Li Meng’s expression cleared with understanding.

So it was a case of husband-killing enmity. No wonder the two of them were trading such pointed barbs.

It seemed the Qingxu Sect didn’t possess any concrete evidence proving Cao Yuan had murdered that Supreme Elder. Otherwise, the exchange between them would have been far more heated than a mere bidding war.

The second Flawless Ageless Pill was eventually acquired by Senior Xu Yan of the Qingxu Sect, ending that particular drama.

“Next, we have the seventy-second auction item!”

Mu Jiu’er’s voice rang out, pulling the audience’s attention back to the stage.

“A rare artifact forging material, essential for landscape spiritual treasures—Mystic Yellow Primordial Qi! The starting bid is 50,000 spirit stones, with increments of no less than 10,000!”

Mystic Yellow Primordial Qi?

Li Meng’s eyes lit up within the shadows of his second-floor booth.

This was exactly what he needed. Crafting high-tier landscape spiritual treasures required Mystic Yellow Primordial Qi to stabilize the mountain forms and anchor the water fortunes. Without it, the spiritual ecosystem within the artifact would collapse.

Only a Fourth-Grade Artifact Smith could properly utilize such a material.

The Rogue Cultivators on the lower floor remained completely silent. Mystic Yellow Primordial Qi was a treasure far beyond their reach, something they could not even dream of coveting.

The Golden Core cultivators in the middle tiers also held their tongues. Their Sect Elders were seated in the upper levels; it wasn’t their place to compete for such a strategic resource.

“Among the five great sects of the State of Zhao, only our Thousand Crane Valley possesses a Fourth-Grade Artifact Smith,” a familiar hoarse voice declared from above. “I ask all Fellow Daoists to grant this old man some face—60,000 spirit stones!”

“Face? Old Ghost Cao, just how thick is your skin? If we cut it off to measure it, then perhaps we could grant you some ‘face’. 80,000 spirit stones!”

“Surname Ge, what are you butting in for? 90,000 spirit stones!”

“A joke! You won’t be taking this vial of Mystic Yellow Primordial Qi away today. 100,000 spirit stones!”

“Fellow Daoist Ge, the Giant Sword Mountain doesn’t even have a single Third-Grade Artifact Smith. Wouldn’t entrusting the Mystic Yellow Primordial Qi to your lot be a sheer waste of a heavenly treasure? 110,000 spirit stones!”

“There’s no need for Fellow Daoist Cao to trouble himself with my sect’s affairs. 120,000 spirit stones!”

The exchange between the two Nascent Soul cultivators in the upper tiers grew increasingly fierce, the price climbing swiftly to 170,000.

“200,000 spirit stones!”

A robust, resonant voice suddenly exploded from the second floor.

The hall went dead silent. Golden Core cultivators from both above and below swiveled their heads, staring in shock at Li Meng seated in his open booth.

The female attendant in Li Meng’s arms stiffened, her eyes wide with terror. She never expected the “Fellow Daoist” beside her would dare to compete directly with Nascent Soul Ancestors.

Li Meng faced the multitude of stares with utter calm.

From the upper levels came gazes of surprise, mockery, and cold sneers. His true cultivation naturally couldn’t be hidden from the Nascent Soul Elders—a mere Qi Condensation ant daring to shout among dragons? Utterly laughable!

The Golden Core cultivators, however, observed him with wary, thoughtful expressions. Thanks to the Divine Firmament Talisman, they couldn’t see through his disguise. To them, he was a mysterious peer, bold and possibly backed by powerful forces.

“Junior,” Cao Yuan’s voice dripped with icy warning. “This item is not something you should covet. Know your place. 210,000 spirit stones!”

Li Meng couldn’t see the Nascent Soul cultivator through the privacy curtains of the upper booth, but he didn’t need to. He had seen someone else up there—someone who gave him the courage to stand his ground.

A small figure was leaning over the railing of a different balcony booth, gazing down at him with keen curiosity.

“Senior,” Li Meng replied, his voice steady and loud. “The Auction House’s rule is that the highest bidder wins. If Senior wishes to obtain the Mystic Yellow Primordial Qi, you must surpass this junior in price. 250,000 spirit stones!”

250,000 spirit stones?

The Golden Core cultivators collectively drew a sharp breath. Even for a Nascent Soul Ancestor, that was a stinging sum. Just what background did this burly “Iron Ox” have?

