Chapter 985: Betraying One's Master and Destroying One's Clan

"Senior..."

Seeing him stop, Hu Yunsheng looked puzzled.

"You go to the private room first, do as we discussed, observe who wants to buy, and write it all down. I have something to take care of, I'll be right back!"

Zhang Xuan instructed.

"Yes!"

Not daring to say more, Hu Yunsheng nodded and continued forward.

Seeing him walk away, Zhang Xuan's furrowed brow did not relax but grew tighter. His body flickered and he dashed forward.

Soon he arrived at a large hall.

The room was full of people, presumably attendees of the auction. He glanced around and his eyes landed on a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance.

This fellow seemed to be only at the initial stage of Saint Domain, unremarkable, with a water-attributed true qi circulating inside him, posing no great threat. But for some reason, Zhang Xuan felt a peculiar palpitation.

Exactly like the one in the underground cavern.

"It's... an Otherworldly Demon!"

His pupils contracted.

In the underground cavern, he had slain hundreds of Otherworldly Demons and knew how terrifying these creatures were. The one not far away, though not emitting killing intent, gave him an equally dreadful pressure.

Especially the Dean's Token, which kept jumping as if it might rush out at any moment.

"Eye of Insight!"

A faint pattern slowly appeared on his pitch-black pupils. He looked over and indeed saw a tall Otherworldly Demon before him, its dense killing intent restrained beneath a watery barrier.

The opponent had used some method to keep the killing aura from leaking out, making it undetectable even to the other Saint Domain cultivators nearby.

If not for having slain many Otherworldly Demons recently and being very familiar with them, plus possessing the Eye of Insight, he certainly would not have been able to discover it.

"This guy's strength is somewhat unfathomable..."

He clenched his fists secretly.

The opponent had used some special disguise method to block surrounding detection. Although the Eye of Insight could see through his true form, it could not discern his exact cultivation level.

Of course, it was also possible that the opponent's strength far exceeded his own.

But... regardless of strength, what was an Otherworldly Demon doing here disguised as a human? Was he also attending the auction?

Was the Earth Treasury Flower also attractive to Otherworldly Demons?

"Can't let him go in..."

Rubbing his chin, Zhang Xuan pondered.

If this fellow bought the Earth Treasury Flower, how would he find the poison master? Moreover, a Saint Domain-level Otherworldly Demon coming to a crowded place—no one would believe there was no sinister plot.

He had to find a way to drive him away.

"But... how can I do it without alarming others?"

Zhang Xuan was troubled.

This was an auction house. Whether he acted himself or sent a puppet, it would cause a huge commotion, possibly even demolishing the place!

Especially if the opponent realized his identity was exposed and revealed his Otherworldly Demon form, it would surely shock the entire Jingyuan City. Then, attracting a master teacher, finding the poison master, and entering the Poison Hall would become nearly impossible.

As he was deep in thought, he saw the Otherworldly Demon disguised as a human follow the crowd toward the inner auction hall. If he didn't stop him now, he might never have another chance.

"No time to overthink..."

Frowning, knowing there was no time for lengthy deliberation, Zhang Xuan strode over and blocked the opponent's path.

"What are you doing!"

Seeing him suddenly appear and block the way, the disguised Otherworldly Demon frowned.

Clatter!

Immediately, the two guards beside him stepped forward, drawing their long blades, both exuding murderous intent.

These two were both peak Silkworm Seal realm experts, but they were not Otherworldly Demons; they were normal cultivators.

"May I ask, friend, why are you blocking my way?"

Seeing the surrounding gazes converge on him, the Otherworldly Demon waved his hand to stop the guards from attacking and looked over.

He also knew that causing a disturbance here might expose his identity, which would not be worth it.

Having disguised himself as a human to come here, he must have his own purpose.

"Heaven has eyes! I've finally found you..."

Ignoring the opponent's attitude and the two guards, Zhang Xuan's face suddenly became extremely excited, and he moved to embrace him.

Frowning, the Otherworldly Demon released a surge of power from within, blocking his movement.

"I'm Sun Qiang... Don't you recognize me?"

Pushed away, Zhang Xuan quickly looked at him, introducing himself earnestly, as if they were old friends.

"Sun... Qiang?" The Otherworldly Demon frowned. "Sorry, you must have mistaken me for someone else!"

Disguised as a human, he didn't know anyone here. Where did this guy come from?

"How could I be mistaken!"

Ignoring his attitude, Zhang Xuan grabbed the opponent's arm. "We grew up together. When you were young, you were incredibly arrogant. After a surge in strength, you beat up your own teacher. To take revenge, you specially concocted poison and killed a Saint Domain expert. Most importantly, you learned some soul cultivation technique from somewhere, greatly increasing your soul power! I remember it all clearly—how could I forget!"

