The family rules clearly state that descendants must not act recklessly or provoke formidable enemies.

Zhao Changming pondered in his heart.

"Shen Baiwan is definitely not just an ordinary Qi Cultivation Cultivator."

"The Fire Kylin Fruit in Su Yajing’s possession is likely from this person."

Yesterday, Zhao Changming finally met Su Yajing.

Originally, he came to redeem a Female Cultivator from the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion.

The Female Cultivators of the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion are all Outer Disciples recorded by the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect.

If they wish to leave the Pavilion and associate with outsiders,

they need the Pavilion Master’s permission and must pay a certain training fee.

The Female Cultivator Zhao Changming desired was named Yudie, only eighteen, skilled in celestial dance.

Her waist was supple, and her figure was impeccable.

She served him to absolute comfort.

He intended to take her home and give her the status of a Concubine.

Su Yajing gave Zhao Changming due respect, only charging three thousand Spirit Stones to process Yudie’s release.

Upon parting, Su Yajing asked him to stay alone.

The two met in private.

Su Yajing inquired about purchasing a premium Foundation Establishment Pill.

Zhao Changming admitted that the Fire Cloud Sect’s premium Foundation Establishment Pills are exclusively provided to exceptionally talented Foundation Establishment Seeds of the Sect, never for external trade.

However, Su Yajing smiled faintly and presented something for Zhao Changming to admire.

Upon seeing it, Zhao Changming immediately changed his tune.

He recognized at a glance that it was a thousand-year Fire Kylin Fruit, a top-tier Fire Technique Core Formation Spiritual Object.

Even he long desired it.

Currently, he was in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, still some time away from Condensing the Inner Core.

But seeing a Core Formation Spiritual Object suitable for him, how could he let it slip by?

"I am merely an intermediary. The owner of this item is someone else."

Su Yajing sensed Zhao Changming’s emotional fluctuations and spoke softly.

"Is that person willing to trade this item for a premium Fire Attribute Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"Yes. However, I can’t guarantee whether that person might change their mind. After all, such a rare Spiritual Object is worth more than a premium Fire Attribute Foundation Establishment Pill."

"One month! Within a month, I will bring the premium Fire Attribute Foundation Establishment Pill and trade with Pavilion Master Su."

Zhao Changming did not possess a premium Fire Attribute Foundation Establishment Pill.

Obtaining a regular one was manageable.

He could use Sect merits to exchange for one.

As for the premium Foundation Establishment Pill, he still needed to plan and strategize.

Su Yajing smiled silently and carefully put away the Jade Box.

"Fifteen days! Please, Pavilion Master Su, show me some leniency."

"I’ll do my best. But remember, I am merely an intermediary."

"Ten days!"

Zhao Changming gritted his teeth and said, "In any case, for the sake of the friendship between you, me, and the Fire Cloud Sect and Ten Thousand Flowers Sect, please grant me ten days, Pavilion Master Su."

"Then ten days it is. Let us set the deadline at ten days. If you, Young Master Zhao, find it inconvenient, I will have to seek another buyer."

...

"Twenty-three thousand five hundred."

Someone else bid on the five-hundred-year Red Sun Fire Lotus.

However, the bidding slowed significantly.

Incrementing in units of hundreds.

"Twenty-four thousand."

In the box, Shen Xuan remained calm and bid again.

He raised the bid by five hundred Spirit Stones at once.

This price was near that of a Foundation Establishment Pill.

After Shen Xuan’s bid, the auction room fell silent.

Even after the auctioneer’s repeated urgings, no one else placed a bid.

Finally, the auctioneer loudly proclaimed, "Congratulations to this Fellow Daoist, for procuring the only five-hundred-year Red Sun Fire Lotus in this auction."

Soon, a maid entered to hand over the auctioned item.

Shen Xuan paid the Spirit Stones generously.

Old Yu beside him was dumbfounded.

A Qi Cultivation Cultivator so brazenly flaunting his wealth was something he had never seen before.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, let’s leave through the back door to avoid exposing our identities."

"Alright."

Shen Xuan readily complied, slipping out through the back door of the box with Old Yu.

Larger value Foundation Establishment Pills were yet to be auctioned.

They were not premium, and Shen Xuan wasn’t even interested in looking at them.

Throughout the journey, Old Yu repeatedly warned him not to attract too much attention.

Though this was Fire Cloud Immortal City, where law and order were well maintained,

being targeted could bring considerable danger once outside the city.

At that time, Old Yu was unaware.

Shen Xuan had attached a Tier One Late Stage Shadow-devouring Demon Insect to his shoe.

No matter where Old Yu went or whom he met, Shen Xuan knew everything clearly.

...

In another box.

Xiàng Tianyi said, "I asked Old Jia, and he said the person left through the back door after purchasing the Red Sun Fire Lotus."

"Accompanying him was a local Loose Cultivator named Yu the Third."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Changming fell into deep thought.

"Senior Brother Zhao, why don’t we call Yu the Third over to probe that person’s background?"

"Forget it."

Zhao Changming contemplated for a while but eventually waved off Xiàng Tianyi’s suggestion.

"Someone like Yu the Third wouldn’t know that person’s background. Besides, this is still Fire Cloud Immortal City; we shouldn’t act rashly."

"I have matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first."

Zhao Changming departed hastily.

At this moment, he hadn’t noticed Xiàng Tianyi watching his back with a hint of a cold smile at the corner of his mouth.

...

After returning to the Fire Cloud Sect’s inn, Shen Xuan no longer went out, awaiting news from Su Yajing in his room.

He had previously arranged with Su Yajing to complete the trade for the premium Fire Attribute Foundation Establishment Pill as soon as possible.

This time in Fire Cloud Immortal City was purely because the Fire Spirit Vein here was highly refined.

It could establish a high-quality Fire Technique Dao Foundation.

In fact, he could refine Purifying Foundation Pills himself.

As long as the Dao Foundation’s quality wasn’t too poor, it wouldn’t affect future cultivation.

In this auction, Shen Xuan bid so boldly that it was sure to attract some forces’ attention.

Even leaving through the auction’s box back door couldn’t escape the tracking of those intent to find him.

At least for the auction management, they knew him thoroughly.

Fortunately, the auction was under the Fire Cloud Sect’s jurisdiction.

Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t disclose the identity of VIPs.

Shen Xuan waited in the Fire Cloud Sect’s inn for seven days before receiving news from Su Yajing.