rú mén ？
儒门？
The Rujun Sect?
lín xuān shì zhēn de yǒu xiē jīng yà le 。
林轩是真的有些惊讶了。
Lin Xuan was genuinely surprised.
shì rén xiū xiān ， zhǐ wèi cháng shēng ér yǐ ， xiān dào zì gǔ jiù yǒu ， chuán chéng le bù zhī duō shǎo suì yuè ， liú pài gèng shì kāi zhī sàn yè 。
世人修仙，只为长生而已，仙道自古就有，传承了不知多少岁月，流派更是开枝散叶。
In this world, people cultivated to achieve immortality. The path of the Immortal had existed since ancient times and spanned countless years, with numerous sects branching out from it.
fú 、 dào 、 rú 、 mó shù liàng zhòng duō ， bù yī ér zú 。
佛、道、儒、魔数量众多，不一而足。
Buddhists, Daoists, Confucians, and demons numbered in the dozens, each with their own unique practices. Besides these, there were also some practitioners from various races, such as the witchcraft of the Mo Yue Clan or the spiritual arts of the Kui Yuan Clan. Even some extinct sects had long since faded into obscurity.
chú cǐ zhī wài ， hái yǒu yī xiē yì zú de xiū xiān zhě ， bǐ rú shuō mò yuè zú de wū shī ， kuí yuán zú de líng shì ， shèn zhì yǐ jīng miè jué le de liú pài ， rú jīn zǎo yǐ bù wéi rén suǒ zhī 。
除此之外，还有一些异族的修仙者，比如说墨月族的巫师，魁元族的灵士，甚至已经灭绝了的流派，如今早已不为人所知。
In his previous life in Youzhou, Lin Xuan mainly encountered Daoist cultivators and demon practitioners, except for a few fortunate coincidences in Kuinyan Mountain. As for the Rujun Sect, it was already on the decline there. They were rumored to have unique cultivation techniques, which piqued Lin Xuan's interest.
lín xuān xī rì zài yōu zhōu zhī shí ， chú le kuí yīn shān mài de yī fān qí yù ， píng shí suǒ jiē chù de xiū shì ， chú le mó dào zhōng rén ， jiù shì dào jiā de zhèng dào xiū shì 。
林轩昔日在幽州之时，除了奎阴山脉的一番奇遇，平时所接触的修士，除了魔道中人，就是道家的正道修士。
From Zhang Feng, he learned quite a bit of useful information. The Spin Kun Island had a large river running through its center, dividing it into two roughly equal halves. The Hengshan Sect and the Demon Obscure Gate faced each other across this river for nearly ten thousand years.
zhì yú rú mén ， zài nà lǐ zǎo yǐ mò luò ， tīng shuō tā men de gōng fǎ ， pǒ yǒu dú dào zhī chù ， niàn jí zhì cǐ ， lín xuān liǎn bù dòng shēng sè ， xīn zhōng què pǒ yǒu nà me jǐ fēn gǎn xìng qù le 。
至于儒门，在那里早已没落，听说他们的功法，颇有独到之处，念及至此，林轩脸不动声色，心中却颇有那么几分感兴趣了。
The market Lin Xuan was currently in belonged to the Demon Obscure Gate, part of their territory. As for the spirit veins, Spin Kun Island had many but were mostly already claimed by various factions.
suí hòu lín xuān yòu cóng zhè zhāng fēng kǒu lǐ ， liǎo jiě dào bù shǎo yǒu yòng de xìn xī ， yuán lái zhè xuán kōng dǎo ， yǒu yī tiáo héng guàn dōng xī de dà hé ， jiāng cǐ dǎo yī fēn wéi èr ， liǎng biān de miàn jī chà bu duō ， hào rán zōng yǔ mó yōu mén yě jiù yǐ cǐ hé wèi jiè ， duì zhì le jìn wàn nián de suì yuè 。
随后林轩又从这张峰口里，了解到不少有用的信息，原来这旋崆岛，有一条横贯东西的大河，将此岛一分为二，两边的面积差不多，浩然宗与魔幽门也就以此河为界，对峙了近万年的岁月。
Lin Xuan listened calmly, but he stored all these details in his mind. After about a quarter hour, more high-ranking cultivators arrived. Just as Lin Xuan was feeling slightly agitated, a burly man wearing a short shirt approached the stone table and bowed: "I apologize for keeping everyone waiting. The auction will now begin."
