Divine Emperor Demon Emperor

Lu Bingning and the other woman were still in seclusion, so Lin Yun went straight to the small courtyard where the Celestial Bamboo Saint lived. Before Lin Yun could even speak, the Celestial Bamboo Saint’s voice called out, telling him to enter.

It was the same simple courtyard. The Celestial Bamboo Saint was seated on a cushion in the center, and he gestured for Lin Yun to sit down before speaking. "Young man, I’ve heard everything. Well done. Your arrangements are excellent."

The Celestial Bamboo Saint looked at Lin Yun, seemingly very pleased. His words and expression were filled with admiration.

Since the Celestial Bamboo Saint already knew, Lin Yun didn’t need to elaborate. The Saint told him that if the Qing Zhu Association dispatched a Saint of their own, he would personally intervene.

Having received the Celestial Bamboo Saint’s assurance, Lin Yun bowed respectfully.

Figures like the Celestial Bamboo Saint were paramount among the Six Great Forces of the Eastern Domain. Under normal circumstances, it was incredibly difficult to persuade them to act. Only when another Saint made a move would they reveal themselves.

After getting his confirmation from the Celestial Bamboo Saint, Lin Yun stayed for a while longer, not leaving the Bamboo Courtyard until dusk.

That night, Lin Yun, Luo Feng, and the Six Supreme Elders arrived secretly in Wind City. However, the group did not go to the Bai Family’s estate; instead, they headed for the Celestial Spirit Auction House.

They didn’t use the main entrance. For experts at the Spirit Realm like Luo Feng and the others, sneaking into the Celestial Spirit Auction House undetected was a simple matter.

In a secret chamber in the rear courtyard of the Celestial Spirit Auction House, Luo Feng and the others met Chairman Qian.

Since Lin Yun had orchestrated the entire affair, Luo Feng and the others said little. After they all exchanged greetings, Lin Yun took the lead and asked, "Chairman Qian, where is Cao Tianxing now?"

Hearing Lin Yun’s question, Chairman Qian replied worriedly, "He will arrive in Wind City tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? It seems he’s rushing over without a moment’s rest," Lin Yun remarked lightly upon hearing Chairman Qian’s response.

"Brother Lin Yun, are you sure about this?" With Cao Tianxing arriving tomorrow, Chairman Qian suddenly felt his nerves fraying.

In truth, Chairman Qian couldn’t be blamed. It was simply that Lin Yun’s plan was too audacious.

Lin Yun had discussed the plan with Chairman Qian during their very first meeting, and it was this discussion that had convinced the chairman to go along with it.

Lin Yun had instructed Chairman Qian to interfere in the conflicts within Wind City. Lin Yun knew that with such a perfect excuse, Guang Xuanji would surely notify Cao Tianxing, the head of the Celestial Spirit Auction House for the Eastern Domain.

The Celestial Spirit Auction House had strict rules forbidding its branches from participating in local disputes. Upon receiving this news, Cao Tianxing was bound to come to Wind City personally.

Lin Yun’s plan was to eliminate Cao Tianxing the moment he arrived, ensuring he would remain in Wind City—permanently.

Once Cao Tianxing, the head of the Eastern Domain, was dead, his position would naturally be filled by one of the auction house chairmen from the Five Great Cities.

And Chairman Qian, backed by both the Flawless Palace and Taiqing Academy, would have little trouble securing the post. Furthermore, he had a long list of achievements within the Celestial Spirit Auction House and a more than adequate resume.

However, killing a paramount expert like Cao Tianxing, who was at the very Limit of the Celestial Spirit Realm, would not be easy. The blow had to be decisive and fatal, which was why Lin Yun had arranged for Luo Feng and the Six Supreme Elders to strike together.

With seven experts ambushing him, Cao Tianxing’s death was all but guaranteed, provided there were no surprises.

The benefits for Lin Yun were self-evident. Once Chairman Qian took the seat as the head of the Celestial Spirit Auction House for the Eastern Domain, Lin Yun would gain a powerful backer in the region. In any future struggles against the Qing Zhu Association, Chairman Qian would become his greatest asset.

