"Are they now paying attention to us because of the antique sale?" Zhang Yuanqing's drowsiness vanished as he sat up, his tone serious. "You're still at Wanbao House, aren't you? How's the situation going? What's Lian San-yue's stance, and how exactly have they become involved?" A frustrated voice came through the speaker from Xue Hou Ao-tian: "Today, when I went to collect payment, she suddenly told me that there have been two groups of people recently loitering around Wanbao House—furtively, almost suspiciously. One group consists of staff from the Huacheng branch and members of the Zhao family. The other group remains unclear. She claims that the Zhao family has betrayed her. She had sold antiques through the Zhao family's auction house, only to find that the Zhao family quietly filed official complaints against her. After the auction, officials immediately came to her and began negotiations, asking for information about the clients she had commissioned—but were refused by Lian San-yue. Since then, the Huadu branch has assigned personnel to monitor Wanbao House closely. Fortunately, I've been quite alert and had already prepared a disguise before coming here. Otherwise, Who wouldn't have prepared a disguise beforehand? No fool would change his appearance right at the entrance of Wanbao Pavilion. Zhang Yuanqing said, "Then what about now?" "Right now, the main force is already concealed nearby the Wanbao Pavilion. As soon as I step out, I'll be captured," said Xiahou Ao, exasperated. "Li San Yue is truly useless. Though it's her own incompetence that's at fault, she's been smoking her cigar, indifferent, and just now asks me to find companions to assist." Zhao family—what a sight! If they knew the antique dealer was none other than Yuan Shi Tian Zun, they'd surely be energized and come after me with full force. Just recently, the official office issued directives to all branches, urging attention to any items or antiques related to the Qin Dynasty. Within a few days, several Qin Dynasty antiques began appearing on the market. It's astonishing that the Hua Du branch would remain unaware—let alone the Zhao family, who have already proactively reported the matter. Moreover, it's too coincidental—the very moment I've established my reputation, the antique pieces I'm auctioning are now being targeted. The Qin Feng Academy incident: besides the official authorities, only the Night Rose is aware. The others are likely connected to the Night Rose. Zhang Yuanqing felt a sharp sense of alertness, suspecting that Lian San-yue might have cooperated with the official side or the Night Rose to draw attention, yet he found this inconsistent with her usual style. This balanced, neutral woman values her credibility deeply, and she has already committed to keeping this matter confidential. "Why did Lian San-yue choose to auction through the Zhao family channel? Isn't this actively inviting the official authorities into the picture?" "Ah, that...," Xia Hou Ao-tian suddenly stammered. Zhang Yuanqing immediately sensed something unfavorable. "How exactly did you originally tell Lian San-yue about this?" "I commissioned Lian San-yue to auction the antiques and requested strict confidentiality on the transaction." Xia Hou Ao-tian's only strength was his honesty. Is that what you wanted to do? Well done—next time, perhaps don't do it again. Zhang Yuanqing's brow furrowed with frustration. "You haven't even smuggled antiques, have you? Haven't you seen movies? In such a transaction, wouldn't you typically discreetly identify potential buyers and complete the deal in remote mountain villages or dimly lit chambers? I'd thought your scholarly intelligence was quite high—yet I simply don't sense that at all." He remarked with a critique. "Back when I auctioned antiques in the group, none of you objected, did you?" Xiaohou Aotian replied, then softened his tone: "You'd better move quickly—I've already reached out to the group. It'd be best if you could bring in Sun Miaomiao, Zhao Chenghuang, and Tianxia Guihuo as well." Stupid. If this were a trap, wouldn't they have swept everything away in one go? Zhang Yuanqing said: "The clientele at Wanbao House isn't sparse nor abundant. As long as you blend in and collect your payment, they won't be able to track you down." "There are quite a few evil professions frequently visiting Wanbaowu. If the official staff had conducted individual inspections, conflicts would have erupted long ago. With all that chaos, Xiahou Aotian had easily slipped away. Xiahou Aotian sighed, "Are you crazy? Six million yuan would require several large boxes—how could I leave with cash and go unnoticed? Not everyone has a red hat like yours." Hang up the phone, open the chat group. It turns out that Xiahou Aotian has already stepped in to assist Sun Miaomiao, Tianxia Guihuo, and Zhao Chenguang. Upon hearing that someone is targeting the funds, their positions and opinions align remarkably consistently. [Sun Miaomiao: You wait—right now I'm coming over to deal with those people at the Hua Du branch.] [Zhao Chenguang: Let me hear the full details first. We can certainly eliminate them, but we need to plan carefully.] [Tianxia Guihuo: Agreed. We must remain vigilant about any schemes the enemy might be setting. But whoever is targeting our funds—don’t think they’ll get off lightly.] Zhang Yuanqing types out a message and @everyone: [Yuanshǐ Tianzun: You all stay put—this matter I’ll handle personally. If I can’t resolve it, your arrival won’t make any difference.] Seeing Yuanshǐ Tianzun finally respond