In Little Lake City on such a bustling day, the Xuanhua Spirit Incense Shop naturally opened its doors early, and hung a sign outside for rewarding customers. Not only were the prices significantly discounted, but even the normally limited quantities of Spirit Incense had doubled. Still, by the time noon had not yet arrived, those limited-purchase incense sticks had all sold out.

However, the stream of customers attracted by reputation did not cease, keeping Hu Tu and Mu Yang busy for quite a while until around the start of noon, when visitor numbers finally began to dwindle, allowing them some time to tally the accounts and rest.

After seeing a customer out, Hu Tu turned to see there weren't many customers left in the shop, thus not requiring his attention. He decided to lean against the doorpost to take a brief respite.

As he looked at the lively scene on the street, along with the incoming and outgoing patrons, his eyes couldn't help but reveal a tinge of envy.

"What's the matter, do you also want to go out for a stroll?" Suddenly, Yuan Ming's voice entered Hu Tu's ears, startling him.

"The shop is busiest right now; how dare I neglect it," Hu Tu quickly waved his hands in dismissal.

"Heh heh, you all work hard day and night around the year; now that the city is celebrating a grand event, it's time you got some time off. Here's what we'll do: for the next couple of days, you and Mu Yang will take turns on duty each afternoon, leaving just one person in the shop. I'll also give you this month's wage in advance, go buy whatever you wish," Yuan Ming said.

Hu Tu was overjoyed, and he quickly gave thanks with his hands clasped, but then his expression became concerned, and he spoke in a low voice:

"Boss, I've heard from the customers who come to the shop recently that Chang Chun Temple seems to have sent Core Formation Elders to hunt down Pu Zhengqing."

Having dealt with cultivators in the shop over the years, his familiarity with the Cultivation World had grown, so he had also heard about Yuan Ming's enmity with the Chang Chun Temple.

Now that Core Formation Cultivators from Chang Chun Temple had come to Little Lake City, Hu Tu couldn't help but worry for Yuan Ming.

"You needn't worry about this matter. No one in the city knows I am the hidden owner of the Xuanhua Spirit Incense Shop; Chang Chun Temple won't trace it back to you," Yuan Ming said.

"You misunderstand, boss; I'm concerned for your safety," Hu Tu quickly demonstrated his loyalty.

His current position, even his first steps on the Immortal Path, could be said to be entirely thanks to Yuan Ming's support. Only if Yuan Ming was well, would he be well too.

"I am well aware of what I am doing; if you manage the shop well, that is a great help to me," Yuan Ming nodded.

He then instructed Hu Tu on a few more things before turning around and leaving the shop.

The Tianxiang Auction, as a triennial grand event, always attracts a large number of cultivators from different countries each time it is held.

Not everyone can acquire their desired items at the auction, so at this time each year, some customers come with loads of Spirit Stones and leave with an abundance of magic treasures and elixirs.

This coming and going has enabled other shops in the city to spot business opportunities, throwing out discount signs time after time. Those unable to find their desired items at the auction can't resist buying one or two things when they see this.

Even some cultivators without invitations to the Tianxiang Auction come to the city during the event, just to catch this rare discount festival.

Yuan Ming weaved through the crowd and quickly stepped onto the bridge spanning the city's lake, arriving at the central White Jade Square on the lake's heart.

The crystal tower in the center of the square shone brightly as usual. Yuan Ming looked up at it for a moment before walking towards it.

In front of the tower, two cultivators in trusted aide uniforms stood guard at the main door, one on the left and one on the right. The spiritual energy fluctuated around their bodies, revealing they were both at the early stages of Foundation Establishment.

Yuan Ming approached them and took out an invitation from his bosom, handing it over.

The trusted aides didn't inspect it and simply stepped aside to clear the way.

"Fellow Daoist, please enter. Before the auction officially starts, you can browse freely inside the building, except for the main auction venue. If you need assistance or have any questions, you can consult other patrolling trusted aides within the building," one of the trusted aides advised.

Hearing the reminder from the Foundation Establishment trusted aide, Yuan Ming put away his invitation, nodded, and passed through the doors into the tower.

His view broadened instantly, revealing an extremely grand hall with a massive column standing in the center, stretching all the way to the ceiling.

Dozens of suspended walkways branched out from the colossal column, connecting it with various floors. Standing at the entrance and looking up, it was like a giant ancient tree without leaves, its branches supporting the whole structure.

Yuan Ming then surveyed his surroundings and noticed that on the first floor, besides the giant column, there were neatly arranged wooden stalls. Some already had owners displaying items for sale, while others were still vacant.

He stopped a passing trusted aide and after inquiring, he learned that the first floor was specifically reserved for cultivators who had the need to set up their own stalls. However, the cultivators were not required to hawk their wares themselves; the Tianxiang Auction had arranged for professionals to sell on their behalf. If there were any incidents of lost items, the losses would be fully compensated.

Walking among the stalls, Yuan Ming noticed that the goods for sale varied in quality, and most of the stalls were mainly buying rather than selling. He soon lost interest and approached the giant column.

