Chapter 221: Auction

He could severely injure a Foundation Building Realm cultivator yet still live such a carefree life!

No wonder he seems so arrogant. The methods at his disposal definitely aren’t simple,

thought Fang Chen.

“What are you thinking of, young brother? Do you want to help because you’ve seen injustice? I advise you to dispel such thoughts.” Song Yu smiled bitterly. "I, too, often had such thoughts back when I was young, but... such is the way of the world; we can't help everyone."

"I just feel like I've seen him somewhere before." Fang Chen smiled. "Master Song, rest assured, I rarely take action when I am not confident."

"It's normal to find him familiar. The reputation of the Clear Void Poison King is not mere hype. If it weren't for the influential family behind Manager You, Clear Void Poison King wouldn't have even spared me that glance, the Ridge Master." Song Yu’s mouth showed a bitter twist. He paused for a second before he continued, "Let's not dwell on this. Manager You has arranged a VIP room for us. Let's go."

Before long, they arrived in the VIP room. It had a window that overlooked the entire auction floor. There were only about ten such rooms.

By now, many people had gathered in the auction venue below, exchanging greetings with those they knew. Those who didn’t know many people found a seat and quietly awaited the start of the auction.

The cultivators here were unlike the usual bunch Fang Chen saw in Dragon Ride Lane; their cultivations were quite high, with some reaching the eighth or ninth stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

Despite their high cultivation realms, not a single expert in the tenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm could be seen down at the seating. That was understandable, as all such people had to have already been invited up to the VIP rooms the moment they stepped into the establishment. They naturally wouldn't mingle with the cultivators below.

Fang Chen closed his eyes, seemingly resting.

In the next moment, his soul left his body and arrived in the neighboring room. There sat a Qi Refining Realm tenth-level cultivator. He was also waiting for the auction to begin. There was nothing particularly special about him.

Fang Chen phased through to the next room. A few rooms later, he finally spotted the Clear Void Poison King.

As the Clear Void Poison King sat, he pulled out a green pill and tossed it at his hunched follower’s feet. "Eat this pill, you little bastard."

The hunched figure bent down awkwardly, picked up the green pill, and put it in his mouth, swallowing it. His movements were stiff, and there was no emotion on his ugly face.

Not long after swallowing the pill, the hunched follower’s face contorted in pain, and green liquid began oozing from the lump on his back.

Seeing this, the Clear Void Poison King laughed heartily and took out a porcelain bottle. With a wave of his hand, the green liquid was immediately drawn into the bottle by his spiritual energy.

"Really can’t look down on this little brat's young age; his fate is quite resilient. He's helped me produce at least a pound of dragon venom." The Clear Void Poison King chuckled, then raised the bottle and drank its contents in one gulp.

Fang Chen’s face turned into one of shock.

He drank it?!

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

After downing the vile-smelling green liquid, the Clear Void Poison King's face showed a look of ecstasy, and then his aura started to rise.

The Clear Void Poison King chuckled with self-satisfaction. "Dragon venom is indeed marvelous. A cup of it every day, and in three to five years, I'll be able to advance to the 11th stage. The Foundation Building Realm will be within reach!"

"

Ah, ah...

" The hunched follower suddenly opened his mouth and let out a few cries, gesturing with his fingers continuously.

"What's with the mute screaming? Remember, you were sold to me, and it's your fortune that I use you to brew poison. If I hadn't bought you, you might have died long ago," said the Clear Void Poison King, his eyes cold and indifferent.

The hunchback stared blankly at him. His clear eyes turned hazy, a layer of mist glazing over them.

In the void, Fang Chen watched the hunched figure, and his soul began to tremble gently. He finally understood where that familiar feeling came from.

Song Yu had assumed that the one Fang Chen found familiar was the Clear Void Poison King, but little did he know that the person Fang Chen found familiar was the hunchback.

Some time ago, during the incident where the Spirit Blood Sect's Foundation Building Realm cultivator slaughtered a mortal family, only a young child survived, but the child was rendered mute.

