Chapter 60: Speculation from Traces

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Speculation from Traces

"Have you noticed? For the past few days, more and more Cultivators have been passing through this county town. Some are just passing through without stopping. Others arrive at dusk, stay for one night, and then head south first thing in the morning."

During a break from her sword practice, Yan Ying sat down in a nearby hanging rattan chair and spoke to Chu Fan, who was looking through a book.

The book in Chu Fan’s hands was one of the Sword Manuals he had obtained from Dingfeng Slope, called the Yifeng Sword Technique.

This Sword Technique, like the Dream-Breaking Meteor Sword, was a Celestial Level Martial Technique. The reason Chu Fan had practiced the Dream-Breaking Meteor Sword first was that he could still grasp the Sword Intent of its first two forms.

However, the first time he had opened the Yifeng Sword Technique, he found the transitions between each Sword Form to be incredibly stiff and awkward.

Of course, he hadn’t thought it was a problem with the Sword Manual at the time, but rather that his own Sword Dao Realm was insufficient.

Sure enough, opening it again today, many things had become much clearer.

The Yifeng Sword Technique emphasized an integration of offense and defense, cloaking its true killing intent under the guise of a humble gentleman.

It lacked the brilliance and swiftness of the Dream-Breaking Meteor Sword, but it emphasized two principles: "Stability" and "Principle." Stability meant being as unshakeable as a mountain. Principle was drawn from the classic saying, "A gentleman can be deceived by a reasonable method, but not by something that deviates from the true way."

Hearing Yan Ying’s words, Chu Fan put down the book. He just had to briefly extend his consciousness for everything within a mile-and-a-half radius to become clear in his mind.

Indeed, in that time, both his and Yan Ying’s Spiritual Power had improved considerably.

Although the rate of increase wasn’t as fast as when they first started observing the Scroll, compared to most Cultivators who focused on Spiritual Power, their progress could be described as advancing by leaps and bounds.

During their time in this small county town, both of their Spiritual Power levels had reached Level 20.

And what did Level 20 signify?

Usually, as a Cultivator’s Realm increased, their Spiritual Power would increase accordingly.

For example, before his Golden Core was destroyed, Chu Fan was in the Golden Core Realm, and his Spiritual Power was at Level 9.

Divine Separation Realm Cultivators like Yu Zongding, the Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect, and Yan Qi, the Sect Leader of the Red Blood Mansion, only had Spiritual Power around Level 17 or 18.

In other words, Chu Fan and Yan Ying’s Spiritual Power had already surpassed that of most Divine Separation Realm Cultivators.

However, they didn’t know any Spiritual Power Cultivation Techniques or attack methods. Otherwise, they could crush a Divine Separation Realm Cultivator with their Spiritual Power alone.

’Mr. Hong’s Auction? Nanling County?’ Just by extending his consciousness, Chu Fan had gathered a lot of information.

Just then, Yan Ying said, "I heard that a Celestial Level Treasure Sword will be up for auction, as well as a Sixth Transformation Elixir and all sorts of rare Heavenly and Earthly Treasures. But why is it scheduled for the eighth day of the twelfth month?"

Hearing Yan Ying’s words, Chu Fan’s heart stirred. He muttered to himself, "Mr. Hong’s Auction House, Mr. Hong’s Auction House..."

’That old saying... the universe vast and primordial... that’s right! The Ink Jade Token I gave Liu Yicai had the character ’Hong’ on it, didn’t it?’

’To think that in less than half a year, his auction house has already caused such a huge storm in the Eastern Domain Cultivation Realm.’

Yan Ying looked at Chu Fan curiously. "What are you muttering about?"

"It’s nothing, just thought of something," Chu Fan said with a wave of his hand.

"Why did they have to schedule this auction for the eighth day of the twelfth month? If it were any other day, I’d go take a look and bid on a few things I like," Yan Ying muttered as well.

