Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Can’t Get Past It

When the drums stopped, Shang Lian Cheng clasped his hands and bowed to the guests in every direction. His grin was bright enough to sell sunlight.

“Honored guests,” he said, “it’s the end of the month again. What are we doing today? I’m sure everyone knows.”

The regulars answered at once.

“An auction!”

Shang Lian Cheng laughed. “That’s right—the monthly auction!”

He clapped. A dozen beautiful maids filed out in a line, each carrying a tray covered in red silk. The air turned expectant, the crowd’s chatter rising like a tide.

Bai Meng Jin exhaled softly. So the Star-Plucking Tower’s auction had already started this early. Boss Shang truly was good at business—he’d turned it into a signature attraction.

A thousand years later, when people wanted to buy or sell rare treasures, the first place they thought of was the Star-Plucking Tower.

“An auction!” Bai Meng Xing bounced in his seat. “I’ve heard about these but I’ve never seen one!”

Bai Meng Lian’s eyes shone too. “Will we get to see something truly good?”

“To us,” Bai Meng Jin said, “everything here is good. In a place like this, without money, you can’t even step through the door. We’re only here because of Elder Yi Ming. Otherwise we wouldn’t even qualify to watch.”

Bai Meng Xing leaned closer, shameless. “I’m broke, but you and Sister have money. You can buy something, right? One or two things?”

Bai Meng Lian stayed unmoved. “Even if we could, what would that do? Spending here isn’t worth it. We’ll watch.”

Bai Meng Jin agreed. For the two of them, the most important thing was building cultivation, not chasing rare trinkets beyond their means. Still, watching was good—better to learn now than be tricked later.

Onstage, the first treasure was revealed. Gasps rippled. Bai Meng Lian and Bai Meng Xing looked dazzled.

Bai Meng Jin, however, wasn’t particularly interested. The Star-Plucking Tower’s auction was still in its early days; the scale wasn’t yet grand. In her previous life, Yu Mo had seen every treasure under the sun. Anything below the Divine Transformation Stage barely registered.

While the hall’s attention stayed on the stage, Bai Meng Jin’s gaze drifted to the private rooms on the second floor.

In the third room on the left, maids stood clustered. One leaned out briefly—Mo Qi’s attendant, the same head maid from earlier.

In the second room on the right, a corner of someone’s robe flashed and vanished. Bai Meng Jin’s eyes narrowed. Bai Li Xu.

And in Phoenix Parasol City, close to Phoenix Roost Valley, it wouldn’t be strange to see people of the Ji Family.

Bai Meng Jin lost interest and lowered her head to eat her egg custard.

By the time she finished a bowl, the third treasure was up for auction.

Mo Qi never bid once. Bai Meng Jin wasn’t surprised. Even if something caught his eye, he probably wouldn’t dare lift a finger. What if Young Sect Master Ling decided to hold a grudge and embarrass him again?

Then a voice came from the second room on the right.

“10,000 spirit stones.”

Bai Meng Jin looked up, surprised. They were selling a piece of Red Lotus Stone.

Excellent forging material—but why would Ling Bu Fei want it? He couldn’t refine magic treasures.

The starting price was 5,000. Jumping to 10,000 was already bold. And everyone knew the second floor held honored guests. Most wouldn’t dare compete.

But the moment the bid landed, a maid appeared at the window of the central room and called out impatiently, “12,000!”

As if she’d been waiting.

A breath later, Bai Li Xu answered, unhurried. “15,000.”

The maid didn’t hesitate. “18,000!”

Bai Meng Jin raised an eyebrow.

Someone was picking a fight with Young Sect Master Ling.

Did he have bad blood with Phoenix Roost Valley? She’d never heard of it.

Then again, the Upper Three Sects were the Upper Three Sects for a reason. Every cultivation sect respected them as leaders. Even the appointment of a sect master would be discussed with them.

Phoenix Roost Valley’s upper sect was the Limitless Sect. In other words, within Phoenix Roost Valley, Young Sect Master Ling’s status should be just as exalted.

So what was this? Internal conflict?

The guests in the hall didn’t know who was involved, but they could smell a clash. Cheers rose immediately.

“Raise it!”

“Don’t lose!”

“That’s such a slap in the face!”

Bai Li Xu paused a beat, then said, “20,000.”

“22,000!” the maid snapped back.

“25,000.”

“30,000.”

By this price, you could buy Red Lotus Stone whenever you wanted. If you still couldn’t tell it was a grudge, you were blind.

Bai Meng Lian’s lips parted. “These clans are insanely rich. Just to win an argument, they throw tens of thousands of spirit stones like it’s nothing.”

Bai Meng Xing couldn’t help patting his pocket.

He’d started with 100 spirit stones, spent a little on the road, and now had 92 left.

Ninety-two wouldn’t even make a splash here.

He felt the weight of reality settle hard on his shoulders.

Bai Li Xu continued, “32,000.”

The hall roared louder, feeding the fire.

“Only 2,000 at a time? That’s looking down on people!”

“Go! Don’t back down!”

The maid called, “35,000.”

“38,000.”

“40,000!”

“42,000!”

The bids came faster and faster, numbers leaping like they were strapped to flying swords.

“70,000!”

“75,000!”

“80,000!”

Then Bai Li Xu’s voice cut in, smooth as silk. “Pass.”

The maid froze, “Nine—what?”

Bai Li Xu chuckled faintly. “My young master is generous. Since your master would rather pay ten times the price to have this Red Lotus Stone, we’ll do you the favor and step aside. Is your master satisfied?”

The hall erupted.

“You can’t lose like that!”

“Miss, your family head got played!”

“80,000 spirit stones for a Red Lotus Stone? Give me 80,000 and I’ll find you five!”

Mockery stabbed at the central room like needles.

After a brief silence, the central room’s curtain was yanked down with a sharp snap. A woman’s voice burst out, furious and raw. “Ling Bu Fei, you tricked me!”

Bai Meng Jin laughed softly. So it really was the Ji Family’s eldest miss.

At last, Young Sect Master Ling spoke. His voice was sharp and cold, arrogant disdain woven through it like a blade through silk.

“Eldest Miss Ji, what are you talking about? This young lord did you a favor, and you call it wrong?”