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Before the curious gazes of onlookers, Li Zhu Luan smashed her stone.
Fragments scattered, revealing the contents within.
Sigh.
The crowd groaned, seeing only a chipped, ancient porcelain bowl among the rubble.
Li Zhu Luan pouted. Though aware Stone Betting was a long shot, with usable items rare, disappointment stung.
"Hmph, I refuse to believe my luck's this bad!" she huffed, buying another stone and shattering it.
This time, the crowd's mouths twitched—nothing, not even a speck.
"Annoying!" Li Zhu Luan stomped, cheeks flaming.
"Silly girl, treasures aren't that easy," Lan An chuckled, pinching her delicate nose.
"Bleh, I'm done. Master Sister, your turn!" Li Zhu Luan teased, hoping Mu Zi Yin would flop too.
Mu Zi Yin, familiar with Stone Betting from past encounters, knew profits were rare. Encouraged by Lan An, she stepped forward, paid the vendor, and chose a large stone, crushing it.
Crack.
As it split, a strange green shell emerged.
Clearing the debris, a watermelon-sized egg appeared, adorned with vibrant pink veins, exuding grandeur.
"What kind of egg is that?" the crowd murmured.
"Fossilized so long, it's probably dead."
"I sense life in it."
"Whatever it is, something ancient isn't ordinary."
Whispers swirled.
"My luck's not bad," Mu Zi Yin smiled, cradling the egg, delighted by her first Stone Betting yield.
The women gathered, intrigued. Liu Shi Qin frowned, unable to identify it.
"Master, I sense a trace of pressure from it," Bai Su Mei said gravely to Lan An.
"Chirp!" Little Lion echoed.
Lan An's face grew serious. Bai Su Mei and Little Lion's bloodlines were extraordinary, yet this egg intimidated them—far from simple.
"Master Sister, give it to me!" Li Zhu Luan hugged it, cooing playfully.
"Brat, what's mine is yours, isn't it?" Mu Zi Yin tapped her head, laughing.
Lan An smiled at their banter, asking Jin Ni inwardly, "This egg's special, huh?"
"It holds a spirit bird with Qing Luan divine beast bloodline, quite potent," Jin Ni replied, surprised.
Lan An's heart raced. In his past life, Qing Luan, one of the Five Phoenixes, was a true divine beast, symbolizing virtue, fidelity, and auspiciousness. Though not a pure Qing Luan, with the system's aid, Lan An was confident in nurturing it.
He transmitted to the women, storing the egg in the Spirit Realm Pearl to avoid prying eyes.
"Anyone else want a try?" Lan An grinned. The egg alone made the trip worthwhile, no matter the cost.
Bai Su Mei and Liu Shi Qin, introverted, shook their heads, smiling.
"Meng Meng wants to play!" Liu Meng Meng chirped, eyes sparkling. Such games thrilled children.
"Haha, go ahead, Meng Meng. Pick a stone, and Brother will buy it," Lan An said, lifting the nine-year-old Qi Refining Early-Stage girl.
"This one!" She grabbed a stone, her tiny fist smashing it.
Crack.
Empty.
Liu Meng Meng's cheeks puffed, lips pursing. Undeterred, she picked a lemon-sized stone, shattering it.
A gleam flashed, captivating the crowd.
A glossy green jade bead glowed softly.
"It's a Water-Repelling Pearl! This girl's lucky," someone identified it.
"Water-Repelling Pearl lets cultivators stay underwater without spiritual energy shielding—a fine treasure."
The crowd nodded. Though cultivators could use spiritual energy in water, the pearl saved energy, a practical boon.
"Heehee, Meng Meng's so lucky!" she giggled, eyes squinting.
"You're amazing, Meng Meng," Lan An praised, ruffling her hair.
"Heehee, I'll give it to Brother!" She offered the pearl.
"Then Brother thanks you," Lan An accepted warmly, valuing her gesture. He'd ensure she wasn't shortchanged.
The women smiled, touched by the scene.
"Jin Ni, how many stones hold usable items?" Lan An asked inwardly.
"Eleven, but only three are decent. The rest are Mysterious-Grade or lower," Jin Ni said, pinpointing three stones.
Lan An paid the vendor, claimed the stones, and stored them, avoiding opening them publicly. If Jin Ni approved, their contents were extraordinary, and discretion prevented trouble.
Ending Stone Betting, the group roamed Ping An City, buying essentials for the Spirit Realm Pearl's expanded space.
"Liu Clan Head, return to Liu Clan at once!"
A thunderous voice shook Ping An City, halting their fun.
Their faces shifted.
"Hmph, who do they think they are, barking orders?" Lan An sneered.
Mu Zi Yin gripped his arm, grave. "Husband, they're at least Late-Stage Spirit Transformation, maybe stronger."
"Must be Qing Yun Sect," Liu Shi Qin frowned.
"Likely investigating Gu Fei Hua's death. Don't worry. Zhu Luan, Su Mei, take Little Lion into the Spirit Realm Pearl," Lan An instructed.
Bai Su Mei and Li Zhu Luan nodded. Their striking looks could draw trouble, and their strength couldn't counter Spirit Transformation yet.
"Zi Yin, veil up. Let's go," Lan An said, leading the three women back.
On the way, Liu Shi Qin's worry grew.
A warm hand clasped hers. Lan An smiled gently, "With me here, Liu Clan's safe."
