Chapter 1171: Ghost Emperor's Divine Son

In the heart of Tianfu Shen Chao city stood the Pai Mai Ge, a magnificent pavilion radiating immortal light. Inside, it formed a vast realm capable of accommodating over a hundred thousand people.

When Ye Chen entered, the auction hall was already packed. Glancing around quickly, he couldn't help but sigh in admiration—the attendees were no ordinary individuals, with many Quasi-Saints and cultivators backed by major powers among them.

"Kid, over here." From a corner, Yan Laodao's voice called out.

Ye Chen shifted his gaze and headed straight to the corner. Yan Laodao had kindly saved a seat for him.

No sooner had Ye Chen sat down than Yan Laodao leaned in closer, sniffing around him like a dog on a scent. Anyone unaware might have thought Yan Laodao was a dog, or that Ye Chen was a pile of dung.

"Are you sick?" Ye Chen snapped.

"I heard you went to a brothel last night?" Yan Laodao said, winking at Ye Chen suggestively.

"Who told you that?"

"This old man did a quick divination, and sure enough, you went to a brothel." Yan Laodao put on a sanctimonious air, speaking with feigned gravity. "I'm not one to lecture, but going to those places too often isn't good for you."

"This old man divined that you went to eat dung last night." Ye Chen replied with the same grave tone.

"The taste wasn't great." Yan Chi Xia said, picking at his teeth.

"I can tell."

"These two oddballs." Listening to their conversation, the people sitting around them cast meaningful glances, especially focusing on the one who supposedly ate dung last night.

"See that? That's Hua Tian Laozu." Amid the strange stares, Yan Laodao pointed to someone not far away.

Hearing this, Ye Chen sat up straighter and followed Yan Laodao's direction, his eyes landing on a figure shrouded in a black robe.

"He's hidden his appearance and aura—how can you recognize him?" Ye Chen looked at Yan Laodao skeptically.

"You're underestimating me." Yan Laodao pulled out his wine gourd. "I've been exorcising demons and slaying monsters for nearly a thousand years; I have that level of skill. Even if he's covered in a black robe, or turned into a pile of dung, I'd still know him."

"You're really fated with dung." Ye Chen remarked, turning his attention back to Hua Tian Laozu—a Quasi-Saint, and not an ordinary one at that. In terms of strength, he was on par with Fa Tong.

"People from Gui Huang Zong." As Ye Chen was observing, someone exclaimed in surprise.

"Gui Huang Zong." Ye Chen murmured, looking over. At the entrance, a young man with blood-red hair entered, his body radiating divine light that made it hard to look directly at him. He had two horns on his head, clearly not a human cultivator. Behind him followed two elders, both Quasi-Saints.

"What a dominant bloodline." Ye Chen fixed his gaze on the horned, red-haired youth. "It's even more overpowering than Hua Tiandu's."

"That's the Shen Zi of Gui Huang Zong." Yan Laodao explained. "As you can see, he's not a human cultivator. His true form is a beast called Liao. Legend has it that their ancestors were the ancient ferocious beast Qiong Qi, and their bloodline is exceptionally dominant, rivaling that of the Saint Body."

"Liao, Qiong Qi." Ye Chen sighed in awe. He'd never heard of Liao before, but Qiong Qi's name was legendary—a primordial beast on par with Taotie, its bloodline not inferior to the Phoenix's.

"Even Gui Huang Zong has shown up." Discussions erupted below.

"First Lingxiao Gong, now Gui Huang Zong—this auction probably has nothing for the rest of us."

"It never did for folks like us anyway."

"How interesting." The Gui Huang Shen Zi chuckled softly and headed straight to the third floor, a playful smile on his lips. Along the way, he glanced contemptuously at the private rooms of Tianfu Shen Chao and Lingxiao Gong.

"He's actually broken through before me." Watching the Gui Huang Shen Zi, Hua Tiandu's eyes darkened with resentment.

