The First Venerable of All Paths

"Eight million!"

When the clear voice rang out again, the entire hall fell silent once more.

Everyone was shocked.

After all, eight million shi is no small sum.

Some of them could afford it, but they also felt it would be a major financial loss.

Of course, more importantly...

The other party is Mingche.

If they were to open a bidding war, they would inevitably offend Mingche and the Ming family.

"Eight and a half million!"

Fortunately, the silence didn't last long and was soon broken by a voice.

It's He Yun.

As the Ming family's rival and Ming Che's opponent, He Yun naturally had no fear of Ming Che.

He Yun's words made the others even more silent.

Even the important figures in the first row stopped bidding at this point.

"Nine million!"

Mingche was not intimidated by He Yun's offer, and instead slowly spoke.

Everyone looked surprised, but didn't dare to even breathe loudly.

"Nine million one hundred thousand!"

Inside the private room, He Yun gritted his teeth and announced a price.

"Brother He Yun, it seems you've reached your limit."

Mingche chuckled and said, "Nine million two hundred thousand shi."

As his opponent, he knew very well how many spirit stones the He family could currently offer.

Nine million is all that the He family has accumulated over the years.

Even if they could scrape together some money, it would definitely cost the He family dearly and would be detrimental to their future development.

The sarcasm in Mingche's tone was undisguised.

If others could hear it, He Yun could naturally hear it too.

"Hey, you surnamed Ming, who do you think you are?"

He Yun snorted and was about to speak again when the girl with the bun covered his mouth and shook her head frantically at him.

"Brother, let's forget about it."

The girl with the bun hairstyle said, "If this continues, our family will go bankrupt."

Slapping his sister's hand away, He Yun said in a deep voice, "I'm just not willing to be trampled on by that Ming guy again."

"It's not like it's the first time."

The girl with the bun rolled her eyes and said irritably, "Besides, spending such a high price to buy a fragment of a secret realm map is not a wise choice."

"Fine, let him have it."

He Yun quickly calmed down.

He knew, of course, that the fragment of the secret realm map being auctioned was only one of many.

Collecting the entire map would take forever.

It's really not very useful.

"But we must get that last one, no matter what!"

Seeing that her younger sister was about to speak, He Yun immediately said, "You're not allowed to refuse. As long as you have that thing, you can..."

"elder brother......"

The girl with the bun hairstyle had slightly red eyes, deeply moved.

"Anyway, you don't need to worry about it."

He Yun waved his hand and said, "Even if it means going bankrupt, I'll help you get that thing."

"Anyone else making a bid?"

On the high platform, seeing that no one else was bidding, Xiao Jinyu said, "Alright, then this fragment of the secret realm map belongs to..."

"Nine million three hundred thousand."

Before Xiao Jinyu could finish speaking, a calm voice rang out again.

Everyone suddenly turned around to look.

It's Fang Xuan again!

A glint of light flashed in Xiao Jinyu's phoenix eyes.

Is this guy going to challenge Mingche to a duel?

To others, Fang Xuan's actions were undoubtedly courting death.

Offending Mingche once wasn't enough; they had to offend him twice.

With his clear-headed nature, he will definitely not let this go.

"Nine and a half million."

However, unusually, Mingche in the private room did not get angry.

After slowly announcing a price, a mocking smile even appeared on his lips.

Trying to fight me?

You're still too green!

Fang Xuan slowly said, "Nine million eight hundred thousand."

"Ten million!"

Mingche said, "Kid, from now on, no matter what price you offer, I'll offer 200,000 more. I want to see how long you can hold out."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan frowned slightly.

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the seat, as if he was hesitating.

Seeing his appearance, everyone assumed that Fang Xuan couldn't produce any more spirit stones.

"that......."

At this moment, Li Xintong whispered, "Sir, if you really want this incomplete map, I can lend you some spirit stones."

Fang Xuan turned to look at Li Xintong, his eyes filled with a scrutinizing gaze.

Others might not be able to see Fang Xuan's expression, but Li Xintong's spiritual realm had reached the second rank, and her deep gaze seemed to be able to see Fang Xuan's eyes through the black cloth.

A faint blush appeared on her face.

"You...you mustn't misunderstand."

Li Xintong quickly lowered her head, fiddling with her two fingers, and said in a flustered tone, "Just consider it payment for you helping me refine the pills."

"I never agreed to help you refine pills."

Fang Xuan smiled slightly.

"what?"

Li Xintong suddenly looked up, staring wide-eyed at Fang Xuan.

"Then... I'll just consider it a loan from me."

Li Xintong's voice was barely audible.

"No."

Just as disappointment appeared on Li Xintong's face, Fang Xuan continued, "I won't compete with him anymore."

"what?"

Li Xintong asked doubtfully, "But you..."

"It's okay."

Fang Xuan said nonchalantly, "Let him keep it for now."

"oh."

Li Xintong didn't think much of it and didn't mention the matter again.

With Fang Xuan withdrawing from the bidding, the fragment of the secret realm map successfully fell into Ming Che's hands.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan stood up and prepared to leave the auction hall.

Regardless of what the last item in the auction is, Fang Xuan has lost much of his interest.

Before leaving, Fang Xuan glanced at Mingche's private room, a cold smile playing on his lips.

I'll leave the things with you for now.

