Chapter 427: Chapter 427

Attempt to try the Stele of names?!

Ding Fan looked at Jia Yunhao with some confusion. He really didn't understand what the other party meant.

Initially, Ding Fan did indeed go to try out the stele of names, but after his attempt, there were no reactions from the inscriptions on the stele, and it eventually froze like a computer crash.

Finally, Ding Fan left in disappointment.

"I don't understand Chairman Jia's intention... with Chairman Jia's resources and the experts under his command, surely he wouldn't need me," Ding Fan said.

Jia Yunhao smiled beside him. "Since I've sought you out, there's no point in hiding anything, I will tell you everything I can. Do you know of the Immortal Sect?"

Ding Fan was startled, could it be one of the Cultivation sects hidden in the Secular World?

Although Ding Fan guessed so, he did not show it; he simply shook his head slightly. "I have never heard of it. Please enlighten me, Chairman."

Jia Yunhao continued, "Before discussing the Immortal Sect, let me first tell you about the Hidden Sects. The so-called Hidden Sects, whether they be Ancient Martial Sects or powerful families, are concealed within ordinary society. I believe you also know that among the Hidden Sects, the righteous ones hold the Mysterious Gate in high regard, and the evil ones, the Myriad Demon Sect."

Ding Fan nodded in acknowledgment.

At this, Ding Fan couldn't help but smile bitterly. Now, he had offended both of these grand figures: first, by saving Fang Ruohan of the Upper Xuan Sect in the guise of Zhou Ran, and later by killing the son of the Myriad Demon Sect's Sect Leader...

Suddenly having offended two such supremely powerful entities, Ding Fan was at a loss for words.

Jia Yunhao continued, "People think that the Upper Xuan Sect and the Myriad Demon Sect are the strongest existences in the world, but only a very few know of the existence of the true Immortal Sect above this world.

...The so-called Immortal Sect consists of beings who truly can move mountains and seas, individuals endowed with Great Divine Power. When I was young, I once met an immortal by chance. That scene—I will never forget it...

It is difficult for ordinary people to come into contact with these beings, but I know of a way that one can genuinely approach the Immortal Sect."

Ding Fan looked at Jia Yunhao beside him, very interested in this Immortal Sect, keen to know if it was really one of the Cultivation sects hidden on Earth. Official source ıs 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⚫𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⚫𝔫𝔢𝔱

Jia Yunhao said, "…The method to meet these immortals is through the Stele of names."

"The Stele of names?" Ding Fan was indeed taken aback.

Jia Yunhao nodded. "That Stele of names was originally set up by immortals to evaluate martial artists around the world, and I know, every few years, immortals would take away some of the top-ranked disciples... of course, those ranked at the top, and still young... After taking these potential individuals, the immortals would teach them Immortal Law... Only by becoming an immortal can one truly achieve eternal life, forever undying..."

"But why do you want me to try the Stele of names?" Ding Fan looked skeptically at Jia Yunhao.

Jia Yunhao then said, "I'm telling you this because I believe you have the potential... Thus, I want to sponsor you, to become the top name on the Stele of names."

Upon hearing this, Ding Fan understood Jia Yunhao's intention: he was seeking to make an emotional investment.

Helping him step into the Immortal Sect would greatly benefit the auction in the future.

After all, Ding Fan's age and cultivation were suitable, and if there truly was such a practice as recruitment by the Immortal Sect, Ding Fan was clearly the most appropriate candidate.

"Thank you for your kind offer, but why do you believe I have the capability?" Ding Fan asked lightly.

"You still remember Qi Yuanzheng, right? Since you could stand up to Qi Yuanzheng with your own strength, I don't think topping the Stele of names should be too much for you. I had someone check the Stele of names before, and your name was not on it, so I know you haven't tried it yet, and that's why I sought you out," Jia Yunhao explained.

Ding Fan was taken aback, not expecting Jia Yunhao to know he had killed Qi Yuanzheng.

However, Ding Fan quickly came to terms with it.

Given how formidable Qi Yuanzheng was, and considering Ding Fan had taken the Comforting Grass from him, how could things have ended there? And how could Jia Yunhao, as the Lord of Longxi, not have someone keeping watch in secret?

"Thank you for your high regard, Chairman, but I'm afraid to disappoint you… I did go to try the Stele of names… but I wasn't listed," Ding Fan said.

"What?" Jia Yunhao was taken aback. "You tried it?"

Jia Yunhao found it hard to believe. Such a formidable person as Ding Fan, not being listed. It was known that Qi Yuanzheng, a powerful Earth Level Peak existence, was directly annihilated by Ding Fan; how could Ding Fan not be listed?

Ding Fan nodded. "I indeed tried it."

