Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1075: On this auspicious night

Shiguan Xiaodiao, the proprietor of the Silverleaf Trade Hall, was deep in meditation, his eyes shut in a lotus position within his mansion in the Eastern Outskirts, not far from the main establishment. The location was the same as his usual nightly ritual.

A sense of elation filled him as the next day promised a significant event—the final resolution to a persistent source of his recent vexation.

‘The time has finally come to eradicate those upstarts,’ he mused with a sneer. ‘Hmph! They must be feeling rather pleased with themselves for managing to persist this long. Oh, look at us, we can rival the Silverleaf Trade Hall~… You know what? It wasn’t that we lacked the ability to crush you like mere insects; we simply opted for the opportune moment! It’s all about the timing!’ A faint smirk graced his lips.

‘Do you truly believe you can barge into my domain and do as you please?’ His brow furrowed as he contemplated this persistent annoyance that had emerged so unexpectedly and plagued him. ‘But truly, how are they succeeding? There’s no conceivable way they could circumvent the scrutiny at the World Stone, so where are their goods originating from? Manufacturing is out of the question; there’s simply no space to conceal such a colossal operation… Whatever the case, it will all unravel when we bring them down. Their secrets will also become mine…’

His expression, once pleased, shifted to a slightly disgruntled one. ‘Although, we were compelled to enlist the aid of the Thousand Treasures Hall for this endeavor… There’s simply no way we could have organized a comparable auction in such a short timeframe without their assistance. Consequently, I suppose we’ll have to share the spoils…’

His thoughts inevitably turned to the irritating individual who represented the Thousand Treasures Hall—a minor member of the Bao Family, hailing from a distant branch, so far removed from the main lineage that his connection to the Bao Family was questionable at best.

Yet, despite such a humble standing, or perhaps because of it, his demeanor was the very definition of overbearing arrogance.

For several arduous months, Shiguan Xiaodiao had been forced to placate and act subservient to this man, a situation that only amplified his existing frustrations.

This simmering irritation was then also directed towards the Soaring Feather Trading Company, who were ultimately responsible for forcing him to endure such indignities.

He then attempted once more to salvage his mood by envisioning the triumph of unveiling their impressive collection of treasures, thereby completely overshadowing the Soaring Feather Trading Company.

‘Hehehe, I can only imagine the looks on their faces when they are forced to commence an auction with nearly nothing! Hahahaha!!! Just picture it, you think you have everything within your grasp, only to lose it all! Hahaha! Oh, the sheer irony—’ His elated thoughts were abruptly shattered by a ripple emanating from his communication jade, resting on a table some distance from the bed where he sat.

‘Hmm?’ His eyes flickered open.

Under normal circumstances, he would have reacted instantly, either leaping from his seat or utilizing his mental power to propel the communication jade directly into his hand. Such an event would signify an emergency; no one in their right mind would dare transmit a communication talisman at night unless it was dire.

However, over the past few months, this had become a disturbingly frequent occurrence, thanks to the presence of the Bao Family member.

Shiguan Xiaodiao’s expression contorted into a grimace of annoyance. ‘It’s all the fault of that infernal Soaring Feather Trading Company! Oh, how I will relish—’

Before he could finish his thought, his communication jade pulsed again, interrupting him and finally setting off alarm bells in his mind. This was especially true as multiple ripples emanated simultaneously, indicating that over a dozen communication talisman messages had arrived in rapid succession.

But even before he could channel his Spiritual Sense into the communication jade that had flown into his grasp, deafening sounds erupted from outside, shaking him to his very core—the unmistakable clamor of gongs and the rapid firing of signal flares from the headquarters.

Goosebumps erupted across his skin, and a profound sense of dread washed over him. It wasn't a conscious realization, as his mind was already racing with the implications of the sounds. He launched himself through the balcony door with the utmost speed he could muster.

His gaze locked onto the spectacle of signal flares igniting the night sky. More and more ascended with piercing whistles, bursting into fiery blossoms overhead. The illumination was no longer confined to the headquarters; it now spread across the entire Eastern Outskirts, with an echoing repetition of the signal. The gongs, too, resonated relentlessly, like the thunderous beat of war drums.

Moments later, he arrived above the headquarters, accompanied by a sonic boom. What greeted him was a scene of utter pandemonition and chaos. The gongs and signal flares continued to saturate the night air with both cacophonous sound and brilliant light. Some individuals, already outside, were shouting in sheer panic, their cries a jumbled mess that made coherent understanding impossible. Others emerged from buildings or rushed towards the scene, as bewildered as he was.

The chaotic disturbance had already thoroughly annoyed the Hall Master, but the final vexation arrived with the appearance of a single individual – the representative from the Thousand Treasures Hall.

It was absolutely imperative that the Silverleaf Trade Hall prevent this disgraceful public disorder from continuing in the presence of such a significant figure. Moreover, the disdain and contempt radiating from this visitor were becoming increasingly palpable as he observed the unfolding farce.

"Silence!!!" Shiguan Xiaodiao's bellow, amplified by a wave of pressure from his Essence Ignition Realm cultivation base that surged through the headquarters and far beyond, cut through the noise. His voice, infused with spiritual qi, commanded, "Cease that infernal gong and halt the wasted signal flares, you fools! If anyone hasn't been roused or alerted by now, forget it – they're already dead!"

The clamor of gongs and the popping of signal flares ceased. While flares still ascended in other parts of the Eastern Outskirts beyond the headquarters, their distant light no longer posed a significant disturbance.

"Mubai!" the owner of the Silverleaf Trade Hall summoned the highest-ranking security officer by name.

