326: White Jade Flute

The Little Child, six or seven years old, looked up, confirming if he had heard correctly.

“Get up.”

Zhou Xiangyu squatted down, helping the Little Child to his feet.

“We’re going now?”

Seeing the Little Child somewhat dazed, Zhou Xiangyu could only continue to ask.

“Thank you, Abbot Master!”

The Little Child’s eyes were red, and tears streamed down his Face, but he didn’t cry out loud.

“Ning Chan, I’m going down the mountain for a bit.”

Zhou Xiangyu called out to the inside, then led the way out of Kushan Temple.

As Zen Master Kuxin’s Personal Disciple, he naturally knew how to perform a ritual.

Outside Kushan Temple, seeing Zhou Xiangyu step out, the middle-aged man didn’t know how to address him for a moment and stammered out, “G-Great Master, hello.”

“Greetings, benefactor.”

Zhou Xiangyu returned the greeting.

“The Abbot Master has agreed to perform the ritual,” the Little Child said to the middle-aged man, his Face tear-streaked but smiling, from behind Zhou Xiangyu.

The middle-aged man’s heart jumped; he hadn't expected it to actually work out.

“Thank you, Great Master, for your help.”

The middle-aged man thanked him again.

Afterwards, the three, two adults and one Little Child, walked down the mountain.

Along the way, Zhou Xiangyu finally understood the situation clearly.

The Little Child’s nickname was Xiaohu, and he was from Da Niu Village at the foot of the mountain.

Da Niu Village was not wealthy, with few external sources of income.

Although Xiaohu’s Family was poor, they managed to get by.

However, two years ago, Xiaohu’s father unfortunately died while hunting in the mountains, and that’s when their situation took a turn for the worse.

Xiaohu’s mother, through frugality and hard labor, managed to keep them going.

But fate is cruel to the unfortunate.

Xiaohu’s mother overexerted herself and unfortunately passed away a few days prior.

This led to Xiaohu coming up the mountain to find someone to perform a ritual.

Da Niu Village was poor.

In the past, when villagers passed away, they would also invite ritual masters.

However, very few ritual masters were willing to come.

Zhou Xiangyu listened quietly, simply nodding without saying much.

Three days later, outside Kushan Temple, Zhou Xiangyu returned.

Jiang Ningchan came out to greet him.

“I thought you would bring Xiaohu up the mountain,” Jiang Ningchan said with a hint of surprise.

With her spiritual perception, she had known everything Zhou Xiangyu and the middle-aged man had said that day.

“It’s not time yet.”

Zhou Xiangyu gently shook his head.

Zen Master Kuxin also did not say much about this.

After all, the Kushan Temple Legacy was passed down to a single Disciple, and he already had an inheritor.

Choosing another Disciple was Zhou Xiangyu’s own business.

Hearing Zhou Xiangyu say this, Jiang Ningchan said nothing more.

Half a month later, at the entrance of Kushan Temple, a wounded wild rabbit appeared.

It was clearly caught in a trap, but no one was in sight.

Jiang Ningchan went out, picked up the wild rabbit, and returned to the temple.

“If you were truly a monk,” Jiang Ningchan teased, looking at Zhou Xiangyu who was sitting on a meditation cushion, “wouldn’t bringing a rabbit here make you break your vows?”

“Hehe~”

Zhou Xiangyu chuckled, not responding.

With their strength, they naturally knew who had placed the rabbit outside the door.

The two did not slaughter the wild rabbit; they simply kept it in Kushan Temple…

Half a month later, in the Sword Domain, Fengzhou, within Wanbao City, lay the largest stronghold of the Wanbao Merchant Guild.

Two figures, one in red and one in blue, arrived before the massive auction house in the center of Wanbao City.

“This is the auction house,” Zhou Dingyang said after looking at it.

“Let’s go,” Zhou Dingze urged, “It’s about to start.”

Then he stepped forward.

Zhou Dingyang, helpless, followed him.

Upon reaching the entrance, Zhou Dingyang took out an invitation from his Storage Pouch and handed it over.

The guarding Cultivator took it, flipped through it, and then bowed to the two, saying, “Two distinguished guests, please come this way!”

