Chapter 574: The Town’s Auction |
"Yes, that's indeed the case."
"The childhood sweetheart he grew up with was married off to someone from the outside world because his strength wasn't sufficient."
"He was already heartbroken enough, but on the day she was getting married, she was attacked within the Realm Sea."
"Everyone died, and ever since then, he has liked to drown his sorrows in alcohol."
Xu Qingqiu nodded, saying seriously, "He's also a devoted lover who has never been able to move on."
"Looking at his strength, he should already have the power of a Celestial Immortal, right?"
Ning Qi asked curiously.
"No, otherwise he would have long been an elder."
Xu Qingqiu shook her head, "Originally, he had the chance, but he's always been addicted to alcohol."
"If he were as diligent as Senior Brother, he would have long broken through to Celestial Immortal strength."
"Perhaps, this experience of ours might present an opportunity for him."
Ning Qi smiled and said.
"I hope so. Among our generation, all those who haven't perished have already been promoted."
"Some have become branch masters at branch offices, while others are branch masters themselves."
Xu Qingqiu continued, "Only he hasn't broken through yet and can only stay in the sect like me."
"But we female disciples are different. Generally, we don't show ourselves in public. Basically, once we reach our level of strength, we stay behind to handle some of the sect's internal affairs."
"How are the strength levels of elders distributed in your Myriad Swords Sect?"
Ning Qi instead grew curious.
"Celestial Immortals are divided into nine grades. Those with strength below the fifth grade are all branch masters and ordinary elders."
"Those above the fifth grade are at the level of my master and others."
"When strength reaches the ninth grade, they become Grand Elders."
Xu Qingqiu said seriously, "If one has Half-Step Golden Immortal strength, then that's the level of the Left and Right Guardians. As long as their strength is sufficiently powerful, they will be promoted to Sect Master. Unfortunately, they first have to wait for our current Sect Master to either perish or break through to Golden Immortal strength."
"Otherwise, these two Guardians will have to keep waiting for an opportunity, unless our Myriad Swords Sect wants to expand externally. Then they would have the chance to be promoted to Sect Masters for external expansion, but even after going, they must still heed the summons of our Sect Master."
"So that's how it is. Your system is quite complicated!"
After listening to her finish speaking, Ning Qi couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes, there's no other way. We have too many people."
Xu Qingqiu also said, "Otherwise, in an ordinary sect, just one expert with Celestial Immortal strength would be a top-tier existence."
"But precisely because we have so many people, they don't have such opportunities."
"Aren't you afraid these people will become discontent and rebel?"
Ning Qi thought of something and couldn't help but say with a smile.
"They won't. They don't dare."
Xu Qingqiu smiled, "Our Myriad Swords Sect is the dominant power in this realm. Even the nearby expansions have informants."
"Unless they can go very far away, anyone who defects will be hunted down by us."
"Oh? You really are domineering. Even when people have no future prospects, you still won't let them go."
Hearing her say this, Ning Qi couldn't help but speak disdainfully.
"There's no other way. We've had this problem before."
"It was precisely because we were too soft-hearted that we brought two catastrophic disasters upon ourselves."
"If our Sect Master hadn't gone to the Immortal Realm to seek help, our Fang Sword Sect might have long been destroyed."
Xu Qingqiu let out a long sigh and said seriously, "Therefore, we absolutely cannot be soft-hearted toward anyone."
"There was actually such a thing."
Ning Qi said incredulously.
"Of course there was. Otherwise, where would all these rules come from?"
After explaining, Xu Qingqiu looked ahead, "It's too early for us to go back. Let's go ahead and see what's happening."
"Alright, since we're here, we might as well take a look."
After Ning Qi agreed, he followed her forward.
They had no intention of returning to the sect.
After they walked forward for a while, Gao Yunze and several fellow disciples also came over.
"Senior Brother, is it this kid? Let's teach him a good lesson."
One of the junior brothers couldn't help but say.
"No need. Let's just see what they're doing."
"With Junior Sister there, I don't want to give her a bad impression."
Gao Yunze shook his head, then continued, "All of you be careful. Don't let them discover us."
"Alright."
"Senior Brother, we'll go ahead then."
"..."
