253: Fox spirit, Hu Lingzhao

White Crane Lake. The market at the lakeshore.

It is very lively here now. With Cultivators fleeing from the Peach Blossom Sect, those fleeing from the border, and adventurers from the Heavenly Sword Sect's hinterlands, the total number of Cultivators is several times what it was before.

Vast Gathering Pavilion, the largest shop in the center of the market, is currently holding an auction.

"Everyone, this is a Medium Grade Profound Iron Magical Artifact sword, a standard Flying Sword from our Red Pine Sect's Artifact Refining Hall. The quality is guaranteed, and the starting price is only 30 Spirit Stones each."

On the auction stage, an amiable old Cultivator introduced and displayed dozens of identical Flying Swords.

"31 Spirit Stones, give me one!"

"I'll pay 32!"

"33, I want ten!"

...

"Everyone, this is a High Grade Golden Light Talisman, drawn by our Liu Family's Talisman master. I believe everyone knows what this is, so I won't say much more. The starting price is 10 Spirit Stones each!"

"I'll pay 11, I want them all!"

"You think you can buy them all with 11?" Someone sneered, "I'll pay 12!"

"I'll pay 15!"

...

Offensive Magical Artifacts and Talismans are rising in price daily due to the current situation. Buying now is making a profit, so everyone is very enthusiastic.

Among the counties near Yongning, only the White Crane Lake market has them, and the prices are cheaper than elsewhere.

Not only are the prices cheap, but the quality is better. Most importantly, White Crane Lake has several Foundation Establishment Ancestors guarding it, making it safer.

There is the Liu Family's Zi Lan Old Ancestor, Wang Qiao, a Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Red Pine Sect living in the market, and it is rumored that two Foundation Establishment Ancestors from the Bone Fiend Sect have recently defected to the Liu Family, along with many fleeing Cultivators.

In addition, the Merchant Alliance's guard team has incorporated some fleeing Cultivators, further increasing their overall strength.

The White Crane Lake Liu Family can now be considered the strongest force in the border counties. Unless a Golden Core True Person or a Golden Core Yao Beast takes action, they can withstand anything.

The Heavenly Sword Sect is the strongest of the three sects, and Xiao Changfeng is a Golden Core True Person nearing the end of his lifespan, so the Demon Court's Snow Wolf clan doesn't want to chew on such a hard bone; they are targeting the relatively weaker Cloud Top Sect more.

The neighboring Nether Fire Sect is in a more miserable state; it is said that many counties have been slaughtered by the Snow Wolf Demon, and the Nether Fire Sect has already begun to ask the Upper Sect for reinforcements.

"Fellow Daoists, this is the fur of a Late Qi Refining Stage Snow Wolf Demon. It is an excellent Material for refining magic robes. The starting price... is 200 Spirit Stones!"

Not many people are interested in Materials; after all, there aren't many Cultivators who can perform Artifact Refining.

"201!"

A Family elder who does business in Magical Artifacts in Yongning bid.

"210!"

A bold voice came from a private room on the high platform. When everyone looked at the location of the private room, they immediately stopped talking.

It was the Liu Family's own private room. Unless they really needed it, no one wanted to compete with them.

"210, going once!"

"210, going twice!"

"210, three times!"

"Sold!"

...

Inside the private room.

Fourth Brother Dao Cheng, dressed like a young Sword Cultivator, reached out to stroke the Snow Wolf fur sent by the maid.

"White as snow and incredibly silky. If we give this to our mothers to make clothes, they will definitely be happy!"

He looked at his younger brother Dao Ping on the side, "Don't you think so? Tenth Brother."

Tenth Brother Dao Ping is Lin Xue'er's second child. He has no Spiritual Root and is currently an Innate Early Stage Martial Artist.

Dao Ping's martial arts talent is not as good as his big brother's, but he is meticulous and steady, and now holds a great deal of power within the Merchant Alliance.