Only when he approached did he realize that at the very bottom of the pillar, there were many small doors, each with a spirit ladder installed within them, just like the ones he had seen in the teahouse. However, the spirits here were already prefitted with spirit stones in the formations painted on the walls, and they were also inscribed with numbers to indicate the floors.

Yuan Ming entered the spirit ladder and pressed the spirit stone labeled with the number 'two'. Soon, the spirit ladder began to slowly ascend within the huge pillar, bringing him to an aerial walkway that led to the second floor.

It was only at this moment that Yuan Ming discovered that, aside from the first floor, the other levels of the high building seemed to be constructed in a circular shape, allowing one to choose between using the spirit ladder or walking on the aerial walkways to move between them.

Unlike the first floor, the second floor was lined with large display stands against the walls, each styled in a distinct fashion that seemed to carry a strong sense of regional and Sect identity.

To the left of Yuan Ming was a display stand themed with lush flowers and greenery, with tender green vines climbing every corner of the platform. On the walls, blossoms the size of a human head flourished in pink, their centers covered by round glass shields. Suspended within these shields were various elixirs emitting a faint glow, appearing quite novel.

Curious, Yuan Ming walked over and discovered that the display stand belonged to Shengye Sect. There were many Shengye Sect disciples milling about, and Luo Xing'er was among them.

At that moment, she was not dressed in the attire of a Shengye Sect disciple but was wearing a carefully tailored light green dress. The dress flared out like lotus leaves in a pond, while a gauzy ribbon wound around her slender waist. From the end of the ribbon hung a piece of turquoise jade, partially concealed within the folds of her dress, creating an impression of a small boat in a lotus pond.

Upon hearing someone approach, Luo Xing'er quickly looked up, and upon seeing Yuan Ming, a look of joy spread across her face. She trotted over and leaned in close to Yuan Ming,

"Cous... Oh, it's Senior Hagon! Are you here to attend the Tianxiang Auction too?"

Yuan Ming nodded and glanced around the stand, "I happen to have an invitation and thought I'd take a look. What are you selling at this stand?"

"These are elixirs developed by the uncles in our Sect through the study of ancient formulas. If Senior Hagon is interested, let me introduce them to you," Luo Xing'er said.

Just as Yuan Ming was about to decline, he suddenly heard someone behind him ask,

"Are you Hagon?"

Turning around, he saw a kindly old man standing there, with white hair and beard, and a face beaming with smiles, his eyes crinkled into lines.

Behind the old man followed several Foundation Establishment cultivators, all wearing the same clothing. Yuan Ming even recognized a few of them; they were the Chang Chun Temple cultivators he had seen at the meeting with Lu Shen in the Loose Cultivation Association.

Luo Xing'er also recognized these people, and her whole body stiffened instantaneously, her hand clutching Yuan Ming's arm tense with nerves.

Yuan Ming smiled and patted the back of Luo Xing'er's hand, pulling his arm away and giving her a reassuring look, before he cupped his hands and inquired,

"Indeed, I am Hagon. May I ask who the senior before me is?"

The old man, a Core Formation cultivator, responded with a smile,

"I am Zuo Qinghui, an elder of Chang Chun Temple. I'm here to eradicate the Evil Path Soul Cultivator Pu Zhengqing. Our Sect disciples here have mentioned your name before, and we planned to contact you through Shengye Sect, but I didn't expect to encounter you here."

"Senior Zuo is too kind. What brings you looking for me?" Yuan Ming asked.

"It's nothing serious, I just wanted to ask you about the details of your encounter with Pu Zhengqing. But now that I've met you, you appear much younger than I imagined, and to be capable of defeating the strong while at the early stages of Foundation Establishment, such talent is wasted on a Loose Cultivator. Would you consider joining Chang Chun Temple to help eradicate Pu Zhengqing?" Zuo Qinghui said.

"Senior flatters me with his generous offer, and I'm greatly honored. However, I'm used to being undisciplined and do not wish to join any Sect for the time being, I hope Senior understands," Yuan Ming said.

As soon as these words were spoken, Zuo Qinghui had not yet responded, but someone behind him immediately showed anger.

"Hagon, think it through. So many people wish to join our Chang Chun Temple but find no doorway in, even if they plead. If you refuse today, don't regret it later."

Yuan Ming remained unmoved, not even casting a glance at the speaker, his gaze still lingering on Zuo Qinghui.

Despite the disciples behind him showing different reactions, Zuo Qinghui did not display any annoyance, still smiling warmly,

"Perhaps you, as a Loose Cultivator, think that joining our Sect might lead to being ostracized. You don't have to worry about that. I invite you not just to recruit talent, but more importantly because I see potential in you, and I wish to find a Closed-door Disciple for myself. Should you agree to this, you will be my disciple, Zuo Qinghui, from now on, and no one within the Sect will dare to trouble you."

Hearing Zuo Qinghui's words, his disciples were all surprised, while the Shengye Sect disciples nearby also murmured in shock and envy.

However, Yuan Ming's stance remained firm, "I already have a master and have no intention of switching allegiances, please forgive me, Senior."

At this, even the smile on Zuo Qinghui's face slightly faded, and the disciples of Chang Chun Temple behind him looked somewhat angry.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.