"The Shen Nu must have seen the strength of the Gui Huang Shen Zi." In the Lingxiao Gong private room, the black-robed elder turned to Bi Bo Xianzi. "Facing him alone, the Shen Nu isn't his match, let alone in a two-on-one fight."

"Fate is in our hands." Bi Bo Xianzi replied calmly, her expression unchanging. Her eyes, however, were fixed on Ye Chen below.

"When will the Xianzi see me?" Ye Chen sent a voice transmission.

"In a little while."

"Understood." Ye Chen smiled faintly.

"Kid, for the treasures up for auction, bid if you can, but don't jump into everything." Yan Laodao nudged Ye Chen.

"I get it." Ye Chen scratched his ear. Attending an auction was all about avoiding making enemies, yet it was easy to do so. Even Quasi-Saints didn't dare show their true faces, let alone him. Perhaps only giants like Lingxiao Gong and Gui Huang Zong could enter so openly.

"Quiet, please." Amid the noise, an ethereal voice rang out.

As soon as the words were spoken, the bustling auction hall fell silent, and all eyes turned to the high platform at the front.

On the platform, a white-haired elder had already taken his place, exuding an air of immortality and grace. He was a Quasi-Saint, and unlike some sinister types, he resembled a kind and gentle grandfather.

This was Chang Shan Zhenren, an elder of Tianfu Shen Chao.

"As in previous years, please refrain from causing trouble." Chang Shan Zhenren smiled warmly.

"We all know the rules."

"Very well, let the auction begin." Chang Shan Zhenren said, waving his hand to produce a red killing sword that floated in midair.

"What a fine divine sword." Exclamations rose from below, mostly from Emperor Realm cultivators, while the Quasi-Saints meditated with eyes closed.

"This Emperor Realm artifact, Chi Yan, is forged from extraterrestrial red profound gold. Starting bid: three hundred thousand source stones."

"Three hundred and fifty thousand."

"I'll bid four hundred thousand source stones."

"Fifty thousand—I'll take it."

No sooner had Chang Shan Zhenren spoken than bids erupted from below, triggering a chain reaction of shouts. The atmosphere grew lively and tense, with several bidders already flashing hostile glares, as if ready to fight on the spot.

In the end, the first item from Wang Gu Star was sold for one million source stones, drawing sighs from the crowd below.

"An Emperor Realm sword fetching a million—unbelievable." In the corner, Yan Laodao, with his hands tucked in his sleeves, grimaced.

"That divine sword isn't ordinary." Ye Chen remarked casually.

"That's true."

"The Cang Long Shen Zhu, once soaked in Cang Long blood. Starting bid: three hundred thousand source stones." On the platform, Chang Shan Zhenren spoke again, holding up a purple spirit pearl radiating immortal light.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand."

"Fifty thousand source stones—I'll take it."

"You think fifty thousand can claim the Cang Long Shen Zhu? I'll bid six hundred thousand."

"Hey, where are you going?" Amid the heated bidding, Yan Laodao stared in surprise at Ye Chen, who was getting up.

"To relieve myself." Ye Chen replied casually.

"Why not hold it in?" Yan Laodao muttered, turning his attention back to the platform, watching the bidding with great interest.

Ye Chen had already left, but it wasn't for that reason—Bi Bo Xianzi had summoned him to the third-floor private room.

Perhaps because everyone's focus was on the bidding, no one noticed him.

Hmm?

As he was about to ascend to the third floor, Ye Chen glanced toward one side of the auction hall, his eyes locking onto a figure in the crowd.

It was a scholar, dressed in scholarly robes, appearing frail and unassuming. Though the bidding was intense, he remained composed, leisurely sipping tea and showing no interest in the Cang Long Shen Zhu.

Disguised as a man!

Ye Chen murmured to himself, realizing the scholar was a female cultivator and sensing a familiar aura from her.

Who is it?

He muttered again before turning to climb the cloud stairs to the third floor.

Underestimating you!

As soon as Ye Chen went upstairs, the disguised female scholar in the distance slightly turned her head, a smile playing at her lips.