Chapter 393: Yun Yun and Medusa Smiling with Hidden Daggers
On the other side, Yao Chen and Xiao Yan had just landed and were about to survey their surroundings when they suddenly felt a gaze filled with mockery and amusement fixed on them.
The master and disciple exchanged glances, their faces darkening. Someone dared to provoke them?
However, following the gaze, their eyes twitched as they saw a plain looking young man staring at them with a playful smirk. Beside him were two veiled women with graceful figures and exceptional temperaments.
Yao Chen and Xiao Yan's mouths twitched. They didn't recognize the face, but with such audacity, youth, and beauty flanking him, it was obvious. Who else could it be but Lu Bu?
The two figures flickered and appeared not far in front of Lu Bu and his two companions.
"Well, well... What brings you here?" Lu Bu grinned mischievously. "Don't tell me you're interested in the Demon Saint's map as well?"
"Just here to take a look… After all, it involves the legacy of my ancestor," Xiao Yan replied, his eyelids twitching. Once upon a time, that Demon Saint map had been in his possession. But… well, no point in dwelling on it. Lu Bu was a master at digging traps for others to fall into!
Beside him, Yao Chen's eyes swept over the two women behind Lu Bu, and his expression subtly shifted.
Although their faces were covered, Yao Chen had a good understanding of Lu Bu's companions. If his guess was correct, one of them was Medusa, the Queen of the Snake People from the northwest continent, and the other was Yun Yun, the head of the Yun Lan Sect in the Jia Ma Empire.
What surprised him even more was their strength. One of them was a nine star Dou Zun, and the other was a one turn Dou Zun. Both of them were now on par with Xiao Yan in terms of power.
"Damn it… How does this kid make them cultivate so quickly?" Yao Chen's eye twitched, his heart heavy with shock.
As a renowned alchemy master and one of the most famous alchemists in Central Plains, Yao Chen knew well the risks of using pills or external methods to rapidly increase one's strength.
The result was often hollowed out Dou Qi, weak combat power, and, in severe cases, damage to one's foundation, making it difficult to break through to the Dou Sheng level.
He himself had suffered such consequences. With Yao Chen's talent and his unparalleled understanding of Dou Qi, he should have reached the Half Saint level much earlier. Instead, he had been stuck at the peak of Dou Zun for over a century, unable to advance. Even people like Di Xie Zi and Tian Xie Zi, who were once considered weaker than him, nearly caught up.
In the end, he had been surrounded and ambushed by the Hall of Souls, reduced to a soul form with no recourse. Had he been a Half Saint back then, neither the Hall of Souls nor Han Feng would have dared to act recklessly against him.
Now, even with his rebirth, Yao Chen had only barely managed to break through. Without that, who knew how many more decades or centuries it would have taken him to reach this stage?
And yet, here were Medusa and Yun Yun, both exuding power that was perfectly steady and cohesive, their auras calm and enduring. Yun Yun's soul power had even reached the Spirit Realm.
What's more, neither of them showed any signs of the instability or side effects typically associated with using external methods to increase strength. It was as if all their power had been cultivated steadily over time.
This is bizarre… Yao Chen's eye twitched again. Did Lu Bu have some kind of secret technique? Otherwise, how could someone like Yun Yun, an older but relatively ordinary woman, achieve such a drastic breakthrough?
…Still, I think it's better not to tell Xiao Yan about this… Yao Chen thought to himself. If Xiao Yan learned that even Yun Yun had caught up to his level, it might not sit well with him.
Lu Bu wasn't aware of Yao Chen's thoughts, but when he heard Xiao Yan mention his ancestor, his brows furrowed slightly. "What's it got to do with your ancestor? What? You don't trust this deal?"
It's because it's you that I don't trust it… Xiao Yan complained inwardly but plastered on a smile. "Of course not! But we should still be cautious it does involve a four star Dou Sheng, after all."
"Heh… Let's head in first," Lu Bu chuckled, brushing off the comment. He was already considering whether Xiao Yan would cause any trouble later.
With that, Lu Bu led the two women to the grand entrance of the massive black hall. Flicking his fingers, he sent out a gilded jade invitation.
The invitation had been provided by Xuan Kong Zi from the Pill Tower after Lu Bu had casually mentioned his interest. It hadn't taken long for the invitation to arrive.
The Pill Tower itself wasn't particularly interested in the so called Space Trading Fair. As the Central Plains' premier alchemist organization and the sacred ground for alchemists, the Pill Tower wasn't lacking in treasures.
For years, the trading fair organizers had tried to court the Pill Tower, hoping their participation would enhance the event's prestige. However, the Pill Tower had always turned them down, considering it beneath them.
This time, the Pill Tower's interest was an unexpected boon for the fair organizers. After all, this was the wealthiest faction in Central Plains!
