Chapter 487: Zhang Xuan Takes Action

“Help you get it out?”

The entire auction hall fell silent. The prominent figures of Honghai City stared at each other, utterly bewildered and on the verge of exploding.

What was going on?

This gentleman in private room one… who was he?

He was into *that*? That’s too lewd!

Most importantly, he said something so vulgar in front of such a large crowd without a hint of shame, but rather with self-righteous confidence and overwhelming swagger... Big brother, where did you get such confidence, and where did you even come from?

“Pfft!”

The young man in private room 23 also swayed, spitting the tea he had just sipped all over the old man opposite him.

“Damn! I bid a remote-learning jade token, which is priceless and could buy a late-stage spirit-grade weapon... If it had been a normal bid, I would’ve accepted it. Fair competition, if I couldn't afford it, or my financial strength wasn't as good, there’d be nothing to do.

But... ‘help *you get it out*,’ what the hell is that?

The guy selling the soulless golden figure is decrepit, frail, and looks like he could drop dead any moment. You want to help him *get it out*?

Am I thinking crooked, or is your taste truly beyond appreciation?”

“Well…” The old guard, wiping tea from his face, was shocked for a long time before recovering. “Young master, that man doesn’t have much time left. He probably wouldn’t desire physical pleasure. And even if he did, with so many brothels, why would he look for a man…?”

“Cough, cough…” The young man coughed, finally regaining his breath without choking to death. “I know all that. I just think… this person in private room one is truly unique to say something like that… I bet not only us, but even that old man selling the soulless golden figure, is about to faint!”

“Exactly! How could a normal cultivator accept such a vulgar request? It’s simply too outrageous, too shameless…”

As the old guard righteously and indignantly condemned the situation, he noticed the noisy murmurs below suddenly cease, followed by an excited and eager voice.

“What this gentleman says… is it true?” The old man standing on the auction stage trembled with excitement, his face flushed, seemingly unable to believe it.

“It’s true! As long as you give me the soulless golden figure, I will do my utmost to help you get it out!” the calm voice from private room one continued.

“Good, I accept!” Seeing his confirmation, the old man nodded without hesitation.

“Pfft!”

“If I had known this, I would have prepared more beauties, or found a few male consorts who were into this…”

Hearing the old man’s excited acceptance, without the slightest reluctance, everyone felt a mouthful of blood welling up in their chests, almost fainting.

That works too?

He doesn’t want cultivation techniques, weapons, a Thousand-Leaf Tree, or even a half-five-star-level teaching jade token, just for *this*... Your taste is truly unique!

To sacrifice so many precious treasures for a moment of pleasure... and with a man, no less. This taste... truly is an eye-opener.

Even more astonishing is that the person in private room one said it so openly and self-righteously...

Most crucially, how did you figure out he was into *that*?

Could it be that you are also...?

Everyone felt a chill run down their spine.

“He agreed?” The young man in private room 23 swayed, feeling thunderstruck.

Had he joined an auction, or walked into some pleasure house?

He didn’t want the more valuable teaching jade tokens for buying things, preferring spirit stones, which was fine. But now, he didn’t want the Thousand-Leaf Tree or the priceless half-five-star master teacher jade token, just to... *get it out*!

Even seeing it with their own eyes, both felt their worldviews shattered.

“Yes… he agreed!” the old guard stammered.

“Damn it! If I had known this guy was into *that*, I wouldn’t have gone through so much trouble!” After his frustration, a ruthless look appeared on the young man’s face. He turned and instructed, “You go bid too. Tell him we can also help him get it out. And whatever he wants to do, we’ll meet all his conditions, all positions!”

“Young Master, you…” The old guard’s body stiffened. “Isn’t this sacrifice… too great?”

To do this just for a soulless golden figure... The young master is too ruthless!

“Sacrifice? What sacrifice are you talking about! Are you suggesting *I* go? I, Song Chao, a dignified four-star master teacher, doing something like this? What a joke! If anyone’s going, it’s you. As long as he agrees to sell the soulless golden figure to me, you serve him well; don’t be negligent!”

The young man, Song Chao, scoffed.

“Me?” Just as he was thinking how great his young master was, he heard this and trembled, almost crying.