ér zì jǐ rú jīn suǒ zài de zhè zuò fāng shì ， yě shì mó yōu mén de chǎn yè zhī yī ， shǔ yú mó dào de shì lì 。
而自己如今所在的这座坊市，也是魔幽门的产业之一，属于魔道的势力。
"Wait, I haven't even arrived yet. Why is this auction starting so hastily?"
zhì yú líng mài ， xuán kōng dǎo zì rán yě yǒu bù shǎo ， dàn jī běn yǐ bèi gè dà shì lì guā fēn wán bì 。
至于灵脉，旋崆岛自然也有不少，但基本已被各大势力瓜分完毕。
A deep voice echoed, with an underlying hint of mockery. Everyone turned to look at its source.
lín xuān biǎo qíng dàn dàn de tīng zhe ， dàn què jiāng zhè xiē xìn xī yī yī láo jì zài xīn lǐ 。
林轩表情淡淡的听着，但却将这些信息一一牢记在心里。
From the mist, a fat man walked out, his appearance comical and grotesque. He was only five feet tall but had an enormous waistline that seemed eight feet around. While being overweight wasn't his fault, it was still quite unusual for such extreme proportions.
yòu zǒu le yuē yǒu yī kè zhōng ， zhāng fēng jiāng lín xuān dài jìn le yī zuò shí wū 。
又走了约有一刻钟，张峰将林轩带进了一座石屋。
Lin Xuan, despite his extensive experience, couldn't help but show a strange expression upon seeing him. However, his face quickly turned serious.
shí wū lǐ chén shè pǔ tōng ， gēn páng biān de diàn pù méi yǒu shén me bù tóng ， dàn zhāng fēng xiǎn rán shì shú kè ， chōng zhǎng guì shǐ le yí gè yǎn sè 。 zhǎng guì huì yì ， diǎn le diǎn tóu ， lì kè jiù yǒu yī shēn chuān qīng yī de xiǎo sī ， jiāng lín xuān lǐng dào le hòu yuàn lǐ 。
石屋里陈设普通，跟旁边的店铺没有什么不同，但张峰显然是熟客，冲掌柜使了一个眼色。掌柜会意，点了点头，立刻就有一身穿青衣的小厮，将林轩领到了后院里。
As the saying goes, one cannot judge a book by its cover. This fat man's appearance was comical, yet his cultivation level towered over everyone else; he was an old One Core Formation cultivator.
yuàn zi lǐ yǒu liǎng kē cāng cuì de qīng sōng ， chú cǐ yǐ wài ， bié wú tā wù ， dàn lín xuān de shén shí yuǎn shèng tóng jiē xiū shì ， yòu céng yán jiū guò xuán jī xīn dé ， yī yǎn jiù kàn chū ， zhè lǐ bèi gāo rén shī yǐ guò huàn shù 。
院子里有两棵苍翠的青松，除此以外，别无他物，但林轩的神识远胜同阶修士，又曾研究过璇玑心得，一眼就看出，这里被高人施以过幻术。
"Old Round."
guǒ rán ， nà xiǎo sī cóng huái zhōng qǔ chū yī zhāng fú zhǐ ， kǒu zhōng niàn niàn yǒu cí ， suí hòu yì diǎn zhǐ ， jiāng nà fú zhǐ jì le chū qù ， huà wèi yī dào qīng sè de huǒ yàn ， mò rù dào le liǎng kē sōng shù zhī jiān 。
果然，那小厮从怀中取出一张符纸，口中念念有词，随后一点指，将那符纸祭了出去，化为一道青色的火焰，没入到了两颗松树之间。
"Is it really that old monster, Old Round? Why is he here for this auction?"
yī tuán líng guāng bào liè kāi lái ， suí hòu qián miàn de kōng qì yī zhèn niǔ qū ， yī tiáo xiǎo lù mò míng qí miào de chū xiàn zài le shì xiàn lǐ 。
一团灵光爆裂开来，随后前面的空气一阵扭曲，一条小路莫名其妙的出现在了视线里。
Lin Xuan was unfamiliar with the place, but among these experts, there were certainly those who had seen much. At first, Lin Xuan was startled to hear his name mentioned, thinking of the Elder from Kuinyan Mountain. However, upon closer listening, he realized that this Old Round and the previous one were entirely different.
