Zhou Yan and his companions paid no mind to the matter. To him, those people were merely a group of individuals seeking their own demise.
However, the individuals who had set up the challenges soon discovered that all their subordinates had vanished without a trace.
"What's going on? They're all gone!"
"Could it be that group of people?"
"Damn it, I didn't expect those people to be so formidable. That's over a hundred people! I can't stand for this!"
"Then what do we do?"
...
Zhou Yan and his group continued their exploration, visiting numerous places: various marketplaces, tea houses, taverns, and shops. They were either buying things or on their way to buy them.
Along the way, they indeed found many items that piqued Zhou Yan's interest. Coupled with the fact that Zhou Yan was not short of money, he purchased a considerable number of things.
They arrived at the city's largest auction house. Hearing that this was the city's premier auction, Zhou Yan and his companions hoped to find some good items.
However, they were informed that the day's auction had already concluded and they should return another time.
The group could only leave in disappointment, planning to return the next day. They had no intention of leaving immediately.
"Excuse me, when is the next auction?" Xiao Zhao asked.
"Our next auction is in three days, and it will be a grand one. If you wish to attend, it's best to purchase tickets in advance," the attendant replied.
"Very well, then give us nineteen tickets," Zhou Yan said.
"Certainly. Each ticket is worth ten thousand spirit coins. Are you sure you want so many?" the attendant inquired.
"Yes," Zhou Yan replied, unconcerned about the ten thousand spirit coins per ticket.
"Wait a moment, do you have any private boxes?" Zhou Yan asked.
"Yes, we do, but the best..."
"I want the best private box. Money is no issue," Zhou Yan stated.
"However, the best private box is not usually open to the public. Arranging the best one for you will cost one million spirit coins."
"Isn't it just one million? I'll take it." Anything that could be bought with money was not a problem for him.
"Alright, here you go. Please arrive promptly in three days." The attendant handed them nineteen tickets and a VIP card.
After Zhou Yan and his group departed, he asked, "Zhang Wuji, have the hotel rooms been booked?"
"Lord, they have been booked," Zhang Wuji replied.
Zhou Yan nodded. "I've checked the information; there are a few lively places tonight. Shall we go and take a look?"
"Oh, yes, yes!" Zhao Min and Xiao Zhao, who loved excitement, immediately agreed.
Mounting their steeds, they first found a place. The inn was quite crowded. While eating, they overheard many interesting pieces of news.
"Have you heard? The Azure Dragon Gang and the Fierce Tiger Gang are at war again. Many people have died, and both gangs have been arrested."
"I heard the Ming Yan Pavilion has received a batch of attractive young girls, apparently transported by other lords."
"Those people must have been captured by those lords. Everyone knows that sort of thing happens, but we could go and take a look."
"The Grand Examination of the Xuan Feng Dynasty is about to begin, isn't it? I wonder who will be the top scholar this year."
...
These news items were varied, but what interested Zhou Yan the most was information about the tomb of a mysterious powerful individual.
Zhou Yan unleashed his powerful divine sense, searching for the source of this information. It originated from a private room on the second floor. Although distant, it still reached Zhou Yan's ears.
Zhou Yan began to listen intently to the news.
"It's no mistake. It's located five hundred li outside Dongxing City. It should be the tomb of a demigod."
"Has it been confirmed?"
"Naturally, it has. Many powerful individuals have already been alerted, but the exact location hasn't been revealed. I heard the place is very peculiar and only appears on the night of the full moon. There are still seven days until the full moon. We still have time to get there now."
"The experts from the five top sects of the Xuan Feng Dynasty have all gone. I heard there's a divine-tier cultivation technique left there."
"No way, a divine-tier cultivation technique!"
"Keep your voice down!"
...
Zhou Yan was also very surprised. The tomb of a demigod, with a divine-tier cultivation technique appearing, truly piqued his curiosity.
Zhou Yan took out a map and located Dongxing City. It was quite far from their current location, but they could travel there using a teleportation array.
"What are you taking out the map for?" Diao Chan asked Zhou Yan, her beautiful eyelashes filled with confusion.
"I've discovered some news. Our next destination is here," Zhou Yan said, pointing to a spot on the map.
"Dongxing City!" Wei Zifu looked at the location and asked, "Is there anything interesting there?"
"We're going grave robbing," Zhou Yan replied.
Zhou Yan recounted the previous news, and then everyone understood why he wanted to go there.
Zhou Yan wasn't sure if the news was true, but he still felt it was worth checking out. The tomb of a demigod must contain many treasures.
"Slam!" You wicked girl, how dare you run away!
"Help!"
"Catch her for me!"
Moments later, a girl, about eleven or twelve years old, dirty and with disheveled hair, and one side of her face swollen, ran into the inn and pleaded, "Will someone save me!"
But the people around ignored her, even recoiling from her.
After all, it wasn't their business. Moreover, who knew if this was some kind of trick while traveling?
In this world, there were too many tricks and scams, to the point where most people had become indifferent to matters that didn't directly concern them.
Diao Chan and the others didn't have an overflow of kindness and suggest saving the girl, as they were unsure of the situation.
The little girl was utterly helpless. Seeing the people from outside emerge, she quickly said, "I have a secret! They want to capture me. Whoever saves me, I'll tell them the secret. It's a big secret, I'm not lying!"
"Hurry and take that crazy girl away!" The man outside immediately changed his expression upon hearing this. He then said, "Apologies, everyone. This girl is someone I bought. She's been acting crazy because she's disobedient. Please don't mind her."
Several individuals quickly stepped forward, subdued the little girl, tied her up, and gagged her mouth.
"Wait a moment!"
Several people nearby stopped them and said, "You say you bought this girl? Coincidentally, we also say she was bought by us brothers!"
Upon hearing this, the man outside glared at them with venom in his eyes. "You gentlemen are from out of town, aren't you? Have you heard of the Xiao family?"
The men exchanged glances and then asked, "Are you from the Xiao family?"
"Don't believe me? Shall I take you to the Xiao family for some tea?" the man said coldly.