Does it have to be this cruel?

I watched you grow up, followed you for so many years, and you’re just selling me out like this... Isn’t that a bit much...?

Who did I offend to have to sacrifice my reputation and integrity at such an old age... Not to please a beauty, but to please an... old man?

“Hurry up! Once the other party completes the transaction, it’ll be too late to speak!” Seeing the man’s twisted expression and silence, Song Chao couldn’t help but snap.

“Yes!” The old guard, wanting to cry but unable to, unwillingly stepped forward to the window. “Our young master bids, he is also willing to help you get it out!”

“Huh? Another one?”

“Good heavens, is there no integrity left? How did a respectable auction turn into *this* kind of transaction?”

“Are they all crazy?”

The entire hall was in a frenzy.

One person saying it was bad enough, but a second person doing the same? Where’s your face? Where’s your integrity?

For a soulless golden figure, can’t you have a little dignity?

While the crowd below went wild and frantic, Zhang Xuan in private room one was utterly bewildered. He couldn’t help but stand up and look towards the private room where the voice had just come from. “You can also help him *get it out*? How? Could you explain, so we can see whose method is superior, and give him a better choice!”

Based on what he knew, that thing was very difficult to get out. Even he, with his omniscient ability, found it tricky. What methods could the other party possibly have?

“Pfft!”

It would have been better if he hadn't heard that. Hearing it, Song Chao felt a snake wriggling in his chest, and he frantically ran his hands through his hair.

Is there no shame left?

Saying it aloud to see whose method is superior… Can such a thing be spoken publicly? Not only that, but to discuss it openly in front of everyone? My goodness, do you have to be so aggressive?

And even if we discuss it, what’s there to compare? As long as he’s happy with what’s done, isn’t that enough…?

The old guard was also twitching, tears streaming down his face. It was over; his late-life reputation was truly beyond saving…

“What? Can’t say it? If you can’t say it, you have no method; it’s a malicious bid!” Seeing no movement from their side, the voice from private room one continued.

“I, I… what other method could I use? Of course, it’s *that* one, the one everyone knows…” Seeing the old guard remain silent, Song Chao couldn’t hold back anymore and huffed.

“That kind of method?”

Hearing the other party’s exasperated words, Zhang Xuan was even more confused. “What method exactly? You should explain clearly! He’s possessed by an evil spirit and suffering greatly. What method can *get it out*? If it’s effective, I can let you try first.”

“Possessed by an evil spirit? To force the evil spirit out? Th-this…” Song Chao’s face turned pale, his body swayed, and he felt like he’d immediately burrow into the ground if there were a crack.

What in the world is going on here!

Does your speech have to be so misleading?

“Get it out,” I always thought it was *that*… I’ve already said all that, prepared to abandon my integrity, and it turns out it’s about forcing out an evil spirit…

You’re trying to kill me!

“So it was about forcing out the evil spirit…”

“Evil spirit possession is incredibly dangerous, and one’s life can be in peril at any moment. No wonder this person didn’t want any treasures; when someone’s close to death, what good are treasures? What he wanted must have been a method to treat the evil spirit. But… why didn’t he say it clearly?”

“I don’t know about that… Evil spirit possession, I’ve only read about it in ancient texts. It’s incredibly strange. How did this person encounter it?”

“Witch soul masters excel at soul attacks. He must have dug up someone’s grave and been retaliated against by an evil spirit raised within it…”

Hearing the words from private room one, everyone finally understood, wiping cold sweat from their brows.

So it was about getting rid of the evil spirit, not what they were thinking. It seemed the other person’s words were fine; it was *they* who had been vulgar…

“So that’s what it was…”

Pavilion Master Sai also let out a sigh of relief, his old face reddening.

When Master Zhang spoke just now, he almost scared him to death, thinking he was really into *that*… Only now did he understand.

In truth, Zhang Xuan himself never expected such a huge misunderstanding. In both his past and present lives, he had remained a virgin, having no experience with intimate matters, so he was naturally somewhat naive and bewildered.

