Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

News of the wager spread quickly through the auction house, drawing cultivators from every corner into the hall. All were stunned to see Longevity Grass. Such a rare treasure should have been reserved for a grander auction, one heavily promoted for at least half a month.

Longevity Grass was an irresistible lure for cultivators. With time to prepare, the price could’ve reached a much higher point.

Some speculated that a cultivator must have desperately needed money to hand it over to the auction house so abruptly.

When word spread that a mysterious black-cloaked figure intended to challenge Wang Heyang in pill-refining, ridicule followed.

“Hehe. Wang Heyang may have a foul temper, but he’s been a tier-three alchemist for years. He’s a core disciple of the Cloud Pill Pavilion for a reason.”

An old woman looked at Li Guanqi’s group and chuckled. “That’s right. With the Cloud Pill Pavilion’s special pill refining techniques, their pills are always of the finest quality. They’re betting against the wrong guy.”

The more observant among them noticed that the trio’s auras were very subtle, making it impossible to gauge their cultivation. No one had recognized them yet.

Still, judging from Wang Heyang’s confident smirk, no one had confidence in Li Guanqi’s group.

Very soon, a dense crowd filled the gigantic hall.

Onstage, Li Guanqi squinted slightly and sent Cao Yan a voice transmission. “Plenty of eyes are on us. Third Brother, do your Random Teleportation Talismans actually work? What’s the farthest they can take us?”Cao Yan thought for a moment before replying, “They’ll work for sure. However, making higher-grade talismans would be too troublesome because it’s an extremely complex process. These three will only carry us a thousand zhang at most.”

Li Guanqi thought for a moment, picturing the map and the surrounding area in his mind. “This place is quite far from the Cloud Pill Pavilion. The old man who spoke to Wang He will likely take at least four hours to reach here. Hoo…”

Li Guanqi turned to Cao Yan. “How long would it take you to draw another three talismans?”

Cao Yan thought for a while, then said, “An hour. If I had higher-quality talisman beast skin and demonic beast blood, I could cut that down to fifteen minutes.”

Li Guanqi immediately turned and sent Qian Qiusui a voice transmission.

Qian Qiusui looked surprised. She eyed them for a brief moment, then said, “We’ll begin the contest in fifteen minutes. I’ll go prepare the materials. Please rest here until then.”

Without another word, Qian Qiusui turned and left.

The trio followed the woman out of the hall, and an attendant led them to a small room.

Not long after, Qian Qiusui herself arrived with the requested items. She set them down casually on the table, leaned back in a chair, puffing her pipe. Her eyes lingered on Cao Yan as she said, “I’ve brought the finest materials. In return, I want one of the talismans you’re about to draw. Do we have an agreement?”

Cao Yan frowned and glanced at Li Guanqi.

Li Guanqi removed his cloak with composure, meeting her gaze calmly. “Shall we make a deal?”

The woman’s eyes sparkled. This young man is very smart.

She smirked, leaned forward to tap her pipe, then casually slipped it into the front of her robes. Fixing him with a sharp look, she said, “You’re very smart. State your terms.”

Li Guanqi chuckled softly. “I wouldn’t dare posture before you, Ma’am. We’ll give you one of the talismans. Third Brother, go ahead.”

Cao Yan obeyed without hesitation.

Ye Feng, who typically had a weakness for beautiful women, was unusually restrained. Qian Suisui’s presence exerted an oppressive force on the surrounding space. She was far stronger than Fang Yishan, and perhaps even stronger than his own master. He dared not let her misunderstand his intentions.

By now, he had great self-control thanks to Li Guanqi and Cao Yan.

Cao Yan’s eyes lit up when he saw the materials. They were first-rate among all tier-three supplies.

Yet when Qian Qiusui caught sight of the talisman brush in his hand, her brow furrowed. To her, it was little more than trash, an insult to the fine materials she had provided.

Unaware of her thoughts, Cao Yan steadied his breath. He dipped the brush into the demonic beast blood, then began to draw with a flick of his wrist. His strokes flowed swiftly and fluidly across the green talisman paper.

At the same time, his powerful divine consciousness spread outward.

Qian Qiusui’s eyes widened in shock.

Li Guanqi’s voice cut into her thoughts. “Once the competition ends, please send us away safely. In return, Yunding will provide us with materials, and we’ll refine pills for you. We’ll split them seventy-thirty.”

Her brows knit, though the frown did nothing to lessen her beauty.

None of the trio paid it any mind. They were all lost in their own thoughts.

Buzz!

A strange ripple spread through the room. Qian Qiusui shot to her feet. “A spatial transporter talisman?!”

Cao Yan turned to glance at her. Since nothing was wrong, he began drawing the second talisman.

She turned sharply to Li Guanqi. “Deal, we’ll provide the materials. You take seventy percent of the pills, and we’ll keep thirty percent. But will you be staying in this city?”

Li Guanqi shook his head. “No. We’ll reach you by jade slip. You can send the materials to the nearest guesthouse.”

Qian Qiusui found the arrangement a little inconvenient, but when she turned and saw Cao Yan’s motions, she nodded.

“We’ll speak again after you’ve beaten Wang Heyang. If you fail, the deal is void. Everyone’s watching. If you lose, you’re on your own.”

Li Guanqi smiled. “Naturally.”

“You kids must be stronger than you look,” Qian Qiusui remarked with a smile.

Her satisfaction grew when she noted their clear gazes, untouched by lust.

Once she left, Ye Feng opened his mouth to speak, but Li Guanqi only shook his head. The two waited in silence as Cao Yan finished.

At last, they each took a talisman. Li Guanqi clapped Cao Yan on the shoulder with a grin. “Relax. Victory is yours.”