to Xiahou Aotian’s appeal, Sun Miaomiao and the others feel a great relief. Indeed, if even the Level-6 Yuanshǐ Tianzun couldn’t manage it, He actually wanted to visit Huadu and see how Yuanshishen currently fares. Zhang Yuanqing set down his phone, pulled out the Gui Jing to examine his facial features—the expression was normal, the twelve constellations glowing clear and pure, with no fluctuations. For added assurance, he took out the Daliang Xingpan and used the compass to observe the stars, conducting a detailed observation of his trip to Huadu. "No immediate danger, but not during the evening hours—no clear vision of the future yet... The star charts and celestial observations show no obvious flaws, yet that doesn't guarantee absolute safety. The members of An Yan Ye could apply for confidential protection. However, the official side has only been negotiating with Lian San Yue, and has chosen to monitor from outside Wanbao House. This indicates they currently lack evidence that the Qin Dynasty antiques originated from Qin Feng Academy—only that the timing is too coincidental, prompting their investigation. Otherwise, they would surely have sent Master Jiangbao himself to speak directly with Lian San Yue. Then, the Night Rose would have even less confidence—without a solid provenance, she couldn't possibly have anticipated my move in advance. "But we can't be careless either; we need a detailed plan. At this point, the Night Wanderer's advantages truly come into play." ... The Flower City, Wanbao House. Krillin, no—Xia Hou Ao Tian, arms crossed, his brow furrowed, eyes sharp and defiant, gazing at the convenience store entrance as if preparing to battle Beerus. Ten meters to his left, Lian San Yue, dressed in a black leather jacket and black vest, holding a cigar between his teeth, lounged lazily against the chair back, smiling lazily: "If you had mentioned earlier that the auction would draw official attention, I'd have quietly arranged for a purchase—though the cost would be modest, it would certainly be secure." Xia Hou Ao Tian raised his chin, speaking firmly: "No, security is secondary to the money." "Indeed, you've already sacrificed everything," Lian San Yue chuckled, teasing. "Now that you've secured funds, would you like to take another risk on the Hundred-Refined Furnace?" "Xia Hou Ao Tian drew a breath, a faint twitch at the corner of his mouth: "Woman, you've offended me." Lian San Yue chuckled, saying, "Give me one million, and I'll take you out of here—how does that sound?" Xia Hou Ao Tian immediately rejected it: "Why don't you just go and seize the opportunity yourself!" Lian San Yue smiled, exhaling a stream of white vapor. He found him quite entertaining—always able to bring her joy. She had originally planned to offer him a 75% discount, only to have it rejected outright. It seemed he had strong confidence in his own companions. "This time, it's my fault. The Zhao family has betrayed me—clearly, they're seeking revenge. Consider it, and I'll give you a discount." "Why would the Zhao family seek revenge against you?" Xia Hou Ao Tian ignored every proposal involving payment. "Master Yuan Shishen, you must know him, right? Recently, he severely injured Zhao Feichen of the Zhao family—something I secretly encouraged." Lian San Yue said with calm assurance. "Moreover, the provenance of the antiques you've given me is questionable— "Zhao's family has a grudge against Yuan Shi Tian Zun, hasn't it? How come this guy is specifically targeting the spiritual realm families... At that moment, Xia Hou Ao Tian's phone in his pocket rang. He quickly pulled out his phone, answered the call, and simultaneously activated the quieting device worn on his chest. "Open the guild warehouse and apply for the final black bead." Yuan Shi Tian Zun's voice came through as soon as the call was connected. While opening the guild warehouse for "Wang Zhe Gui Lai," Xia Hou Ao Tian asked, "Then what?" "Wait for three minutes, then leave the Wàn Bǎo Wū with cash. I'll handle your enemies in the shadows," Zhang Yuanqing said. Xia Hou Ao Tian located the black bead radiating yin energy, reviewed its item attributes, and submitted a usage request to the guild master, Yuan Shi Tian Zun. 【Ping! Your request has been approved. Please check the item section for the item.】 Listening to the spiritual realm's prompt, Xia Hou Ao Tian opened the item section and retrieved the bead. The jade bead, still cool to the touch when removed, gently rose into the air, forming a delicate, ethereal vapor that coalesced into a graceful, affectionate young woman. Xiaohou Aotian knew the bead was a vessel capable of housing a soul, yet when he turned and looked around, he could not see the spirit form. Lian San Yue, standing behind the counter, raised a subtle eyebrow. In her perception, a powerful spirit of resentment stood beside Kakarot—one of the strongest among those at the Saint level. "Sixth-rank Dream Master, yes, probably sixth-rank," Qin's sorcerer's voice echoed in Xiaohou Aotian's mind. Sixth-rank Dream Master? Wasn't that Irin? The Primordial Heavenly Sovereign had apparently subdued her. When we first met at Yuchuan Sea, I had been one rank above him. Now he's ahead of me. Xiaohou Aotian was startled, immediately widening his eyes, looking here and there. "No need to look anymore," came the laughter from within the ring. "She's already gone. Before leaving, she glanced at me—she's now aware of my Well, I now have a good sense of the Prime Immortal's strategy—get ready, we'll leave in three minutes. …… Outside