The next morning, Ning Shaohong led her group to attend the Tongbao Pavilion's auction.
This auction was held at Lingguang Pavilion, located in the very center of the market.
Tongbao Pavilion placed great importance on this auction, aiming to establish its name through this event.
Therefore, they had started the promotional activities much earlier.
When Ning Fa and his group arrived near Lingguang Pavilion, they found numerous cultivators already heading there, almost all of them Qi Refining Cultivators.
Coincidentally, Meng Ruoqi, the most beautiful woman in Thousand Wave Lake whom Ning Fa had met yesterday, was also arriving with an elder.
Although Meng Ruoqi's stunning beauty was concealed by a veil, her graceful figure and bright, star-like eyes were enough to spark endless imagination.
Among the many cultivators, Meng Ruoqi stood out like a crane among chickens, instantly drawing everyone's gaze.
Many low-level cultivators around her were staring at her with vacant eyes.
The elder beside Meng Ruoqi was wearing a black robe with gold patterns and a white jade belt adorned with dragon patterns.
His hair and beard were half white, but he showed no signs of frailty.
His eyes were piercing and sharp, radiating a formidable aura that made it difficult to look directly at him.
However, a hint of fatigue could be faintly seen between his brows.
The powerful spiritual pressure emanating from the elder was also unconcealed.
He was clearly a cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment stage.
Moreover, like Ning Fa's Third Elder, Ning Zhongjiu, he had reached the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage.
Although the surrounding low-level cultivators were captivated by Meng Ruoqi, they all kept their distance from the pair.
After all, in the vast Thousand Wave Lake, Foundation Establishment cultivators were already considered the pinnacle.
Meng Ruoqi and the elder also noticed the equally eye-catching group from the Ning Family.
Meng Ruoqi glanced at Ning Fa. Although her face was veiled, a hint of a smile could be seen in her bright eyes.
The elder beside her showed a flicker of surprise, then smiled and walked towards them.
"Senior Meng."
Ning Shaohong also stepped forward and greeted him with a smile.
Ning Fa, standing by, understood that this elder was likely Meng Hongji, the First Elder of the Meng Family.
Meng Hongji did not act superior. With a broad smile, he said, "Young friend Shaohong, it's been five years since we last met, also at an auction held in Tianshui Market. It's quite a coincidence that we meet again at a Tongbao Pavilion auction."
Meng Hongji's attitude was very warm.
He showed none of the usual condescension that high-level cultivators displayed towards low-level ones.
This was naturally due to the powerful Ning Family behind Ning Shaohong.
Ning Shaohong responded with a smile, her demeanor neither humble nor arrogant.
She looked at Meng Ruoqi, a flash of admiration in her eyes, and said with a smile, "This must be the pearl of the Meng Family, Miss Meng Ruoqi, renowned throughout Thousand Wave Lake, correct?"
Meng Ruoqi replied softly, "Elder Ning is too kind; it's all just rumors spread by others."
Ning Shaohong's gaze flickered, and she looked at Meng Hongji, asking, "Senior Meng, are you here to participate in this auction for that particular item?"
Meng Hongji nodded and smiled, "It seems that only Young Friend Shaohong has come from your esteemed family, implying you are not interested in that item. To be honest, I am greatly relieved."
Ning Shaohong smiled and didn't say anything further on the matter.
After exchanging pleasantries for a moment, as the two parties were about to part ways to enter the venue.
Just then, a young woman's voice called out.
"What a coincidence! I didn't expect to see Sister Shaohong and Senior Meng here."
Everyone couldn't help but turn to look.
A group of people was approaching.
The leader was a young woman dressed in a red dress.
She had a slender figure, fair skin, and a beautiful, charming face.
While her appearance might not have reached Wei Shiqin's level, it was quite close.
Although she wore a smile, she exuded an air of superiority, with a hint of arrogance in her demeanor.
Despite being in the late Qi Refining stage, her powerful aura far surpassed that of cultivators at the same level.
She surveyed everyone with a faint smile, her gaze lingering on Ning Fa for a moment.
Upon seeing this woman, Ning Shaohong's smile slowly faded.
Meng Hongji was initially taken aback, but then his smile deepened as he said, "So it's young friend Danping. I heard a few years ago that your esteemed family sent you to Black Marsh Immortal City to manage business matters?"
The woman in the red dress smiled demurely, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Meng. I only returned a short while ago."
Meng Hongji sighed, "I can feel that your aura is very profound, young friend. You will likely break through to Foundation Establishment soon. It seems your esteemed family will have another Foundation Establishment cultivator, which truly makes me envious."
The woman in the red dress smiled slightly and accepted the compliment gracefully.
Just as she was about to say more, a middle-aged cultivator beside her said impatiently, "The auction is about to start, what are you dawdling for? Let's go in quickly."
This person was wearing a cloud-patterned scholar's robe, had a fair, beardless face, and an appearance that was handsome yet held a hint of effeminate charm.
What drew attention was that, although he didn't put on an air of superiority, an indescribable nobility emanated from him.
Compared to him, the woman in the red dress seemed a bit affected.
Moreover, he exuded a strange fluctuation that blocked others' spiritual sense, making it impossible to discern his exact cultivation level.
Although Meng Hongji had been talking to the woman in the red dress just now, his peripheral vision had been fixed on this person.
Even he couldn't fathom this person's depth, which made his eyes reveal surprise.
Seeing the scholar-robed cultivator's impatience, the woman in the red dress showed no displeasure.
She apologized, "Senior Zhao, my apologies. Please come this way. I've already reserved the best private room for you."
The scholar-robed cultivator pouted and said, "Although I don't think the auction held in this poor, remote place will have anything good, it's better than nothing, so I'll take a look."
With that, he entered the venue without even glancing at anyone else.
The woman in the red dress gave Meng Hongji an apologetic smile before following him in.
Meng Hongji's expression was subtly grim.
It seemed that the scholar-robed cultivator was also at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet he completely ignored Meng Hongji, a cultivator of the same level.
It was as if he disdained interacting with him.
This naturally made the Meng Family ancestor feel a sense of humiliation.
However, his expression quickly returned to normal.
Because he knew that the woman in the red dress treated this person with such seriousness, and coupled with his arrogant tone, his identity must be extraordinary.
After exchanging a few more polite words with Ning Shaohong, Meng Hongji brought Meng Ruoqi into the venue.
Ning Fa, who had been watching the scene unfold for a long time, vaguely guessed that the woman in the red dress was likely from the Xue Family, the foremost family in Thousand Wave Lake.
As for the scholar-robed cultivator, he appeared to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator, judging by his dismissive attitude towards Thousand Wave Lake in his words.
He was likely from outside forces of Thousand Wave Lake.
Ning Shaohong's beautiful face showed a pensive expression; clearly, the unfamiliar scholar-robed cultivator had made her feel a sense of alert.
After all, the Ning Family's greatest rival was currently the Xue Family.