The Auction, and the Arrival of the Sword Scabbards

"Sir! Are you buying or selling?"

Upon entering the Mittel Auction House, the line was the same as before, but the speaker was different. The only thing they had in common was that they were all beautiful young girls in the prime of their youth!

"Selling, and buying a few things too!" Xiao Heng lowered his voice. He did not want to reveal himself so quickly!

"Of course. This way, please!"

Inside a private booth, the Middle-aged Man from last time came out again!

"Greetings! What would you like to sell?"

The Mittel Auction House was not especially respectful toward strangers. After all, it was one of the ten great families of the Jia Ma Empire. Xiao Heng had received the same treatment the last time he came! Still, they had been slightly more polite to him, since the Xiao Family could be considered a local power.

With a thought from Xiao Heng, dozens of bottles of various sizes appeared on the table beside him!

When the Middle-aged Man saw so many bottles, he was instantly startled. In Wutan City, someone who came to buy medicine was not necessarily an Alchemist, but anyone who could produce so much medicine at once had to be an Alchemist! In an instant, the Middle-aged Man guessed Xiao Heng's identity, and his attitude immediately became respectful!

"Sir, I apologize. I'll arrange a different private room for you at once!"

Xiao Heng shook his head. "There's no need. This one is fine! The liquid in these bottles is called Spirit Replenishing Liquid. It barely qualifies as a First-grade Pill. And this is a Spring Return Pill, also a First-grade Pill! Please estimate how much they're worth."

In Wutan City, anyone who could refine medicine was considered an Alchemist. After all, no one here really understood alchemy!

Hearing Xiao Heng speak, the Middle-aged Man continued guessing at his identity. Without revealing anything, he said, "Sir, please wait a moment."

He immediately took a sample of the First-grade medicinal liquid, brought out a needle, and stirred the liquid with it before examining it carefully! Although he did not understand alchemy, he could still identify these low-grade medicinal liquids! After inspecting the liquid, the Middle-aged Man picked up the Spring Return Pill Xiao Heng had taken out last and examined it carefully as well. Then, he put the pill back into its bottle.

"It is indeed a First-grade Pill. Sir, our auction house can offer five thousand Gold Coins for this First-grade Pill. As for the Spring Return Liquid, there are sixty-three portions in total, and we can offer three hundred Gold Coins per portion. What do you think?"

"Fine!" The price was about what Xiao Heng had expected, and even slightly higher. It seemed the other party wanted to build a good relationship with him, so they had raised the price a little!

"Then, Sir, please wait a moment."

"Hmm. I need a few things as well. Please bring them to me. Deduct the money from that first, and if it isn't enough, deduct the rest from this." As he spoke, Xiao Heng took out a list and a Purple Card!

"Yes, Sir!"

The Middle-aged Man accepted the list and Purple Card. After storing all the medicinal liquid in his Storage Ring, he respectfully left.

After a while, the Middle-aged Man returned. However, he was not alone this time. He had brought a Girl with him, while three people behind them carried the things Xiao Heng had purchased.

"Ya Fei!" Xiao Heng recognized the Girl, but he still remained calm.

Ya Fei smiled sweetly, holding Xiao Heng's Purple Card. She handed it back to him with both hands and said, "Sir, here is your card. Your goods came to a total of twenty-four thousand Gold Coins. The items you requested cost thirty-eight thousand Gold Coins in total. The extra money has already been deducted from this card!"

"Hmm, good!" Xiao Heng answered and took the card. He stored the goods in his Storage Ring, then prepared to leave.

Before he could stand, Ya Fei said, "Sir, we have an auction coming up shortly, and there will be quite a few good items. I wonder if you might be interested?" As she spoke, she revealed a charming smile. Seeing it, Xiao Heng's heart stirred.

This woman really is a vixen! She makes people want to conquer her. Looking at her, Xiao Heng thought for a moment. Still, he could take a look at the auction. With that thought, he said, "Fine. Arrange a seat for me."

Hearing Xiao Heng agree, Ya Fei smiled sweetly again and said, "Sir, this way, please!"

