My father is the main character, but the female leads want to kill me.

He stared at Mu Shishuang and gestured: "You're not allowed to drink, you can't drink alcohol!"

Mu Shishuang firmly extended her hand, and Lin Ran had no choice but to turn her back. She then pulled a switcheroo, replacing the wine with juice, since the girl wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

He handed over the water jug ​​that looked very similar to a wine jug. Mu Shishuang tilted her head back and took several big gulps, then wiped her mouth with her sleeve, just like others. She handed the juice back to Lin Ran and gave Lin Ran a look.

Lin Ran felt that he looked like a hero who had downed a large glass of wine.

He glanced down at the water bottle filled with juice and thought to himself, "If this girl knew she was drinking juice, would she still be so nonchalant?"

He was thinking of giving this girl a nickname, "Juice Killer," which sounded quite amusing.

The auction house set up by Canglong Academy is quite worthy of Canglong City, the largest and most prosperous city in Jiezhou. This auction house is even more magnificent than the one set up by the Medicine King Sect. Moreover, it is built above the valley, so it is also high up and occupies a large area. The decoration style continues the antique style of Cangshan Yunge.

What surprised Lin Ran even more was that there was a waterfall near the entrance of the auction house. Although it was not as magnificent as "a waterfall plunging three thousand feet", it still gave people a sense of wonder and awe.

From the stairs on either side of the waterfall, you can ascend to the auction house located above. As soon as you arrive at the main entrance, you are invited by a group of exquisitely beautiful maids dressed in elegant cheongsams to enter through the back door and then into a private room inside the auction house.

Moreover, every few steps, there were guards from the Azure Dragon Academy carrying weapons, whose strength was at the peak of the Spirit Transformation Realm. The boys and girls behind Lin Ran looked on in astonishment and wanted to shout out, but the luxurious and exquisite place was quite quiet, so they obediently shut their mouths.

"Mr. Lin, this is your private room. If you need anything, I'll be waiting outside. You can contact me anytime!"

The maid leading the way bowed and spoke, and her elegant cheongsam had a subtle design element: the openwork design on the chest revealed a deep abyss to Lin Ran when she bent over.

This immediately reminded Lin Ran of the saying, "When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."

The person who had been watching all this suddenly nudged Lin Ran with his elbow, bringing Lin Ran back to her senses. He coughed and said, "Let's go inside and take a look!"

Lin Ran led the way, pushing open the door and going in. Mu Shishuang watched Lin Ran's retreating figure, and suddenly understood what she'd read in the book: "Men are all a bunch of lecherous wolves; they can't resist beautiful women." It seemed Lin Ran was no exception, except…

Before entering, Mu Shishuang glanced at the maid's face and couldn't help but compare them in her mind: "She's not as pretty as me, but why doesn't she look at me with a dazed expression? Could it be... that she still hates me?!"

The maid noticed someone watching her and instinctively looked over. When she met a pair of cold eyes, she trembled in fright and quickly lowered her head, suppressing any wicked thoughts that might have crossed her mind.

Lin Ran, who had just entered the private room, was unaware of all this. He was wandering around the room and looked out from in front of the transparent glass. Their location was not far from the central auction stage, and the view was excellent. The seats in the room were gradually filling up.

Lin Ran thought to herself, "It seems this auction wasn't as bad as I'd imagined!"

He gestured for the shy children to sit down and reassured them, "Don't envy places like this, and don't be so reserved."

"When you become powerful experts in the future, there will be plenty of people inviting you to places like this. Cultivate well, and with enough power, you can go anywhere!"

With just a few simple words, Fu Yuemei and the others completely lost their restraint, and finally stopped being so cautious.

The reason why Fu Yuemei and the others are like this is also related to their experiences.

According to Lin Ran's investigation, these children are basically from small families and small towns. By coming to Linghua Academy, they have already become the best in their respective areas.

The cultivation resources vary from place to place, and Lin Ran is well aware of this, both in the past and now. Therefore, even though Lin Ran knows the plot, she still tries her best to provide Lin Chong with a better environment and more resources to help him grow into a successful person.

He didn't know how hard his parents had worked until he became a parent himself. Only then did he realize that he had become like them and understood them. But after coming to the Nine Provinces Continent, he lost the opportunity to repay them.

He even had to endure the loneliness and confusion of arriving in the Nine Provinces, the resentment of knowing his talent was limited, the giving up, and now starting all over again.

He saw his younger self in these children. When he first left that small Linshan City, he realized how big the world was. He was just like them when he first went to the auction house, where every inch of land was precious and the decoration was luxurious.

That's why he also hopes that these children can grow up and at least go further. The Nine Provinces are vast, and a lifetime is long; they should go and see more of it!

Isn't the point of life to see more of the world?

