Painting of the Nine Immortals

“An invitation?”

Hearing the voice carried inside from the other side of the door, Ling Xian’s brows furrowed slightly. He very quickly realized who sent this invitation. Under the current circumstance he was in, nobody would send him an invitation other than the three controlling forces.

“Very interesting. Just as we are discussing about the three controlling forces, they send over to me their invitation. I just don’t know which controlling force is behind this and what its intentions are.” The corner of Ling Xian’s lips lifted up. He flapped around his sleeve and the door to the room busted open.

Then, the golden invitation floated over and landed on his palm.

“Okay, that is all. You can go now.” Ling Xian spoke softly and once again tossed around his sleeve, throwing the motel employee a few spiritual stones as tips. The door to his room also closed with this one move.

Then, he shifted his gaze onto the invitation on his hand.

The invitation itself was completely in gold color and was beating with rhythmic heavenly light. It had a very regal vibe, and on top, a short statement was written in bold:

“To be opened by Ling Xian.”

“The three forces sure have a lot of power in their hands. In such a short amount of time, they have already learned of my whereabouts.” Ling Xian’s lips curled up, revealing a smile that could either be categorized as sarcastic or cold.

“The City of Sin has been completely locked in by the three controlling forces. Even the rustle of leaves in the wind cannot escape their sight,” Huang Er whispered.

“It is no wonder that they are the rulers of the City of Sin.”

Ling Xian’s eyes flashed with interest and stared at the golden invitation in his hand. He grinned, “Then let me find out who is inviting me and what he is wanting me for.”

Then, he began to open the fancy-looking invitation. Just at the very moment he opened it, a murky wave of air began to twirl.

Immediately, Ling Xian frowned and he hissed coldly.

Then, he pretended he never saw the hidden ill intention concealed in the invitation and opened it up right away.

There were over a few hundred words written all over the invitation. All sorts of kind and friendly adjectives were used. The entire card was composed of gentle and respectful words and had no trace of coldness.

The basic meaning of it was that one of the forces, the Mu Clan, was planning on holding an auction tomorrow and wished for Ling Xian’s presence.

“Interesting.”

Ling Xian chuckled expectantly. Sensing Huang Er’s questioning gaze, he said, “The Mu Clan is holding an auction and wants me to participate.”

“An auction?”

Huang Er frowned and very quickly analyzed what the Mu Clan was planning, “Master, they are trying to interact with you to test the waters.”

“That’s right. The three controlling forces are probably trying to use the auction as an excuse to test me.” Ling Xian lost his composure and laughed. He felt like this whole thing was ridiculous.

Honestly speaking, he had no intention of taking over the City of Sin because this was only a connecting city for him. When the time was right, he would go on his way to the Shang Qing Sect.

His ultimate destination was that place.

He really didn’t think that the moment he stepped his feet inside the City of Sin, he would create such a turmoil and caught the attention of all three controlling forces.

“Then what are you planning to do, Master?” Huang Er hesitated and asked.

“What to do…”

Ling Xian smiled sarcastically, his eyes shone with anticipation. “The Mu Clan is inviting me over so genuinely, of course I should go. If I don’t go, they will think it’s because I am scared. Plus, such a great event like an auction is not something I should miss.”

“Might as well… This time it’s probably they are just trying to test you. Before the three forces have a good understanding of your background and your capabilities, they will not blow their own cover.”

Huang Er nodded with a smile and continued, “Plus, the auctions the Mu Clan hosted were normally big events in the City of Sin. Every time it happened, many rare treasures were sold. Some treasures they brought out could make even the completion leveled cultivators tempted.”

“Oh?”

Ling Xian’s interest was triggered, “If that’s the case, then I have more of a reason to check it out.”

“That was my original intention. I am thinking that if you act composed and unscathed, then they will not provoke you easily.” Huang Er said.

“That’s what I am planning on doing.”

Ling Xian softly beamed, “However, the Mu Clan has made their move. I naturally have to accept it.”

“That’s right. We cannot make the three controlling forces think we are scared of them.” Huang Er nodded.

“Let’s pause this conversation. Tomorrow, you and I shall make a trip and find out what kind of trick the Mu Clan is trying to play.” Ling Xian suggested.

Hearing this, Huang Er’s eyes flashed with excitement. A low cultivator like him never had the opportunity to participate in the Mu Clan’s auctions. Now that Ling Xian was asking him to accompany him, he was naturally over the moon.

Seeing this, Ling Xian brandished his arm, “Okay, why don’t you head down then. Come to see me once you get up tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, Master.” Huang Er responded and stepped out of the room lowly.

Now that Huang Er had left the room, Ling Xian once again opened up the golden invitation. A cold snicker crawled onto his face subconsciously.

The statement written inside might sound very respectable and looked very kind without even a hint of killer’s intent, but reality was that there were knives hidden between the words. Every single line urged and threatened him to comply to their invitation.

Unless he chose to retreat.

But what kind of person was Ling Xian? Why would he ever choose to retreat? They were only completion leveled cultivators, even if they were stronger than that, he wouldn’t choose to run away!

“You conceal your intentions and try to make it look like retreating. Mu Clan, you are treating me like I am a rotten persimmon.” Ling Xian’s stare turned extremely cold and his heart felt flames of rage.

If the threats they imposed on him were merely shown through the words, then with his big heart, he wouldn’t have minded. However, other than the vile words, they also left behind some fatal poison on the physical invitation.