As for the old man at the auction, just as others guessed, he had indeed been retaliated against by a Witch Soul Master’s technique. Because he had an evil spirit within him that couldn’t be expelled, and he could die at any moment, he had no interest in any treasures. He only used martial arts to suppress the evil spirit, which caused the vibration and formed the book.

Zhang Xuan had understood it clearly.

“From what I know, evil spirit possession invades and involves the soul. You say… you can expel it. Could it be that you are proficient in the way of the soul?”

Recovering from the awkward atmosphere, Song Chao spoke.

Evil spirit possession was a matter concerning the soul; even master teachers didn’t find it easy to resolve. The other party didn’t sound old. What method could he possibly have?

Everyone looked over in unison, and even the old man on stage had a nervous expression, fearing that the person in the private room was just speaking carelessly and was actually powerless.

“Evil spirit possession is like being afflicted by a potent poison, intertwined with the soul. I am powerless!” the voice from the private room replied.

“Powerless? Then…” Everyone was stunned. He had just spoken so confidently, but now he said he was powerless. The change was too sudden!

“Then why did you say you could help me get it out…?” The old man could no longer remain calm and quickly looked over.

“Since I could see it and describe it in such detail, I can certainly do it!” With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan’s voice continued.

“This…” The old man was utterly confused.

He said he was powerless against evil spirit possession, yet he could help him get it out. Was this person confused himself, or had the old man simply not understood?

While he was bewildered, the voice from the private room continued, “Alright, give me the soulless golden figure. I will personally resolve this for you. With so many people here, it’s not convenient to go into detail!”

“Alright!” After a moment of hesitation, the old man nodded and looked around. “Thank you all for bidding on the soulless golden figure. I’m truly sorry, but I’ve found a buyer and decided to sell it to this gentleman. I can only apologize!”

With that, he reached out his hand.

The golden figure, which had been lying flat in everyone’s view, was put into a ring. With a faint smile, the old man turned and walked off the stage.

“Young Master, what do we do?” Seeing that the buyer was confirmed, the old guard from private room 23 couldn’t help but look over.

He had excitedly come to buy items, bringing a large sum of money, but in the end… he hadn’t spent a single penny. If someone had simply outbid him, it would have been fine, but the key was… the other party didn’t spend a single cent; he just said one sentence, and the golden figure was willingly handed over to him…

The more he thought about it, the more depressed he became.

“What else can we do? Can you expel evil spirit possession?” Song Chao’s face was livid.

“I… cannot!” The old man shook his head.

Evil spirit possession involved the soul. Even though his strength wasn’t weak and he was knowledgeable, he had no method for it.

“Forget it for now. Go inquire about who is in private room one. We’ll decide once we find out!” Song Chao commanded.

“Yes!” The old man nodded.

If they didn’t even know who the other party was, how could they make a decision? How could they come up with a better method?

“He casually drew a seventh-realm artwork, immediately saw evil spirit possession, and showed no interest in a four-star teaching jade token… This person in private room one is mysterious enough. Investigate him thoroughly! Investigate him well!”

Not only Song Chao, but everyone else in the auction hall was also full of curiosity, wanting to know what kind of divine being possessed such great ability to make Pavilion Master Sai willingly give up his private room.

“So this is the soulless golden figure?”

In a spacious room at the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion, Zhang Xuan looked at the puppet placed on the ground, filled with curiosity.

The sale of the soulless golden figure marked the end of the auction. Shortly after returning, the old man who sold it arrived, led by Deacon Luo, bringing the golden figure.

This golden figure was about the size of a real person, but even more imposing, entirely metallic in color, as if forged from steel, making it impossible to discern its true appearance or skin.

After a glance, knowing it wasn’t the time to study it, he swept his hand to store it in his storage ring. Zhang Xuan then looked up at the old man before him.

“Please, Sir, lend your hand to resolve this hidden danger for me!” the old man quickly cupped his fists.

When he first saw the young man, he was actually quite dismayed.

He had assumed that anyone who could see his evil spirit possession at a glance would be an old man past sixty, but… this young, he simply couldn’t believe it.

If the other party hadn’t spoken, describing his condition with absolute certainty and no errors, he would have truly doubted whether he was just speaking carelessly, trying to trick him out of the soulless golden figure.

