"Is there a higher bid?" Han Tian's voice rang out, surveying the private rooms around.

"Thirteen thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!" Xu Ping's voice, like a calm lake, broke the silence again.

"It's him again!"

In the Song family box, a young man with sharp eyes and star-like brows was furious, slapping the table as he stood. He had naturally recognized the voice of his rival in bidding for the Purple Gold Strange Devouring Ape.

But he ultimately restrained his anger.

"Fourteen thousand Spirit Stones!" the Song family youth gritted his teeth and said.

"Fifteen thousand Spirit Stones!" Xu Ping's voice was indifferent, directly adding a thousand Spirit Stones.

Fifteen thousand Spirit Stones, the Song family youth finally lost his composure; this price had already exceeded his psychological acceptance value.

"I am Song Li, a direct descendant of the Song family. May I know your name, friend?" the Song family youth called out loudly, with a hint of threat in his tone.

Xu Ping did not respond to Song Li, but instead turned his focus to the Han family: "What, does your Han family auction require names to be reported before bidding?"

Upon hearing this, Han Tian's expression subtly changed. Although he did not wish to offend the Song family, he had to act: "You must be joking, guests don't have to give their names at our Han family auction."

"Please, Fellow Daoist Song, do not disrupt the auction's rules. This time we'll let it pass, but if it happens again, even as a direct Song family member, I will have to escort you out of Han Yang market," Han Tian said with slightly narrowed eyes, carrying a hint of threat.

Song Li's eyes were ablaze, glaring intensely at Xu Ping's box.

But he also refrained from saying anything further!

Even though the Han family was not as prominent as the Song family, both were among the eight great families and not far apart in standing. If Han Tian were publicly embarrassed, they might indeed expel him from Han Yang market.

"Hmph!" Eventually, Song Li could only snort coldly, falling silent.

"Congratulations to this fellow Daoist for winning the Soul Stone!"

Without Song Li's competition, Xu Ping smoothly secured the Soul Stone.

"This person is quite wealthy, spending over twenty thousand Spirit Stones at the auction!"

"Indeed, although this person has Foundation Establishment cultivation, I'm afraid leaving safely might not be easy!"

As Xu Ping went to finalize the Soul Stone trade, the entire venue was abuzz, even causing those in the second-floor boxes to stir with thought.

Among them, Song Li chuckled coldly to himself, curious to see how the other party planned to escape Han Yang market.

...

Side Hall!

"I don't have enough Spirit Stones with me. Can I use a Magical Artifact as collateral?" Xu Ping asked.

"That's certainly acceptable," Han Tian replied with a smile.

"You can check." After paying a large amount of Spirit Stones, Xu Ping handed over a top-grade Magical Artifact and an upper-grade Magical Artifact.

Han Tian appraised them, verifying that the Spirit Stones combined with the artifacts indeed amounted to nearly fifteen thousand Spirit Stones, then handed a jade box containing the Spirit Stone to Xu Ping: "The Soul Stone is yours, fellow Daoist!"

Xu Ping used his Divine Sense to sense the black stone inside, revealing a slight smile: "Finally, the Soul Stone is in my possession."

"A word of advice, fellow Daoist; within Han Yang market, I can ensure your safety, but once you leave, we can assume no responsibility," Han Tian remarked with hinted meaning.

Though tempted by Xu Ping's wealth, Han Tian knew the distinction between two thousand Spirit Stones and the reputation of Han Yang market.

"Thank you for the advice." Xu Ping cupped his hands in acknowledgment.

He was well aware that his prominent display at the auction would indeed attract attention from others.

However, he was not overly concerned; twenty thousand Spirit Stones might entice early- or mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators significantly, but meant little to late-stage Foundation Establishment, Fake Pill, or Golden Core cultivators.

Given his strength, even if he couldn't win, escape was not a problem.

Moreover, securing the Soul Stone and the Purple Gold Strange Devouring Ape's blood had drained his Spirit Stone reserves; if any ill-intentioned individuals came his way, he wouldn't mind replenishing his deflated wallet.

