232: Three dead, five more to go!

Shi Yi had good luck today; she actually managed to encounter one of the medicinal herbs on Lu Hao's list here!

However, the process of winning the auction was quite tortuous, as some Cultivators of unknown identity kept driving up the price on the side.

But Shi Yi was determined; she had to win it!

In the end, she spent several times the normal market price in Spirit Stones to finally secure this Material.

No relevant Materials appeared afterward, but Shi Yi was indignant in her heart; she wanted to get her hands on every Heaven And Earth Treasure.

Since those people wouldn't let her have an easy time, she wouldn't let them have one either!

Let's all be suckers together!

However, near the end of the auction, something happened that greatly shocked Shi Yi.

Xiao Lü actually made a move!

The target was actually a special auction item.

It was a container shaped like a Cultivator's skull, with a Soul imprisoned inside.

The container continuously emitted black mist, revealing waves of eerie aura!

The staff had just brought it onto the auction stage, and before the host could even begin the introduction, Xiao Lü in the corner of the wall moved...

Time for the entire auction suddenly froze!

Everyone, regardless of their cultivation level, regardless of age or gender, except for Shi Yi, all seemed to be frozen in place, unable to move!

The host's parted lips, the staff's hands about to be withdrawn, and the curious gazes of the crowd craning their necks.

It was as if time had solidified in this very instant!

Even the dust in mid-air stopped falling...

Shi Yi widened her eyes in shock, looking at everything around her. She didn't know what had happened; could it be that some peerless expert had arrived?

A peerless expert who could manipulate time?!

But soon she understood everything.

In her sight, a humanoid puppet draped in white cloth was floating in mid-air, slowly flying towards the host's direction.

It was precisely Xiao Lü, who had been following Lu Hao's orders to protect Shi Yi!

It quickly arrived on stage, and Shi Yi saw Xiao Lü use the white cloth to scoop up the Soul from the skull, then slowly return to its original spot.

On its way back, its figure suddenly paused, and then a scythe suddenly appeared in its right hand.

It swung it gently towards a certain direction, and a moment later, three Souls passed through the auction hall wall and floated in front of Xiao Lü.

At the same time, the previously upright bodies of three men in black outside instantly went limp, collapsing to the ground with a thud.

When they arrived in front of Xiao Lü, their faces were still filled with disbelief! Their bodies were struggling continuously, and their throats were roaring,

"Why?! What happened?! Let me go back!!! Ah!!!"

But no matter how they struggled and roared, not a single sound came out.

Xiao Lü collected the three Souls into its lantern, then returned to its original corner, looking at the newly acquired Soul with great interest.

A moment later, everyone returned to normal and continued with the auction, without noticing anything amiss!

This scene left Shi Yi dumbfounded...

This... what kind of existence did Master send to protect me?! What kind of method is this? It is simply unheard of!

Can the Cultivators of this world actually be this powerful?!

"Everyone, the next auction item is a Soul. Its origin is unknown, and its use is unknown, but according to the appraisal by the experts of our auction house, this item is extremely extraordinary! It is at least a treasure of the Nascent Void level! The starting bid is fifty billion Spirit Stones!"

Hearing the host's introduction, the crowd shifted their gazes to the skull container, all revealing puzzled expressions.

"Hmm? Where is the Soul? Where is the Soul?"

"Host, can you stop spouting nonsense with your eyes open? This is just a skull, where is the Soul? Do you take us for fools?"

The host looked back upon hearing this and was also stunned...

Hmm? Why is there only a skull? Where is the Soul inside?

He immediately sent a voice transmission to the staff:

"Where is the Soul? Why is it not in this container?"

The two staff members looked at each other, equally bewildered...

Clearly, when they brought it up just now, there was a weird Soul inside. How could it be gone now?

Only Shi Yi knew the truth in the entire venue, but she certainly wouldn't say it out loud. Instead, she sat in the audience watching the commotion, stealing a glance towards the corner.

She saw that in Xiao Lü's hand, the Soul had been tortured beyond recognition. Its original eerie aura was completely gone, and it was kneeling, continuously begging Xiao Lü for mercy...

Xiao Lü gradually lost interest and casually tossed it into the lantern.

The auction ended, and Shi Yi quickly left to find the next auction.

Under her search, time passed quickly, and soon three months had passed.

For all living beings, three months was just a drop in the ocean, and not much had changed.

The number of Materials Shi Yi had collected reached forty-two.

"It's time for the appointed date; I should go back and report to Master!"

So, Shi Yi gathered her team and headed towards the Qingxuan Medicine Sect.

The teams from the other eighteen major regions also returned one after another. The journey was too far, and with the help of Magic Treasures for flight, it took a full month before everyone arrived at the Qingxuan Medicine Sect.

Unfortunately, a few Disciples had accidentally perished for various reasons, which made Shi Yi very sad.

However, the result was very good. Adding up the medicinal herbs from the nineteen teams, they had actually gathered seventy-six types, only five short!

But these last five were also the most difficult ones...

I wonder if Master will blame me...

Shi Yi let these Disciples go to Cultivate on their own, while she took the Materials and found Lu Hao in the village.

Lu Hao was currently guiding Yin Xiaotong in Alchemy. During this time, Yin Xiaotong had ultimately failed to Breakthrough to a Sixth-Rank Alchemist.

There was no other way; Lu Hao had to take action himself, guiding Yin Xiaotong hands-on.

Seeing Shi Yi arrive, Lu Hao stopped what he was doing, looked at Shi Yi with a smile, and said:

"Shi Yi, you're back. How was it? Have the Materials been prepared completely?"

Hearing Lu Hao's words, Shi Yi looked ashamed and said in a low voice:

"Master, I'm sorry, I... I wasn't able to gather all the Materials on the list. I only collected seventy-six types, and five are still missing... I really couldn't find them..."

Shi Yi's voice became quieter as she spoke, until it was almost as faint as a mosquito's buzz in the end.

Hearing this, Lu Hao hurriedly waved his hand and said:

"It's alright, Shi Yi, you've already done a great job. I will search for the remaining five types of Materials myself. Thank you for your hard work!"

"These are some Medicinal Pills I refined for you. Take them after you return to the Sect; they will be helpful for your cultivation."

Lu Hao took out some Medicinal Pills from his Storage Pouch and tossed them to Shi Yi.

Shi Yi hurriedly caught them and said:

"Master, there is one more thing. While I was searching for the Materials, I discovered that someone was constantly obstructing me behind the scenes. This also happened in other major regions, and this is one of the reasons why we didn't collect everything."

"I understand. You did very well. I will handle what comes next."

After saying this, Shi Yi left the place.

Hearing Shi Yi's words, Lu Hao fell into a brief moment of thought.

Is there still someone targeting me? I don't remember offending anyone; those I did offend are all dead... Who could it be?

...

Looking at the Materials Shi Yi handed over, Lu Hao muttered to himself:

"Forget it, I'll first find a way to get the Materials complete. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Sect Master Qi again..."