Then, she suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "No, that’s not right! This isn’t a coincidence. The eighth day of the twelfth month on its own wouldn’t be much, but why is it specifically in Nanling County?"

Yan Ying leaped from the rattan chair, walked over to Chu Fan, and looked down at him, sizing him up.

Chu Fan felt very uncomfortable under her gaze, as if his innermost secrets had been exposed. It was a little awkward.

His time with Yan Ying had taught Chu Fan that she was an exceptionally intelligent person, often able to piece together the outline of an entire situation from the smallest of clues.

She suddenly held up two fingers.

"Two possibilities. First, this Mr. Hong’s Auction House is hostile toward the Celestial Derivation Sect or the Lingyun Sect. It’s even possible that, like you, they plan to wreak havoc at the wedding banquet. The true experts from the various Sects of the Eastern Domain will have to choose between attending the congratulatory ceremony at the Celestial Derivation Sect and bidding on so many Heavenly and Earthly Treasures at the auction. The choice is obvious. This means that on the eighth day of the twelfth month, other Sects might only send a representative to the Celestial Derivation Sect to offer congratulations, while most of the truly prominent figures will definitely go to the auction."

"After all, it’s not just a Celestial Grade Treasure Sword and a Sixth Transformation Elixir, but also three Celestial Level Martial Techniques. Any one of these items is incredibly important to the Sects in the Eastern Domain. Obtaining just one could elevate a Sect’s status."

"The other possibility!" At this, Yan Ying’s eyes locked onto Chu Fan’s.

She said slowly, "The other possibility is that Mr. Hong’s Auction House is acting in concert with you. To be more direct, you have an extraordinary relationship with them. I’ve also noticed during this time that your identity is not as simple as just the former Saint Heir of the Lingyun Sect. You must have had some incredible opportunities that no one knows about."

"You can casually produce ten Top Class Masterwork Treasure Swords. The Dream-Breaking Meteor Sword you practice and the Yifeng Sword Technique you were just reading are both Celestial Level Martial Techniques. So, this Mr. Hong is one of your people, right?"

Chu Fan was stunned by her analysis, but he denied it out loud, "You really have some imagination. If this Mr. Hong was one of my people, why would I need to be running all over the place myself? With that much wealth, couldn’t I just hire an assassin organization? If I can’t find one in the Eastern Domain, I’ll go to the Central Domain. Money makes the world go round, after all!"

"You don’t have to deny it. Even though you’re trying to hide it, I can tell from your eyes that my guess is correct. If this Mr. Hong really had nothing to do with you, you would never have remained so calm and composed when I made that guess," Yan Ying said with absolute certainty.

Unlike the shock in Chu Fan’s heart, Yan Ying’s mind was already reeling with turbulent waves.

Initially, her deduction was based on just a few tiny clues, but after confirming her suspicion was true, she could no longer remain calm.

Not only was Chu Fan’s talent unlike anything she had ever seen, but he had also been to the Divine Hall, received its boons, and obtained the Scroll from within the Divine Statue.

He could casually produce ten Masterwork Treasure Swords and two Celestial Level Sword Manuals.

And now, this Mr. Hong’s Auction House was another one of his trump cards.

Just how much wealth did he possess?

How many Heavenly and Earthly Treasures did he have that would make all the Sects in the world drool with envy?

She had thought that after spending this time together, she understood Chu Fan quite well. Only now did she realize that he was still shrouded in a veil of mystery.

Talent, fortune, and a deep foundation—he lacked none of them.

In that case, his future...

’I really want to see just how peerless in beauty and grace this Yun Xi is, to be able to capture your undivided affection.’ Yan Ying only thought these words, not speaking them aloud.

But she had to admit, she was a little envious of Yun Xi—envious that there was someone willing to risk everything for her.

She was even a little jealous. She herself was a prodigy, confident that her talent and beauty were second to no woman. She even possessed a background and status that all the women in the world would admire, yet she had never met a man willing to sacrifice everything for her.