Chapter 222: Chi Mei and Wang Liang, The Mantis Stalks the Cicada

Zhou Chen didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly: "I want information on Innate spiritual items."

The teapot in Chi Mei's hand paused slightly before she resumed: "You have quite an appetite, customer. Information on Innate spiritual items doesn't come cheap."

"How much?"

"One hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones."

Chi Mei quoted an astronomical price.

Zhou Chen didn't haggle and directly took out one hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones from his storage ring, piling them on the table.

These were all spoils of war he had seized from the Ying Family and Jiang Family, and they happened to come in handy now.

Chi Mei looked at the mountain of Top-Grade Spirit Stones on the table, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. It was rare in the entire Eastern Desolation to see someone who could casually produce one hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones.

"You are indeed straightforward, customer."

Chi Mei put away the Spirit Stones, the smile on her face deepening: "As it happens, there has indeed been some news regarding an Innate spiritual item recently."

"Tell me," Zhou Chen said, remaining calm.

"Three days from now, the Tianbao Auction House in Eastern Desolation City will hold an auction. One of the finale items is a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus Essence."

Chi Mei said slowly, "This Snow Lotus Essence grows in the Far North Ice Field. Having absorbed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi for ten thousand years, it has already developed intelligence and is precisely a type of Innate spiritual item."

Zhou Chen's eyes lit up: "Are you sure?"

"Tianwang's information is honest and never wrong."

Chi Mei smiled: "However, I must remind you that this auction is quite significant. Both the Jiang Family and Ying Family have sent people, as have several other major powers. If you wish to participate, it's best to act cautiously."

"I understand."

Zhou Chen stood up and said, "Thank you."

"Take care, customer."

Chi Mei rose to see him off: "If you need any other intelligence, you are always welcome."

Zhou Chen turned and left. Chi Mei watched him go upstairs, the smile on her face gradually fading.

Chi Mei wondered if she had lost all attraction to men; the man before her didn't even intend to linger.

She had even subtly used some charm techniques, but they hadn't caused the slightest change in him, which couldn't help but make Chi Mei curious about Zhou Chen.

Just after Zhou Chen's figure completely disappeared, the space fluctuated, and another woman appeared out of thin air.

This woman looked exactly like Chi Mei, but her temperament was even colder.

"Sister, why didn't you make a move just now?"

The woman spoke, her voice completely different from Chi Mei's, cold and devoid of any warmth: "Azure Lotus Sword Venerable Zhou Chen—the Jiang Family and Ying Family have placed a bounty of five million Top-Grade Spirit Stones on his life. Since he delivered himself to our door, why didn't you kill him? Or tell the two Great Emperor Clans? Just providing information on him would be worth five hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones, wouldn't it?"

Chi Mei turned her head, looking at this sister who looked exactly like her, and said indifferently: "Wang Liang, are you teaching me how to do things?"

Wang Liang's expression changed, and she immediately knelt on one knee: "This subordinate wouldn't dare."

"Get up."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Wang Liang didn't even dare to breathe heavily, nor did she dare to move.

At this time, Chi Mei walked to the table, picked up a teacup, and took a sip: "This Azure Lotus Sword Venerable is very interesting."

"Interesting?"

Wang Liang was puzzled.

"He has secrets on him."

A mysterious light flashed in Chi Mei's eyes: "The Bloodline of the Heavenly Secret Clan allows me to perceive things that ordinary people cannot. This Azure Lotus Sword Venerable's fate is shrouded in a layer of mist; even I cannot see through it."

"Cannot see through it?"

Wang Liang was surprised: "Sister, you are the Saintess of this generation of the Heavenly Secret Clan, and even you can't see through him?"

"Mhm."

Chi Mei nodded: "That's why I'm even more interested. Someone whom even the Heavenly Secret Clan cannot peer into either possesses great Luck or has a great terror behind them. Either way, he is worth observing."

"Then the auction…"

"Let him go."

Chi Mei put down her teacup: "It's a good chance to see exactly what capabilities he has."

Wang Liang wanted to say more, but seeing Chi Mei's expression, she eventually lowered her head: "Yes, this subordinate understands."

"Go and prepare."

Chi Mei waved her hand: "On the day of the auction, we should also go and take a look."

"Yes."

Wang Liang's figure disappeared into the space again, and the underground secret room returned to silence.

Chi Mei stood there alone, looking in the direction Zhou Chen had left, murmuring to herself: "Azure Lotus Sword Venerable… you're making me more and more curious."

On the other side, Zhou Chen had returned to the inn.

"Old Man Xuan, there's news."

Zhou Chen recounted the information Chi Mei had told him.

"Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus Essence?"

Old Man Xuan's eyes lit up: "That is indeed a top-tier Innate spiritual item. If the Possession is successful, not only can I be reborn, but my strength can also take a step further."

"However, there will definitely be powerful experts at the auction. If it's not feasible, survival is the priority," Old Man Xuan said with a frown.

Zhou Chen nodded.

…

Three days later, Tianbao Auction House.

This largest auction house in Eastern Desolation City occupied a vast area, its five-story building magnificent and golden.

Today's auction had not yet begun, but the entrance was already crowded with people.

Zhou Chen stood in the crowd. At this moment, his appearance had changed significantly, taking on the form of Ji Wuming.

"Using Ji Wuming's face always feels a bit strange, as if it's a bit too high-profile?"

Zhou Chen muttered to himself.

"Stop talking nonsense and get in."

Old Man Xuan urged in his Sea of Consciousness: "Ji Wuming is a member of an Emperor Clan; using his face is the safest."

Zhou Chen shook his head and followed the crowd into the auction house.

Just as he stepped through the main gate, he swept his Divine Sense around, and his expression changed slightly.

In a second-floor box, the aura of the Jiang Family.

In a third-floor private room, people from the Ying Family.

"These two families are watching so closely; I'll kill them sooner or later."

Zhou Chen frowned.

What concerned him more was that those experts from the Jiang and Ying families were scanning the hall with their Divine Sense from time to time, as if searching for something.

Zhou Chen's heart stirred, and his consciousness sank into the System, pulling up the opportunity panel of the Jiang Family Elder.

[Name: Jiang Lie]

[Fate: Quasi-Emperor Realm, Elder of the Jiang Family Law Enforcement Hall, ultimately stops at the First Layer of Emperor Realm.]

[Recent Opportunity: Tonight at the hour of the Rat, infiltrate the City Lord's Mansion treasury and successfully steal the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus Essence.]

Seeing this information, Zhou Chen almost laughed out loud.

"Good grief, the Jiang Family's plan is quite something. They're bidding openly at the auction while preparing to steal it in secret."

Old Man Xuan looked at Zhou Chen's smile, feeling a bit confused.

Zhou Chen simply turned and left, walking toward the City Lord's Mansion.

A nearby Cultivator was stunned: "Brother, the auction hasn't even started yet."

"Something came up suddenly, I'm not participating."

Zhou Chen walked out without looking back.

The Cultivator scratched his head: "How strange. He didn't even want his deposit back. Is this guy just here to join the fun?"

The auction officially began.

The host was a beautiful female Cultivator. She stood on the stage, her voice crisp: "Honored guests, today's finale item is precisely the legendary Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus Essence!"

As she finished speaking, a crystal box was brought up.

Inside the box, a snow-white lotus floated quietly, its petals crystal clear and emitting a faint chill. Even more miraculous was that a palm-sized humanoid figure could be vaguely seen in the center of the lotus, which was the true form of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus Essence.

"Starting price, one million Top-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"One million two hundred thousand!"