Fire Spirit Pearl

She couldn't say it!

Liuli's mind was in complete chaos, torn by a tremendous inner conflict.

The Alchemist Competition had ended, and Xiao Yan's Three Year Agreement was about to begin. Yet during this time, another major event would also take place: the Xiao Family would be massacred!

Misty Cloud Sect's Great Elder, Yun Leng, would lead two elders at the Dou Wang level and slaughter nearly half of the Xiao Family, all to avenge the humiliation Xiao Yan had brought them during the Three Year Agreement. Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan, would also be abducted by a Soul Hall Protector at that time.

Liuli knew about something that could drive Xiao Yan into a breakdown and rampage, yet she did not dare tell him.

Because this was where Xiao Yan's enmity with the Misty Cloud Sect and Soul Hall began. She feared that if she interfered, Xiao Yan's life afterward would be completely rewritten.

Xiao Yan had three motivations for constantly growing stronger. First, to help Old Yao restore his body; second, to search for and rescue him; third, to gain the Ancient Clan's recognition behind Xiao Xun'er. If he lost any one of them, he might never become a Dou Di. Then all of Liuli's plans and preparations would come to nothing.

Yet if she remained silent like this, the guilt and sense of betrayal in her heart tormented her deeply.

"What's wrong? Ever since I first saw you, you haven't seemed quite right." Xiao Yan once again turned his attention to Liuli, who had kept her head lowered in silence, and asked in confusion.

"Ah, no, it's nothing. I just have something on my mind..." Liuli shook her head slightly and gave him a rather forced smile.

"Alright." Seeing that she did not want to talk, Xiao Yan gave up on asking further.

To be honest, he was not all that familiar with this Young Girl. There were too many mysteries surrounding her, and her attitude toward him was rather strange as well. Still, Xiao Yan felt that this way of getting along was quite nice.

She helped him whenever he was in trouble, teased him whenever she saw him make a fool of himself—it gave him the feeling of having a brother.

Xiao Yan turned his gaze back toward the stage, watching the alluring woman preside over the Auction.

Liuli secretly glanced at him and quietly made up her mind.

She would not tell him yet. When the time came, she would return ahead of him and do her best to save the Xiao Family members. As for Xiao Zhan, he still had to be captured by that Soul Hall Protector.

Inwardly, she whispered several apologies to Xiao Yan.

"The fourth auction item was consigned by a friend from the Li Yue Empire." Ya Fei stood atop the auction platform. The natural languor and sultriness in her voice, paired with her alluringly beautiful face, left quite a few people below dazed.

A maid carefully carried a red box onto the stage and placed it atop the auction platform before slowly opening it. In an instant, the scorching fire elements throughout the entire hall began to stir restlessly.

"This pearl is called the Fire Spirit Pearl." Ya Fei said with a light smile.

"Pfft!" Liuli had been drinking water, and the moment she heard those words, she instantly sprayed it out.

Xiao Yan was startled by her reaction. Looking at the Young Girl in confusion, he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Cough, cough, cough. Nothing. I just thought... that name is rather distinctive." Liuli coughed several times, hurriedly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and shook her head in explanation.

"It's a red pearl containing fire attribute energy, so it's called a Fire Spirit Pearl. What's strange about that?" Xiao Yan did not understand.

"Nothing, I'm the strange one. Let's keep listening to Sister Ya Fei." Liuli pointed forcefully, changing the subject.

"The original owner happened to enter a volcano two years ago and found it within the lava at its center. As everyone can see, it contains extremely dense fire attribute energy. Wearing it or keeping it nearby can greatly increase the speed at which one cultivates Dou Qi, producing twice the result with half the effort.

"Furthermore, it can grant the wearer resistance against an enemy's fire attribute Dou Qi. It can be considered quite a rare item."

Ya Fei gently stroked the box as she explained.

Discussion soon began among the crowd below. Many people cast eager gazes toward the Fire Spirit Pearl.

The Alchemist Competition in the Jia Ma Empire had just ended, and a large number of Alchemists had gathered within the Imperial Capital. Naturally, many of those present were among them.

Alchemists all cultivated Fire Attribute Dou Qi, and most of their cultivation was weaker than that of peers who focused solely on cultivating Dou Qi. After all, few people could balance cultivation and Pill Refining at the same time. Of course, certain geniuses and protagonists were exceptions.

With the Fire Spirit Pearl, this weakness of theirs could be greatly alleviated.

"This pearl is a good thing!" Xiao Yan licked his lips, his eyes taking on a trace of heat as well.