"Hmm!"

Xiao Heng rose and walked forward, with Ya Fei following behind him. There were no private rooms at this auction. Xiao Heng simply chose a seat toward the back. There were rarely any items here that caught his eye, and even if something did, he could not afford it! Although he had that Purple Card, it contained only one hundred thousand Gold Coins, and he had already spent forty or fifty thousand. There was not much left! Besides, borrowed money still had to be repaid, did it not?

As for Ya Fei, the vixen left halfway through without accompanying him. That was normal. He was not qualified for that yet! Ya Fei had probably only come to see what this Alchemist looked like. A First-grade Alchemist was not worth her spending much effort on!

Xiao Heng sat in his seat. As people gradually entered the auction hall, he saw Xiao Zhan, the Clan Leader of the Jia Lie Family, and the Clan Leader of the Oba Family arrive as well!

That Black Robed Man... Could he be Xiao Yan? He should be. There's no mistaking that figure. Although Xiao Yan was not the only one who wore a black robe, judging from that build, Xiao Heng was already seventy to eighty percent certain it was him!

"Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid! That must be why he's here!" The moment he saw Xiao Yan, Xiao Heng immediately guessed what he had come for!

Before long, the auction officially began. Ya Fei stood on the stage in a red qipao that perfectly outlined her figure. There was no denying that this woman was at her most alluring when she stood onstage! The beasts below stared at her with burning eyes, wishing they could swallow her whole!

The first auction item was once again the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. As expected, it still ended up in Xiao Zhan's hands!

After that, things followed the same old routine. Nothing was particularly impressive until the appearance of the Wind Scroll Technique, which finally sent the entire venue into an uproar. However, although everyone was excited, only the three great families competed for it. The others either lacked the financial strength or knew that even if they won, they would not be able to keep it.

"The Wind Scroll Technique has been won by Clan Leader Jia Lie Bi!" As the final hammer fell, it officially announced the end of the auction!

Xiao Heng had actually wanted that cultivation technique scroll as well. If he had it, he might be able to merge it with the Innate Skill and upgrade the Innate Skill!

Xiao Heng was the last to leave the auction hall. He could not be bothered to squeeze through the crowd with the others!

Just after Xiao Heng left the auction hall, Xiao Yan, dressed in a black robe, walked out as well!

Looking at the Black Robed Man who had already gone far ahead, shock flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. "Teacher! Are you saying that person was Xiao Heng?"

"Yes, it was Xiao Heng. Moreover, his cultivation has already reached Fighter Four-star!"

After nearly a month of cultivation, Xiao Heng's cultivation had also reached Fighter Four-star. Although the Innate Skill was balanced and gentle, allowing him to conceal his aura, it naturally could not be hidden from a veteran like Old Yao!

The reason Xiao Yan was shocked was not only Xiao Heng's cultivation. Ya Fei had also told him earlier that the man was an Alchemist, which was why he was so shocked! Xiao Yan clenched his fist before leaving from a distance.

As for Xiao Heng, he had not thought that much after leaving. After returning to the Xiao Family, he did not go back to the cave. The sword scabbards should arrive within the next few days. He had instructed the craftsman to send them directly to the Xiao Family once they were finished!

Back in his courtyard, Xiao Heng took out two wooden swords, holding one in each hand. The use of swords on the Dou Qi Continent seemed rather crude. At most, people could produce sword aura, but no one had Sword Intent. He now wanted to cultivate Sword Intent. Although the Vertical and Horizontal Swordplay could produce Sword Intent, it did not specifically explain how. On the page about Sword Intent, there was only a single character: "heart." Xiao Heng had not yet understood what that character meant, so he could only practice for now and see what happened!

For the past month, he had practiced with his swords for three hours every day, then practiced martial arts for one hour. He spent the remaining time refining pills and cultivating. He hardly had any time to rest. His talent and luck were fairly good, but his current cultivation was not entirely dependent on either of those things!

Closing his eyes, Xiao Heng carefully sensed every sword strike he unleashed!

