This is precisely why core disciples like Ding Wanyan could never divert their focus to learning ancillary arts such as alchemy or artifact refinement. And with his innate aptitude, Lei Dong, who had to wrestle his fate from the grasp of heaven itself, absolutely could not afford to waste that kind of time.

Lei Dong and Zuo Chao chatted at a leisurely pace, with Ding Wanyan interjecting occasionally, and time passed surprisingly quickly. Within just an hour or so, the entire main hall was full. Many disciples, the direct inheritors of other Ancestors from various caves, had also arrived, perhaps hoping to replenish supplies before the war. The chief disciples from the various Cave Mansions, in particular, seemed to know each other from previous gatherings. Upon seeing Ding Wanyan, they first paused, then greeted her with smiles. Occasionally, someone would nod to Zuo Chao, but virtually everyone ignored Lei Dong. His cultivation, merely at the early stage of the eighth level of Qi Condensation, was simply too conspicuous for him to be overlooked.

Perhaps to intimidate these Qi Condensation disciples, a Foundation Establishment elder attended the auction. Clad in a black robe, he exuded a chilling, spectral aura. A brief glance from him would involuntarily send a bone-deep chill through one, causing an involuntary shiver.

“My surname is Gu; I have long forgotten my given name. You may simply call me Old Gu,” the Foundation Establishment elder surnamed Gu revealed a trace of melancholy on his face. Over one hundred and twenty years old, he was at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment. While his body was still quite robust, and with good fortune, he might live to be nearly two hundred, the dream of ascending to the Golden Core stage was beyond reach, no matter how many rare Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures he consumed. After serving this term, he would likely return to his hometown to establish a cultivation family, pinning the dream of the Golden Core Path onto his descendants.

The crowd below responded with deference. Never mind the elder’s current air of weariness; in his prime, he had been one of these brilliant, spirited direct disciples—and one whose aptitude was quite good, ranking among the top three of his cohort. Of course, measured against Lei Dong’s generation, this elder would at best rank fifth or sixth. The rarity of Dongfang Fu, the hidden potential of Ding Wanyan—such talents rarely appeared.

“Enough idle talk,” Old Gu said, clasping his hands behind his back. He tapped a hammer once, the dull thud resonating like a sonic wave, making the hearts of listeners tremble. Seeing that most people had instantly adopted a solemn expression, Old Gu spoke seriously, “The auction officially begins. Close the…”

“Hold a moment.”

Three figures suddenly burst in through the doorway, their movements graceful and light. The leader was a striking, fair-faced young man dressed in a tight-fitting white robe, radiating vigor. However, his eyes occasionally flickered with a sinister, venomous glint. When his gaze swept over Lei Dong’s group, the killing intent he struggled to contain flared uncontrollably.

But upon noticing the Foundation Establishment elder on the stage, he dared not act rashly and merely offered a slight bow. “Your junior, Baili Yun of Withered Bone Peak, along with my two junior brothers, pays respects to the senior. Please forgive our tardiness.”

Though displeased at the interruption, Old Gu knew the young man was famous, a prized disciple of the Withered Bone Ancestor, so he chose not to press the matter too hard. After all, he still needed to establish his family in the future. He nodded instead. “Hurry and find a place to sit.”

Baili Yun nodded and scanned the room, finding every chair and table occupied. His eyes flickered again when he glanced at Lei Dong’s table. With the formidable Ding Wanyan present, he dared not risk provoking her. But the table next to Lei Dong held only three or four unfamiliar cultivators at the eighth or ninth layer of Qi Condensation. Judging by their ragged attire, they likely weren't from the Yin Sha Sect or any other major faction. Their ages varied, but the youngest seemed to be in his thirties or forties—perhaps unaffiliated cultivators traveling together. Baili Yun led his two junior brothers forward brazenly and slapped down a pouch containing one hundred spirit stones. “Our Withered Bone Peak will take this table.”

“You…” The younger man, who looked barely over thirty, stood up, his face flushed as if deeply humiliated, clearly intending to argue. However, the older members of the group hastily pulled him back. “Brother, we cannot afford to provoke the people of Withered Bone Peak. This is the territory of the Yin Sha Sect.”