zhè fǎ shù suī rán shén qí ， dàn yǐ lín xuān de xiū wèi ， zì rán bìng bù fàng zài yǎn lǐ ， liǎn biǎo qíng wú jīng wú xǐ ， suí zhe nà xiǎo sī zǒu le guò qù 。
这法术虽然神奇，但以林轩的修为，自然并不放在眼里，脸表情无惊无喜，随着那小厮走了过去。
In front of this old monster, everyone was cautious and dared not speak freely about him. From subtle hints, Lin Xuan learned some information: although his cultivation level was high, he did not belong to any faction; he was a lone cultivator known for his vicious actions and earning the nickname "Smiling Tiger."
hěn kuài yī piàn kāi kuò de kòng dì yìng rù le yǎn lián lǐ ， sì zhōu zé shì nóng nóng de wù qì ， lín xuān jiāng shén shí fàng chū ， jū rán yě wú fǎ kàn qīng zhōu wéi de jǐng wù ， bú yòng shuō ， bèi rén bù zhì yǒu zhèn fǎ le 。
很快一片开阔的空地映入了眼帘里，四周则是浓浓的雾气，林轩将神识放出，居然也无法看清周围的景物，不用说，被人布置有阵法了。
Lin Xuan mentally chewed on this name but dismissed it with a smile. Even if the Smiling Tiger was notorious, it had little direct connection to him.
lín xuān xīn zhōng yī lǐn ， dàn yě bù gǎn zào cì ， bì jìng néng gòu jǔ bàn mì shì pāi mài huì de ， dōu shì pǒ yǒu gēn jī de shì lì ， rú jīn tā shì xiǎng yào zhǎo dì fāng bì guān xiū xíng ， zì rán bù yuàn yì zhāng yáng zhǎo lái huò shì 。
林轩心中一凛，但也不敢造次，毕竟能够举办秘市拍卖会的，都是颇有根基的势力，如今他是想要找地方闭关修行，自然不愿意张扬找来祸事。
Everyone else also turned their attention away, fearing that Old Round might notice them.
zhè kuài kòng dì miàn jī bù xiǎo ， yuē yǒu bǎi yú zhàng de yàng zi ， xī xī shū shū de zhàn yǒu sān sì shí míng xiū shì ， rén shù suī rán bù duō ， dàn jū rán méi yǒu yī míng dī jiē xiū xiān zhě ， xiū wèi zuì dī de ， yě yǒu níng dān chū qī le ， shèn zhì hái yǒu jǐ míng dà yuán mǎn jìng jiè de lǎo jiā huǒ 。
这块空地面积不小，约有百余丈的样子，稀稀疏疏的站有三四十名修士，人数虽然不多，但居然没有一名低阶修仙者，修为最低的，也有凝丹初期了，甚至还有几名大圆满境界的老家伙。
After all, an One Core Formation cultivator possessed divine powers and could not be underestimated even as a lone cultivator.
lín xuān de liǎn bù yóu de lù chū yī sī níng zhòng zhī sè ， ér jiāng tā dài dào cǐ chǔ yǐ hòu ， nà qīng yī xiǎo sī jiù yuán lù fǎn huí le 。
林轩的脸不由得露出一丝凝重之色，而将他带到此处以后，那青衣小厮就原路返回了。
"Your Excellency Old Round has graced our market with his presence. This greatly enhances the honor of this place." The man who was hosting the auction looked at the notorious old monster with a strange expression, seemingly both surprised and displeased, but he did not show any outward signs.
lín xuān de dào lái ， yě yǐn qǐ le bù shǎo yǒu xīn rén de zhù yì ， bìng fēi tā xiū wèi yǒu duō me liǎo bù qǐ ， ér shì tài nián qīng le ， yào zhī dào ， yǒu zhù yán gōng xiào ， yòu shì hé nán xiū de gōng fǎ kě shì fèng máo lín jiǎo 。
林轩的到来，也引起了不少有心人的注意，并非他修为有多么了不起，而是太年轻了，要知道，有驻颜功效，又适合男修的功法可是凤毛麟角。
"It's nothing. I'm just an ordinary customer. You don't need to pay much attention; just host the auction well," Old Round said kindly.
