Xiao Xun'er's Night Raid!

"Still, where am I supposed to find more treasures to auction off?"

Flowing Cloud was a little troubled.

These were the only valuable things he had on him. The only thing he could put up for auction was this Qi Gathering Pill.

"Forget it. When the time comes, I'll just bring a few random things to make up the numbers. With this Qi Gathering Pill alone, this auction can already be considered a success."

Flowing Cloud did not have any lofty ambitions. As long as the auction could be successfully held, that was enough.

Besides, Ya Fei had already prepared a Second-grade Pill and a Third-order Demonic Core.

With those items, the quality of this auction was already better than the last one.

With that thought, Flowing Cloud stopped dwelling on it.

"Master, someone has arrived. I'll disappear first," Nameless suddenly said.

Someone had come?

Could it be Ya Fei?

Other than Ya Fei, Flowing Cloud did not know anyone else here who would come looking for him.

"Alright. You've worked hard these past few days as well. Go rest first," Flowing Cloud said, nodding at Nameless.

"This subordinate takes his leave!"

Nameless nodded, then vanished from the courtyard.

"Young Master, Ya Fei requests an audience!"

Not long after Nameless left, Ya Fei's voice came from outside the courtyard.

"Come in!"

Just as Flowing Cloud had expected, it was indeed Ya Fei.

He had been preparing to hand the Qi Gathering Pill in his possession over to Ya Fei, so he immediately let her enter.

"Ya Fei greets Young Master!"

Very soon, Ya Fei's enchanting figure appeared before Flowing Cloud.

"Sister Ya Fei, did you need something?" Flowing Cloud asked with a gentle smile.

"Young Master, all preparations for the auction three days from now have been completed. It's just that..."

As Ya Fei spoke, she looked at Flowing Cloud, seeming to hesitate.

"It's just that we're still short on auction items, right?"

Seeing the troubled look on her face, Flowing Cloud naturally understood what she meant.

"Sister Ya Fei, it seems we really are in perfect sync." Flowing Cloud's face carried a faint teasing smile. "I was just about to give you the items for this auction, yet you came right to my door."

With a thought from Flowing Cloud, a transparent bottle appeared in his hand. Inside was the Qi Gathering Pill.

"Sister Ya Fei, take this pill to Master Gu Ni for appraisal!"

"With it, this auction will definitely be even more successful than the last one!" Flowing Cloud said confidently.

He had originally intended to explain the effects of the Qi Gathering Pill to Ya Fei.

But after thinking it over, he decided to have Ya Fei take the Qi Gathering Pill to Master Gu Ni for appraisal instead.

According to procedure, the pill truly had to be appraised by Master Gu Ni before it could officially be put up for auction.

The credibility of a Second-grade Alchemist was extremely high.

However, Flowing Cloud intended to use this Qi Gathering Pill to give the proud Master Gu Ni a little warning first.

He was very curious about what expression Master Gu Ni would have after determining the effects and grade of the Qi Gathering Pill.

And after learning that the Qi Gathering Pill had come from his hands, would he change his attitude toward him?

"Young Master, what grade is this pill, and what effects does it have?"

Seeing Flowing Cloud's confident expression, Ya Fei's curiosity was immediately piqued.

Could a mere pill possibly be a Third-grade Pill?

The thought flashed through Ya Fei's mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

Third-grade Pills were so precious. How could Young Master possibly possess one?

Even if he did have one, it would not have come easily. Why would Young Master put it up for auction?

"Once you have Master Gu Ni appraise it, you'll know." Flowing Cloud kept her in suspense and did not reveal any information about the Qi Gathering Pill.

Could there really be something unusual about it?

Seeing Flowing Cloud's mysterious expression, Ya Fei became somewhat doubtful.

But since Flowing Cloud would not say anything, there was nothing she could do.

"Young Master, Ya Fei has one more matter to report."

Suddenly, as though she had remembered something, Ya Fei spoke.

"The Jia Lie family and the Ao Ba family will also be holding their annual assessments in a few days. They have sent you invitations as well, inviting you to attend and observe the ceremonies at their clans."

"Young Master, what do you think...?"

Ya Fei looked at Flowing Cloud with a trace of inquiry in her beautiful eyes.

"I'm not going!"

Flowing Cloud decisively refused upon hearing this.

"Reply to them that this Young Master is in seclusion cultivating and has no time to go."

Completely unlike his attitude toward the Xiao Clan, Flowing Cloud had no intention of giving the Jia Lie family or the Ao Ba family any face.

"Uh..."

"Young Master, wouldn't that be a little... inappropriate?"

"After all, they are two of the three great families of Wutan City..."

Seeing how decisively Flowing Cloud had refused, Ya Fei was slightly stunned before speaking with some difficulty.

After all, if the Mittel Auction House wanted to establish itself in Wutan City, it still needed the support of the three great families.

What Flowing Cloud was doing would undoubtedly offend the Jia Lie family and the Ao Ba family.

This could very likely affect the Mittel Auction House's future development in Wutan City.

"There's nothing inappropriate about it!"

"Sister Ya Fei, I believe I've already made myself very clear."

"Just carry out my instructions."

Flowing Cloud was completely unconcerned about Ya Fei's worries.

He had gone to observe the Xiao Clan's ceremony solely because Xiao Yan was in the Xiao Clan.

Otherwise, he would have treated the Xiao Clan's invitation that day with the same disdain.

They were merely two minor families. Even their strongest clan leaders were only Da Dou Shi.

Not to mention Nameless behind him, even Flowing Cloud himself was confident that, given some more time, he could face the Jia Lie family and the Ao Ba family alone.

For now, considering that they could still contribute something to his upcoming auction, Flowing Cloud could maintain a peaceful coexistence with them.

But if those fools failed to appreciate kindness and came to provoke him, Flowing Cloud would certainly not spare them.

"Yes, Young Master!"

"Then Ya Fei shall take her leave first."

Seeing signs of anger from Flowing Cloud, Ya Fei naturally did not dare continue persuading him. After silently sighing to herself, she slowly left the courtyard.

After Ya Fei left, Flowing Cloud gathered his thoughts and went to sit in the pavilion in the courtyard. He then took out a Second-order Demonic Core from his Storage Ring and began cultivating.

Before long, it was already deep into the night.

Above the pitch-black sky, a silver moon hung high. Its faint moonlight draped the earth in a layer of silver gauze, making everything appear especially mysterious.

After the bustle of the day, Wutan City had fallen into darkness and silence in the deep night.

Faint moonlight spilled into the courtyard.

"Young Master, danger approaches."

Flowing Cloud was in the midst of cultivation when Nameless's warning suddenly sounded beside his ear.

Hearing the warning, Flowing Cloud immediately stopped cultivating and opened his eyes.

The moment Flowing Cloud opened his eyes, his pupils abruptly contracted.

At some unknown moment, a young girl in a purple dress had appeared eerily above the courtyard.

Beneath her purple dress, a pair of round, jade-like, snow-white calves traced enticing arcs through the air.

Moonlight fell upon the girl's exquisite little face, making her seem like a goddess beneath the moonlight—brilliant and mysterious.

"Xiao Xun'er!"