Feeling confident that Li Shen would be able to help her later, Yuan Mei reached out and accepted the five celestial-level spirit stones from Li Shen.
The elders warned Yuan Mei about the consequences of competing with the Tang Family. They feared that this rivalry would strain the relationship between the two great cultivator families.
"This is an auction. Everyone has the right to bid without feeling intimidated," explained Yuan Mei.
"If the Tang Family is offended, then they should blame Tang San for not having enough resources to obtain the Rain Pearl Essence Liquid," said Yuan Mei.
The black-haired woman accepted the five celestial-level spirit stones. She stepped forward and handed the item to Qing Yun. The appearance of celestial-level spirit stones in that place shocked many people, including King Qing Fei.
"What?! Five celestial-level spirit stones?" asked Qing Fei, shocked.
"I'm sorry, Father. Our palace doesn't have enough resources to match that price," explained Qing Feng.
Qing Fei looked displeased, occasionally banging the armrest of his chair to vent his frustration. The man stood up straight, stepped to the floor railing in front of him and turned his head to the side, looking at Yuan Mei in the Yuan Family's VIP room.
"If the Qing Palace cannot help the Tang Family, then a conflict between the Tang and Yuan families will break out, " explained Qing Fei.
"A conflict between two great cultivator families will weaken the power of the Qing Yan Kingdom. That is not good at all," said Qing Fei.
"Then, what is your decision, Father?" asked Qing Feng.
King Qing fell silent for a moment. His mind was racing wildly, thinking about the Yuan Family's abundant resources. He really wanted to know where they had obtained those celestial-level spirit stones.
"After the auction is over, have Yuan Mei come to the throne hall. I want to talk to her," Qing Fei requested, and Qing Feng obeyed.
Tang San, in the Tang family's VIP room, could only stare blankly at the five celestial-level spirit stones floating above Qing Yun's hand. His attention was focused on Yuan Mei, curious as to why the Yuan family had such plentiful spirit stone resources.
"Where did she get those resources?" Tang San lamented.
One of the Tang family elders approached. He whispered something to Tang San, causing the man to smile broadly. If that was the plan they had made, then Tang San would not bid again.
"How about it, Young Master Tang? Will you bid for it?" asked Qing Yun.
"No. Let the Yuan family have it," replied Tang San.
Qing Yun nodded. With no further bids, the man announced to the crowd that the winner of the second auction for the Rain Pearl Essence Liquid was the Yuan Family. Cheers rang out loudly in the venue, mesmerized by the fierce competition between the Three Great Cultivator Families.
Li Xun looked worried. It wasn't the Li family who obtained the Rain Pearl Essence Liquid, but the Yuan family. Li Shen's mysterious disappearance made Li Xun even more anxious.
"Father? Where are you?" asked Li Xun, looking around the area.
In the Yuan family's VIP room, Yuan Mei reached out and accepted the pearl-patterned bottle. She turned around and showed it to Li Shen. But something happened.
"I won't hand it over until you help me get the Earth-Shattering Spear," Yuan Mei explained. Li Shen chuckled.
"So, your purpose is that spear?"
"To me, it's just a rusty spear, useless!" Li Shen complained.
"What did you say?!" Yuan Mei asked firmly.
Li Shen tapped his magic pouch, taking out the Emperor-level weapon he had been keeping for a long time. He had gotten the weapon from a Void Ascension-level practitioner who had died at his hands.
From Li Shen's hand, a lightning spear with a blue dragon pattern appeared. The power of an Emperor-level spear was enough to shake the heavens and destroy the earth, a power on par with that of the ancestors.
Even when Li Shen took the spear, a powerful spiritual energy rumbled throughout the room. Yuan Mei was startled, her eyes wide with shock, the Yuan Family Elders responded similarly.
"A weapon of the Emperor level?" asked the elders, their faces pale.
"This is the Sky Lightning Spear, one of the five legendary weapons of the Emperor level. This spear is far superior to the Earth-Shattering Spear," said Li Shen.
"If you want, I can give it to you in exchange for the Rain Pearl Essence Liquid," explained Li Shen.
Yuan Mei fell silent. Li Shen's offer was quite tempting to her, especially since the spear was one level higher than the Earth-Shattering Spear.
If Yuan Mei accepted the spear from Li Shen, then they would not need to waste their resources fighting over the Earth-Shattering Spear.
Yuan Mei's eyes stared intently at Li Shen, seeing no hint of hesitation on the man's face as he handed over the spear. Yuan Mei was truly curious as to why Li Shen was so eager to obtain the Rain Pearl Essence Liquid.
But it was best not to pry further into the matter. She thought that perhaps Li Shen had a secret that he did not want anyone else to know about.
Yuan Mei looked at the bottle in her hand, then decided to agree to Li Shen's offer. The two exchanged items, Li Shen got the bottle containing the Rain Pearl Essence Liquid, while Yuan Mei got the Sky Lightning Spear.