Fang Chen had the child tested for aptitude using a Spirit Measuring Bell, and it resulted in three chimes. Although this aptitude wasn't high, it wasn't too weak either.

In the end, he owed a favor to Elder Jin Nan from the Heavenly Southern Sect and he sent the child over with him to cultivate.

If there hadn't been any accidents, the young child should have been practicing in the Heavenly Southern Sect! He shouldn’t be in the hands of the Clear Void Poison King, being used as a living subject for drug testing and brewing deadly poisons!

Looking at the tumors on the child's body, with hardly a patch of intact skin, a hint of heartache flashed in Fang Chen's eyes.

He’s a young boy of seven or eight. This wasn’t the life a boy of his age should be living. Shouldn’t he be playing with his friends, chasing wild chickens, teasing the dogs on the streets? Hugging and clinging to his parents after they return from a long day of work? But his family... was already dead. After this terrible shift in fate he encountered back home, instead of welcoming better days, the child ended up being a poison vessel for the Clear Void Poison King.

Gradually, Fang Chen’s eyes left the child and focused on the self-satisfied Clear Void Poison King.

Suddenly, the Clear Void Poison King furrowed his brow slightly. "

Hmm

? Why do I suddenly feel a chill in here?" He glanced around, but then snappily looked at the hunched figure. "Are you cursing me in your heart? Kneel in the corner!"

The hunched figure trembled lightly. Showing no resistance, he obediently knelt in the corner.

Only after seeing this did the Clear Void Poison King show a cold smile as he fiddled with his braids.

Fang Chen's soul returned to his body.

Fang Chen opened his eyes and muttered softly to himself, "Heavenly Southern Sect..."

He didn't know why the young child hadn't gone to Heavenly Southern Sect and instead ended up in the hands of an evil cultivator. Given the chance, he would personally visit Jin Nan to get an explanation.

"Most of the people have arrived." Song Yu suddenly stood up and glanced around. "The auction is about to begin."

Fang Chen swept his gaze downward. He suddenly paused. Another familiar face.

Li Huafeng.

He seemed to have changed his appearance, and he was dressed in blue Daoist robes, following alongside a middle-aged Daoist.

The middle-aged Daoist's cultivation was probably around the seventh stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

"Fang Chen, who’s that Daoist?" asked Fang Chen as he pointed to the middle-aged Daoist with a faint smile.

Song Yu glanced over.

"He's a cultivator from Clear Sky Monastery."

Song Yu turned to Fang Chen with some curiosity. "Do you perhaps have some connection with the Clear Sky Monastery, young brother? It has quite a reputation out there. I've heard that the old sect master has already reached the 12th stage of the Qi Refining Realm, just one step away from the Foundation Building Realm."

Fang Chen shook his head with a smile. "I don't know him."

After about a cup of tea's time, Manager You appeared in the auction venue, warmly greeting each cultivator, seemingly familiar with everyone.

Song Yu sighed with some emotion. "Manager You's network is broader than mine. It's fortunate that the You family values Dragon Ridge and has opened a business here. Otherwise... Dragon Ridge would’ve been much quieter."

"The You family's background should be quite strong, right?" said Fang Chen.

"They have an ancestor in the Foundation Building Realm." Song Yu nodded slightly. "Although they're just a cultivation family without an orthodox inheritance, they are nonetheless quite famous in the cultivation world. They engage in business everywhere and have their foot in industries all over the place. They can’t be underestimated."

An ancestor in the Foundation Building Realm?

Fang Chen suddenly understood. No wonder Manager You could organize an auction and invite hundreds of people. These cultivators were all here on the account of that Foundation Building ancestor. With such backing, they believed Manager You could help them sell their items safely, or perhaps bring out things they needed to buy.

As Fang Chen’s thoughts tumbled, he heard Manager You present the first item of the auction.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are kick-starting the auction with a cultivation technique."

The venue erupted!