Tianren City, the City Lord's Mansion.
It had been transformed into a large auction venue, and the Tianren City army's job had shifted from guarding Tianren City to maintaining order at the auction house.
For days, Ye Ling, in order to maintain the auction's popularity, would take out a small portion of the "trash" he hadn't cleared from his spatial ring each day to auction, attracting foot traffic.
However, that so-called "trash" was only relative to Ye Ling, a逍遥仙 (Xiaoyao Xian).
Anything Ye Ling casually took out was enough to cause a sensation throughout Lingzhou, a supreme treasure.
It was precisely because Ye Ling continuously brought out items to generate buzz that the Tianren City auction gradually surpassed Lingzhou's largest auction house, becoming the center of discussion for all cultivators in Lingzhou. Even cultivators from neighboring states specially rushed to Tianren City to participate in the auction, hoping to acquire their desired treasures.
This small border town in the northwest had been completely transformed due to Ye Ling's appearance. The entire city had become incredibly valuable, allowing many cultivators who chose to remain in Tianren City to earn a fortune.
In the center of Tianren City, atop the Tianren Tower, Ayu watched the bustling city below, her mind somewhat dazed.
She never imagined that things would escalate to this point.
Initially, her thoughts were very simple: she just wanted to sell the Bloodstone Lingzhi at the Tianren City auction house, use the money to buy a property in the city, and then live a good life in the city with Dingdang and Ye Ling.
But now, she found that everything she had obtained was far beyond her wildest imagination.
Ye Ling walked to the top of the tower and saw Ayu gazing out of the tower, lost in thought. He couldn't help but smile and ask, "Ayu, what are you thinking about?"
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, a hint of panic flashed in Ayu's eyes. She turned somewhat flustered and replied to Ye Ling, "I, I wasn't thinking about anything. Is it time for class?"
Ever since Ye Ling had killed the City Lord Tianxiong and the Azure Moon Envoy, displaying immense power, Ayu had felt an increasing distance growing between herself and Ye Ling.
For some reason, she missed their days in the mountains more and more.
Seeing Ayu's flustered demeanor, a trace of heartache also flickered in Ye Ling's eyes.
He knew clearly that the change in his status and position in these past few days had caused a huge shock to Ayu.
Given Ayu's simple nature, it was normal for her not to be able to accept it immediately.
However, Ye Ling could do nothing about it.
In these past few days, the dark power within him had become increasingly restless, and he didn't know when he might lose control.
Ayu was the only person he cared about after arriving in the Nine Heavens Realm.
And after obtaining the Bloodstone Lingzhi, Ayu was destined to have an unsettled future.
A man is innocent, but possession of a treasure makes him guilty.
Therefore, before he left, he had to provide Ayu with a perfect backing, to safeguard Ayu's future life.
Ye Ling sighed slightly, temporarily putting his thoughts aside, and said to Ayu, "Yes, it's time. Let's begin today's cultivation."
"Okay!"
Ayu quickly responded, then sat down on her meditation cushion, eagerly awaiting Ye Ling's lecture.
In fact, Ayu never understood the runes Ye Ling taught, but every time she finished listening to Ye Ling's lecture, her cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds, progressing a thousand miles in a single day!
Moreover, cultivating with Ye Ling was her rare time spent alone together.
However, this time, just as Ye Ling was about to teach Ayu new runes, the space outside the Tianren Tower subtly distorted, and a woman of exquisite beauty emerged from it.
The newcomer was none other than the Sect Master of the Azure Moon Sect, Bai Ling!
Bai Ling entered the tower, quickly glanced at Ayu, and then focused her gaze on Ye Ling, asking indifferently, "Are you the great demon that has been rumored recently? It's our first meeting, I am Bai Ling, the Sect Master of the Azure Moon Sect."
"I'm teaching! Go away!"
Ye Ling didn't even look at Bai Ling directly. He raised his hand, stirring up a gust of spiritual wind, and directly blew Bai Ling out of the tower.
"Hey, hey!"
Blown out, Bai Ling was utterly bewildered. She wanted to re-enter the tower to argue with Ye Ling, but a barrier suddenly rose around the Tianren Tower, completely blocking Bai Ling out!
Looking at the barrier that blocked her, Bai Ling's exceptionally beautiful face darkened completely. She clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth, "Outrageous, you truly don't take me seriously!"
"I want to see if this barrier of yours can stop me!"
With a fierce shout, Bai Ling gathered her spiritual power into her palm and struck the barrier with a palm!
"Break for me!"
Bai Ling's palm struck the barrier, causing it to ripple slightly, and then nothing else happened.
"How could this be?" Bai Ling was stunned on the spot.
Ayu, inside the tower, saw Bai Ling standing dazed outside the Tianren Tower and asked Ye Ling, "Didn't she say she was the Sect Master of the Azure Moon Sect? Are we just going to leave her out there?"
Ye Ling paid no attention to Bai Ling causing a commotion outside and directly blocked the view outside the tower, saying to Ayu, "Our class is more important, focus on listening!"
"Oh..."
Unable to see Bai Ling outside the tower, Ayu could only refocus her thoughts and concentrate on the class.
Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Bai Ling looked at the undamaged barrier with disbelief, her hands trembling slightly, and a storm raged in her heart!
"This, how is this possible? I am, after all, a half-step supreme cultivator, why can't I even break through this barrier?"
Bai Ling refused to believe it and once again gathered her spiritual power into her palm, striking the barrier with all her might!
However, Bai Ling's full-force strike also only caused ripples on the barrier.
"No, impossible..." Bai Ling looked at the still intact barrier and began to doubt her life, retreating step by step.
Ever since she became the Sect Master of the Azure Moon Sect, she had always been able to do as she pleased in Lingzhou.
Even the Moon Wheel Holy Land, she could visit whenever she pleased and leave whenever she wanted!
But now, she was being refused entry by an unknown individual, and what's more, she had no way to do anything about it!
Upon thinking that all the prepared speeches she had before coming were useless, Bai Ling suddenly felt a sense of grievance.
Time ticked by, and it wasn't until the sun set and the full moon rose that the barrier in the Tianren Tower slowly dissipated.
Bai Ling, who had been waiting outside, immediately looked eagerly into the barrier as it dispersed.
"That's all for today's lesson. Go back and digest what you've learned today, and also copy the runes you've learned three hundred times."
"Yes..."
After Ye Ling assigned Ayu her homework, he then noticed Bai Ling still waiting outside the Tianren Tower and asked in surprise, "Why haven't you left yet?"
Seeing Ye Ling's surprised expression, Bai Ling's fists clenched. However, thinking of Ye Ling's terrifying strength, she forcibly suppressed the anger in her heart and asked Ye Ling, "Excuse me... are you finished with your business?"
Ye Ling said to Ayu, "You go back first, and remember to complete my homework."
"Got it! You be busy!" Ayu stretched lazily, then glanced at Bai Ling before flying out of the Tianren Tower.
"This girl..."
Ye Ling watched Ayu's retreating figure, shook his head with a smile, and then looked at Bai Ling, asking, "Excuse me, who are you?"
*Crack, crack!*
Bai Ling's fists made cracking sounds, and her face darkened again. She gritted her teeth and said, "I remember introducing myself earlier today, didn't I?"
Ye Ling: "Forgot."
*Boom!*
"This is too much!"
Bai Ling's aura suddenly erupted, and she glared at Ye Ling, saying, "Listen carefully! I am Bai Ling, the Sect Master of the Azure Moon Sect!!!"