A Blind Swordsman's Sword Coffin

The vast auction hall fell silent as more than a million tier-seven talismans filled the air, packed so densely they almost formed a solid mass.

Even if every one of them was the lowest-grade, simplest kind of talisman—something like a light body talisman—it was still a million tier-seven talismans. Even at the bare minimum, that had to be worth more than a hundred million.

Ru Meng’s heart skipped a beat. If those million talismans detonated at once, half of Qinhuang City would be reduced to ash.

But Gu Li was no fool. Before the atmosphere could turn tense, he scratched his head and grinned.

He put the talismans away and cupped his hands in all directions, a gentle smile on his face. “Sorry, I got a little carried away and made a fool of myself in front of all the seniors. Miss Ru Meng, please don’t mind me. I was only trying to show that I could afford this kind of expense. Hah... haha. Oh, and I’ll pay five times the cost to repair the array barrier. My apologies.”

Gu Changsheng rolled his eyes, no longer sure what to make of him. He stood up helplessly and apologized. Only then did the auras of the hidden experts in the auction house gradually fade away.

Ru Meng stood on the stage, still pale from the standoff. She was aware of her own mistake—she shouldn’t have questioned things onstage. She would probably be punished too.

Ye Bingxin took a deep look at Gu Li, then at Li Guanqi standing beside him. A sharp glint flashed in her tranquil, abyss-like eyes, and the corner of her mouth curved into a faint, amused smile.

“Saintess, are we really not bidding for it anymore?”

Leaning back in her chair, Ye Bingxin smiled softly. “No need. That piece of Dragon Scale Divine Wood is too small. Even if we took it, it wouldn’t be enough for a bloodline reversion of the jiao dragon. Let him have it.”

Ru Meng brought down the hammer. What could have gone for sixteen million ended up going to Gu Li for forty million.

While everyone was still reeling from his million talismans, Gu Li hunched over the table, his hands moving so fast they left afterimages.

While drawing, he kept muttering, “How many of these do I have to draw?!”

Li Guanqi offered a faint smile, quietly taking note of the gesture.

The next several items sparked fierce bidding. Gu Changsheng and Meng Jiangchu both placed bids and secured what they were after.

“The next item is the Sky Patrol Blood Vine, which can replenish qi and blood. The starting bid is three million high-grade spirit stones.” Ru Meng’s gentle voice carried across the hall.

Li Guanqi placed the first bid. “Six million.”

The words had barely left his mouth when Zhao Bin, below the stage, raised the price. “Eight million.”

Li Guanqi slightly furrowed his brow, but his expression remained calm and unmoved. “Nine million.”

“Ten million.”

“Eleven million!”

The bids climbed so quickly that most people never even got a chance to bid.

Once the price had reached eleven million spirit stones, Zhao Bin stopped bidding. The price was inflated, though not outrageously so. If he hadn’t interfered, Li Guanqi might have secured it for eight or nine million.

Gu Li’s temper flared. He shot to his feet and cursed, “Damn it, Zhao Bin’s really asking for it! I went easy on him earlier. Does he want another beating?”

Gu Changsheng said nothing. It was a trivial matter. So what if his son had beaten Zhao Bin? He wasn’t about to concern himself with the Zhao clan’s feelings. As for Zhao Bin’s price gouging, no one could say much about it either.

Zhao Bin was inwardly pleased, but the old man beside him frowned slightly. He glanced over his shoulder toward the second floor and said softly, “Don’t go too far.”

Driving the price up a little wasn’t a big deal. Zhao Bin, his grandson, had been beaten up.

Zhao Bin went on to inflate the price of several more items, but Li Guanqi remained calm and kept paying the high prices. His recent breakthrough had cost Peng Luo and Nine Heavens dearly, and he was willing to spend whatever it took to help them recover. The two were long past being pets or contracted beasts to him. They were family, the kind willing to risk everything for one another.

Gu Li never tried to stop him. He even said he still had money, and he felt like this version of Li Guanqi was exactly the kind of person he’d imagined.

Gu Li gathered his spirit qi into a seal and drew hundreds of talismans at once, his chin propped on one hand and his eyes fixed on Li Guanqi.

Li Guanqi frowned slightly, as though deep in thought, a hint of concern in his eyes. He forcefully suppressed the anger in his heart and shot Zhao Bin a cold look.

Off to the side of the hall, Qin Wushang sat swirling his wine cup, gazing down with an indifferent expression.

“Throw him out,” he said softly.

Buzz!

The space behind Qin Wushang rippled. A figure dressed head to toe in black robes kneeled without a sound, then vanished.

Boom!

A terrifying pressure swept across the entire venue.

“A Mahayana Realm cultivator!”

Li Guanqi raised his brows, not understanding what was happening.

Just as everyone in the auction hall thought the mysterious expert had withdrawn his pressure, the black-robed figure suddenly reached out with his withered hands and immobilized Zhao Bin on the spot. Beside him, the Zhao clan’s ancestor went deathly pale, unable to move. He could only watch as Zhao Bin was hurled into the void.

Ru Meng’s voice pulled everyone’s attention back to the stage. With a lively tone, she said, “Esteemed guests, please do not engage in malicious bidding. Otherwise, you may have to wait for your families outside the Ethereal Immortal Territory.”

A faint smile crossed her face as she spoke, her charming expression carrying a hint of playfulness. The atmosphere in the venue quickly grew lively once more.

“Go back and give the Zhao clan a warning,” Qin Wushang said softly.

The old man behind him bowed. “Yes, Young Master Qin.”

Then, as if something had just occurred to him, Qin Wushang’s lips curled, and he rose slowly to his feet.

Knock, knock, knock!

A strange knocking rang out, and the next moment, the tall and slender Qin Wushang entered the room where Li Guanqi’s group was seated.

Meng Jiangchu and Gu Changsheng both paused at the sight of him, then quickly stood up.

“Haha, Young Master Qin,” Gu Changsheng said.

Meng Jiangchu nodded slightly and said softly, “Young Master Qin.”

Qin Wushang returned a slight nod, then turned to Li Guanqi and Gu Li. He looked to Gu Li first. “Brother Gu, I’d like to ask for a few Nine Revolutions Breaking Realm Talismans. You don’t mind, do you?”

Gu Li blinked in surprise, then curled his lips. “Sure. That’s fine.”

Qin Wushang laughed heartily and got straight to the point. “Eight million each. I’ll take three.”

Gu Li frowned slightly and replied softly, “Alright.”

As he spoke, three talismans carved from golden scales shot out. Qin Wushang tossed over a storage ring. “Thanks.”

Gu Li smiled but did not respond.

The exchange set Li Guanqi’s mind racing. Even he was quietly astonished by how much those talismans were worth. Clearly, they were valuable enough for Qin Wushang to come in person to ask for them, and even then, he couldn’t be certain Gu Li would agree.