Gou's Liver Experience in the World of Demons and Demons

Upon hearing this, the old man did not immediately agree, but pondered for a moment.

"Adding fragments of Sacred Realm martial arts to the auction at the last minute... This is no small matter, involving many things such as changes to procedures, publicity and promotion, and security. I need to consult the Palace Master immediately."

After saying that, he closed his eyes, and a subtle spiritual wave rippled out from between his brows, clearly indicating that he was contacting Tantai Mingjing in a special way.

In the instant his mental energy fluctuated, Gu Sheng keenly sensed that the old man's mental energy had already completed its second condensation!

While its quantity and quality may not be as vast as a true Saint Realm, its quality is extremely close, even comparable to some weaker beginners! No wonder it gave him such a powerful sense of pressure.

This Wanbao Hall is indeed a place where dragons and tigers hide.

A moment later, the old man opened his eyes, his gaze towards Gu Sheng held a deeper meaning, and his tone became more solemn.

"The Lord of the Mirror Palace has already given instructions. The Myriad Treasures Palace can act as your agent for auctioning this item free of charge, without charging any commission."

A hint of surprise flashed in Gu Sheng's eyes. The Wanbaodian Auction House's commission rate was never low, and for priceless items like Saint-level martial arts techniques, the commission was an astronomical figure. Free agency? That's quite a favor.

But he instantly understood that this was both a further investment and gesture of goodwill from Tantai Mingjing, and probably also reflected her appreciation of the intrinsic value of this sacred art, as well as... some kind of exchange. The Myriad Treasures Hall did not take a cut.

However, the top-tier clients attracted by this sacred technique, and the enhanced level and reputation of the auction, likely generate hidden benefits far exceeding that small commission. A Saint-level expert truly has flawless strategies.

"I am deeply grateful for the Lord's kindness."

Gu Sheng cupped his hands in greeting.

"Young friend, you don't need to be so polite."

The old man waved his hand.

"The Palace Master also asked if you have any requirements regarding the starting price for this item?"

Gu Sheng shook his head.

"Since I have entrusted this matter to your esteemed institution, I naturally trust your professional judgment. I have no special requirements, only that it be fair."

"it is good."

The old man nodded and carefully put away the jade talisman of "Hundred Phoenixes Burning Heaven Slash". Just then, Gu Sheng took out another jade talisman, which was the one from Shi Wufeng's storage ring that recorded the Venerable Realm martial arts technique "Myriad Manifestations Seal".

"This item."

Gu Sheng also placed the jade talisman on the table.

"This is a martial art technique of the Venerable Realm that was 'compensated' by the Myriad Manifestations Holy Land just now. It is of no use to me, so I might as well ask your esteemed hall to auction it off and exchange it for some money."

Upon seeing this, the old man raised his white eyebrows slightly, a hint of surprise and amusement flashing in his eyes.

"Oh? The Myriad Manifestations Sacred Land's 'Myriad Manifestations Seal'? Although this technique is not their core sect's ultimate skill, it is still quite good among Venerable Realm cultivators. Young friend, you just made a duel agreement with that Shi Wufeng, and then you immediately auctioned off his sacred land's martial arts technique... Aren't you afraid of further angering the Myriad Manifestations Sacred Land, leaving them with no room for maneuver?"

Gu Sheng remained indifferent, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"Senior, do you think there is any room for maneuver between me and the Holy Land of Myriad Phenomena? Since we have already formed an enmity, why bother about deepening it further? Besides, since they have already 'compensated' me with this item, it is mine now, and I should do with it as I see fit. If they don't even have this much magnanimity, then their so-called Holy Land is nothing more than this."

Upon hearing this, the old man was taken aback at first, then stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

"Haha, good! What a fine 'since the feud is already established, why bother with it'! Young friend, you are so young, yet you act decisively and thoroughly, with extraordinary spirit! I admire you quite a bit. Very well, my Wanbao Hall will take on this matter! Regardless of the final price of the two martial arts techniques, we will settle the accounts with you after the auction."

"Thank you for your help, senior."

Gu Sheng bowed again, said no more, and turned to leave the crystal appraisal room. Behind him, the transparent barrier closed silently, shutting out the old man's thoughtful gaze.

As dusk fell, the afterglow of the setting sun draped the magnificent Tianyuan Imperial City in a golden-red cloak. Inside the circular auction hall on the fourth floor of the Wanbao Hall, which could accommodate tens of thousands of people, the crowd was already thronging, and the noise rose and fell like waves.

Martial artists from various prominent families and sects of Tianyuan Imperial City arrived in an endless stream, along with many weary travelers from other regions, each with their own distinct aura, hurrying to find their seats. Under the enormous crystal dome, tens of thousands of lighting arrays lit up one by one, illuminating the entire venue as if it were daytime.

Inside the hall, murmurs rose and fell, with almost all the focus on the highlight of the auction.

"Have you heard? There really are tokens for the Heavenly Origin Treasure Pool up for auction this time!"

