I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 148 Demon Egg
After more than twenty breaths, the ghost pet drifted away completely, and Xue Xiang finally released his embrace.

The two emerged from behind the wall one after the other. The evening breeze brought a chill, but it failed to dispel the subtle warmth that had just lingered.

"Wei Ruyi is so arrogant, does the Emperor have a plan?"

Xue asked in a low voice.

The woman in the yellow dress paused for a moment before realizing that Xue Xiang had overheard their conversation.

"Don't interfere. No matter how arrogant Wei Ruyi is, he won't dare to do anything because of the imperial family's laws."

The woman in the yellow dress said in a low voice, "Since you have heard it, I will not hide it from you. I am the Princess Consort of Yong."

As soon as she said it, she felt inexplicably sad.

Xue Xiangdao said, "I did guess the identity of Yuanjun, but then I thought that no matter what Yuanjun's identity was, I would always consider Yuanjun to be my teacher in the official document."

This layer is enough.

Princess Yong was stunned, her heart filled with ripples that surged into a mighty torrent.

"It's getting late, so I won't bother you any longer. Take care, Yuanjun."

After bowing, Xue Xiang exuded an aura of refinement that spread beneath his feet as he stepped onto the waves.

Princess Yong said, "If possible, strive to be the best in the trial. The central government is arguing over the reward for the top performer. If you can win, you will definitely benefit greatly."

"take note of it."

As he spoke, Xue Xiang had already gone far away, turning into a black dot in an instant.

The lake was unusually still.

The evening breeze gently caressed her, ruffling a few strands of hair at Princess Yong's temples, causing her robes to billow slightly, as if they too were moving at her own will.

The water trails left by Xue Xiang as he rode away had long been smoothed out by the lake waves, but they still stirred ripples in her heart.

She stood on the shore, her slender fingers unconsciously stroking the drooping willows by the lake.

For many years, she has been trapped in the cage of her identity as the Princess Consort of Yong, and whether she smiles or not, she has to pay attention to the expressions of others.

Now, this lake seems to reflect another version of myself.

There's no need for formalities or defensiveness; you can quietly listen to someone speak and remember a moment in time with your heart.

If only she hadn't followed her family's wishes and married into the Yong Prince's mansion back then...

Endless thoughts lingered in her mind until the wind chimes rang again. Only then did she turn her gaze away and let out a soft sigh, as if she were sighing away half a lifetime of spring water.

When Xue Xiang returned to the square in front of Feiyu Trading Company, it was already close to dusk.

As twilight bathed the square in a golden veil, the bustling crowds thinned out, and the vendors' shouts mingled with whispers of business, occasionally punctuated by bursts of laughter and curses.

He walked around the crowd, his gaze inadvertently landing on a familiar stall, where the so-called "demon egg" still lay quietly on the brocade cloth.

The stall owner, his neck red, was arguing with the white-robed old man who had previously performed a charade with him. The white-robed old man was furious, pointing aggressively at the demon egg.

"You should at least pay me for my trouble, right? I not only made a wasted trip, but I also had to play along with your act."

The old man in the white robe had a loud voice, which attracted the attention of several passersby.

The stall owner raised an eyebrow and sneered, "You haven't even sold anything, so where would you get your hard-earned money? It's your acting that's bad, and you're blaming me?"

"fart!"

The white-robed old man was so angry that his beard and hair trembled. "I told you long ago that this was a fake, but you insisted on fooling me, making me spend five spirit stones to set up this shabby stall."

Before he could finish speaking, the stall owner also swore, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to push him forward. The two men's emotions quickly escalated, and they were about to get into a physical fight.

The crowd was drawn by the noise and gathered around, whispering among themselves.

Just then, the demon egg flew into the hand of an elder, who was none other than Su Jianmo, the abbot of Wuzhuang Temple.

"You must know your stuff. Name your price, and I won't haggle."

The stall owner beamed and came closer.

Su Jianmo remained silent, but Xue Xiang keenly sensed the fluctuation of literary energy in Su Jianmo's palm.

"He's using his literary energy to examine this demon egg. Could it be that this demon egg is real?"

Xue Xiang had a sudden thought.

After more than twenty breaths, Su Jianmo finally put down the demon egg and murmured, "What a good thing. It's a pity that the Heavenly Dao and fate could not tolerate it in the end."

After saying that, he turned to leave, but the stall owner stopped him, saying, "Fellow Daoist, no matter how much I plead, you have to buy it. Name your price."

Su Jianmo shook his head, "It was originally a priceless treasure, but unfortunately, it was delayed for too long and died."

This item is extremely rare, and its ability to escape the demonic realm is even rarer, occurring only once in ten thousand years.

