Zhang Tian looked at the two with some surprise.
He was not surprised by Tibet, but by the fact that these two had traveled all the way from Tibet to Bei Li.
They had come to attend an auction.
And judging by their appearance, they hadn't bought what they wanted.
After all, technology was not developed at this time, and it would take at least several months to travel from Tibet to here.
How did these guys get the news from so far away to come to Bei Li for the auction?
Zhang Tian was also very curious.
"From the looks of you two, you didn't manage to bid on anything, did you?"
Zhang Tian retracted the surprise in his eyes almost instantly.
He said in a calm voice.
The old man glanced at Zhang Tian.
A smile played on his lips.
It seemed a little helpless.
"There's nothing I can do. I thought my funds were substantial, but I never expected to still be a mere speck of dust in a place like this."
The old man said, waving his hand.
"Let's not talk about it."
With that, he and the young man quickened their pace.
"Actually, I did manage to acquire something. If you're interested, I can trade it with you."
Zhang Tian suddenly spoke.
The old man stopped in his tracks.
"Grandpa."
Seeing his grandfather stop, the young man's voice was filled with concern.
"May I ask, young man, what did you bid on?"
"And what terms are you proposing to exchange with an old man like me?"
The old man's voice was not loud, but clear and resonant.
Zhang Tian slowly took out a mid-grade Qi Gathering Pill.
It wasn't that Zhang Tian was willing to part with it, but he only had mid-grade pills.
Since Zhang Qilin could refine mid-grade pills, he hadn't refined any low-grade ones since.
So, Zhang Tian's small pill stash was almost exclusively filled with mid-grade pills.
"This is a mid-grade Qi Gathering Pill."
Upon seeing the item, the old man's eyes widened.
His heart also began to pound.
He was old, and his cultivation had been stagnant for a long time.
With such a pill, he might be able to live a few more years, and his cultivation might even see some progress.
However, for someone like this to offer such a pill, it made people suspicious.
"Boss, this?"
The胖子 was also confused when Zhang Tian produced the pill.
Giving something to an old man, the boss had been acting more and more inscrutable lately.
Zhang Tian said nothing, calmly observing the old man.
The old man came from Tibet, and with his abilities, Zhang Tian felt he might be able to glean some information.
Someone with his capabilities would surely have a good understanding of Tibet.
Zhang Tian planned to travel to Tibet later, so he naturally needed to consider matters related to Tibet.
Facing Zhang Tian's gaze and the pill before him, the old man was moved.
This single pill had fetched billions of sky-high prices.
And here, he had such a pill.
He could obtain it simply by answering a few questions, how could he not be tempted?
"Young man, are you serious?"
The old man asked.
Zhang Tian smiled faintly.
Still not in a hurry.
Hu Bayi and Shirley Yang stood by.
Although they didn't know what Zhang Tian was up to, judging by his demeanor, something was clearly afoot.
"Naturally."
Zhang Tian said, handing the pill over.
The old man took a deep breath and accepted the pill.
"Since young sir trusts me so much, if there is anything I know, I will tell you everything without reservation."
The old man was a little excited, his hand holding the pill even trembling slightly.
Zhang Tian smiled slightly.
He had seen this kind of reaction to such pills many times before; he would have been the same if it were him.
"Where in Tibet do you live?"
"Is it a family?"
Zhang Tian began to interrogate him with a few questions.
The old man did not hesitate.
"We are from the Dali Mu family, residing in the Tibetan mountain range."
"We are a family, I suppose. My family has been herding sheep and farming for generations, and I was fortunate enough to stumble upon an opportunity that changed our family's destiny."
The old man was quite honest.
He even revealed his own story.
This showed how seriously he took the pill.
"Hmm, next question, are you close to the Kunlun Mountains?"
Zhang Tian asked.
The old man rubbed his cheek.
He had a rough idea of what Zhang Tian was after.
"So you're asking about the Kunlun Mountains. To ask such a simple question, and offer a pill? Are all people from Bei Li like this?"
The old man felt a surge of excitement.
He looked at Zhang Tian as if he were a fool.
Little did he know that for Zhang Tian, this information was far more valuable than a pill.
It could be said that both were getting what they needed.
"Yes, our family is very close to the mountains. We regard the Kunlun Mountains as a divine mountain."
"There are many terrifying legends within, and even more dangerous places within the divine mountain that we dare not enter."
The old man said.
"Are there any related legends?"
Zhang Tian asked.
"Legends? It is said that the Queen Mother of the West resides in the Kunlun Divine Palace. The Queen Mother of the West has a benevolent heart, and legends say she often descends to the mortal realm."
"The snow lotus is her symbol, like a Hada, imprinted on our hearts."
When the old man spoke of the Queen Mother of the West, he was very serious.
He even enunciated each word with care.
Fearing he might say something wrong.
Clearly, he held great respect for the Queen Mother of the West and Kunlun.
"By the way, is there a glacier in Tibet?"
Zhang Tian thought of the previous expedition team and the fireworms.
The Nine-Story Demon Tower might be beneath it.
"Glaciers? There are many, it depends on where you are going."
"There are some to the north and west, but I don't recommend going west. There are military garrisons there."
The old man said, shaking his head, advising against it.
Hu Bayi seemed to recall something.
His brow furrowed.
"Alright, I understand."
"Oh, and one more thing, how did you know about this auction here?"
Zhang Tian looked at the old man curiously.
This guy knew about the auction in Bei Li from afar.
This was almost impossible; the New Moon Hotel didn't have that much fame.
Even people living in the mountains knew about it.
"A young man told me. They were going to our Tibet, and I happened to help him."
The old man said softly.
"Yes, that young man was very kind. He even taught us to speak Mandarin."
The young man added.
It was important to note that at this time, the language in Tibet was not Mandarin.
It was standard Tibetan. Even in Tibetan programs today, Tibetan is spoken, and many people cannot understand it.
"May I ask, who was that young man? What is his name?"
Zhang Tian asked.
The old man hesitated.
But he looked at the pill in his hand.
He had already said so much; this was just a little more.
"His name is Xie Yuchen. He asked us to come here for the auction and to pass a message to the Xie family that he is fine."
The old man said.
"Alright, I understand. I am a friend of Xie Yuchen, and I can relay this message. Of course, if you are not at ease, you can go yourself."
"Oh, and one more thing."
Zhang Tian thought for a moment and spoke again.
The old man's mouth twitched.
As expected, the pill wasn't easy to earn.
One question after another.
Was Zhang Tian some embodiment of "100,000 Whys"?
He had so many questions.
"Do you know anyone named Baima?"
Zhang Tian said calmly.
When Zhang Tian spoke this name, the old man's expression changed.
His demeanor became a little strange.
Zhang Tian instantly understood that he definitely knew something!