31: Arrival in Jiangzhou

After recovering from their injuries, due to the time lost, Lu Yang and Liu Yan did not linger. They channeled their Qi to drive their Flying Sword and traveled day and night.

On the morning of the third day, the two finally entered the territory of the Great Yan Dynasty.

The terrain of the Dynasty was like an overturned giant bowl; in the north, spiritual mountains stood tall, and Sects were scattered like stars.

The south was flat, mostly inhabited by Mortals.

Liu Yan brought Lu Yang flying all the way to Jiangzhou City, a city located in the south, which was the exact location of the Liu Family's Foundation.

On the way, Liu Yan introduced the forces within the city to Lu Yang.

Jiangzhou City was controlled by four major Families; in order of strength, they were the Liu Family, Huang Family, Zhao Family, and Zhang Family.

The Liu Family had the deepest heritage, having flourished in this place for over a thousand years.

The Family currently possessed three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, making their strength the best in Jiangzhou.

This was the state of affairs even after the previous Clan Chief failed the Core Formation Breakthrough and perished.

The Liu Family was strong in the older generation, but their biggest current problem was the lack of successors.

Among the Liu Family's younger generation, only Liu Yan had exceptional Aptitude, but due to the fire poison, Liu Yan's Realm had been stuck for ten years.

The second-ranked Huang Family was the Liu Family's biggest rival, with open and secret struggles lasting for hundreds of years.

The Huang Family Clan Chief possessed Foundation Establishment Mid-stage cultivation, and his eldest son Huang Teng and the Family's Second Elder's daughter, Huang Ying, had outstanding Aptitude.

Both had joined major Sects to Cultivate; now one was at Foundation Establishment Mid-stage, and the other at Foundation Establishment Early-stage, serving as the future pillars of the Huang Family.

The Zhao Family and Zhang Family each only had one Foundation Establishment Early-stage Cultivator holding the fort, and there were no brilliant talents among their younger generations.

Lu Yang followed Liu Yan into Jiangzhou City and was immediately attracted by the hustle and bustle of this Mortal town.

The streets were noisy, the markets were bustling, and facilities like auction houses, bazaars, post stations, Martial Arts Fields, and treasure pavilions stood in great numbers, which was completely different from the quiet atmosphere of the Sects.

Liu Yan originally intended to fly directly to the Liu Family, but feeling timid about returning home and thinking it too flashy, she put away her Flying Sword and decided to walk there.

They hadn't walked long before the chatter of passersby reached their ears.

"Have you heard? This year's auction has started!"

"It is said that there are good items for the finale, and the Clan Chiefs of the four major Families will all attend in person!"

This news suited Lu Yang's intentions perfectly; he happened to want to sell the items obtained from the Snow Wolf mercenary group, so he proposed going to the auction house.

Hearing that her mother, Liu Yu, was also there, Liu Yan naturally agreed.

Inside the auction house, the people of the four major Families had already been ushered into their respective private boxes.

Because he had items for consignment, Lu Yang was also invited into a private box.

The box had an excellent view, allowing one to overlook the packed stands below.

The auction proceeded in an orderly manner.

After watching several treasures in a row, Lu Yang was still not prepared to make a move.

But when a second-tier Fire Sun Grass, which was entirely crimson with leaves like dancing flames, was presented on the stage, Lu Yang's eyes lit up.

This item contained pure fire energy, and whether used for Alchemy or consumed directly, it would be of great benefit to Liu Yan's Fire Spirit Root.

"Second-tier Fire Sun Grass, starting bid three hundred Spirit Stones!" the auctioneer shouted.

"Three hundred and fifty!" someone immediately bid.

"Four hundred!"

"Four hundred and fifty!" Lu Yang said calmly, adding fifty Spirit Stones directly.

The venue went quiet for a moment; this price was already not low for a second-tier Spiritual Plant.

Seeing that no one else was following, the auctioneer was about to drop the gavel.

"Five hundred Spirit Stones!"

A cold and magnetic female voice came from the most luxurious private box on the top floor. The voice was not loud, but it clearly suppressed all the noise in the venue, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

It was none other than Liu Yan's mother, the Liu Family Clan Chief, Liu Yu.

Lu Yang frowned slightly and increased the bid again: "Five hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!" This was almost all the liquid Spirit Stones he had on hand.

"One thousand Spirit Stones."

The voice from the top floor box sounded again, with a flat and calm tone, directly doubling the price!

The entire venue was suddenly in an uproar!

Lu Yang shook his head; one thousand Spirit Stones far exceeded the value of the Fire Sun Grass itself. Adding a bit more, he could even buy his fire spirit pills in the Hehuan Sect. It was not worth it!

Liu Yan gently pressed his hand from the side, shaking her head slightly, her eyes filled with a trace of helplessness.

Lu Yang took a deep breath and finally sat back down in silence.

The auction gavel fell, and the Fire Sun Grass went to Liu Yu.

The people below the stage and the members of the other three major Families all recognized Liu Yu's identity from that voice.

For a time, there was much discussion.

"Have you heard? The Liu Family discovered a large deposit of molten fire stone veins in the back mountain last month. It is said the purity is very high, and after the Great Yan Dynasty royal Family sent people to inspect it, they directly allowed the Liu Family to mine it and supply it exclusively to the royal Family."

"Tsk tsk tsk, having an Alchemist, discovering a mine, and possessing nearly half of the city's industries—this Liu Family is truly overflowing with wealth now."

"Isn't that so? Their Mortal enemy, the Huang Family, currently has similar strength, but their Family industries are less than one-third of the Liu Family's, and now that a mine has appeared, the Huang Family Master must be depressed to death."

"In my opinion, this is not a good thing; being too high-profile easily invites jealousy."

However, their strength is here; after all, the Liu Family possesses three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the Clan Chief, Liu Yu, is a terrifying existence at Peak Foundation Establishment. This level of strength is rare even among small Cultivation Sects.

In the Jiangzhou region, which is dominated by Mortals, even Qi Refining Cultivators have a transcendent status, let alone someone with her cultivation; even Foundation Establishment Early-stage is enough to support a Family.

In the largest and most luxurious private box, Liu Yu was sipping fragrant tea, as if the extravagant spending of a thousand gold just now was merely a casual act.

She wore a gorgeous silk robe, with cloud patterns embroidered in gold thread, and a purple ribbon hanging lightly, outlining the curves of her full figure.

She wore a light and ethereal shawl over her shoulders, and a bronze-colored hair crown adorned with pearl strings, making her look even more graceful and majestic.

Hearing these people's words, Liu Yan frowned.

"I didn't expect such big changes to have occurred in the Family over these years; a molten fire stone mine was actually discovered in the back mountain."

"You must know that the Family's industries occupy more than half of Jiangzhou City, while the other three major Families occupy the other half, maintaining a delicate balance between each other…"

"Now that a mine has been opened, the Family's wealth has increased dramatically, but their strength has not improved. I'm afraid this will break that balance."

The Huang Family's younger generation has outstanding Aptitude, and Huang Teng and Huang Ying have already entered major Sects to Cultivate.

Presumably, it won't be long before they reach Peak Foundation Establishment.

If the Family does not have enough strength to protect it, it will cause turmoil. After all, there is the principle that an innocent man is guilty of the crime of possessing a treasure.

The Huang Family would certainly not let this rest.

Fortunately, she has recovered to normal and can Cultivate. Although she has fallen behind in Realm for many years, if she focuses on her Cultivation, she believes that with her Aptitude, she will be able to catch up.