Yu... Yuxi... she's... she's not well..."
When Ling Xiao heard that Bai Yuxi was in trouble, his entire demeanor froze. He immediately grabbed Xiaomei's shoulders and asked, "Tell me clearly, what happened to her?"
Bai Yuxi was the only woman he had ever been with, and her importance was self-evident.
Xiaomei was startled by Ling Xiao's chilling aura, and now she was even more speechless. A nearby warrior quelled Ling Xiao's excitement, saying, "Young Master, stop shaking her! She's gasping for air."
Ling Xiao then realized he'd exerted too much force. He unintentionally released Xiao Mei's shoulders and channeled a trace of profound energy towards her, saying softly, "Take your time."
After Xiao Mei regained her breath, she recounted what had happened in the fabric shop.
"You said Yu Xi was kidnapped?" Ling Xiao's brows twisted into a "川" shape, a cold, murderous aura rising from him.
Xiao Mei nodded heavily, knowing the young master was furious.
"Asshole," Ling Xiao cursed, then ran straight home. Training was no longer an issue; saving Yu Xi was paramount.
Flustered, Ling Xiao returned to his room and retrieved the blue crystal sword and a silver broadsword.
This sword was also a second-tier, intermediate-level weapon, the Silver Ghost Blood Blade, looted from the Grand Elder. With his sword strapped to his back, Ling Xiao, without even changing his clothes, bolted straight for the fabric shop Xiaomei had mentioned.
Tiger Six and Tiger Seven kept a close eye on Ling Xiao's movements. As soon as he appeared, they gave chase, wondering, "Young Master, why are you so anxious?" However, although they were both mid-level Xuanshi, they were still far behind Ling Xiao, who was fully utilizing his "Cloud Phantom" technique. After running for just a mile, Ling Xiao suddenly disappeared from sight.
They were horrified. They had witnessed Ling Xiao's strength before, but they hadn't expected his speed to be so astonishing. Perhaps only a high-level Xuanshi could match it.
They didn't have time to think twice and immediately gave chase. If anything happened to Ling Xiao, they couldn't bear the responsibility.
Ling Xiao arrived at the fabric shop, where the owner was recommending fabrics to some noble ladies. Ling Xiao burst in, staring directly at the shopkeeper by the collar without a word, and asked, "Where did the person who just arrested you go?"
The shopkeeper was stunned by the question. Looking at Ling Xiao's tattered clothes, he was about to lose his temper, but seeing Ling Xiao's murderous eyes and the two cold weapons behind him, he swallowed his words and said timidly, "I don't know what you are talking about, young master. I don't understand."
"Was there a girl being beaten here just now? Answer me honestly, or I'll kill you," Ling Xiao asked with a dark look in his eyes.
This time, the shopkeeper came to his senses and nodded hurriedly, "Yes... yes, Miss Li took her away."
"Where did she take her?"
"I... I heard she said she was... going to be taken to Zui Xiang Lou to be sold."
"Asshole!" Ling Xiao cursed with murderous intent, grabbing the shopkeeper and throwing him, sending the poor shopkeeper reeling. At this moment, the atmosphere in Zui Xiang Lou was reaching its peak for the day, with the bidding already rising from fifty gold coins to two hundred and eighty.
The person who had just bid was a freelance adventurer, a high-level Xuanzhai with a rugged appearance, his arms pierced with veins as ferocious as snakes. His words immediately silenced many.
Just when everyone thought no one would bid any more, a soft, feminine voice rang out, "Three hundred and fifty gold coins."
As soon as the voice uttered, an uproar erupted in Zui Xiang Lou.
Who was this person? He had actually raised the price from two hundred and eighty gold coins to three hundred and fifty, and dared to compete with a high-level Xuanzhai. He must be tired of living. The high-level profound practitioner looked displeased at the man bidding against him. His expression, which had threatened to flare up, melted away like ice meeting fire, transforming into a friendly smile. He bowed to the man on the second floor and said, "So it's Lord Murong. I apologize for my disrespect. This woman rightfully belongs to Lord Murong."
The high-level profound practitioner clearly recognized the other party and, with a look of deep fear, immediately offered a flattering remark and dared not bid again. Silence fell upon the scene before the feminine voice rang out again, "Haha, if you don't bid, this girl will belong to me, Murong Gu."
"So it's Lord Murong! No wonder he's so quiet that the wild boar can't say a word."
"I heard Lord Murong has reached the Intermediate Mystic Master level, and that the leader of the Blue Wolf Mercenary Group, Qinglang, personally invited him to join the group, promising him the position of captain."