What he lacked most right now was progress in cultivation. It did not matter that he could refine Fifth-grade Pills and make even Dou Wang experts treat him politely. Nor did it matter that he could condense the terrifying Buddha's Fury Lotus Flame and heavily injure Dou Huang experts with a single strike. None of that changed the fact that he was merely a fledgling who had just entered the Da Dou Shi realm.

The Three Year Agreement was close at hand. In the future, he also had to subdue more Heavenly Flames and help Old Yao refine a body. All of this filled him with tension and urgency.

He needed to grow stronger, and quickly. Otherwise, he would not even be able to protect those around him.

"You want it?" Liuli turned to look at the longing in Xiao Yan's eyes and could not help laughing softly.

Xiao Yan stared at it for a long while before shaking his head. "Forget it. Just look at the reactions below and you'll know how sought-after this thing is. When it comes to wealth, how could I compare to people from those great clans?"

"I'm sure everyone is sufficiently interested in this Fire Spirit Pearl, so the auction shall now begin. The starting price is 800,000 Gold Coins, and each bid must increase by no less than 40,000 Gold Coins!" Ya Fei announced with a smile.

"Look at that. Even a Profound Tier High Grade Dou Skill only goes for so much. Do I look like someone who can afford more than 700,000 Gold Coins?" Xiao Yan spread his hands and smiled bitterly.

Although Old Yao's ring contained many valuable items, they were mostly cultivation methods, manuals, and pill formulas. Taking them out now would not turn them into cash. Besides, he would not use Old Yao's belongings without permission while Old Yao was asleep.

As for what he had on him, only those few bottles of Companion Amethyst Source and the Earthfire Lotus Seeds born from the Green Lotus Core Flame were worth anything.

Now that he thought about it, Hai Bodong had asked him to bid on medicinal ingredients for him without giving him any money!

"Alright." Liuli nodded thoughtfully and did not ask any further, focusing on the Auction instead.

Sure enough, not long after Ya Fei announced the starting price, the people present began raising their bids one after another. In merely dozens of seconds, the price had surpassed 1,000,000 Gold Coins, and only then did the somewhat noisy calls begin to die down.

Inside VIP Box No. 5.

"Yan Ran, are you interested in this Fire Spirit Pearl?" An elderly man sat in the VIP seats, stroking his pale beard as he asked with a faint smile.

He wore a White Robe, its cuffs embroidered with patterns resembling rolling clouds.

"Great Elder, I cultivate wind attribute Dou Qi. This thing would not be of much use to me." Nalan Yanran stood behind him and shook her head slightly.

Yet the old man merely shook his head and explained, "What I value is not its ability to accelerate cultivation. It is the resistance its holder can gain against fire attribute Dou Qi.

"Your Three Year Agreement with that boy from the Xiao Family is almost here. It concerns the honor of our Misty Cloud Sect. I hear that boy has shed his reputation as trash and risen again. Though you have improved greatly over these past three years, you must not be careless."

A flicker passed through Nalan Yanran's eyes as she said hesitantly, "You mean that because Xiao Yan cultivates fire attribute Dou Qi, I should use this to deal with him?"

Yun Leng nodded with a smile.

"No! How is that any different from cheating?" Nalan Yanran refused decisively.

Yun Leng's smile stiffened before his expression turned stern. "Yan Ran! This concerns the sect's reputation. You must ensure an absolute victory. Not only must you win, you must crush him!"

"But..." Nalan Yanran looked aggrieved and wanted to argue further.

"No buts! If you had not been so indecisive back then and set this absurd Three Year Agreement, would there be all this trouble now? You are the Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Young Master. There are some matters in which you cannot mix personal feelings!" Yun Leng directly cut off her words, his tone severe.

"..." Nalan Yanran clenched her teeth and turned her head aside.

"Sigh! The Sect Leader is away now, so I have to handle all your affairs. I'm doing this for your own good. Only after you get through this can your state of mind mature, and only then will you truly be qualified to become the Sect Young Master!" Seeing Nalan Yanran like this, Yun Leng softened his tone somewhat.

"Consider this Fire Spirit Pearl a reward bestowed upon you by the sect." Yun Leng said no more. Turning back, he called down below, "1,300,000 Gold Coins!"

The entire venue fell silent. No one had expected such a bid to increase by nearly 300,000 Gold Coins at once.

Ya Fei was slightly stunned as well. She glanced toward Box No. 3, then said with a shallow smile, "VIP No. 5 has offered 1,300,000 Gold Coins. Is anyone willing to bid higher?"

For a moment, no one spoke.

Had the price climbed bit by bit to 1,300,000 Gold Coins, someone might still have continued bidding. But such a bold leap made everyone wary of the bidder's identity.

"If there are no further bids, then 1,300,000, going once..." Ya Fei began the countdown.

