As Lin Xiao observed Cao Xueqing and her group of five, they were also sizing him up.
However, whether it was Cao Xueqing, Cao Ting, or the three other Martial Venerable elders behind them, they were disappointed. They couldn’t discern the cultivation levels of Lin Xiao and Mei Tianmo. “Both have treasures that block divine sense. The man appears to be under twenty years old. The woman is peculiar; I can’t even determine her bone age. Xueqing, be cautious later,” Cao Ting transmitted to Xueqing as they descended the stairs.
“Mm!” Cao Xueqing responded.
At that moment, an old man emerged from the private staircase of the third private box. Dressed in a light robe, with white hair and a long beard, he exuded a refined, almost immortal aura, his presence restrained.
After taking a few steps down, he paused, his gaze shifting to Cao Ting. Their eyes met briefly before he glanced at Lin Xiao and Mei Tianmo.
Then, with swift steps, the old man descended and strode out of the auction house, heading toward the street.
“Let’s go!” Cao Ting waved his hand, leading his group of four out of the Wanxiang Pavilion, quickly disappearing into the bustling streets.
Though the group left swiftly, everyone knew that the Xu family’s powerhouse and the Cao family wouldn’t give up on the Dragon Saliva Heavenly Pill. Cao Family’s Fourth City was about to see some excitement.
Just after the Cao and Xu families exited the auction hall, an old man in a brown robe emerged from the fourth private box’s staircase, striding confidently down.
It was none other than the Lu family’s powerhouse, Lu Yu, a seventh-level Martial Lord, his aura unconcealed.
As he descended, Lu Yu’s gaze turned toward Lin Xiao, carrying a hint of surprise.
Clang!
As Lu Yu walked boldly, his gaze on Lin Xiao, he lightly bumped into a plain-robed, black-haired old man passing through the hall.
Lu Yu turned, his face flashing with anger, and snapped, “Watch where you’re going!”
“My deepest apologies!” The black-haired old man bowed slightly, expressing sincere regret.
“Hmph!” Lu Yu flicked his sleeve, ignoring him, and strode out of the auction house, swaggering toward the city gate.
Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned. Was Lu Yu being too brazen, walking so openly as if unafraid of being noticed?
Why not wait for the crowd to disperse, then fly out of the Wanxiang Pavilion or slip away discreetly?
Wasn’t he afraid of Cao Ting and Xu Yi teaming up against him?
“No,” Lin Xiao shook his head inwardly. As a Lu family elder and a seventh-level Martial Lord, Lu Yu couldn’t be so naive as to overlook something so obvious.
Having brought three hundred green spirit stones to secure the Dragon Saliva Heavenly Pill, he must have a plan to escape. His bold exit suggested either immense confidence in his strength, unafraid of a joint attack, or another arrangement.
The latter seemed more likely, given Lu Yu’s cultivation matched the others.
Lin Xiao’s thoughts clicked, and his gaze shifted to the plain-robed old man Lu Yu had bumped into, who was still slowly heading toward the hall’s exit.
To his shock, Lin Xiao couldn’t discern the old man’s cultivation level.
“His cultivation is at the fifth-level Martial Lord, concealed with a technique,” Mei Tianmo’s divine sense transmission reached Lin Xiao’s ears.
“Fifth-level Martial Lord!” Lin Xiao’s heart jolted, and he transmitted back, “A fifth-level Martial Lord hiding in the hall, not bidding for the Dragon Saliva Heavenly Pill, must be Lu family’s escort. The pill is likely with him, and Lu Yu is just drawing the others away!”
He hadn’t expected the Lu family to be so cunning. Without Mei Tianmo’s ability to detect the old man’s cultivation, no one would have suspected. The Cao and Xu families had been deceived, and they should follow him.
Lin Xiao transmitted to Mei Tianmo, who nodded, and they trailed the plain-robed old man at a leisurely pace, exiting the hall onto the street.
As they walked, several gazes followed them.
Lin Xiao ignored them. He didn’t fear the Cao family, let alone these onlookers.
On the bustling main road to the city gate, the plain-robed old man walked slowly, and Lin Xiao followed at a similar pace.
Behind Lin Xiao, a group trailed as well.
But even these followers dared not act in Cao Family’s Fourth City, knowing that doing so would only benefit the Cao family.
Lin Xiao, too, held back from acting.
The plain-robed old man’s slow pace was clearly to wait for Lu Yu to draw attention further from the city.
Sure enough, a figure soon streaked across the sky above the city gate. From a distance, Lin Xiao could guess it was Lu Yu.
Lu Yu swiftly flew out of the city, likely followed by Cao Ting and Xu Yi. Soon, a battle of seventh-level Martial Lords would erupt within a hundred or several hundred miles.
With these seventh-level Martial Lords gone, Lin Xiao felt less wary of the Cao family.
His main focus now was tracking the plain-robed old man.
After the figure crossed the sky, a strikingly beautiful figure appeared ahead on the street, blocking the way.
Surrounding this elegant figure were four elders: three high-level Martial Venerables and one white-haired elder at the first-level Martial Lord.
As they appeared, the surrounding crowd parted, and even those following Lin Xiao halted.
With Cao Xueqing and a Cao family Martial Lord present, there was no chance for others to seize anything from them.
The plain-robed old man ahead stopped, pausing to watch.
Lin Xiao was surprised. This old man was bold, lingering to observe instead of leaving.
But it made sense—he was waiting for Lu Yu to draw the two families further away.
Since the old man wasn’t leaving, Lin Xiao wasn’t in a hurry. He looked at Cao Xueqing and said calmly, “What’s the meaning of this?”
“The Extreme Yin Fruit is of great use to me. Would you two consider parting with it? The Cao family will offer generous compensation,” Cao Xueqing said directly, without pretense.
“Hehe, the Extreme Yin Fruit is also of great use to me. I’m afraid I can’t part with it. Please leave,” Lin Xiao replied with a chuckle.
