Hello, Fellow Countryman: Hun Cang, Peak Dou Wang

After leaving the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan suddenly regretted it.

I shouldn't have come out so early. It's not even dark yet—wearing a black robe would be way too conspicuous! He clenched the cloth bag in his hand. Inside was a black robe he had specifically bought yesterday and worn only once.

At that moment, several people dressed in black robes swaggered past him. Judging by their direction, they were heading for the Miter Auction House.

Xiao Yan was dumbfounded. What was going on?

Once on the street, he saw black-robed figures everywhere. Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought Wutan City had some special regulation.

Filled with doubt, Xiao Yan entered a shop specializing in robes. The owner was pitching his wares to someone, but the customer left as soon as he heard there were no black robes.

"Boss, why is everyone on the streets wearing black robes?" Xiao Yan walked over and asked casually.

"Young Master Xiao Yan? What a rare visitor. What, would you like one too?"

Recognizing him, the owner immediately began enthusiastically promoting his goods. Only after Xiao Yan sternly refused did he sigh and explain the reason.

It turned out that after someone had worked up the courage to enter the auction house last night, the news had spread.

No one knew exactly who had spread it.

They only knew that someone had followed the person home and discovered money and a dose of Qi Gathering Powder on him!

As the saying went, wealth should not be flaunted!

To ordinary people, Qi Gathering Powder was not wealth—it was more like a treasure that could cost them their lives!

That young man's entire family had been killed. Meanwhile, others believed that since the young man had met a Dou Wang and survived, the Dou Wang must have had a good temper. So everyone wanted to try their luck.

What if they got the answer right? Wouldn't they strike it rich?

And with that cautionary example before them, they had all disguised themselves, afraid of being targeted by thieves.

After finishing his explanation, the owner saw Xiao Yan standing there in a daze. Just then, more customers entered, and he hurried over to attend to them.

By the time he finished and looked back, Xiao Yan had already disappeared.

The owner pursed his lips and thought nothing of it.

Miter Auction House.

A long line stretched out from the main entrance, every person clad in a black robe. It had an oddly eerie sense of beauty.

Everyone in the line had their heads lowered, and no one spoke.

They were all afraid of being recognized!

Standing in the line, Xiao Yan pressed his lips together, his expression complicated. He had merely wanted to find someone to probe this Dou Wang's true intentions, yet he had unexpectedly brought disaster upon the other person's entire family.

It also made him suddenly realize something!

In this world filled with Dou Qi, the strong devouring the weak was the norm. If he wanted to avoid being targeted, becoming stronger was the only foundation.

Since there was a fellow countryman who was a Dou Wang, regardless of whether he was good or bad, there was no harm in meeting him.

What if he could help resolve the hidden danger of Xiao Yan's disappearing Dou Qi?

Inside the auction house, in a room.

Guni sat upright with a solemn expression. Watching black-robed figures enter one after another, he numbly asked the same question each time.

"'The goose bends its neck and sings to the sky.' What is the preceding line?"

"Huh?"

The black-robed person stared blankly at Guni.

"Next!"

Guni said coldly. He felt that perhaps no one would be able to guess the answer King Cang had given.

"No, that wasn't the question posted outside! Change the question! I paid money to buy the answer—how can you cheat like this? I refuse to accept this! I just bought that answer!"

The black-robed person was dragged away. No matter how he struggled, he could not break free.

Listening as the voice gradually faded, Guni pinched the bridge of his nose. More than once, he had considered quietly telling the answer to one of his confidants and having them exchange it for the reward.

But the thought vanished as soon as it arose. He did not dare dwell on it.

From all the signs, King Cang had specific criteria in mind when searching for someone. Resorting to such methods would not only fail to earn a reward—it might even cost him his life.

As he pondered, another black-robed person stood before him. Guni could not even be bothered to raise his eyelids as he asked numbly.

"...Goose, goose, goose." A somewhat hoarse voice came from beneath the black robe.

"What do you mean, goose? Next... Wait, what did you just say?"

Just as Guni was about to have the person thrown out, he froze. It felt as though an electric current had shot through his body, making him stiffen. He stared at the other person in disbelief, his gaze seeming to pierce through the black robe to see the face beneath.

This fellow countryman Dou Wang is quite the prankster... Xiao Yan muttered inwardly, frowning as he repeated it.

This time, Guni truly heard it clearly.

That was right. It was exactly the answer King Cang had given. Someone had actually answered it...

Who could it be?

Suppressing his urge to investigate, Guni invited the person to the front hall and arranged for someone to notify Hun Cang.

Front hall.

Xiao Yan stood quietly alone. Before long, footsteps sounded behind him. He turned halfway, peering out from beneath the brim of his hood.

A young man approached. His features were proper, his eyes bright and spirited, and his breathing long and steady. With every step he took, Xiao Yan seemed able to sense the vast Dou Qi flowing through his body.

"You answered my question?" Hun Cang sat in his seat and asked indifferently.

"Yes."

Xiao Yan replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Did you think of it yourself, or did someone tell you and send you here?" Hun Cang asked.

"What difference does it make?" Xiao Yan countered.

Hun Cang glanced at him and said coldly, "Someone tried to be clever yesterday. You should have seen what it's like outside now. I'm not as idle as they imagine! If this keeps happening, I'll get angry!"

As he spoke, the aura of a Dou Wang slowly seeped from Hun Cang's body and pressed down on Xiao Yan.

In an instant, Xiao Yan felt immense pressure. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his waist and back involuntarily bent. Just as he could no longer hold on and was about to fall to his knees, the aura suddenly vanished.

After taking several deep breaths, Xiao Yan said, "I can give you the answer, but before that, you must swear an oath!"

"What right do you have to bargain with me?"

Hun Cang abruptly rose to his feet, frightening Xiao Yan into retreating several steps. Regret surged in his heart. I shouldn't have come to the Miter Auction House!

But Hun Cang suddenly changed his tone and asked, "How should I swear?"

"Huh?"

Xiao Yan froze and instinctively looked up. Just as his gaze was about to meet Hun Cang's, he came to his senses and hurriedly lowered his head. "Swear that Chinese people do not deceive Chinese people, and Chinese people do not harm Chinese people. Then I'll tell you who sent me here."

"..."

Hearing that, Hun Cang was instantly speechless, black lines filling his forehead.

This isn't some cultivation fantasy world. Would swearing even work...

After two seconds of silence, he simply made an oath as Xiao Yan requested.

Once that was done, he smiled faintly. "Can you take off your hood now, Xiao Yan?"

"You recognized me?"

Hearing Hun Cang's words, Xiao Yan could not suppress the emotional tremor in his voice as he cried out in surprise.

Will he kill me? Or...

Just as Xiao Yan panicked and grew uneasy, he saw Hun Cang extend his right hand with a friendly smile. "My name is Hun Cang. Peak Dou Wang. Nice to meet you, fellow countryman."

Xiao Yan froze. Once he was sure the other party truly seemed to mean no harm, he removed his hood, revealing a somewhat youthful face. Then he reached out to shake Hun Cang's hand and said with a bitter smile,

"Xiao Yan. Dou Power... third stage."