Initially, replenishing energy is enough to survive.

Later, one can live by being immersed in literature.

Now, even my refined literary skills cannot detect the slightest trace of life in this thing; what's the point of saying more?"

After saying that, he strode away.

The stall owner was struck dumb and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

The white-robed old man who had previously been acting with him rushed up again. Seeing that the two were about to start fighting again, two stewards who were maintaining order walked over.

The two had no choice but to separate, and the stall owner grabbed the demon egg and prepared to pack up his stall.

Suddenly, as if he had just realized something, he abruptly raised his head and exclaimed in surprise, "That's not right!"
Only inanimate objects can be stored in the storage space! I just tried, and this demon egg still can't be stored in the storage ring, which means it's still alive, it's alive!

His shouting did not attract much attention.

The main reason is that this demon egg has become quite well-known in the square.

The onlookers were tired of watching his charade with the old man in white robes.

Most importantly, with the renowned Su Jianmo endorsing him, no one believed his claims anymore.

Xue Xiang became somewhat interested and reached out his hand, saying, "Let me take a look."

The stall owner quickly handed it over.

Upon obtaining the demon egg, it was initially as cold as stone. Xue Xiang secretly activated his literary palace, slowly injecting a wisp of pure literary energy.

The next moment, he suddenly felt an extremely light and delicate sucking sensation in his palm, as if a tiny mouth was greedily sucking at his literary essence.

"What's going on? Didn't Su Jianmo say that if the demon egg didn't react when I put in my spiritual energy, it meant it was dead? Why is it that my spiritual energy can make the demon egg react?"

Xue Xiang couldn't understand it, but he had already made up his mind to take down the demon egg.

He remained expressionless and returned the demon egg to the stall owner.

The stall owner got impatient, "One hundred, one hundred, take it and then you can haggle, you little brat."

Xue Xiang paused, seemingly hesitant, but did not offer a price.

The stall owner and the white-robed old man who was performing a duet with him not far away both looked at Xue Xiang with great interest. Xue Xiang slowly turned around.

"One hundred my ass! Fifty, fifty is all we have, fellow Daoist, we can't go any lower, we've already lost everything."

The old man in white robes rushed forward and shouted urgently.

Xue Xiang slowly shook his head, "I can only offer thirty; that's all I have in my budget."

"That won't do, at least sixty."

Seeing that Xue Xiang had made a bid, the stall owner's heart was filled with hope, and he began to raise the price.

As soon as he raised the price, Xue Xiang quickened his pace. The white-robed old man snatched the demon egg from the stall owner's hand and shoved it into Xue Xiang's hands like a hot potato, saying, "Thirty it is, no take-backs."

Xue Xiang held the demon egg, a look of hesitation appearing in his eyes, and the stall owner immediately swallowed the objection that was about to come out.

Xue Xiang slowly took out thirty spirit stones, carefully counting them in his hand, looking as if he was still hesitating.

The old man in white robes snatched it away, saying, "Deal made, no one is allowed to go back on their word."

As he was about to slip away, the stall owner stepped forward, and the two immediately started arguing loudly again over the unequal division of the spoils.

Xue Xiang was about to continue strolling around when suddenly, a clear bell rang out from the center of the square.

With the blessing of the spirit array, the sound waves rippled in all directions, and could be clearly heard even in distant streets and alleys.

Immediately afterwards, the steward of Feiyu Trading Company announced loudly, "The first auction will begin in half an hour. Guests with number plates may enter at any time to prepare."

The crowd suddenly became commotion.

Xue Xiang straightened his sleeves and calmly stepped towards the main gate.

After passing through multiple layers of checks and verifying the license plate, Xue Xiang was allowed inside.

Ahead was a spacious hall.

In the long corridor of the hall, more than ten waiters were lined up on both sides, all wearing blue cloud-patterned long gowns, with a silver tag hanging from their waists, engraved with two words - "Director".

They looked respectful, bowing slightly. A sign nearby stated:
For just two spirit stones, you can hire a guide to lead you to your seat, introduce the items, and even help you bid during the auction.

Xue Xiang has always believed that professional matters should be handled by professionals.

Two spirit stones are definitely worth the price.

Xue Xiang's gaze swept over the servants and finally landed on a familiar figure, the female cultivator who had processed his number in the meditation room earlier.

Xue Xiangchong nodded to her, "You're the one."

Their eyes met, and the female cultivator was slightly taken aback, then her eyes showed a hint of closeness and gratitude.

Xue paid with spirit stones, and the female cultivator introduced herself as Wu Yuanyuan.

Led by Wu Yuanyuan, the two walked side by side through the winding corridors, turned through an archway, and the scene of the auction venue suddenly appeared.