"It's not just a rumor, the news has spread far and wide! The Heavenly Origin Holy Land has really given the Myriad Treasures Hall a huge favor this time, offering up a quota to support them!"

"Alas, it's a pity we can only watch the show."

Such opportunities are destined to fall into the hands of those inheritors of sacred lands and peerless geniuses.

"That's right! Look at those private rooms on the second and third floors, they're brightly lit and all the restrictions are off. We've never seen them this full before! I heard they've all been booked by people from various holy lands and ancient clans!"

"Tsk tsk, what a gathering of extraordinary events. It seems this auction is more than just a simple buying event..."

The crowd's gazes frequently swept over the private rooms above, shrouded in special formations, their interiors obscured yet radiating a subtle, oppressive aura, filled with awe and envy. While private rooms were always sought after at previous auctions, it was truly rare to see them almost entirely monopolized by holy land-level forces.

Everyone realized that tonight's auction was destined to be extraordinary.

Gu Sheng walked briskly through the slightly crowded passageway toward the Tianjia Private Room.

He kept a low profile and was not conspicuous in the noisy crowd.

However, just as he was about to enter the VIP passage leading to the Tianzi area, a figure suddenly blocked his way.

The newcomer was a young man, about twenty years old, with a handsome appearance, fair skin, and wearing a brocade robe embroidered with blue herbal patterns. He exuded a faint, refreshing medicinal fragrance, as if he had been spending his life with a furnace of spiritual herbs.

His aura indicated that his cultivation was at the mid-stage of the Earth King Realm, and his life force was stable, indicating that he had been cultivating for nearly a hundred years. At such an age, his achievements would be considered quite good in a typical sect, but in the current auction venue where heroes gathered, he could only be considered average.

The young man, with a warm smile on his face, bowed to Gu Sheng with a very polite demeanor.

"Excuse me, sir, please wait a moment."

Gu Sheng paused, looking calmly at the other person.

"Who is your Excellency?"

"I am Jiang Xuanshen, a disciple of the Qingnang Holy Land."

The young man introduced himself in a gentle tone, but when he mentioned "the sacred land of Qingnang," a hint of arrogance unconsciously flashed in his eyes.

His gaze swept over Gu Sheng, his smile growing even more amiable. "Just now, I happened to sense your aura passing by, and I felt an indescribable sense of kinship, as if... we share the same origin and are drawn together by the same path. Therefore, I took the liberty of stopping you. I hope you will forgive any intrusion."

The Qingnang Holy Land? Gu Sheng's heart stirred. He recalled that Tantai Bingtang seemed to have mentioned the name of this holy land before. Its founder, Qingnang Dan Sheng, was... a disciple of Emperor Beichen? He remained calm and said indifferently.

"Brother Jiang, you flatter me. I seem to have no connection with the Qingnang Holy Land."

"Brother Gu?"

Jiang Xuanshen's eyes lit up, as if he had confirmed something, and his smile widened.

"Brother Gu, you may not know this, but my master is the current Holy Lord of the Qingnang Holy Land, and also the direct disciple of the Qingnang Pill Saint. My master has mentioned more than once that his mentor is the unparalleled Emperor Beichen!"

My master, deeply grateful for my teachings, has long instructed us disciples that if we encounter anyone or anything related to the Emperor's lineage while traveling, we must treat them with utmost respect and do our utmost to help them, so as to uphold the path of our disciples.”

He paused, looking intently at Gu Sheng, lowering his voice slightly, his tone both tentative and certain.

"Brother Gu possesses extraordinary bearing, a solid foundation, and vigorous vitality, which I have never seen before. Moreover, there is a faint trace of an ancient and noble aura that is difficult to describe... If I may be frank, Brother Gu, have you... been fortunate enough to receive some of the legacy of Emperor Beichen?"

Gu Sheng listened to the other party's almost blatant flattery and speculation without feeling any emotion, and even found it somewhat boring. What the other party said might be true, and the Qingnang Dansheng's gratitude for his master might be genuine.

However, Jiang Xuanshen's attitude clearly showed that he was eyeing the "Emperor's Legacy" background that he might possess, and was deliberately trying to befriend him, perhaps even with some intention of recruiting or probing.

In Gu Sheng's view, this behavior lacked sincerity and was more calculating.

Seeing Gu Sheng remain silent and indifferent, Jiang Xuancan's smile stiffened slightly before he spoke warmly again.

"Brother Gu, there is no need for doubt! If you are truly destined to meet the Emperor, then you are destined to meet my Qingnang Holy Land! My master and everyone in the Holy Land will certainly welcome you with open arms and treat you as an honored guest! I wonder if you have any free time after the auction? I am willing to introduce you to the Qingnang Holy Land for a chat, and I am sure you will feel the sincere hospitality of my master and the Holy Land!"

His words were full of allure, as if he were offering a tremendous opportunity.

However, Gu Sheng just watched him quietly until he finished speaking before slowly opening his mouth, his voice calm and even.

