"Four thousand." "Four thousand five." "Four thousand eight!" …… "Six thousand!" It seemed many were set on claiming the Yinxia Sword, as the bidding was rapidly pushed to six thousand by a former disciple from the Ghost Fiend Cave. He looked around at the other bidders, his eyes slightly bloodshot, as if that sum represented his entire net worth. A few moments of silence settled.

Then, as Ding Wanyan raised her hand and called out "Eight thousand," the atmosphere ignited once more. However, the subsequent bids were only within the range of those of higher standing. Even the veteran disciples who had cultivated for thirty years looked on with dimmed expressions.

Thirty years of hard work barely matched the wealth of someone who had only been around for ten. Baili Yun, who had been holding back, clearly intending to clash with the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave faction, began to raise the stakes after Ding Wanyan entered the fray. Soon, the price of the Yinxia Sword soared past ten thousand.

The remaining few contenders, seeing the price exceed their psychological limits and facing a formidable opponent, hesitated briefly before withdrawing from the competition. In the end, only Ding Wanyan and Baili Yun remained. "Twenty thousand." Ding Wanyan’s brow didn't even twitch as she uttered the price with the ease of a passing cloud, directly increasing Baili Yun's last bid by seven thousand spirit stones.

As Baili Yun's face twitched, everyone else watched Ding Wanyan with varying expressions of astonishment; she was truly magnificent, utterly domineering. That was a full twenty thousand spirit stones? While the Yinxia Sword was of decent quality, its normal market value would certainly not exceed thirteen thousand spirit stones.

Lei Dong felt a pang of admiration. Compared to the expansive grandeur of Senior Sister Ding's temperament, he felt rather petty. Last time, when he had merely praised the Green Cloud Shuttle a few words, she offered to gift it to him.

Now, for the sake of Zuo Chao, she was bidding twenty thousand for a high-grade flying artifact without even blinking. "Ding Wanyan of the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave bids twenty thousand. Is there anyone higher?" Elder Gu began to call out.

After calling three times and just as he prepared to bring the hammer down, Baili Yun fiercely shouted, "I won't lose face, twenty-five thousand. Ding Wanyan, dare you bid again?" Internally, he mused that judging by Ding Wanyan’s expression, twenty thousand and thirty thousand spirit stones were practically the same to her. He might as well drive the price up just to spite her.

She didn't look like someone who would easily concede, and having extorted so many spirit stones from her ancestor, she certainly wasn't short of cash. "I don't dare," Ding Wanyan replied with a light, charming laugh, shaking her head. "I only have twenty thousand spirit stones left.

Congratulations, Baili Yun, you won." Baili Yun looked as if he had swallowed a fly, his face turning extremely sour. He already possessed a high-grade flying artifact. This one, whose intrinsic value was just over ten thousand, he had just forced himself to purchase for twenty-five thousand.

He couldn't blame anyone but himself for misjudging that Ding Wanyan would continue to bid higher. In fact, Baili Yun was not the only one who misunderstood; even Lei Dong’s jaw dropped, having clearly misjudged his Senior Sister's resolve. However, this outcome only made him feel better, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Senior Sister Ding, you tricked me too! The way you were bidding just now was so commanding, so relentless—anyone would have thought you planned to keep going." Ding Wanyan also shook her head and laughed. That hadn't been an act.

She had genuinely intended to continue bidding. It might have cost more, but high-grade flying artifacts were rare and hard to find, and she couldn't be bothered to spend too much time and effort searching. However, the secret message from Dongfang Fu in her ear had made her change her mind at the last moment, allowing her a chance to tease Baili Yun.

"Is there anyone with a higher bid than twenty-five thousand?" Elder Gu called out slowly three times before heavily dropping the hammer, glancing at the pale-faced Baili Yun. "Congratulations, you have obtained the high-grade flying artifact, the Yinxia Sword." Yet, more disheartening news awaited him. Dongfang Fu suddenly produced a small, black sword wreathed in demonic energy.

Though her voice was icy cold, her sincerity was palpable. "Senior Sister Ding, this Demonic Spirit Sword is also a high-grade flying artifact. Consider it an apology for the offense earlier.