The entire venue is semi-circular, with a high and wide dome inlaid with a single piece of lapis lazuli. The surface is engraved with star patterns, and the light flows slowly, as tranquil and magnificent as the movement of stars.

The seats around the perimeter are arranged in a staggered pattern along an arc-shaped staircase, rising in tiers from the outermost circle to the innermost circle, with a circular platform in the center covered with red and gold brocade.

Around the high platform, eight gilded beast pillars supported a semi-transparent light screen, separating the main bidding area from the seats, which was both solemn and had the effect of spiritual array protection.

Low sandalwood tables were set up between the seats, with jade slips and spirit pens already prepared on them for people to record information about the auction items.

Lights hung down from the dome, like streams of light cascading down onto the center of the platform, making the main stage the sole focal point of the entire event.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the seats were already 70% full, and hushed conversations rose and fell, with occasional cultivators curiously looking around.

Suddenly, the side door next to the main auction platform opened, and a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a black brocade robe slowly stepped onto the main auction platform.

This man had a thin face and piercing eyes. Although there was some gray in his temples, it only added to his calm and composed demeanor.

He raised his hand in a gesture of respect, his voice deep and resonant: "I am Li Yin, entrusted by Feiyu Trading Company to serve as the auctioneer for this auction."

He paused briefly, looked around the room, and continued, "What you see today are all exquisite pieces that my company has treasured for many years and that have been entrusted to us by our clients."

The auction rules are briefly described below...

After rattling off a string of the usual rules, Li Yin raised his gilded gavel. "Ladies and gentlemen, the auction begins immediately!"

The sound of the mallet striking the ground was crisp and clear, like jade.

Xue Xiang purchased the directing service and took a seat in the exclusive directing area, where there were two seats connected together. Wu Yuanyuan sat next to him.

Xue looked around and saw many familiar faces.

Lu Wenhou, Shen Nansheng, Lou Changqing, and Ling Xueyi were all present.

Xue Xiang was surprised to find that those present seemed to be county students who were about to enter the trial field, all of them being from the younger generation.

Xue Xiang withdrew his gaze and asked in a low voice, "Why don't we see any big shots?"

Wu Yuanyuan lowered her voice and replied, "The big spenders will mostly be at the high-end auction later; that's the real highlight."

Xue Xiang asked, "Then what qualifies someone as a 'generous guest'?"

Wu Yuanyuan smiled slightly, her tone carrying a hint of awe and emotion, "Either they are senior cultivation experts, or they come from prominent families or high-ranking official families... In addition, there is another condition: if they can pass the verification of funds before entering the venue and have more than five thousand spirit stones in reserve, they can also be included in the ranks of VIPs."

She paused, then added, "In addition, guests who accumulate a total of one thousand spirit stones in this auction will receive an invitation to enter the advanced auction later."

Xue Xiang said, "The guests who have arrived have already undergone multiple layers of screening. I saw on the sign at the venue that guests are not allowed to cover their faces. You can't say that this is for security reasons, can you?"

Wu Yuanyuan lowered her voice and said, "Since you're here, you should know someone, right?"

Xue Xiang nodded, waiting for Wu Yuanyuan to continue.

Wu Yuanyuan shut her mouth, and Xue Xiang immediately understood.

It's only when acquaintances argue that emotions easily run high; once they get carried away, they can make even a stone fetch the price of gold.

Most of the people who come here are students from various prefectures, so there must be a lot of people who know each other.

Feiyu Trading Company truly lives up to its reputation as one of the top guilds in Canglan Prefecture; they are masters at exploiting human weaknesses for profit.

"Lord Xue, do you have a specific focus for this auction?"

Wu Yuanyuan changed the subject.

Xue Xiang was taken aback. "Focus? I really haven't thought about that. It's not about buying whatever is good, is it?"

Wu Yuanyuan leaned down slightly and lowered her voice even further: "You must be going to the Trial Realm, right?"
The Trial Realm is perilous; what suits you best are nothing more than attack, defense, and escape-related resources.

She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Xue Xiang's expressionless face, and gave an awkward smile, "Forgive me for showing off, but you are definitely more capable than me."

"No, no, you've given a very good reminder, and you've said it very well. Please continue."

Xue Xiang smiled and said, "Everyone has their own expertise. If you can explain more and more comprehensively, then my spirit stones won't have been wasted."

Wu Yuanyuan's eyes brightened slightly, somewhat surprised by Xue Xiang's modesty, "Since you don't mind, then I'll take the liberty of saying a few more words."

When discussing resources, there are always a few characteristics:

First, at the same level, offensive treasures are more expensive than defensive treasures.

Secondly, durable resources, such as magical artifacts, array plates, and talismans that can be used for a long time, are much more expensive than disposable, quick-use resources.

