36: Three incomplete maps, a gamble

The air within Danyang Pavilion was sucked dry.

Everyone's breathing ceased.

Go, go, go! His gaze, substantial as a physical entity, fixed separately on Ye Chen, Zhao Qian, and the mysterious Black-Robed Man.

Killing intent.

Greed.

Apprehension.

The silent clash stirred ripples, causing the skin of the surrounding low-level Cultivators to prickle as if poked by needles.

Lu Yuan sat in the shadows.

His fingers gently tapped the armrest, his heartbeat as steady as an ancient well of ten thousand years.

The moment the auctioneer called out “three incomplete maps,” the light screen in his mind had already delivered its final judgment.

Target: Location incomplete map of the nine revolutions soul returning grass.

In-depth deduction result: This target is composed of three parts: 'outer Restriction map,' 'middle illusion array map,' and 'core guardian map.'

Risk warning: Entering the treasure hunting ground with a single incomplete map will trigger an ancient killing array of nine deaths and one life, with a survival rate of less than ten percent.

Investment advice: Abandon direct purchase, construct an arbitrage model.

Seeing this information, a barely perceptible smile flashed in the depths of Lu Yuan’s eyes.

Danyang Pavilion's overt scheme was very clever.

They had split a complete death trap into three 'hopes' that could ignite endless desire.

And he was the only one in the know.

“Four hundred thousand!”

Ye Chen's voice broke the silence; his eyes were bloodshot.

As the Son of Destiny, something behind the incomplete map was strongly calling to him; this was an instinct.

“Four hundred fifty thousand!”

Zhao Qian showed no weakness; the Blood Fiend Sect was equally determined to obtain such a divine item that could revive the dead and regrow flesh.

“Five hundred thousand.”

The Black-Robed Man's voice was hoarse, each bid an announcement of his absolute determination.

The price soared wildly.

The entire auction had completely devolved into a gladiatorial arena for these three parties.

Finally, the gavel fell.

Ye Chen, Zhao Qian, and the mysterious Black-Robed Man each secured an incomplete map for an astronomical sum.

The gazes of the three collided in the air.

There was no joy of victory.

Only bone-chilling killing intent.

They all knew that the end of the auction was merely the true beginning of this bloody hunt.

The crowd gradually dispersed, carrying the relief of surviving a calamity and the fear of the impending storm.

In the private room, Han Yuexi's figure quietly appeared beside Lu Yuan.

Her cool gaze held a hint of confusion.

“You gave up.”

This was not a question, but a statement.

Given the financial power Lu Yuan had previously displayed, he absolutely had the qualifications to participate in the final contention.

But he did not.

He didn't even make a single bid.

Lu Yuan stood up and brushed off non-existent dust from his robe.

“The bait has been cast.”

He did not look back, leaving only a remark that Han Yuexi needed to ponder carefully.

“Now, what needs to be done is to weave the net.”

Han Yuexi watched Lu Yuan's retreating figure disappear into the shadows, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

In the ancient mirror in her hand, the threads of Karma on its surface were utterly chaotic; she could not see through this man.

The day after the auction ended.

Three hundred li outside Danyang City, in Black Wind Valley, astonishing spiritual Qi fluctuations erupted.

Curious onlookers spied from afar, only to see two figures fighting madly in the valley, their Sword Qi and demonic flames staining half the sky with different colors.

Ye Chen and Zhao Qian, after all, had met.

Each holding an incomplete map, they confidently entered the so-called “treasure hunting ground,” only to both be trapped in an ancient illusion array, looking disheveled and having expended most of their spiritual Qi.

When they bumped into each other in the same dead end of the illusion array, the anger of being fooled, coupled with new grievances and old hatreds, ignited everything.

“It's you! You dare to follow me!”

“Hand over your map, and I'll spare your life!”

The battle inevitably broke out.

Meanwhile, in a newly opened Immortal Cave in Danyang City, Lu Yuan sat cross-legged.

On the light screen before him, a line of data slowly flickered.

Call option: Within three days, Ye Chen and Zhao Qian will clash in Black Wind Valley.

Contract status: Triggered.

Current floating profit: 178 karma points.

The numbers were still rising slowly and steadily.

Each flicker represented another step the two favored children of heaven in Black Wind Valley had taken towards the abyss of mutual destruction.

Lu Yuan was not in a hurry to close his position and realize profits.

Letting profits run is a fundamental quality of a top trader.

His finger gently swiped across the light screen, opening the transaction list.

Among countless flickering “targets,” he found an option that had just become clear.

“Mysterious Black-Robed Man…”

Lu Yuan murmured to himself, a cold calculation flashing in his eyes.

This uncontrollable variable had to be understood before he could cast his net.

Do you wish to purchase the 'Mysterious Black-Robed Man's identity exposed' call option?

Price: 5 karma points.

“Confirm purchase.”

As the cold voice fell, 5 karma points were deducted.

Lu Yuan slowly closed his eyes.

He knew.

When he opened his eyes again, it would be time to reap the harvest.