The procedure for betting on these surprise barrels was interesting enough even for Bai Qi. After all, not only one had a single breath, one used by Mo Kun to call out the starting bet, to look at the contents, but not even aura or other expanded senses could be used. This was achieved by a formation, one that protected the treasures from up to Warrior Lord auras, and if it could not, then it would serve as alarm. Then the barrel would be closed and sealed, and the betting started.

It was a bet made on your instincts, and capacity to quickly discern the contents of the barrel with just your bare senses of vision and smell.

For the first four, Bai Qi mainly observed, and got used to the rhythm, with them going respectively to four of the sixteen participants. But judging from Wu Ren's lack of betting, they were probably not worth the try.

The fifth barrel attracted his attention, as not only the starting price was a bit higher, 5 mid-grade stones in place of the 1-2 from before, but he also had the impression of having smelled some kind of poisonous plant.

"Bets!" Mo Kun exclaimed and the participants began to shout them out. Speaking of which, there was a single round of betting, and all of them were said at the same time, so this made the contest even more interesting. After all, not only do you have to get it without overpaying, but you would also need to offer slightly more than everyone else! A second-round would occur only if two or more offered the same top price.

"6"

"65 low-grade"

"7"

"7 and a shard"

"Barrel goes to Old Man Wu, next!"

Bai Qi had been the runner-up, offering 7 mid-grade stones. But almost like if Wu Ren knew about the maximum price, as his bet was just a single shard over!

"Not bad, Young Friend Chen. But that one is mine"

"No worries Senior"

***

Some didn't pique Bai Qi's interest at all, while others did, but almost every time, at least until the 17th barrel, everything that was truly interesting was also bet on by Wu Ren. And every time, he was a single shard ahead.

"17th barrel. Starting bet, 1 low-grade stone" Mo Kun announced.

"Huh?" Everyone present looked at the manager, thinking that probably he made a mistake.

"It is not a mistake, it's the price set up for this barrel"

"Then it's certainly trash, so I am not even betting" The fat man with the gaudy clothes, who had betted for eight, from which he won two barrels and lost six bets to Wu Ren dismissively said. And he was followed by a few nods and murmurs of agreement.

"It's your choice, Bet!"

Bai Qi had not seen or sensed anything interesting from the barrel, still, he felt that he should bet for it. And so he did.

"17 shards"

"18 shards"

"And it goes to Chen Guang" Mo Kun announced.

"Hoho, my young friend, you got me!" Wu Ren laughed it off, albeit a hint of surprise could be read in his voice.

"Pure luck Senior, pure luck" Bai Qi smiled sheepishly while thinking "Ah yes, pure luck and finding out that you senior are not so simple, after all, what normal cultivator could read a number that has not been voiced yet?"

Bai Qi had thought that Wu Ren's gaze, one that he sensed on every better during the betting was a bit strange, after all, it wasn't like the number would be written on one's face, was it? But then, he found out that the gaze was directed at everyone's mouths, which meant Wu Ren could almost immediately, just by how one opened his mouth deduce what sum they would call. No wonder that his words started just an instant later. And so, Bai Qi had opened his mouth to voice the character 16, but with the use of qi, changed it to 18.

Bai Qi thought that with one it was enough, but that was until he felt something from the 20th, last barrel. He could not describe the feeling, and it was far different from the 17th one. It was like an item inside there was calling for him!

The starting price was far higher than expected, at 10 mid-grade spirit stones, also the highest from all of them. He quickly calculated his reserves. He intended to keep a couple of thousand shards for his needs, so he could spend about 19 mid-grade stones.

"Now how to go about it? Wu Ren probably knows that I got the trick figured out, hmm" As Bai Qi thought, he again marveled at how such a simple betting game would require the utmost concentration.

"Bet!"

"11"

"14"

"15"

"17"

"18 and a half"

"A thousand, eight hundred, fifty and 1 shard!"

"...Winner, Chen Guang, for a single shard!"

Bai Qi had deliberately announced his bet in shards, gaining a small advantage in time, and not allowing Wu Ren or anyone else to hear his last number until they had spoken. At the same time, he did not cheat, as his single shard had been voiced before they finished speaking.

"Hohohoho! Marvelous! Young Friend Chen, you are definitively the most interesting opponent that I have met around here" Wu Ren laughed, and his words were echoed by the other people present.

It seemed like everyone who participated in this after auction knew each other, and as soon as the betting ended, they all began speaking familiarly with each other.

"Old Man, not bad! You got me six times of six! But next time, I will definitively outbet you" The gaudily dressed man, who turned out to be an owner of a Pawn Shop spoke up while approaching Wu Ren.

"And you young man, you managed to do it thrice, and you even outdid this Old scammer twice, hehe" He nodded at Bai Qi with a smirk.

***

A few minutes later, Bai Qi was called aside by Mo Kun and the barrels and shards exchanged owners.

"Manager Mo, I had also betted during the main auction, but then stayed for this event, I hope that my previous bets weren't considered unclaimed?"