She paused slightly, then looked up at Xue Xiang, "If you can tell me your cultivation expertise, or a specific use case, I can help you with resource matching and suggestions."

This way, you can save money unnecessarily and be more targeted during the auction.

Under the lamp, her gaze was focused and sincere.

Xue Xiang took out two spirit stones and placed them in her palm. Wu Yuanyuan was about to politely refuse.

Xue Xiang said, "You earn money with your knowledge, and I benefit from your knowledge. Paying you spirit stones is only right, so there's no need to refuse."

Xue Xiang knew very well that to ask someone to do something, you either needed to have a good relationship with them or to have enough money.

Besides, don't expect others to do their best.

Unable to refuse, Wu Yuanyuan accepted the spirit stones, secretly delighted.

Xue Xiangdao asked, "Is it convenient to talk here?"

Wu Yuanyuan seemed to see Xue Xiang's concerns, smiled gently, and gestured to the seat under his feet, "Lord Xue, please rest assured, these double seats have a built-in soundproofing array. As long as we don't deliberately raise our voices, others won't be able to hear our conversation."

Upon hearing this, Xue Xiang pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "I currently only have the cultivation level of the Great Perfection of Qi Refining."

He possesses a set of sword techniques combined with a set of footwork, making him invincible in close combat and extremely fast.

In addition, I have also cultivated a divine weapon imbued with literary energy. If fully activated, its power is immense, but the energy consumption is also enormous.

Wu Yuanyuan listened attentively, her gaze slightly narrowed, and she asked, "How strong is the adult?"

"By the way, I have cultivated a body-refining divine skill, and my physical defense and strength are both outstanding."

Wu Yuanyuan nodded slightly, "If that's the case, I suggest you focus on the Swift Wind Talisman."

With this talisman, one's escape speed can be increased by more than five times.

If your movement techniques are truly superb, and you can maintain control over your talismanic power, it's equivalent to multiplying the power of your close combat skills several times over. A single, seamless advance and strike will yield extremely impressive results.

She smiled and added, "However, to use it proficiently, you'll need to waste at least ten Swift Wind Talismans to adapt to your physical body and movement."

The market price is eight to ten spirit stones for a single Gale Talisman.

The cost was considerable.

"If your suggestion proves to be effective, then you have truly helped me a great deal. Do you have any other suggestions?"

He wasn't afraid of spending money, but he was afraid of having no clear strategy and blindly throwing away spirit stones.

Now that someone has clarified the situation for him, he feels a sense of relief.

Wu Yuanyuan nodded slightly, “With only the cultivation of Qi Refining at the Great Perfection, your spiritual power and literary energy will be consumed very quickly after entering the Trial Realm. In a prolonged competition, it will be difficult for you to gain the upper hand.”

Her voice was a fraction lower, but it sounded even more composed. "Therefore, you need to devote more attention to attack-related resources."

Besides the Gale Talisman, I suggest you consider other options such as talismans, puppet beasts, mechanical figures, or spirit corpses.

Attack-type talismans have too long a wind-up time, making it difficult to achieve a sudden strike effect, and they are also very expensive.

Puppet beasts can be selected from five elements, with different focuses in their offensive capabilities. They are powerful but somewhat clumsy.

Mechanical robots combine dexterity and speed, but their functions are relatively limited.

The spirit corpse is impervious to blades and spears, possesses immense strength, and boasts unparalleled defense, making it suitable as both a support attacker and a meat shield.

However, it is extremely expensive.

You can make your choice based on your usage preferences and combat experience.

Xue Xiang asked, "Do you have Yuan Burst Beads?"

Xue Xiang had seen this bead at the Military Equipment Hall and knew its main function.

He didn't have enough points at the time, so he didn't redeem them.

Wu Yuanyuan said, "The Yuan Explosion Bead is indeed extremely powerful. If it explodes at close range, it is enough to kill a Core Formation Realm expert."

However, the difficulty lies in detonating this substance.

There are usually two ways to detonate an explosive: one is by fire, which can ignite the explosive through intense burning.

Another possibility is impact.

This impact was not a collision in the simple sense.

Because of its immense power, the Elemental Burst Beads were designed with collision and explosion in mind.

Therefore, even if it is thrown out and hits the ground, it is often difficult to detonate.

It must be attacked and hit to detonate.

Due to these two major difficulties in its use, this item was not frequently used during combat.

As the two were talking in hushed tones, the crisp sound of a gilded wooden mallet striking the main table rang out.

The first item was slowly lifted into the light screen of the main auction stage.

A long sword, its entire body carved from ice jade, with dark patterns like shattered jade floating on its back, and a cold light emanating from its blade, as if it could cleave the air.