A flicker of disappointment flashed through Jia Yunhao's eyes, but it quickly disappeared. "I see..."

One can only try the Stele of names every three years, and if one were to wait for three more years, the immortals would have already taken the people they needed. It would be too late for Ding Fan...

Perhaps knowing Ding Fan failed the trial, Jia Yunhao became somewhat cold towards him. After some idle chitchat, Jia Yunhao finally arranged for someone to send Ding Fan back.

After Ding Fan was sent away, an elder with a white beard came out from a hidden door.

"Chairman, how have you come out?"

Seeing the white-bearded elder emerge, Jia Yunhao hurriedly stood up and bowed as he approached.

The white-bearded elder's age was unknown, his face filled with wrinkles, and his body hunched over...

However, despite his frailty, his eyes were exceptionally spirited. This person was the real power behind the Longxi Auction, Zhuge Xi.

"Is that the young man you picked this year?" Zhuge Xi sat grandly in the main seat of the study.

"Chairman, this time it's my incompetence, I misjudged…" said Jia Yunhao, bowing hastily.

Zhuge Xi glanced at Jia Yunhao. "You misjudged?... The young man's cultivation is indeed rare, it's not easy for someone of his age to achieve that level of cultivation, but how could you not consider that a person capable of killing Qi Yuanzheng might be unable to get recorded on the Stele of Names?"

Jia Yunhao was stunned; he had never considered that.

For many years, Jia Yunhao had been helping Zhuge Xi recruit talents from all over, and it was because of this that the Longxi Auction had a rule that anyone in the top ten of the Stele of Names would become a V.I.P. of the auction.

But over the years, there had never been an issue with the Stele of Names, so Jia Yunhao hadn't thought much about it. Stirred by Zhuge Xi's comment, he began to contemplate.

"Chairman, are you saying that this young man never actually tested?" Jia Yunhao asked.

Zhuge Xi slightly shook his head. "That's possible, but unlikely."

Jia Yunhao fell silent then, simply watching Zhuge Xi, unable to figure it out.

"Before the Longxi Auction, someone mentioned to me that there was an issue with the Stele of Names..." Zhuge Xi said.

After a moment of thought, Jia Yunhao nodded. "I had heard about this before…"

Zhuge Xi continued, "I personally went to see it, but to my astonishment, originally there were a hundred names on that stele, but now only ninety-nine remain..."

"What?" Jia Yunhao looked on incredulously at Zhuge Xi.

It was said that the Stele of Names was erected by immortals; how could the names on it change, from a hundred to just ninety-nine?

Zhuge Xi said, "I observed the Stele of Names for a long time and couldn't see any clues, but then I climbed the Stele of Names and discovered there was an additional small stele on it."

"A small stele on the Stele of Names?"

Zhuge Xi nodded. "I've spent my life studying that Stele of Names, so I can confirm that the small stele was absolutely not there before. And it's because of that small stele that one of the names has disappeared, reducing the number to ninety-nine."

"Chairman, I am slow-witted… The appearance of the small stele on the Stele of Names, do you think it has any connection with the young man who just left?" Jia Yunhao asked.

"It's too early to say..." Zhuge Xi responded. "But one thing is for certain, if the young man in question is capable of slaying a Peak Earth-Level Martial Artist, and his name was not recorded, then there surely is a problem here."

Jia Yunhao nodded. "So does the Chairman suggest we bring that young man back?"

Zhuge Xi slightly shook his head. "This person has already exceeded the range of our support. If the small stele on the Stele of Names was indeed erected for him, then bringing him back won't help him much... The best course of action now is to try to cultivate good karma with him; even if we can't bring him into our Longxi Auction, if one day he enters an Immortal Sect, he might particularly look after the interests of our Longxi Auction."

Upon hearing this, Jia Yunhao nodded. "Chairman, you have indeed thought this through."

Zhuge Xi stood up and slowly walked towards the secret passage. Right before entering, the elder turned to glance back at Jia Yunhao.

"While this young man is still finding his footing, we should offer all the help we can muster, fostering good ties…"

"I understand…" Jia Yunhao respectfully said.

Wu Die drove the red Ferrari without much delay and dropped Ding Fan off at his residence.

"Master Ding, hurry up and go up, otherwise Miss Mu Zi might really think I've done something to you..." Wu Die joked playfully.

Ding Fan smiled wryly.

Although Wu Die was enchantingly flirtatious, Ding Fan didn't believe she was a frivolous person; her coquettish demeanor was just a façade.

Having said that, Ding Fan turned and walked towards the hotel entrance.

Wu Die watched Ding Fan's retreating figure with interest for a while before she revved the engine and drove away from the hotel...