"That's true, but I heard Lord Murong flatly refused."
"The Blue Wolf Mercenary Group's influence in the city is only slightly less than that of the major families, and Lord Murong actually refused?"
"Perhaps Lord Murong is used to a carefree life."
...
Murong Gu, 35, a professional freelance adventurer, recently reached the Intermediate Mystic Master level. He's known as the "Lone Wolf," a lustful and murderous man. Adventurers and smaller mercenary groups in the Wilderness Mountains dread encountering him, as he's known for his ability to plunder and steal. When Murong Gu first laid eyes on Bai Yuxi, he was stunned by her beauty and resolved to acquire her at all costs.
The maid at Zui Xiang Lou chuckled, "This gentleman has already offered a high price of three hundred and fifty gold coins. Is there anyone who can offer more?"
The maid was delighted. These days, an ordinary girl would fetch only ten gold coins, but now this beautiful girl, brought by their young lady, had fetched a whopping three hundred gold coins. It was truly unbelievable.
Upstairs, Li Qingqing said with a smug smile, "I didn't expect this stinky paperboard to be so valuable."
Lan Kuangsheng also chuckled, but the thought of the woman claiming to be from the Ling family made him uneasy. If she really was, this matter would become a big deal. Their Lan family was second only to the three great families in Meteorite City, but their power was vastly different. They were not someone they could easily offend. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to curry favor with Li Qingqing. "Well, since no one's bidding, then..." The old woman, seeing no further bids, was about to announce the result.
"Wait, I'm offering four hundred gold coins!" a brash voice echoed from upstairs.
Everyone exclaimed in surprise again. Who could have imagined that a framed scroll could fetch such a high price, and that someone would even dare to compete with "Lone Wolf"?
Murong Gu raised a brow slightly, glanced at the person bidding against him, and said disdainfully, "I was wondering who it was, but it's Brother 'Lone Eagle'. Since Brother 'Lone Eagle' is interested, let's have a fight. I'm offering four hundred and ten gold coins."
The person bidding against Murong Gu was an equally famous adventurer, nicknamed "Lone Eagle." He was tall and imposing, clad in a black martial arts uniform. One eye was covered by a black hood, while the other shone with a sharp, fierce gleam. Two attractive women were beside him, pouring wine and serving him. Du Ying burst into laughter upon hearing Murong Gu's words. "Haha, I won't let go of any woman I've set my sights on. I'll offer you 450 gold coins."
"460 gold coins."
"500 gold coins."
"510 gold coins."
...
Only two people remained bidding, and the others dared not utter a word. These two were renowned killers in Meteorite City; they couldn't afford to offend them; it could cost them their lives.
Unnoticed, their bid had risen to 710 gold coins.
"Du Ying, if you raise the price again, I surrender!" Murong Gu shouted, slamming the table. He was clearly enraged. If Du Ying hadn't been even more powerful than him, he would have turned on him and killed him. Du Ying drank his cup slowly, then revealed a smug smile. "I'm not as wealthy as you, Lone Wolf, yet you actually offered 710 gold coins for a prostitute? I admire you, brother."
As soon as Du Ying said this, Murong Gu knew he'd been tricked. He slammed the table, shattering it into pieces. He then shouted at Du Ying, "You're kidding me!"
"Hmph, you offered this voluntary price. Could it be that your renowned Lone Wolf gold coins aren't enough? If not, I can lend them to you temporarily. If you really don't acknowledge your debt, I'm afraid you won't be able to leave this Zui Xiang Lou!" Du Ying sarcastically sneered, as if he had Murong Gu for sure.
"Good! Good! Good!" Murong Gu cheered repeatedly, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
"Haha, brother, I'm fine," Du Ying said with a smile, eating a grape that the woman beside him offered. Murong Gu didn't respond. With a cold snort, he pulled out a bag of gold coins and threw it at the old maid downstairs. Then, glaring at Du Ying, he turned and began to leave.
The old maid caught the coins without even glancing at them. She immediately smiled and said to the waiter, "Send her to Tianzi Building No. 1."
Bai Yuxi, trapped in the iron cage, was utterly desperate. She knew she couldn't escape her fate, and a fierce determination surged from the depths of her heart.
"Even if I die, I won't allow anyone to defile my body. I belong to the young master in life, and I belong to him in death." Bai Yuxi's beautiful eyes shed pitiful tears as she resolutely warned herself.
Just as she was about to bite her tongue to end her life, a fierce shout rang out from outside, pulling her back from the brink of death.
"Anyone who dares to touch her will die!"