...

After securing the Soul Stone, Xu Ping did not linger, exiting Han Yang market and immediately sensing several gazes upon him, prompting a cold chuckle: "Seems there are indeed those who act without thinking!"

Unwilling to waste time on concealment, he directly summoned his Escape Light and flew off into the distance.

Once beyond Han Yang market's vicinity, the attention on him grew more blatant and unabashed.

Xu Ping even sensed a familiar presence—could it be Song Li, a Song family direct descendant?

"Hmph!"

Xu Ping sneered inwardly, his gaze filled with killing intent. With chaos engulfing the Yue Country, such people grew increasingly brazen.

He continued to fly with his Escape Light, landing on a desolate stretch of land.

Soon, a Spiritual Boat approached, from which descended two Foundation Establishment cultivators, one at mid-stage. Both wore masks, and the mid-stage cultivator chuckled mockingly: "Is this the burial ground you've chosen?"

One who reaches Foundation Establishment naturally lacks no caution.

Though confident, both cultivators' Divine Senses constantly swept the barren land, ensuring no ambushes or arrays were present!

"Burial ground? Though this place is small, it's more than adequate to bury you both!" Xu Ping, sword in hand, exuded surging Sword Qi.

"All talk, are you?"

The mid-stage cultivator sneered, clapping his hands to summon a pitch-black flame crackling with thunderous explosions.

With a gentle hand lift, the black flame transformed into a phantom bird, radiating potent Mana pulses as it swooped toward Xu Ping.

Before the phantom bird even reached him, the intense heat seemed to curl Xu Ping's hair.

The early-stage cultivator unleashed a massive Black Iron Hammer, expanding tenfold in size, bearing down on Xu Ping with tremendous momentum.

When they struck, they unleashed an overwhelming force.

"This guy's just early-stage Foundation Establishment, yet attacked by two, one being mid-stage, might meet his end here."

Hidden watchers shook their heads, while Song Li, not participating directly, watched with satisfaction.

Faced with the two-pronged assault, Xu Ping's calm belied those pronouncing him doomed.

"Slash!"

Mana surged as a grand Sword Qi erupted from the Purple Sun Sword, glinting with unparalleled sharpness as if to rend the heavens and earth.

Boom!

The Sword momentum surged, the Sword Qi transforming into a resplendent beam sweeping forward.

That Sword Qi, like thunder, sliced through the fire-turned phantasmal bird, shredding it to countless embers, scattering them widely.

Unimpeded, the Sword Qi struck the Black Iron Hammer, the booming clamor sending it flying.

"What!"

The onlookers were stunned; none expected Xu Ping's Sword Qi to be so potent, obliterating the duo's attacks in one strike.

"Tough customer, strike together!"

The mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator shouted, deploying three linked shields, yet unease lurked in his heart at Xu Ping's formidable silhouette.

Buzz!

With his outburst, a figure shot toward Xu Ping at great speed.

"Die!"

The newcomer, clad in silver armor, loomed as a mountain, striking with a silver-armored punch without hesitation.

Boom!

The air ahead of the punch erupted, a deafening blast echoing.

"Second-stage Body Refining?"

Faced with the third assailant's ambush, Xu Ping's demeanor cooled, not unanticipated.

"Blood Demon True Form!"

With a low cry, Xu Ping's form expanded, becoming a giant over four meters tall, enveloped in intense blood-red light.

The once-mighty silver-armored cultivator now appeared diminutive before him.

"The one who should perish is you!"

Xu Ping roared in fury, throwing a resolute, countering punch.

Rumble!

The ground shook, and a wide area around them caved as the clash resounded.

Surprisingly, with a scream, the assailing silver-armored cultivator was flung back, blood seeping from within the armor.

"Damn it, he's a second-stage Middle Grade Body Refining cultivator too!" the mid-stage cultivator sputtered in frustration.

While Xu Ping clashed with the armored opponent, the pair were not idle.

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