Ye Xuan of the Xuanye Sect

"Teacher, is Huang Liang your alias?" Xiao Li asked.

"Yes. When traveling outside, I obviously can't use my real identity," Old Wang said blandly.

"I understand. Then once we enter the Black Horn Region, I'll be called Wang Li. I'll use that name when I go to the Central Continent in the future as well," Xiao Li said after pondering for a moment.

"Taking my surname? Brat, do you want to be my son?" Old Wang stroked his beard and laughed.

"You are my master, which makes you half a father to me. My biological father left very early, and Eldest Brother was the one who raised me. After that, you kept me company for a long time. To me, you are both teacher and father—it wouldn't be an exaggeration at all.

"The only pity is that at your age, you don't have Shi Niang to look after you. Your disciple is willing to care for you in your old age, hehe~ Ow! Teacher, why did you hit me?"

Xiao Li clutched his head as he spoke. Old Wang had initially been quite pleased and even somewhat moved. He had accepted such a fine disciple—so how had the conversation become so absurd?

Old Wang snorted coldly. As if this old man were unwanted. Back then, I even... Forget it. There's no need to mention the past. I wonder how she is doing now?

Xiao Li and Old Wang did not wait long before a fierce-looking man, barely five feet tall, entered.

The moment the man saw Old Wang, his eyes lit up. He immediately stepped forward and bowed.

This man was Zhuo Tian, the master of Xuanye Medicine Shop and a Dou Wang Expert.

"Master Huang! I have kept you waiting for so long. It was my discourtesy; please forgive me."

"Mm. Take me to see Ye Xuan. I heard the items in his auction this time are quite good. Let this old man see just how good they are," Old Wang said indifferently, as though he did not regard Zhuo Tian highly at all.

Then again, Old Wang was not only a Dou Emperor Expert but also a Rank 6 Alchemist. What right did a Dou Wang have to swagger around before him?

"So you have come to see Sect Leader Ye. Master Huang, please follow me. And this little brother is?" Zhuo Tian also noticed Xiao Li. Judging by his aura, Xiao Li's cultivation was not weak. He must have some close connection to Master Huang.

"He is this old man's disciple. Ask no more questions. Lead the way," Old Wang said flatly.

"Yes! Master Huang, please follow me." Zhuo Tian led Old Wang and Xiao Li out of Xuanye Medicine Shop and toward the Xuanye Sect.

Xuanye Sect,

Upon reaching the entrance of the Xuanye Sect, Zhuo Tian led Old Wang and Xiao Li straight inside. The gatekeepers did not even attempt to stop them.

Zhuo Tian was not only an elder of the Xuanye Sect, but he also had close ties with Sect Leader Ye Xuan. Naturally, nothing would happen when Elder Zhuo Tian brought people into the sect.

Zhuo Tian led Old Wang and Xiao Li all the way to the sect's reception hall.

"Master Huang, please wait here with your high disciple for a moment. I will go invite the Sect Leader," Zhuo Tian said, cupping his hands toward Old Wang.

"Go."

"Yes! Someone, serve tea!" Zhuo Tian called to the servants before leaving.

"Teacher, what are you planning? Didn't we come to take a look at the Auction House? Why are we visiting the organizers?" Xiao Li asked in confusion.

"Hehe, you don't understand. You must have heard along the way that news has already been released about valuable items at this auction. There are not only Earth Rank Cultivation Methods and Battle Skills, but even Grade 7 Pills.

"This old man does not wish to waste too much money competing with those desperadoes at the auction. I can simply come here and buy directly from the organizers," Old Wang said with a smile as he stroked his beard.

"Ah? Wouldn't that break the Auction House's rules?" Xiao Li asked in surprise.

"Rules? What rules? An Auction House of this level has no rules before this old man. Even if it has rules, they cease to exist before an Imperial Origin Pill," Old Wang said arrogantly.

"Uh... You really have that Dou Emperor completely in your grasp."

About the time it took to drink half a cup of tea later,

Footsteps sounded from outside. The newcomer's aura was far stronger than Zhuo Tian's.

"Old Huang! Old Huang! I never expected you to visit my place again after ten years!" A deep, resonant voice called out.

A middle-aged man in a Black Robe walked in. He appeared somewhat thin and frail, forming a stark contrast with his rich voice, but the aura around him was truly terrifying. Was this a Four Star Dou Emperor?