Li Yin's voice echoed clearly in the light screen: "Azure-grade magic weapon - Jade Shattering Blade, which can amplify the attack of water-based techniques, starting bid is five hundred spirit stones, with an increment of no less than 10%."

The atmosphere in the room tensed slightly as hushed whispers rippled through the seats. Xue Xiang, however, simply leaned back in his chair, tapping lightly on the table with his fingertips, weighing Wu Yuanyuan's suggestion.

The auction was very fast-paced.

One by one, the auction items were displayed on the light screen, ranging from spiritual herbs and pills to low-level magic artifacts, from refining materials to various precious medicines, a dazzling array.

The bidding was incessant, and the numbers recorded on the jade slip kept flipping through the pages.

These things did not arouse Xue Xiang's interest; he simply watched quietly without raising his paddle.

Suddenly, a pale blue talisman light appeared in the light screen.

It was a neat stack of talismans, with sharp lines on the surface and flowing spiritual patterns, as if the sound of a whistling wind was overflowing from the paper.

The auctioneer smiled and held up a talisman, his clear voice echoing throughout the venue, "Swift Wind Talisman, a set of ten, can instantly increase the wearer's escape speed for twenty breaths."

Whether using a sword, a flying magical artifact, or simply relying on movement techniques, one can gain several times the amplification.

Suitable for pursuit, escape, and dash, it is an excellent choice for trials and battles.

He paused, then put down the talisman. "This set contains ten talismans. The starting bid is one hundred spirit stones, and each bid must increase by at least ten percent." Xue Xiang's eyes lit up slightly, and he raised his bidding paddle. "One hundred and ten."

With few competitors, the price steadily climbed, and Xue Xiang raised the bid three times in a row, finally acquiring the first set for 150 spirit stones.

Before the hype had died down, a second set of Gale Talismans was brought out on the platform.

Xue Xiang knew this item was just what he needed, so he raised his paddle again and bid three times, finally bringing the price down to 160 spirit stones.

When the third set was presented, the gazes among the guests clearly held a stronger sense of competition.

The bidding was rapid and intense, and the number of spirit stones climbed quickly.

Xue Xiang was unwilling to miss out, and forcefully outbid his two competitors, ultimately winning the bid at a price of two hundred spirit stones.

Wu Yuanyuan whispered, "My lord, don't focus too much on the Gale Talisman. Bidding like this is too disadvantageous."

"understood."

Xue Xiang always advocated that money should be spent sparingly, but as long as it is spent in the right places, it can be invested heavily.

The moment the fourth set of Gale Talismans was revealed, someone in the front seat suddenly shouted, "The dignified leader of Canaan County, known as Mr. Sorrowful Autumn, those who know you would think you're going to the Trial Realm for trials, but those who don't would definitely think you're running for your life, right? You're risking your life with Gale Talismans, can't you leave everyone a way out?"

Although his voice wasn't loud, it carried a hint of mockery, and all eyes turned to Xue Xiang.

Shen Nansheng said in a low voice, "Can you tell? This scoundrel knows that his cultivation is not good enough, so he is preparing to escape."

Lou Changqing, to his left, said coldly, "If only his magic ring had failed, we could have dealt with him inside."

Lu Wenhou said, "Even if he can break the document and escape, we still have a chance to capture him. Let's wait and see."

Suddenly, the gilded wooden mallet landed on the main table with a crisp, thunderous sound.

The auctioneer stated sternly, "During this auction, no intimidation, mockery, or interference of any kind is permitted. Violators will be removed immediately."

The room fell silent.

In the end, Xue Xiang forcefully acquired the fourth set of Gale Talismans, spending three hundred spirit stones.

At this point, apart from the people of Canaan County, everyone present witnessed Xue Xiang's brilliance for the first time.

After the four rounds of Gale Talismans were used up, no new Gale Talismans appeared, and a low sigh rippled through the arena.

Several items that were useless to Xue Xiang were put up for auction one after another. They were either low-level refining materials or collectibles unrelated to the trial. He just watched quietly and did not raise his paddle.

Suddenly, a warm and smooth pill appeared in the light screen, with a pale golden halo flowing around it. The medicinal fragrance was refreshing and faintly exuded a power that invigorated people's minds.

"Foundation Building Pill - helps cultivators break through to the Foundation Building Realm, starting bid 500 spirit stones, each bid increment no less than 50."

The auctioneer's voice rose slightly, clearly indicating that he valued this key item highly.

Xue Xiang's gaze sharpened, and he immediately raised his paddle to increase the price.

The market responded quickly, and prices steadily climbed.

"Seven hundred and fifty."

When Xue Xiang reported this, his voice remained steady.