"Oh no, albeit you are not allowed to leave the venue, Hall's rules state that you have until midnight to buy out your items. After all, sometimes our guests bet over what they have at hand, so they have to send someone to bring them more"

"I see, thank you"

"No problem, and I hope you visit us again. Not every day I see someone managing to outbet Old Man Wu!"

________________________________________________________________________

It was late afternoon by the moment that Bai Qi left the Trade Hall's Pagoda. He had decided to look at the barrels in his manor, and seemingly everyone agreed. Albeit before he made a few steps, he found that Qiu Zemin was following him.

"Brother Chen, please wait!"

"Do you need something?"

"Oh, I just wanted to ask if you would like to go eat something?"

"Hmm? Well, I was planning to go back home, but eating sounds like a good plan" Last time he ate was almost two months ago, when Senior Deng treated them at that private room in the 'Persimmon Tower'. From that moment on, he had been either cultivating or refining and so simply living on qi. Not that it was a bad thing, but delicious food was always a vice for all cultivators. After all, if not a vice, how to describe the fact that they ate even if they did not require to do so after forming a dantian and learning to infuse every part of their body with qi?

"Ohh, good! I suppose you live in one of the residential districts?"

"Yes, Falling Leaves"

"No matter, what I meant that as we both need to cross the Free district, maybe we can get something at the 'Persimmon Tower'? Upper floors aside, I think the low floors should be not so packed now"

"Mmm, let's do so then" Bai Qi nodded. Albeit he had only formed an initial impression on Qiu Zemin, he considered that the latter was at least someone with a decent character. And as he planned to visit the 'Fish Gazing Sect' in the future, getting to know about it didn't appear like a bad idea either.

"Young friends, do you intend to go somewhere and not invite a poor old man?" Suddenly Wu Ren's voice sounded from behind, and both of them turned around.

"Senior?"

"I overheard you planning to go to grab a late dinner, why not invite me as well?"

"Ehem, we supposed that Senior will go with the people from before?" Bai Qi went to Qiu Zemin's rescue, after seeming that the latter was struggling to find a way to explain. Not that it was even needed, after all, wasn't there a saying about similar age people being together?

"Oh, you misunderstood, the drinking session with them, the barrel addicts as they jokingly call themselves is tomorrow. After we open our barrels in the safety of our residences and can gloat about our awesome findings without showing them"

"..."

***

In the end, the old man weaseled his way into Qiu Zemin's and Bai Qi's plan, and so the three of them started towards the restaurant.

With them leaving later, most of the auction visitors had already dispersed, and so the streets were far calmer than before. Half of the stores, at least the ones that weren't meant to be visited at night were already closed, so the Trade District looked almost empty.

It was only by the gate between the latter and the Free District that Bai Qi noticed that his tail, which stayed outside while he was inside the pagoda, was not following him now.

Did they give up waiting? Missed him in the enormous amount of people that left? Or were recalled? It wasn't possible to answer any of the questions without asking them in any case, so Bai Qi simply noted the fact, and continued his chat with his two new acquaintances.

The chat was mostly small talk, but Bai Qi was making sure to ask a few questions about the region, slowly expanding his knowledge and understanding of it.

Albeit the region was indeed ruled by the overlord, the 'Great Forest Sect' tended to be reclusive, and the 1st tier powers followed suit. So in truth, each part of the region had its own small overlord, normally a 2nd tier power. Like for example the southernmost point of the region, where the 'Fish Gazing Sect' was located. Not only it was entirely controlled by the latter, but they were also the ones responsible for managing the 4th tier powers inside it. As for the 3rd tier ones, they were mostly independent and had their small territories.

"Hmm, but would not it raise a lot of tensions about who can go where?"

"There is always a bit of that, but in the end, we all are part of the same region, not to mention having enemies on both the South and the West. Any big conflicts are prohibited and will be stopped by the Overlord or the 1st tier powers"

"I see, and what if there are heavy reasons for a conflict?"

"You mean as blood spilled? In such a case all powers turn to a mediator, usually a power from the tier above. If it was wanton killing, then justice is enacted, and swiftly. As for incidents between powers themselves, they are decided with duels or challenges"

"Understood"

"I am a bit surprised that a resident has so low knowledge about the region"

"As I said, I am just a recent one, so in truth, I only know the city itself"

"Oh, and if it's not a secret, where does Brother Chen hails from?"

"It is not a secret, but I would like to keep it for myself for a bit longer" Bai Qi had no issues that he was from outside the plane, but he preferred to hide it for now. At least until he was sure that everyone from his group was safe, and they would not be involved in something because of being from the same plane.

"Ah, I see. Well, when you are able, I hope you will sha..."

"Don't move!" Wu Ren's sudden shout interrupted Qiu Zemin and made both of them freeze on the spot.

Bai Qi aura expanded immediately, even quicker than the Warrior Lord Qiu Zemin's one, and his only thought was...

"A trap!"