“Good, good, good… Junior, this old man will remember you…”

The hoarse voice trembled with suppressed rage.

The Nascent Soul cultivator did not place another bid. Li Meng knew who he was—Cao Yuan, the Supreme Elder of Thousand Crane Valley. He had just made a powerful enemy.

The female attendant in Li Meng’s arms was shaking uncontrollably, her face deathly pale. Is he insane? Does he want to die?

On the auction stage, Mu Jiu’er offered a graceful, professional smile. A Golden Core cultivator challenging a Nascent Soul Ancestor? This was the kind of drama that made for good business.

“250,000 spirit stones. Are there any higher bids?”

The hall remained silent. The gazes directed at Li Meng held a mix of schadenfreude, pity, and disdain.

“250,000 spirit stones, once. Twice. Sold! Congratulations to the Senior for winning the Mystic Yellow Primordial Qi.”

Li Meng let out a silent sigh of relief.

The jade vial contained a substantial amount of the primordial gas. For other smiths, 250,000 might be a loss, but for him, with his success rate, it was a steal.

As the auction moved on, the attention on him faded, replaced by a collective assumption: Li Meng was a dead man walking. Open robbery was banned in the Market City, but he couldn’t stay here forever. The moment he stepped outside, he would be hunted down.

Li Meng calmly took out his Supreme Elder token and pressed it into the trembling hand of the attendant.

“Go find that Supreme Elder,” he whispered, gesturing discreetly toward the upper booth where the small figure had appeared.

The attendant stared at the token in her hand, her eyes bulging.

Masked Moon Peak Supreme Elder token?

Who… who exactly was this man?

“Go on.”

Dazed, she rose to her feet and hurried out of the booth.

Li Meng watched the door close with a faint smile. If he hadn’t spotted his Junior Sister earlier, he never would have dared to challenge Cao Yuan. But with his own heavy artillery present, there was nothing to fear.

Approximately the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a soft click sounded.

The booth door opened. A small figure darted in.

“Your services are no longer required here!”

Qi Wei waved her hand dismissively at the Inner Sect disciple waiting outside. The disciple bowed respectfully and retreated, swaying her hips as she left.

Only after the door clicked shut did Qi Wei turn around.

“Lit… I mean, Senior Brother! Senior Brother!”

She scampered over to the couch and clambered up, extending a small finger to poke curiously at Li Meng’s rugged face.

“Senior Brother, your transformation technique is better than mine! Mine disappears if someone even touches me.”

Li Meng chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle Qi Wei’s hair.

“Junior Sister,” he reminded her gently. “Right now, I am not your ‘little old man’ Senior Brother.”

Qi Wei quickly covered her mouth with both hands, nodding vigorously.

The Auction House had restrictions blocking Divine Sense probing. Even if the old fogies upstairs recognized Qi Wei entering his booth, they would only assume this rogue cultivator had some connection to the Masked Moon Peak—perhaps a favored subordinate or a distant relative.

Qi Wei settled down beside him, her small feet swinging playfully off the edge of the couch. She pulled the token from her robes and handed it back.

“Senior Brother,” she whispered conspiratorially. “Master said that you can bid freely for anything you want.”

Li Meng stared at her. “Really?”

If that was true… he had just stumbled upon an incredible windfall. Was their Ancestor really being this generous?

“Junior Sister,” he asked cautiously. “Did our Ancestor truly say that?”

He needed to be sure. If the Ancestor later refused to pay the bill, Li Meng would be sold into slavery to cover the debt.

Qi Wei pursed her lips into a bright smile, hugging his massive arm with both hands.

“That’s exactly what Master said!”

Li Meng chuckled, instinctively reaching up to stroke his beard—only to find smooth skin. He lowered his hand awkwardly.

Excellent. With the Ancestor providing cover, the restraints were off.

Squinting slightly, Li Meng turned his gaze back to Mu Jiu’er on the stage below.

“Senior Brother,” Qi Wei suddenly piped up, her voice serious. “You’re about to attempt Foundation Establishment soon, aren’t you?”

She could sense it. His aura was drawn tightly inward, dense and heavy. The Five Elements spiritual power showed faint signs of overflowing—a clear indication he had hit the absolute limit of Qi Condensation.

“Mmm,” Li Meng nodded slowly, his eyes still fixed on the stage. “Yes… After meeting Master later… I’ll begin.”