Xia Wanjin's Doubts: This Youth Was Somewhat Strange

Following the densest flow of people, Liu Yuan soon arrived before a magnificent, massive building.

Wanjin Auction House.

Those five gilded characters were inscribed in bold, sweeping strokes across the enormous plaque, reflecting dazzling Golden Light beneath the sun and exuding an air of extravagant wealth.

At this moment, the entrance to the auction house was already packed with people.

Countless Martial Artists dressed in fitted combat attire surged toward the enormous entrance.

Liu Yuan did not hurry to squeeze inside. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back at the rear of the crowd, observing with interest.

Just then.

The previously noisy, crowded mass suddenly seemed to be cleaved apart by an invisible blade, quickly retreating to either side and opening up a broad passage.

A chilling, bone-piercing cold abruptly spread through the air.

"Ugh... so cold!"

"It's that Old Monster from the Profound Ice Sect!"

Amid the awed whispers of the surrounding crowd, an Elder clad in Gray-White Clothes slowly approached.

The Elder's face was gaunt and shriveled, his skin a sickly pale shade. His eye sockets were deeply sunken, and an icy, venomous gleam like that of a snake flickered in his eyes.

As he walked, the surrounding air seemed to condense into a thin layer of White Frost, making those nearby shudder involuntarily.

"Profound Ice Sect, Ice Old Ghost..."

Liu Yuan's gaze shifted slightly as information about Flame City flashed through his mind.

Within Flame City, the three foremost powers were naturally the Wanjin Auction, the Iron Wolf Gang, and the City Lord's Mansion.

But beyond them, there were also numerous other small and medium-sized forces within the city.

Though these forces might not compare to the three great powers, they were still existences ordinary people could not afford to provoke.

And this so-called Profound Ice Sect was clearly one such small or medium-sized force.

At this moment, beneath everyone's gaze, Ice Old Ghost ignored the looks of those around him and walked straight to the auction house's reception desk.

Several guards from the Myriad Gold Merchant Association, responsible for receiving guests, were sweating profusely as they maintained order.

When they saw Ice Old Ghost approach, their faces turned pale, and none of them dared even breathe too loudly.

"I want to enter."

Ice Old Ghost's voice was hoarse.

His withered hand reached out from his sleeve, casually tossing out a Mu Jin that gave off a faint reddish glow.

"Clack."

The Mu Jin landed on the counter with a crisp sound.

It was a Yang Yuan Stone.

The attractive Maid at the desk hurriedly collected the Yang Yuan Stone and, with trembling hands, offered him a black metal Number Plate.

"Ice... Ice Senior, this is your Number Plate. Please... please keep it safe."

Ice Old Ghost did not even spare the Maid a glance. He pinched the Number Plate between two fingers, and with a flash of his body, he swept up a gust of cold wind before vanishing into the auction house entrance passage.

Only after he disappeared did the oppressive atmosphere at the entrance ease somewhat.

"So that's the process."

Liu Yuan chuckled. Ignoring the passersby around him who were still patting their chests and catching their breath, he strode toward the reception desk.

He copied Ice Old Ghost's earlier actions, taking out a Yang Yuan Stone from his Storage Ring and gently placing it on the counter.

"I'd like to enter as well."

Liu Yuan's voice was clear and warm, like a spring breeze that instantly dispelled the lingering chill.

The Maid froze slightly. When she raised her head, she met a pair of deep eyes like a starry sky.

"Ah... yes, Young Master, please... please wait a moment."

The Maid's cheeks flushed faintly as she hurriedly collected the Yang Yuan Stone and took out a Number Plate for him.

"Here is your Number Plate. Your seat is in the rear section of the main hall."

Taking the Number Plate, Liu Yuan nodded slightly in thanks, then turned and disappeared into the deep passageway.

The interior of the Wanjin Auction House was extravagantly luxurious.

An enormous Crystal Chandelier hung high from the ceiling, its soft radiance spilling into every corner.

The surrounding walls were inlaid with special metal capable of blocking Spiritual Power detection, displaying the Myriad Gold Merchant Association's immense wealth and Security Measures.

On the second floor of the auction house stood a secluded private room with an excellent view.

Through the private room's specially made One-way Crystal Window, one could clearly overlook every movement throughout the auction house, while those outside could not see within.

At this moment, two figures stood inside the private room.

One man and one woman.

The man was broad and powerfully built, dressed in a Brocade Robe. He had a Square Face, thick brows, and large eyes, and his entire body radiated the imposing authority of someone long accustomed to high status.

He was the President of the Myriad Gold Merchant Association and one of Flame City's foremost experts—Xia Wanjin.

Beside him stood a graceful woman.

She wore a brilliant red Brocade Qipao that perfectly outlined her voluptuous, exquisite figure.

