"Brother Qin, go ahead and attend to your business. We'll just pick a private room ourselves." Zizai Shusheng waved at Qin Baisheng, his tone revealing that he and Qin Baisheng were on quite familiar terms.
Then Zizai Shusheng strode leisurely forward and entered a private room together with Hong Xiu Xianzi.
After him, more Gu Immortals filed in one after another. A few chose private rooms, but most opted for the main hall. As for those who chose secret chambers, they had separate hidden passages leading directly into them — invisible from the main hall.
"Though Qin Baisheng is a rogue cultivator, his strength is formidable. Yet he humbles himself while respecting others, and his connections are vast — he's on good terms with many powerful figures." Tai Bai Yun Sheng transmitted from secret chamber number eleven.
This was his first time meeting Qin Baisheng, and his impression was quite favorable.
Fang Yuan watched the scene in the main hall while analyzing: "It's not solely Qin Baisheng's doing. When the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building collapsed previously, the Northern Plains Gu Immortals all managed to seize quite a few Immortal Gu, creating an urgent need for exchanges to satisfy their respective demands. There's also the matter of the Essence of the Fortunate Dao's true transmission. Moreover, with the destruction of the Wang Court Blessed Land and the dramatic upheaval in the Northern Plains, various forces need to reestablish their rules. It is precisely because of the right timing, favorable conditions, and human harmony that this auction grand assembly has become so magnificent. The fact that Qin Baisheng and Li Shan Xianzi could invite Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals is absolutely not just because of their own reputations."
As time passed, more and more Gu Immortals arrived.
In the main hall, the Gu Immortals conversed animatedly, creating a low hum of voices.
Though Gu Immortals were powerful, with infinite True Essence that crushed mortals, they were usually busy managing their Immortal Orifices and making preparations to deal with the succession of calamities that beset them. Their time was, in reality, quite limited.
Furthermore, the world was vast while Gu Immortals were few. Opportunities to communicate with one another were rare. A gathering like this one, bringing together so many Gu Immortals, was exceedingly uncommon.
Gu Immortals needed to socialize and had always placed great importance on their networks.
Immortal Gu were unique. Often, a Gu Immortal would need to borrow another's Immortal Gu to solve their own problems. Additionally, commerce in this world was underdeveloped. Rare and precious resources could not easily be purchased with Immortal Yuan Stones. Many times, treasured materials could only be exchanged.
This auction grand assembly had gathered nearly all the Gu Immortals of the Northern Plains, great and small. Such an opportunity for communication was extremely precious. Therefore, in the main hall, the Gu Immortals conversed without cease, exchanging intelligence. There were even two or three pairs of enemies who, through intermediaries, had already resolved their enmity for the time being.
Gu Immortals were few in number, and their circle was small. If they weren't acquaintances, they were enemies. Even with strangers, a brief exchange of pleasantries would often reveal connections through the intricate web of relationships.
Shortly after Zizai Shusheng, an elderly man leaning on a cane entered the auction hall at a leisurely pace.
Upon seeing him, Qin Baisheng's expression brightened. He quickly strode forward to pay his respects: "Qin Baisheng greets the Medicine Emperor!"
The Medicine Emperor — one of the five great Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals of the Northern Plains.
The hall fell silent for a moment, then many Gu Immortals could not remain seated and rose to their feet. Greetings came in an unending stream.
"Medicine Emperor, you are my savior. Please accept my bow."
"If the Medicine Emperor hadn't intervened, I would still be bearing my injuries to this day."
"Medicine Emperor, do you remember me? I'm little Si, the one who found bean sprout bugs for you back then."
…
Even those Gu Immortals who had already entered their private rooms came out one by one to pay their respects to the Medicine Emperor.
"Hello, everyone. All well, all well." The Medicine Emperor was warm and amiable, nodding graciously. Not an ounce of arrogance, no reliance on his seniority to lord over others.
Like Tai Bai Yun Sheng, the Medicine Emperor was also a Gu Immortal healer. Moreover, he was of the Righteous Path, with an impeccable golden bloodline — Supreme Grand Elder of the superpower Yao Family, his prestige in the Northern Plains was exceedingly high, arguably foremost among the five great Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals.
Stories about the Medicine Emperor were abundant — one could talk for three days and three nights without end.
Here, let us tell just one story that has the closest connection to Fang Yuan, which took place several decades ago.
The Medicine Emperor had been innovating healing Immortal Gu. Over the past hundred-odd years, he had frequently requested Immortal Zombies from the Zombie Alliance for experimentation.
The more research insights he accumulated, the more the Medicine Emperor achieved phased breakthroughs, eventually becoming capable of transforming himself into an Immortal Zombie. Even among many powerful Gu Immortals, no one saw through his disguise. For a time, the entire Northern Plains Gu Immortal community was deceived, believing that the Medicine Emperor had exhausted his lifespan and had no choice but to convert into an Immortal Zombie.
The Medicine Emperor seized upon this, announcing his intention to join the Zombie Alliance. At that time, the Zombie Alliance's leader, the Burning Heaven Demoness, had already crossed eastward into the East Sea. The Alliance was leaderless, with only Yin Liu Gong and two other Seventh Transformation elders standing guard.
No one within the Zombie Alliance could see through the Medicine Emperor's trick, but at the final moment, he was stumped by the doors of the council hall. No matter how hard he pushed, the doors would not budge, leaving all the Immortal Zombies exchanging bewildered glances.
In the end, unable to enter, the Medicine Emperor had no choice but to laugh heartily, retract his techniques, and confess the truth.
Though he had deceived everyone at first, his prestige was immense and his cultivation extraordinarily deep. No Immortal Zombie dared to make trouble with him. In the end, they respectfully escorted him on his way.
No sooner had the Medicine Emperor entered than Yin Liu Gong appeared right behind him.
"Oh, little Liu," the Medicine Emperor turned and greeted him proactively.
"Junior greets the Medicine Emperor." Yin Liu Gong wore an expression of being deeply flattered as he stepped forward to pay his respects.