After several people agreed, they separately followed.
By the time they all followed, Ning Qi and Xu Qingqiu had already arrived in front of a street performance stall.
Looking at the lively scene here, Xu Qingqiu clapped her hands and cheered.
After watching for a while, the two continued forward.
Xu Qingqiu was exceptionally happy, at one point buying Candied Haws on a Stick to share with Ning Qi, at another taking him to eat snacks.
The two were having a great time. Ning Qi watched her lively demeanor and felt particularly happy.
"Master, it would be so nice if Princess Xiangxiang were here too."
The Pill Spirit on his shoulder couldn't help but sigh.
"She's busy right now. Where would she have time to play with us?"
Ning Qi smiled, then continued, "Everyone has their own different way of life. Don't interfere too much in others' lives."
"We just need to live our own lives. Understand?"
"Mhm, I understand, Master!"
The Pill Spirit nodded, then continued observing the surroundings from his shoulder.
This place was exceptionally lively, with a continuous stream of people coming and going.
"Ning Qi, there's an auction ahead. Do you want to participate?"
Not long after, Xu Qingqiu returned, pointing at a pavilion ahead and saying with a smile.
"Oh? Do you want to go?"
Ning Qi just asked with a smile.
"Mhm, let's go in and see what good things they're auctioning today."
Xu Qingqiu nodded, speaking as she pulled Ning Qi inside.
Ning Qi felt a jolt like an electric shock throughout his body when she pulled him.
This scene happened to be seen by Gao Yunze behind them.
His eyes were practically spitting fire.
"Ning Qi, you've got some nerve, daring to steal my woman."
He gritted his teeth and said angrily.
"Senior Brother, he's asking for it. Let's go teach that kid a lesson."
A fellow disciple nearby, seeing this, quickly said.
The several people behind them also looked eager to try.
Clearly, they were also very angry about Ning Qi stealing their senior brother's fiancée.
"No need. Let's go."
"I see they're going to participate in the auction. Let's have some fun teasing him later."
Gao Yunze glanced ahead and couldn't help but reveal a wicked smile.
"Right!"
"Then let's go!"
......
Several people were also in agreement, then followed him as they headed forward.
By now, Ning Qi and Xu Qingqiu had already walked in from outside.
"You two, are you here to participate in our auction?"
A shop assistant saw the two enter and came forward with a smiling greeting.
"That's right. What interesting things do you have here?"
Xu Qingqiu nodded and asked with a smile.
"That's a secret. Sit for a while later, and you might encounter something you like."
The shop assistant smiled mysteriously, then continued, "Several people from the Myriad Swords Sect came today. You can go take a look."
"No need. We want a private room."
Ning Qi had no intention of squeezing in with the people downstairs. Instead, he pointed to the upstairs location and said.
"Alright, you two, please."
Hearing him say this, the shop assistant knew important guests had arrived.
He hurriedly invited the two to follow him upstairs. After they went up, he led them to a private room door.
"How about here?"
Xu Qingqiu looked inside, didn't find anyone there, and thus suggested.
"Alright, then here it is."
After Ning Qi agreed, he said to the shop assistant, "Is this room occupied?"
"Young Master, this room is temporarily unoccupied."
Hearing his inquiry, the shop assistant responded.
"Good, then we'll go in."
Upon hearing this, Ning Qi directly walked in.
Xu Qingqiu also followed him inside. Seeing this, the shop assistant also entered.
"You two, we have tea and pastries here, all top quality."
The shop assistant said respectfully.
Hearing this, Ning Qi already understood what he meant.
Thus, he took out a storage bag and asked, "How many spirit stones do you need here?"
"Young Master, we have formation restrictions for protection here. People outside can't see who's inside."
"Naturally, the spirit stones are a bit more expensive."
Hearing this, the shop assistant continued, "This room requires five hundred supreme spirit stones."
"Oh? Five hundred?"
Hearing this, Xu Qingqiu paused and said, "We should just squeeze in with others."
"No need. Since we're here, we might as well sit."
Ning Qi shook his head, then directly took out the spirit stones and handed them to the shop assistant, "Also bring us some pastries and spirit tea."
"Alright, you two, please wait a moment."
The shop assistant took his spirit stones, then excitedly rushed out.