Li Shen put the item into his magic pouch. Just before leaving, he left a message for Yuan Mei.
"Since you have provoked the Tang Family, be cautious of them. Also, be wary of the Qing Palace," Li Shen replied.
"The Qing Palace? What do you mean?" Yuan Mei asked, but Li Shen remained silent.
In an instant, Li Shen's figure vanished from the Yuan Family's VIP room. His sudden disappearance shocked the elders, who even suspected that Li Shen was a high-level practitioner who had hidden his cultivation.
"Should we believe what he said?" one of the elders asked Yuan Mei.
"Judging from how he attacked my room earlier, it's certain that the Tang Family doesn't like what we're doing," replied Yuan Mei, turning around and looking back at the auction of the third main item.
"One of you go to the teleportation altar, activate it immediately and stand guard there!" ordered Yuan Mei, and one of the Yuan Family elders obeyed.
"The Qing Palace? What do they have to do with this auction? Aren't they supposed to stay out of it?" Yuan Mei asked as she looked up at the third floor.
Downstairs, Li Shen arrived at one of the rooms and stepped out. He walked casually into the auction area and sat down right next to Li Xun, who smiled at her father's arrival.
"How is it? Did you get it?" asked Li Xun. Li Shen cleared his throat softly.
"I'll tell you later. Let's finish the auction and leave," said Li Shen. Li Xun nodded obediently.
The third auction began, with only the Tang family and the Ji family competing. But the Tang family got the item after the Yuan family didn't interfere. This was quite confusing because the Yuan family was known for its artifacts and legendary weapons.
Tang San turned his head to the side again, staring at Yuan Mei, who was sitting idly, seemingly not caring.
"Isn't this spear supposed to be their target item? What's really going on?" asked Tang San.
"Maybe I can negotiate with her, and exchange the Earth-Shattering Spear for Rain Pearl Essence Liquid," explained Tang San.
"Alright. The Palace Auction has ended. I, Qing Yun, the auctioneer, would like to thank all the practitioner families who participated. May the auction items you obtained be of use to your families," explained Qing Yun.
Applause rang out in the hall, and one by one, the practitioner families left the Qing Golden Palace, including Li Shen and Li Xun.
They walked down the main street of the city together, once again passing by Ping Ho and Ping Wu. The Ping family had come to ask why the Li family had not bid during the auction.
"That item wasn't important. I have something far more valuable than those items," said Li Shen.
"Who is he, really? What is his cultivation base?" asked Ping Wu curiously.
"Father-in-law. About the item, I apologize. I could only obtain one item," said Ping Ho, showing the medium-tier auction item in his hand.
Li Shen saw that Ping Ho had successfully obtained the 6th-tier pill, but he had failed to obtain the other two items. Li Shen's answer was very clear: Ping Ho was still unworthy of Li Xun.
"What a pity," said Li Shen, shaking his head, 'Just keep the pill, I don't need it."
Ping Ho looked down sadly, he had failed to meet Li Shen's expectations. However, he did not want to give up. There must be another way to make Li Shen admit him.
"Please, do you have another way to agree to our relationship?" asked Ping Ho.
Li Shen was silent. He then explained to the man that Li Xun had reached the Nascent Soul Peak and was currently in the process of searching for her own dao concept. In Li Shen's eyes, Ping Ho was still in the early stages of Nascent Soul.
"If you want to impress me, reach the middle stage of Soul Formation in two years. You are free to use normal cultivation methods or pills," explained Li Shen.
"During that time, you and Xun'er are forbidden to meet each other," said Li Shen.
The man brought forth a blue spiritual energy ball, then flew it quickly into Ping Ho's forehead. The young man's body glowed blue, curious about what Li Shen had given him.
"What is that?" asked Ping Ho.
"A little enlightenment if you wish to break through to the Soul Formation stage. It will only activate once you've reached the Peak Nascent Soul realm," Li Shen stated firmly.
"Not only enlightenment, but also a restriction. Your body will be struck by a bolt of lightning if you come within close range of Li Xun. This will prevent you two from seeing each other," Li Shen explained.
"Wait, Father! Isn't that too much?" Li Xun asked.
Li Shen turned his head, then gently patted Li Xun's shoulder, "You are the head of the Li family. You bear the responsibility for all family members. I just want to make sure that the man who will dual cultivate with you is someone who can be relied upon."
"Whether it's Ping Ho or someone else, I don't care. As long as he's strong and responsible, I'll consider it."
"No!"
"I will be her husband!"
"I, Ping Ho, swear before you and before all the elders and heads of the Ping family that I will fulfill your expectations even if I have to defy the heavens!" Ping Ho said firmly, clenching his fists and releasing a significant burst of spiritual energy.
Li Shen smiled faintly, then turned around and continued walking. Li Xun followed her father away.
"Try harder, Ping Ho. Two years is a short time."