"Of course, I'll wait until everyone's gone before I leave." Ye Lanshan idly plucked at the Fuxi Qin with one hand while propping her head up with the other, answering casually.
"Brother Shan, this is no joke. If you hadn't played the qin, it would be one thing, but now that you have, everyone knows this divine artifact isn't beyond anyone's control—just that the method was wrong." Mu Ziming genuinely couldn't understand why Ye Lanshan remained so calm.
"Do you think they can take the Fuxi Qin from me?" Ye Lanshan felt emboldened, thanks to the contracted female ghost and now the Fuxi Qin in her possession.
"It's no longer just about the Fuxi Qin." Mu Ziming, gifted with extraordinary talent and among the strongest of the younger generation, had never needed protection and thus never brought guards. But now, the Fuxi Qin in Shan Luo's hands was like a tempting prize everyone wanted to snatch. Yet Shan Luo remained unfazed, seemingly unaware of the looming danger.
"If they want to kill and steal the treasure, let's see if they have the skill. Don't worry, Master Mu. The Fuxi Qin is with me; even if others try to take it, they'll come for me. You'll be fine." Ye Lanshan continued studying the Fuxi Qin with keen interest, though her mind was already plotting how to deal with those greedy people.
After the auction ended, she tucked the card—now with 19,995 remaining after deducting the cost of the Fuxi Qin—into her pocket, hugged the qin to her chest, and strode out forcefully.
Mu Ziming stuck close to her, as if afraid she might come to harm.
"Didn't I tell you to leave directly? Once they see the qin is with me, they won't bother you. You know it's dangerous to stay by my side now." Ye Lanshan hadn't expected Mu Ziming to insist on staying, fully aware of how many wanted to kill for the treasure.
"Since I'm cooperating with Ye Lanshan, I naturally have to protect her people," Mu Ziming replied, keeping a wary eye on those lurking around.
"Hey, you brat, hand over the divine artifact if you know what's good for you, or don't blame me for being rude!" A group of burly men surrounded them.
"Hah, just you? You're underestimating me." Ye Lanshan levitated the Fuxi Qin in the air, plucking at it with one hand, her expression showing she didn't take the encircling crowd seriously.
"Looking for death!" The leader roared, his face twisted as he instantly activated his mystic technique, "Earth Spikes."
"Fire Lotus." A lotus made of flames rose from beneath her feet, tightly enveloping her. It exploded violently the moment the earth spikes emerged, a blast that shook heaven and earth. In that instant, the surrounding people collapsed, their eyes wide open.
"That mystic technique is quite unique. It seems like a high-level one, doesn't it?" Mu Ziming marveled at its overwhelming power.
"I don't know. I created it myself."
"Self-created? I didn't realize Brother Shan was so gifted—not only reaching the Great Mystic General at such a young age but also creating mystic techniques at this level." Mu Ziming was stunned, never expecting the technique to be Ye Lanshan's own creation.
"Self-created? Aren't you afraid of biting off your tongue saying that? Could it be that being acknowledged by a divine artifact has gone to your head, making you think you're a prodigy?" A mocking voice came from the right.
Creating mystic techniques was extremely difficult on this continent. Only Mystic Divine Generals could usually manage it, and even then, success wasn't guaranteed. Since Ye Lanshan was merely a Great Mystic General, no one believed her.
"With your strength, you dare to come for the divine artifact? You've got some nerve." Ye Lanshan could tell at a glance that the highest among them was only a Mystic General.
"Of course, it's not just us. Sir, we've found the brat for you." The leader groveled, calling out into the air.
"Idiot, do you think I didn't know where he was? You're just holding me back." A furious shout rang out from above as a middle-aged man in black robes with a ghost-face mask appeared on the rooftop opposite.
"Hand over the divine artifact if you're smart, or my blade won't show mercy." The man drew a samurai sword, its silver blade gleaming with intense mystic power radiating from it—a high-grade spiritual weapon.
"More and more people. What a hassle. I'll have to end this quickly." Ye Lanshan muttered under her breath, betraying a hint of impatience.
"Charge out from this side. I'll hold them off. Don't worry, in the Yue Kingdom, they wouldn't dare do much to me." Mu Ziming also sensed the growing crowd converging on them.
"This has nothing to do with you. I'm the one with the divine artifact. Just leave directly. Don't worry about me—I have my own way to escape." Ye Lanshan licked her lips. She didn't want to owe anyone a favor, as debts of gratitude were the hardest to repay.
"No matter how strong you are, you're still just a Great Mystic General. How can you hold off so many? I know you don't want to owe me, but this isn't the time to think about that." Mu Ziming strongly disagreed.
"I really do have a plan. Otherwise, would I still be this calm? If I didn't, I'd have run away from the start." Ye Lanshan was exasperated with him. If it weren't for Mu Xinlian being his ancestor, she wouldn't have let him go. Having an extra free fighter was easier than fighting alone, but the key issue was that Mu Xinlian was his ancestor—how could she summon her in front of him?
After Ye Lanshan's repeated reassurances, Mu Ziming finally left.
What an idiot. Now that even Young Master Mu is gone, let's see how you stay arrogant. Those who had been holding back due to Mu Ziming's status began to stir.
Ye Lanshan showed no fear. She smirked, immediately summoned Mu Xinlian, and carved a bloody path through the heavy encirclement.
"I hear you can play a tune on this divine artifact without dying." Yun Qingfeng stood before her, serene as a clear breeze and bright moon.
"This was also auctioned off by my Fusheng Auction House. Sir, trying to seize it openly doesn't seem right, does it?" A figure in purple robes with a white-ze mask flew in from behind, blocking Ye Lanshan.
"Everyone knows that once something is auctioned, it belongs to the buyer. That doesn't seem to concern your Fusheng Auction House anymore, does it?" Yun Qingfeng's mystic power flickered faintly in his hand, as if he might strike at any moment.
"You're mistaken there. There's a fifty percent chance this divine artifact will be returned to Fusheng Auction House. Openly robbing something from an ordinary auction house—isn't that a blatant slap in their face?" Ye Lanshan spun lies without a second thought, the words flowing smoothly.