At the grand doors, a stern faced elder caught the golden invitation as it flew toward him. His stoic expression softened slightly as he examined it, and he respectfully said, "Senior, your reserved spot is in Sky Room Three. Someone will guide you. Please, proceed."
"Let's go…" Lu Bu smiled, taking the hands of the two women and stepping through the doors.
"We should go too," Yao Chen said, flicking out a flash of crimson light another invitation. Unlike with Lu Bu, the elder at the door simply caught it and flicked two black cloaks out with a wave of his sleeve.
"These will shield your identities from prying eyes," the elder explained as he handed the cloaks to Yao Chen, who quickly donned his.
Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. Great. While Lu Bu was enjoying a private, luxurious suite, he and his teacher would be crammed into the noisy, crowded main hall like everyone else…
Inside the hall, a slender woman draped in sheer fabric led Lu Bu and his companions through the corridors. Her graceful figure swayed enticingly with every step, her snow white back and soft, delicate waist catching Lu Bu's eye. At the base of her spine, where her curves began to rise, a fluffy, snow white tail swayed gently it wasn't a decoration but an actual part of her.
A rabbit… A beast transformed into a human… Not bad. Definitely my type.
"Like what you see?" Yun Yun's voice whispered in Lu Bu's ear, her warm breath tickling his skin as her soft red lips curved into a smile.
"Please. She's nothing but an average beauty," Lu Bu scoffed, his heart skipping a beat as he quickly played it cool. Did she think he was as much of a lecher as Xiao Yan?
"Your eyes were glued to her, and you call her average?" Medusa interjected, her tone laced with amusement as she shot him a sideways glance.
"Your Majesty, do you want to get sued for slander?" Lu Bu widened his eyes indignantly. "Do I look like that kind of person?"
"Hmph, that's better…" Satisfied, Yun Yun and Medusa exchanged a glance before discreetly lowering their swords, which had been hidden behind their backs.
Noticing the vanishing sword tips from their shoulders, Lu Bu let out a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his brow.
Moments later, the attendant led the three of them into a luxurious private suite. The heavy door shut behind them, glowing faintly with a cyan light as defensive formations activated, rendering the walls and doors impenetrable.
Lu Bu nodded approvingly. With his sharp eyes, he could easily discern the strength of the defensive array. Not bad. Hmm… What were the names of those three hosting sects again?
He scratched his chin, unable to recall the sects' names. The only thing he remembered was that one of them was led by a peak Dou Zun elder named… Treasure Mountain Elder?
The name alone sounded like he'd be a chubby old man!
"This place has a good view," Medusa said, nodding in satisfaction as she admired the spacious suite's floor to ceiling windows.
Outside the floor to ceiling window was a plaza, not very large, capable of accommodating two to three hundred people. Surrounding the plaza were rooms similar to theirs, each likely reserved for other participants.
"This is indeed a good setup…" Yun Yun remarked with a smile, glancing around. The window was made of a unique type of crystal that completely blocked outside detection. From the inside, they could clearly see everything happening outside, but from the outside, their room appeared as nothing but impenetrable darkness. It was an effective safeguard against prying eyes.
Down below, more people were entering the main hall in front of the plaza. Every single person was shrouded in black robes, their surroundings distorted by spatial energy. Each individual had created their own slightly warped space cage to protect themselves and their companions.
"There's quite a crowd…" Yun Yun said with a serious expression. In no time, the main hall had filled with nearly two to three hundred people.
These weren't just ordinary people each one was a powerful Dou Zun, with some Half Saints even present.
"Heh, I wonder what kinds of treasures have drawn so many people here…" Medusa, lounging comfortably in Lu Bu's arms, remarked with interest.
Yun Yun snorted at the sight, her figure flashing as she squeezed into Lu Bu's other arm.
"Hehehe… Cough, cough, the trade fair is about to start!" With beauties in his arms, Lu Bu almost laughed out loud but quickly restrained himself when he noticed the displeased expressions of both women.
Better to keep his joy to himself for now. Once the day came when all of them shared the same bed, this little issue wouldn't be a problem anymore! At least, that's what Lu Bu thought.
Dong!
A deep and melodious bell echoed through the hall. A portly old man with snow white hair and a rosy complexion appeared. His face was adorned with a broad, smiling expression, his chubby cheeks nearly covering his eyes.
"A Nine Turn Dou Zun?" Yun Yun's sharp eyes narrowed slightly. As expected, this space trade fair wasn't simple. Still, after a moment's scrutiny, she lost interest, twirling a lock of hair around her fingers as she played with Lu Bu's ear with a playful smile.
"Decent strength…" Medusa nodded before dismissing the old man, her focus shifting elsewhere.
Lu Bu ignored the sudden appearance of the Treasure Mountain Elder as well. How could the sight of an old man compare to the allure of the two stunning women in his arms?