“Mm!”

Responding with a hum, Zhang Xuan circled the old man without speaking, then raised an eyebrow. “Pavilion Master Sai, Elder Jin, I have something I’d like to trouble you with!”

“Master Zhang is too kind. What is it? Just say the word!”

Both nodded simultaneously.

Although their cultivation was higher than that of the young man before them, they had witnessed too many extraordinary methods to treat him as a junior.

“It’s simple…” Zhang Xuan transmitted his voice.

“This…”

Hearing the voice transmission, the two exchanged glances, each frozen in surprise.

“Master Zhang… this, isn’t it a bit much?”

Hesitating, Pavilion Master Sai felt a bit awkward.

“Do as I say. I know what I’m doing!” Zhang Xuan nodded.

“Alright!”

The two gritted their teeth.

Seeing their dilemma, everyone was puzzled, especially the old man who had sold the soulless golden figure; he was even more bewildered.

Did treating him require the help of these two people?

“Pardon us!”

While he was wondering, he heard Pavilion Master Sai and Jin Conghai simultaneously grunt. Their palms rose, and two streams of *zhenqi* suddenly surged out, completely sealing the surroundings.

“What are you doing?”

The old man’s brows furrowed.

The area they sealed was exactly where he could have escaped.

In other words, they were going to attack him!

“You… do you intend to seize the soulless golden figure by force?”

Recalling something, his pupils constricted.

The soulless golden figure was extremely precious. He had once thought that once the news was out, it was highly probable someone would seize it by force, as he was only at the peak of Transcendent Mortal 2-dan, a significant gap compared to true masters.

Therefore, after obtaining it, he rushed it here without delay, hoping that the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion’s reputation would prevent them from committing murder for goods. He never expected… the dignified Pavilion Master himself to make a move!

“Master Zhang…”

Luo Qin also hadn’t expected that what Zhang Xuan had been hinting at for so long was this, and his face turned pale.

If it really was as the old man said, murder for goods, then the auction house’s reputation would be ruined. How could they attract customers and collect treasures in the future?

“Don’t worry. If I wanted to kill him, I would have just slapped him dead long ago. Why bother sealing the surroundings?” Zhang Xuan rolled his eyes.

No matter what, he was a master teacher, kind and benevolent. How did he appear as a heinous villain in the other party’s eyes?

Murder for goods… How could you even think of that.

A mere soulless golden figure wasn’t worth him doing something like that.

“That’s good…”

Hearing the assurance, Luo Qin sighed in relief. He turned to see Pavilion Master Sai and Elder Jin make their move simultaneously. The old man didn’t last two moves before he was completely immobilized, his cultivation sealed, leaving him powerless.

These two were top-tier masters; dealing with someone at the peak of Transcendent Mortal 2-dan was effortless.

“What exactly do you want?”

Seeing that the opponents merely sealed his cultivation and didn’t attempt to kill him, the old man knew he had overthought things and sighed in relief, but he still couldn’t help but look over.

“Didn’t you ask me to help you expel the evil spirit? How can I expel it without suppressing you first?”

Zhang Xuan smiled slightly.

“So that’s how it is! Please, Sir, proceed!”

Hearing that suppressing his cultivation was merely a step in expelling the evil spirit, the old man breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said.

“Mm!”

Nodding, Zhang Xuan took a step forward, a smirk on his lips, and raised his palm.

He slapped the old man across the face.

“You…”

Spun in a circle by the slap, the old man stood rooted to the spot, eyes wide.

What was going on?

I asked you to help me expel an evil spirit, and what do you do? First, you have someone seal my cultivation, and then… you come over and slap me… What are you trying to do?

Just as he was about to ask for clarification, he saw a foot flying towards him.

“What is this…”

His words were choked back by the kick, his vision blackened, and he flew backward.

Struggling to stand up, the old man’s vision was dark, feeling like he was about to go mad.

Of course, he wasn’t the only one feeling like he was going crazy; everyone present looked as if they had seen a ghost.

Especially Luo Qin, who was almost in tears.

“Didn’t you say… it wasn’t murder for goods? Even if it’s not killing, beating and robbing like this… is also unacceptable…”