The small group flushed with shame and reluctantly vacated the seats. By this point, there were no seats left in the hall. Yet, having traveled so far, they didn't want to miss the auction. While the Yin Sha Sect did hold auctions for Qi Condensation cultivators periodically, only this one, held once every ten years, held the highest value. They had painstakingly saved up their money precisely to acquire rare items or perhaps strike a bargain. But being weaker in strength, they could only stand to the side, apparently preparing to participate in the auction on foot.

There were certainly hot-blooded individuals present, but no one was willing to offend Baili Yun and Withered Bone Peak for the sake of a few rogue cultivators. Even Old Gu pretended not to notice. He had witnessed too many instances of the weak being preyed upon by the strong. Especially here, in the Yin Sha Sect, where strength was the ultimate law.

In truth, despite Baili Yun’s arrogance, securing a table with senior disciples from his own Withered Bone Peak would have been effortless. He wouldn't normally stoop to such a petty display. He had come specifically to provoke Lei Dong, deliberately choosing a proximate spot and overtly showcasing his shallow dominance, hoping to make Lei Dong underestimate him.

Lei Dong watched the scene unfold, calmly sipping his tea, but a cold sneer played in his heart. A petty trick designed to disturb the mind of this Lei? And that seductive woman in the market earlier—in that brief instant, she had clearly cast an enchantment spell on him from a distance. Otherwise, why would he have spared a glance for such an ostentatiously dressed woman?

However, Zuo Chao was somewhat youthful and impulsive, unable to help but mutter, “These Withered Bone Peak people are truly overbearing. Tainting the reputation of our Yin Sha Sect like this—it’s shameful to be associated with you.”

Hearing this, Lei Dong couldn't help but smile faintly. His Yin Sha Sect was inherently an Evil Path sect, a demonic lineage; what reputation did it have left to ruin? His junior brother was truly rather naive.

“Boy, what did you say?”

Baili Yun remained silent, but his two junior brothers immediately jumped up, glaring ferociously at Zuo Chao. “Kid, say that again if you dare.”

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Although Zuo Chao was naive, he was also tall and robust. Yet, the more naive someone is, the more likely they are to be a hothead. He also stood up in annoyance. “People from your Withered Bone Peak are bullies! Last time you came to our Ten Thousand Ghost Canyon, you stole things and injured my senior sister. We will settle that score sooner or later.” Poor Zuo Chao had no idea that it was actually his own senior brother and sister who had plotted to steal in the first place; none of the four who knew the truth would bother enlightening him.

This outburst made Baili Yun tremble with rage. This matter was a tragedy for him. Not only had he been beaten half to death by people from the Myriad Ghost Cave and had a pair of cubs stolen, but the other party had also launched a preemptive attack, extorting a top-grade magic artifact and hundreds of thousands of spirit stones from his Ancestor. Was there any justice in this world? What was most infuriating was that this boy, Zuo Chao, was brazenly accusing him in public, looking so honest and guileless—he surely wasn't any better.

“Kid, if you have the guts, come out here. Let’s have a spar,” one of the skinny disciples boomed arrogantly.

Zuo Chao saw that this man was also at the tenth layer of Qi Condensation, just like him. Why would he be afraid? His face immediately darkened, and he shouted impulsively, “A spar, then!”

“Boy, you think you can compare to me? Go back and drink milk for a few more years. Don’t you know? Our Withered Bone Peak and your Myriad Ghost Cave are forbidden from engaging in any private altercations or fights for eight years?” The skinny fellow laughed triumphantly. “I am arrogant, I am overbearing, so what? Go ahead and bite me, you simpleton!”

Zuo Chao remembered this rule; even their Ancestors could be implicated. A surge of anger filled his chest, but he dared not throw a punch.

Lei Dong, though ruthless toward his enemies, was fundamentally a protective man, much like Ding Wanyan and the Myriad Ghost Ancestor. Seeing his junior brother bullied, he started to rise to retaliate. But just as he moved his buttocks, he sat back down.

“We of the Heavenly Demon Palace require this table,” a voice, cold as ice, cut through the air.

(HH, continuing to ask for recommendation votes late at night; please spare me one or two votes~)

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