Cloud city

Chapter 20

On the morning of the third day, Wang Shitian quietly left the sect and made his way to the sect gate. As he arrived, he noticed a tall man standing there, gazing into the distance. The man wore a long crimson robe, and his dark hair flowed down to his waist, gradually turning red as if touched by fire. When their eyes met, Wang Shitian felt a burning sensation, but it quickly subsided. The man smiled and nodded at Wang Shitian, who returned the gesture before finding a place to sit and wait.

The man returned his attention to the sky, lost in thought, as they both patiently awaited Li Tianxi's arrival. Unbeknownst to them, Li Tianxi was currently in conversation with her father in the sect master's courtyard.

Li Tianxi's father expressed his approval, saying, "You succeeded in inviting Wang Shitian and Xue Wuya. Excellent, this will be highly advantageous for you. These two individuals are not ordinary. They possess immense luck and are fiercely loyal. As long as you remain faithful to them, you will reap great benefits in the future. Remember, the reason your great-grandfather gifted you that map was to establish a bond with them."

Li Tianxi nodded, acknowledging her father's words. "Yes, father, I understand," she replied.

Her father continued, cautioning her, "Good. When I met your great-grandfather, he mentioned that he couldn't divine the fate of these two individuals, indicating that they likely have powerful backers. Be careful when dealing with them, but don't let them cross your bottom line."

If someone were present to hear this conversation, they would undoubtedly be curious about the identities and backgrounds of Wang Shitian and Xue Wuya. Furthermore, the mention of a powerful ancestor with the ability to predict the future would raise questions about why the father and daughter were in such a small sect.

With their discussion concluded, Li Tianxi left the courtyard and began her journey towards the outer part of the sect, where Wang Shitian and the enigmatic man awaited her arrival.

"Fellow daoist, my apologies for the delay," Li Tianxi apologized as she noticed that they had been waiting for some time. "If you're both ready, let's be on our way."

She extended her hand, revealing a small boat in the shape of a canoe. As she released it, the boat gradually grew larger until it reached a length of about 10 meters, floating gently above their heads. Xue Wuya finally withdrew his gaze from the sky and jumped onto the boat along with the others.

The boat had a designated spot for placing spirit stones, which served as a power source. Although it consumed a significant amount of spirit stones, it proved to be a fast and economical mode of transportation, especially when traveling long distances with multiple people.

Wang Shitian, who had already found a place to sit on the boat, observed as it swiftly pierced through the clouds. He couldn't help but think to himself that he should acquire a similar boat since it only required spirit stones, which wouldn't be a problem for him.

For three days and nights, they traveled across various countries and kingdoms, passing by numerous cities. It was during this journey that Wang Shitian realized the vastness of the Serenecloud region, which he had called home for his entire life. This was the farthest he had ever ventured, and as they moved deeper into the sky covering domain, the Qi in the atmosphere gradually grew denser. Wang Shitian's eyes were filled with astonishment, while Xue Wuya, seated not far from him, remained indifferent.

On the night before reaching the Serene Mountain Range, they decided to stop at a city located nearby. This city had gradually developed due to the influx of explorers searching for the inheritance rumored to be located in the mountain range. Despite the search efforts spanning a thousand years, no one had managed to find it. Nevertheless, the city had become one of the most densely populated within the region, with countless cultivators passing through. Wang Shitian's group paid one spirit stone per person to gain entry into the city, where fighting was strictly prohibited. A Core Formation cultivator from the Sky Covering Sect was stationed there to maintain peace, although matters outside of Cloud City were not the city lord's concern.

After paying their entry fee, Wang Shitian's group found a luxurious inn exclusively occupied by cultivators. While dining, they couldn't help but overhear discussions about the Cloud City auction scheduled for the following day. Despite their usual quiet demeanor, the information seeped into their ears, piquing their interest. Li Tianxi, unable to contain her excitement as a natural shopper, suggested, "Junior brothers, let's stay one more day and attend the auction. Who knows, we might find something we need." Although she tried to maintain her composure, the sparkles in her eyes couldn't be concealed. Xue Wuya and Wang Shitian exchanged glances and smiled, both nodding in agreement.

Originally, their plan was to depart the next day after obtaining the map of the mountain. However, they had now decided to postpone their departure by one day to attend the auction.

After finishing their meal, the group spent some time chatting before Wang Shitian retired to his room for meditation. With each session, he found that his senses sharpened, and his mind became clearer. He maintained this meditative posture throughout the night, and when he finally opened his eyes, he felt refreshed and rejuvenated, as if he had just awoken from a deep sleep. The experience was miraculous, leaving him uncertain if he had truly slept or not.

As Wang Shitian stepped out of his room, he noticed Li Tianxi and Xue Wuya emerging from their own rooms. The three of them made their way out of the inn and headed towards the city's auction hall. After navigating through the city streets, they arrived at a massive building, standing alone with a clear space surrounding it.

The entrance of the building bore a large signboard that read "Cloud Auction House." However, they soon discovered that there was a prerequisite for entry—a deposit of 30 spirit stones. If they wanted a private box, it would require 100 spirit stones. The deposit was non-refundable. Undeterred, the three of them paid the hundred spirit stones and were directed to a private room on the second floor. The number "15" adorned the top of the door.

This private room ensured complete privacy, shielding those inside from view while providing a clear view of the entire auction hall. It was as if two people could look at each other, with one standing under a bright light source and the other hidden in a dark corner.

As they surveyed the hall, they observed that the place was gradually filling up, even though there seemed to be plenty of space. After a few hours of waiting, the hall became completely packed, and they sensed that some of the other private rooms on the second floor were also occupied.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed and focused on the stage, where an old man now stood. His aura was reserved, but Wang Shitian could sense that the old man was in the Foundation Establishment realm, indicating his cultivation level.