The guard’s attitude was respectful.

Zhou Dingyang and Zhou Dingze nodded and followed the guard into the auction house.

At the entrance, some Cultivators watched, filled with doubt and surprise.

The Wanbao Merchant Guild was incredibly powerful, and those whom they treated as distinguished guests were clearly extraordinary.

Some people secretly memorized the appearances of Zhou Dingyang and Zhou Dingze.

Wanbao Auction House, third floor, in the VIP box.

After escorting Zhou Dingyang and Zhou Dingze, the guard left.

There were Merchant Guild attendants outside, ready to be dispatched at any time.

Zhou Dingyang and Zhou Dingze looked around.

The box had an excellent position, allowing them to take in the entire auction hall.

This auction was unprecedentedly grand.

Not only various forces from the Sword Domain, but also many Cultivators from outside domains had come.

Before long, the entire auction hall was full.

In the main hall on the first floor, there were Qi Refining Stage Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators.

The second floor hosted guests from Golden Core forces.

The third-floor boxes were occupied by Nascent Soul Stage forces, as well as Zhou Dingyang and Zhou Dingze.

“Buzz~”

Flashes of Aura swept by.

There were Golden Core Immortal Masters, and even one or two Nascent Soul True Lords.

“Fellow Daoists,” an old and deep voice instantly quieted the noisy auction hall.

A figure flew out from the auction hall, landing on the high platform.

His Nascent Soul Stage cultivation was revealed.

The noisy crowd fell silent.

“True Lord Bailu (White Egret)...”

Everyone recognized the title of this Wanbao Merchant Guild True Lord, not daring to act presumptuously.

True Lord Bailu (White Egret) nodded with satisfaction.

Without further ado, he clapped his hands, and a treasure was brought up from the backstage.

“One foundation establishment pill...”

True Lord Bailu (White Egret) casually lifted the silk cloth covering the treasure, revealing a small jade bottle.

Listening to the introduction, there was no movement on the second and third floors.

However, the Qi Refining Cultivators on the first floor had fiery eyes.

Starting with a foundation establishment pill instantly ignited the fire in everyone’s hearts.

Bidding began.

One Qi Refining Stage Cultivator after another displayed their methods, striving to claim that foundation establishment pill.

On the third floor, Zhou Dingyang and Zhou Dingze remained silent.

The Zhou Family had its own source of Foundation Establishment Pills; there was no need to bid here.

Looking at the fiercely competitive atmosphere below, both of them felt a sense of emotion.

To contend so fiercely for a single foundation establishment pill showed the difficulties faced by Loose Cultivators and small Families.

The auction continued, with treasures being presented one after another, all starting from second-grade.

During this time, several foundation establishment pills were interspersed in the auction.

“One white jade spirit flute, a second-grade top-tier Spiritual Artifact...”

“Starting bid: one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones...”

At this moment, a long flute, as white as jade, was presented.

On the third floor, Zhou Dingze’s heart stirred.

Looking at the jade-like spirit flute, he had an idea.

As soon as True Lord Bailu (White Egret)’s voice fell, Zhou Dingze’s voice rang out, “Two thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.”

Everyone was startled, not only because he had added one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones in one go, but also because the voice came from the third floor.

Those seated in the boxes were either of great origin or high cultivation.

When Zhou Dingze spoke, the hall fell silent for a moment.

Some were willing to give him Face.

After all, this was the first time Zhou Dingze and Zhou Dingyang had spoken.

“Two thousand once, two thousand twice...”

“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on acquiring the white jade spirit flute.”

True Lord Bailu (White Egret) offered his customary congratulations, then continued to auction the next item.

Zhou Dingze sat back down, saying nothing more.

Afterwards, the grade of the auctioned treasures became increasingly high.

There had already been competition in the boxes on the second floor.

Occasionally, voices also came from the third floor.

Zhou Dingyang also spoke out from time to time, acquiring a few items.

The only item the Family Head had specifically instructed them about for this trip was the final fourth-grade Legacy.

As for the others, it was up to them to decide if they were useful to the Family.