Chapter 117: Bidding Qualification

"An impromptu grand gathering?"

Qing Xi continued to sit by the window, listening to the discussions around him. After interjecting a few times, he finally gathered the details.

This was a gathering organized on short notice to address the threat of the otherworldly demons. Most of the attendees were from the younger generation, and nearly all the prodigies on the Rising Star Ranking were expected to be present. The organizer was Shen Qianzhong, the eldest young master of the Shen family, who held the ninth position on the Rising Star Ranking.

The Shen family was the premier clan of Juling City, ruling over this massive metropolis. It was rumored that the ancestor of the Shen family had reached the peak of the Golden Gang Realm and was one of the top ten powerhouses on the Wind and Cloud Ranking.

The Rising Star Ranking was dedicated to the younger generation, all of whom were at the Innate Realm. The Wind and Cloud Ranking, however, was for established veterans whose cultivation was at least at the Spirit Gang Realm, with the vast majority being powerhouses of the Origin Gang and Golden Gang Realms. Qiu Mingzi, the sect leader of the Lingyuan Sect, was ranked ninetieth on the Wind and Cloud Ranking with his peak Spirit Gang cultivation, making him a figure of considerable status.

Among the twenty-four star-level forces in the Yunchuan Prefecture, aside from the sect leaders of the three two-star forces—the Zixiao Gate, the Kucha Temple, and the Evil Moon Sect—who were the only three King-level experts on the Heavenly Ranking due to having entered the Heavenly Profound Realm, all other sect leaders were figures on the Wind and Cloud Ranking.

After further inquiries, Qing Xi learned that Qiu Yingying and Wang Shuiling had also arrived in Juling City.

"It seems this so-called gathering is worth attending. Perhaps all those people on the Rising Star Ranking are discussing how to hunt the otherworldly demons."

Qing Xi thought for a moment and decided he could not miss it. As of now, the demons had gathered together like an impenetrable iron bucket, making them extremely difficult to hunt. If things continued this way, no one would be able to earn any contribution points.

Qing Xi arrived at the headquarters of the Wantong Chamber of Commerce. As the largest trading guild in the Yunchuan Prefecture, it was backed by none other than the Shen family. Because the event was hosted by the eldest young master, Shen Qianzhong, any prodigy on the Rising Star Ranking could enter the venue unconditionally. As for others, they had to bid for entry qualifications within the Wantong Chamber of Commerce.

Soon, Qing Xi reached a branch venue for the bidding. He had expected only a few people, but upon entering, he found the spacious hall already packed.

"No way, over a thousand people bidding just for the right to attend?" Qing Xi sat in a corner, observing the crowd in the hall, the vast majority of whom were young women.

"Hmph, don't even think about competing with me! I have saved countless spirit stones just to catch a glimpse of Young Master Bai. Let's see how you can outbid me!"

"Pfft, not many spirit stones, but quite a big mouth."

"If you're not convinced, let's settle it during the bidding!"

"..."

The atmosphere in the hall was thick with tension. The young ladies of various noble families were already engaging in a verbal skirmish before the bidding had even begun, none willing to yield to the others.

Listening to their conversation, Qing Xi felt speechless. He was here to see how others planned to counter the demons, but these bored noble ladies were here merely to admire the grace of the Rising Star prodigies up close. Realizing this, Qing Xi felt he had come to the wrong place.

Soon, the bidding began. In this branch venue, there were three entry qualifications up for auction, with a starting price of ten low-grade spirit stones each. It might not seem like much, but considering a century-old medicinal herb was worth one low-grade spirit stone, this was equivalent to using ten such herbs just to compete for a single entry pass.

"I really have too much money to burn; I can't believe I came here," Qing Xi muttered, covering his face. He felt this was a stain on his path of cultivation.

"Twenty!"

"I bid twenty-one!"

"Zhang Cuihua, shut your mouth! I bid twenty-four!"

"Li Hongzhu, if you're broke, get lost! I bid twenty-five!"

The group of noble ladies bickered, refusing to give an inch. Feeling utterly at a loss, Qing Xi raised his hand and said, "Fifty."

The moment he spoke, the hall fell into dead silence. Everyone turned around, wanting to see who was so arrogant as to double the price immediately. However, Qing Xi had already used a martial technique to disguise himself as a hideous man with a face full of pockmarks, looking truly ferocious and chilling. At the same time, he emitted the aura of a late-stage Innate Realm cultivator, which was quite intimidating.

"I suspect this person is maliciously driving up the price. He definitely doesn't have that many spirit stones..." Zhang Cuihua was unconvinced, but before she could finish, Qing Xi produced fifty century-old medicinal herbs in his hand. The rich fragrance of the herbs quickly filled the entire hall.

The Wantong Chamber of Commerce had a rule: any century-old herb could be used as a substitute for one low-grade spirit stone.

"So many century-old herbs!"

"Could he be from the Spirit Herb Sect in the Southern Region?"

"It's possible. Only the Spirit Herb Sect would be rich enough to use spirit herbs as spirit stones."

People whispered among themselves, casting envious glances at Qing Xi.

"Are you bidding or not? If not, stop talking nonsense!" Qing Xi despised these self-righteous people and glared at Zhang Cuihua with undisguised disdain.

"You infuriate me! Sixty!"

Zhang Cuihua roared, her eyes turning red. Her maid quickly whispered a reminder: "Miss, we didn't bring that many."

"It's fine, some fool will definitely bid," Zhang Cuihua said confidently, looking toward the noble lady named Li Hongzhu.

To her surprise, Li Hongzhu looked at the ceiling and did not bid. Zhang Cuihua froze, realizing something was wrong. She looked at Qing Xi, only to see him yawning, looking drowsy.

"I've been played!" Zhang Cuihua's heart turned cold.

In the end, no one raised the price, and Zhang Cuihua won the spot for sixty spirit stones. However, she couldn't bring herself to be happy; her face was practically green.

Next, the bidding for the second spot began. Qing Xi immediately bid fifty spirit stones and easily secured the spot. Holding a blue token inscribed with the words "Wantong Chamber of Commerce," he followed a maid's directions toward the nearby Shen family estate, where the gathering was being held.

Upon arriving, Qing Xi spotted an acquaintance. He quickly reverted to his true appearance and walked over. "Senior Sister, you arrived too?"

The figure carrying a sword turned around, looked at Qing Xi, and said in surprise, "Junior Brother, why are you here?"

"Naturally, I'm here to discuss how to counter the demons," Qing Xi said with a serious expression.

Qiu Yingying looked thoughtful. "You are not a prodigy on the Rising Star Ranking; how did you get in?"

"I spent fifty low-grade spirit stones to buy an entry qualification," Qing Xi said, feeling a bit helpless. If he hadn't been worried about being mistaken for an assassin, he would have preferred to sneak in using his Earth Escape technique.

Qiu Yingying looked surprised, her expression becoming strange. "You should have told me earlier! As a prodigy on the Rising Star Ranking, I can bring people in for free."

Qing Xi felt as if he had been struck by lightning, standing frozen in place. The Senior Sister could bring people in for free? Doesn't that mean I suffered a huge loss?

Recalling those fifty century-old herbs, his heart felt icy cold. He had the urge to slap himself.

"Damn it, how ruthless!" Qing Xi covered his face, cursing himself for not contacting Qiu Yingying before making a decision. Although he had a mountain of herbs in his system space, his heart still ached—he couldn't explain why, but it hurt nonetheless.