Unexpectedly, someone immediately called out: "Eight hundred."

Xue Xiang looked in the direction of the voice and saw Shen Nansheng with a faint smile on her lips.

Xue Xiang chose to give up.

Immediately afterwards, the second Foundation Establishment Pill was put up for auction, and Xue Xiang bid again.

He had barely uttered "nine hundred and fifty" when another voice drowned him out—it was Lou Changqing who had made the bid, his eyes filled with provocation.

Clearly, Shen Nansheng and Lou Changqing had already established their foundations and did not need this pill at all.

Their bidding was clearly an attempt to sabotage Xue Xiang.

When the third Foundation Building Pill was unveiled, the atmosphere in the venue changed dramatically.

Whispers drifted from somewhere—someone was quietly recounting Xue Xiang's exploits of hunting down a purple-level monster during the trial.

More whispers spread as if carried by the wind: "Once he reaches the Foundation Establishment stage, there's no point in competing in the second trial; we absolutely must stop him!"

These words were like a pebble thrown into water, instantly stirring up undercurrents throughout the room.

The Foundation Building Pill continues to be auctioned.

Xue Xiang continued to raise his paddle, his expression indifferent, increasing the price higher each time. In the blink of an eye, the bid for the Foundation Establishment Pill had climbed to 1,300.

Gradually, no one followed suit, after all, if they wanted to target Xue Xiang again, they would have to bear the costs themselves.

Just as everyone was in despair, a strange young voice calmly announced from behind: "One thousand four hundred."

The voice was steady and unhurried, carrying an unquestionable certainty.

Xue Xiang abstained again.

Immediately afterwards, the seventh and eighth Foundation Establishment Pills were also taken by the mysterious youth.

Before Xue Xiang could even raise his paddle for the last Foundation Establishment Pill, the mysterious young man had already bid up to two thousand.

Such an awe-inspiring aura completely dominated the entire arena.

The auctioneer's voice trembled with excitement, and he looked at Xue Xiang as if he were a benevolent child.

"My lord, if you really need Foundation Establishment Pills, you can entrust us to purchase them for you. It will take at least a year or half a year to get results. There is no need to waste spirit stones here."

Wu Yuanyuan advised in a low voice.

Xue Xiang laughed and said, "It's just teasing them. If they're willing to spend money, you can make more money."

Xue Xiang wanted to establish his foundation, and Yue would never choose this time.

He does need the Foundation Establishment Pill, but it's no longer an urgent matter.

Besides, he has limited funds now, and every penny must be spent wisely, so why would he waste it on Foundation Establishment Pills?

Intentional bidding is merely a reconnaissance tactic.

This not only revealed that the three men, Lü Wenhou, were still hostile towards him, but also exposed the lurking crocodile beneath the surface.

Do you know the person who just bought the last few Foundation Establishment Pills?

Xue Xiang asked Wu Yuanyuan in a low voice.

Wu Yuanyuan shook her head, "I don't know him."

But this wasn't his first time visiting Feiyu Trading Company. The last time he appeared, the big boss personally accompanied him.

Xue Xiang nodded slightly, glanced at the mysterious youth, who was also looking at him and gave him a smile.

On the auction stage, the gilded gavel tapped lightly, and the auction continued.

After several rounds of bidding, the items were nothing more than spiritual herbs, animal hides, and low-level magical artifacts, which did not interest Xue Xiang.

Then a waiter presented a black gold box with both hands, opened the lid, and a dazzling light immediately shone on the stage.

"Gentlemen, this is the Yuanbao Pearl. It is made by nurturing the Lieyang Stone Marrow as its core and seven kinds of fire-attribute spiritual materials for three years."

The photographer's voice carried a hint of pride, "This item is extremely difficult to refine and has immense power. It explodes at close range, and even Core Formation cultivators must avoid its edge."

A set of ten pieces, starting bid two hundred.

The audience immediately became excited.

Xue Xiang perked up.

After shooting the four rounds of explosive beads, he pocketed them all.

This time, no one challenged him to a death match, but Xue Xiang still spent 1,350 spirit stones.

His extravagant spending has drawn the attention of many.

Shen Nansheng, Lou Changqing, and Lü Wenhou were also discussing it endlessly. Even they, who were participating in this auction, had only prepared two thousand spirit stones each.

Xue Xiang has already spent over two thousand on Swift Wind Talismans and Yuan Explosion Beads.

After acquiring the Yuan Burst Beads, Xue Xiang stopped making any more purchases.

The remaining 5,500 spirit stones were the foundation for his confidence in placing bets at the high-level auction.

The auction ended after half an incense stick had burned.

