Wen Tao was not angered when someone questioned the validity of his claim. He simply smiled and said,
"This Daoyou raises a fair point. The Mystic Thunder Violet Flame is indeed a spirit realm exotic flame. However, I believe everyone still remembers the undisclosed secret realm within the Baohua Mountains that was revealed four years ago, yes?"
Wen Tao's words seemed to stir memories in the room, especially for Yun Xi. She had been half the reason that secret realm was exposed, and had personally witnessed the incident. With composure, she spoke up.
"Anyone cultivating in the Western Region knows about this. From what I understand, that secret realm still hasn't stabilized and remains closed to outsiders."
Wen Tao appeared quite satisfied with Yun Xi's response and continued.
"What this Daoyou said is correct, and the information I mentioned about the Mystic Thunder Violet Flame is directly related to that very secret realm."
Someone immediately called out.
"Wen Daoyou, stop keeping us in suspense. If you want us to spend our spirit stones, you'll need to prove the authenticity of this information."
Wen Tao raised a hand, gesturing for calm before continuing with professional ease.
"The Mystic Thunder Violet Flame was used by a powerful spirit realm cultivator to seal that secret realm. That is how it came to appear in the Weiyu Realm."
Yun Xi found herself more inclined to believe him. Her own Wushuang Sword Lightning Art originated from the upper realm. Back then, a Unity cultivator had suppressed his cultivation and entered the Weiyu Realm with the sole purpose of sealing and taking away that unborn secret realm. But because he and his companions had a falling out over who would claim it, internal strife broke out. In the end, he died a pitiful death within the Baohua Mountains.
If that was true, then Yun Xi had a reasonable theory. The exotic flame used to seal the realm was likely the Mystic Thunder Violet Flame. The mid-grade spiritual vein, which had been completely drained by the Xianling Grass, must have been its energy source. Once the energy was depleted, the flame could no longer sustain the seal and was thus revealed to the world.
Over the past four years, the flame had likely remained hidden. She just didn't know why it had surfaced now.
As Yun Xi lowered her gaze in thought, someone asked aloud,
"Wen Daoyou, if that flame was used to seal the secret realm, then surely once the realm was exposed, it would've been discovered. Any Divine Transformation cultivator who went to investigate wouldn't let such a flame slip through their fingers. Why would it still be available to the likes of us?"
"Exactly. It's an exotic flame we're talking about! Even Divine Transformation cultivators would fight to the death for it!"
"That's right!"
After letting everyone voice their concerns, Wen Tao calmly explained.
"You are all correct. Back then, a Divine Transformation cultivator from the Central Region did indeed take the Mystic Thunder Violet Flame. However, during the process of seizing it, the flame—having developed its own sentience—split off a secondary flame and fled deeper into the Baohua Mountains."
"So what you're saying, Wen Daoyou, is that Wenyuan Pavilion has obtained information about this secondary flame?"
"Exactly. That is the final item for tonight's auction. The starting price is thirty thousand lower-grade spirit stones. If anyone is interested, you may begin bidding. Each increment must be no less than one thousand lower-grade spirit stones."
The moment Wen Tao finished speaking, someone placed the first bid.
Yun Xi didn't join in. Instead, she instructed the Flying Mist Butterfly to keep an eye on the final buyer. If possible, she would rather get the information without spending a single spirit stone.
Yun Xi's fingers lightly brushed the storage ring hidden on her hand. She could feel herself thinking more and more like a native cultivator of this world. In the past, she might have considered a fair trade—spirit stones for information.
But in this world, paying spirit stones would only mark her as a target. The phrase "killing for treasure" was never just metaphor. It was the harsh reality of how this world operated.
Half a stick of incense later, a cultivator wearing a bamboo hat won the bid. He was then escorted out privately, presumably to complete the payment and receive the information. The remaining attendees left through separate exits.
Because Yun Xi had neither placed any bids nor bought anything, she seemed like someone who had merely come to observe. No one paid her any attention, though Wen Tao Zhēnrén did glance her way a second time.
After Yun Xi exited Wenyuan Pavilion, she saw several streaks of light shooting out from Wenzhou City one after another. It wasn't hard to guess that people were already tracking the cultivator who had bought the information on the Mystic Thunder Violet Flame.
"Tsk tsk, good thing I didn't make a move."
Shaking her head in amusement, Yun Xi turned and returned to her inn.
Once she activated the isolation formation in her room, Dian Dian couldn't hold back any longer and popped its little head out, asking curiously,
"Master, why didn't you make a move? That was the Mystic Thunder Violet Flame. It's the most compatible flame with your spiritual roots."
Yun Xi sat cross-legged on a cushion and patted Dian Dian's head.
"So you figured it out?"
Dian Dian flicked its ears proudly.
"Of course. Back when you were facing the Nine Heavens Mystic Thunder during your Golden Core tribulation in the mortal world, Dian Dian already knew."
"You really are clever. But this matter requires patience. If I'd chased after it right now, I'd be caught in a chaotic battle. Besides, I don't think Wenyuan Pavilion auctioned off this information out of kindness."
Dian Dian rolled its black bead-like eyes and asked,
"You think the information is fake?"
"Not exactly. If it were fake, even Wenyuan Pavilion wouldn't dare to auction it. But something about this is unusual."
"What's unusual?"
"Wenyuan Pavilion is selling information about an exotic flame. That's clearly to earn spirit stones. But compared to the flame itself, wouldn't selling the flame bring even greater profit? So why only sell the information?"
Dian Dian pondered for a moment, then replied,
"They couldn't capture the flame, so they're settling for the next best thing."
Yun Xi nodded.
"That does make sense. They couldn't get it themselves, so they're selling the information and letting others retrieve it for them."
"They want to reap the rewards without the risk."
"Exactly. Or maybe they want flame-seekers to serve as their scouts. This Mystic Thunder Violet Flame probably isn't so easy to subdue."
Yun Xi shared her speculation.
After some thought, Dian Dian chirped,
"Then Master, we'll be the lurking mantis and strike when the time is right. We'll claim the final victory."
Yun Xi's lips curled into a smile.
"That depends on what news Fei Xia brings back. If the opportunity is right, I'll make a move. If not, I'll find another way. Honestly, I don't want to let go of this exotic flame either. So I'll act according to the situation."
Yun Xi admitted this openly. She wanted the flame, no doubt about it. Who wouldn't?
That night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Yun Xi left Wenzhou City. After traveling alone for over two hundred li and arriving near Qishan, she received a message from the Flying Mist Butterfly.
"Master, the exotic flame information has changed hands. Judging by their actions, the new owners appear to be evil cultivators."
Yun Xi stopped in her tracks. This was the last thing she wanted to hear.
"How many of them are there? What did they do after intercepting the buyer?"
"Master, there are three evil cultivators. Fei Xia doesn't know their plan, only that they searched the buyer's soul after he paid the spirit stones, then killed him to silence him."
"Keep tracking them. See what they're up to. I'll come meet you now."
Yun Xi made her decision without hesitation.
"Yes, Master."
To avoid alerting the evil cultivators, Yun Xi refrained from flying through the sky. Instead, she activated the Thousand Shadows Riding the Wind technique, leaving only an afterimage where she stood. Her true body had already vanished from sight.
Elsewhere, on the flying ship, Wei Yunqing felt a slight tremor beneath her feet. The ship began to slowly descend.