12: He almost discovered the truth.

"Congratulations to this Senior, this item will be delivered to your hands shortly."

"Qiuran is here to congratulate Senior on acquiring a divine technique."

The charming and seductive female Cultivator offered her congratulations before continuing with the next item of the auction.

Aside from the ancient Secret Manual at the beginning, the subsequent items were mostly Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts, which didn't hold much appeal for Qin Dong, so he stopped paying attention.

High EQ: Not much appeal.

Low EQ: No money.

"System, oh System, why don't you have the kind of thing that can see through item information?"

"The kind that lets me see at a glance if there are treasures or something inside?"

[Ding! The System version is too low to provide this. Please actively top up to unlock it, Host.]

"Right, in the future, don't call the System currency 'System Points' anymore, it doesn't sound good. Just call them top-up points."

[Ding! Settings updated successfully.]

Qin Dong looked at his empty system space and could only helplessly say, 'Next time for sure.'

"The next item is ten Yellow Rank Qi Condensation Pills."

"The next item is seven transcriptions of Yellow Rank Cultivation Methods, plus a bundle of precious herbs, Mortal Weapons, and a pile of old clothes."

"The next item is..."

Qin Zixuan watched the various treasures appearing in the auction house, her beautiful eyes constantly shifting with emotion.

There were simply too many rare treasures; several times she wanted to bid, but considering her meager purse, she could only give up helplessly.

To everyone's surprise, when a certain item came on stage, Zhang Yizhi, who had been silent for a long time, actually placed a bid.

These were five perfectly round rocks, each only the size of an eyeball, appearing quite ordinary.

"Dear guests, although the outer layer of these five pieces of Star Rhythm Rock consists of Mortal Rank Materials, they may contain Yellow Rank or even higher quality Star Rhythm Rock within."

"Starting bid for the five is twenty Spirit Stones."

"Limited quantity, first come first served, honest prices for all."

However, despite the Host's introduction, only a few people bid, and the price stalled at thirty Spirit Stones.

Star Rhythm Rock was a very common material with too few uses; it could only be used to forge auxiliary Magical Artifacts like Pill Furnaces. Even Yellow Rank Star Rhythm Rock wasn't worth many Spirit Stones.

Moreover, there was so little here that it wouldn't even be enough for Artifact Refining unless one wanted to forge a box of toothpicks.

"Thirty-five Spirit Stones!"

Zhang Yizhi, who had been observing for a long time, placed his bid. For a moment, there was no higher price in the hall.

Just when he thought he had it secured, a sinister voice rang out from the seventh floor.

"Thirty-six Spirit Stones."

"Forty Spirit Stones!"

Zhang Yizhi gritted his teeth, not even caring that the seventh floor might house a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, and directly brought out his last bit of savings.

"Hmph, remember this."

The other party let out a harsh threat and stopped bidding, allowing Zhang Yizhi to breathe a sigh of relief.

None of the three bid again in the subsequent auction, quietly watching as the auction reached its climax and then concluded.

"Guests, here are your items."

Once the auction ended, Qin Dong and Zhang Yizhi finally received their goods.

"Not bad, not bad. These miscellaneous goods sold for two hundred and thirty Spirit Stones. I can level up again."

After careful consideration, Qin Dong decided to max out the Mountain Splitting Fist. If asked why, he'd just say he was too lazy to meditate and comprehend it; what kind of qualified Transmigrator would have a cheat and not use it?

"System, top up for me!"

[Ding! Host has received two hundred top-up points.]

"First, Mountain Splitting Fist. Spend fifty top-up points to raise it to Perfect proficiency."

"Then, Swimming Dragon Steps. Spend one hundred and fifty top-up points to raise it directly to Perfect proficiency."

[Ding! Done as requested.]

As the System's voice rang out, two streams of technique information flooded into his mind: a domineering fist technique and an agile movement technique. These were the advanced proficiency memories for the Mountain Splitting Fist and Swimming Dragon Steps.

Feeling the change, Qin Dong circulated his True Essence into the Swimming Dragon Steps. Suddenly, his body felt light, and in the next second, he instantly appeared behind Qin Zixuan.

"Young Lord, you..."

Before Qin Zixuan could even express her surprise, he blurred and appeared behind Zhang Yizhi, then flashed again to stand between the two.

"Brother Qin, what technique is this? It's truly miraculous."

The maxed-out Swimming Dragon Steps and Mountain Splitting Fist were now no inferior to a Top Grade Yellow Rank Cultivation Method. Combined with the defense and True Essence recovery of the Thick Earth Spirit Body...

Qin Dong calculated that even if he were to challenge a Cultivator an entire minor Realm above him right now, he probably wouldn't be afraid.

This was the confidence his techniques gave him; maxing out his skills indeed provided a massive boost.

"Since you want to learn it, I'll give the technique to you."

"But remember, keep it a secret, or there will be immense trouble."

After thinking for a moment, Qin Dong decisively agreed to let Zhang Yizhi Cultivate the Swimming Dragon Steps.

Through their time together, he had developed a very good impression of this honest young man, Zhang Yizhi.

He was a partner who could be somewhat trusted.

"I have this manual on me. If you want to learn, I'll let you study it for now,"

Qin Zixuan said as she saw Zhang Yizhi's envious expression.

She then handed a newly transcribed manual of the technique to him, moving Zhang Yizhi to the core.

Giving away a Yellow Rank technique just like that—what was this?

This was brotherhood!

"Alright, then many thanks to Brother Qin and Sister Zixuan."

Zhang Yizhi suppressed his excitement, but then he looked at Qin Dong and said seriously,

"Brother Qin, this place is not safe. I have a feeling of danger. We should leave right now."