Seeing Chairman Qian’s persistent worry, Lin Yun asked, "Chairman Qian, what exactly are you concerned about?"

"Young friend Lin Yun, to be perfectly honest, I’m not worried about the ambush on Cao Tianxing. It’s the aftermath that I’m afraid of..." Chairman Qian trailed off.

Before Chairman Qian could finish, Lin Yun interrupted, "You’re afraid of the Gold Order from the Celestial Spirit Auction House Headquarters, aren’t you?"

The Gold Order were the Guardians of the Celestial Spirit Auction House Headquarters. They also managed the heads of the various branches and handled all matters concerning the Celestial Spirit Auction House.

Based on the Tokens they held, the Celestial Spirit Auction House’s hierarchy was divided, from lowest to highest, into the Copper Order, the Silver Order, and the Gold Order.

No one knew how many members the Gold Order had in the entire Celestial Spirit Auction House, but it was known that every last one of them was a Saint, with the lowest being at the Earth Saint Realm.

The murder of a regional head was a monumental affair. The headquarters would undoubtedly dispatch at least one member of the Gold Order to the Eastern Domain to investigate, and that was precisely what Chairman Qian feared.

It was no surprise. Given that all members of the Gold Order were Saints, Chairman Qian’s anxiety was perfectly understandable.

Hearing Chairman Qian, Luo Feng and the others all turned to look at Lin Yun. ’Since he knows about the Gold Order,’ they thought, ’he must have already come up with a plan to deal with them.’

As all eyes turned to him, Lin Yun spoke slowly, "Chairman Qian, you’re afraid that when the Gold Order arrives in Wind City, they’ll uncover some trace and find out that Cao Tianxing died by our hands. Is that it?"

Chairman Qian nodded. That was precisely his fear.

At this, Lin Yun continued, "The Gold Order answers only to the ultimate leader of the Celestial Spirit Auction House. If they were to report the truth of this matter to him, you would face certain death, isn’t that right, Chairman Qian?"

Chairman Qian nodded again.

"However, I have something in my possession that can persuade even a member of the Gold Order to recommend you as the new head of the Eastern Domain," Lin Yun said slowly, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

Hearing that Lin Yun could make a member of the Gold Order recommend him for the position, Chairman Qian was stunned. ’What kind of people are in the Gold Order? Every single one is a renowned Saint on the Celestial Spirit Continent.’

’With a recommendation from the Gold Order, who could possibly contend with me for the position? But winning their support... how could that be easy?’

’Besides, the members of the Gold Order are as elusive as Divine Dragons, their movements impossible to track. I don’t know a single one. And even if I did, how could I possibly bribe them? As Saints, would they even glance at anything I could offer?’

"Brother Lin Yun, I must be slow. Please, enlighten me." After racking his brain, Chairman Qian still couldn’t imagine how Lin Yun could possibly secure a recommendation from the Gold Order, so he had no choice but to ask.

With a faint, all-knowing smile, Lin Yun said, "Chairman Qian, are you familiar with the Saint-Breaking Celestial Pill?"

"The Saint-Breaking Celestial Pill?" Hearing those four words, not only Chairman Qian but also Luo Feng and the others trembled. ’Hasn’t the method for refining that been lost to time?’ they thought.

"Brother Lin Yun, you have a Saint-Breaking Celestial Pill?" Chairman Qian asked, his voice trembling with excitement. ’If he really has one, then getting a recommendation from the Gold Order might actually be possible!’

However, Lin Yun’s reply left Chairman Qian, as well as Luo Feng and the others, deeply disappointed. "I don’t actually have a Saint-Breaking Celestial Pill..."

Hearing this, Chairman Qian and the others were visibly dejected. But the second half of Lin Yun’s sentence sent a new jolt of excitement through them.

"...I don’t have a Saint-Breaking Celestial Pill," Lin Yun said calmly, "but I do have its Pill Formula."