Her face was as beautiful as a flower, her brows and eyes brimming with allure. Every smile and frown carried the charming seductiveness of a mature woman, especially her slender Phoenix Eyes, whose shifting glances seemed capable of stealing a man's soul.

She was Xuan Su, the Myriad Gold Merchant Association's manager and a renowned beauty of Flame City.

At this moment, the two stood by the window, their gazes sweeping over the guests entering below.

"It seems this auction truly has quite an appeal."

Xuan Su lightly waved a Round Fan with her delicate hand. Her Red Lips parted, and her voice was so soft it seemed to melt into one's bones.

"Not only have the major forces of Flame City sent people, but quite a few experts from several neighboring cities have come as well."

Her gaze settled on a seat below, where Ice Old Ghost, who had entered earlier, was seated.

"Heh, Ice Old Ghost of the Profound Ice Sect, Wolf Demon of the Iron Wolf Gang... This auction is going to become quite lively."

Xia Wanjin stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze deep as he nodded.

"Yes. That old fellow Ice Old Ghost's aura seems even more gloomy and condensed than it was half a year ago."

A trace of gravity flashed through his eyes.

"If I'm not mistaken, the fluctuations of Yuan Power within him have already begun to show signs of perfect harmony and unity. If this continues, he may reach the threshold of Origin Core Realm Great Perfection within a few years."

Just then.

Xia Wanjin's casually roaming gaze suddenly paused.

His eyes passed through the bustling crowd and, as if guided by fate, landed on a Green-Robed Youth who was slowly walking toward his seat.

The youth walked with calm composure. Set against the surrounding Martial Artists, some tense, some excited, some fierce-looking, he appeared especially detached from the world.

For some reason, the moment Xia Wanjin saw this youth, his heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

"Hmm?"

Xia Wanjin's brows furrowed slightly as he let out a quiet sound of surprise.

"What is it, President?"

Xuan Su noticed his odd reaction and followed his gaze, but she saw only the slender back of a youth.

"Look at that youth."

Xia Wanjin pointed toward Liu Yuan, a trace of puzzlement in his tone.

"He feels... somewhat strange."

"Strange?"

Xuan Su narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly and carefully examined Liu Yuan before shaking her head with a light laugh.

"What is strange about him? He just looks like a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy. His temperament is fairly decent, and he is rather handsome, but young masters from Great Families like him are not uncommon on such occasions."

Yet Xia Wanjin's frown only deepened.

As an expert at Origin Core Realm Great Perfection, his intuition had always been accurate.

But when facing that person, he vaguely sensed considerable pressure.

That was why he found it strange.

"Perhaps I've been too tense lately while preparing for this auction. Everyone looks unfathomable to me."

However, Xia Wanjin soon shook his head and laughed self-mockingly.

He must have sensed it incorrectly.

A mere youth could not possibly be an expert whose strength far surpassed his own.

Inside the auction hall.

Liu Yuan sat down on a somewhat hard Wooden Seat.

The surrounding clamor washed over him like a tide. Some people boasted of their achievements, some discussed the Grand Finale treasures of this auction, while others exchanged bits of gossip.

Naturally, Liu Yuan had clearly sensed the probing gaze from the second floor earlier.

It belonged to Xia Wanjin.

His powerful perception at Form Creation Realm Great Accomplishment allowed him to see everything around him with perfect clarity.

Xia Wanjin's Spiritual Power probe at Origin Core Realm Great Perfection was like a child swinging a wooden sword before him, full of openings.

Yet Liu Yuan did not care in the slightest and did not even raise his head.

What the system had granted him was not merely power, but perfect control over that power.

As long as he did not deliberately release his aura, not even Xia Wanjin—and even if Stone City Lord came in person—could hope to see through him.

"Most of them are here now..."

Liu Yuan looked around. The originally empty seats were now completely filled, with a dense sea of heads stretching before him.

The atmosphere in the air also gradually began to heat up.

Just then.

"Dong—!"

A clear, melodious Bell Chime suddenly rang throughout the auction house.

The previously noisy hall quickly fell silent the instant the bell rang.

Every gaze turned in unison toward the enormous High Platform at the center of the auction house.

At that moment, the lights there, originally dim, abruptly became dazzling and brilliant.

Under the attention of all present.

An Elder dressed in a red Brocade Robe stepped onto the High Platform with a ruddy complexion.

His steps were steady, and his eyes gleamed brightly. He was clearly an expert of no ordinary cultivation.

The Elder walked to the center of the auction platform, swept his gaze across the room, and revealed a professional smile as he said loudly.

"Friends, welcome to the Wanjin Auction House!"

"This old man knows your time is valuable, so I will not waste words."

"I also know that everyone here has come for the treasures in this auction."

"So now, I announce..."

The Elder abruptly waved his hand, his voice rising sharply.

"The Wanjin Auction officially begins!"