# Chapter 298: Set Up
A million spirit crystals was just a small matter?
If they hadn't seen Zhang Ruochen casually throwing out hundreds of thousands of spirit crystals with their own eyes, Chang Qiqi and Si Xingkong would have truly suspected whether Zhang Ruochen had gone mad!
Even for a commandery with tens of millions of people, accumulating a million spirit crystals was by no means an easy task. Let alone relying on an individual's strength?
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's serious and earnest expression, Chang Qiqi's heart trembled. Could there really be such a great opportunity to make money? He asked excitedly, "Really... really?"
"Of course it's true, but..."
Zhang Ruochen said unhurriedly, "I have to tell you in advance, this matter is extremely dangerous, and it could very well cost you your life."
Chang Qiqi's originally boiling blood instantly cooled down, but soon his gaze became resolute. He said, "The path of martial arts has always been about licking blood off the blade's edge. What isn't dangerous? I'm not the heir of some half-saint clan. I simply don't have enough resources. If I don't work hard myself, how can I become a strong one? Doing missions can earn merit points and exchange for resources, but it wastes a lot of cultivation time. If I could get a million spirit crystals, I could buy enough cultivation resources and focus entirely on training."
Chang Qiqi's aspirations weren't high. In this lifetime, if he could reach the Heavenly Extreme Realm Great Perfection, that would already be an extraordinary achievement, enough to establish a powerful clan.
If he followed his current cultivation progress, he probably wouldn't earn a million spirit crystals in his entire lifetime, and reaching Heavenly Extreme Realm Great Perfection would be even more remote.
Now, an opportunity was placed before him. If he didn't seize it, there would never be another chance.
"I'm in!" Chang Qiqi said with firm eyes.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze shifted to Si Xingkong, and he asked, "Senior Brother, what about you?"
Si Xingkong glanced at Zhang Ruochen and smiled, "As they say, wealth and honor come from taking risks. If one doesn't dare to take risks, how can they temper a strong martial heart? I'm in too!"
Chang Qiqi asked somewhat urgently, "Junior Brother Zhang, hurry up and tell us! What exactly is it?"
Zhang Ruochen's gaze swept toward the night, as if sensing something, and he showed a wary expression. "This isn't the place to talk. Let's go to my cultivation residence first and discuss it slowly."
After Zhang Ruochen, Huang Yanchen, Si Xingkong, and Chang Qiqi left, Chen Xier emerged from the shadow of a three-meter-tall stone statue of a giant, revealing a slender and graceful figure.
Under the lamplight, Chen Xier's cheeks appeared exceptionally fair, as if covered in a layer of jade wax. Her eyes sparkled with an intrigued expression, as if talking to herself, "Zhang Ruochen and cousin are definitely hiding a big secret. What exactly are they planning? A million spirit crystals—is it that easy to earn?"
Chen Xier's finger rested on her chin, and the corner of her crystal-clear, rosy lips curled upward slightly, revealing a charming, sly smile.
This auction had brought joy to some and sorrow to others.
For Yan Yunhuan, tonight was definitely a sleepless night.
Using his protective jade token as collateral, he had finally retrieved his storage bracelet and storage ring from the auction house.
But before he could even warm them up, that storage ring was taken away by Chen Xier, leaving him with only a storage bracelet whose internal space was a mere twelve cubic meters.
Yan Yunhuan sat on a chair and thought for an entire night, his gaze dull, his eyes turning red from thinking. In the end, he still felt that he shouldn't have come to Demon Ridge.
The next morning, he prepared to pack his bags and leave this heartbreaking place.
Although the losses were severe, at least at last night's auction, he had suppressed Zhang Ruochen in terms of momentum and achieved an absolute victory. He should have left a good impression on Sister Xier.
After all, one should look on the bright side!
After coming to this realization, Yan Yunhuan's mood improved slightly, and he prepared to go bid farewell to Chen Xier.
The sun had just risen, its rays like strands of golden thread spilling into Demon Martial City.
Just then, an elder of the Yan Clan who had come to Demon Ridge with Yan Yunhuan walked in and told him a piece of news.
Upon hearing this news, Yan Yunhuan abruptly stood up, emitting a majestic aura like a mountain collapsing and a sea overturning. He said in a deep voice, "What? Such a thing actually happened?"
That Yan Clan elder said, "This morning, it has already spread throughout Demon Martial City. The owner of those five space treasures was indeed Lei Jing, the head of the Silver Robe Elder Hall, and Zhang Ruochen is Lei Jing's disciple. Now, young master should understand what's going on, right?"
Yan Yunhuan felt as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt from the blue. His mind went blank, and three words surfaced in his thoughts: "Set up!"
Yan Yunhuan quickly grabbed the elder's shoulders, his facial expression extremely twisted and ferocious. He said, "The auction was last night. How could the news have spread so quickly? Someone must be deliberately spreading rumors, right? Right?"
That Yan Clan elder sighed, "Actually, before the auction began, Lei Jing had already sent letters to the leaders of the major powers in Demon Ridge, inviting them to participate in the auction. So, many people already knew that the owner of the space treasures was Lei Jing, and they also knew that Zhang Ruochen was the 'shill' Lei Jing had hired."
"Boom!"
Yan Yunhuan felt as if he had been struck by lightning again. He stood there dumbfounded, releasing his grip on the elder's shoulders and muttering to himself, "That means... last night, everyone knew Zhang Ruochen was a shill, and I was the only one kept in the dark, like a fool, bidding against Zhang Ruochen, thinking I had beaten him... Haha... Zhang Ruochen... Zhang Ruochen, I'm going to kill you!"
