Chapter 146: The Beginning of the Assembly

With a wave of Gu Yixue’s hand, the oppressive aura released by Ding Mengqiu was instantly neutralized. "Mengqiu, refrain from such rudeness!"

"See that?" Lin Xiaobao said with a smug grin. "Fairy Sister prefers me calling her that, don't you? If it were you, I’d have to call you Auntie at best!"

Having delivered his quip, Lin Xiaobao flickered and ducked behind Gu Yixue. Lin Xiaobao’s combat skills were nowhere near as sharp as his tongue; he hadn't paid much attention to the young girl before, but judging by the aura she had just projected, he was certain that Ding Mengqiu possessed cultivation at the mid-stage of the Dao Heart Realm.

"You..." Ding Mengqiu, taken aback by his venomous tongue, forced a laugh. "My Master is here today, so I won't lower myself to your level. We’ll settle this in a private spar when there's an opportunity."

Lin Xiaobao dismissed the threat entirely. Whether they would even cross paths again after the Treasure Exchange Assembly was an open question. "We’ll see about that. Fairy Sister, let’s get moving!"

Watching Lin Xiaobao’s antics, Gu Yixue could only shake her head helplessly as the group continued their ascent. Along the way, others offered their respects to Gu Yixue; however, aside from Wang Dasha, who mimicked Lin Xiaobao in calling her "Fairy Sister," the rest addressed her as "Senior." Compared to Lin Xiaobao, however, Ding Mengqiu noted that Wang Dasha’s attempt lacked that specific, punchable quality that Lin Xiaobao possessed in spades.

Perhaps because this was her first time venturing into the world of cultivators and she rarely encountered people her own age, Ding Mengqiu soon found herself deep in conversation with Yun Keke and Si Mengling. Whether it was because Yun Keke had lived in the secular world and possessed a wealth of worldly knowledge, or because she had employed the Heart-Connecting Art to cater to their interests, the three were as close as sisters by the time they reached the gates of the Xuanyang Hall.

Standing outside the gate were two disciples of the Xuanyang Hall who greeted the approaching group with amiable smiles.

*Peak of the ninth stage of the Spirit Dao Realm?* Lin Xiaobao noted their cultivation levels at a glance and was secretly shocked. Such strength would be enough to hold a pivotal position in the Wind and Snow Pavilion, yet here at the Xuanyang Hall, they were merely gatekeepers?

"Dammit, that’s rotten luck! I was so close to making it through!"

"Boss Wu, even though Chen Zhong’s formation was much more restrained this time, I still detected eighty-one hidden variations. Getting through it is no easy feat!"

Just then, four people emerged from the side of the gate, cast a dejected look at the crowd, and hurried down the mountain.

"Who are they?" Lin Xiaobao asked, puzzled.

"Not everyone receives an invitation," Gu Yixue explained patiently. "Aside from having an invitation, the only other way to enter the Treasure Exchange Assembly is to break through the formation set up by Chen Zhong. No one has succeeded yet, but at every assembly, there are always cultivators willing to try. After all, if one were to succeed, it would be a feat of immense prestige!"

"Master, shall we give it a try?" Inspired by Gu Yixue’s words, Ding Mengqiu felt the impulsive spirit of a newborn calf.

Gu Yixue shot her a stern glare. "Do you wish to see your Master make a fool of herself? How many people in this world could possibly break Chen Zhong’s formation?"

Hearing Gu Yixue praise Elder Chen so highly, the two gatekeepers smiled with reflected pride. "Elder Gu is too kind. Elder Chen himself has often remarked that Elder Gu’s attainment of the Dao through arrays at the Qingyu Studio is truly rare, and he even uses it to instruct our own disciples!"

Hearing the Xuanyang Hall disciples relay Chen Zhong’s words about her, a surge of sweetness warmed Gu Yixue’s heart. Fortunately, she was no naive girl, so she merely smiled faintly and presented her two invitations. Lin Xiaobao and the others followed suit.

The two gatekeepers paused for a moment when they saw the invitations. While they couldn't discern the cultivation levels of Qin Feng and Lin Tian, they could clearly see that the others, including Lin Xiaobao, were weaker than themselves. They wondered how such individuals had come to possess invitations. However, the Xuanyang Hall took this assembly very seriously, and the gatekeepers had been carefully selected; after their brief hesitation, they stepped aside, offering no further comment on the group's cultivation.

The rules of the Treasure Exchange Assembly were simple: the invitations mattered, not the people. Anyone holding an invitation was welcome to enter.

Contrary to Lin Xiaobao’s expectations, the assembly wasn't held in some grand, indoor hall; it was an open-air event set in a valley. Of course, numerous seats had been arranged throughout the valley so that attendees didn't have to sit on the ground. It made sense; for cultivators, the treasure was the priority, and the environment was largely irrelevant.

Although the assembly had not yet officially begun, many were already eager to display their wares. Many tables in the valley were already laden with items. Medicinal herbs, pills, talismans, ores, weapons, secret manuals... every resource related to cultivation could be found here. As for the quality, that depended entirely on one's own discernment.

The Xuanyang Hall provided only the venue. Whether a trade resulted in a bargain or a devastating loss was entirely at the discretion of the parties involved; the organizers held no responsibility.

Except for Gu Yixue, this was the first time the rest of the group had attended such a grand gathering. Seeing the vast array of resources, their eyes glowed with greed. Gu Yixue, who had been observing Lin Xiaobao, held him in slightly higher regard; he alone remained composed despite the wealth of items spread before them. Perhaps it was no accident that he and Chen Zhong had become brothers.

"Master, is it alright if I go have a look around with Keke and Mengling?" Despite having reached the mid-stage of the Dao Heart Realm, Ding Mengqiu still possessed the heart of a young girl and was visibly excited.

Gu Yixue nodded. "This is not the Qingyu Studio. You may look, but do not stir up trouble!"

Ding Mengqiu stuck out her tongue, grabbed Yun Keke, and dashed into the crowd. Qin Feng and Lin Tian, both seasoned veterans, saw that Gu Yixue intended to stay with Lin Xiaobao and, having no desire to separate, grabbed Wang Dasha and followed the others to see the sights.

"Well? Do you intend to go treasure hunting on your own, or will you accompany me?" Gu Yixue asked, looking at Lin Xiaobao.

Lin Xiaobao was no fool; he understood her intent. If she had truly wanted to go alone, she would have phrased it differently. Besides, she had done him a great favor on the mountainside, and it wouldn't do to just abandon her now. "It is my honor to accompany you, Fairy Sister. Besides, with you by my side, I won't have to worry about being swindled."

"If only Chen Zhong were as glib as you!" Gu Yixue was clearly pleased by the flattery. "Since you helped Chen Zhong refine the Yin Pill, your eye for herbs and pills must be superior. However, I can offer you some advice on materials for weapon forging." As she spoke, a note of confidence radiated from her.

Lin Xiaobao, however, seemed to have only heard her first sentence. Without a second thought, he blurted out, "If Brother Chen were like me, I fear you wouldn't like him at all!"