Chapter 25 — Peng Che, a new member of Ascending Daoists Group, Auction

The Sky Wind Mercenary traveled the lands towards the eastern region. Their journey was smooth, no bandits intercepted their road, for the bandits feared their overall strength and numbers. There were also no devils that came looking for trouble to them because the majority of the devils that sneaked in the borders were scattered throughout the seventeen states.

The State of Shu was amongst the weakest states on the continent, so the devils that sneaked inside were only at the level of Martial Master. Devil Grandmasters and Devil Ancestors were hiding in the strongest states.

Thus, the chances of encountering a devil were low compared to the first invasion. It has already been a year since the fight between the devils and the people in the State of Shu, so the numbers of the devils are already at the lowest. Furthermore, the Devil Masters were already been dealt with by the top sects in the State of Shu, and they were all in hiding.

Encountering a Devil Master was unlikely, and Devil Veterans are afraid to face Quasi Martial Master. As for the Quasi Devil Master, they act like the leaders of the Devil Veterans, so they hardly acted.

Late at night, the stars shine brightly at the skies. Peng Che was laying down atop the carriage, looking at the sky blankly.

It has been three days since the journey towards the State of Si. They didn't encounter any troubles so far, and he was grateful that he hitched a ride with them. He was a measly mortal, travelling was dangerous for him.

"I wonder if that old beggar said was true…"

Peng Che mumbled, "But it's unlikely. It has been three days after all."

He sighed and went back inside his designated carriage. He laid down there to rest and scrolled through his phone.

Peng Che was interested in the news all around the world, so it had become his hobby going through the news section. As for the chat function, he occasionally used it to talk with his friends, family, and relatives.

These three days, he also get to reunite with his good friend, Tou Shuang, so he was in a good mood. Because both of them were in separate carriages, they only talk through the phone during the night. During the morning, they talk about various affairs.

The news today is a piece of good news. After Emperor Tian postponed the State Competition between younger generations, he declared all mercenary factions to hunt the devils. The rewards they give were very enticing, and all factions seem pretty excited about it. Independent cultivators and adventurers also wanted a piece of the cake.

While Peng Che was scrolling, he happened to see an article. The title was eye-catching, it surprised him.

"They caught the murderer!"

The news was about a murderer who assassinated a Supreme Martial Veteran in one of the cities in the State of Hou. According to the news, the murderer was actually a devil who reached the realm of true element and awakened his devil talent, which was shapeshifter talent.

The majority of the powerful devils that sneaked in the borders were shapeshifter types, so it wasn't surprising. The only reason Peng Che was shocked was that the devils actually developed an artifact that can hide the presence of their devil and death element.

This news chilled his heart. People will definitely panic due to this news. After all, they couldn't trust anyone anymore for fear that the people they talk with were a shapeshifter devil who disguised as a human.

"Once I arrived at the State of Si, I should be careful."

Peng Che thought. He was about to close his phone, but suddenly a notification rang.

Peng Che looked at the notification and realized it came from the chat function. He wondered who chatted him, so he opened it, but the result was foreign to him…

[Pill Lord Sheng added you in the group]

After he was in the group, a lot of messages popped up.

Talisman King Yun: Old Sheng, is this the fellow Daoist you mentioned?

Spirit Inventor Meng: Welcome to the group, Fellow Daoist Crimson Lord.

Six Elemental Lord: The Crimson Lord! You're at the peak of True Law? Bullshit, come spar with me!

Scholar Fu: Fellow Daoist Crimson Lord, are you male or female? Don't misunderstand, I just want to clarify…

Old Bai: Don't be rude, Fellow Daoist Fu.

I Have A Thousand Wives: Someone's desperate…

Scholar Fu: Don't slander me! I'm the purest, most handsome man in the world. I'm genuinely only asking with no ulterior motives!

Ancient Yang Lord: Okay enough, everyone. Anyway, Fellow Daoist Sheng, does Fellow Daoist Crimson Lord know how phone's works?

Pill Lord Sheng: He jst left. Gis neeb siclllusion.

Ancient Yang Lord: What? Are you okay there?

There was no reply. Only about a few minutes later that another message appeared.

Pill Lord Sheng: Im okay, the letters are small. I can't see clearly.

Ancient Yang Lord: It seems Fellow Daoist Crimson Lord has difficulties using the chat, let's wait for him to familiarize himself with it.

After that, there were no longer messages popping. Peng Che was stunned by what he had seen. This group of people seems to be unordinary.

He looked at the group title, [Ascending Daoists Group] and wondered, "Is this a bigshot group chat? It just happens they mistakenly added me. This Pill Lord Sheng seems don't know how to use the transmission phone…

Furthermore, that Six Elemental Lord said True Law! That was the peak realm in this world, only one realm away from the rumored Deity Realm. Ascending Daoists Group…It seems that these bigshots are almost in the deity realm and ascend to the upper realm.