Fourth Brother Dao Cheng has a free-spirited personality and has no interest in the power of the Merchant Alliance. He leaves many things to Dao Ping, and the two brothers have always had a very good relationship.

"Materials like Snow Wolf Demon fur often flow in recently. We can collect more and give one to each of our aunts when the time comes," Dao Ping nodded and said.

"Makes sense!" Daocheng nodded in agreement.

"And Aunt Miao, we'll offer the best to her when the time comes!"

While the two brothers were chatting, another auction item caught Dao Ping's attention.

A beautiful woman wearing a misty skirt was brought up with her hands tied.

The woman walked with a light and swaying posture, with an inexplicable charm. Her pretty face was exquisite, her ears were pointed, and the corners of her eyes naturally tilted upward. She looked exactly like a vixen.

In the auction hall, some young Cultivators with low cultivation bases felt pity just by looking at her, regardless of gender.

"Everyone! This woman is a Cultivator of the Peach Blossom Sect, named Hu Lingzhao, a Qi Refining Perfection Cultivator."

"Most importantly, she possesses a bit of Fox Demon Bloodline and is an excellent candidate for a Cauldron. The starting price..."

"10,000 Spirit Stones!"

After the host finished speaking, a man in a black robe in the front row turned his head and looked at the Liu Family's private room on the second floor.

"10,000 Spirit Stones?!!"

"Are you f***ing robbing me?"

"10,000 Spirit Stones could buy two black crow flying boats!"

...

"Brother, watch your words!"

His friend next to him looked around and whispered a reminder: "Being able to catch a Qi Refining Perfection female Cultivator for auction is likely the work of a Foundation Establishment Ancestor."

"Uh..."

The man immediately stopped talking and carefully scanned the surroundings, for fear of being targeted by a Foundation Establishment Ancestor.

White Crane Lake's business is booming, and Cultivators from all over the area come here to trade items, so it's not surprising that strange Foundation Establishment Ancestors appear.

"Do any Fellow Daoists have a bid?"

Seeing everyone silent, the host asked.

"Since..."

Just as he was about to declare it unsold, a faint voice came from the second-floor private room: "10,000 Spirit Stones!"

The old man frowned slightly, but didn't say anything and proceeded with the auction process as usual.

"10,000 Spirit Stones, going once!"

...

Sold!

Inside the second-floor private room.

"Tenth Brother, are you crazy!"

Daocheng looked at Dao Ping beside him, "Buying a woman for 10,000 Spirit Stones? Aunt She will beat you to death when she checks the accounts!"

The two brothers didn't have that many Spirit Stones themselves. This auction used the Liu Family's public account in the Merchant Alliance, mainly to bid for various spiritual Materials.

A big deal of 10,000 Spirit Stones would definitely reach She Xiaorong, and even their father, Liu Xuan.

"Brother Cheng misunderstood. This is not bought for myself, but... bought for our father!"

"Father?"

Daocheng was stunned! Then his eyes turned, and he turned to look at the vixen named Hu Lingzhao downstairs.

"Sure enough, she is peerless in beauty and naturally charming!"

"You are smart, Tenth Brother!" He patted Dao Ping on the shoulder, "Why didn't I think of that?"

"Our dad will definitely like such a beauty!"

After the auction, Hu Lingzhao was sent to the second-floor private room, in front of the two brothers, Daocheng and Dao Ping.

"Daocheng (Dao Ping), greetings to Aunt Hu!"

Hu Lingzhao looked at the two bowing, completely stunned. Already desperate, she became even more uneasy!

Falling to the point of being a Cauldron or a slave, the thing she feared most was encountering a pervert; that would be worse than death!

Dao Ping looked at the spirit-binding rope tied to Hu Lingzhao's hands. This object could not only restrict her movements but also prevent her from recovering her Qi.

"Please forgive me, Aunt Hu. This Junior cannot untie the spirit-binding rope for you yet, but I will take you to see Father immediately, and you will be free then!"