Chapter 176: Multitasking


    <em><span style="font-weight:400">They brought us all this way out here just to watch a broadcast of the event?</em>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Li Lang sighed upon realizing he wouldn’t get a chance to attend the long-awaited auction in person. While the existence of a Qi art to remotely view things from afar intrigued him, it didn’t change the fact that he wouldn’t be able to observe the various treasures being auctioned off up close.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Is something wrong?” Sima Xue asked, having noticed Li Lang’s frown.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hmm, I was just wondering how I’ll be able to find Liang Po now. I thought we would all be attending the venue for the auction, so I would have a chance to see him.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, that errand he sent you on?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You know about it?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yep, his Myriad Bones Pavilion has its headquarters in the capital city of Nightshade Valley. If I remember correctly, I think they stay at an inn affiliated with their pavilion nearby.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Affiliated, huh? His organization sure has quite the reach.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Well, it’s more of a front in this case. Prity City can’t be seen directly hosting what could be mistaken as a branch of their pavilion if they are to remain neutral, after all.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Li Lang nced around at hispanions for a few moments, who all had their attention on the projection high in the air, transmitting the scene of the auction. There wasn’t any audio, but it mesmerized them just the same.


    <span style="font-weight:400">His gaze then settled on the biggest person around, but he quickly shook his head and looked over at Wei Ping instead.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Wei Ping, can you go invite Liang Po here for me?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“O-Okay.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Sorry about the trouble.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No problem, b-boss.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“There’s no need for that,” Sima Xue interjected. “We can just have one of the attendants from the restaurant run the errand.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, if it’s not too much to ask, that would work, too.” Li Lang nodded.


    <span style="font-weight:400">With the matter settled, Li Lang then began materializing various items before himself. There was a small round hammer and a mountain of materials.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Li Lang,” Long Yi called out, having noticed his antics. “Are you seriously practicing artificing right now? The auction is about to start!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I can see that fine while I work.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Long Yi could only blink nkly, not knowing how to respond. He could instinctively tell it wasn’t right to practice a craft while one’s attention was divided. It raised the chances for errors. However, Li Lang knew that wasn’t the case with himself.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He was used to watching something while he worked. In his old world, it would be a projection in the corner of his vision, but it wasn’t much different from therge screen in the sky. He was too close topleting his first artifact to be able to resist.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Everyone at the restaurant gave Li Lang strange looks as he prepared the materials, except for one person. Sima Xue watched on with sparkling eyes as she was excited to see what he was up to.


    <hr>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Meanwhile, at the center of Prity City, the final and most important auction of the year was underway. People from various prestigious sects and organizations gathered. Only the top southern factions on Violet Isle were able to secure one of the private booths upstairs while the grand hall was filled with experts.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Except for the workers, the majority of everyone in the building was in the Violet Core realm! That meant there were more than a few old monsters who had lived for over a thousand years currently gathered in one ce.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Naturally, with their long history, there were plenty of grudges between the folks gathered, but they all decided to put it behind them for the next few days, for the sake of the auction. With enemies ignoring each other, the auction practically became one big, harmonious social gathering. People were looking to create new connections instead of addressing old grievances.


