Chapter 181

Chapter 181: On the Way Back to the Sect 2

Wen Tao was questioned, but he did not get angry. He smiled and said, “This Daoist friend’s words are correct. Profound Thunder Violet Flame is indeed a strange flame from the spirit world. But everyone should still remember that undiscovered secret realm in the Bao Hua Mountain Range four years ago, right?”

Wen Tao’s words seemed to stir everyone’s memories, especially Yun Xi. She had been half the reason that secret realm was exposed, and she had been there personally. She calmly spoke up. “As long as one cultivates in the western region, everyone knows about it. And as far as I know, this secret realm still hasn’t fully stabilized, and it has never been opened to the public.”

Wen Tao seemed very satisfied with Yun Xi’s response, so he continued. “What this Daoist friend said is correct. And the information I have about Profound Thunder Violet Flame is also related to this secret realm.”

Someone immediately called out, “Daoist Wen Tao, stop keeping us in suspense. If you want us to spend spirit stones, you have to let us confirm the truth of the information.”

Wen Tao raised a hand with professional composure, telling everyone to calm down, and continued, “Profound Thunder Violet Flame was the strange flame used by a great expert of the spirit world to seal that secret realm. That’s why it appeared in the Vast Cosmos Realm.”

Hearing that, Yun Xi believed the information a little more. Her Peerless Sword Thunder Art came from the Upper Realm. Back then, an Integration cultivator had suppressed his cultivation to enter the Vast Cosmos Realm in order to seal that undiscovered secret realm and take it away. But he had a dispute with his companions over ownership. After infighting, he died an aggrieved death in the Bao Hua Mountain Range.

If that was the case, then she could reasonably infer that this strange flame was what he used to seal the secret realm. And the mid-grade spirit vein that the immortal spirit herb had drained dry was likely what supplied energy to the strange flame. Once the energy was cut off, the strange flame could no longer maintain the seal, so the secret realm appeared before everyone’s eyes.

In the four years since then, the strange flame must have been hiding. She just did not know why it had been discovered now.

While Yun Xi was still thinking with lowered eyes, someone immediately asked, “Daoist Wen Tao, according to you the strange flame was used to seal the secret realm. When the secret realm appears, the strange flame will definitely be discovered. Soul Transformation cultivators who go to investigate won’t let such a strange flame go. How could it be left for us?”

“That’s right, it’s a strange flame! Even Soul Transformation cultivators would probably fight until their heads split open!”

“Exactly!”

After everyone finished voicing their opinions, Wen Tao finally spoke. “You’re all right. At that time, this strange flame really was taken away by a Soul Transformation cultivator from the Central Domain. But during the process of taking it, the strange flame – which had developed consciousness – automatically split off a flame seed, then vanished into the Bao Hua Mountain Range.”

“So that’s how it is. Then Daoist Wen Tao means that Wen Yuan Pavilion has news about that flame seed.”

“Yes. That is the final information we are auctioning tonight. The starting price is thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones. If you are interested, you may raise the bid. Each raise must be no less than one thousand low-grade spirit stones.”

As soon as Wen Tao finished speaking, people began to bid.

Yun Xi did not join the bidding. She only instructed Fei Xia Butterfly to keep a close eye on the final buyer. If possible, she wanted to obtain the information without spending spirit stones.

Yun Xi rubbed the storage ring hidden on her finger and felt her way of thinking growing more and more like a native cultivator of the Cultivation World. In the past, she probably would have thought to buy the information with spirit stones and trade fairly.

But after paying spirit stones, she would face other cultivators trying to intercept her. Killing to seize treasures was never just a phrase – it described an entire process of slaughter.

After about half an incense stick’s time, a cultivator wearing a bamboo hat bought the information. Then he was taken away alone, likely to pay the spirit stones and receive the information. Everyone else left through different exits.

Since Yun Xi had not bid once from beginning to end and had not bought anything, she seemed like someone who came just to experience the auction. She did not draw anyone’s attention, though Master Wen Tao glanced at her a couple more times.

After Yun Xi left Wen Yuan Pavilion, she saw several streaks of light leave Wen Zhou City one after another. It did not take much to figure out that the cultivator who bought the Profound Thunder Violet Flame information was being tracked.

“Tsk, tsk. Good thing I didn’t make a move,” Yun Xi said.

After that, she turned around and returned to the inn.

Once the room’s isolation array settled into place, Dian Dian could not wait and poked his head out. He asked curiously, “Master, why didn’t you make a move? That was Profound Thunder Violet Flame. It matches your spiritual roots the best.”

Yun Xi sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion and patted Dian Dian on the head. “And how do you know that?”

Dian Dian twitched his ears proudly. “Of course I know. When you faced the Golden Core Thunder Tribulation of the Nine Heavens Profound Lightning in the mortal world, Dian Dian already knew.”

“You are pretty clever,” Yun Xi said. “But this needs careful planning. If I go after them right now, I’ll be dragged into a huge brawl. And I also feel like Wen Yuan Pavilion isn’t selling this information with good intentions.”

Dian Dian rolled his black bean eyes and said, “Master, do you think the information is fake?”

“Not really,” Yun Xi said. “If it were fake, Wen Yuan Pavilion wouldn’t dare auction it. It’s just that the way they’re doing it is a bit abnormal.”

“How is it abnormal?”

“Wen Yuan Pavilion is selling information about a strange flame only to earn spirit stones. But compared to the strange flame itself, selling the strange flame would earn far more than selling strange flame information. So why would they sell only the information?”

Dian Dian thought it over and replied, “They couldn’t catch the strange flame, so they settled for second best.”

Yun Xi nodded. “That makes sense too. They can’t take it themselves, so they sell the information and have someone else retrieve the strange flame for them.”

“They want to sit back and reap the benefits,” Dian Dian said.

“More or less,” Yun Xi said. “Or they want the cultivators interested in the strange flame to become scouting pawns. That strange flame is probably hard to take.”

Yun Xi voiced her guess.

Dian Dian thought again and said, “Then we can be the oriole and become the final winner.”

Yun Xi curled her lips into a smile. “That depends on what Fei Xia brings back. If it’s worth it, I’ll act. If it’s not, I’ll think of another way. Honestly, I don’t want to give up this strange flame either, so I’ll have to adapt to the situation.”

Yun Xi admitted it openly. She wanted good things too, especially a strange flame.

Nothing happened that night. The next day, Yun Xi set off from Wen Zhou City. After she traveled alone more than two hundred li outside the city and reached Qi Shan, she received the message sent back by Fei Xia Butterfly.

“Master, the information about the strange flame has already changed hands. Judging by how they act, the people who took it should be demonic cultivators.”

Hearing that, Yun Xi stopped. This was not the message she wanted to hear.

“How many of them are there? What do they want to do with the information?” Yun Xi asked.

“Master, there are three demonic cultivators. Fei Xia doesn’t know what they want to do. I only know the demonic cultivators searched the soul of the cultivator who paid spirit stones for the information, then killed him to silence him.”

“Follow them first and see what they’re trying to do. I’m coming to meet up with you now,” Yun Xi said without hesitation.

“Yes, Master.”

Yun Xi did not want the demonic cultivators to notice they were being tracked, so she did not fly through the air. Instead, she circulated the Thousand Shadow Wind-Supporting Technique, leaving only an afterimage where she stood. Her true body vanished.

On the other side, Wei Yun Qing, who was riding a flying ship, felt the ship shake once. Immediately after, it began to descend slowly.