bù guò zhè xiē rén hěn kuài jiù shōu huí le mù guāng ， wú tā ， chú le guò fèn nián qīng wài ， cóng biǎo miàn kàn ， lín xuān shí zài tài guò píng cháng 。
不过这些人很快就收回了目光，无他，除了过分年轻外，从表面看，林轩实在太过平常。
"Thank you, Your Excellency." The man felt no relief despite his words. The Smiling Tiger could change his demeanor in a heartbeat—what seemed like a kind elder one moment and a butcher the next.
zhè me duō gāo jiē xiū shì huì jù yú cǐ ， rán ér dì jū rán méi yǒu yī bǎ yǐ zi ， zhǐ shì zài kòng dì qián fāng ， yǒu yī zuò zhàng xǔ zhǎng de shí zhuō ， ér qiě tóng yàng jiǎn lòu fēi cháng 。
这么多高阶修士汇聚于此，然而地居然没有一把椅子，只是在空地前方，有一座丈许长的石桌，而且同样简陋非常。
Although this secret market was run by the Demon Obscure Gate, if that old monster got carried away...
dàn lín xuān bù jǐn méi yǒu qīng shì ， jiè yì fǎn ér yuè fā de wǎng tí 。
但林轩不仅没有轻视，戒意反而越发的往提。
Many One Core Formation cultivators were unpredictable, but he had to toughen up and start hosting the auction.
yòu děng le xiǎo bàn gè shí chén ， lù lù xù xù yòu lái le jǐ wèi gāo jiē xiū shì 。
又等了小半个时辰，陆陆续续又来了几位高阶修士。
The man took out his storage bag and slapped it. A pair of fiery red hooks appeared on the stone table, glowing with spirit energy.
zhèng dāng lín xuān lüè wēi gǎn dào yǒu xiē fán zào zhī shí ， yí gè chuān zhe duǎn shān de dà hàn zǒu dào le nà zuò shí zhuō de qián miàn ， bào le bào quán ：“ ràng zhū wèi tóng dào jiǔ děng le ， pāi mài huì xiàn zài zhèng shì kāi shǐ 。”
正当林轩略微感到有些烦躁之时，一个穿着短衫的大汉走到了那座石桌的前面，抱了抱拳：“让诸位同道久等了，拍卖会现在正式开始。”
"These fire dragon hooks are forged from meteoric iron and infused with twenty-one rare materials, none of which have recognized their master yet. After a bit of ritual purification, they can be used," the man said as he channeled mana into the hooks. A dragon's roar echoed, and two miniature dragons about a foot long appeared in mid-air, swallowing clouds and spitting smoke. The man then said emotionlessly: "Starting bid is thirty thousand crystals; bidding can begin."
“ děng děng ， lǎo fū dōu méi yǒu dào ， zhè pāi mài huì rú cǐ jí zhe gàn shén me ？”
“等等，老夫都没有到，这拍卖会如此急着干什么？”
"Thirty thousand one."
yī yǒu xiē hún hòu de shēng yīn xiǎng qǐ ， lǐ miàn jìng yǐn yǐn dài yǒu jǐ fēn cháo nòng zhī yì ， zhòng rén yī dāi ， hǎo dà de kǒu qì ， bù yóu de zhuǎn tóu xiàng nà shēng yīn de fā chū dì wàng le guò qù 。
一有些浑厚的声音响起，里面竟隐隐带有几分嘲弄之意，众人一呆，好大的口气，不由得转头向那声音的发出地望了过去。
"Thirty thousand two."
zhǐ jiàn cóng nà wù qì zhī zhōng ， huǎn huǎn de zǒu lái le yí gè pàng zi ， hān tài kě jū ， shēn cái gèng shì kě xiào zhī jí ， shēn gāo wǔ chǐ ， kě nà yāo wéi kǒng pà dé yǒu bā chǐ ， suī shuō pàng bú shì tā de cuò ， dàn pàng dé zhè me bù chéng bǐ lì wèi miǎn yǒu xiē tài guò gǔ guài le 。
只见从那雾气之中，缓缓的走来了一个胖子，憨态可掬，身材更是可笑之极，身高五尺，可那腰围恐怕得有八尺，虽说胖不是他的错，但胖得这么不成比例未免有些太过古怪了。
"Thirty thousand seven."...