Yan Yunhuan grabbed the sword placed on the table, rushed into the street, shouting Zhang Ruochen's name loudly as he sprinted toward the direction of the Martial Market Academy.
The martial artists in Demon Martial City who saw this scene immediately thought of the amusing incident at the auction last night.
"It seems that Young Master Yan has realized he was set up and is going to fight Zhang Ruochen to the death."
"What Young Master Yan? He's just a fool. I really worry about the future of the Yan Clan."
"You can't say that. Yan Yunhuan is, after all, a top-tier strong one ranked three hundred and seventy-fifth on the Earth Ranking. His martial cultivation is not something Zhang Ruochen can compare to. It looks like there's going to be another good show."
"That's not necessarily true. Zhang Ruochen knows he's no match for Yan Yunhuan; he might have already hidden himself away."
"I hope he has hidden himself. Otherwise, with Yan Yunhuan's current mood, he might just slash him with one sword," someone said worriedly.
...
...
Just as Yan Yunhuan was rushing down the street with his sword, Chen Xier arrived at Huang Yanchen's cultivation residence.
Seeing Chen Xier, Huang Yanchen showed no friendly expression and snorted coldly, "What are you here for?"
"Cousin, we grew up together as close sisters. Can't I come to visit you?"
Chen Xier stepped one long, beautiful leg over the threshold of the cultivation residence, thrusting out her curvaceous and proud chest. She gently touched the storage ring on her finger, deliberately showing it off in front of Huang Yanchen.
Huang Yanchen revealed a cold, mocking expression and also gently touched the purple space pendant hanging from her chest, thinking to herself, *This is a real space treasure. Yours is just a defective product.*
That purple space pendant was given to her by Zhang Ruochen last night. Its storage space reached two thousand eight hundred cubic meters, and it also had functions of ownership recognition and self-protection.
Of course, Huang Yanchen wasn't going to tell Chen Xier that. She would let Chen Xier continue showing off with that defective ring.
Huang Yanchen said, "Chen Xier, if you're only here to show off that storage ring, I suggest you leave now."
Chen Xier's beautiful eyes lifted slightly, and she got straight to the point, "Cousin, you and Zhang Ruochen are planning to explore that ancient cave left from the Middle Ages, aren't you?"
Huang Yanchen's eyes narrowed, "What ancient cave?"
Chen Xier smiled, "The ancient cave where Zhang Ruochen found those five space treasures. Are you going to hide it even from me, cousin?"
Huang Yanchen snorted coldly, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Chen Xier said, "If cousin doesn't know, then let me analyze it for you. Zhang Ruochen discovered an ancient cave from the Middle Ages and obtained five space treasures. But he didn't dare to auction them himself, so he went to ask Hall Master Lei. To cover it up, Hall Master Lei stepped forward, claiming he had discovered the space treasures, so that outsiders wouldn't focus their attention on Zhang Ruochen."
Huang Yanchen's heart tightened, and she involuntarily clenched her fingers, "That's just your speculation."
Chen Xier chuckled, staring intently at Huang Yanchen's eyes, "Although it's speculation, there's evidence. Last night, Zhang Ruochen spent a total of six hundred and twelve thousand spirit crystals at the auction. If those five space treasures weren't his, where did he get so much wealth?"
"When Zhang Ruochen was bidding against Yan Yunhuan, he didn't even frown. If those five space treasures weren't his, how dare he call out a sky-high price of one hundred and fifty spirit crystals?"
Huang Yanchen said, "Just because of that?"
"Of course not."
Chen Xier smiled, "Last night, almost everything Zhang Ruochen bought were sharp weapons for battle or life-saving treasures. This shows that he plans to go on an expedition soon, and the returns from that expedition will be quite generous. Otherwise, it wouldn't be worth him spending so many spirit crystals. Following this clue, it's not hard to guess the truth."
It had to be said, Chen Xier was truly formidable. Just from one auction, she had guessed most of the truth.
In terms of scheming, Huang Yanchen was worlds apart from her.
Seeing Huang Yanchen's icy gaze, Chen Xier laughed charmingly, "Cousin, you're not thinking of silencing me, are you?"
"Chen Xier, what exactly are you here for?" Huang Yanchen said coldly.
Chen Xier said, "I just wanted to tell you, cousin, that what I can guess, others can certainly guess too. Zhang Ruochen was very careful, but even the most careful plan has its flaws. If I were his fiancée, I would never let him make such a mistake."
"Shua!"
The sword left its sheath.
Huang Yanchen swung her arm, pointing her battle sword directly at Chen Xier's neck.
Chen Xier remained very composed, showing no fear. She smiled coquettishly, "Cousin, although we've been rivals since childhood, it hasn't come to the point of drawing swords on each other, has it? Besides, you should know I have no ill intentions. I just want to join you, to explore that ancient cave and get a share of the benefits."
"Tap, tap!"
Urgent footsteps sounded.
A maidservant hurried in from outside, "Princess, something terrible has happened. Young Master Yan has charged into Zhang Ruochen's cultivation residence with his sword."
"What?"
Huang Yanchen and Chen Xier exclaimed almost simultaneously.
Yan Yunhuan was a top-tier strong one ranked three hundred and seventy-fifth on the Earth Ranking, with unfathomable martial cultivation. How could Zhang Ruochen possibly be his match?
What if Yan Yunhuan, in his rage, killed Zhang Ruochen without regard for consequences? What would happen then?
Chen Xier had just negotiated a deal with Huang Yanchen. If Zhang Ruochen died, wouldn't no one know the exact location of that ancient cave?
"Hurry and stop him."
Chen Xier and Huang Yanchen moved almost simultaneously, transforming into two beautiful figures as they rushed out the door, heading toward Zhang Ruochen's cultivation residence.