398: A smile hiding a knife

"I bid 40 million spir—" Lu Xingtian was about to bid, but upon seeing Sui Qianqiu's gaze, he immediately stopped and lowered his head in silence.

The several Nascent Soul Stage Perfection Cultivators behind him also wanted to bid, but seeing this scene, they had no choice but to suppress their inner impulses.

For something like Spirit Crystals that could change the rules, when they appeared before a Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivator, Nascent Soul Cultivators could only stand aside.

"This old man also bids 39 million Spirit Stones!"

"This old man also bids 39 million Spirit Stones!"

..."This old man also bids 39 million Spirit Stones!"

For a moment, the six great Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivators, including Old Man Yinshan, spoke with surprising unanimity, each calling out their own bid.

This immediately threw the difficult problem to Feng Xier. If she chose any one of them, she would inevitably offend the other five big shots.

They were all Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivators. Although the Wind Moon Sect was a super power in the Southern Region Continent, without a Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivator presiding over it, they clearly couldn't afford to offend anyone.

The scene Feng Xier had hoped for—everyone competing to raise the price—did not appear; instead, it left her in a passive and difficult dilemma.

"Have you decided who you want to exchange with?" Gu Chunsheng narrowed his eyes slightly, pressing her step by step.

Feng Xier's pretty face turned pale, and she was momentarily at a loss: "This..."

"I bid 40 million Spirit Stones," Xiao Chen said calmly, casually picking up the spiritual wine on the table to taste it.

He didn't even lift an eyelid.

At this moment, the gazes of the six great Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivators all fell upon Xiao Chen. Although their faces showed no anger, the killing intent in their hearts was already surging relentlessly.

The scene fell into an eerie silence.

Meanwhile, the seven Nascent Soul Stage Perfection Cultivators all looked at him in surprise; he truly was a newborn calf who did not fear the tiger!

Their lips moved slightly as they communicated secretly with each other via Soul Sound.

"How does this kid have no situational awareness at all? Didn't he see that we didn't dare to bid? How does he have the guts?"

"Who knows! It's a mystery how this kid has even lived this long!"

"Humph, let's see how he handles this now!"

"So what if his Soul Realm is at the Soul Transformation Stage? His cultivation level is only at the Nascent Soul Stage Fifth Level. Facing a true Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivator, he's still nothing but an ant!"

Su Lianyin's Soul Sound came through again, clearly filled with anxiety: "Are you crazy? You're only at the Nascent Soul Stage Fifth Level, why do you want Spirit Crystals!"

In her eyes, Xiao Chen's behavior was no different from opposing the six great Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivators.

"Hehe, if I'm going crazy, I'm going crazy for you."

"You're insane! Do you have any idea what you're doing? That's Old Man Yinshan and the Old Ancestors of the Five Great Sects of the Central Continent!"

"Beautiful, just you wait! Sooner or later, I will snatch you away. Aside from me, whoever dares to marry you, I will kill!"

"You nuisance! I'm not looking out for you anymore!" Su Lianyin was both ashamed and annoyed. After sending one last Soul Sound, she ignored him.

Xiao Chen happened to glance at her affection value—hehe, it had actually risen to 60 points again!

The silence at the scene lasted for a full minute. Xiao Chen swept a glance over the six great Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivators, his eyes showing not a hint of fear.

"Fellow Daoist is only at the Nascent Soul Stage Fifth Level. To Cultivate to Nascent Soul Stage Perfection will take at least several hundred years. Why bother competing with us old monsters?"

The one speaking was Huangfu Shang. Although he had a friendly face, on the Data Panel, Xiao Chen saw that his good-evil value was already at -100 points!

They were all fellows with daggers hidden in their smiles!

"Fellow Daoist Huangfu's words are incorrect. Something like Spirit Crystals can be sought but not easily found; they can't be found on the market at all. Since I've encountered them, how could I possibly let them go easily!"

"Humph!"

Gu Chunsheng let out a cold snort, his face full of mockery. "I'm afraid some people don't know the heights of the heavens or the depths of the earth. Even if they get the Spirit Crystals, they won't have the life to enjoy them."

Xiao Chen's gaze turned cold. The man's words were no longer hidden barbs but a blatant threat. In that case, there was even less need for him to be polite.

"I won't trouble Fellow Daoist Gu to worry about that. I am only 42 years old, while Fellow Daoist Gu is already 8,350. My remaining life is much longer than yours."

"You!"

Gu Chunsheng glared at him fiercely. What made him wary was that Xiao Chen had actually seen through his age with pinpoint accuracy and even knew his surname.

This was simply inconceivable!

Generally speaking, unless one's cultivation level was higher than his, they wouldn't be able to see through it.

Even within the entire Divine Talisman Sect, no one knew the background of this Old Ancestor, but how did this man before him, who was only at the Nascent Soul Stage Fifth Level, know?

The other four Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivators looked at each other with solemn expressions.

Old Man Yinshan frowned slightly, a flash of worry crossing his heart. Had he underestimated this man's strength?

"This guy is just too much trouble!"

Su Lianyin muttered inwardly. Listening from the side made her heart race; the tension was so high it felt as if a fight would break out at any moment.

She was afraid that in a fit of rage, one of the Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivators would swat Xiao Chen into ashes with a single palm.

Xiao Chen ignored them and looked at the bewildered Feng Xier. "Fellow Daoist Feng, my bid is currently the highest. Shouldn't those Spirit Crystals be exchanged with me now?"

Feng Xier snapped out of it, as if grabbing onto a lifeline. She nodded repeatedly and with a wave of her jade hand, the three Spirit Crystals flew directly toward Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen put them into his System Space and casually tossed a bag of Spirit Stones to her.

"Thank you, Little Brother." Feng Xier sat down, her lively, beautiful eyes filled with affection as she secretly sent a tender Soul Sound to Xiao Chen.

If it weren't for Xiao Chen resolving the situation, she would have been destined for a bad end today facing the overbearing six great Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivators.

"It's nothing, we each got what we needed."

"If you have some free time in the future, Little Brother, you can come to my Wind Moon Sect as a guest. This little girl is willing to accompany you throughout your stay."

"I certainly will."

The storm thus subsided.

Immediately after, two more black-robed men at the Nascent Soul Stage Perfection began to introduce the treasures they had brought.

One of them, after a series of bargaining, successfully exchanged for the treasure he wanted.

The other was not so lucky; because his treasure was too niche, it didn't pique anyone's interest.

Soon, after half a circle, it was Xiao Chen's turn.

He stood up and cupped his fists in greeting to those on his left and right: "I am Xiao Chen, from the Qixia Sect of the Northwest Continent. Having just arrived in this precious land, I hope for your guidance."

Everyone cupped their fists in return.

"So he really is from the Qixia Sect! I've heard much about it..."

"They say the Northwest Continent is a wild land with thin Spiritual Qi. To think it could produce such a chosen one!"

"Yes, yes! Truly extraordinary!"

"Fellow Daoist Luo might not know, but the more one is in a barren place like a desert or glacier, the more it can stimulate one's Cultivation potential."

As Gu Chunsheng spoke, he looked toward Xiao Chen. "Fellow Daoist Xiao, wouldn't you agree?"

Xiao Chen couldn't be bothered to respond to him. Such idiotic logic made him want to retort on the spot.

If a barren land had such an effect, why didn't he establish his Sect in the middle of a great desert?

"I wonder what kind of treasure Fellow Daoist Xiao has brought? Quickly, take it out so we can all broaden our horizons."

Wan He had a face full of smiles; anyone who didn't know better would think the two were close friends.