"Indeed," Zi Ling's voice was incredibly melodious, like the sound of nature itself. "He and Han Li are both Guest Elders of my Exquisite Sound Sect, merely nominal ones, so I know very little about them."
"Forming a Nascent Soul within two hundred years, the first person in the Inner Star Sea in five hundred years… Hmph, once this Young Lord advances to the Nascent Soul Realm, I'll have another match with you!"
Wen Tianren prided himself as the foremost Core Formation Cultivator, but being surpassed by an unknown figure displeased him greatly.
The light in Zi Ling's bright eyes flickered, and she couldn't help but recall her first meeting with Li Feiyu.
At this moment, Wen Tianren said to Zi Ling, "You have already reached a critical stage in Core Formation. Will you go in two years?"
"If I succeed, I will naturally accompany Fellow Daoist Wen."
Wen Tianren smiled faintly, a hint of desire flashing in his eyes. "Very good, you can ask for anything you need."
The reason he spared no effort in cultivating Zi Ling was mainly that he wanted to Dual Cultivate with her once her cultivation was high enough, taking her primordial yin to boost his own cultivation.
Now, if he could acquire the Advancement Nascent Pill that Li Feiyu was preparing through auction, and with Zi Ling's primordial yin, he might be able to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm within twenty to thirty years.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wen, then Zi Ling will go into seclusion first."
"Mm, go. I will have someone send you the necessary items."
…
Within two years, all major forces were fully collecting the items Li Feiyu needed, in order to exchange for what they desired.
Li Feiyu, on his part, dedicated himself to refining treasures and Alchemy. Once that was mostly done, he continued to study Formations, perfecting various grand Formations.
The day of the auction arrived.
On this day, the sky was cloudless and as clear as washed sapphire.
Core Formation Cultivators and two Nascent Soul Cultivators were dispatched to receive individuals of corresponding cultivation levels.
Upon seeing familiar Faces, they all felt a wave of awkwardness, but they had no choice but to push through, otherwise, the consequence would be a Blood Curse warning.
Under Li Feiyu's strong support, the market on Sangxing Island had expanded by more than three times, and Sangxing City itself had also undergone expansion.
They gnashed their teeth, especially upon seeing Zenith Yin, the one who had abandoned them and fled alone back then.
Zenith Yin did not forget to mock, "It truly makes one envious to see you two Fellow Daoists enjoying yourselves on Sangxing Island!"
"Zenith Yin, don't get too smug. It's only a hundred years, and this debt will eventually be settled!"
Zenith Yin didn't care in the slightest, he merely flicked his long sleeve and flew towards the island market.
Not long after, people from the Star Palace arrived. Along with the Star Commerce Alliance, besides the Nascent Soul Cultivators, there were also two Core Formation stage Cultivators: Xing Jueyi, the Young Lord of the Star Commerce Alliance, and Ling Yuling, who had met Li Feiyu once before.
Upon seeing Elder Fire Cloud, Elder Liu stepped forward to greet him, asking helplessly, "Elder Fire Cloud, you've arrived."
"Elder Liu, are you… doing well recently?"
Elder Liu gave a bitter smile, "I'm alright. At least he hasn't treated us harshly, and we even receive three hundred Spirit Stones as tribute annually."
Elder Fire Cloud said, "Don't worry, Elder Liu, your salary will be issued by the Star Palace every year. After a hundred years, when you return, it will be given to you all at once."
Elder Fire Cloud and his companions had botched things last time, causing Elder Liu to suffer a hundred years of imprisonment, so they naturally felt somewhat guilty.
"By the way, have the people from the Inverse Star Alliance arrived?"
"We haven't seen their representative, but that scoundrel Zenith Yin has arrived. I think he must be here to apologize. If it weren't for him…"
The past was the past. Elder Liu sighed lightly and said no more.
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure emanated from afar, as six or seven streaks of light rapidly approached, surrounding an exquisite and luxurious flying beast carriage.
The carriage was about six or seven zhang long, made entirely of an unknown fragrant wood, covered with layers of Talismanic Incantations and faintly glowing with white light. In front of the carriage were three large green monstrous birds, about a zhang in size, with six eyes and four wings, looking ferocious and malevolent. All of them were Fourth-level Demon Beasts.