lín xuān yě suàn shì jiàn duō shí guǎng le ， kě kàn le cǐ rén ， liǎn yě bù yóu de lù chū gǔ guài zhī sè ， rán ér xià yī kè ， biǎo qíng què biàn dé shí fēn yán sù 。
林轩也算是见多识广了，可看了此人，脸也不由得露出古怪之色，然而下一刻，表情却变得十分严肃。
Lin Xuan did not need this treasure, but his keen eyesight revealed that these hooks were indeed first-grade items. Generally, auctions became more valuable as they progressed, so it was unusual for such a high-quality artifact to appear early on. This was certainly worth looking forward to.
sú huà shuō rén bù kě mào xiàng ， hǎi shuǐ bù kě dǒu liáng ， zhè ge pàng zi shēn cái kě xiào ， rán ér xiū wèi què yā dǎo qún xióng ， jū rán shì yī yuán yīng qī de lǎo guài wù 。
俗话说人不可貌相，海水不可斗量，这个胖子身材可笑，然而修为却压倒群雄，居然是一元婴期的老怪物。
Just as Lin Xuan was thinking this, he suddenly felt an uncomfortable sensation in the center of his forehead. He glanced back and met the gaze of the Smiling Tiger, Old Round.
“ hún yuán lǎo zǔ 。”
“浑圆老祖。”
A faint glint of something strange flashed in the other's eyes, but his face remained kind. Lin Xuan's heart sank, but on the surface, he forced a stiff smile.
“ jū rán shì hún yuán nà lǎo guài wù ， tā zěn me yě lái zhè pāi mài huì le ？”
“居然是浑圆那老怪物，他怎么也来这拍卖会了？”
"Could this old monster be working with that Elder Kǔ?" Lin Xuan thought to himself, though he found this idea too far-fetched.
lín xuān shì rén shēng dì bù shú ， dàn zhè mǎn wū gāo shǒu zhī zhōng ， zì rán bù fá jiàn duō shí guǎng zhě ， qǐ chū tīng le zhè lǎo guài wù de míng hào ， lín xuān hái bèi xià le yī dà tiào ， zěn me yǔ kuí yīn shān mài zhōng nà mò yuè zú dà zhǎng lǎo yī mú yī yàng ， dàn hòu lái zǐ xì qīng tīng ， cái fā xiàn cǐ hún yuán yǔ bǐ hùn yuán shì wán quán liǎng yàng 。
林轩是人生地不熟，但这满屋高手之中，自然不乏见多识广者，起初听了这老怪物的名号，林轩还被吓了一大跳，怎么与奎阴山脉中那墨月族大长老一模一样，但后来仔细倾听，才发现此浑圆与彼混元是完全两样。
Despite his frustration, he was not panicking. With Mo'er's assistance and the aid of an Alchemy Formation cultivator, he had some fighting chance against a One Core Formation cultivator.
dāng zhe zhè lǎo guài wù de miàn ， zhòng rén gù jì pǒ duō ， zì rán bù gǎn hú luàn yì lùn tā shén me ， dàn cóng xiē wēi yán yǔ lǐ ， lín xuān yě liǎo jiě dào yī xiē xìn xī ， cǐ rén xiū wèi suī gāo ， què bù shǔ yú rèn hé yī fāng shì lì ， nǎi shì yī jiè sàn xiū ér yǐ ， píng shí xiào róng kě jū ， dàn xíng shì què dú là yǐ jí ， yǒu zhe xiào miàn hǔ de měi yù 。
当着这老怪物的面，众人顾忌颇多，自然不敢胡乱议论他什么，但从些微言语里，林轩也了解到一些信息，此人修为虽高，却不属于任何一方势力，乃是一介散修而已，平时笑容可掬，但行事却毒辣以极，有着笑面虎的美誉。
Lin Xuan did not know that Old Round was also muttering to himself: "This kid has such high vigilance; he noticed me."
