Liang Cheng tapped his fingers lightly on the tabletop. Lu Qingzhou advised, "The intelligence is unclear for now. You should probably wait a while longer."
Liang Cheng nodded and cupped his fists in thanks. "Thank you, Senior Brother. This information is very important to me. I’ll consider it carefully before making a decision."
Lu Qingzhou waved it away. "We’re brothers. No need to be so polite."
After seeing Lu Qingzhou off, Liang Cheng was about to return to his Quiet Chamber to continue his Cultivation when Tieniu walked over with a calling card. There was another visitor at the gate.
Liang Cheng took a look and told Tieniu to show the visitor in.
The man who entered was a Steward from the Treasure Pavilion. He wore a brocade robe, and his attitude was so respectful it bordered on servile.
With both hands, he presented a gold-inlaid invitation. On the cover, the words "Treasure Pavilion" were written in spiritual ink, shimmering faintly with a flowing light.
"In three days, our pavilion will host its grand end-of-season auction, where several rare treasures will be unveiled. Steward Qian has sent me to respectfully invite Liang Zhenchuan to grace us with his presence. Private Room A3 on the third floor has been prepared for you."
Liang Cheng accepted the invitation.
The last time he visited the Treasure Pavilion, he could only afford a seat in the second-floor gallery. Now, he was being offered a Class-A private room on the third floor—a privilege reserved for the leaders of major powers or top experts in the True Qi Realm.
’Sure enough, a change in status makes a world of difference in treatment.’
"Please thank Steward Qian for me. I will be sure to attend."
...
「Three days later. Treasure Pavilion, Private Room A3, Third Floor.」
The private room was spacious, its window overlooking the entire auction hall. Spirit Fruits and fragrant tea were laid out on the table, and two pretty maids stood with their hands folded, as silent as ornaments.
Liang Cheng had come with Lu Qingzhou, who clucked his tongue in admiration. "I’ve been to a Class-A private room with my father before, but today, I’m here thanks to you, Junior Brother."
Liang Cheng waved it off as a small matter. He leaned against the window, his gaze sweeping over the hall below, and spotted several familiar faces.
Wang Qini’an, Qin Huaiyu... a number of acquaintances.
Xu Feng was also here. He was seated near the front of the second floor, speaking in low tones with the person beside him. His expression was calm; Xu Zhang’s death seemed to have had little effect on him.
Xu Feng, however, seemed to sense someone’s gaze and looked up. Their eyes met for a moment. Xu Feng immediately offered a smile and a nod of acknowledgment. Liang Cheng inclined his head slightly before looking away.
’This Xu Feng really knows how to keep his cool.’
Ever since Xu Zhang died, the First Branch had rapidly absorbed the Third Branch’s power, and Xu Feng’s status had risen a level as a result. His strength had reached Transformation Force Perfection, and combined with his social savvy, he was considered a rising star in the Xu Family.
’But as long as Xu Feng doesn’t provoke me, I can’t be bothered with him. For now, I need to focus on my Cultivation. Strength is the only thing that matters; everything else is fleeting.’
Soon, the auction officially began.
The first half of the auction was uneventful, consisting mostly of Elixirs, Weapons, and Cultivation Technique Fragments. Liang Cheng won the bid for a bottle of Condensing Truth Pills, an Elixir that gently nourished nascent True Qi—exactly what he needed.
After the intermission, the atmosphere grew much more intense.
"Our next item is a piece of old cowhide paper! It appears to be from the same source as the one we auctioned previously. Who knows what you might discover? The starting bid, as before, is three hundred taels!"
The auctioneer announced in a loud voice. A maid brought a wooden tray forward, and as she lifted the red silk cloth, she revealed another piece of dark yellow cowhide paper with the exact same texture as the last one.
Liang Cheng’s fingers, resting on the back of his chair, tightened for a moment before relaxing. His five senses were now incredibly sharp; the patterns on this piece of cowhide paper were a perfect match for the piece he’d gotten from Liu Biao.
’This is no coincidence.’
’It seems there’s more than one set of these fragments. But for the Treasure Pavilion to auction them twice in a row... they must have a reason.’
Liang Cheng leaned back in his chair, his expression calm once more. He raised his teacup for a sip, his eyes casually scanning the hall below as if he had no interest whatsoever in the cowhide paper.
No one in the hall below showed any interest, and the item was about to go unsold. Suddenly, an idea struck Xu Feng. Recalling what Liang Cheng had bid on last time, he raised his placard.
"Three hundred taels."
No one else made a move.
In the end, the paper was sold to Xu Feng for three hundred taels.
As the auctioneer struck the gavel, his gaze swept, almost imperceptibly, across the Class-A private rooms on the third floor, lingering for a fraction of a second on Room A3.
Liang Cheng sneered inwardly.
’Just as I thought. The Treasure Pavilion is testing me. It seems the story behind this cowhide paper is deeper than I imagined. I need to be more careful.’
Liang Cheng remained vigilant. When the auction concluded, he and Lu Qingzhou had nothing they wished to trade, so they left immediately.
In a rear courtyard of the Treasure Pavilion, Qian Wanjing listened to his subordinate’s report, a flicker of surprise flashing through his eyes.
’Could it be that Liang Cheng bought the cowhide paper on a whim last time? Was I wrong?’
’I’ll have to find another chance to test him.’
...
「Three days later.」
A hearty laugh echoed from outside Courtyard Three on True Inheritance Peak.
"Liang Zhenchuan! I’ve come uninvited to beg a cup of tea. You won’t turn me away, will you?"
Liang Cheng had just finished his morning exercises. He went out to greet the visitor and saw Yue Shan, the Army Commander of Lin Wu City. Dressed in simple clothes, he strode forward with a powerful, commanding gait, followed by only two Personal Guards.
"Commander Yue, your presence honors my humble home. Please, come in."
Liang Cheng cupped his hands in greeting, inwardly surprised. He and Yue Shan had only interacted during the spring hunt and could hardly be considered close.
Yue Shan didn’t stand on ceremony. Once inside the courtyard, his sharp gaze swept over Liang Cheng, and he clucked his tongue in amazement. "Good heavens, kid. How long has it been? Looking at your aura, your True Qi is condensed and stable. Your foundation is as solid as someone who’s trained for a dozen years. Old Lü really found a treasure this time."
Liang Cheng gestured for him to sit at the stone table, and San Ya served tea.
Yue Shan drained the cup in one gulp, a testament to his rough nature. Setting the bowl down, he got straight to the point. "That old bastard was colluding with the Sea Bandits. I’d heard whispers for a long time, but the City Lord was concerned about maintaining stability, and we never had hard evidence, so we couldn’t make a move. Your blade did us all a favor. It was immensely satisfying!"
Liang Cheng smiled without a word. Yue Shan didn’t elaborate, instead saying, "You’re a crafty one too, kid. Full of schemes."
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