3RD POV

  After the meal at an inn, Tianling takes his followers back to the Wang mansion. He hires another carriage since he cannot use ghost steps with all of them and will not risk Xing'er revealing her true form.

  After they came back from the other side of the city, Fei'er went to bring his brother so they could have a warm meal. It was also a small celebration for their master acquiring another disciple and a servant. Now that it has come to an end, it is time to go back and rest(for those who need it).

  He sits next to Lu'er, who is munching on a bun, yet his eyes are on Li Chen, or as he will be calling him, Chen'er. Tianling still cannot find the right way to approach the grumpy child to make him lower the walls he has built around him.

  Tianling sets this aside, telling himself that he'll first give Chen'er space to familiarize himself with his peers who are close to his age. If he forces himself into Chen'er's world, the relationship that has not even started will crumble.

  "Shifu?" Wei'er calls from the other bench.

  Tianling shifts his attention from Chen'er to bring it to his second disciple. "Are we going to our sect soon? I want to start practicing as soon as I can."

  Tianling gives him a small smile. "We would, but it will take some time before the construction is completed."

  "Then...what do we do while we wait?"

  Tianling glances out in the darkness. "We look for more disciples. I want to start training you all at the same time." But he knows he won't be able to get into the demon realm. The only way he can get demon disciples, no matter how disgusting it is, will be by visiting the auctions in the central area. Humans traffic both demons and their fellow humans, selling them at auctions or even shops.

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  Tianling adjusts the straw hat on his head, positioning the white veil at the right angle to cover his face and his hair.

  He then checks whether the sleeves of his robes are fine before walking into the auction house.

  The guards do not acknowledge him at all, for he wears a commoner's clothes.

  Tianling doesn't mind the lack of attention; after all, his goal today is to buy a few demons.

  He goes to sit in the public section, his eyes looking around and then up at the private boxes which have curtains blocking outside gazes from peeking at the occupants.

  His wandering gaze continues to move around, curious about what type of demons this auction house will present this evening.

  A few more minutes of sheer silence pass, having more people filling the seats around him until there are none left.

  "Welcome to the nine hundred and seventy-one auction. We..." A female starts speaking from the empty stage before she shows herself to the public. Suddenly, the blue curtains are drawn, revealing the owner of the voice who is standing in front of a row of demons of various sizes, ages, heights, and genders.

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  They have been made to show their horns, their scales if they have any, and other distinct features that set them apart from humans.

  This display immediately makes Tianling frown under his veil. His hands begin to tremble, itching to give someone a deserving slap for this.

  All the demons, no matter how fancy they're dressed, look scared. The fat collars around their necks make sure that they do not flee, and the chains attached to these collars, which are locked on the large pillar behind them, give the auction added security about their 'goods'.

  Low murmurs float from the humans around him as they press their hands on their chests, complaining about how tight the air feels all of a sudden.

  Only now does Tianling notice that in a moment of his anger, he has unconsciously released wisps of his energy. To a mortal, these tendrils of a god's energy are enough to suffocate them.

  He closes his eyes firmly, reabsorbing his energy back into his Dantian and then exhaling to settle it.

  'Do not cause a scene. Now is not the time.'

  Yes. When the time comes, he will destroy such places both in the human and demon realms, for the demons are not innocent either.

  While he calms himself down, the host announces the start of the bidding from the demon to her left. "Ten gold coins. Each raise should be at least three gold coins."

  "Thirteen gold coins!"

  "Seventeen!"

  "Twenty-five!"

  The commoners start yelling while throwing each other murderous glares.

  Tianling continues observing how none of the private guests have bid yet. Leaving him with questions that are answered as the bidding goes on. When it is the fourth demon's turn, Tianling shoots to his feet, unable to stomach the sight of demons being sold off like mere items.

  "I'll buy all of them!" he announces.

  The entire hall falls more silent than a graveyard. Heads start to turn, and curtains are drawn. All to have a look at the bold person who is not only disregarding the common people but the wealthy and influential families and sects in the private boxes. However, the veil shields his face from being revealed, disappointing everyone.

  "This guest," the host says, smiling. "Are you sure about your bid? The combined prices are not cheap. Please reconsider and sit down if you-"

  In a single step, Tianling is on the stage.

  He holds open his left hand. Immediately, the hall is arrested by the powerful energy coming from the three pills in his palm. Anyone above the fifth level, Soul formation, can now feel the essence leaking from the golden pills.

  The commoners now hold no significance. This time, the murmurs come from the private boxes. All asking the same question: who is this mysterious person who can give away three saint pills for mere demons?

  The price of one pill is approximately two thousand gold coins. That is more than enough to buy all eight demons standing before him.

  "You..." the host stutters, seeing the patterns on the pills. "I..." She glances up at the largest box as if seeking help from whoever is in it.

  "How much are the demons? I'll buy them all with these," Tianling says again, letting the private guests know that he will not be giving up the demons. But to them, they are more interested in the pills in his hand than mere demons.

  "Hahaha!" A woman's laugh gently before red petal roses begin to fall from nowhere, raining on the stage.

  The demons back away, showing more of the terror that has filled their chests.

  Tianling frowns as he understands that the source of their immense fear is the woman who is flying from the main box, stepping on the petals heading for him.

  He instantly uses his qi, cuts through the collars around the demons without scratching any part of their necks. They gasps exchanging glances without knowing what to do.

  "Stay behind me. You're now mine."

  His confidence comes from the precious pills in his hand. The auction house will not skip such a rare opportunity to earn itself a hundred times the amount the pills are worth.

  "Young master," the woman calls seductively as she sets her right foot on the wooden floor. "This is such a big surprise for me and all the guests. These pills smell so delicious."

  She picks one and brings it to her nose. "Mmm...I feel like I'm about to break through just from smelling it." She then giggles, whirling around as if she is dancing. "I haven't seen such a fine pill all of my life. This must have been difficult to get. Why would you trade them for these useless creatures?"

  "Do we have a deal or not?"

  The woman giggles again, dancing her way back to where he stands. But he sees through her plan.

  Her feet are doing more than dancing, they're drawing an array that is meant to trap his legs from moving.

  Tianling sneers, stomping on the floor to release a circular wave of energy that overwhelms the woman's.

  "If you don't give me a proper answer, I'll just sell them directly to the guests here."

  He raises his palm. "How much are you willing to give for these-"

  "Wait!" she squeals realizing that this mysterious man isn't a simple cultivator. He is smart, powerful, and resourceful.