"Here, Hall Master," a tall, powerfully built man, clad in imposing armor, emerged swiftly from the surrounding throng.

"Report."

"There was~... uhm~..." The man faltered, his gaze flicking towards the member of the Bao Family present. This hesitation prompted an astonished look from the Hall Master, after which the security chief braced himself and hastily continued, "...a theft-..."

"Theft?! Hah! Small wonder I harbored concerns about this rustic backwater – what a farce!" the Bao Family member interjected, a sneer etching his features. He then shook his head, continuing with a dismissive tone, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, Owner Shiguan, is this the standard of your business operations?"

Shiguan Xiaodiao's complexion paled as he forcefully suppressed the overwhelming urge to silence the arrogant man and hear Mubai's full report. His rationality, however, asserted control. Clearing his throat, he adopted a polite and placating tone. "Daoist Bao, please accept our apologies for this unsightly display and for disturbing your rest. I assure you, this marks the very first instance of theft within the Silverleaf Trade Hall. We shall apprehend and bring the culprit to justice."

"Hmph! I certainly hope so, lest the auction my Bao Family has gone to such lengths to arrange for you be tarnished by such ignominious news," the guest replied, crossing his arms over his chest and tilting his chin upwards.

'What 'my Bao Family,' you pompous oaf?!' Shiguan Xiaodiao fumed inwardly. 'Do you even possess enough drops of Bao Family lineage in your veins to claim such an affiliation, let alone utter such a pronouncement?!' Yet, outwardly, he maintained a genial smile. "Indeed, we will ensure that the audacious thief serves as a stark example," he affirmed.

He then turned back to Mubai, signaling with a nod for him to continue, his expression now considerably more solemn.

Mubai's countenance, however, contorted into a grimace as he internally cursed his misfortune at having to deliver the devastating tidings. Clearing his throat, he began, "Th-The matter is... the main vault of the Auction House was breached and completely plundered-..."

"What?!?!" This time, it was Shiguan Xiaodiao whose voice boomed out, his mind reeling into a state of shock. A wave of oppressive energy erupted from him, disrupting the flow of qi throughout the entire headquarters and causing the majority of the cultivators from the Nine Mortal Realms to collapse on the spot, while others gritted their teeth, enduring the immense pressure with varying degrees of difficulty. He first shouted, then began to stammer, "Impossible!!! It-It i-i-i-i-i-is i-i-i-i-i-impossible!!!"

His voice escalated into a shrill, high-pitched scream at the conclusion, his face a canvas of bewilderment, utter disbelief, and profound horror.

The representative from the Bao Family also turned ashen, launching into a series of incoherent shouts in an equally piercing tone.

Shiguan Xiaodiao, however, was not listening. His thoughts were a chaotic storm, struggling desperately to reconcile the unbelievable reality as he bolted towards the Auction House.

Upon entering the now-empty vault, the grim truth finally struck him, and he collapsed to his knees, his expression one of utter desolation, his mind awash with unspoken questions.

'How could this have happened? When? How did no one detect the thief? Where is all the treasure now? Where is the thief? Who is the thief? Why is this occurring? And why now? What in the heavens is transpiring?!' These thoughts, and a thousand more, detonated in his mind like a fierce barrage of fireworks, simultaneously. He felt an overwhelming pressure building within him, as if his head were about to burst, his throat constricting despite his constant, futile attempts to swallow and moisten it, his dry lips cracking under the strain.

He then directed his stunned, vacant gaze towards the individual who had arrived in the vault just after Mubai and the Bao Family member – it was the general manager.

'General Manager... ... !!! ...!!! That’s right!!! GENERAL MANAGER!!!', he sprang up from his kneeling position, his eyes wild. He seized the general manager by the shoulders, bone-cracking sounds echoing with a pained shriek from the gripped man. Yet, disregarding the cry of agony, Shiguan Xiaodiao bellowed, flecks of saliva flying, 'TREASURE!!! THE MAIN TREASURE FOR THE AUCTION!!!!! TELL ME YOU HAVE IT!!!'

The general manager, hearing the scream through his agony, felt his heart plummet with a realization that numbed the pain. His spiritual sense delved into his spatial ring, and with a sinking horror, he shut his eyes, clenching his teeth. His face contorted into a mask of mental anguish, surpassing any physical discomfort from his fractured bones.

Not long ago, he had been as exhilarated as Shiguan Xiaodiao, planning to deliver a crippling blow to the Soaring Feather Trading Company’s auction with this very treasure. Now, it was gone.

Shiguan Xiaodiao, however, understood the grim truth without needing a verbal answer. Disbelief consumed him. He snatched the general manager's spatial ring, dislocating the man's finger in the process, but paid it no heed as he put it on.

Those observing noticed the unmistakable signs of minor qi deviation the moment he had collapsed onto the floor. However, they were powerless to intervene; aiding someone experiencing qi deviation was nearly impossible.

Their shouts, attempting to soothe him, went unheeded. Shiguan Xiaodiao heard nothing, and the shrill, semi-incoherent screams from the Bao Family member only added to the chaos.

As Shiguan Xiaodiao confirmed the treasure's absence, his Crystal Core began to show hairline fractures, spinning erratically.

Yet, just as despair seemed imminent for all spectators, an unseen force touched Shiguan Xiaodiao’s back. Through the haze of his almost-mad state, he thought he heard a voice utter, 'Let’s not have a scene on this auspicious night when my Ye’er and Fairy Yue celebrate not having taken a life.'

He vaguely recalled thinking, 'Auspicious? Auspicious night? Auspicious my foot...'

Then, his consciousness faded into slumber as his Crystal Core inexplicably stabilized—a phenomenon later referred to as a miracle.