According to the Vertical and Horizontal Swordplay, he put all his strength into every strike. After completing the swordplay, he repeated it until his strength was exhausted!

Three hours later, Xiao Heng sat on the bed, panting heavily, sweat covering his forehead! He took out a Kirin Fruit, swallowed it, and began circulating the Innate Skill. He did not refine pills. It was better to be cautious in the Xiao Family, since not everyone in the family wanted him to do well!

The next day, he began by practicing basic martial arts as usual. Every punch and kick was filled with power, and the air occasionally split with a sharp crack! At present, even a casual move from him probably possessed the power of a Yellow-tier Fighting Skill!

He had discovered a problem. If the Fighting Skills of the Dou Qi Continent focused Dou Qi together and released it through a special method to increase its power, then his martial arts and swordplay released Dou Qi in a more ingenious manner. Every move was a Fighting Skill. Of course, there were occasionally powerful finishing moves as well! However, most of his moves worked this way. They lacked explosive power, but made up for it with endurance. Neither method was inherently superior. Everything depended on who used it!

Just like that, three more days passed, and the sword scabbards Xiao Heng had been eagerly awaiting finally arrived!

"Young Master Xiao Heng, someone outside is asking for you. He says your things are ready!"

Early in the morning, a black-robed old man came to call Xiao Heng.

"Hmm, good. Steward Mo, please bring him inside."

"Yes, Young Master Xiao Heng!"

Before long, the black-robed old man led a burly man inside. It was Boss Wang. At that moment, he was holding two sword scabbards wrapped in black cloth. However, the burly man did not immediately unwrap them. Instead, he glanced at the black-robed old man who had brought him in.

"Then, Young Master Xiao Heng, I'll take my leave first!" Steward Mo left tactfully. As someone who had served as the Xiao Family's steward for decades, he possessed this much discernment.

"Then I'll trouble you, Steward Mo!"

Only after the old man closed the door did the burly man solemnly unwrap the black cloth.

The two sword scabbards were made of wood in an antique style, with silver-white patterns interwoven throughout. Both the tips and ends of the scabbards were wrapped in silver metal. Other than that, they had no decorations.

Xiao Heng took out the Black and White Profound Cut and accepted the scabbards. He inserted the Two swords into them. They fit perfectly without the slightest gap, yet drawing the swords was not hindered at all!

Seeing this, Xiao Heng and the burly man both revealed satisfied smiles!

System Panel

Obtained Sword Scabbards (Yellow-tier Advanced, upgradeable!)

After his excitement faded, the burly man began introducing the two sword scabbards to Xiao Heng. "Young Master, these two sword scabbards are both Yellow-tier Advanced. The scabbard bodies are made from Hundred-year Ironwood, while the tips and ends are made from Hundred-refined Fine Iron! During the forging process, I also added a First-order Golden Tiger Magic Core and a Wood Wolf Demon Core! It's just a shame that my skills are limited. Otherwise, I definitely could have forged them into Mystic Grade equipment!" At the end, the burly man revealed a regretful expression.

"It's fine. I'm already very satisfied!" Xiao Heng smiled in satisfaction. So Magic Cores had been added as well. No wonder there were silver-white patterns!

Xiao Heng was indeed very satisfied, and happily paid the remaining balance.

Every sword needed a sword scabbard!

"Young Master, this is for you. You should be able to use it!"

"Then, thank you, Boss Wang!" Xiao Heng did not refuse. Five thousand Gold Coins—after deducting the cost of the materials, Boss Wang could still earn at least a thousand Gold Coins.

"There's no need for that. I'm happy that I managed to forge these two sword scabbards!"

After Boss Wang left, Xiao Heng immediately strapped the two swords to his back. The final gift Boss Wang had given him was a small device that allowed him to carry the swords on his back!

Walking over to the water vat, Xiao Heng looked at himself carrying the swords. He had to admit, he looked handsome! He even had a bit of Li Xiaoyao's style!

Xiao Heng had short hair. Although long hair looked more dashing, short hair was more convenient, so he had never grown it out.