***

The next day.

The city was buzzing with activity. More and more people kept pouring in from outside, all of them coming for one reason: to take part in the Zhu Family auction.

Lin Tian moved forward, standing still for a moment as he looked out at the street. It was almost completely packed with people, all heading in the same direction, toward the Zhu Family estate.

I didn’t expect this auction to draw so many cultivators.

If they knew I was the Sect Master of Lingxian, they would never let me walk away.

He blended in with the crowd and walked along with everyone else. His eyes moved slowly from person to person. Most of them were sect cultivators.

He spotted a few wearing sect robes he didn’t recognize, but he didn’t let that bother him. His focus was on getting into the auction and securing that High-grade Earth Fire.

When they arrived at the entrance of the estate, people filed in one by one in an orderly manner. His attention shifted to the side, and his eyes narrowed.

The Zhu Family had set up projection crystal stones outside the auction pagoda. They were there to display the auction results to those standing outside, so anyone could see who won what and who didn’t.

"To all auction participants... please line up in two separate lines," announced a Zhu Family staff member.

"Regular participants on the left. VIP participants on the right."

Some cultivators began splitting off into their respective lines. A few of them were even receiving extra spirit stones from their fellow sect members. Lin Tian watched all of this quietly.

It looks like this auction is turning into an indirect show of strength between sects, each one putting their resources on display.

A group of cultivators from several sects came through the gate. One of them was from Yunlan Sect. Even so, Lin Tian didn’t see Li Qingxue among them.

The one leading the Yunlan Sect group was Elder Han Xin, the same man who had attacked Lingxian Sect not long ago.

I didn’t think he would show up. I can see it clearly now. His cultivation base is sealed, still stuck at Mid Nascent Soul.

Lin Tian held back and let the group pass through ahead of him. The man narrowed his eyes sharply as he walked past Lin Tian.

His gaze did land on Lin Tian, but there was no suspicion in it whatsoever. Lucky for Lin Tian. His aura and physical disguise had done its job well, keeping him out of trouble.

The group went inside and was guided by the auction pagoda’s attendants up to the third floor. Other sect groups arrived as well, handing over their VIP tokens before being escorted to their private rooms.

"Who do you think is going to walk away with the main item?"

"Are you serious? Yunlan Sect will definitely get it. They’re the strongest sect here by far."

"Don’t count out Moiyi Sect. They always get nasty when someone outbids them."

"Moiyi Sect is such a headache."

Lin Tian caught bits and pieces of their conversation. There was plenty to keep an eye on. But that didn’t mean he was intimidated.

Even though Moiyi Sect had a reputation for being ruthless among cultivators, the moment they heard the name Lingxian Sect, every old grudge between them disappeared. They would band together just to bring Lingxian Sect down.

Because to them, Lingxian Sect was the common enemy, the greatest disgrace in the entire Qin Kingdom.

Lin Tian walked away from the spot, cool and unhurried, dressed in a black robe that had drawn more than a few eyes. Not because of the robe itself, but because he was walking in the VIP line.

"Look at him! Do you know who that is?"

"No idea, but he looks mysterious. Better not pick a fight with someone like that."

"He has a VIP token. He must be representing a sect, or he got direct approval from an elder of the Zhu Clan."

He reached the reception desk and handed over his VIP token. The receptionist took it and glanced up at him, clearly curious about who he was.

"May I ask which sect you’re from?"

Lin Tian slid a pouch containing 10 mid-grade spirit stones across the desk. "Take it and forget my sect."

The receptionist took the pouch and opened it. Her eyes went wide the moment she saw what was inside.

People in her position rarely came across mid-grade spirit stones. Even getting a single one felt like a gift from the heavens.

Now, ten of them were sitting right in front of her. That was something far beyond anything she could have imagined.

"Welcome to the Zhu Clan Auction Pagoda. Your private room is on the third floor, room number 20."

"Thank you."

One of the auction attendants came to his side and led him away from the first floor. He glanced briefly back over his shoulder and saw that the lower level of the pagoda was already packed with regular participants.

There had to be close to 100 people down there, not counting the ones still lined up outside.

The attendant continued leading Lin Tian up the stairs. She stopped when they reached room number 20, the room where Lin Tian would wait and participate in the auction.

When the door opened, a woman was already standing on the balcony, dressed in an auction uniform. She introduced herself as Yi Ling.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Yi Ling. I’ll be here with you in case you need a representative."

Lin Tian had no objection. He walked to the center of the room, where a sofa and a table had been set up. On the table were light refreshments and a pot of warm green tea. Along the walls were a bedside table and a wooden cabinet, though he wasn’t sure what they were there for.

He was caught off guard when soul essence orbs started drifting into his room, one after another. Lin Tian turned and observed them clearly.

The soul essence orbs weren’t acting aggressively. They were simply being used for surveillance and observation.

Still, the average VIP participant was a cultivator above the Foundation Establishment stage. Lin Tian was the only VIP participant still at the Foundation Establishment stage.

To keep up appearances and avoid raising suspicion, he couldn’t destroy the soul essence orbs peering into his room. He also couldn’t activate the array inside the chamber.

All of it was to make sure Lin Tian could get through the auction without any trouble.

Yi Ling watched his reaction and was quietly surprised. In all her years working there, she had always seen cultivators attack those soul essence orbs on sight. But Lin Tian was different.

Even so, she didn’t let herself grow suspicious of him.

Lin Tian settled into the sofa and poured himself a cup of tea from the pot. Yi Ling stepped closer, clasping both hands together and giving a respectful bow.

"If I may ask, Master Immortal."

"What?" Lin Tian replied.

"When the auction begins, what should I call you?"

"VIP Participant 20 is fine."

"I have no interest in giving out my name," Lin Tian added.

"Understood. Is there something specific you’re after in this auction?" Yi Ling asked.

Lin Tian set his cup back down on the table. "Don’t ask so many questions. I’ll do what I came to do, and you’ll see it when it happens."

"U-Understood."