The Auction Begins

"Something strange?"

At his words, a trace of curiosity flashed through Xiao Xun'er's beautiful eyes.

"Brother Xiao Yan, can you tell me what his request was?"

"Why not..."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and said, "He asked that all the treasures I obtain in the future must be brought to his auction house to be sold."

"What?"

"That's far too much!"

A hint of anger appeared on Xiao Xun'er's pretty face as she looked at Xiao Yan. "Brother Xiao Yan, you don't think such a shameless demand is excessive?"

"Xun Er, let me finish."

Xiao Yan smiled slightly and explained, "He asked me to bring my treasures to the auction house, but he doesn't want a single bit of the proceeds. He'll give all of them to me."

"Moreover, he said that I can participate in the auction myself."

"Such a request seems too strange. I was worried it might be a trap, so I didn't agree."

Thinking of what Flowing Cloud had told him back then, Xiao Yan remained unable to make up his mind.

"Why would this Flowing Cloud make such a request?"

"What benefit does it bring him? He's even giving all the auction proceeds to you, Brother Xiao Yan?"

After hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Xun'er became even more puzzled.

"To raise the auction house's reputation!"

Xiao Yan said to the puzzled Xiao Xun'er, "That was how Flowing Cloud explained it to me that day. As for how much of it was true, I have no idea."

"To raise the auction house's reputation—was there really a need to go that far?"

Thinking of Flowing Cloud's frivolous, smiling face, Xun Er simply could not believe that explanation.

"That is precisely why I found it difficult to understand and never agreed to Flowing Cloud's terms," Xiao Yan said calmly.

"Flowing Cloud always feels somewhat mysterious... I simply can't see through his intentions."

At that, a glimmer flashed through Xiao Xun'er's beautiful eyes.

That night, when she had exchanged blows with Flowing Cloud, the strength he displayed was definitely not something a mere Young Master of the Mite'er Family should possess.

Moreover, there was a Dou Huang expert guarding him.

This person's identity was certainly not simple.

But why had he set his sights on Brother Xiao Yan?

And why had he proposed such strange terms?

At that moment, Xiao Xun'er suddenly thought of the compensation Flowing Cloud had demanded from her.

She had thought he would make some excessive demands, but to Xiao Xun'er's surprise, Flowing Cloud had merely asked for things like Dou Techniques, cultivation techniques, and medicinal pills.

There did not seem to be any particular purpose behind it.

And obtaining such things was not difficult for her.

Could the things he demanded from me as compensation also be intended for auction?

This thought suddenly flashed through Xiao Xun'er's mind.

"Xun Er, I've made up my mind. I'm going to accept Flowing Cloud's conditions."

After a moment of silence, Xiao Yan seemed to have finally made up his mind. His expression was resolute.

"No matter what his goal is, I must restore my talent."

"In this world, if a person has no strength, they're not even worth a pile of shit. At least no one dares step on a pile of shit..." Xiao Yan's low voice rang out.

"As long as it is Brother Xiao Yan's decision, I will always support it."

Xiao Xun'er looked quietly at Xiao Yan, an incomparably beautiful smile on her pretty face.

In truth, she also agreed with Xiao Yan's choice.

For now, the conditions proposed by Flowing Cloud did not seem harmful to Xiao Yan.

To a certain extent, they might even offer some benefits.

As for what would happen in the future, no one could say.

If they kept dragging this out, then even if Brother Xiao Yan regained his talent in the future, it would already be too late. He would have fallen too far behind the others.

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

Today, the Mittel Auction House was packed with people, its halls teeming with crowds.

As early as the day before, Flowing Cloud had ordered Ya Fei to discreetly spread news of the Qi Gathering Pill.

By now, every somewhat prominent faction in Wutan City likely knew that the Mittel Auction House would be auctioning a Qi Gathering Pill.

For a time, all of Wutan City was in turmoil. The three great families in particular withdrew all their outside businesses and gathered every last Gold Coin they could.

The three family heads were naturally all here for the sole Qi Gathering Pill.

For more than ten years, the Xiao Clan, Jia Lie family, and Ao Ba family had remained evenly matched in Wutan City, developing peacefully.

The fundamental reason was that the three family heads were all late-stage Da Dou Shi.

Their strength was evenly matched, with none superior to the others.

If any two families went to war, the only one to profit in the end would be the remaining family.

Thus, although the three great families had spent over a decade secretly competing and fighting over business, they had never come to bloodshed.

Now, the appearance of the Qi Gathering Pill had directly caused a massive upheaval in Wutan City.

The Qi Gathering Pill could help a late-stage Da Dou Shi break through to the Dou Ling realm.

Whichever of the three great families obtained the Qi Gathering Pill would gain a Dou Ling expert.

A single Dou Ling expert would be enough to sweep through all of Wutan City and effortlessly shatter the balance that had existed for over a decade.

That was why the three great families were willing to empty their coffers just to obtain the Qi Gathering Pill.

Of course, aside from the three great families, some powerful mercenary groups were also gathering Gold Coins everywhere.

Though they were weaker than the three great families, that did not stop them from risking everything in one final gamble.

"Clan Chief Xiao, the auction is about to begin. Why have you come to the appraisal room instead of the auction hall?"

In the appraisal room of the Mittel Auction House, Ya Fei wore a luxurious crimson brocade robe. A seductive smile rested on her face, while a bewitching charm lingered at the corners of her lips.

Across from Ya Fei stood a middle-aged man with a square face. A weathered air showed on his resolute features. He was none other than Xiao Zhan, Clan Chief of the Xiao Clan.

"Miss Ya Fei, one naturally comes to the appraisal room to auction something." Xiao Zhan smiled.

As he spoke, Xiao Zhan took a scroll from his robes and handed it to Ya Fei.

"Oh? What treasure does Clan Chief Xiao wish to auction?"

A trace of surprise flashed through her beautiful eyes. Ya Fei swayed her alluring willow-thin waist as she slowly accepted the scroll from Xiao Zhan.

"Hmm, a Yellow-tier high-grade cultivation technique, Refining Fire Burning?"

After opening the scroll, a hint of astonishment appeared in Ya Fei's beautiful eyes.

"Hehe, it seems Clan Chief Xiao is determined to obtain this Qi Gathering Pill." Her silver-bell laughter echoed through the appraisal room as her entire body radiated irresistible charm.

"I'll be troubling Miss Ya Fei."

A trace of confidence appeared on Xiao Zhan's face. Having received Flowing Cloud's warning in advance, he had been gathering Gold Coins all along.

With this Yellow-tier high-grade cultivation technique added to the mix, he was confident that at this auction, he could defeat the other two great families and obtain the Qi Gathering Pill.

"Hehe, Clan Chief Xiao, rest assured. Ya Fei will certainly secure you a satisfactory price."

Ya Fei's seductive red lips parted slightly, and her soft, enchanting voice was utterly intoxicating.

Xiao Zhan smiled at her words, then turned and left the appraisal room.