Day 25-27 Come into the trap either way is good for me Part 2

The Feng Shui Master did his dance and attempted to commune with the "Natural Way" that flowed. A few bits of qi swirled around him but without a natural body that could take it, like some people are born with, a cultivation manual to utilize what he was doing, or actual Qi training nothing would really work.

"Haaa.." The Feng Shui Master sighed. No success on his part. "My skill is just no up to the mark."

"I will have a go." Ji Xingyu stood up and walked over. Interrupting the staged act that was about to happen between Master Qi, Master Wu, and the baldy. "I have a bit more "skill" than that man."

Of course, they tried to protest but 3rd Wei stopped them with a raised hand. They just grinned and bared it for now.

"Awaken!" Ji Xingyu sent his qi inside as little strands. A small breeze left from his clasped hands. Sweat gathering on his forehead just a little. "Here my call!" He commanded. Inside the artifact was a spirit that nested deep inside. "You cannot hide!"

When Rexford dropped his blood and checked it over before, it hid away from him. The moment it had the chance it consumed the qi and blood mark. Which caused greater pain thus the damaged look returning to the item.

"Hmm?" Rexford felt his blood in the spirit but not the qi since it was all consumed. 'How did this thing.. of course, the mark is gone. So I wonder what goodies this thing has inside?'

Thinking of actual acquiring never popped up further. Ji Xingyu was doing a decent enough job in acquiring it.

*Raaahhh!* A spiritual howl echoed in the room. The spirit in the artifact launched at Ji Xingyu but was stopped by a crystal charm. Not expecting the defense, the spirit scattered then regathered into the artifact.

"Ugh!" Wiping blood from his lips, Ji Xingyu backed away and hobbled to his seat. "It seems even my skill can not match it."

Most in the room were dumbfounded but said nothing in opposition. Believing it to be part of the plan but they would be suprised later it was not.

"I guess it is your turn Great Master Wu." Wei 3rd gestured. Only a little trepidation seeing the spirit that attacked the young man earlier. "Let's see what you can do."

"Humph!" The baldy smiled in contempt. "Our Great Master Wu is much better! Shouldn't let a kid even try!" His ridicule made a few look towards Master Qi in pity. He was much "older" and more "experienced" after all.

After just saying he was more skilled than Master Qi, Ji Xingyu showed better than Master Qi in view. Forcing a spirit out and then "destroying" it. All who saw were very impressed.

"Ehem, please go ahead Great Master Wu." Zhen Jiulin helped the baldy out just a little. "It is always good to let youngsters have a go-to let them learn more." He looked at Ji Xingyu with a smile. "Extrodaniary skill, introduce me to your master some time."

A few people pointed at Rexford. Dumbfounding the business tycoon. They thought it was a joke. Despite Rexford's cultivation changing his appearance some, he still looked to young, well to Zhen Jiulin anyway.

"Your skill is nice but you just don't have a strong enough soul." Master Wu said smugly. Hands on his robes as he grandstands a little. Making himself seem more skillful than he actually was. "Both you and this young man are just not that good. Let me show you how it's done."

A few scowled but said nothing.

Master Wu was actually just convincing himself. He hoped the spirit was injured enough that he could take it on. As a member of a ghost sect, he knew when to get the hell out of dodge. When it wailed, he wanted to run but was to scared to move.

*Ripple!* A blast of qi entered the artifact. He then pointed two fingers at the Eight-Trigrams artifact and blew at it. Suddenly, the artifact trembled as if it had come back alive. Eight sets of inscriptions appeared on the surface of the plate.

Not damaging but causing a different effect. Bits of it restored before everyones eyes. The spirit inside recovering instead of weakening. Master Wu did not realize his mistake.

"Great Master Wu's sleeves are moving by themselves!" A member of the baldies camp shouted. With them being in doors on the ac up at the top, it shouldn't be possible. The artifact then lit up in qi flames. "Moving with no wind and spiritual fire! He is defintely a master!"

"Magic equipment.. real magic equipment!" A member of the peanut gallery shouted. It was the first time he saw something like this. "I must have it!"

A few others started chomping at the bit to by it. Thinking Master Wu took are of the spirit.

"So? Now you know what a real Master is like." The baldy took charge trying to ensnare the crowd. 'Great Master Wu doesn't look so good. I better hurry before it is to late.'

Currently, Master Wu was sitting down keeping himself composed now. The spirit had tethered itself to him resulting in a battle of wills. As a person who used a Qi Manual but the way Inner Martial Artists does, he was not really a full Qi Practitioner. More at the Internal Force Realm with additional powers.

"Gentlemen," the fatty then turned to the women gathered. "and beautiful ladies, now that you have seen this extraordinary treasure, you should make your offers now, right?"

Those that were on his side started bidding but not a single one brought over by 3rd Wei. Even Zhen Jiulin and his people didn't bid. Not wanting to risk the spirit has disappeared.

'Great Master Wu does not look so good." Zhen Jiulin was good at spotting someone in pain or hiding an illness. No way would he purchase such a harmful item. A quick look around shows to many composed faces on Rexford's side. "Master Mingyun, what do you think?"

"Yes, Great Master Mingyun what do you think?" Xing Zhong did not hide the contempt in his voice.

"Hmm oh, I was looking at the possessed Wu over there." Rexford pointed at the man amused. "The artifact is useless now but maybe he can fix it." Not that unheard of for cultivators to get possessed but again several skills from the spirit. It was after all a method he was training Ji Xingyu in.

