If you had to name the wealthiest person in the Sect, it would be none other than Song Wanning.

Her father was Sect Leader Song, and her mother also came from a prominent, wealthy family.

Song Wanning herself was a Nascent Soul True Monarch. Not only did she receive a monthly stipend from the Sect, but she was also an Alchemy Grandmaster, so Spirit Stones flowed into her pockets like water.

It was enough to make anyone green with envy.

As Song Wanning’s eldest disciple, Bai Yang had certainly reaped the benefits. He had an inexhaustible supply of Elixir Pills and endless Spirit Stones, a fact that countless others envied.

But as a fellow True Disciple, her own life was much worse. Her master was just a Cultivator with no background, having relied entirely on himself to get this far in his cultivation. There was no way for her to profit from their association.

She had to rely on herself for everything.

In that moment, Ye Chuxue suddenly grew suspicious. ’Is Bai Yang just making up an excuse because he doesn’t want to lend me Spirit Stones?’

Seeing the doubt surface in her eyes, Bai Yang froze for a moment.

He had never expected Junior Sister Ye to look at him with such an expression.

He was even more shocked by the words she had spoken.

’Unwittingly, Junior Sister Ye seems to have changed a lot.’

’She’s no longer as pure and kind as she used to be...’

"Master hasn’t given me any Spirit Stones in over half a year. This is all I’ve managed to save myself."

In the last six months, aside from following Ye Chuxue to the Medicine King Sect, he hadn’t taken a single step outside. Where else could he have gotten Spirit Stones?

This was his entire savings from before.

"How could that be?"

Ye Chuxue’s heart jolted. Recalling how Song Wanning had recently expelled An Ze from the Sect, she felt more and more that something was wrong.

"I just feel like something’s off with Uncle Song lately. Her personality has changed so drastically!"

In the past, whenever they clashed with Song Wanning, she would fly into a rage, disappointing everyone time and time again.

But now, she seemed to have gotten much smarter and calmer. Not only could she control her emotions, but she could also turn the tables and infuriate them instead.

It was just like...

Just like she’d been possessed.

Ye Chuxue’s expression darkened. ’Could Song Wanning have been transmigrated into by someone, too?’

"It’s because I stole the Elixir Pills on my own accord last time, which disappointed Master. Plus, with Senior Uncle Gu..."

Although Bai Yang also felt his master had changed immensely, he thought he could understand why.

He had done something wrong, breaking his master’s heart. Then Senior Uncle Gu had fallen in love with his own disciple and broken off the engagement with his master.

Anyone else in her shoes would have changed, too.

"Is that so?"

Ye Chuxue was still suspicious, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. Winning the bead was the most important thing.

But in just a moment, the price of the bead had already soared to the sky-high price of 410,000.

Stunned, Ye Chuxue plopped back down onto the stool, digging her nails so tightly into her palm that her knuckles turned white. Her eyes were bloodshot.

’The bead was supposed to be mine, but now...’

’This is all Song Wanning’s fault!’

’If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have had to spend all my Spirit Stones on the Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill, and I’d have the funds to bid for the bead now.’

While Ye Chuxue was on the verge of going mad with frustration, Song Wanning had already pressed the button in her room.

"Five hundred thousand."

She raised the price directly to 500,000, stunning the crowd of prospective bidders.

The private rooms gradually fell quiet as everyone began to hesitate about placing another bid.

Although the bead was a treasure, its actual value was still just speculation.

If they won it and couldn’t even use it, it would be a total loss!

"Originally, this humble one specifically sought out the owner of this bead, hoping to buy it outright. I didn’t expect the owner to be so slippery, insisting on putting it up for auction!"

The Shopkeeper stood beside Song Wanning, snorting as he tattled.

As soon as he received his master’s order, he had gone to find the bead’s owner, but unfortunately, the other party had not agreed.

Song Wanning listened and smiled faintly. "The proceeds from an auction are higher. Even after paying the twenty percent commission, it’s still more profitable than selling it directly to us. Of course the owner wouldn’t agree."

However, that was just the official excuse.

The real reason was that this bead was originally prepared for Ye Chuxue, so it naturally had to appear at the auction for her to win.

’What a pity...’

’This time, she won’t be able to take it home.’

"Hmph. In the end, we still had to spend unnecessary money."

The Shopkeeper was naturally on Song Wanning’s side. He grumbled for a bit before falling silent.

"Five hundred thousand, going once."

Seeing no other bids, Mo Yuan picked up his gavel and began to announce the result.

In her private room, Ye Chuxue paced around anxiously, but there was nothing she could do.

"Brother Bai, I just have this feeling that the bead is supposed to be mine!"

She bit her lower lip, wronged, her eyes welling up with tears.

The feeling of having it forcibly stripped away from her was truly agonizing.

Hearing this, Bai Yang’s brows furrowed even more tightly. He wanted to offer some words of comfort but didn’t know where to start.

"If the bead is destined to be yours, then even if someone else buys it, it will find its way back to you. Maybe you’ll even save a huge amount of Spirit Stones that way!"

’Junior Sister Ye’s luck has always been good. This time will surely be no different.’

"Will it?"

Ye Chuxue murmured to herself, her gaze lost on the bead.

’Maybe Bai Yang is right.’

’So what if that person wins it?’

’This bead will definitely come back to me!’

"Five hundred thousand, going three times!"

"Sold!"

With the final strike of the gavel, the bead’s ownership was settled.

An attendant carried the jade plate to the highest floor.

Mo Yuan glanced at the top-floor private room. ’A bead that the auction house’s owner would spend five hundred thousand Spirit Stones on must be an extraordinary treasure!’

’It’s a pity I’m imprisoned right now. Otherwise, I would’ve definitely snatched it for myself.’

The auction items were sold off one by one. Aside from one Spiritual Artifact that failed to sell, all other transactions were successful.

The auction house made a fortune, and Song Wanning achieved her goal. The smile on her face slowly deepened.

"Open the Transmission Array for departure."

She put away the bead and gave the order to the Shopkeeper.

Once the Transmission Array opened, the auction attendees began to disperse, stepping into the array.

The end of the auction was only the true beginning.

*

"Let’s go. We’ll head back to the Heavenly Inquiry Sect first. With this Elixir Pill, Master will definitely wake up soon!"

Ye Chuxue clutched the storage ring on her finger tightly, a look of self-reproach on her face.

"If Master hadn’t been seriously injured while saving me, he wouldn’t have lost to Uncle Song, let alone been poisoned into a coma."

’Master is ten thousand times more outstanding than Song Wanning. Only someone as despicable as her would take advantage of his vulnerability to strike such a vicious blow!’

"Mm, but I still feel like something is wrong."

Bai Yang’s suspicion grew. The moment he stepped out of the Transmission Array, he began to scan his surroundings constantly.

"Those people from Yunxiang City didn’t look like they were going to give up so easily."

"You don’t think they’re ambushing us on the way back, do you?"

Ye Chuxue’s heart tightened, and she immediately went on guard.

"Either way, it’s better to be safe than sorry. We need to get back to the Heavenly Inquiry Sect as quickly as possible!"

Bai Yang tightened his grip on his longsword and said to Ye Chuxue, "Let’s go! I know a shortcut. We’ll take it back!"

"Okay!"

The two of them wasted no time and headed for the path. They thought they would have a smooth journey back to the Sect, but they had barely reached the path’s entrance when they saw several figures.

Those people seemed to have been waiting for a long time.