Immediately afterward, Fang Xuan left the auction hall without looking back.

Li Xintong hesitated for a moment, then quickly got up and chased after him.

"Next, we will proceed with the auction of the final item."

Xiao Jinyu was in a very good mood because the fragment of the secret realm map sold for a high price of ten million.

At this moment, her face was beaming with a radiant smile, so beautiful that countless people couldn't help but breathe more heavily.

"Mr. Li, please wait a moment."

Fang Xuan had just stepped out of Tianbao Tower when a soft voice sounded behind him.

Fang Xuan turned his head and saw that it was Li Xintong.

"Mr. Li?"

Fang Xuan frowned, then chuckled, "My surname is Fang, not Li."

"what?"

Li Xintong showed surprise for the third time, looking at Fang Xuan with a blank expression.

Immediately afterwards, as if she had just thought of something, Li Xintong's face turned as red as the morning glow.

That guy is absolutely wicked.

"Mr. Fang, I sincerely want to ask you to help me refine a pill."

Fearing Fang Xuan would refuse, Li Xintong quickly said, "Just name your conditions, I..."

"I'm sorry, Miss Xintong."

Fang Xuan shook his head and said, "I have some important matters to attend to, and I really don't have time to refine pills for you."

He's in a lot of trouble now.

Indeed, I don't have the time to help Li Xintong refine pills.

"It's okay."

Li Xintong quickly waved her hand and said, "I'm not in a hurry. I can wait until Mr. Fang is finished with his work before he makes it for me."

"I......"

Just as Fang Xuan was about to refuse, Li Xintong whispered, "Mr. Fang, if you agree to refine pills for me, I can take you away from Mingyang County."

"What do you mean?"

Fang Xuan frowned, his eyes sharp as he looked at Li Xintong.

"The Ming family, isn't this the person they're looking for?"

Li Xintong took two steps forward, getting closer to Fang Xuan, and whispered, "You're Fang Xuan, aren't you?"

"So you knew all along."

Fang Xuan's voice was devoid of any warmth.

"Mr. Fang, please don't misunderstand, I mean you no harm. Besides..."

Li Xintong pointed at Fang Xuan, her eyes filled with an unreadable expression.

Fang Xuan touched his face in confusion and found that all the scars on his face had disappeared, revealing his original appearance.

The effect of the Hundred Faces Illusion has reached its time limit.

"I didn't expect Mr. Fang to be so handsome."

Even though the black cloth obscured her view, Li Xintong could clearly see a handsome face with sharp features, sword-like eyebrows, and bright eyes appear in her line of sight.

"Oh no! Come with me right now!"

Just as Fang Xuan was about to speak, Li Xintong pulled him away.

At this moment, Fang Xuan also saw several figures walking quickly towards them.

Judging from their clothing, they were clearly members of the Ming family.

Moreover, their cultivation levels are not weak.

One of them even reached the Qi Condensation Realm.

Fortunately, there were many people at the entrance because Tianbaolou was holding an auction today.

Li Xintong pulled Fang Xuan along, quickly disappeared into the crowd, and quietly left.

But they didn't know that a figure was following them from a distance.

Soon, Mingche walked out of Tianbao Tower.

"Young Master!"

The Ming family members hurriedly went to greet them.

Where are they?

Mingche looked at the leader, a martial artist at the Condensation Realm, with a sinister gaze.

"Young Master, I...I didn't see it."

Upon receiving Mingche's message, he immediately led his men over.

But it was too late; they hadn't yet discovered that the bastard who had tricked the young master.

"Then what are you all standing there for?"

Mingche said coldly, "Why aren't you expanding the search area? I don't care what methods you use, you have to dig three feet into the ground to find that guy for me!"

"Yes, young master!"

The Ming family warriors quickly agreed and began to arrange manpower to search for Fang Xuan's whereabouts.

"Boy, you think you can just leave after toying with this young master? There's no way you'll get away with this!"

A cold smile curved his lips, and a chilling glint flashed in his clear eyes.

......

"Okay, we're safe now."

Pulling Fang Xuan along, they entered a secluded alley. Finding no one following, Li Xintong patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief.

She turned around and found Fang Xuan looking at her.

"What...what are you looking at?"

Li Xintong quickly looked away, feeling her cheeks burning.

Why did you help me?

Fang Xuan did not look away, but continued to look at Li Xintong.

"I......"

Li Xintong felt a little flustered, but she still said, "I just want Mr. Fang to refine some pills for me."

"But as you've noticed, I'm currently embroiled in trouble and may not be able to help you."

Fang Xuan reminded Li Xintong.

"That's precisely why Mr. Fang's agreement was the wisest choice."

Li Xintong's bright eyes flickered slightly.

My previous words still stand.

Li Xintong chuckled and said, "I can take you away from Mingyang County safely without anyone noticing, so that the Ming family won't find out."

"Thank you for your kindness, Ms. Xintong."

Fang Xuan said, "However, I don't intend to leave."

"What?"

Li Xintong looked puzzled.

"I do have important business to attend to."

Fang Xuan said, "Therefore, Miss Xintong, you should find someone else more capable."

Fang Xuan was about to leave when Li Xintong grabbed his clothes.

"I don't care."

Li Xintong stubbornly said, "I'm sticking with you now. If you don't refine pills for me, I'll follow you wherever you go."