It certainly is lively!
Gu Changhuan directed his Inner Vision toward his Sea of Consciousness, where the Tongxian Map displayed numerous green markers.
He walked at an unhurried pace, pausing occasionally at various stalls, yet showing not the slightest intention of making a purchase.
His purpose today was simply to scout the area; unless a truly extraordinary spirit item appeared, he had no mind to act.
There were still a few days before the official start of the Cloudheaven Auction, and many cultivators had yet to arrive.
By the eve of the auction, the crowds here would be even greater.
Gu Changhuan passed dozens of stalls.
Most of the spirit objects were first tier, with relatively few of the second tier and none of the third tier or higher so far.
Undiscouraged, he kept walking.
Amidst the continuous shouting of the rogue cultivators hawking their wares, Gu Changhuan turned a deaf ear.
At one stall, he stopped short.
For the very first time, the Tongxian Map had lit up with a blue marker!
The stallholders were two female cultivators.
They sat quietly and gracefully behind their wares without calling out to passersby; one was engrossed in a book, while the other was simply…
daydreaming?
Gu Changhuan’s expression tightened.
He had not noticed it at first, but the book-reading cultivator actually possessed Foundation Establishment cultivation!
“Looking for something, Fellow Daoist?
Just tell me if anything catches your eye.
Our stall may be small, but we even have third-tier artifacts, all at fair prices,” said the woman in pink.
Gu Changhuan cupped his fists in salute.
“I merely caught sight of a Third Tier magical artifact for the first time and was somewhat surprised.
I won’t disturb you two Fellow Daoists any further.” “As you please.” The enthusiasm vanished from her voice.
Gu Changhuan glanced back at their stall, puzzled.
One was at Foundation Establishment, the other at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation, yet they openly displayed a third-tier artifact.
Were they confident in their abilities, foolish, or backed by someone powerful?
He had seen no clan emblems or sect tokens on either of them.
With a faint, indifferent smile, he dismissed the thought.
What did any of that have to do with him?
After walking the entire length of the Rogue Cultivator Square, Gu Changhuan still found no trace of a Third-Tier High Grade earth-attribute spirit item.
Though somewhat disappointed, his trip was not entirely fruitless; he had acquired a piece of Third-Tier Middle Grade spirit wood at a low price, along with several volumes of miscellaneous records.
Leaving the rogue cultivator market, Gu Changhuan wandered through the broader market town several more times.
Making certain he was not being followed, he returned to his inn, removed his disguise, and took the piece of Third-Tier spirit wood to find Gu Wanhao.
“So late.
What brings you here?” Gu Wanhao was currently sipping wine, two plates of delicate pastries resting on the table beside him.
Gu Changhuan held out the third-tier spirit wood.
“Today, while visiting the Rogue Cultivator Square, I encountered four Third Tier spirit items in total, all held by Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Three of the owners were shrewd individuals, but the owner of this particular item failed to recognize its value, mistaking it for mere First-Tier High Grade spirit wood.
I seized the opportunity and bought it.
“You said the clan would spare no expense to buy a third-tier high grade spirit object for Great-Grandfather.
I would like to contribute this and do what I can to help him.” “Hunting bargains under a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s nose?
Changhuan, that was reckless!” Gu Wanhao’s face darkened.
Gu Changhuan produced the jade pendant.
“Do not worry, Grandpa.
I was wearing the pendant the patriarch gave me, and I disguised myself as well.
I checked that nobody was following me before I came back.” Gu Wanhao relaxed a little, but still cast several detection spells on him to check for tracking marks.
Satisfied that there were none, he left the offered wood untouched and asked, “You found it; it is yours.
Third-tier middle grade spirit objects are hard to come by.
Even I have nothing like it.
Are you sure you want to give it to the clan?” “Great-Grandfather was my teacher.
I studied under him for half a year.
Even without knowing about my spiritual body, he spared no effort in teaching me.
For that alone, I want him to go far on the path of cultivation.
“And for the clan, he has both water and fire spirit roots and is the strongest Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Nine Perches Mountains.
His reaching Purple Mansion could only benefit us!
This is just a piece of wood.
How can it compare with the clan’s future?” As he spoke, Gu Changhuan’s tone grew increasingly impassioned.
“To speak plainly, do you think I, Gu Changhuan, will ever lack for such spirit items in the future?” “Well said!
Spoken like a true grandson of Gu Wanhao!
Spoken like a true son of the Gu Clan!” Gu Wanhao sprang from his chair in excitement, clapping a hand onto Gu Changhuan’s shoulder.
“Good boy, the elders’ affection for you has not been wasted.” With a sigh of deep emotion, he accepted the spirit wood, his hands trembling slightly.
This was the very chance at the Purple Mansion that Gu Xuanzhan had been waiting for!
After leaving Gu Wanhao’s quarters, Gu Changhuan let out a quiet breath of relief.
He truly hoped this piece of spirit wood would prove helpful.
“A youth’s spirit is not to be underestimated,” Gu Wanchang said as he withdrew his invisibility art with a soft sigh, having been present in the room all along.
The boy was cautious, could put aside his own interests, and cared deeply for his family.
Given time, he would surely achieve great things.
“Youth brims with courage; its hour for bold deeds will come!
That is how a son of the Gu Clan should be.” Gu Wanhao stroked his beard, smiling until his eyes were nearly hidden.
“The minor beast tide a few years ago cost the clan some of its wealth, and we have little left of what our ancestor provided to protect us.
I brought the two remaining third-tier spirit objects from the clan treasury.
Together with Changhuan’s contribution, they should fetch a good sum at auction.
If a third-tier high grade spirit object comes up, the Gu Clan will secure it!” Gu Wanchang declared firmly.
“Twenty-First Uncle possesses Dual Spirit Roots.
Even without a treasure like the Purple Cloud Spirit Jade, he has a forty percent chance of breaking through to the Purple Mansion; he has simply been stalled all these years by the conflict between water and fire.” Gu Wanhao no longer worried about lacking spirit stones; his greater fear was that the auction would fail to provide a suitable Third-Tier High Grade earth-attribute spirit item.
Every day after that, Gu Changhuan disguised himself as a different person and visited the square.
Most of the time, he simply browsed without buying anything.
Gu Changze made a basic survey of Cloudheaven Market, while Gu Shiyou bought a spirit herb the clan did not have, intending to hand it over to the family.
Gu Changcheng, experiencing his first journey away from home, spent his days exploring and returning late into the evening.
Three days later, the auction officially commenced.
By this time, every inn within Cloudheaven Market was packed to capacity.
Some cultivators were forced to share rented courtyards, while certain rogue cultivators had no choice but to spend their nights outside the market gates.
Those sleeping outside did not need to fear for their lives, either.
Purple Mansion elders were regularly stationed at the market.
When the Yun ancestor founded Cloudheaven Market, he decreed that anyone who killed and robbed within fifty li of it would be hunted down by the Yun Clan.
With a Golden Core ancestor behind the rule and Purple Mansion elders enforcing it, few would dare commit such a crime within that boundary.
In the nearly thousand-year history of Cloudheaven Market, the few who had dared to defy this decree were struck down on the spot by the presiding Purple Mansion ancestors without exception.