……

113. Bluestone Square

"Wow, it's actually a Heaven-level weapon! The one I'm using is only the lowest Earth-level weapon!"

"A high-level Earth-rank martial skill, a high-level Earth-rank skill, did you see that, Xiao Zhuang!"

Perhaps it was the soundproof private room, or perhaps it was Lin Ran's comforting words that got the kids talking again.

Even after the auction ended, Lin Ran felt a buzzing in her ears, but since they were just there for entertainment, she didn't spend any money, even though she saw some nice items.

It's not that he doesn't have money; he certainly does. With Qianyi, a seventh-level alchemist and a little rich girl, around, plus the resources he obtained from clearing the dangerous triangle area, he's definitely a wealthy landlord.

The truth is, this Canglong Academy auction was not as good as the once-in-a-century auction held by the Medicine King Sect. After attending an auction of that level, these auctions just seem boring. It would be better to go back to bed and sleep.

But seeing the children's excited expressions and their discussions on the way back in the carriage, Lin Ran felt that coming to this auction was indeed worthwhile, as it broadened the children's horizons.

After the auction ended, I devoted myself to cultivation for two or three days before setting off for Qianzhou.

On the morning of the departure, a neatly arranged caravan was once again parked outside Cangshan Yunge. The people from the four academies came out together and boarded the carriages. As the carriages traveled, they arrived at a huge and vast bluestone square.

What is most spectacular and amazing about this bluestone square is that there is a huge stone platform in each of the four cardinal directions. The surface of the stone platform is inlaid with silver crystals, which are so clear and bright that they refract the sunlight and hurt the eyes. The crystals also faintly exude a powerful spatial force.

On the stone platform is a huge circle formed by special rocks, with tadpole-like runes twisting on the circle, occasionally emitting a dazzling silver light.

In the center of the stone circle is a pitch-black, deep black hole, where a strange suction force swirls. That suction force seems capable of sucking in everything in the world, whether it's the sunlight overhead or your gaze, it's all like a mud ox sinking into the sea, leaving no trace.

There are four such spatial tunnels at Canglong Academy, and there are also smaller spatial tunnels in other directions.

The square was packed with people, both inside and outside. Many people crowded around the ticket booth, trying to grab a ticket for the space tunnel. Meanwhile, the orderly crowd inside the square entered the space tunnel one after another and disappeared into the deep darkness.

Such a scene was something that even Lin Ran himself had never seen before, let alone the children in the group. He had never witnessed the prosperity of the Central Region's Heart State, but the Azure Dragon Academy, the most powerful academy in the Central Region, was far stronger than the Ji Clan Dynasty, one of the strongest in the Lie State.

The sheer grandeur of the plaza in this spatial tunnel far surpasses that of the Ji Dynasty. Moreover, that crappy spatial tunnel was plagued with problems every day. Last time, Lin Ran encountered the Void Evil Clan while riding that thing and almost lost his life.

Fu Yuemei and the others, who were sitting in the carriage, had already lifted the curtain of the carriage window. Several little heads crowded into the small window, wanting to take in the outside of the square.

Mu Shishuang leaned closer, glanced at it a few times, then lost interest. She crossed her arms and whispered to Lin Ran beside her, "This spatial tunnel is very stable. It seems that an expert maintains it regularly."

"You could even tell that?"

Lin Ran was taken aback. Sometimes he felt like he hadn't sealed Mu Shishuang's strength. Was this girl's eyes really that sharp?

"Although I can't sense it, I can still understand those runes. They are so clear, and the stone platform is also very well made."

"Look at the space crystals laid underneath, and look at that rock ring. It's not made of ordinary rocks either. The construction of that entire space tunnel alone cost tens of thousands of high-grade spirit stones."

"This doesn't even include the cost of having a powerful expert open a spatial tunnel. At the very least, a spatial tunnel of this level would require an Undying Realm expert who can transfer spatial power," Mu Shishuang said.

Although Mu Shishuang's words were not very loud, Fu Yuemei and the others could hear them clearly in the relatively cramped space of the carriage.

Xiaoqian excitedly hugged Fu Yuemei, stammering, "The...the Undying Realm?! Tens of thousands of high-grade spirit stones?"

At that moment, Xiaoqian really felt like she was suffocating. She had seen so much on this trip. She had never realized that the world could be so big.

Chi Sinian comes from a relatively better-off family among these children. In her opinion, the most amazing one should be Sister Mu. She must have known so much. What level of person must Sister Mu have been before?

The more I think about it, the more frightened I become. What if Sister Mu is also that legendary Undying Realm expert? Wouldn't that mean they once embraced an Undying Realm expert?

Chi Sinian's thoughts began to wander, and she started to have all sorts of random thoughts.