"Ye Xuan, it has indeed been a long time since we last met. I heard that your Xuanye Auction House is opening, and that there are good items this time. Let this old man see what good things you have," Old Wang said while stroking his beard. Unlike when he spoke with Xiao Li, his tone toward Ye Xuan was icy.

"I knew that was your intention, Old Huang. The list is here. Please take a look," Ye Xuan said with a smile.

"Mm." Old Wang took the list and examined it carefully. Xiao Li also leaned over for a closer look.

"Mm~ Magic Core Weapons, medicinal ingredients, Flying Dou Techniques, Profound Rank Battle Skills, Profound Rank Cultivation Methods... Hm? An Earth Rank Low-Level Fire Attribute Battle Skill, Heavenly Fierce Slash! Not bad.

"A Grade 7 Pill, the Yin Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill? There really is a Grade 7 Pill? But this old man has never heard of this pill. An Earth Rank Intermediate Lightning Attribute Cultivation Method, the Raging Thunder Mirror: Awakening Thunder Technique, along with its Matching Dou Techniques!

"Hiss—Ye Xuan, the items in your auction this time are all quite impressive. A Grade 7 Pill and an Earth Rank Intermediate Cultivation Method! Aren't you afraid that the other factions will get desperate and raze your Xuanye Sect to the ground?"

Old Wang was greatly shocked as well. These items were truly outrageous.

"An Auction House has its rules. Old Huang should know where I come from. In the Black Horn Region, aside from Old Ghost of the Earth Demon, I truly fear no one.

"This will also be the Auction House's final auction. The Young Master will soon graduate from Jia Nan Academy, and I should escort him home," Ye Xuan said calmly.

"Indeed. Your Ye Family of the Central Region is truly powerful. Is Old Master Ye of your family still well?" Old Wang asked.

"The Grand Elder passed away several years ago. Now the family relies entirely on Great Elder Ye Zhong to hold it together. The Ye Family is on the verge of collapse and has lost its former standing. With powerful enemies watching from all sides, the Ye Family's days ahead will likely be difficult."

Ye Xuan gave a bitter smile. That was right—he was a member of the Ye Family in the Central Region of the Central Continent, one of Danta's Five Great Clans.

Ye Xuan was not an Alchemist. He cultivated Wood Attribute Dou Qi. He had come to the Black Horn Region primarily to accompany Ye Zhong's son. That Young Master was studying at Jia Nan Academy, while Ye Xuan ran the Auction House business in the Black Horn Region.

"Oh? Is that so? Forget it, this old man will not inquire too deeply into your family matters. You have quite a few good things here. This old man wishes to buy them directly, or exchange items of equivalent value for them. Is that possible?"

Old Wang continued.

"This... I'm afraid that would violate the rules," Ye Xuan said with some difficulty. Wouldn't that be ruining his own establishment's reputation?

"Ye Xuan, have you ever taken an Imperial Origin Pill?" Old Wang asked with a smile.

"No. Why?"

"This old man has an Imperial Origin Pill here. I wonder if Sect Leader Ye can make an exception for me?" Old Wang said with a chuckle.

Gulp~

Ye Xuan swallowed. An Imperial Origin Pill... Although he came from the alchemist Ye Family, he was merely from a branch family. He had only been able to follow the Young Master to the Black Horn Region because he possessed some talent.

Back when the Ye Family had not yet run into trouble, he could have received an Imperial Origin Pill. Given the Ye Family's current circumstances, however, it was difficult for him to be allotted one.

The family's only Rank 7 Alchemist, Great Elder Ye Zhong, had remained in seclusion and rarely appeared. The other alchemists in the family had only just entered Rank 6. They could not even refine Dou Spirit Pills, much less the top-grade Rank 6 Imperial Origin Pill.

"Can you or can't you? Give me a straight answer!" Old Wang snapped.

"Yes! Aside from the Grade 7 Pill, the Yin Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, and the Raging Thunder Mirror: Awakening Thunder Technique, those two lots are the main attractions and have already been announced to every faction in the Black Horn Region.

"If Old Huang has his eye on anything else, I can make the decision and let you buy it directly! You will absolutely be satisfied with the price!" Ye Xuan said with a clenched jaw and a smile.