Just he communicates with the spirits.

"What do you know?!" Xing Zhong was agitated now. If they believed the artifact was useless then no money. He turned to Wei 3rd yelling. "You get this upstart here to authenticate treasures but he is no one!"

"Hmm, you don't like it, leave." Wei 3rd say happily. The shit-eating grin was from the imagined damage a possessed Master Wu could do to his enemy's organization. To him, today was a win already. "I believe Master Mingyun, that device is trash and Master Wu is possessed. It is best you leave."

"This may be Chuzhou but you don't scare me." Xing Zhong sat down with no problem. "Proper business needs to still commence. I will leave after the artifact is sold."

"I think it best we do take our leave." Master Wu said forcefully. He didn't know how long he could keep the spirit under control. But Xing Zhong was not budging. 'This idiot is to anxious in wanting to humiliate Wei 3rd that he will get me killed!'

"Just a few more minutes Great Master Wu." Xing Zhong said. He was not looking at the man as he gloated. The prices were pretty high so far among the different parties. "What about you Masters of Chuzhou or you Ms. Han Yu?"

"We will pass." The various Masters of Chuzhou said one by one. They could feel something was wrong with Maser Wu and the artifact as a whole. The strides in their cultivation thanks to Rexford was still showing results.

"I am afraid I dare not bid." Ms. Han Yu may represent her family right now but she was not stupid enough to side against these people. It was better to just go back and give an accurate description of what took place. "To much for our blood."

"Tch! Your loss." Xing Zhong scowled but the driven price was good enough.

*Crack!* The artifact started to make a little noise. Then it started to crumble again. The battle of wills between Master Wu and the spirit had reached a breaking point.

"Master Mingyun, should we go?" Wei 3rd did not want to waste any more time. He was satisfied after all. "I am sure we can discuss better business over drinks."

"Its cracking!" Wei Lan shouted. "Master was right, it is junk!"

"Mr. Xing, Mr. Gu, what is this about?" The person who just bid the highest was angry. The others immediately stopping their bids and looking over. The artifact was falling apart. "Explain!"

"Well... I don't know." The baldy backtracked but his tongue was tied. "Ask Mr.Gu, he knows more about it than me!" Xing Zhong would not get into hot water by himself.

"I.." the fatty was sweating bricks. ".. it was fine just a moment ago! Turning to Master Wu, he waned an answer. "What did you do to it!?" His outburst drew attention to the fact Master Wu was not doing so great as all eyes were on him.

"Grrr.." Master Wu started to drool. His black hair turning a whitish-green in streaks. The battle of wills was going in the favor of the spirit. "You.. should have listened.. to him!" A mixture of his voice and another came out.

*Woom!* A wave of twisted qi assault the room in waves. Wei Lan kept her family safe with the Chuzhuo Masters keeping their people protected.

Biao kept Ji Xingyu, Zhen Jiulin, and a few regular people safe.

"Thank you." Han Yu said to Rexford. Seeing his hand glowing a gold radiance same as the weird energy surrounding herself and her family. Yanyan Hu watched with a glint in her eyes. The person from earlier was suffering. Whispering to Rexford it would be good if that person died here.

"He is a member of the Su family. A spy of theirs." Rexford gave her a small nod and made arrangements quickly.

"This is your fault!" Feeding on the misery and soul of Master Wu the spirit attacked the baldy and fatty. "I will feast on you before it takes over!" Resistance still there but not enough for the Ghost Practioneer to stand against it.

"Protect me!" Xin Zhong jumped from side to side. His security firing at Master Wu.

"Help us!" The fatty begged as Master Wu ripped apart the security that they had. No one else made a move keeping themselves protected first.

"How much your life is worth?" Rexford absorbed the violent qi in the air. It tasted better he notices when he didn't cause it directly. Something like a new whiskey from a casket. "I would be taking a risk after all."

"Hehe... he. he.." Mr.Gu looked at the dwindling security and the others in the room terrified. "I..can pay 10 million!"

"10 million, chump change." Rexford shook his head getting out of his seat. It was time they depart. "Leave them be."

"50 million!" Mr.Gu transferred the money quickly. "Now help us!"

Rexford cut his finger letting his blood scent drawn the spirit over. It left the baldy right before slicing at his throat. Leaving a tiny scratch on him.

*Chomp!* Biting down on Rexford's finger it tried to drain him dry. But the Black Gold Sun art resists the creature easily. Gripping Master Xu by the neck, gold, and black qi rose up. Engraving patterns appearing on the man as the spirit was suppressed.

The blood a focus point. The physical contact making it easier. Strangling the spirit consciousness with his qi. He could kill it or let it take control fully. But that would be stupid for now.

"It is up to you to make something of this." Rexford dropped the man and walked out. His people following with the Masters of Chuzhou. "Hope you clean up this mess."

As they left, the mini inside took control of the qi on the room. Sending it all towards one of the dead security personnel. The dead man got up and made his way out of the place. Getting into a particular car to wait.

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Later-

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The spy of the Su family was driving in the car away from the current proceedings. Having survived thanks to one of the servants getting in the way. He needed to report back to the family about what happened.

"Drive faster!" He barked to the driver. The speed increasing only a little in response. "I said drive faster!" Lowering the window, he was shocked at the person driving. It was one of the security guards of the baldy driving. What was worse, the man was dead as can be. Eyeball hanging out of its socket.

"Faster..." The security guard sped up sending the car over a railing. "..fas.." It moved to far out of the range of the technique. So it was better than nothing.