Regardless, with Sister Mu's narration, everyone has a deeper understanding of the grand scale of the Azure Dragon Academy's plaza, and is even more eager to see what it will be like when the Central Region becomes the center of the continent.

This competition happens to offer an opportunity to be selected into a super sect, but that's still too far-fetched for them right now. They should just try their best to go further in the secret realm!

The convoy entered a private tunnel and successfully arrived at the plaza. After everyone got out of the vehicles, they were led the way by the plaza's guards.

As Lin Ran walked through the plaza, she noticed the large number of guards present. Even peak Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators were just lowly soldiers here, and there were quite a few Spirit Core Realm and Nirvana Realm cultivators as well. Clearly, they were worried that someone might commit a crime here, so they set up such a strong defensive force.

Led by the guard, Lin Ran and the others quickly arrived at the empty eastern space tunnel. When they reached the stone platform, they could feel the immense size of the black hole and their own insignificance.

"That's a really big deal!"

Lin Ran murmured a sigh.

Upon hearing this, Mu Shishuang lowered her head and thought for a moment, then tiptoed and whispered in Lin Ran's ear, "I can also help you create a space tunnel like this!"

Even if you could help me with that, I still need the money!

Lin Ran smiled, not taking Mu Shishuang's words seriously. It wasn't that he was unwilling to unseal Mu Shishuang; in fact, he had already wavered in his heart.

Rather, he was genuinely interested in the space tunnel. If it could connect Linghua City and the Li Dynasty, both sides might be able to develop rapidly.

However, the problem is whether this space tunnel can be defended. The current strength of the Li Dynasty is insufficient, as is that of Linghua Academy. Moreover, without professional personnel to repair it, it will break down after a short time and become useless!

Therefore, there are too many things to consider for this huge project, and it's best not to touch it now.

Seeing that Lin Ran had jokingly let it go, Mu Shi's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, but a moment later a pair of large hands pressed down on her head and stroked it, and Lin Ran's voice rang out: "When you take the space tunnel later, stay close to me, I can protect you in a critical moment!"

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Mu Shishuang's eyes, hidden beneath her hair. She nodded and responded softly:

"it is good!"

……

Before the space tunnel to the east, each academy stood in a line, dressed in their own attire.

The Canglong Academy team was also present, dressed in light blue fitted robes embroidered with azure dragons, led by their outer academy dean, Lin Yi.

Lin Ran glanced casually at the Canglong Academy's team, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He and Yue Lei from Songling happened to meet each other's eyes and both understood what the other meant.

This was the first time they had seen the Canglong Academy team today. The ten young men and women from Canglong Academy were hiding their strength; they could only sense a vague aura.

"Good heavens, they even resorted to hiding their strength. The Azure Dragon Academy is really cunning!" Lin Ran cursed inwardly.

In Lin Ran's opinion, Canglong Academy is really going to make a fortune in that secret realm. She wonders what treasures are inside that would make Canglong Academy value it so much. Lin Ran even considered lending Fan Hua to her son, Lin Chong.

In Lin Ran's mind, Fan Hua, who had been recuperating for a long time since the last time in the space tunnel, heard Lin Ran's thoughts and couldn't help but say angrily, "I saved you last time and I've only just recovered, and you're trying to mess with me again!"

"Hey, that's ambiguous. What do you mean by 'messing with you'? Watch your words!"

Lin Ran made a joke, then said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, this space tunnel is impregnable, you shouldn't be needed. Besides, Xiao Chong has a lot of trump cards up his sleeve, so I'm quite at ease."

"Indeed, you've finally ridden a good space tunnel. Don't ride one of those with problems next time!" Fan Hua said with lingering fear.

That incident terrified her; even the Flowing Tassel Palace was damaged. She has been recuperating ever since, all in order to repair the Flowing Tassel Palace and restore her soul power.

"Wasn't it you who told me to sit? Did you really think I wanted to sit?!"

Lin Ran is a cautious person. You know, before he met Mu Shishuang, there was a problem with the space tunnel of the Ji Dynasty, and he didn't dare to ride it.

"Oh, I'm tired, I'll take a nap first!"

Fan Hua said awkwardly and immediately ran away. Last time, she seemed to have confidently assured everyone that there would be no problem, but then a large Void Evil Clan came. It was really strange.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Yi had his subordinates hand out the spaceships that had been prepared beforehand to each academy leader. Lin Ran looked at the spaceship in the crystal ball in her hand; it looked very exquisite and should not be some kind of junk.

"Master, what is this?"

Fu Yuemei saw the crystal ball in Lin Ran's hand and asked in a low voice.

The other children also crowded around, their eyes filled with longing.

Lin Ran smiled and said, "I'll take you inside to show you around in a bit. Once we're inside the space tunnel, don't panic. Just listen to me, understand?"