xiào miàn hǔ ， lín xuān zài xīn zhōng jǔ jué le liǎng biàn ， jiù yī xiào zhì zhī ， tā zài xiōng míng zài wài ， yě yǔ zì jǐ méi yǒu duō dà de guān lián 。
笑面虎，林轩在心中咀嚼了两遍，就一笑置之，他再凶名在外，也与自己没有多大的关联。
Both men harbored ulterior motives, but the auction continued as planned.
qí tā rén yě dōu shōu huí le mù guāng ， wéi kǒng bèi zhè lǎo guài wù dīng 。
其他人也都收回了目光，唯恐被这老怪物盯。
As Lin Xuan suspected, the items that followed were equally impressive. All present were high-ranking cultivators, though not all were wealthy, and the bidding was fierce.
yào zhī dào yuán yīng xiū shì shí yǒu tōng tiān chè dì de shén tōng ， jiù suàn shì yī jiè sàn xiū ， yě jué méi yǒu rèn hé shì lì gǎn qīng shì 。
要知道元婴修士实有通天彻地的神通，就算是一介散修，也绝没有任何势力敢轻视。
To be honest, one of the spirit herbs would have tempted even Lin Xuan, but he decided against it, not because he was stingy with his crystals but due to his uncertainty about why the Smiling Tiger was interested in him.
“ yuán lái shì hún yuán qián bèi guāng lín bǐ shì ， shí lìng cǐ dì péng bì shēng huī 。” nà zhǔ chí pāi mài de dà hàn kàn le yī yǎn zhè xiōng míng zài wài de lǎo guài ， biǎo qíng pǒ wèi gǔ guài ， shì jīng yà ， shì bù mǎn ， dàn biǎo miàn què bù gǎn yǒu sī háo de liú lù chū lái 。
“原来是浑圆前辈光临鄙市，实令此地蓬荜生辉。”那主持拍卖的大汉看了一眼这凶名在外的老怪，表情颇为古怪，似惊讶，似不满，但表面却不敢有丝毫的流露出来。
However, what happened next greatly exceeded his expectations. As the auction neared its end, the man took out one last item from his storage bag—a pale blue command token.
“ méi shén me ， lǎo fū yě bù guò shì yī míng pǔ tōng de gù kè ， nǐ bù yòng duō jiā lǐ huì ， zhǔ chí hǎo pāi mài jiù xíng le 。” hún yuán lǎo zǔ biǎo qíng hé shàn de shuō 。
“没什么，老夫也不过是一名普通的顾客，你不用多加理会，主持好拍卖就行了。”浑圆老祖表情和善的说。
This token was roughly the size of a palm and unknown material, with an ancient design on its front—Mò (Demon).
“ shì ， xiè xiè lǎo zǔ 。” dà hàn kě méi yǒu gǎn dào sī háo de qīng sōng ， zhè ge lǎo guài wù wài hào xiào miàn hǔ ， fān liǎn zhī kuài yóu rú fān ， qián yī kè hái shì cí xiáng lǎo zhě ， hòu yī kè jiù kě yǐ tú lù bié rén mǎn wū 。
“是，谢谢老祖。”大汉可没有感到丝毫的轻松，这个老怪物外号笑面虎，翻脸之快犹如翻，前一刻还是慈祥老者，后一刻就可以屠戮别人满屋。
"Eh, this is a command token from the Demon Obscure Gate."
suī shuō zhè mì shì shì mó yōu mén kāi shè ， dàn wàn yī lǎo jiā huǒ tóu nǎo fā rè ……
虽说这秘市是魔幽门开设，但万一老家伙头脑发热……
"Why would he bring this here?"...
bì jìng hěn duō yuán yīng qī lǎo guài dōu shì xǐ nù wú cháng de ， suī rán xīn zhōng zhè yàng xiǎng ， dàn tā yě zhǐ yǒu yìng qǐ tóu pí ， kāi shǐ zhǔ chí qǐ pāi mài huì lái le 。
毕竟很多元婴期老怪都是喜怒无常的，虽然心中这样想，但他也只有硬起头皮，开始主持起拍卖会来了。
The cultivators began to discuss among themselves, their faces filled with confusion. However, Lin Xuan noticed that some of them looked excited and greedily at the token.
dà hàn shēn chū shǒu lái ， zài chǔ wù dài yī pāi ， qián miàn de shí zhuō ， dùn shí duō chū le yī duì huǒ hóng sè de wān gōu lái ， líng guāng shǎn shǎn ， yī kàn jiù pǒ wèi bù fán 。
大汉伸出手来，在储物袋一拍，前面的石桌，顿时多出了一对火红色的弯钩来，灵光闪闪，一看就颇为不凡。
Lin Xuan's eyebrows raised as his expression turned thoughtful.
