PAINTING OF THE NINE IMMORTALS

38

The giant sun hung in the sky; it was warm and bright.
In the wreckage of a garden, the exquisite lady was looking more alluring than usual in her blood-red gown. Her expression was seductive, her figure was enticing, with her perky chest, slender waist, and amorous long legs.
She was starting to realize where her awfully strange anger was coming from.
Half of that anger was because she has always hated those who were cunning, the other half was because she cared very much for the Qi Zhen Pavilion's reputation.
The Qi Zhen Pavilion was established across the Qin Dynasty with one store in every city. Usually, it kept a very low profile and never exposed itself to the messiness outside of its stores. Despite that, n.o.body has ever tried to provoke the brand, not even the emperors. However, now, someone was standing before its door and making a fuss. Even though there was a reason behind the drama, it was still damaging to the pavilion's reputation. This was the main reason behind her frustration.
The opponent was, after all, a master in the completion stage of training. Under the circ.u.mstances and the fact that the pavilion was in the wrong, she had to swallow her pride. Now that the culprit is dead, this whole event has ended. She had no reason to battle with a well-trained cultivator. Instead, she should try to befriend this master.
Thinking about her next steps, the alluring lady smiled brightly as all her defensive demeanor faded. Her seductive face expressed thousands of different emotions, which kept everyone intrigued. "Elder, your three question have left me speechless. For everything that has happened, I must apologize."
She then waved her hand, and a fire red th.o.r.n.y whip appeared in mid-air. Unexpectedly, she wrapped it around her own upper body.
The thorns of the whip broke through her robe and dug into her skin. Her bare skin was exposed, and fresh red blood was starting to drip.
The crowds gasped and grimaced. They were all shocked by her actions.
"This object is called the Whip of Thorns. It is convenient to use it when I plead guilty."
The woman's smile was very enchanting and very delightful. It was as if she could feel no pain.
"You sure are bold. What is your name?" Ling Xian was a bit surprised.
"Elder, you finally remembered to ask me my name. I am the Regional Manager for the Qi Zhen Pavilion in the City of Qing, Gong Suo Xin[1]." The woman's body was plump, graceful, and undeniably charming.
"Looking at your seductive ways, your name doesn't seem like you are one to lock up love and hearts," Ling Xian teased. "I am merely making a joking. Get rid of the whip now."
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the long red whip instantly fell. He then turned to walk away.
"Elder, please wait." Gong Suo Xin pursued after him. Her steps were light, and her long gown floated around her feet. With each step she took, the dress sketched out a graceful curve.
Her snow-white skin was exposed to the world after her own punishment, which only helped to accent her indescribable seductiveness. Her beauty was shaking the souls and hearts of many.
"Is there anything else? Does Manager Gong plan to force me to stay?" Ling Xian frowned.
Gong Suo Xin smiled. "Elder, you must be joking. I just thought that since you came to the pavilion to sell your spiritual Dans, then why don't we hold an auction? An auction was supposed to happen in three days, but since all the powerful figures in the city have already converged, I thought we might as well do it now. Would you like to join?"
"Ah, this is what you were thinking. You sure have everything calculated in your head." Ling Xian thought about it, and then he agreed, "I don't see why not. I am curious as to what kind of treasures the Qi Zhen Pavilion has."
"I am certain that we won't disappoint you." Gong Suo Xin's eyes brightened. Currently, all the powerhouses in the city are here in one place because of Ling Xian. If they carry forward the auction and hold it now, she was sure they would get fantastic results.
Facing the mountain of people, she smiled and instructed, "The auction today has more treasures than usual. This Elder here is also partic.i.p.ating. All those who wish to be a part of the auction, please start entering the building."
As soon as she finished talking, many people nudged and fidgeted. The pavilion holds auctions often. However, the opportunity to partic.i.p.ate in an auction with a completion stage master is very rare. Many people started to march toward the auction ground inside the pavilion.
Ye Xiao Tian did not move right away. Instead, he walked toward Ling Xian and laughed brightly, "Elder, it has been a few days since I have seen you. I have been thinking about our last encounter because I thought I would never have the opportunity to listen to your wise words again. I cannot believe we would run into each other today. I have been a very lucky man."
"Mayor Ye, your daughter has healed by now I a.s.sume?" Ling Xian faintly smiled.
"Of course. It's all thanks to your abilities that my daughter is no longer in danger. Although she has been asking when she would be able to meet the Elder that saved her life." Ye Xiao Tian's back was arched, and he did not behave arrogantly despite his position as a mayor. After all, he was only at the fundamental level when the Elder before him was at the completion level. The cultivation community cared about respect and seniority, how could he not bow down to a master at the completion stage?
"So Mayor Ye knows this Elder," Gong Suo Xin's gaze was sending electric shocks to everyone. Every little movement she made, she seduced everyone in the room.
"This Elder saved my daughter's life before," Ye Xiao Tian didn't talk about the details. Instead, he extended his arm. "Please, this way."
Ling Xian nodded. The three of them walked towards the auction ground.
The auction stage was very s.p.a.cious. There were two levels dedicated to it, with the first floor being where regular cultivators sat, and the second ground being private rooms where the influential figures stayed.
Under Gong Suo Xin's guidance, Ling Xian directly went up to the second floor. Before he entered the room, he suddenly had a thought. He asked loud and clear, "Clan Leader Ling and Alchemist Fang, would you care to join me?'
Once the invitation was extended, the crowds broke out into chatter. Everyone was staring at Ling Tian Qing and Master Fang with curiosity, admiration, and jealousy. They all wanted to be them.
They were invited by a master in the completion stage!
In the little City of Qing, his existence was as rare as immortals!
To sit in the same room as him and converse with him was of great glory and honor.
Ling Tian Qing and Master Fang were confused themselves. They did not know of this Elder before them, why were they invited to be in the same room as him?
However, since the Elder has spoken, there was no reason to reject. Both of them happily followed him upstairs.
Ling Xian's thought process of simple. Since he was in disguise as a completion stage master, then why not take advantage of his current ident.i.ty and help out those around him?
Therefore, he chose Master Fang and Ling Tian Qing.