Going Out, Northern Region

"Great-uncle, Father, Mother, I'm leaving!"

Inside the Xiao Realm, Xiao Gong, Xiao Feng, and Gu Qin watched Xiao Xuan with reluctance. They, too, were unwilling to part with him and worried for his safety.

Xiao Gong laughed and scolded, "Why are you getting so sentimental, brat? Get lost already. Isn't this what you've always wanted to do but never managed to?"

Xiao Xuan bowed deeply, then turned and stepped through the barrier.

After leaving the Xiao Realm, Xiao Xuan appeared in the valley outside it.

Beyond the valley stretched a vast forest. Towering Sky-Propping Giant Trees stood at uneven heights, their lush branches and leaves casting broad shade that blotted out the sky.

Beneath the forest canopy, a small river flowed gently.

Xiao Xuan's figure darted through it as swiftly as a fish-dragon.

After traveling some distance, he stopped and took out three Dou Techniques. One was an advanced Earth-tier Dou Technique, a soul-based sonic attack method called Eight Sounds of the Heavenly Dragon. Another was an intermediate Heaven-tier Dou Technique, Five Elements Emperor Palm, which he had selected over the years from among the Heaven-tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques on the fourth floor of the Scripture Depository.

As for the last one, it was something Xiao Xuan had never imagined finding. Its rank was unknown, and it looked utterly ordinary, its pages even worn and tattered. It was One Qi Transforms into Three Purities, which he had found on the first floor of the Scripture Depository.

Xiao Xuan knew that its rank was definitely far above Emperor-tier.

The manual stated that cultivation required using one's true spirit to empower the crown of the head. Once mastered, it could create two clones. The manifested bodies would possess the same strength and potential as the original body, and they could continue cultivating and growing.

It was divided into four realms. In the Three-Part Realm, two clones could be manifested. Their strength would be equal to that of the original body, and their minds would be united, though there would still be a primary and secondary distinction. The original body's will controlled the two clones.

In the Three-Unity Realm, the two clones were fused back into oneself, combining all three into one. This could elevate one's realm and greatly increase combat strength. It was equivalent to a boosting secret art, yet had no side effects.

In the Three-God Realm, the clones would become like independent entities, as real as true bodies and capable of existing permanently. There would no longer be any distinction between primary and secondary; the clones would be the original body. To defeat Mu Chen, one would have to defeat all three at once. At this stage, the two clones could cultivate other cultivation methods and Dou Techniques.

In the Return-to-One Realm, one began from one and ended as one. The two clones would be burned away completely, finally transforming into two streaks of light that shot into the body and erupted with immense power.

However, once the Return-to-One was completed, the divine ability One Qi Transforms into Three Purities would also dissipate.

The manual's description was indeed shocking, but no one in the Xiao Clan had ever successfully cultivated it.

It was said that a Dou Emperor of the Xiao Clan had acquired it by chance in the past. Even that Xiao Clan Dou Emperor had been unable to cultivate it.

As time passed, it was discarded in some corner and treated as an insignificant collectible.

When he obtained this Dou Technique, Xiao Gong had tried to dissuade him, but Xiao Xuan had not given up.

"The sky is high enough for birds to fly, and the sea wide enough for fish to roam! Hahaha... Dou Qi Continent, Xiao Xuan has arrived!"

With a wild roar, he flew off in a random direction without caring where he was headed.

Xiao Xuan flew all the way without deliberately keeping track of the time. He only knew that he had been flying for a long while; even at the peak Dou Zong level, he had stopped to rest several times.

Northern Region, Floating Cloud Empire. This was one of the five great empires of the Northern Region.

After crossing mountains and valleys, he finally arrived in the Imperial Capital of the Meteor Empire.

His luck was not bad. As soon as he arrived at the Imperial Capital, he heard people talking about an auction that Sky Cloud Pavilion would hold three days later. Since he had nothing else to do, he decided to take a look. Perhaps there would be something he needed.

Over the next three days, Xiao Xuan did not go out much. He quietly cultivated and meditated in the inn until the morning of the third day, when he finally opened his tightly shut eyes.

Floating Cloud Holy City was undoubtedly much noisier and livelier than usual today. Even from within the inn, Xiao Xuan could hear the earth-shaking clamor coming from the streets.

After swiftly moving through the streets for nearly half an hour, Xiao Xuan finally arrived at the Sky Cloud Pavilion auction house.

Standing outside the auction house and gazing at the enormous plaza, large enough to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people, astonishment rose in his eyes. If he had not been certain that he was on the Dou Qi Continent, he might have suspected that he had accidentally entered an Emperor Clan.

Outside the auction house, many Sky Cloud Pavilion disciples were maintaining order.

Although this was the Imperial Capital of an empire, some auction items were still enough to make people covet them greedily.

Robberies had happened at auction houses before. Thus, Sky Cloud Pavilion's strict preparations were perfectly reasonable.

After entering the auction house, Xiao Xuan chose a private room with an expansive view, allowing him to see the entire auction venue.

Ordinarily, a stranger would not have been qualified to enter such a private room, especially not a little brat of twelve or thirteen.

After all, those who possessed auction boxes were either wealthy or noble.

But Lord Xiao had money to spare. There was nothing in this world that money could not solve. If it could not be solved, the price simply was not high enough.

"Chief Steward Zhuge."

A commotion suddenly broke out below. Xiao Xuan looked toward the sound and saw, surrounded by the crowd like stars around the moon, a graceful woman in a black dress approaching with measured steps.

The woman looked extremely young, around eighteen or nineteen. Her skin was fair as snow, and her soft hair was casually held up by a jade hairpin. Though she wore no makeup, she instead exuded a trace of alluring charm.

However, she had only hurried past and did not begin the auction, instead turning and heading elsewhere.

Xiao Xuan sat silently in a rosewood chair. He lifted the teacup on the table and took a light sip, then glanced sideways at the girl still standing beside him, who looked exceedingly cautious, before suddenly speaking.

"How much longer until the auction starts?"

"Ah?"

The girl was startled by his sudden voice. She secretly glanced at Xiao Xuan, whose entire body was sunk into the chair, while her small hands nervously twisted the corner of her clothes. Her little face turned pale as she replied uneasily, "In reply to Young Master, this auction is rather grand, so the preparations will take longer than usual."

Seeing the girl looking like a frightened rabbit, Xiao Xuan could not help feeling puzzled. Was he really that scary?

"Little girl, do I look that frightening?"

"N-No!"

Seeing the little girl panic, he said nothing more and waited quietly.

After waiting for about ten minutes, the auction finally officially began.

Ding!

As the auction began, the entire venue was almost completely full.

A crisp sound rang out through the auction house. Under the attention of the entire crowd, Chief Steward Zhuge, dressed in a red gown, walked gracefully toward the auction platform.

The moment the people below saw Steward Jing appear, they immediately erupted into thunderous cheers. Under the concentrated lights, her delicate body, tightly wrapped in the red gown, was so slender and alluring. Her curvaceous figure instantly made some men with excessive hormones itch with restless desire.

Xiao Xuan smacked his lips at the fiery atmosphere.

"She really is a seductress."

The woman known as Chief Steward Zhuge parted her crimson lips and smiled at everyone present. "Everyone, you have come here today because you are interested in certain items at this auction.

Then Zhuge will not keep you in suspense any longer.

Next, let us welcome our first auction item!"