“ zhè duì huǒ lóng gōu nǎi tiān wài yǔn tiě suǒ zhù ， jiā rù gè zhǒng zhēn qí huǒ shǔ xìng cái liào èr shí yī zhǒng ， shàng wèi rèn zhǔ ， gè wèi dào mǎi huí qù yǐ hòu ， shāo jiā jì liàn ， jiù kě yǐ shǐ yòng 。” dà hàn yī biān shuō ， yī biān xiàng wān gōu zhōng zhù rù fǎ lì ， yī zhèn lóng yín zhī hòu ， cǐ bǎo huàn huà chéng le liǎng tiáo chǐ xǔ dà xiǎo de mí nǐ jiāo lóng zài kōng zhōng tūn yún tǔ wù ， dà hàn zé miàn wú biǎo qíng de kāi kǒu le ：“ dǐ jià sān wàn jīng shí ， gè wèi dào jìng pāi kě yǐ kāi shǐ 。”
“这对火龙钩乃天外陨铁所铸，加入各种珍奇火属性材料二十一种，尚未认主，各位道买回去以后，稍加祭炼，就可以使用。”大汉一边说，一边向弯钩中注入法力，一阵龙吟之后，此宝幻化成了两条尺许大小的迷你蛟龙在空中吞云吐雾，大汉则面无表情的开口了：“底价三万晶石，各位道竞拍可以开始。”
"Everyone has seen it; this is a command token from the Demon Obscure Gate, personally issued by the sect leader. The bidder who wins this will become an honorary elder in our sect, with all benefits and honors equal to other elders. Starting bid is two hundred thousand crystals," the man said, his eyes sweeping over everyone, his voice filled with temptation.
The Rujun Sect?
Lin Xuan was genuinely surprised.
In this world, people cultivated to achieve immortality. The path of the Immortal had existed since ancient times and spanned countless years, with numerous sects branching out from it.
Buddhists, Daoists, Confucians, and demons numbered in the dozens, each with their own unique practices. Besides these, there were also some practitioners from various races, such as the witchcraft of the Mo Yue Clan or the spiritual arts of the Kui Yuan Clan. Even some extinct sects had long since faded into obscurity.
In his previous life in Youzhou, Lin Xuan mainly encountered Daoist cultivators and demon practitioners, except for a few fortunate coincidences in Kuinyan Mountain. As for the Rujun Sect, it was already on the decline there. They were rumored to have unique cultivation techniques, which piqued Lin Xuan's interest.
From Zhang Feng, he learned quite a bit of useful information. The Spin Kun Island had a large river running through its center, dividing it into two roughly equal halves. The Hengshan Sect and the Demon Obscure Gate faced each other across this river for nearly ten thousand years.
The market Lin Xuan was currently in belonged to the Demon Obscure Gate, part of their territory. As for the spirit veins, Spin Kun Island had many but were mostly already claimed by various factions.
Lin Xuan listened calmly, but he stored all these details in his mind. After about a quarter hour, more high-ranking cultivators arrived. Just as Lin Xuan was feeling slightly agitated, a burly man wearing a short shirt approached the stone table and bowed: "I apologize for keeping everyone waiting. The auction will now begin."
"Wait, I haven't even arrived yet. Why is this auction starting so hastily?"
A deep voice echoed, with an underlying hint of mockery. Everyone turned to look at its source.
From the mist, a fat man walked out, his appearance comical and grotesque. He was only five feet tall but had an enormous waistline that seemed eight feet around. While being overweight wasn't his fault, it was still quite unusual for such extreme proportions.
Lin Xuan, despite his extensive experience, couldn't help but show a strange expression upon seeing him. However, his face quickly turned serious.
As the saying goes, one cannot judge a book by its cover. This fat man's appearance was comical, yet his cultivation level towered over everyone else; he was an old One Core Formation cultivator.
"Old Round."
"Is it really that old monster, Old Round? Why is he here for this auction?"