With Wu Yuanyuan's help, Xue Xiang quickly completed the settlement, and since Xue Xiang's expenses exceeded one thousand spirit stones, Wu Yuanyuan helped Xue Xiang obtain an admission ticket to a high-level auction.

The high-level auction will be held in one hour.

Just as Xue Xiang was about to find a place to rest for a while, Wu Yuanyuan handed him another gold-embossed invitation, saying, "The mysterious person is hosting a dinner party. Our manager asked me to give this to you."

"Are you in charge?"

"Yes."

Xue Xiang was secretly surprised; clearly, it couldn't have been a private job taken on by that manager.

Rather, it was a mysterious person who had the power to instruct the Flying Feather Merchant Guild to do these things.

Clearly, the mysterious person possesses extraordinary power.

Xue Xiang accepted the invitation and decided to go see who the mysterious person was and what kind of secret he was up to.

Then, led by Wu Yuanyuan, he arrived at the No. 1 banquet hall of Feiyu Trading Company.

Inside the large banquet hall, the warm lighting cast a soft glow on the sandalwood table and carved window frames.

More than ten people were scattered in the hall, some leaning against the railing, others sipping tea.

As soon as Xue Xiang stepped in, he felt several gazes sweep over him, but they quickly withdrew, and no one came forward to greet him.

Xue Xiang was puzzled when the sandalwood door opened slightly, and a young man slowly entered the hall.

His eyes were sharp, and his expression was calm and composed, as if he had been sitting in the main seat for a long time, rather than as if he were a newcomer.

Xue Xiang recognized him at a glance; this was the mysterious tycoon who had snatched the last three Foundation Establishment Pills at a high price at the auction.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the young man gave a slight bow and spoke in a clear voice: "I am Han Feng, from Shenjing. I am fortunate to have been assigned to Canglan Prefecture as a student of Jingjun County, to compete with the leaders of various counties in Canglan Prefecture. It is truly an honor."

This short sentence contains a wealth of information.

Xue Xiang finally understood why these people were so cold to him.

This was because almost all the top scorers in the county examinations of Canglan Prefecture came from aristocratic families, and he was the only exception.

The rivalry between his Canaan County and the major aristocratic families was no secret.

These young masters from prominent families naturally stood on the opposite side of him.

As for the "student from the capital," Xue Xiang had never heard of this ranking before, but he had seen it in official documents.

Looking back now, the fact that the central government suddenly allowed the acquisition of crystal cores to be stored in the official treasury, and even prepared a mysterious and generous gift, was most likely because of this student from the capital.

"Han... Could it be that you are the son of Han Hanlin of the Dragon Pavilion?"

A young man in white in the corner of the hall exclaimed in surprise.

"It is indeed I."

Han Feng nodded arrogantly.

"The son of a Hanlin scholar."

"Heavens! A county student is only a Xiushi, a Xiushi is a Jushi, a Jushi is a Jinshi, and a Jinshi is a Hanlin scholar. A true man should be like this."

"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Master Hanlin is a being who has ascended to the ranks of immortals."

"No wonder this man's temperament and aura are so outstanding."

"........."

After some discussion, everyone bowed and greeted each other.

Xue Xiang was happy to follow the crowd.

Under Han Feng's guidance, everyone took their seats.

Han Feng clapped his hands lightly, and a group of attendants stepped forward, placing a thickly sealed blue-patterned envelope in front of each of them.

The moment the envelope was presented, the air in the room froze.

"This is a small gift for our first meeting with you all. It is of little importance. Each of you may receive five hundred spirit stones and spirit tickets to make your journey easier."

Han Feng smiled calmly, his voice carrying a sense of matter-of-fact nonchalance, "I don't like empty talk, I like making friends, making true friends."

In an instant, the hall fell silent.

Not only were the others stunned, but Xue Xiang was also stunned. He had seen simple and crude methods before, but he had never seen anything so crude.

Han Feng's desire to befriend the leaders of various prefectures in order to gain an advantageous position in the trial realm was obvious.

Xue Xiang could understand.

What he didn't understand was how Han Feng dared to do this, how could he do such a thing?
Those present were no ordinary people; they were all outstanding members of prominent families who had seen the world.

Isn't he just trying to offend people by throwing money at people like that?

Xue Xiang was completely baffled, but suddenly, he thought of Murong Yu.

With the added enhancement of filters, what immense power must the dignified Lord of Fusheng Xuanhuang possess?

In reality, Murong Yu was a mama's boy who was still unmarried.

Once Xue Xiang thought of Murong Yu, his mind became clear.

As expected, the young man in purple robes slowly pushed open the envelope, sneered, and shoved it back onto the table. "The trial is a competition to be won, each according to their own ability."

