Chapter Sixty-Three: The Sole Daughter of the Hidden Clan

The relationship between Jun Muxuan and Jun Mulin was a peculiar one. The entire world believed that although Jun Mulin was hard to track down, he would always appear alongside Jun Muxuan at any event, leading everyone to think they were close brothers. In truth, they were not. Only Jun Muxuan himself understood that at some point, his brother seemed to have been replaced by someone else; only occasionally did he behave as he once had.

In the auction, there were still three lots left, and the prices fluctuated wildly, much like the erratic lines on the electrocardiogram Tao Tao once had. The highlight of the session was a mercenary captain who had to pawn his clothes to scrape together enough money for his bid. People pitied him, so no one competed further.

“Young seedlings of Bone-Growing Grass, everyone knows what they’re worth. The starting price is four hundred thousand!” Some bidders hesitated. Such seedlings, only available in secret realms, were rarely cultivated to maturity. If one paid a high price and they didn’t survive, and before they could even be used as medicine, the money would be wasted.

There was hardly a paddle raised in the hall, when suddenly, in the most inconspicuous corner, a white-haired old man lifted his paddle. Tao Tao approached, “Five hundred thousand—once, five hundred thousand—twice, five hundred thousand—three times! Sold!” After arranging for the seedling to be delivered to the old man, he showed no attachment and left immediately.

Backstage, Guhua’s instincts told her this old man was anything but ordinary.

[Master, that man is Cangwuzi!]

Cangwuzi, Cangwuzi... Could it be! In the ancient clan, Guhua had once heard Uncle Guyue mention this name—a Saint-grade alchemist of the Crimson Moon Dynasty, one who might truly be able to craft a divine pill!

[It is indeed him, Master~]

Who would have thought that the city of Crimson Moon harbored such hidden talents? Such a powerful figure walked among them unnoticed. If Cangwuzi hadn’t momentarily lost composure and leaked a trace of spiritual power when receiving the seedling, Guhua might never have sensed him.

“This is the final item of tonight’s auction—a perfectly matured Supreme Tianyuan Fruit! Consuming it will allow the eater to break through bottlenecks and advance levels instantly. If luck is on your side, you might even advance several minor realms at once! The starting bid is two million!”

Everyone gasped. The price was outrageous, but for such a priceless treasure, it was worth risking everything.

In this land where the Crimson Moon Dynasty lay, not a single Tianyuan Fruit Tree had been seen for many years. The last auction for such a fruit was thirty years ago, and that fruit was neither as old nor as fine as this one.

Jun Muxuan had been waiting for this Tianyuan Fruit for a long time; all the previous lots were just appetizers—this was his true goal tonight! The others were just as determined, and the Young Master in Box Four was left staring helplessly.

The price soared. Ning Xue’er coveted the Tianyuan Fruit and was unwilling to let it go.

“This young lady bids three million!”

“Box One offers four million!”

“The young lady raises to five million!”

“Box One bids six million!”

Jun Muxuan was nearly speechless because of Ning Xue’er’s relentless competition. He had been determined to win the fruit, but now—what a mess!

“My lady, it’s already six million. Should we continue? We’ve exceeded our budget…”

Ning Xue’er stared at Box One, swallowing her pride. “Continue. I must have this Tianyuan Fruit.”

She was uncommonly calm, more than ever before.

“The young lady raises to seven million!”

Everyone watched this clash of titans—only these two were still raising their paddles.

In Box One, Jun Muxuan could no longer sit still. He jumped up and shouted at Jun Mulin, “Ning Xue’er, are you crazy? Something that should go for a few million—you’ve driven the price this high! Even if I do bring it home, the old man will skin me alive!”

Jun Mulin’s face remained impassive as ever.

“Jun Mulin, you’re as dense as a block of wood!”

After venting his frustration, Jun Muxuan returned to the bidding.

“All right, Box One bids two hundred low-grade spirit crystals!”

Ning Xue’er’s hand froze as she wrote her bid. She could gather two hundred low-grade spirit crystals, but using them would severely weaken the Ning family’s foundation. Forget it, at least she still had a Rebirth Pill.

“Two hundred low-grade spirit crystals—once, twice, three times! Sold!”

“Let’s congratulate the tycoon in Box One! Let’s have a round of applause!”

Thunderous applause erupted as Jun Muxuan, gritting his teeth, received the Tianyuan Fruit and managed a forced smile. “Thank you.”

“Big brother, let’s go.”

Jun Muxuan hugged the fruit and led the way; Jun Mulin claimed he had urgent matters and left, so Jun Muxuan departed alone through the back door of First Pavilion.

“This concludes our auction for tonight. We look forward to seeing you all again next year!”

Tao Tao ended the auction just as she had begun it. First Pavilion had made a handsome profit this time, enough to buy plenty of supplies for her clan’s companions.

Ning Xue’er left with Qiu Yue. All in all, though she had failed to obtain the Tianyuan Fruit, she did win a bottle of Rebirth Pill. She hoped that, after cleansing her body of impurities, she could advance further.

Tao Tao watched as everyone left satisfied with their purchases, a sense of comfort settling in her heart. After instructing her maid to close the doors, she headed straight backstage.

“Guhua, how did we do tonight?”

Guhua looked up from the ledger. “Not too little, not too much—exactly two hundred million and two hundred low-grade spirit crystals.”

“Wow!” Tao Tao sighed in awe. “The auction business is amazing—watching people arrive with full pockets and leave with empty ones, yet still smiling contentedly… I feel my conscience pricking me. I need a break…”

Guhua shook her head with a smile, when suddenly a shadow loomed beside her. “Chongli?”

Without a word, Chongli took Guhua’s hand and led her away.

Nearby, the shopkeeper Gu Zhou’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. A bold idea formed in his mind, and he quickly put it into action.

He summoned a message pigeon, took out paper and pen:

‘Clan Leader, it seems the Young Master has grown very close to the Crown Prince of the Crimson Moon Dynasty. The two are already holding hands. Should we intervene?’

He finished the note, went to the window, and released the pigeon.

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a nearby building, Chongli watched the messenger pigeon flap its wings. With a flick of spiritual power, he drew the bird to his hand, raised an eyebrow, removed the note from its leg, read it swiftly, then put it back and set the pigeon free.

“It’s not very nice to read other people’s letters like that.”

Chongli was utterly nonchalant. “Hmm? Is it not? I think it’s fine.”

Guhua had just been thinking how “shameless” this was, and refused to join Chongli in such mischief. Only three years later, when she led Chongli by the hand to meet her adoptive father, did she finally understand—this man had been plotting for a long time!

“I came to tell you some news. In half a month, spiritual creatures may appear in the Withered Wood Forest outside the city. According to my calculations, most likely lotus petals.”