Lin Xuan was unfamiliar with the place, but among these experts, there were certainly those who had seen much. At first, Lin Xuan was startled to hear his name mentioned, thinking of the Elder from Kuinyan Mountain. However, upon closer listening, he realized that this Old Round and the previous one were entirely different.
In front of this old monster, everyone was cautious and dared not speak freely about him. From subtle hints, Lin Xuan learned some information: although his cultivation level was high, he did not belong to any faction; he was a lone cultivator known for his vicious actions and earning the nickname "Smiling Tiger."
Lin Xuan mentally chewed on this name but dismissed it with a smile. Even if the Smiling Tiger was notorious, it had little direct connection to him.
Everyone else also turned their attention away, fearing that Old Round might notice them.
After all, an One Core Formation cultivator possessed divine powers and could not be underestimated even as a lone cultivator.
"Your Excellency Old Round has graced our market with his presence. This greatly enhances the honor of this place." The man who was hosting the auction looked at the notorious old monster with a strange expression, seemingly both surprised and displeased, but he did not show any outward signs.
"It's nothing. I'm just an ordinary customer. You don't need to pay much attention; just host the auction well," Old Round said kindly.
"Thank you, Your Excellency." The man felt no relief despite his words. The Smiling Tiger could change his demeanor in a heartbeat—what seemed like a kind elder one moment and a butcher the next.
Although this secret market was run by the Demon Obscure Gate, if that old monster got carried away...
Many One Core Formation cultivators were unpredictable, but he had to toughen up and start hosting the auction.
The man took out his storage bag and slapped it. A pair of fiery red hooks appeared on the stone table, glowing with spirit energy.
"These fire dragon hooks are forged from meteoric iron and infused with twenty-one rare materials, none of which have recognized their master yet. After a bit of ritual purification, they can be used," the man said as he channeled mana into the hooks. A dragon's roar echoed, and two miniature dragons about a foot long appeared in mid-air, swallowing clouds and spitting smoke. The man then said emotionlessly: "Starting bid is thirty thousand crystals; bidding can begin."
"Thirty thousand one."
"Thirty thousand two."
"Thirty thousand seven."...
Lin Xuan did not need this treasure, but his keen eyesight revealed that these hooks were indeed first-grade items. Generally, auctions became more valuable as they progressed, so it was unusual for such a high-quality artifact to appear early on. This was certainly worth looking forward to.
Just as Lin Xuan was thinking this, he suddenly felt an uncomfortable sensation in the center of his forehead. He glanced back and met the gaze of the Smiling Tiger, Old Round.
A faint glint of something strange flashed in the other's eyes, but his face remained kind. Lin Xuan's heart sank, but on the surface, he forced a stiff smile.
"Could this old monster be working with that Elder Kǔ?" Lin Xuan thought to himself, though he found this idea too far-fetched.
Despite his frustration, he was not panicking. With Mo'er's assistance and the aid of an Alchemy Formation cultivator, he had some fighting chance against a One Core Formation cultivator.
Lin Xuan did not know that Old Round was also muttering to himself: "This kid has such high vigilance; he noticed me."
Both men harbored ulterior motives, but the auction continued as planned.
As Lin Xuan suspected, the items that followed were equally impressive. All present were high-ranking cultivators, though not all were wealthy, and the bidding was fierce.
To be honest, one of the spirit herbs would have tempted even Lin Xuan, but he decided against it, not because he was stingy with his crystals but due to his uncertainty about why the Smiling Tiger was interested in him.
However, what happened next greatly exceeded his expectations. As the auction neared its end, the man took out one last item from his storage bag—a pale blue command token.
This token was roughly the size of a palm and unknown material, with an ancient design on its front—Mò (Demon).
"Eh, this is a command token from the Demon Obscure Gate."
"Why would he bring this here?"...
The cultivators began to discuss among themselves, their faces filled with confusion. However, Lin Xuan noticed that some of them looked excited and greedily at the token.
Lin Xuan's eyebrows raised as his expression turned thoughtful.
"Everyone has seen it; this is a command token from the Demon Obscure Gate, personally issued by the sect leader. The bidder who wins this will become an honorary elder in our sect, with all benefits and honors equal to other elders. Starting bid is two hundred thousand crystals," the man said, his eyes sweeping over everyone, his voice filled with temptation.