I sent a message to Senior Sister just now because I didn't want her to spend unnecessary money." With those words, she completely ignored Baili Yun. Baili Yun felt blood surge in his chest, almost causing him to vomit. It wasn't that he misjudged Ding Wanyan's determination to bid higher; it was that Dongfang Fu had secretly sabotaged the situation.

What made it the most galling was why Dongfang Fu had to announce it so brazenly after muddying the waters? It was clear she held him, Baili Yun, in no regard whatsoever. But even with this public humiliation, what could he do?

Could he possibly fight Dongfang Fu to the death? Never mind Dongfang Fu, he couldn't even defeat Ding Wanyan. After careful thought, he could only redirect his accumulated resentment toward Lei Dong, his eyes blazing with venom as they fixed on him.

Lei Dong felt deeply uneasy under Baili Yun's resentful gaze, silently cursing in his mind, Didn't Senior Sister Ding and Dongfang Fu just slap your face? Why are you staring at me instead of them? "This will not do," Ding Wanyan slowly shook her head.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Sister Dongfang. I was planning to buy this as a gift for Junior Brother Zuo; I cannot simply accept your artifact for free." "Senior Sister Ding, you speak incorrectly. I have admired your demeanor for a long time, only regretting that my cultivation of the Profound Yin Grand Method has not yet reached small success, preventing me from venturing out to visit you at the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave.

We are from the same sect and generation, often grouped as the Twin Heroes of Yin Fiend; we should interact more often. A mere Demonic Spirit Sword is nothing," Dongfang Fu spoke clearly with an earnest attitude. However, perhaps due to her cultivation of the Profound Yin Grand Method, her voice and demeanor were utterly chilling.

"This..." Ding Wanyan hesitated, receiving something so valuable from someone she was meeting for the first time. "Senior Sister, I think Senior Sister Dongfang is generous and sincerely wishes to befriend you," Lei Dong said, a thought striking him as he offered counsel. "If you refuse, won't you be rejecting a genuine sentiment?

Furthermore, it is unlikely that two high-grade flying artifacts will appear at the same auction. If we miss this one, finding another will waste time." "Very well," Ding Wanyan, being a straightforward woman, relented under Lei Dong's persuasion. She nodded and said gently, "Then thank you, Senior Sister Dongfang." "Senior Sister Ding is too polite." "In my opinion, your cultivation levels are quite close.

Why not just call each other by name, or address each other by age as sisters? It avoids the formality of calling each other 'Senior Sister,' which feels distant. After all, are you two not known externally as the Twin Heroes of Yin Fiend?" Lei Dong continued to egg them on.

Ding Wanyan looked at him with a half-smile. "Lei Dong, we two girls are talking, what does it have to do with you? Why are you being so enthusiastic?" Lei Dong chuckled dryly, as if his plot had been exposed.

"Well, Senior Sisters, I am speaking plainly, please don't mind me." He coughed a few times, his expression turning solemn. "Senior Sisters, you are both paragons among women—not only endowed with exceptional talent and profound cultivation but also favored by your respective ancestors, true children of heaven. As for me, Lei Dong, my aptitude is ordinary.

In this world where the strong prey on the weak, I walk on eggshells with every step, terrified of falling into irredeemable disaster. I owe my survival to Senior Sister Ding's frequent protection of this junior. Therefore, of course, I hope Senior Sister can become stronger.

In this current cultivation world, without exceptionally good fortune, going it alone is no longer viable." As Lei Dong spoke, he intentionally or unintentionally glanced at the independent cultivators. He smiled. "Banding together, forming a single rope, and supporting one another—that is the true path, the way to fare better and better in this cruel world." "Pfft," Ding Wanyan burst out laughing.

"If you want to latch onto Dongfang's coattails, just say so clearly. Why cloak it in such righteous, solemn language?" "Hehe, well... I am just a small figure, unable to compare to the powerful dominance of the ancestors," Lei Dong said after his laughter faded, his expression growing somewhat desolate.

"And far less so than the peerless aptitude of you two Senior Sisters, protected and anticipated by the entire sect, whom no one dares provoke. I, in this world, can only struggle desperately to survive." …… (Highly recommend my friend's book, "Urban Perspective Eye"—a very enjoyable urban superpower novel currently ranked third in weekly votes. Or click the link below)[bid=1878856,bnme=《》]