Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1254 - 821: Fat Sheep and Neighbors

After parting with twenty thousand Spirit Stones, Yang Zhenshan watched as the Feather Tower shopkeeper hurried out, greeting him with a warm smile. "Greetings to Daoist friend, I am Yang Qii, the shopkeeper of Feather Tower, haha~~"

"So it is Daoist Yang. I am Yang Zhenshan!" By this point, Yang Zhenshan had grown quite familiar with the phrase Daoist friend.

The Yang Qii standing there seemed around forty years old, surrounded by an air of learning. Rather than a typical merchant, he resembled a knowledgeable scholar.

His cultivation had reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, and it looked as though he was nearing the peak of that stage.

"I didn’t expect us to be from the same family, haha. Daoist friend, would you like to come upstairs for some tea!" Yang Qii suggested, his face lit with a grin.

"Please!"

Of course, Yang Zhenshan wouldn't turn down the offer, and he quickly figured out why Yang Qii wanted him upstairs—it matched exactly the goal that had brought him to Feather Tower that day.

Auction invitation.

Not everyone could simply join the auction run by White Cloud Commerce. Without enough cultivation, background, or money, no one gained the right to step inside.

Yang Zhenshan had made careful inquiries beforehand and discovered that laying out twenty thousand Spirit Stones at Feather Tower would grant him an invite from White Cloud Commerce, explaining his recent bulk purchase of spirit beasts.

Upstairs in a refined chamber, the pair settled in as Yang Qii arranged for tea to be served.

"Daoist friend is probably here for next year’s auction, right?" Yang Qii asked, smiling broadly.

"Yes, I heard there’s an auction by White Cloud Commerce next spring, so I came specifically to ask for an invitation!" Yang Zhenshan confirmed.

"Hehe~" With a chuckle, Yang Qii handed over the invitation. "White Cloud Commerce welcomes Daoist friend to attend the auction. If you have any items to auction, you can also entrust White Cloud Commerce, our reputation is certainly trustworthy!"

Taking the invitation from him, Yang Zhenshan unfolded it for a quick look. Nothing about his name appeared on it—just a number. Attached was also a list of items up for auction.

This invite wasn't tied to any one person; whoever held it could gain entry!

"I’ve long admired White Cloud Commerce by reputation, if there’s a chance, I’d surely be willing to cooperate with White Cloud Commerce!" Yang Zhenshan offered a light compliment toward White Cloud Commerce.

Soon after, Yang Zhenshan made his polite exit.

Departing Feather Tower with over a dozen Spirit Beast Bags in hand, Yang Zhenshan didn't realize that two unassuming shadows had begun trailing him.

Amid the crowded streets, Yang Zhenshan failed to spot anyone shadowing him.

Yet Yang Qii, who had escorted Yang Zhenshan to the door, caught sight of the pair but chose only to give them a brief look without alerting his customer.

True, Yang Zhenshan counted as a Feather Tower patron, but the shop held no duty to safeguard every visitor's well-being.

Besides, such events cropped up far too frequently in the world of Immortal Cultivators; White Cloud Commerce couldn't possibly manage them all.

Shortly thereafter, Yang Zhenshan made his way back to the rented cave abode, where the two followers peered briefly into the entrance before slipping away.

One lingered to keep watch close to Feather Tower, while the other headed into a nearby cave.

Within that cave, a man with a dark and menacing face was drilling through a routine of fist strikes.

Every strike unleashed howling gusts, his blood roaring like a coiling dragon, radiating a savage presence that evoked a beast in human form.

"Boss, we’ve spotted another plump target!" The subordinate rushed up to the man, face alight with thrill.

"How plump a target?" The man questioned, continuing his routine.

"A target from Feather Tower, personally seen off by Yang Qii!" The subordinate reported.

Halting his strikes, the man inquired, "Oh? What's his background, and what's his cultivation level?"

"He's an outsider, no ties to the six great families. His cultivation is hidden—could be some aura-concealing method, or perhaps he's at Foundation Establishment!" The subordinate explained with expertise.

Only two cases hid cultivation from view: either the individual practiced a skill to mask their aura, often fooling those at the same level, or they stood a full realm higher, making it nearly impossible to sense without a burst of Mana.

Stuck at the mid-stage of Qi Refining himself, the subordinate couldn't make out Yang Zhenshan's true power.

With a subtle nod, the man said, "Watch him closely; we'll make our move once the auction wraps up!"

"Yes!" The subordinate acknowledged before withdrawing.

The menacing man thought it over briefly, then entered an inner chamber. There sat a sturdy, towering man and an alluring, captivating woman.

As the menacing man stepped in, the woman queried, "Boss, have you picked out a mark?"

"Yes, I’ve picked out a mark, but it could prove challenging. More digging is needed!" The menacing man answered.

"Hehe, with you leading us, what challenge stands in Lotus Heart Valley?" The woman giggled softly.

"That’s right." The burly man agreed with a nod, his straightforward features full of reverence and awe toward their leader.

A faint smirk tugged at the menacing man's lips, as if their flattery warmed him, yet he remained modest: "We can't afford to look down on any Foundation Establishment Cultivator, or we risk an unforeseen defeat. With the auction still months away—over three, in fact—let's uncover his origins first."

"The boss makes sense." The burly man concurred.

...

Oblivious to being marked, Yang Zhenshan at that moment was delivering the spirit beasts acquired from Feather Tower to the Beast Taming section of Treasure Hall.

Truth be told, the Spirit Source Land already housed scores of Mutant Beasts, including the Red Cloud Horse, Flying Slave Eagle, Gale Grey Wolf (Green Wolf), Gold-devouring Rat, Crystalized Demon Spider, Golden Feathered Fire Crow, Spiritual Amber Moth, Red-tailed Sawtooth Fish, and a host of others.