"It's best if we leave the city overnight."

Ever since a moment ago, he had felt a constant urge to flee, an apprehension as if some great disaster were about to befall them.

Qin Dong chose to believe him; after all, the intuition of such a Genius was usually very accurate.

The three immediately walked out of the auction house and hurried back to the carriage storage, intending to leave the city overnight.

Suddenly, Qin Dong, who was walking in front, stopped in his tracks.

"Brother Qin, why did you stop?"

Qin Dong didn't answer Zhang Yizhi. His entire attention was locked onto a Middle-aged Man not far away.

The Middle-aged Man was dressed in grey and red martial attire, appearing like an ordinary commoner.

But to Qin Dong, he felt more like a terrifying tiger standing across the street.

"It really is Old Ghost Tianyang's clothing."

The Middle-aged Man focused his mind, his gaze bypassing Qin Dong to land on Zhang Yizhi behind him.

As he walked toward them, he spoke in a deep voice.

"Zhang Yizhi! Do you know your crime!"

"Huh?"

Hearing the man suddenly call his name, Zhang Yizhi was bewildered.

"Zhang Yizhi! You dared to offend the Blood Fiend Young Master. Today is the day you die!"

The Middle-aged Man stopped five zhang away, casting a gaze filled with Killing Intent, radiating bloodthirst.

One could tell at a glance that he had a cultivation base and was not someone to be trifled with.

It looked as if he would strike to kill at any moment.

"Wait! Senior, is there some misunderstanding here?"

"I have no grudge against that Blood Fiend Young Master."

"Senior, I don't even know the Blood Fiend Young Master."

Zhang Yizhi really wanted to jump up and curse. Dammit.

How did I offend your Blood Fiend Young Master? I haven't even heard of him, so how could I have offended him?

Seeing Zhang Yizhi's innocent look, the corner of the Middle-aged Man's mouth couldn't help but twitch.

In all his years of cultivation, he had never seen someone so shameless.

Not only did he kill the Young Master's subordinates, but he also wore their clothes—and if that wasn't enough, he even took the stolen goods to the auction house to fence them.

He had actually been present at the auction earlier. He had met Old Ghost Tianyang and his subordinates before.

They'd had a decent impression of each other.

Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, over twenty sturdy men would be reduced to a pile of old clothes.

That was one thing; the world of cultivation was one where the strong preyed on the weak, so one couldn't blame anyone.

But now the guy was acting all innocent. Disgusting. Even more disgusting than the evil Cultivators of their Black Blood Mountain City.

He didn't relax his guard. He could see that although Zhang Yizhi's surface cultivation was only at the fifth level of the Qi Refining Realm...

...to be able to kill Old Ghost Tianyang, who had been immersed in the Early Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm for years, he must have some Heaven-Defying means.

Either the opponent was hiding his cultivation, or he had some powerful treasure that could harm the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Therefore, he didn't choose to strike immediately but was observing the opponent's details, trying to find a weakness.

"It's over. Brother Qin, save me."

Feeling the other's intensifying Killing Intent, Zhang Yizhi looked to Qin Dong for help.

"Don't worry, Brother Zhang, I believe you."

"Just tell me first, how did you offend this Blood Fiend Young Master?"

Qin Dong glanced at the Middle-aged Man watching them like a hawk from a distance, and immediately thought of the transmission talisman from the black inn.

He hadn't expected them to find them so quickly. How could he stand by and watch Zhang Yizhi be harmed by the other party?

Amitabha, mercy, mercy.

Qin Dong decided to close his eyes and not look.

"Brother Qin, I have never offended any Blood Fiend Young Master."

"You and Sister Zixuan both know that during this time I've been driving the carriage for you, I've been conscientious and haven't dared to be negligent."

"If I've offended anyone, it could only be from the bidding at the auction just now, or perhaps someone is using my name to frame me..."

"Stop! Right there. Let's go back to that."

Hearing this, Qin Dong quickly spoke up, interrupting Zhang Yizhi's recap.

Oh no, he almost discovered the truth.

He hurriedly stopped Zhang Yizhi and began to sort out the situation for him.

"Brother Zhang, actually, things are already quite clear."

"If I'm not mistaken, the Blood Fiend Young Lord should be the person who was outbidding you for that auction item."

"You bid against him and offended him. He held a grudge and sent a powerful expert to kill you."

"Yes, that's very logical."

Beside them, Qin Zixuan also chimed in.

In her eyes, Qin Dong was so handsome; how could such a handsome Young Lord lie?

"Huh? Just for a few Mortal Rank Materials? Is it worth it?"

Zhang Yizhi's eyes widened.

"The Blood Fiend Young Master is too much!"

Qin Zixuan spoke indignantly, standing up for Zhang Yizhi.

"I've heard of this Blood Fiend Young Master's reputation."

"Rumor has it he's a petty man who seeks revenge for the smallest grievance. It's indeed possible."

"Supposedly, he has deep connections with the various major forces in Black Blood Mountain City."

"To offend Black Blood Mountain City is to be not far from death."

"To think you actually offended him..."

Boom.

With Qin Zixuan's corroboration, Zhang Yizhi was instantly stunned as if struck by lightning.

No way, just by bidding for a tiny auction item, he had to pay such a heavy price?

This, what should be done?

"Brother Zhang! Take care!"

"Little Brother Zhang, take care!"

Qin Dong and Qin Zixuan looked solemn, both taking a few steps back and bowing deeply to Zhang Yizhi.

It was as if they were acting like they didn't know him.

Seeing the two of them bowing to him with the attitude of attending a funeral, Zhang Yizhi felt completely numb.