"I should clear up the misunderstanding. After all, they added the wrong person." Peng Che typed: [seniors, you added the wrong id. I'm not Crimson Lord]

However, the words of the old prophet suddenly echoed on his mind. "Is this the opportunity he mentioned?"

"Now that I think about it, this Ancient Yang Lord…His title has Yang…Is he an expert on the Yang element? If so, perhaps my opportunity lies in his hand!"

Peng Che hesitated and eventually didn't send the message. He decided to observe for a couple of days, then gather the courage to speak about his matter.

…

Meanwhile, Jun shut his phone off. He understood what Peng Che was thinking. After knowing you accidentally entered the group chat of bigshots, undoubtedly, there would be fear and lack of courage.

"The kid is probably observing for a couple of days."

Jun put the phone back into his system space and sat in the bed cross-legged. In these past few days, he always obtained the basic pills. When he had signed in during the day after advancing to element refinement, the pill he received had changed to Element Refinement Pill.

He hadn't been idled in his cultivation and it has almost been two weeks since he departed from the Peace Lonely Peak.

Jun estimated he would advance to the second refinement of the element refinement in the next few days.

Element Refinement has six stages. The first three stages are called first, second, and third refinement.

As for the fourth to sixth stages, one would be referred to as Quasi Martial Master. This is because the fourth, fifth, and sixth refinements have a qualitative transformation. When one reached the sixth refinement, the peak of Quasi Martial Master, the element in the meridians would be refined to its purest form. Only when the elements are refined to their purest form one can start the breakthrough to the True Element realm.

The next morning, Jun woke up early and headed out of his hotel room. He also looked through his phone and used the dummies to chat with one another about another topic. This is to make the group active and more real in Peng Che's eyes.

After chatting in the group chat for a while, Jun headed to the Red Light District.

During these three days, Jun had heard that there was an auction going on in the Red Light District. If he lucks out and finds rare or legendary artifacts that are up for auction, he would have another layer of life-saving treasure [1].

After arriving at the Red Light District, many cultivators were loitering around. This was a rare spectacle. After all, the majority of the pedestrians in Red Light Street are normal mortals. When Jun had acted as a homeless beggar three days ago, his audience were mere mortals, so they weren't able to expose his illusion talisman and concealment talisman.

As Jun walked through the street, he suddenly saw a familiar person. His eyes brightened and headed towards his direction, "Fellow Daoist."

He called out, and the robust man who was walking ahead stopped on his track, turning his head to Jun. This robust man was Wang Tian who participated together with Jun in the Veteran Assessment.

"Young Supreme Shan," Wang Tian politely bowed. In the assessment area, he was the only person which didn't mind Jun's arrogant behavior and not ridiculed him, so there was nothing to be afraid of.

"Brother Wang, are you also heading to the auction?" Jun walked beside him.

Wang Tian was surprised that Jun was polite unlike his demeanor in the assessment area. He wondered if that was merely a play. "Indeed. Are you also heading there, Young Supreme Shan?"

"Yes, I want to buy some artifacts. That Ling Guang has donated quite a cash," said Jun.

"Ling Guang huh…" Wang Tian murmured.

"Oh, is something wrong?"

Wang Tian shook his head: "Actually, Ling Guang is missing, and I'm looking for him for a mission I took in the adventurer guild. He's an important character I needed to complete the mission. This is also the reason why I'm going to the auction, in hopes I can find some tracking talisman."

"Ling Guang is missing?" Jun was surprised. Then again, Ling Guang was in hurry leaving after the duel. He was probably been exiled in the Ling Clan and had been running away. Ten thousand spirit stones were just painful for the Ling Clan, so they wouldn't let the matter rest easily.

As for Jun, the Ling Clan decided not to bother with him for various reasons. One of the reasons was because they couldn't find out Jun's identity, and he was a Supreme Martial Veteran. Even the Ling Clan Patriarch might not be able to kill Jun in one strike. Thus, the Ling Clan's patriarch decided to end the matter regarding Jun.

As they talked, Jun and Wang Tian reached the auction area.

In front of them was a wide building. Many cultivators were entering here, and guards were standing at the entrance.

Atop this building, there was a signboard which said [Ling Clan Auction].

Seeing this, Jun was stunned. He looked at Wang Tian, "Brother Wang, the auction is hosted by the Ling Clan?"

"You didn't know?" Wang Tian looked at him with surprise.

"The world is a small place indeed."

Jun looked at the building and his eyes shone. His aura reverted to his role number 1, Young Master Shan.

Wang Tian who was beside him could feel Jun's aura change. He was very familiar with this aura.

After all, he had encountered this aura during the Imperial Record Hall.

..

[1] Life- Saving Card » changed to 'Life-Saving Treasure'

2/2

See you tomorrow.