The black market owner walked to the chair opposite her and sat down, wearing a slightly aggrieved expression as if she’d been spurned by a lover.

Song Wanning ignored her, simply taking out the storage ring and placing it on the table.

"A storage ring?" The black market owner frowned, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Plenty of people came here to sell things, but it was rare to find anyone selling a ring.

As a rule, most ordinary Cultivators used Storage Bags, and the storage capacity varied from one bag to the next.

But in addition to Storage Bags, there were also rarer items like storage rings, Storage Bracelets, and so on.

Anyone who could afford a storage ring was certain to have an impressive background.

’No wonder they brought it to the black market to sell.’

"The owner of this ring has quite the background, don’t they?"

The black market owner narrowed her eyes, a shrewd glint flashing within as she began plotting how to drive down the price.

’There might be quite a few treasures inside the Storage Ring.’

"Decent, I suppose. Just a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator. However, this one is no ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator. They’re one of the Heavenly Dao’s Favored, blessed with astonishing fortune."

Song Wanning picked up the storage ring, toying with it absently.

"I’m sure you understand what I mean, Proprietor."

’Someone favored by the Heavenly Dao... Could they really be lacking in treasures?’

"Heh. Whether or not they’re one of the Heavenly Dao’s Favored isn’t something I can confirm with just your word, Fellow Daoist."

The black market owner was naturally tempted, but she didn’t let it show. The two went back and forth, sizing each other up for some time before finally settling on a price.

Song Wanning made some concessions but also put forth a demand of her own.

"I’m not short on money, but I don’t want this person to have an easy time of it. So, I’d like to make a deal with you, Proprietor. If you agree to my condition, I’ll lower my price by another twenty percent!"

’She didn’t need the paltry sum, but if it could make Ye Chuxue suffer, all the better.’

"Such a generous offer? You’re a straightforward one, True Monarch!"

The black market owner’s eyes lit up, and she immediately leaned forward.

Song Wanning leaned in and whispered in her ear. The two exchanged a look, and identical smiles flashed across their faces.

"Rest assured, you can leave this to me. And next time you have something good, don’t forget about me."

The black market owner couldn’t resist placing her hand on the back of Song Wanning’s once more, even throwing in a flirtatious wink for good measure.

"Hah."

Song Wanning, wholly unreceptive, pushed her away with a cold sneer.

As soon as the Spirit Stones were in her possession, she left and headed for the Divine Auction House.

"Mistress, should I send someone to investigate her identity?"

A subordinate sidled up to the black market owner and asked in a low voice.

"That woman seems to have quite a background."

"No need. She’s someone you can’t afford to provoke. Don’t cause trouble for me."

The black market owner’s expression turned cold as she glanced down at the talisman in her hand.

’Using this as the medium for her scheme... That woman has some nerve!’

’Still, she was more than happy to cooperate. Causing trouble was her specialty, after all.’

*

「At the Divine Auction House.」

A crowd of people was blocking the entrance, craning their necks to peer inside.

"What’s with all the people? Why is there such a commotion?"

"What, you haven’t heard? I heard the auction house is hiding a Demon Cultivator. Someone suffered a terrible loss because of it—not only were their Elixir Pills stolen, but they nearly lost their life!"

"What? That’s outrageous! They dare to hide a Demon Cultivator? Are they tired of being in business?"

"I know, right? We can’t coexist with Demon Cultivators—we’re like fire and water. What are they thinking?"

"..."

The Cultivators at the entrance were filled with righteous indignation. The moment they heard someone was harboring a Demon Cultivator, they immediately turned against the auction house.

Demon Cultivators were vicious and merciless, universally condemned throughout the Cultivation World.

Inside the auction house, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect had brought an entourage and was menacingly surrounding the auction house staff.

The group exuded an imposing aura, carrying the oppressive air of those in power as they pressured the Shopkeeper to hand over the person at once.

The Shopkeeper stood in the center with a few attendants, a look of utter bewilderment on his face. "Master He, our auction house may not be as large or influential as the Heavenly Inquiry Sect, but we would never stoop to harboring a Demon Cultivator. Your sect has no evidence, so you cannot make such baseless accusations."

He met the Sect Master’s gaze, his expression neither servile nor arrogant. Though the spiritual pressure made his legs tremble, he showed not a hint of fear.

"It was obviously your auction house that hid the Demon Cultivator and leaked my information! That’s how he was able to track me down and steal my Storage Ring and Elixir Pills!"

Ye Chuxue clutched at her chest, her expression furious.

"And now you’re trying to act like nothing happened? This is simply outrageous!"

"Sect Master, they’re just trying to twist the facts! It’s not that I don’t have proof—the proof is your auctioneer!"

"So many people saw the auctioneer! You can’t just deny it and hope it goes away!"

"If you have a clear conscience, then hand him over. We’ll know if he’s a Demon Cultivator the moment we test him!"

No matter how well a Demon Cultivator concealed their aura, the moment they used Demonic Qi, they would be detected.

This was why Mo Yuan had endured years of humiliation, allowing himself to be bullied without ever daring to fight back.

’It had also given the Ye Chuxue of her past life the opportunity to help him.’

"That’s right, hand him over! You’re being so furtive, yet you still claim he’s not a Demon Cultivator?"

An Ze was also fuming, pointing at the Shopkeeper and shouting that his secrecy proved his guilt.

The Shopkeeper, feeling the spray of spittle, rolled his eyes in exasperation.

’And this *thing* was the Mistress’s former disciple?’

’Was the Mistress’s judgment really that clouded back then?’

’Good thing he’s been kicked out. Just looking at him is an eyesore.’

"Shopkeeper, this isn’t a matter of our Heavenly Inquiry Sect acting tyrannically. One of our disciples suffering a small grievance is a minor issue, but the discovery of a Demon Cultivator is a major one!"

The Sect Master maintained a pleasant smile, but his words were laced with threat. "I’m sure your esteemed auction house did not intentionally harbor a Demon Cultivator. You must have been deceived by him."

"If you hand over the Demon Cultivator, this matter can still be easily resolved. But if you fail to apprehend him, you’ll never be able to clear your name of suspicion. When all the other great families turn against you, it will be quite difficult for your establishment to remain in business!"

"Wouldn’t you agree?"

His words made the Shopkeeper’s face darken. ’How dare he threaten me!’

Just as he was about to respond, a figure suddenly walked in through the doorway.

It was none other than Song Wanning, who had been watching the spectacle for some time.

Song Wanning moved with a graceful bearing. The crowd parted automatically wherever she went, and she exuded an aura that dared anyone to approach.

The moment she appeared, the expressions of several people inside the room shifted. They frowned in unison, clearly displeased by her arrival.

Bai Yang was the only one whose face flashed with delight.

"Junior Sister Song, why are you here?"

The Sect Master’s tone was hostile; he felt a sense of annoyance just looking at Song Wanning.

’Lately, nothing good ever happened whenever he ran into Song Wanning!’

"The auction house is an enterprise under my Song Family’s name. I heard it was being falsely accused of harboring a Demon Cultivator. A matter this serious, of course I had to come see for myself."

Song Wanning’s direct reveal of the auction house’s backing left everyone present utterly astonished.

The Divine Auction House was actually a Song Family enterprise?