"My young friend, these are the finest Five Elements spells talismans from the Talisman Sect, covering everything from Fire Bombs to Ice Cones. Three talismans for one spiritual stone, buy thirty and get three free..."

"Fairy, this Celestial Garment is the newest release from the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. Just look at the style. Feel free to try it on; if you're not satisfied, you pay nothing."

"Brother, I have an ancient treasure just unearthed from a primeval ruin. It’s too crowded here; let's step aside..."

"Esteemed seniors, I am also a disciple of the Yin Fiend Sect; please support my humble business..."

Even for Lei Dong, being surrounded like this was a headache. Zuo Chao, even more so, was flustered, nearly dragged into a corner by a scruffy fellow selling 'ancient treasures.' He, too, was swarmed by several female vendors who pulled and tugged, aggressively pitching all sorts of wares. Ding Wanyan, unaccustomed to such a scene, blushed deeply and looked helplessly toward Lei Dong.

"My Myriad Ghost Banner still lacks a few main souls." Lei Dong flicked his finger, and in an instant, a banner wreathed in black, chilling ghostly energy materialized in his hand. He sneered and grunted, "If any of you are willing to sell your living souls to me, name your price. I will not haggle."

"An Upper-Grade Magic Tool Myriad Ghost Banner?" Everyone present was a merchant; most recognized the extraordinary quality of the banner at a glance. When swept by Lei Dong's stern gaze, they all fell silent, afraid to close in, and backed away. They were shrewd individuals who knew how to read faces. They could tell that the youth wielding the Myriad Ghost Banner was no pushover. Even those whose cultivation surpassed Lei Dong’s dared not speak too much. A young man possessing an Evil Ghost Shroud and an Upper-Grade Myriad Ghost Banner? And on Yin Fiend Sect territory, he must have some powerful backing, right?

After everyone dispersed, Zuo Chao was still looking around in confusion: "Where did that guy selling ancient treasures go? Senior Brother Lei, why did you chase him away?"

Lei Dong felt a wave of gloom and exhaustion. "Zuo Chao, you need to get out more and stop cooped up in your cave cultivating all day. Otherwise, no matter how high your cultivation, you'll end up being sold off while helping count the money."

"What about the vendor selling the Celestial Garment?" No matter how high Ding Wanyan's cultivation, she was still fundamentally a young woman. Though the situation was chaotic, she had been genuinely interested in that Celestial Garment.

Lei Dong slapped his forehead, feeling close to a breakdown. Curses, what sort of senior sister and junior brothers did he have?

"Lei Dong, what is that expression for?"

"Senior Sister Ding, forgive my bluntness, but you, a core disciple of the Yin Fiend Sect, one of the Twin Fiends of Yin Fiend—in the eyes of those sanctimonious hypocrites, you are a demoness of an evil sect. Why would you wear a Celestial Garment? That outfit looks so phony and utterly unattractive."

Ding Wanyan wasn't angry; instead, she looked at him with amusement. "So, you're saying I should..."

Before Ding Wanyan could finish speaking, she saw Lei Dong's attention suddenly fixated on a distant stall. Following his gaze, they saw that unlike the other vendors aggressively soliciting customers, this particular stall was surrounded by a large crowd without any outward effort.

The vendor appeared to be in her early twenties, possessing a somewhat delicate attractiveness, but what truly arrested the eye was her ravishing and revealing attire. Every glance and subtle movement she made stirred suggestive thoughts in the onlookers, leaving them utterly captivated. The crowd gathered around was almost entirely male, and with just a few charming scolds and playful words from her, they willingly took out their storage pouches to purchase the expensive little trinkets, wearing expressions of being utterly besotted and intoxicated.

"Junior Brother Lei!" Ding Wanyan's smile stiffened, and the Yin Fiend Qi couldn't help but spread outward, causing the surrounding air temperature to drop sharply.

"Senior Sister, look, that woman seems somewhat off," Lei Dong continued, seemingly oblivious, merely frowning. "It looks a bit like she's using an enchantment technique."