Elder Fire Cloud glanced at the beast carriage, then shifted his gaze to a streak of light next to it, from which the terrifying pressure emanated.
"Feng Mo, I didn't expect it to be you this time. It seems your Liudao Alliance Lord attaches great importance to Li Feiyu establishing a grand sect!"
Feng Mo said, "Your Star Palace didn't just send you, the Fifth Elder, either."
"Tianwuzi, stop looking. Your Senior Brother won't be coming this time. To be defeated by a junior and then be placed under a Restriction, truly disgraceful!"
Facing Feng Mo's sarcastic remarks, Tianwuzi's expression turned ugly, but the other party was one of Archsaint Six Paths's most trusted individuals, and his strength was not much inferior to his Senior Brother's.
He snorted coldly but did not retort.
Being captured by Li Feiyu and becoming his stepping stone to rise, this matter had already spread throughout the entire Inner Star Sea, becoming common knowledge and a laughingstock in people's mouths.
The beast carriage had a defensive shield, which now dispersed, revealing the two people sitting inside, a man and a woman.
The man was dressed in coarse linen, wearing a high crown, with a refined appearance. Golden light subtly shot from between his brows, making him look around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.
The woman was draped in white gauze, her skin as smooth as jade, with three thousand dark strands of hair falling over her shoulders. Her beauty was unparalleled, though her complexion was slightly pale. Yet, she looked like a Fairy descended to the mortal world, untouched by worldly affairs.
Her beauty made even the Nascent Soul Cultivators cast a sidelong glance.
A trace of Evil Qi flashed in Elder Fire Cloud's eyes. "I didn't expect you to actually come, Wen Tianren. Aren't you afraid of perishing here?"
Those two were none other than Wen Tianren and Zi Ling, who had just formed her Core.
The other few beautiful women, uniformly dressed in green palace attire, were Wen Tianren's maidservants, but their cultivation was all impressive, ranging from Middle Stage Foundation Establishment to Late Stage.
During the great battle in the past, many Core Formation Cultivators from the Star Palace had perished at Wen Tianren's hands, two of whom were late stage Core Formation Cultivators with prospects of reaching Nascent Soul.
"Hahaha~"
Wen Tianren burst into laughter, the gentle and refined expression on his Face disappearing, replaced by an arrogant look.
"If you have the ability to take me down, you are welcome to make a move!"
"The vast Star Palace, which has ruled the Inner Star Sea for thousands of years, now doesn't have a single capable Core Formation Disciple. Truly disappointing."
At this moment, Ling Yuling suddenly spoke, "I've heard that Young Lord Wen usually considers himself the foremost Core Formation Cultivator in the Inner Star Sea, but I recall you seemed to have passed two hundred years of age not long ago."
Ling Yuling was reminding him that there is always someone better.
You are strong, but someone is even more outstanding than you!
The foremost Core Formation Cultivator, are you worthy? Li Feiyu just doesn't want to contend with you!
Upon hearing this, Wen Tianren's Face was filled with anger, three veins popping out on his forehead. He raised his sleeve as if to attack, but Feng Mo stopped him.
"Tianren, a temporary dispute is nothing. Ultimately, it depends on who goes further and lives longer!"
"Don't forget the purpose of this trip."
"Understood, Uncle Feng."
The two exchanged Divine Sense messages, and Wen Tianren's expression returned to composure.
"If you dare, how about we try our hands after the auction?"
Ling Yuling turned her head away, ignoring him.
The atmosphere between the two sides was somewhat tense. At this moment, a streak of blood-red light shot from afar; it was Xue Yi, Li Feiyu's Blood Servant.
"I am Xue Yi. My master has commanded that Sangxing Island not be involved in the Star Alliance's conflicts. I ask that you all give Face. Any grievances you may have, once the auction is over and you leave Sangxing Island, you may resolve them yourselves."
Elder Fire Cloud said, "Since Fellow Daoist Li has said so, I will naturally give Face."
"This Face, my Inverse Star Alliance also gives," Feng Mo said coldly.