Start to setting the Trap

"I'm glad you like it, my lord," Ji Lingxian said with a bright smile, gazing at Qin Tian.

This young lord from the upper realms, who had saved her grandfather, was not only incredibly handsome but also had a temperament as warm as spring and a background that was nothing short of legendary. Ji Lingxian couldn't help but wonder—what kind of celestial maiden could ever be worthy of him?

Whenever she stood by Qin Tian's side, a deep sense of inadequacy would creep into her heart.

"The auction has started."

Ji Lingxian and Chu Xinyue stood quietly beside Qin Tian. Anyone who witnessed this scene would think they were looking at gods and goddesses descended to the mortal plane.

Qin Tian cast a faint smile as his gaze settled on a private suite on the third floor. "As expected, most children of fate know some kind of disguise technique," he thought. Ye Chen was no exception.

As Qin Tian observed Ye Chen's suite, an elderly auctioneer slowly walked to the center of the stage, his kind eyes sweeping across the audience.

"Welcome, distinguished guests, to the Immortal Terrace Auction. This humble old man, Wan Cai, will preside over today's proceedings. I hope you all leave satisfied."

"Let us not waste time. I'm sure you're all eager to see what treasures await you. So, without further ado, I hereby declare the auction officially open!"

The First Item

"The first item up for bid is a fourth-grade Divine Mansion Pill," Wan Cai announced.

A beautiful young attendant carefully placed a sandalwood box on the stage, and Wan Cai wasted no time opening it. As the lid lifted, a rich medicinal aroma wafted through the hall.

"Remarkable! The first item is a fourth-grade pill, and it's the highly sought-after Divine Mansion Pill!"

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Divine Mansion Pills were perpetually in high demand but rarely available on the market.

"You all know the value of this pill," Wan Cai continued, holding the pill aloft. "It can instantly help a Divine Mansion realm cultivator break through to the next minor realm. Starting bid: 3,000 spirit stones."

Bidding began immediately.

"I bid 4,000 spirit stones!" declared a middle-aged man in luxurious robes. His nervous eyes scanned the room, hoping no one would outbid him. As the leader of a mid-tier faction in Da Zhou, he had been stuck at the first level of the Divine Mansion realm for years and saw this pill as his only chance to advance.

"4,500 spirit stones!" countered a female cultivator, raising the stakes without hesitation. She wasn't bidding for herself but for her clan's aging patriarch, whose dwindling lifespan depended on a breakthrough.

The competition grew fierce, with bids flying back and forth. Finally, the pill was won by the middle-aged man for 18,000 spirit stones—an astronomical sum that depleted his faction's reserves.

The Second Item: Snow Ginseng

Next, another attendant stepped forward, carrying a long box. Inside lay a pure white, crystalline ginseng plant. When the box was opened, its fragrant aroma filled the room.

"This is Snow Ginseng, harvested from the snowy peaks," Wan Cai explained. "Consuming it can extend one's lifespan."

The hall erupted into even greater commotion than before. Lifespan-extending medicines were a rarity among rarities in the cultivation world—priceless treasures sought by all.

When the bidding began, offers surged higher and higher, with even participants from upper-level suites joining the fray.

From the top-tier Room 1, Qin Tian observed the chaos below with a faint smile.

"This Snow Ginseng is more show than substance," he remarked. As a human emperor, his keen senses could discern its true nature. Most of its medicinal potency had already dissipated, rendering its life-extending effects negligible.

Hearing Qin Tian's words, Ji Lingxian immediately dropped her interest in the ginseng. Although the Da Zhou royal family valued life-extending medicines, she trusted Qin Tian's judgment implicitly.

As the auction continued, a variety of items found new owners. Ji Lingxian eventually bid on a golden hairpin—not for its utility, but simply because it was beautiful.

"Women and pretty things are a match made in heaven," Qin Tian mused with amusement.

He paid little attention to the items on display, as none of them held any value in his eyes. Instead, his focus remained on Ye Chen, still disguised and seated in his suite.

Ye Chen appeared calm and composed, bidding only once—on a cultivation technique. However, his actions seemed calculated; he repeatedly raised the price before abruptly withdrawing, leaving the item to sell at an inflated rate. His behavior mirrored that of a professional auction manipulator.

Finally, a jade pendant was brought to the stage by a graceful attendant. The moment it appeared, Ye Chen's previously controlled demeanor cracked, and a flicker of excitement lit up his eyes.

Qin Tian's lips curled into a faint smile. "It seems we've found the treasure he's after."