"To pull this stunt would only tarnish Han Hanlin's reputation."

Though the words were plain, they were like a short blade, revealing their sharpness.

"Do you really think I've never seen money before? What bad luck!"

"The capital city is filled with such people; no wonder the world is plagued by disasters."

"........."

Which of the people present was not a prodigy from a prominent family, who had been nurtured by their clan and hoped to make a name for themselves in the imperial examinations based on their true talents?
While being a Hanlin scholar is prestigious, the greatest honor they value is winning the championship in the second trial for their family.

After all, it practically meant a smooth path to success in the imperial examinations.

This also means the level of support from the family. They not only don't care about a mere five hundred spirit stones, but also consider it a great humiliation.

A moment later, the hall was mostly empty except for Xue Xiang, who remained sitting in the same spot.

Han Feng lowered his eyes, frowning in deep thought, as if pondering why his good intentions had yielded such a result.

Suddenly, he caught sight of Xue Xiang and smiled slightly, "Friend Xue, aren't you leaving?"

"Why leave? Brother Han, you are so sincere. I've decided to be your friend."

Xue Xiang calmly picked up the envelope containing the spirit ticket and put it into the talisman.

Han Feng paused for a moment, "Don't you think what I did was somewhat inappropriate?"

"Inappropriate? How could that be? They're just naive. They don't understand Brother Han's deeper meaning."

Xue Xiang said solemnly.

"Oh? I have a deeper meaning?"

Han Feng became interested.

Xue Xiangdao said, "I once met an unparalleled master."

He once said, "Those who betray me, I will give them ten thousand spirit stones; how much will those who follow me receive?"

Han Feng was stunned.

Xue Xiangdao said, "Brother Han's actions are exactly the same as those of that peerless master."

It seems that geniuses share common ideas.

Look, Brother Han gave five hundred to those who were unwilling to follow him.

Those who are willing to follow Brother Han, will they have any worries about their future?

To put it bluntly, Brother Han's actions are precisely to select those who truly follow him.

"hiss!"

Han Feng gasped. "My mother once said that I was destined to be an extraordinary person, but I just haven't met a master to guide me."

What is the name of the extraordinary master you mentioned, and where does he live?
His thoughts were exactly the same as mine.

Xue Xiangdao said, "This man's surname is Nie, given name is Xiao, and he is the grandmaster of the pyramid scheme."

"Nie Xiao? What an imposing name. The Pyramid Scheme Sect sounds like an unconventional sect."

Han Feng said, "Once this matter is settled, I would like to trouble Brother Xue to take me to meet Master Nie."

Xue Xiang nodded, "There's a chance."

Brother Han, you absolutely must protect me when we enter the Trial Realm later.

"Don't worry about it."

Han Feng said proudly, "Master Nie has spoken. I gave five hundred to those who betrayed me. Shouldn't those who followed me deserve even more?"

After he finished speaking, he clapped his hands lightly, and an attendant brought out a dark-colored box and walked over.

The box was opened, and inside were three Foundation Establishment Pills.

Do you know why I competed with you for these three Foundation Establishment Pills at the auction?

Han Feng said quietly.

Xue Xiang tried his best to follow Han Feng's line of thought. "At that time, everyone was competing with me, but their strength was limited."

Brother Han made a powerful final move, defeating me three times in a row, demonstrating his extraordinary wisdom and courage.

Therefore, Brother Han's action is to announce to the entire audience, "You, Han Feng, have arrived!"

Snap, snap, ...

Han Feng stood up excitedly, “My parents gave me life, but Brother Xue understands me.”

I always thought you were just a pedantic scholar who wrote pretentious and mediocre poems. Rumors are often false, so many rumors.

You are a wonderful person.

These three Foundation Establishment Pills are for you.

Xue Xiang was stunned; this guy was incredibly extravagant.

He remembered that Han Feng spent at least five thousand spirit stones to buy those three Foundation Establishment Pills.

They just gave it away like that.

Xue managed to scrape together eight thousand spirit stones after much effort.

He was starting to wonder if he and Han Feng were living in the same dimension.

"What, you look down on me, Han?"

"How could that be? I thought Brother Han would be offering at least ten coins."

Xue Xiang quickly accepted the three Foundation Establishment Pills. His current mood was similar to that of Zhuang Qiang when Wang Duoyu appointed him as the general manager of the investment company.

"I brought limited funds this time. Foundation Establishment Pills are nothing to me. Once I win the championship, I'll have everything."

Han Feng said proudly, "Judging from your qi and blood, although they are robust, it seems that you have not yet established your foundation."

As for your strength, it's a bit lacking, but since you're so sincere, I, Han, won't let you down.

We have a long future ahead of us.

(End of this chapter)