Down in the plaza, the Treasure Mountain Elder swept his gaze over the crowd, his plump face beaming with a broad smile. "Another year, another space trade fair! I hope everyone has been well…"
The hall remained silent. The two to three hundred black robed figures didn't respond, not even acknowledging him.
The Treasure Mountain Elder wasn't bothered by the cold reception. With a wave of his sleeve, spatial energy surged around him. Like the others, he created a space cage to protect himself.
"Hehe… The usual rules apply, so don't mind me," he said with a light chuckle, clapping his hands. "Now, let us officially begin this year's space trade fair!"
As his words fell, the previously relaxed black robed figures in the plaza straightened their postures, and the atmosphere grew tense and heavy.
"The first auction item…" Treasure Mountain Elder's tone grew more solemn as he extended his hand, revealing a pair of pristine white bone wings within the slightly distorted space barrier.
"The Heavenly Demon Phoenix Wings. I'm sure many of you are aware of their rarity and value." The elder chuckled lightly. "Should you refine these into a flying Dou Technique, the speed you'd gain would be unmatched among your peers. Wouldn't it be exhilarating to move so freely?"
"The owner of these Demon Phoenix Wings hopes to exchange them for an Eight Tier pill that has withstood four color pill lightning. Based on our evaluation, these wings are worth the price."
"So, let the bidding begin!"
Silence hung over the crowd once again. While the Demon Phoenix Wings were indeed valuable, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix tribe was notorious for their vindictiveness. They zealously guarded their bloodlines and the remains of their kin. If anyone was caught using this treasure, it would become a death sentence rather than a tool of escape.
In another section of the hall, Xiao Yan's lips pressed into a thin line as his eyes flickered with desire. The allure of the Demon Phoenix Wings was undeniable. Lu Bu's mastery of the Phoenix Step, combined with the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Wings, placed his speed leagues ahead of Xiao Yan's own Three Thousand Lightning Movement.
Then again… in every other aspect, he was outclassed by Lu Bu as well.
Xiao Yan's mouth twitched bitterly. But precisely because of this, he wanted the wings even more. He had to narrow the gap between them somehow! The only issue was the Heavenly Demon Phoenix tribe. Unlike Lu Bu, Xiao Yan didn't have the backing of the Ancient Dragon tribe.
"This one is mine!"
Just as Xiao Yan hesitated, a clear voice echoed from one of the private rooms. Moments later, a jade bottle brimming with medicinal fragrance flew through a spatial crack.
"Could it be Lu Bu?" Xiao Yan wondered, frowning. This guy already had the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Wings what could he possibly want another pair for?
"Does anyone wish to offer a higher price?" the Treasure Mountain Elder asked calmly.
The crowd remained silent once again.
Seeing this, the elder flicked his finger, and the bone wings disappeared into a spatial crack.
Inside the private room, Lu Bu casually extended his hand, and the pristine, jade like bone wings landed on the table before him and the two women.
"You already have a pair of these wings. What do you need these for?" Medusa asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
"They're for Yun Yun," Lu Bu replied with a smile. "Her fighting style is different from ours. She doesn't rely on close combat or Dou Techniques as much, so she could really use something that enhances agility."
"I'll refine it into a flying Dou Technique for you later," he added, glancing at Yun Yun.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you." Yun Yun smiled gently, her jade like fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. Truthfully, Lu Bu's reasoning wasn't entirely accurate. While she did often fight using the Qinglian Heart Flame and Fallen Heart Flame, her combat abilities were by no means weak.
Before gaining the Ling Clan's bloodline, Yun Yun had trained like anyone else polishing her Dou Techniques, honing her swordsmanship, and engaging in close combat with enemies. She wasn't lacking in skill.
But just as they were about to continue their conversation, a domineering and overbearing presence swept toward their private room, accompanied by an invasive spiritual force probing recklessly.
"Hmph!" Lu Bu's eyes turned cold, and his soul power erupted.
Boom!
A muffled explosion resounded as a flash of violet black light obliterated the invasive force.
Pfft…
From somewhere in the hall, a stifled sound echoed, followed by a faint trace of blood in the air. Clearly, someone had suffered for their provocation.
"Hehe… how entertaining."
"Tsk, got what they deserved."
"Who'd be dumb enough to mess with someone in a private room? Must have a death wish."
"Hahaha… This year's space trade fair is shaping up to be quite the spectacle!"
The black robed crowd erupted in snickers, their mocking voices unrestrained. Watching someone suffer a setback was always a delight. If a fight broke out outside the town later, it'd be even better!
"Ahem! Let me remind everyone fighting is strictly prohibited within the venue. Violators will be expelled!" Treasure Mountain Elder coughed, his round face growing stern as his powerful aura swept across the room, restoring order.
Back in the private room, Lu Bu's expression darkened. Who could be so audacious and reckless as to provoke him like this?
(Chapter End)
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