Her fears vanished, and she nodded, smiling.
Mu Zi Yin took his other hand, serious. "Husband, this visitor's status is high."
"Definitely. I didn't expect them to react so fast," Lan An said, surprised.
"Great sects use soul-linked tablets to track members. Qing Yun Sect likely does too," Liu Shi Qin explained.
Lan An nodded, and the trio reached Liu Clan's hall.
Inside, two sword-bearing men in daoist robes exuded oppressive auras, cowing Liu Clan members. One was middle-aged, the other an white-bearded elder.
The middle-aged man, Gu Zheng, was Qing Yun Sect's Enforcement Elder, tasked with investigating sect deaths, an Early-Stage Spirit Transformation cultivator. The elder, Gu Dun Di, Qing Yun Sect's Grand Elder, was a Late-Stage Spirit Transformation veteran, a half-step from Perfection, second only to Sect Master Gu Fei Tian.
Gu Dun Di rarely appeared, but Gu Fei Hua—his cherished disciple—died mysteriously, igniting his fury, shaking the sect. Though Gu Fei Tian ordered a sect-wide manhunt, Gu Dun Di insisted on investigating personally.
Footsteps approached, and the duo turned, their eyes flashing with awe at Mu Zi Yin and Liu Shi Qin's beauty. Despite Mu Zi Yin's veil, her flawless figure was undeniable.
As Spirit Transformation cultivators, they prioritized duty over lust. Gu Zheng spoke first, "Who is the Liu Clan Head?"
"Shi Qin greets two Qing Yun Sect seniors," Liu Shi Qin said courteously, unflinching despite their superior strength. Years managing the clan honed her poise, though it softened beside Lan An.
"Outsiders, leave," Gu Dun Di said abruptly, ignoring Lan An.
Lan An's eyes glinted. This felt more like provocation than investigation.
Mu Zi Yin squeezed his hand, smiling, a wisp of Spirit Transformation aura flickering.
Gu Zheng and Gu Dun Di raised brows, surprised a minor clan housed a Spirit Transformation cultivator. Seeing Mu Zi Yin's affectionate grip on Lan An, their suspicions grew, but they stayed silent. A Spirit Transformation warranted dialogue.
"Please sit," Liu Shi Qin offered.
"No need. Answer our questions," Gu Dun Di said brusquely, his temper frayed by Gu Fei Hua's death.
"Ask away," Liu Shi Qin said, unfazed.
"Did Elder Gu You visit Liu Clan?" Gu Zheng asked.
"Indeed, Elder Gu You and Young Master Gu Fei Hua came. We finalized Ping An City's vassalage to Qing Yun Sect," Liu Shi Qin said calmly.
The duo nodded. Their prior investigation confirmed Cao Clan's fall, Liu Clan's rise, and Gu You's departure. Yet, something felt off.
Knowing Gu You's character, Gu Zheng doubted he'd distribute spirit stones charitably without motive. Gu Dun Di, no stranger to dark deeds, sensed a hidden truth.
"Did Gu You return after leaving?" Gu Zheng pressed, probing.
"I'm unsure. I only know Young Master Gu Fei Hua distributed spirit stones to low-tier cultivators before leaving, earning their respect," Liu Shi Qin said, feigning admiration.
Gu Zheng frowned. Her vague answer gave no leverage. A firm "They didn't return" would've been exploitable.
"I heard a battle occurred at Liu Clan that night, even in the skies. What happened?" Gu Zheng cut to the chase.
"No concealment—after unifying Ping An City, some dissidents infiltrated to sabotage us. We resolved it swiftly," Liu Shi Qin said, neither arrogant nor servile.
The night's darkness and Liu Clan's prestige ensured no one pried too deeply, bolstering her fabricated tale.
"Who are they? My investigation shows Liu Clan had no such figures before," Gu Zheng said sharply, eyeing Lan An and Mu Zi Yin.
Liu Shi Qin smiled, taking Mu Zi Yin's hand. "She's an old friend, visiting recently, just in time to aid us against Cao Clan."
"And her husband," she added, gesturing to Lan An.
Gu Zheng and Gu Dun Di scrutinized Lan An, initially assuming him a kept man of the Spirit Transformation woman, not her husband. A Nascent Soul with a Spirit Transformation wife wasn't simple.
They scanned him, noting only his odd eye—unaware it was the White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye, beyond their non-soul-cultivator perception.
"Any more questions?" Liu Shi Qin hinted at dismissal.
The duo exchanged glances. Gu Dun Di's voice rumbled, his Late-Stage Spirit Transformation aura unleashed, pressing the trio. "My disciple and Elder Gu You were killed. Know anything?"
"What? Young Master Gu Fei Hua was killed?" Liu Shi Qin's group gasped, faces shocked.
"Heavens! Young Master Gu Fei Hua, dashing and gallant, my role model—who killed him?" Lan An roared, thumping his chest.
Gu Dun Di's face softened slightly, but suspicion lingered. "Come to Qing Yun Sect. We have ways to verify the truth."
"You don't trust us?" Liu Shi Qin's face darkened.
"Your story's flawless, but one-sided. Without witnesses beyond Liu Clan, we have grounds to doubt," Gu Zheng said coolly.
"You—" Mu Zi Yin began, but Lan An stopped her.
Grinning broadly, he said, "We'll go. The upright fear no slander, right?"