The murky ray of air.

It was a type of poison that could pose much danger even to a completion leveled cultivator. If it was anyone else, he would be poisoned and dead already.

However, to Ling Xian, who had the Flame of Purity, one poison was not a big deal. He didn’t even try to dodge before he let the murky air enter his body.

“How great of you, Mu Clan. How great of you, three controlling forces.” Ling Xian snickered and slowly extended his right hand.

Then, a silver flame began to arise. Hidden inside was a spot that was pitch black made out of the fatal poison concealed on the invitation letter.

“Poison taken from a Poisonous Dragon Scorpion. Mu Clan, you sure didn’t cheap out.” Ling Xian coldly chuckled. He recognized this type of poison, knowing it came from the famous Poisonous Dragon Scorpion.

This type of poison was extremely overbearing. It didn’t just kill someone right away; worse, it would enter the body of a cultivator and eat away the cultivator’s spiritual energy little by little until none was left.

Even a powerhouse from the peak of the completion level would feel troubled if this poison entered his body. Without an antidote sent by heavens, the cultivator would definitely turn into a handicap.

From this, it became apparent just how dominating this poison was and how ruthless the Mu Clan was.

Sadly, the Mu Clan chose the wrong person to target. Ling Xian, who possessed the Flame of Purity, found the Poisonous Dragon Scorpion to be of no threat to him. Even the legendary Poisonous Dragon could cause any threat to him.

“The Mu Clan sure ruled the City of Sin for centuries, and they even got their hands on the Poisonous Dragon Scorpion. I should not underestimate them.” Ling Xian’s expression was frigid. When he thought of how evil the Mu Clan was being, the anger in his chest boiled.

He had done nothing to offend the Mu Clan and he never even thought of trying to overtake the City of Sin. Yet the Mu Clan used such poison against him. How could he not be angry?

“Originally, I didn’t intend to overstep you in the City of Sin. Yet the three of you are plotting me behind my back, forcing me to make a move.”

Coldness continued to swirl in Ling Xian’s eyes. He was infuriated by what Mu Clan was doing and therefore, he made a decision.

He decided to step in and interfere with the power structure of the City of Sin.

The three forces were worried of him stepping in and messing everything up for them? Then he would show the three forces! With his capabilities, he had no reason to fear anyone in the City of Sin!

After he made this decision, he suddenly remembered the mysterious force of energy at the entrance of the city. He couldn’t help but to laugh, “Perhaps interfering with the power structure will help unlock this Guardian City’s secrets.”

Many moons ago, this city was named the Guardian City and was ridden with secrets. There were even such rumors as this city was associated with the secrets of how one could become an immortal.

However, time flies, which brings great changes to the world. Many secrets diminished over time. Ignoring those secrets, even the original name of the city was forgotten by everyone.

Ling Xian was one of the minority group who remembers.

Therefore, he really wanted to dig out all the hidden secrets inside this Guardian City.

“Since you three forces are working so hard to plot against me in order to stop me from interfering, then I will show you what interfering looks like.” Ling Xian’s smile was sarcastic and cold.

“It’s also a good opportunity to use this chance to investigate the secrets of the Guardian City.”

Then, he shifted his gaze towards the Flame of Purity inside his hand and said in a low voice, “I sure hope you three can act intelligently and stop bothering me. Or else, don’t blame me when I destruct all the work you’ve done in the past centuries.”

The way he spoke this statement was extremely cold and full of killer’s intent. The moment his voice trailed off, the Flame of Purity suddenly exploded and immediately burned out the spot of blackness.

In the near future not too long after, the three controlling forces would also be burned to crisp like this poison.

…

The Mu Clan was one of the three controlling forces with extremely powerful capabilities.

However, what made this royal clan so prominent was not its capabilities, but its auctions that it hosted once every three years.

In terms of pure capabilities, it was stuck between the other two forces. However, in terms of wealth, the Mu Clan was, without a doubt, a leader that well surpassed the other two clans.

Therefore, every time the Mu Clan hosted its auction, the entire City of Sin treated it like a very formal event. This was because many rare and expensive treasures were being sold and bought at each auction.

The treasures that were brought out could even make the completion leveled powerhouses’ hearts flatter.

Today was one of the auctions that happened every three years.

At this moment, the Sun had just rose, spraying down warm rays of golden light that reflected off a three floored building.

It was the reserved ground the Mu Clan had been using for its auctions.

At the entrance of the building, long lines had been formed. Looking around, you could see a hundred people were already there.

Remember that not everyone could enter the Mu Clan’s auction. Only those with an invitation were allowed in. Those who received an invitation every year were either wealthy or important figures.

Even these people were quietly following orders and lining up at the entrance of the door rather than making a fuss for having to wait. From this, it became apparent how capable the Mu Clan was.

Just as these people lined themselves up and were entering one by one, Ling Xian and Huang Er arrived.

“There are a lot of people here.”

Looking at the long ques, Ling Xian’s lips curled into a faint smile, “I sure want to see what tricks are up in the Mu Clan’s sleeves.”

Then, he slowly marched on. However, he wasn’t walking to the end of line; instead, he was walking straight into the auction ground.

If the Mu Clan was plotting him with the invitation, then why would Ling Xian give the Mu Clan any face?

He sure wanted to see what the Mu Clan could do to the man who refused to follow their rules!