Chapter 26 - Dao Child Qi Fan

"Qi Resplenishment Pill!"

"Perfect-Grade!"

As soon as Yu Weiyuan shouted these words, they resounded within Shen Dingxiang's head.

He was dumbfounded.

He was forty-seven years old. A young Seven Dao Markings Golden Core cultivator. A Half-Step Sky-Rank Alchemist.

The second son of the exalted Market Head of the Hidden Shadow Market.

When had he lost this way?

He didn't remember.

It seemed to him that ever since he was born, he lived the life of a winner. He had everything: A strong father, a strict mother, excellent talent, a high status, many resources, a lot of women and now a girl he loved.

He turned his head towards Li Moxue who had returned to Yu Weiyuan's side, both their lips hooked up into small smiles.

'A handsome man and a beautiful woman...' He smiled derisively. 'What an harmonious sight...'

'The couple favoured by Heaven seems to be them rather than myself and Mo Hua...'

With this thought he turned towards her. Her beautiful face had broke into a disapppointed grimace.

Her gaze at Yu Weiyuan was filled with untold resentment.

'What will happen to her?' Shen Dingxiang was worried. He was spoiled, but he wasn't an idiot. He knew what would happen to the Myriad Demon Temple if the situation remained the same.

With only three pitiful Divine Transformation Elders, how could they resist the alliance between the Profound Heaven Sect with their twelve Divine Transformation powerhouses and the nine Divine Transformation Mothers of the Yin Flame Pavillion?

Even with their Grand Formation, just how long will it take for it to fall against so many ennemies?

He knew his profit-driven father would never help. And even if he did, it wouldn't change anything. The forces under him only comprise two Divine Tranformation cultivators.

Moreover, helping the Myriad Demon Temple would make the Hidden Shadow Market step out of its neutral status and damage its economical interests.

He was in a deadlock. He wanted to help her but he didn't know what to do.

'Sigh... Fate is cruel and Karma is impartial...'

Yu Weiyuan took out Shen Dingxiang of his thoughts, a victorious sneer marring his face. "It seems my Profound Heaven Sect has enough appeal, Young Master Shen."

"At least enough appeal to attract a better alchemist than you."

"It's my defeat." Shen Dingxiang wasn't in the mood to engage in a battle of words. "This Young Master will take back his words."

He didn't look at the young sect master anymore and left the Pill Fire Street accompanied by a spiteful Mo Hua.

---

Two Days Later, At one of the Teleportation Formations of the Hidden Shadow Market

In the center of a square laid a familiar stone platform engraved with many mysterious circular patterns.

Purple light flashed through the lines making up the pattern as three people appeared within the platform's center.

Two people of this small group were old-looking persons, one man and one woman.

They wore white inner robes and black outer robes, as if to incarnate the perfect harmony of Yin and Yang through their clothing.

They were filled with a scholarly aura and both their eyes were full of wisdom and vicissitudes.

In front of them stood a divine-looking young man.

Wearing similar black-white robes, the only difference being the Taiji symbol drawn on their backside, the young man let his long silver gray hair flow behind him.

His dark eyes were seemingly filled with tiny motes of light akin to the starry firmament, being mystical and hypnotising.

The smile he wore upon his face was warm, but it seemed distant, otherworldly, as if the young man was there but not there at the same time, staying eternally unseen.

He was named Qi Fan.

He was the Dao Child of the Untouched Dao School, the personal disciple of its Supreme Teacher.

The Supreme Teacher of the Untouched Dao School is a peculiar existence. He lived in seclusion not mingling with the School's affair, letting the Headmaster take care of them.

But even if he never appeared in public since two preceeding generations of cultivators, he was deeply respected within the Crouching Dragon Domain, his legend never forgotten.

After all, he was its only remaining Void Amalgamation Realm powehouse, standing at the absolute peak of power within the Domain.

Such a powerful person should have remained in retreat, unconcerned by the petty schemes and intrigues linked to the power struggles between the sects, but Qi Fan's appearance changed this.

Son to a cultivation family of the Untouched Dao School's territory, he was born with nearly unparalleled destiny, with the talent to challenge Heaven and Earth.

After all, he possessed the Heaven Spiritual Root and the legendary Dao Bone.

As soon as he was born, it was said that the rhymes of the Dao resonated for three days in a radius of 30 000 miles.

Such a talent aroused the Supreme Teacher's interest so much he took him as a disciple immediately and canonized him as the Dao Child of the School, its successor.

Now, such a talent had arrived in the Hidden Shadow Market, obviously preparing for the Centurial Grand Auction of the Endless Wealth Auction House.

"Five days remain until the auction." Qi Fan's voice was light, fresh like a spring breeze. "Teacher Deng, I want to go play a little to pass the time."

The old man, Teacher Deng, tiredly sighed. "We could go enjoy the arts in the Thousand Flowers Building or watch alchemists compete in the Pill Fire Street-"

"I said I wanted to play, Teacher..." Qi Fan interrupted directly, exctedly continuing.

"And if one wants to play, one must gamble!!!"

"You and your gambling addiction..." Sighed the old woman, Teacher Cao. "We must not lose money until the auction. meaning if gou want to gamble, you can't bet on truly random things."

The old Teacher Deng interjected. "Then let us go to the Battle Heaven Arena. I'm sure Head Student Qi should be able to discern the fighters' strength accurately."

"Student Qi can take it as a review on knowing one's opponents." Teacher Cao added.

Qi Fan waved his hands irritatedly. "Fine, fine, I know! Why must you teachers always make my entertainment into ways to review lessons?"

Teacher Deng and Teacher Cao didn't answer and only laughed.