Song Yan stared at her blankly.

This little girl... is a Cultivator from the Cave Abyss Sect?

Why would she know he was a fellow Disciple... his thoughts were a little chaotic.

Song Yan knew that in this Cultivation World, there were many strange and wonderful methods that could make people return to their youth.

Therefore, he did not think this little girl was only this small.

Perhaps she was like Granny Qin, an old Senior who liked to pretend to be young.

But how did she recognize him as a Sect Disciple at a glance?

Full of doubts, he looked down and examined himself.

Where exactly did the problem lie... The most crucial thing was, if she could recognize him... did that mean many people could recognize him?

Unfortunately.

None of the questions could be answered.

The auction had already begun.

His mind was restless; he didn’t even hear what the presiding old man on stage said in his opening remarks.

Calming his mind slightly, Song Yan made up his mind to only bid on that Ming Jue Pill and then leave immediately.

"The first item up for auction is a Seven-Leaf Profound Ginseng."

The old man’s withered fingers rested on the back of the jade box presented by his assistant, and with a gentle flick, he opened the jade box.

The dark blue ginseng roots of the Spirit Medicine in the box glowed faintly.

"This item grows in Profound Yin and can be used to refine auxiliary Medicinal Pills for Foundation Establishment Pills. The starting bid is one hundred Spirit Stones."

"Each increment must not be less than twenty."

Song Yan scoffed inwardly.

Indeed, the hosts of various auction houses were all eloquent speakers.

At first listen, it sounded like this Spirit Medicine was related to the incredibly precious Foundation Establishment Pill.

But in reality, it could only be used to refine auxiliary Medicinal Pills.

So-called auxiliary Medicinal Pills were Medicinal Pills that, when taken with the main Medicinal Pill, could slightly enhance the effect of the main Medicinal Pill.

And it was only a slight enhancement.

Song Yan had no intention of bidding.

What a joke.

He had never even seen a Foundation Establishment Pill, and to spend several hundred Spirit Stones to bid on one of the Materials for an auxiliary Medicinal Pill... that would truly be insane.

"One hundred twenty..."

"..." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Two hundred..."

Indeed, compared to its reputation as a "Foundation Establishment Auxiliary Medicinal Pill Material," its price was somewhat mismatched.

Not many people made bids.

Ultimately, the Cultivator whose entire head was enveloped in mist won it for two hundred Spirit Stones.

Song Yan simply continued to close his eyes and rest.

He did not participate in the bidding for any of these items, calmly waiting for the Ming Jue Pill to appear.

During this time, the girl beside him also made bids on a few things.

However, they were a few Spirit Insects.

Insect Cultivator?

Up until now, he had never heard of anyone being an Insect Cultivator among the Sect Disciples... As he pondered, time slowly passed.

Adhering to the principle of trying not to attract the attention of others, even if something he was interested in occasionally appeared on stage, he did not look at it closely.

Soon, it was time for the second to last item.

The old man presiding over the auction took out a small jade box from his assistant’s tray.

"This next treasure is probably something many Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators desire."

With a light tap of his fingertips, the jade box slowly opened, revealing a pale yellow Spirit Pill.

"Ming Jue Pill."

Song Yan slowly opened his eyes.

"This Medicinal Pill can increase the chance of Breakthrough by thirty to forty percent when breaking through the three crucial barriers of Late Stage Qi Refining."

"Presumably, most of the Fellow Daoists present today are Loose Cultivators or casual outer Disciples."

"Alchemists capable of refining such Medicinal Pills mostly supply only the major Sects."

"They rarely circulate on the market."

"This one before you is from Hanging Sword Mountain, and its Medicinal Pill quality, efficacy, and potency are all of Medium Grade standard."

"I will not say anything further, old man. The starting bid is one hundred, and each increment must not be less than twenty Spirit Stones."

"Two hundred!"

As soon as the words fell, a black-robed Cultivator in the front row immediately made the first bid.

"Two hundred sixty."

"Two hundred eighty."

"..."

Up until this point, Song Yan still hadn’t spoken.

He looked at the mysterious girl beside him with some apprehension.

This person was deeply hidden; if she were to bid, he probably wouldn’t be her match.

"Five hundred!"

The black-robed Cultivator suddenly raised the price by a large margin.

The auction hall suddenly fell silent.

Just as the old man on stage said, most of the Cultivators participating in the auction here were mountain Loose Cultivators in the Qi Refinement Stage.

Where would they get so many Spirit Stones?

Bidding five hundred for this Ming Jue Pill was probably the limit for many people.

After a brief pause, the old man gently tapped his small hammer.

"Five hundred, once."

Just then, Song Yan spoke.

"Five hundred fifty."

Hmm?

The black-robed Cultivator slightly turned his head and glanced at Song Yan behind him.

At the same time, there was another Cultivator, also hidden in black robes, beside him, who seemed to be with him.

Both of them looked back slightly.

"Six hundred."

"Six hundred twenty!"

Song Yan was determined to win.

"..."

The two black-robed Cultivators exchanged glances and did not continue bidding.

The girl whom Song Yan had been worried about showed no intention of bidding against him, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

Three taps of the small hammer sounded.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on winning the Ming Jue Pill."

The Lingxi Market auction was somewhat different from the Lingyuan Ze Night Market; as long as the transaction was completed, one could leave at any time.

Song Yan had no interest in seeing the final item.

Even if he wanted it, it wasn’t something he could afford to bid on now.

He immediately got up, paid the Spirit Stones in a side hall, and obtained the Ming Jue Pill.

Then he left the auction house from the side hall.

The exit was a small bluestone alley, and Song Yan, using the shadows, quickly walked towards the outside of Lingxi Market.

There were no disturbances along the way, and he felt a little relieved.

But when he truly walked not far out of the market’s range, the edge of his Divine Sense, which had been expanded to its maximum, suddenly detected two auras heading straight for him.

"!"

A strong sense of warning arose in his heart.

Several faces appeared in his mind in an instant.

The girl, and the two black-robed Cultivators.

At the same time, he fully activated his spiritual power, leaping through the forest, heading towards the Cave Abyss Sect, not daring to stop for a moment.

"It should be those two... killing for treasure?"

Three Spirit Talismans were simultaneously conjured from his fingertips, and his body was instantly enveloped by a strong wind.

His speed increased significantly as he ran.

However.

The two auras were still getting closer to him.

Song Yan believed he had made adequate preparations and precautions, even anticipating such a possibility.

However, when he truly faced such a situation, he still felt that no amount of preparation was too much.

After all, this was a matter of life and death.

He should be more cautious.

However, he was not panicked.

"One is approximately Level 8 Qi Refining, and the other is approximately Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level."

Seeing that the two auras were about to close in on him, Song Yan hid in the shadows while quietly activating the Hidden Sword Gathering Spirit Stance, concealing all his aura.

The opponents should also have similar means to his Wind Escape Talisman; thus, he would eventually be caught by them.

Saying he was fully prepared for this trip was not just empty words.

Song Yan naturally had means to ensure his safe retreat.

It’s just... to be safe, he needed to find an opportunity.