Ding Wanyan paused, looked closely, and indeed, it seemed so. She felt a slight apology rising for having misunderstood him earlier. But what was wrong with her just now? The moment she saw him staring at that alluring woman, an inexplicable discomfort surged through her. After a quick appraisal, she also frowned: "She looks like a female disciple from the Yin-Yang Union Sect. How audacious, daring to pull such tricks in the Yin Fiend Sect's market." Her instinctual reaction was one of intense aversion to the woman's flirtatious and seductive appearance.

"Never mind that, Senior Sister. Let's go see if we can help Junior Brother Zuo find a decent flying artifact first."

"Mm." After glancing at the woman one last time, Ding Wanyan turned and joined Lei Dong to search for stalls selling flying artifacts. Unfortunately, after visiting over a dozen stalls, nearly all the flying artifacts were Lower-Grade. The occasional Mid-Grade item was treated by the vendor as a priceless treasure, as if they were selling something miraculous.

Both Ding Wanyan and Lei Dong now had extremely discerning eyes; Mid-Grade artifacts no longer interested them. After browsing for a long time, they found nothing suitable. Zuo Chao, however, repeatedly demurred, insisting that any flying artifact that worked would suffice.

It seemed they wouldn't find what they needed at these stalls; the three had merely come to look around for now. There were good items in the market, but one needed to visit the official shops. They walked past the stalls and headed straight for a lavishly decorated artifact store, one owned by the Yin Fiend Sect itself. Even the shop assistant was a young man at the sixth layer of the Qi Refining stage.

After presenting their waist pendants, the assistant bowed respectfully. "Ah, it is Senior Sister Ding of the Myriad Ghost Cave, accompanied by two Senior Brothers. Forgive us for not greeting you sooner." Although Lei Dong and Zuo Chao were both direct disciples, their fame paled in comparison to Ding Wanyan's, leading them to be collectively categorized as the 'two Senior Brothers.'

Without polite preamble, they stated their purpose directly. The assistant pondered for a moment before solemnly stating, "Upper-Grade flying artifacts are rare items; they are seldom placed directly on the counter for sale. They are usually consigned to the auction house to be acquired through competitive bidding. Coincidentally, due to the Sect's grand event, an auction targeted specifically at Qi Refining disciples will be held today. If the Senior Sister and Senior Brothers are interested in the auction, this humble one can lead you there; based on your status, you are fully qualified to attend."

Lei Dong and the others had never experienced an auction before. After considering it, they agreed.

Soon, the trio was led to a large cavern carved into the nearby mountainside. It was decorated opulently, yet still retained some of the peculiar style characteristic of the Yin Fiend Sect.

The auction was held in the main hall. Although there was still time before the start, more than half the seats were already occupied. The majority of attendees appeared to be in the Qi Refining stage, and their cultivation levels seemed none too low. When Lei Dong and the others walked in, they couldn't help but steal a few glances. However, upon seeing Ding Wanyan, a stir rippled through the crowd, and many began whispering amongst themselves, discussing everything from Ding Wanyan's cultivation and status to her artifacts. Some even quietly asked strangers about her background.

As one of the major frontrunners to win this session's competition, Ding Wanyan naturally commanded immense attention. Unconcerned, they found a set of tables and chairs, sitting down as if no one else were present, sipping the tea served by the attending maidservants.

Lei Dong also looked around. Judging by their ages, most seemed to be disciples from the previous two sessions; the oldest might be in their early forties. However, those who dared to attend at that age were likely already at the eleventh or twelfth layer of the Qi Refining stage. Due to aptitude or other reasons, after cultivating for thirty years, they had failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Thus, they hoped to try their luck here, seeking rare materials that might help them achieve a breakthrough.

Seeing those mature and world-weary faces, Lei Dong felt a significant wave of emotion. Those who persisted so strongly to reach Foundation Establishment must have had above-average aptitude; otherwise, they would have long since learned a trade and joined the Sect's various industries. The reason he was moved was because of himself; if not for acquiring the Soul Devouring Pagoda, that heaven-defying treasure, to rapidly double his resource accumulation, perhaps after thirty years of grueling struggle, he would be in a similar position to them. Another ten years, and as his physical functions began to decline rapidly, achieving Foundation Establishment would become utterly impossible.

This realization brought Lei Dong a mixture of alarm and immense relief.

...