the Wanbao House, at the narrow alley corner of the Huadu branch, the "Zhao Gongming" of the Huadu branch maintains his night-wandering state, holding a walkie-talkie and stating: "The Wanbao House is running smoothly; no one has left." Immediately, a response comes through: "The 'manifestation powder' spread outside the shop shows no signs of being stepped on." This is from a Level 5 swordsman from the Bai Ji district of the Huadu branch. Zhao Gongming himself is also a Level 5 Star Official. "The surveillance cameras around the area have not detected any suspicious individuals approaching, nor has the invisible drone picked up any unusual targets." The third voice on the walkie-talkie is from a Daoist official from the Zhao family. This time, the Zhao family has not only proactively provided intelligence but has also actively participated in the operations. Zhao Gongming learned upon inquiry that the family's cherished member, who suffered a serious injury, is directly linked to the incident involving the Wanbao House's mistress. Thus, after the Liang San family auctioned off their antiques through Zhao's channel, Zhao's family immediately reported the matter to the Huadu branch and proactively offered to join the effort. Urgently seeking to identify the powerful figures behind the move and bring Lian San into the fray, they were currently at a loss, lacking sufficient evidence. With Lian San as the central figure, even Zhao's family found it difficult to act against her independently—therefore, they chose to support the official investigation and collaborate with the Huadu branch. For this reason, the Huadu branch readily agreed to Zhao's request. At that moment, a fierce gust of wind blew, its transparent blade roaring past, causing the drones circling overhead to shatter one by one. Simultaneously, the power grid of the old urban district was disrupted, and surveillance systems throughout the area went offline. "Wind blade? Wind mage? It's one of his allies who has stepped in," Zhao's shaman exclaimed over the radio. Meanwhile, in his concealed form, Zhao Gongming observed the eccentric figure, disguised as an anime protagonist, who was now carrying six suitcases and stepping out of the Wanbao House storefront. Zhao Gongming said sharply, "The target has emerged. All squads, secure the entry and exit points—capture anyone carrying six suitcases immediately..." As he prepared to pursue the target, he suddenly noticed a woman wearing a mask and glasses, with black gloves on both hands, stepping out abruptly several meters ahead of him, and delivering a swift whip kick that cracked against him with a sharp 'thwack.' Could she be another night-wanderer? Had she spotted me? Zhao Gongming was taken aback, interlacing his hands across his chest to block the kick and summoning his spiritual attendants. "Crack!" His arms felt as though struck by a heavy truck—fracturing instantly—and he crashed into the wall, causing the red brick to crack and splinter. Meanwhile, the spiritual attendants he had summoned were gently held in the woman's hands. With just a light grasp, they would vanish into dust. Zhao Gongming endured the pain, transformed into starlight and dispersed, reappearing at the other end of the alley. He lifted the walkie-talkie and roared, "Support me!" As soon as he finished, he heard a hoarse laugh coming through the device: "Well, I'll wait until I've eliminated your companions before I come to your aid." Then another hoarse voice spoke: "I've already disposed of this useless scholar." ... After Yuchuan Mei had left, Xiahou Aotian heard distant, intense clashes and cries of pain coming from afar. Trusting Yuan Shi Tianzun, he waited three minutes before picking up six suitcases and rushing out of the shop. Lian San Yue sat lazily at the register, donned a pair of women's glasses, her gaze seeming to penetrate the building, focused intently on something. "All shadow corpses? They've disguised themselves—interesting..." While sprinting, Xiahou Aotian made it safely out of the old district. He glanced around the street, then hailed a taxi. "Head out to the suburbs—the more remote, the better, for two thousand." He shouted toward the driver's seat. Upon hearing this, the driver immediately stepped down, opened the door, and helped him place the boxes in the trunk. Less than half a minute later, the taxi merged into the traffic and swiftly departed. Xue Hou Ao Tian remained vigilant, constantly scanning the windows and the rearview mirror, fearful of being followed. Yet as the taxi gradually left the city, entered the suburbs, then moved further out into the national highway... the volume of traffic on the road had dwindled significantly. It seemed no one had pursued them! Only then did he exhale in relief, preparing to pull out his phone to contact Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn... Suddenly, he noticed the driver at the steering wheel stiffen—there was a brief moment of stillness, followed by a return to normalcy. The driver had been possessed! Xue Hou Ao Tian, with his broad experience, instantly recognized the driver's condition. Instinctively, he reached for his equipment to engage in battle. But in the next instant, a sudden coldness pressed against his back, instantly freezing his limbs and turning his blood to ice. A powerful force surged into his The mid-aged driver turned around, revealing a sly smile: "Thank you for holding up the officials—this has truly been a windfall for us. Honestly, I've never seen six million in cash before. Please, take it."