"1,300,000, going twice."

"1,500,000!" At that moment, a Young Girl's voice rang out from Box No. 3.

Xiao Yan abruptly turned his head and stared at Liuli in astonishment.

The Young Girl turned toward him and blinked her large eyes, showing no burden whatsoever at having named such a price.

"You... why are you buying this?" Xiao Yan asked hesitantly.

"Did you forget? I cultivate Fire Attribute Dou Qi too, alright?" Liuli replied. "Isn't it fine if I buy it for myself?"

Although her Dou Qi was silver, it was indeed genuinely Fire Attribute Dou Qi. It had merely gradually transformed into this color because she had absorbed the Yin Yang Twin Flames and because her cultivation method was rather special.

"But I don't think you need it. You've already reached the Five-Star Dou Ling realm at such a young age. You don't need to accelerate your cultivation any further. Otherwise, an unstable foundation could easily cause trouble." There was a faint trace of concern in Xiao Yan's voice, like a parent afraid their child would take the wrong path.

"Hm? Are you jealous of my cultivation talent?" Liuli curled her lips. "Don't worry! My foundation is very solid. Besides, even if I don't use it, my family can!"

"That's true." After thinking about it, Xiao Yan relaxed.

Once one reached the Dou Wang realm, the Fire Spirit Pearl would not be all that useful. But after Liuli was done with it, it could still be given to younger members of her family.

Thinking of her Dou Venerate father, Xiao Yan still felt a trace of reverence.

"Little friend, give this old man some face. Our Misty Cloud Sect has taken a liking to this item." At that moment, an aged voice resounded through the hall.

"That is the aura of a Dou Wang expert! Good heavens, it's someone from the Misty Cloud Sect."

"The Misty Cloud Sect publicly has five Dou Wang experts. I wonder who this is."

"That voice and that aura... it must be Great Elder Yun Leng!"

The crowd began discussing fervently.

"Why is Yun Leng here? Doesn't he usually hide up on Misty Cloud Mountain?" Inside Box No. 2, Mu Family head Mu Chen asked in confusion.

The Mu Family had always sided with the Jia Ma Imperial Family and had never had a good relationship with the Misty Cloud Sect, so his words were naturally much sharper.

"Misty Cloud Sect?" Liuli was startled. She had not expected those annoying people to attend this Auction.

But then...

Liuli smiled lightly and returned to her old profession, saying, "You sure talk a lot. If you want to raise the bid, then say so. Stop being so long-winded. 1,600,000!"

Everyone was dumbfounded. Good heavens! This person actually dared to challenge the Misty Cloud Sect! And she had even raised her own bid. Was that how rich people played?

"Sir, the name of our Misty Cloud Sect is not small within the Jia Ma Empire. Give us some face. We may meet again in the future!" Yun Leng's face darkened, though he still forcibly restrained himself.

"Are you threatening me? If you have the ability, come over here now. If you don't have the money, just say so. 1,700,000." Liuli looked utterly carefree, nearly blinding Xiao Yan.

"Fine, you've got guts! Our Misty Cloud Sect will remember this!" Yun Leng finally erupted in anger. He slammed his palm onto the table, shattering it to pieces.

"1,800,000!" Yun Leng shouted.

Ya Fei looked worriedly toward Box No. 3. She knew Xiao Yan was inside, but the owner of that female voice was being far too arrogant toward the Misty Cloud Sect, wasn't she?

"Oh? It seems I only brought 1,799,999 Gold Coins. Forget it, I concede." Liuli spoke with feigned regret.

Deliberate. It was absolutely deliberate.

Everyone screamed inwardly.

"Damn it!" Yun Leng cursed and kicked the floor, leaving a hole in it.

Seeing his furious appearance, Nalan Yanran somehow felt like laughing.

"Hahaha! Interesting. This is the first time I've seen Yun Leng suffer such a setback!" Mu Chen laughed heartily, looking extremely delighted.

"Are you sure this is alright?" Xiao Yan looked at Liuli speechlessly and asked.

"Don't worry! My dad is a Dou Venerate, and there's more than one Dou Zong in my family! Why should I be afraid of him? Besides, my Aunt is here!" Liuli laughed softly, and that peculiar roguish air around her faded away.

She was not wrong. The Sword Clan indeed had more than one Dou Zong, and her father's strength was even above the Dou Venerate realm.

"The Misty Cloud Sect probably bought this to deal with you, so be careful." Liuli suddenly became serious. She leaned a little closer and spoke in a low voice.

Xiao Yan froze. After considering it, he realized that it truly was possible. Looking at Liuli's delicate face, he found that he could not understand this Young Girl's thoughts or personality at all.