"Since that's the case, I won't press the matter any further. However, should you change your mind before the auction ends, you can still seek me out. If you leave the auction, I will offer no further opportunities. Please bear this in mind," Zuo Qinghui said. Having finished, he turned and led the disgruntled disciples of Chang Chun Temple away.

As soon as he had left, Luo Xing'er again grabbed Yuan Ming's arm, pouting as she said, "Senior, Chang Chun Temple is really overbearing. Won't they target you?"

Yuan Ming shook his head with a smile and said, "Don't worry, I just have to stay inside Little Lake City, and they can do nothing to me. They just want to use me to capture Pu Zhengqing, especially since I survived an encounter with him."

"What you say is true, but publicly refusing an elder of Chang Chun Temple and causing them to lose face will inevitably lead to trouble."

Hearing this voice, Luo Xing'er quickly turned around with delight, "Grandmaster Song."

Yuan Ming looked up to see a young female cultivator in a simple long dress with hairpins, her beauty delicate and emanating a natural fragrance. Even in plain clothes, her radiance was undeniable.

The title "Grandmaster" from Luo Xing'er immediately made Yuan Ming remember who she was: his grandmother's master, Song Huichong, the Core Formation elder of Shengye Sect. She was actually at least two to three hundred years old, yet somehow, she managed to keep her appearance so well preserved.

Yuan Ming immediately greeted her with a bow, but Song Huichong just waved her hand and asked, "I've heard from Fen Yun that you are a man of plans. Now that you've refused Fellow Daoist Zuo, you must already have a strategy in mind, right? You saved Xing'er and Xu Tian and have a deep connection with Fen Yun. It's only right that I help you. If there's anything you need, feel free to tell me."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior," Yuan Ming replied without hesitation. "Actually, there's something I'd like to ask for your assistance with. In my last fight with Pu Zhengqing, my magical tool was nearly destroyed, and now I wish to upgrade a high-grade magical tool of mine to top-grade. I wonder if you know any Artifact Refiners who could be recommended to me?"

Song Huichong pondered for a moment and nodded, "This is not particularly difficult, yet it's not easy either. The person I know has quite an eccentric personality. Even with my recommendation, it is up to you to persuade him to refine your tool."

"If you could give me a recommendation, Senior, I would be immensely grateful. Whether it is successful or not, I will remember your kindness," Yuan Ming said with excitement.

After making arrangements with Yuan Ming, Song Huichong floated away on her own, and Yuan Ming browsed the Shengye Sect's booth for a little longer before leaving the area as well.

Apart from the Shengye Sect, there were many booths set up by sects Yuan Ming had never heard of. He visited each one and was greatly enlightened by the experience.

When passing by a booth decorated with the image of a blazing Fire Phoenix, Yuan Ming happened to see two cultivators with whom he'd had a previous encounter.

Inside the booth, Di Chen was still wearing his red-patterned dragon robe. However, at that moment, he looked dejected, with his head hung low, resigned to his fate.

In front of him, Di Yue, with bright red lips and white teeth, hands on her hips, seemed to be scolding her brother.

Perhaps sensing Yuan Ming's gaze, Di Yue suddenly looked up in his direction and, recognizing him, her face momentarily lit up with joy.

"Fellow Daoist, over here!"

Di Yue motioned to Yuan Ming. Her black and red ponytail swayed slightly, giving off a spirited air. Hearing his sister's call, Di Chen stealthily raised his head to steal a glance at Yuan Ming.

Unlike his sister, Di Chen chose to ignore Yuan Ming outright. However, upon seeing the joy on his sister's face, his eyes shifted from confusion to wariness.

Seeing Di Yue's enthusiastic demeanor, Yuan Ming felt it would be rude to ignore her, so he approached the booth to stand before the Di siblings.

"Fellow Daoist, didn't I tell you to leave a message at the Five Elements Inn when you were in the city? Why haven't I heard from you for so long? I was worried you'd already left Thunder Continent. By the way, may I know your name?" Di Yue asked.

"Hagon," Yuan Ming responded with his usual alias.

"You are that Hagon? The one who repelled Pu Zhengqing?" Di Chen suddenly realized and asked.

Yuan Ming nodded, and Di Yue, surprised, said, "I never imagined it was Fellow Daoist Hagon. Then I must thank you for showing mercy before and leaving some face for my brother."

"Sister, why are you bringing up that again? You've mentioned it several times," Di Chen said, growing impatient.

Di Yue's eyebrows raised slightly in irritation, "I need to remind you because of your attitude. I don't know how many more people you will offend in the future!"

"It was just a spar. I didn't know at the time that you were the Hagon who had defeated Pu Zhengqing. I was thinking your demon was quite powerful. Last time I didn't use my full strength. Once things settle down here, let's spar outside the city. I want to see just how strong you really are, being someone who can defeat a Soul Cultivator!" Di Chen suddenly understood and excitedly readied himself as if itching to have a match with Yuan Ming.

But in the next moment, with a soft "slap," Di Yue gently smacked Di Chen on the head. She then turned to Yuan Ming, her face expressing an apology.

