Chapter 156 - 150: Inside Snow Feather Tower

Chapter 156: Chapter 150: Inside Snow Feather Tower

"My good sir! Such refined taste! I wonder if I might have the honor of enjoying this Hundred Flowers Assembly with you tonight?"

’Enjoy the Hundred Flowers Assembly together?’

Upon hearing the rather hearty voice, Li Heng instinctively looked toward its source.

Hua Lingyan: Disguised

Level: ?

Rank: Soul Saint

Strength: ?

Agility: ?

Spirit: ?

Soul Energy: ?

What entered Li Heng’s line of sight was a slender "man" dressed in a long white robe, holding a paper fan painted with a landscape scene.

This fan was no ordinary item, but an epic-level weapon called the "Yin Bone Paper Fan." Reading its description made Li Heng’s skin crawl. A single strike from it would likely scrape off a layer of skin and flesh, which couldn’t be restored without specific medicinal herbs.

’Another Soul Saint!’

Aside from the rank, everything else was a question mark. Li Heng was rather bewildered, and he stood stunned for a moment.

’This is the first time I’ve looked at someone’s information and seen a screen full of question marks.’

Although her realm was the same as the two old men at the entrance.

But in terms of specific stats, this Hua Lingyan was far more formidable than the two old men from before, presenting a complete set of question marks!

’And that name... no matter how you look at it, it doesn’t sound like a man’s. Plus, her status is "Disguised"?!’

’Could it be... a woman disguised as a man?’

At this thought, Li Heng took another look at Hua Lingyan. Her neck was well-concealed, but her face was refined and pretty, and the hand holding the fan was very fair. He grew more certain that his earlier suspicion was correct.

"You’re too kind, my good sir! To be perfectly honest, this is my... first time at the Hundred Flowers Assembly. I’m afraid I’d only spoil your fun, so I daren’t impose!"

Since she was intentionally disguised, Li Heng certainly wasn’t going to call her out and ask for trouble. Besides, her realm was far beyond his. He had no doubt that if he truly angered her, she had countless ways to ensure he died a miserable death.

While Li Heng wasn’t afraid of dying inside the Dungeon, he didn’t want the soul energy points he had earned killing fish for the past few days to go to waste.

Besides, he was quite enjoying exploring Snow Feather Tower on his own—or rather, with the two lovely ladies, Hongyu and Mo Ya, by his side. He could even make a few subtle moves on them from time to time.

Having a female Soul Saint disguised as a man tagging along would be more than a little awkward.

Upon hearing Li Heng address her as "my good sir," the corners of Hua Lingyan’s mouth curved into a smile. She opened her paper fan and began to fan herself gently.

"A pity, then, given your poetic talents! This Hundred Flowers Assembly at Snow Feather Tower is certainly a lively affair!" With that, Hua Lingyan turned and walked away, still fanning herself.

’That wasn’t my talent, it was Liu Yong’s. It has nothing to do with me!’

Li Heng grumbled to himself. As he watched Hua Lingyan’s retreating back, he noted that the system information consistently displayed her name in yellow, meaning she was a neutral party. She had likely just approached him on a whim.

Even though she was a Soul Saint, to Li Heng, she was now just a stranger. He didn’t say another word.

Leaving that aside, the scenery before him was what truly showcased the magnificence of Snow Feather Tower. Though it was a house of pleasure, it was filled with an extraordinary poetic and picturesque charm.

Snow Feather Tower was a tall building with a hollow center. The corridors and rooms were arranged in a ring, and at the core of the hollow space was an epic Soul Energy Item called the "Illusory Mountain Stone."

Everyone who looked at the Illusory Mountain Stone saw a different landscape. Li Heng’s gaze was met with a vista of majestic mountains and rivers, its grandeur completely undiminished by the indoor setting.

The wooden corridors were adorned with mounted scrolls and freestanding folding screens. And every last screen, without exception, was a rare and valuable Soul Energy Item!

Along the way, almost everyone Li Heng saw was at the Soul Energy Grandmaster Realm or an even higher-level Soul Master. Only occasionally did he spot a Great Soul Warrior or a Soul Warrior.

And so they continued, with Hongyu leading the way at a gentle, swaying pace. Li Heng took in the sights of Snow Feather Tower, his hand resting on Mo Ya’s.

Every now and then, Mo Ya would point out various features of Snow Feather Tower to Li Heng.

"Here is your room for the evening, esteemed guest. If you are unsatisfied, we can certainly arrange for a different one."

Li Heng vaguely recalled climbing four flights of stairs, meaning they were on the fifth floor of Snow Feather Tower. The room before him was about 20 square meters and had a large window overlooking the building’s hollow center.

The room’s furnishings were simple but not spartan. A round wooden bed rested against the large window, flanked by two nightstands and a table.

On the table sat an array of exquisite pastries and dishes. From what he had heard earlier, the entire spread came from Qingfeng Tower. Even standing at the doorway, Li Heng was met with the rich aroma of the food.

There was also a pot of rare, valuable wine: Qingfeng Drunk!

"This will do," Li Heng said. He had no idea if this was a good room or not, but they had been walking for a while, and he was getting a little tired and wanted to rest.

Once Li Heng had settled on the room, Hongyu spoke up at just the right moment.

"The basic format of the Hundred Flowers Assembly is as follows: numerous treasures from the Moon-Picking Tower will be displayed. Each treasure has a unique method for bidding, and each is also tied to the patronage of a Courtesan. Should you be interested in bidding for a treasure, esteemed guest, you need only signal to me or Mo Ya."

"There is another method of bidding where only the Courtesan herself is presented. Whoever wins her favor as her patron for the night will be the one to learn of, and receive, the treasure she carries."

’Bundling the Courtesans and treasures in an auction?!’

This auction method was certainly novel. Winning both the treasure and the beauty in one go... Li Heng had never heard of anything like it. ’What a way to kill two birds with one stone,’ he thought wryly.

Li Heng had already figured that this so-called Hundred Flowers Assembly was just a glorified auction. He had decided to stay for a few days because a certain possibility had occurred to him, making him feel that he absolutely had to check it out.

’I may not have any money,’ he thought, ’but this isn’t reality—it’s just a Dungeon. What if I bid like a madman, and then, provided I’m not in combat, just leave the Dungeon? Wouldn’t that solve everything?!’

That was why Li Heng wanted to participate in this Hundred Flowers Assembly—to test out the feasibility of his idea.

’If it doesn’t work, I’ll have just wasted a day. I’ll have broadened my horizons regardless, so it’s no real loss.’

’But if it *does* work, the payoff will be enormous. It’s a bit shameless, sure—bidding, getting the treasure, and then just running away.’

But inside a Dungeon, Li Heng was willing to risk his life, let alone a little bit of face. He wasn’t about to back down!

"When the Hundred Flowers Assembly begins, you will be able to see the treasures or the Courtesans through this window, esteemed guest. And esteemed guest..."

As Li Heng’s thoughts drifted, Hongyu suddenly let her sheer gauze sleeves fall away, her hands coming to rest on his shoulders. She began to massage him as her red lips parted.

"There is still about an hour until the Hundred Flowers Assembly begins. Esteemed guest... would you require me and Mo Ya to attend to you... and help you undress?"