After finishing their discussion at the tavern, Jian Dan and her group headed straight to the Huanle City auction house.
Mo Qi walked at the front, draped in a striking crimson robe. Blood agate earrings hung from her ears, both top-grade defensive spirit treasures. A storage bangle coiled elegantly around her wrist, completing her look with clean, radiant precision.
Jian Dan followed close behind, her attire inky black, embroidered with the petals of a Manjushahua flower. A delicate forehead ornament highlighted her pale complexion, and her slender fingers bore a black-gold ring. The Obsidian Bracelet was hidden under her sleeve, but her charm radiated clearly, enchanting and captivating in every step.
Mo Su and Mo Yi, the two male cultivators in their party, wore low-key robes of black patterned with subtle dark lines. Though their outfits were understated, their handsome features and natural presence turned heads, drawing attention from passing cultivators of all genders.
When the four entered the Hua Family Auction House, the newly appointed manager of the establishment greeted them immediately.
"Honored guests, welcome. Are you here to consign items or to participate in tonight's auction?"
Without a word, Jian Dan took out a small box from her black-gold ring and handed it to the manager.
Assuming the box contained a consignment item, the manager quickly invited them into a private room. With practiced care, he cracked the lid open and took a discreet peek. His pupils shrank, and he promptly closed the lid and returned the box with both hands, his attitude shifting at once.
"Hua Si, manager of the Huanle City Hua Family Auction House, greets the honored Mó Yuè Jūnshàng."
Jian Dan nodded slightly. "Apologies for the intrusion. I'm passing through Huanle City and wish to restock some pills, artifacts, and talismans. Please prepare enough for four people and give me the total cost afterward."
"By order of the Patriarch, Jūnshàng, you receive a forty percent discount at any of our Hua family stores. This is your personal Hua Family spending token, prepared for you in advance."
He presented a wooden token carved in the shape of twin lotuses. A faint lotus fragrance wafted from it, calming the mind. The token was embedded with an array formation, making it usable as a miniature storage space.
Jian Dan accepted the token and slipped it into her black-gold ring. Then she glanced at the manager.
"Manager Hua, we'd also like to attend tonight's auction. Are there still any seats available?"
"We have a reserved private suite prepared specifically for our honored guests. You may attend at your convenience."
"Very well. Are there any noteworthy items on sale tonight?"
"Jūnshàng, this is the auction list. Please take a look."
"Thank you. You've been very considerate."
Jian Dan passed the jade slip containing the item list to Mo Qi. Mo Qi scanned it with her spiritual sense before handing it to Mo Su, who did the same and passed it along to Mo Yi. Mo Yi held it and began examining the entries more carefully.
Meanwhile, Jian Dan gave the manager a flirtatious smile and transmitted a message directly to his mind.
"Any news of Hua Chunshan?"
Manager Hua blinked in surprise, then instinctively replied through spiritual transmission.
"You've caught me off guard, Jūnshàng. Allow me to gather the most recent reports. Please wait a moment."
"Take your time. I'll wait."
She gestured casually, dismissing him. As Manager Hua took his leave, Jian Dan narrowed her eyes slightly and tapped her finger gently on the armrest. Only then did she notice the three across from her were staring.
She smiled faintly. "Just asking about an old acquaintance."
A teasing glint appeared on Moqi's elegant face. "Curious about that young friend of yours, Cao?"
Still smiling, Jian Dan responded, "That's a secret."
They chuckled and shifted the conversation to tonight's auction, discussing whether any of the listed items were worth bidding for.
Less than half an hour later, Hua Si returned, followed by a Nascent Soul cultivator carrying a tray with four high-grade storage pouches.
Mo Su waved a hand and took one. After inspecting it with his spiritual sense, he tossed back a matching pouch—most likely filled with spirit stones. The others followed suit. Only Jian Dan received an extra item: a jade slip.
It contained two messages.
The first was a note of gratitude from the Hua Family Patriarch, Hua Kun. He thanked Jian Dan for the vital information she had provided. Hua Ancestor had awakened and would soon reach peak Mahayana. The Hua Family owed Jian Dan a great debt. In the future, should she need assistance, they would not hesitate to help if it was within their power.
The second message stated that Hua Chunshan was still in Huanle City but had once again changed his appearance.
Jian Dan chuckled at the news. That man understood the art of concealment well. He knew the most dangerous place was often the safest. On the surface, the Hua Family had pulled their disciples from Huanle City, but in truth, he had remained and continued to operate in the shadows.
It was a good opportunity. Jian Dan planned to think it over carefully.
Having restocked their supplies, the group left the auction house to prepare for the evening's event.
As she stepped out, Jian Dan sent a message through her spiritual sense to the obsidian token issued by the Heavenly Sword Sect's law enforcement division. She transmitted all the information she had gathered about the insect invasion and the mission to the Ming Valley.
The cultivator overseeing the Heavenly Sword Sect's presence in Huanle City was a Nascent Soul cultivator named Yu Zhenjun. Yu Yuanhai had some history with Jian Dan. She had accepted her escort mission to the Chilang Secret Realm from him, and he had approved her request to switch warships.
Yu Zhenjun was sharp. Upon receiving Jian Dan's warning, he immediately informed his clan and began preparations, focusing on boosting the cultivation of their younger generation. This advance preparation spared them from major losses when the black-armored insects attacked, unlike many other families under the Heavenly Sword Sect.
In Huanle City, Yu Yuanhai posed as the manager of a spirit artifact repair shop. He specialized in restoring damaged weapons and breaking down nearly destroyed ones to reclaim rare or valuable materials. His services were especially favored by cultivators involved in ambushes and black-market dealings.
That afternoon, he was examining a broken sword, trying to extract the traces of gold crystal ore embedded within, when his obsidian token vibrated three times.
Without changing expression, Yu Yuanhai passed the sword to the cultivator in front of him.
"Daoyou, there's hardly any gold crystal ore left in this sword. It's not worth the cost of breaking it down. I recommend you discard it. Unless you can find more compatible materials, I may be able to reforge it and improve its quality."
The customer was a muscular body cultivator, shirtless under a leather vest, with stubble covering his face. He looked to have reached the Nascent Soul stage. Scratching his head, he said, "Bit of a hassle. I don't use swords. Found this on someone I killed. Thought I could trade it for some spirit stones. You decide the price. Take it."
He handed the sword back with a look that practically said, "At least give me two stones."
With a businesslike smile, Yu Zhenjun passed him two mid-grade spirit stones and sent him on his way.
Only then did he retreat into the back room, pretending to fetch materials. He took out his obsidian token and reviewed the incoming message.
The contents startled him.
"So, that's what's really going on."
Not daring to delay, he etched the information into a jade slip and used a directional teleportation talisman to send it back to the Heavenly Sword Sect's enforcement division, clearly marked as high-priority.