    <span style="font-weight:400">For those from the Luminescent Domain, the center of attention gathered at the booth assigned to the Eroding March Pavilion. The recent news of one of their disciples possessing talent surpassing the three well-known geniuses of the new generation had spread far and wide. Numerous organizations worked to improve their rtionship with the previously reclusive power.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sitting in their booth were not only members of their pavilion like Elder An, but also personages from other groups like Jian Beiyun. Most notable among them were Elder Ji from the Drenched Earth Sect and Elder Du from the Eternal Wave Sect.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Elder An, howe neither your esteemed Pavilion Master nor the famed Gui Tianzi havee today?” the elder from Drenched Earth Sect asked with a bittersweet smile.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Apologies. The two of them are currently busy in closed-door cultivation. They’re the type who onlye out after they’ve exhausted every means they have at their disposal. If you have any messages for them, I’d be happy to take them, in their ce.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What a pity not to be able to exchange a cup of fine wine with them, but I hope you’ll be able to hand over these gifts I got for them.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">At the wave of his hand, the old man summoned forth a small pile of heavenly resources. It made the onlookers in the room widen their eyes upon noticing the generous gift. The sharp-eyed people would even notice numerous Foundation Establishment Pills among the gifts, obviously meant for Gui Tianzi.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“There’s no need for such pleasantries, Elder Ji. The members of our pavilion are used to a simple life. We do not need such extravagant gifts.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I insist. This is just a small gesture from my sect. If your Pavilion Master and Gui Tianzi do not want them, your pavilion can do as they see fit with gifts.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">After some back and forths, Elder An soon ran out of excuses to reject presents. Their little exchange had even attracted everyone else’s attention, as they paused their conversation to watch Elder An receive the gifts.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Anyway,” Elder Ji continued. “I heard some jealous people have recently tried to target your pavilion’s personnel. Is this true?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Elder An grimly nodded, but otherwise didn’t borate.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You see, don’t say I didn’t warn you to be more careful with all the new attention on your organization. Our sect master is still open to forming an alliance with your sect. Maybe you can advise your pavilion master to revisit this topic?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Before Elder An could respond, someone from the crowd stepped forth and intruded on their discussion.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Elder Ji, your sect has been rejected once already, and I can’t me them either. Your sect’s so-called alliance proposal is too restrictive and lopsided. If your sect isn’t sincere, then you should give up. It’s rather unsightly to dwell on such matter.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hmm, our conversation has nothing to do with you or your Eternal Wave Sect, Elder Du. I ask that you do not interrupt.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ha, how can it possibly have nothing to do with us? My Sect Master has almost hashed out the cooperation agreement with the Pavilion Master of Eroding March already. It is me who should be asking you to not interfere.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Being caught in the middle of this quarrel, Elder An quickly stepped between the two opposing parties.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Now, now, gentlemen. Let’s stop with any debates. The auction is about to start. Don’t you agree, Young Master Jian?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Being called out among so many Violet Core cultivators, Jian Beiyun fearlessly strode forward.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Elder An can really read my mind. My thoughts exactly.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">With the addition of someone from Nightmoon Valley, the quarrel quickly ceased. More voices joined in for a harmonious gathering, and their focus moved to the main stage below.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Heading over to the balcony for a better view, the attendees seamlessly separated into their little cliques.


    <span style="font-weight:400">For Jian Beiyun, he went with Elder Du of the Eternal Wave Sect.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Young Master Jian, we meet again,” the elder softly said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, and I apologize for having to ruin your little fun just now.”N?v(el)B\\jnn


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ha, just some awkward old men trying to socialize. Don’t mind it.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Jian Beiyun kept quiet for a few moments as the City Master of Prity City made his way onto the stage. Everyone in the building stood up and sped their fist toward him in respect. Once everyone settled down, he began giving a speech that mostly consisted of pleasantries.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Elder Du,” Jian Beiyun whispered. “If I may, I would like to ask how your sect’s investigation is going regarding the anomaly of The Great Trial of Water Crest.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Having heard the question, the elder smirked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Is your ancestor putting you up to the task?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No, my master.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ha, those old fogies have been around long enough to know what they’re doing. Trust that every action they take has multiple meanings to them. It’s better you wait until they’re ready to tell you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“But I can’t help if they never tell me anything.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Sometimes, not helping is the best way to help. Things be more bothersome the more people are involved. You’re still young. Just sit back and rx.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Before Jian Beiyun could respond, everyone in the room turned in the same direction in unison. After a second, many of them chuckled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ha, which junior has the audacity to still work on an artifact when the auction is starting?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“They either have entered closed-door cultivation or are oblivious to everything around them. How else can they focus on the festive atmosphere throughout the city?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, either way, you got to give it to them. Practicing is one thing, but seeding in creating an artifact isn’t something that can be done with luck alone.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">While the elders were gossiping among themselves, Jian Beiyun was frowning as he stared unflinchingly toward where the disturbance came from. He was deep in thought.


    <em><span style="font-weight:400">This direction and distance. Not them again, </em><span style="font-weight:400">he thought as he let out a sigh.