"He beat his teacher? Isn't that betraying one's master and destroying one's clan?"

"Concocting poison to kill a Saint Domain expert? Isn't that a poison master?"

"And learning soul cultivation? Could he be a soul cultivator?"

The surrounding crowd, hearing his words, all looked at him with hostility.

The Master Teacher Continent valued heritage and respected teachers greatly. Betraying one's master and destroying one's clan would be despised by all.

More importantly, the professions of poison master and soul cultivator were banned by the Master Teacher Pavilion. The fact that the crowd hadn't rushed up to beat him was already fortunate.

"What nonsense are you talking?"

Seeing this stranger spouting nonsense, the Otherworldly Demon's brows twitched, and he nearly exploded on the spot. "I don't know you at all..."

If he was surrounded by the crowd and his identity was exposed, how could he accomplish anything?

He shook his arm violently, sending a force to shake off the hand gripping him.

"You don't know me? Fine!"

Ignoring the opponent's action, Zhang Xuan raised his brows. "You say you don't know me. Three years ago, when you were being chased and your left shoulder was pierced, you were about to die. Who saved you? Now, dare you show your shoulder? If I'm not mistaken, that wound should still have a scar, right?"

"You..."

The Otherworldly Demon was stunned, his fists tightening.

Three years ago, he had indeed been injured, his left shoulder pierced by a special weapon. The wound had not fully healed and still bore a scar, which even his disguise could not erase...

But it was hidden under his clothes, never shown to anyone, not even his closest friends. How did this guy know?

"What, don't you dare? That wound was inflicted by a fire-attributed spear. You cultivate a water-attributed technique, so not only has the scar not disappeared, but you also have a hidden injury—a flame true qi that wreaks havoc on your Soul Concealment acupoint every full moon, causing you great pain. Am I wrong?"

Zhang Xuan continued.

"You, you..."

At first just surprised, now his eyes bulged as if they would pop out. The Otherworldly Demon was scared out of his wits.

What the other said was absolutely correct.

His wound was indeed caused by a fire-attributed spear, he did cultivate a water-attributed technique, and there was a flame true qi tormenting him every month... Not a single word was wrong!

He was certain he didn't know this person, and he had never told anyone about his ailments...

How did this guy know?

"What, still haven't remembered me? Are you hiding something, not convenient to see people, that you dare not acknowledge me?"

Zhang Xuan continued.

"Cough, cough! I remember now, so it's Brother Sun Qiang..."

Seeing this stranger saying more and more, and the surrounding gazes growing stranger, the Otherworldly Demon, afraid that if he kept talking his identity would be exposed, had to feign embarrassment.

"That's more like it! Since you recognize me, here, this is your favorite wine. If you're a brother, take a drink!"

Seeing him acknowledge, Zhang Xuan finally relaxed, beaming. He flicked his wrist, produced a gourd, and handed it over.

"Drink? Here?"

The Otherworldly Demon was dumbfounded.

Even for good friends, one should consider the occasion for drinking!

Here inside the auction house, with so many people watching, you want me to drink... What's the meaning?

Not only was he puzzled, but the surrounding crowd was also full of confusion.

"Yes, don't you trust me? Think there's something wrong with my wine? You're still so suspicious. Here, I'll take a drink first!"

With a light laugh, Zhang Xuan raised the wine gourd, uncorked it, and the aroma of wine immediately filled the air. He tipped his head and took a drink.

"Here!"

After drinking, he handed it over.

"Let's drink another day. The auction is about to start, and I have things to do..."

Frowning, the Otherworldly Demon finally shook his head.

He didn't know the other person at all. Having a stranger pop up and ask him to drink—of course he was suspicious.

"You're still so suspicious. You're just like an Otherworldly Demon, especially that Shuiye King Qingtian or something..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Creak!

Hearing this, the Otherworldly Demon's pupils contracted, his whole body stiffened, and a flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes.

The other's words seemed like nonsense, but they almost completely identified his identity!

That is, his previous words were not nonsense at all—the other party... already knew who he was.

But... he had racked his brains and couldn't recall ever knowing someone named Sun Qiang.

"You're right, good friends should indeed drink. But this isn't the place. How about we go out together? Find a tavern and drink till we're drunk..."

Suppressing the murderous intent in his heart, the Otherworldly Demon laughed.

Since the other had recognized his identity, there was only one way... find an opportunity to kill him!

Otherwise, if his identity was exposed here, his mission would certainly fail.

"Go to a tavern? Of course. But you have to drink first before I go with you. If you don't even drink the wine I offer, how do I know if later you'll be drinking or attacking me? You've even betrayed your master and destroyed your clan—killing a good friend wouldn't be a big deal, right?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"You..."

The Otherworldly Demon's face flushed red with anger.