Ji Yuan just took a quick glance and then withdrew his gaze.

He had changed his appearance now, so it wasn't convenient to greet anyone; he could only wait until the auction finished to assess the situation.

Before long,

he was led by the female cultivator to a private room on the second floor, where a small Spirit Gathering Array was activated, and fresh spirit fruits were laid on the table.

There was even a small bed beside it for resting.

If only Senior Sister Dong were here… The thought just arose before Ji Yuan shook it away, not daring to think randomly.

"This auction will last for quite a while. If you need anything, elder, feel free to send me a communication."

The female cultivator said this and handed out a white communication talisman with both hands.

Ji Yuan casually accepted it and placed it into his storage bag, "Alright, you can go about your business now."

"Yes, I will take my leave, elder."

After the female cultivator bowed and left, Ji Yuan closed the door and activated the restriction within the room. From here, he could observe the happenings outside, while those outside couldn't see him inside the room.

He stood by the window, looking down at the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the hall below.

His gaze lingered for a moment on one person specifically.

Isle Master Qinghe.

More accurately, it should be Senior Brother Qinghe.

Back when Ji Yuan was still in the Water Dragon Sect, before he had reached Foundation Establishment or even taken a master, he had taken on a task from Hua Yaoyue to collect wines at the Thousand Mechanism Hall.

And Isle Master Qinghe was the one responsible for overseeing this task.

In fact, one could say that Ji Yuan later got to know Hua Yaoyue due to Isle Master Qinghe's matchmaking efforts.

After successfully reaching Foundation Establishment, Ji Yuan exchanged communications with him a few times, and when visiting the Thousand Mechanism Hall, they had tea together a few times in the back hall.

Yet, without any substantial ties, their relationship gradually faded.

Like these past two years, they hadn't seen each other much.

Though in Ji Yuan's storage bag, there were still his communication talismans.

Ji Yuan didn't expect to encounter him again in Lanshan City, thousands of miles away.

'But why is he here?'

Ji Yuan stood on the second floor observing him.

At this time, Isle Master Qinghe was leaning sideways in a seat, his right hand drooping over the chair in front, seemingly chatting with another middle-aged man, both wearing smiles on their faces.

But most of the time, it seemed to be Isle Master Qinghe talking, while the other occasionally chimed in.

This kind of situation usually indicates... Isle Master Qinghe wishes to make acquaintances, but the other person doesn't seem too interested.

Ji Yuan watched for a while and noticed that the seat Isle Master Qinghe occupied wasn't his.

Because a female cultivator in a light green long skirt approached the spot behind him, repeatedly confirming before speaking to Isle Master Qinghe.

Isle Master Qinghe hurriedly stood up, bowed his head in apology a few times, then said goodbye to the middle-aged man and left.

After leaving the central position of the hall, he moved to the right side of the hall, standing in the shadows.

Ji Yuan happened to be able to see him clearly from where he was, so he observed him a bit more.

Isle Master Qinghe stood there for about half an incense stick's time until a serving girl of the auction approached him, whispering a few words.

He immediately followed her out.

The direction he headed was towards the auction's inner hall.

Until his figure disappeared entirely from Ji Yuan's view, only then did Ji Yuan withdraw his gaze... It was a bit strange; at first, he thought Isle Master Qinghe came here to attend the auction.

But seeing him removed from the position made Ji Yuan suspect otherwise.

When a female cultivator came searching for him, Ji Yuan assumed his seat might be similar to his, a private room on the second floor.

However, from the way they spoke... it didn't seem so. Isle Master Qinghe didn't appear to be here for the auction but rather seemed like internal personnel of the auction house.

'Could it be that Senior Brother Qinghe has taken on some job, earning some side income at the auction house?'

Ji Yuan didn't know why.

Although he was a bit curious, he wouldn't pursue it.

Everyone leads their own life; as long as it doesn't interfere with him, it's fine.

Afterward, he waited in the private room for about an hour or so, approximately until the hour of Chen (around 7-9 am). Seeing that the seats in the hall were filled, the auction began amid a chorus of cheers.

The auction commenced, followed by the dull phases of bidding and shouting offers.

Moreover, the items being auctioned at the front typically weren't very valuable, with most selling for less than 500 mid-grade spirit stones, including quite a few One-Stripe Foundation Establishment Pills.

Ji Yuan, lacking even the thought to bid, sat resting in the private room.

The first half of the auction lasted an entire day.

Ji Yuan had noticed that most of these items were bid on by those seated in the hall below.

Few from the second floor participated in bidding, and none from the third floor did.

After a day.

The old cultivator hosting the auction stepped down and was replaced by a young, beautiful woman, also a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Ji Yuan had heard Ning Shanshan mention this person before, saying she was the dao partner of Ye Chen, the top Foundation Establishment cultivator from Spirit Control Sect.

Her name was He Qianyue, and because of her looks and being Ye Chen's dao partner, she was quite renowned within the grounds of Spirit Control Sect.

Like now, as soon as He Qianyue appeared, many in the hall greeted her warmly.

Referring to her as Fairy He, as if quite familiar.

He Qianyue greeted them all back and then smiled, suggesting that everyone take a break for an hour as the auction was a lot of hard work.

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