"There was no need to come here."
Xu Qingqiu looked at Ning Qi and said.
"Since we're here, let's enjoy ourselves properly. Why squeeze in with others?"
Ning Qi smiled, "What if we encounter a treasure? Wouldn't we be seen by others?"
"You're right about that."
Xu Qingqiu no longer objected, but asked curiously, "These... they're all from the Immortal Trace, right?"
She clearly remembered that Ning Qi had obtained quite a few treasures back then.
"Yes, countless."
Ning Qi nodded and said with a smile.
"You two, the pastries are here."
At this moment, the shop assistant arrived.
He brought two servants with him. After coming forward, they placed the pastries and tea on the table for them.
"Good, thank you."
Ning Qi nodded, then looked at the pastries, took one, and tasted it, "Not bad."
"Let me try."
Xu Qingqiu also curiously picked up a pastry and tasted it.
"Young Master, if there's anything else you need, our people are right outside the door."
The shop assistant pointed to the door location and said to Ning Qi.
"Alright, you may go. If needed, we'll call you."
Ning Qi nodded, then waved his hand.
"Yes, Young Master."
The shop assistant acknowledged, then took the people and left.
"I think I saw your senior brother."
While looking down, Ning Qi suddenly had a flash of recognition and saw an acquaintance.
It was Gao Yunze. He was currently leading several people, searching for something among the crowd below.
"Hmph, he must have followed us here."
Xu Qingqiu snorted delicately, showing a look of disgust, "How shameless."
"It shows he's utterly devoted to you."
Ning Qi began teasing her.
"I don't care for it."
Xu Qingqiu shook her head, showing a helpless expression.
The two were now commenting from above, while Gao Yunze below was searching for them with his people.
"Strange, I clearly saw them come in. How come we can't find them after arriving?"
Gao Yunze looked at the crowd here and said puzzled.
"Yeah, I also saw them come in."
Another person also said.
"Could they have gone to a private room? If so, we won't be able to find them."
The previous person looked around and couldn't help but glance toward the private room direction.
"That doesn't matter. As long as they're here."
"I can recognize their voices."
Gao Yunze smiled, then found a place to sit down, "One of you go keep watch at the door. If they leave, come tell us."
"The rest of us, let's just wait here. I want to see if they're going to bid on anything to take back tonight."
"Alright, Senior Brother. I'll go keep watch outside."
One person agreed, then went out first.
The remaining several people sat down with Gao Yunze, waiting for the auction to begin.
Ning Qi upstairs glanced down and said to Xu Qingqiu, "Look, they've sat down."
"Ning Qi, we need to be careful later. I feel they're targeting us."
Xu Qingqiu looked worriedly at the several people below and continued, "If we bid later, they'll definitely cause trouble."
"Oh? Don't worry about that. I have my own way to deal with it."
Hearing her reminder, Ning Qi immediately smiled, "I guarantee they won't know who we are."
"That's good then."
Only then did Xu Qingqiu set her mind at ease.
"Everyone, our auction tonight is about to begin."
At this moment, the auctioneer came to the stage and said to the crowd with a smile, "Our next auction item is a chest armor. This is a treasure from the outside world."
"It can defend against soul attacks. Those interested can give it a try."
"The starting price is five hundred thousand."
After his words, many people looked over.
"This isn't bad, but it clearly looks like something for women to use."
"Even if used, it probably isn't very useful. Besides defending against soul attacks, it doesn't do much else."
Many people clearly had no interest in this chest armor.
"Do you like it?"
Ning Qi looked at it, then turned and asked.
"I don't like it."
Xu Qingqiu shook her head, "I already have armor. This one only protects the upper body and doesn't have much use."
"Mhm, then we'll pass."
Ning Qi nodded and looked downward.
At this moment, bidding had already begun below.
"The quality of auction items here isn't very high."
After a while, watching them sell various items one after another, Ning Qi couldn't help but say.
"Tonight's selection might not be good."
Xu Qingqiu glanced down, "I remember not long ago, they sold quite a few good things."
"At that time, some people even fought over them."
"Master, look, something good has come up below again."
At this moment, the Pill Spirit suddenly jumped up, reminding the two.