"Teacher, is Huang Liang your alias?" Xiao Li asked.
"Yes. When traveling outside, I certainly couldn'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? Are you trying to become this old man's son?" Old Wang stroked his beard and laughed.
"You are my master, so you are practically half a father to me. My biological father left long ago, and it was my eldest brother who raised me. After that, you stayed by my side for so long. Calling you both my teacher and my father wouldn't be an exaggeration at all."
"The only pity is that, at your age, you don't have Shi Niang to take care of you. Your disciple is willing to support you in your old age, hehe~ Ow! Teacher, why did you hit me?"
Xiao Li held his head as he spoke. Old Wang had initially been quite pleased and even a little moved. He had taken in such a good disciple—so how had the conversation become so outrageous?
Old Wang snorted. "You make it sound like no one wanted this old man. Back then, I once... Forget it. No need to bring up the past. I wonder how she is doing now."
Xiao Li and Old Wang did not wait long before a fierce-looking man, only five feet tall, quickly walked in.
The moment the man saw Old Wang, his eyes lit up. He immediately stepped forward and bowed.
This man was the owner of Xuan Medicine Shop, Zhuo Tian, a Dou Wang expert.
"Master Huang! I have kept you waiting. This is my lapse in manners; I hope you can forgive me."
"Mm. Take this old man to see Ye Xuan. I heard the items in his Auction House this time are quite good. Let this old man see just how good they are." Old Wang's tone was indifferent, as though he did not regard Zhuo Tian as worthy of notice.
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 are looking for Sect Leader Ye. Master Huang, please follow me. And this young brother is?" Zhuo Tian had noticed Xiao Li as well. Judging by his aura, Xiao Li's cultivation was not weak. He was surely closely connected to Master Huang.
"He is this old man's disciple. Don't ask so many questions. Lead the way," Old Wang said blandly.
"Yes! Master Huang, please follow me." Zhuo Tian led Old Wang and Xiao Li out of Xuan Medicine Shop and toward the Xuan Ye Sect.
Xuan Ye Sect.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Xuan Ye Sect, Zhuo Tian directly led Old Wang and Xiao Li inside. The guards did not even try to stop them.
Zhuo Tian was not only an Elder of the Xuan Ye Sect, but also had close ties with Sect Leader Ye Xuan. Since Elder Zhuo Tian was bringing people into the sect, nothing could possibly go wrong.
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 cupped 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 look at the Auction House? Why come to the organizers?" Xiao Li asked in confusion.
"Hehe, this is where you do not understand. You must have heard about it on the way here. News has already spread that this auction will have valuable items—not only Earth Rank Cultivation Methods and Battle Skills, but even a Grade 7 pill.
"This old man does not want to waste too much money auctioning against those desperate outlaws. It is easier to come directly to the organizers and buy from them," Old Wang said with a smile as he stroked his beard.
"Huh? 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 under your thumb."
About half the time it took to drink a cup of tea later,
Footsteps sounded outside the door. The newcomer's aura was far stronger than Zhuo Tian's.
"Old Huang! Old Huang! I never thought that after ten years, you would visit my place again!" A deep, hearty voice rang out.
A middle-aged man in black robes walked in. He looked somewhat thin and weak, forming a stark contrast with his booming voice, yet the aura around him was truly terrifying. So this was a Four Star Dou Emperor?
"Ye Xuan, it has indeed been a long time. I heard that your Xuanye Auction House is opening, and that you have some good items. Let this old man see what good things you have," Old Wang said as he stroked his beard. Unlike when he spoke with Xiao Li, his tone toward Ye Xuan was icy.
"I knew that was why you came. The list is here. Please have a look," Ye Xuan said with a smile.
"Mm." Old Wang took the list and examined it closely. Xiao Li also leaned over to have a careful 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 it. An Earth Rank Intermediate Lightning Attribute Cultivation Method, the Rushing Thunder Mirror, along with its matching Dou Technique, the Insects Awakening Thunder Technique!
"Hiss—Ye Xuan, the items you are auctioning this time are all quite impressive. A Grade 7 pill and an Earth Rank Intermediate Cultivation Method! Aren't you afraid that other factions will be driven to desperation and flatten your Xuan Ye Sect?"
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, there is truly nothing I fear.
"This will also be the Auction House's final auction. The Young Master will soon graduate from Jia Nan Academy, and it is time for me to escort him home," Ye Xuan said calmly.
"Indeed. Your Ye Family of the Central Region is truly powerful. Is Old Master Ye still well?" Old Wang asked.
"The Grand Elder passed away several years ago. The family now relies entirely on Ye Zhong, the Great Elder, to hold it together. The Ye Family is now 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 mainly to accompany Ye Zhong's son, the Young Master, who was studying at Jia Nan Academy. Meanwhile, Ye Xuan ran the Auction House business in the Black Horn Region.
"Oh? Is that so? Forget it. This old man will not pry into your family matters. You have quite a few good things here. This old man wishes to purchase them directly, or exchange items of equal value for them. Is that acceptable?"
Old Wang continued.
"This... I'm afraid that would violate the rules." Ye Xuan looked troubled. Would that not be smashing 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 hard. An Imperial Origin Pill—although he was from the alchemy family, the Ye Family, he was merely from a collateral branch. He had only been able to follow the Young Master to the Black Horn Region because he possessed some talent.
In the past, before the Ye Family had fallen into trouble, he could have received an Imperial Origin Pill. But given the Ye Family's current circumstances, it was rather difficult for them to allocate one to him.
The family's only Rank 7 Alchemist, Great Elder Ye Zhong, had been in seclusion all this time and rarely appeared. The other Alchemists in the family had only just entered Grade 6. They could not even refine Dou Spirit Pills, much less an Imperial Origin Pill, a top-tier Grade 6 pill.
"Will you do it or not? Give me a straight answer!" Old Wang snapped.
"Fine! Other than the Grade 7 Yin Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill and the Raging Thunder Mirror: Awakening Thunder Technique, those two auction items 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 purchase it directly! You will absolutely be satisfied with the price!" Ye Xuan said through gritted teeth with a smile.
Before you continue