"Ladies and gentlemen, today's auction will come to a close here. If you're interested, we shall meet again at tomorrow's auction, where the items on display will surely satisfy everyone!"

As Pang Guang's words fell, today's auction officially ended. The Rejuvenating Flame was won by Jiang Chen at the cost of one seventh-grade Lei Ting Fruit plus three sixth-grade Lei Ting Fruits.

"Young Jiang, you got a good deal today. If the Rejuvenating Flame were auctioned the day after tomorrow, you probably wouldn't have gotten it at this price!"

On the road to the trade area of the alliance, Hu Yiqiu spoke with a light smile.

"Even if I were to participate in the auction the day after tomorrow, I am confident I could win this Rejuvenating Flame. It would just require paying a higher price!"

Jiang Chen gently touched the azure ring on his hand and spoke softly.

Hu Yiqiu and a few others paused, glancing at the Space Ring on Jiang Chen's hand, with astonishment in their eyes.

"Young Jiang, having treasures can bring trouble, so be careful in the future!"

Hu Yiqiu solemnly reminded Jiang Chen.

"Master, I will be cautious!"

Jiang Chen smiled and nodded. If not for the fact that only they were around, he wouldn't have revealed that he had something good.

Fire Phoenix's eyes shimmered with a peculiar light, deeply gazing at Jiang Chen.

From the conversation among them, she completely understood and was rather surprised. She didn't expect that the person who attacked the academy back then was actually Tong Jiang, one of the four elders of the Domain Lord's Mansion. What shocked her even more was that the academy gave Jiang Chen the collection of Elder Tong Jiang without even looking at it.

This young man... is the academy really valuing him that highly? It seems I can really look forward to this. Perhaps he can truly assist our family!

Jiang Chen, I hope that when you arrive at the main campus, you can grow rapidly. Your current strength is of no assistance to us!

Fire Phoenix pondered this for a moment and then gently furrowed her brows. How can I convince this young man to agree to help?

"Sun Peng!"

Suddenly, Hu Yiqiu and the others stopped, and a deep voice rang out.

Everyone looked up to see an old man pulling a girl's hand, stepping out from a room ahead. It was indeed Sun Peng and his granddaughter.

Sun Peng also noticed Hu Yiqiu and the others, hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward to meet them.

"Elder Wine-crazed, Sang Zhenye, long time no see!"

Sun Peng's eyes revealed a complex expression as he clasped his fists and bowed towards the two.

"Hmph! I really don't want to see you!"

Hu Yiqiu spoke coldly, his eyes showing a disdainful look.

"Such irony for the esteemed head elder of the Punishment Hall to flee in the face of calamity when the academy was in crisis!"

Sang Zhenye spoke sarcastically.

Head elder of the Punishment Hall!?

Jiang Chen and Fire Phoenix were slightly surprised. Sun Peng was the previous head elder of the Punishment Hall before Xi Nu?

Sun Peng smiled bitterly and fell silent, not providing an explanation.

"You shouldn't blame Grandfather. He was also..."

The young girl stepped forward to shield Sun Peng, glaring angrily at Hu Yiqiu and Sang Zhenye.

"Qiao'er!"

Sun Peng interrupted, pulling Qiao'er behind him, looking despondently at Hu Yiqiu and Sang Zhenye: "No matter what, it was my failing against the academy. The academy taught me cultivation, yet I... Alas! When Qiao'er grows, I will return to the academy to face punishment!"

"It's unnecessary. Our Changlin Academy doesn't need someone so unfaithful. After you fled, you were expelled from the academy!"

Sang Zhenye coldly glared at Sun Peng, walking towards the room where auction items were being exchanged.

Upon hearing this, Sun Peng's face turned deathly pale. His aging face seemed even older. He opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words, leaving only a bitter smile on his increasingly weathered face.

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, deeply looking at Sun Peng before following Fire Phoenix and the others to catch up with Sang Zhenye.

From Sun Peng's expression, Jiang Chen discerned there might be hidden circumstances behind his past fleeing. Yet fleeing is fleeing—it remains the established fact. Regardless of any hidden motives, abandoning the academy in such situations as the head elder of the Punishment Hall would undoubtably have struck a severe blow to the academy's morale at the time. It's something the older generation of the academy cannot forgive!

The group entered the trading room, where Pang Guang was already waiting.

"Greetings, senior masters." Pang Guang bowed to the group, then gestured towards the Alchemy Cauldron beside him, hinting as he looked at Jiang Chen: "This is the Rejuvenating Flame, Young Master Jiang. If you had informed me earlier, perhaps it wouldn't have been so troublesome!"

Jiang Chen was momentarily puzzled, then understood. The trouble Pang Guang referred to was likely the exposure due to Tong Jiang's collection!

"It would eventually be revealed—I can't just keep it unused, right?"

Jiang Chen chuckled at Pang Guang, accepting his goodwill.

Offering goodwill at this juncture is rare, not to mention it means risking upsetting the Domain Lord's Mansion!

"Here are the Lei Ting Fruits, please check them, Pang Guang." Jiang Chen took out four flashing Lei Ting Fruits from the Space Ring and handed them to Pang Guang.

Pang Guang received the Lei Ting Fruits and turned to look at the corner of the room.

Only then did Jiang Chen notice an old man standing in the corner—the very man who had once overawed Hei Mo.

This man's strength is formidable, yet I didn't notice him in the room at all!

Jiang Chen's heart tightened as he deeply gazed at the old man.

From the start, Jiang Chen's soul had been honed by the Ancestral Dragon Qi, granting him formidable perception capabilities. After further refining his Primordial Spirit at Fire Dao Mountain, he even held some semblance of perception towards powerhouses like Hu Yiqiu. Yet this old man in the room, he sensed nothing at all.

"This is Elder Meng, the Great Elder of our Canghai Trade Alliance. He's here to escort me and my father back to headquarters. By coincidence, it's also the Mingqian Banquet, so we'll leave after attending!"

Pang Guang introduced the old man.

"So it's Senior Meng!"

"Greetings, Elder Meng!"

Jiang Chen hurriedly bowed, and Hu Yiqiu and the others also bowed, evidently aware of the old man's strength.

"Ha ha, no need for courtesy. Xiao Guang mentioned Mr Jiang, and I grew curious to meet you." Elder Meng opened with a gentle smile, his gaze landing on Jiang Chen.

With just one look, Jiang Chen felt as if he'd been seen through. Amid his shock, he rapidly sealed his body's orifices with Dragon Qi, and the Town Soul Stele in his Sea of Consciousness emitted profound light, guarding the Sea of Consciousness.

"Town Soul Stele! I contended with Wu Ying over this Town Soul Stele back in the days, but he had superior skills." Elder Meng gently lamented.

Jiang Chen and the others froze, slightly stunned.

Hu Yiqiu and Sang Zhenye stepped forward, shielding Jiang Chen, watching Elder Meng with caution.

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