"I apologize, Fellow Daoist Hagon. My brother has been spoiled and loves to get into trouble, always eager for fights and sparring. Please, don't take his words to heart," she said.

Yuan Ming nodded, looking at Di Chen as he was reminded of Xiao Yao whom he had encountered in the Southern Border.

Di Yue apologized to Yuan Ming, then quickly switched back to a fierce demeanor, fiercely scolding Di Chen.

Di Chen seemed somewhat wronged, but under his sister's coercion, he reluctantly offered an apology to Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming laughed it off generously, not really minding, however Di Yue then said, "Fellow Daoist Hagon, to show our sincerity, if you fancy anything at our Fire Sparrow Sect's booth today, I can offer you a 20% discount. Please don't refuse."

Upon hearing this, Di Chen was not pleased, yet he seemed to dare not refute Di Yue's offer. After a moment of hesitation, his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Sister, there's no need to trouble yourself. I happen to have a Protective Magical Device here that I don't need at the moment. I'd like to sell it, and offering it to Fellow Daoist Hagon as compensation would suffice."

With these words, he took out a wooden box as tall as a person from his Storage Ring and placed it onto the ground with a "thud," opening the door.

Seeing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Di Yue's eyes, while Yuan Ming curiously stepped forward to examine the magical artifact that Di Chen had brought out.

It was a full-body suit of armor crafted from fine steel, shiny as a mirror to the extend that it could reflect someone's image, and the joints appeared to have been specially treated to ensure flexibility without sacrificing much defensive capability.

This suit of armor was also a High-Grade Magical Artifact, engraved with three different runes. Yuan Ming recognized only one, which was the Complete Rune, even more prized than the Solid Rune.

With just this one rune, the armor's defensive capabilities could be increased by more than fifty percent. That such a precious item was being sold so readily, Yuan Ming couldn't help but feel sentimental about Di Chen's squandering.

The armor seemed overly heavy, however, and if one were to wear it during combat, it would be quite inconvenient for movement.

"How much for this thing?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Hehe, if Fellow Daoist Hagon likes it, then 2,000 Spirit Stones. Let's not become strangers over a transaction. Our Fire Sparrow Sect has some expertise in Artifact Refining, and the materials for this magical artifact were obtained with great effort by me personally. It's a pity I don't have much use for it myself, and I can't bear to let a treasure collect dust. If you like it, it's 2,000 Spirit Stones, no, 1,800." For some reason, Di Chen suddenly became rather polite.

Yuan Ming hesitated for a moment but, seeing the sincere look on Di Chen's face, and since he was in need of a top-grade defensive magical artifact, he decided to buy the armor, although it was a bit expensive at 1,800 Spirit Stones.

Just then, Di Yue abruptly interjected, "Wait, Ah Chen, which three runes did you use in refining this armor?"

"Naturally, the Solid, the Complete, and Avoiding Arrows," Di Chen replied with a slightly guilty smile.

Di Yue's brows furrowed sharply: "Are you sure it's the Solid Rune and not the Thousand Catties Rune? Is this armor supposed to be worn by people? With this weight pressing down, one will exhaust themselves first during a magical duel!"

Hearing this, Yuan Ming had an epiphany and smiled at Di Chen.

"Sister can't speak like that, but indeed, its defense is very strong, I've already tested it," Di Chen pretended to be aggrieved.

"You're clearly trying to deceive someone," said Di Yue, annoyed, as she glared at Di Chen, then turned to talk to Yuan Ming, "I apologize, Fellow Daoist Hagon. If you're in need of a high-grade defensive magical artifact, I can also refine a custom one just for you. This suit of armor is not suitable for you."

To her surprise, Yuan Ming shook his head, satisfied, patting the wooden box, "No need for that, I really like Brother Di Chen's magical artifact. Let's settle for 1,000 Spirit Stones, and let Di Chen take a bit more of a loss."

"Deal!" Di Chen immediately accepted, amazed that this Hagon was not only blind in appraising artifacts but also a spendthrift.

Yuan Ming didn't buy the armor to test his own strength but rather because his spirit pet Vajra could truly bear the title of Innate Divine Strength.

As Vajra was a practitioner of Body Cultivation, its physical strength was far superior to an ordinary person's. Now, with this suit of armor, there were probably very few who could break through its defenses.

The only regrettable point was that the design of the armor was based on a normal human structure, with only two arm guards. Before handing it over to Vajra, it would probably require some modifications to fit more appropriately.

Not wanting to bother with two tasks, Yuan Ming contemplated for a moment before suggesting, "Could this armor have two additional armholes added?"

Before Di Chen could reply, Di Yue took the initiative, "This is a simple task, leave it to me."

"That would be excellent, Fellow Daoist Di Yue. With such enthusiasm, I wouldn't dare to decline," Yuan Ming said.

"I won't hide the fact from you, there is another matter I wish to ask of you. My brother and I came to Little Lake City for two reasons: firstly, to attend the Tianxiang Auction, and secondly, to hire someone from the Scatter Alliance to travel through Zhao Country to the Northern Desert and investigate the case of missing disciples from our sect," said Di Yue.

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