“Brother Jiang, I appreciate your kindness. However, I am used to traveling alone and have no interest in visiting such a sacred place. The auction is about to begin, so if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave.”

After saying that, he nodded slightly and then tried to walk around the other person to continue on his way.

Jiang Xuancan clearly did not expect Gu Sheng to refuse so decisively, without even a hint of hesitation or politeness.

His smile froze completely, a look of surprise and embarrassment flashing in his eyes. He quickly stepped aside and explained.

"Brother Gu, please wait! I was being presumptuous, please forgive me! It was just that I dared not forget my master's instructions, and seeing your outstanding demeanor, I was momentarily moved... If you change your mind in the future, the gates of the Qingnang Holy Land will always be open to you!"

Gu Sheng didn't stop walking, as if he hadn't heard what he said afterward. His figure quickly disappeared into the passage leading to the Heavenly Zone.

Jiang Xuancan stood there, gazing in the direction Gu Sheng had left. The embarrassment on his face gradually faded, his brows furrowed slightly, his eyes gleaming, and he muttered to himself.

"So young, yet his aura is unfathomable, even I feel a faint pressure... Such a decisive rejection, either he is extremely arrogant, or... he has bigger ambitions and doesn't care about the olive branch of my Qingnang Holy Land? The inheritance of Emperor Beichen... it seems that we still need to consider it carefully."

He shook his head and turned to join the crowd.

Gu Sheng didn't take Jiang Xuanshen's appearance and intentions to heart. Such sycophancy and currying favor were commonplace in the cultivation world, and he was already used to it. The most important things right now were the auction and tomorrow's arena.

Soon, he returned to the door of the private room. Pushing open the door, he saw, under the warm and bright lights, Gu Yuanyuan who was curiously looking around and Qi Diao Yaoyao who was resting with her eyes closed, as well as a gentle and graceful figure.

Tantai Xueli was sitting next to Gu Yuanyuan, whispering something to her, which made Gu Yuanyuan's eyes crinkle with delight. Hearing the door open, she looked up, saw Gu Sheng, and smiled gently before gracefully rising to her feet.

"Brother Gu Sheng, you're back."

Tantai Xueli stepped forward, her expression more relaxed than before, but a hint of solemnity seemed to be hidden deep in her eyes.

She glanced behind Gu Sheng to make sure no one was following, then spoke softly.

"There is something I need to discuss with Brother Gu Sheng alone; it is quite important."

Inside the elegant private room of Tianjia, warm jade emitted smoke, and the Daoist aura flowed. Tantai Xueli rose to greet Gu Sheng, her expression carrying a hint of solemnity as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

She glanced at Gu Yuanyuan, who was sitting obediently to the side, curiously gazing at the crystal curtain wall of the auction hall, and Qi Diaoyao, who was meditating with her eyes closed, and whispered to Gu Sheng.

"Brother Gu Sheng, may I have a word with you in private?"

Gu Sheng nodded, and the two walked to a relatively quiet corner on the other side of the private room, where there was a simple tea table, separated by a screen.

"Xue Li, what is the matter that you are so cautious about?"

Gu Sheng asked.

Tantai Xueli took a deep breath and lowered her voice to make sure that only Gu Sheng could hear her clearly.

"It's about Sister Yuanyuan, Sister Yaoyao, and that Miss Su. A few days ago, they were training in a small secret realm controlled by my Tantai family."

Gu Sheng's eyes flickered slightly, waiting for what would happen next.

"Our family has explored that secret realm for many years. We have maps and records of the resource distribution, monster lairs, and dangerous areas. The original intention was to let them familiarize themselves with the environment of the Central Plains Secret Realm and obtain some basic resources. There is no risk involved."

Tantai Xueli continued, her tone tinged with disbelief.

"But who knew that the three of them, by some accident, triggered an ancient restriction deep within the secret realm that the family had marked as 'ancient remnant array, exceptionally sturdy, and currently without a way to break it'."

Even more surprisingly, the restriction... was unintentionally broken by them!

"Oh?"

Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow; this was indeed unexpected. The environments of Zhongzhou and Donghuang were vastly different. Zhongzhou was rich in spiritual energy, and its martial arts had flourished for countless millennia. The resources on the surface and even in the shallow ley lines had long been exhausted.

Most of the known secret realms and grotto-heavens have been divided and controlled by various major forces, and have been explored to a great extent. It has been rare for hundreds of years to hear of any new, undeveloped secret realms appearing in the world.

Such an opportunity is an unexpected surprise in Zhongzhou.

"According to the rules established by my Tantai family since ancient times."

Tantai Xueli looked at Gu Sheng with clear eyes.

"In any secret realm controlled by the family, if a family member or invited guest discovers a completely new, unexplored area first, the discoverer and their designated companion have the first right of exploration. Only after completing the initial exploration and submitting 30% of the findings or equivalent intelligence can the family organize resources for large-scale development." (End of Chapter)