Give Me That!

Xiao Chen walked along the streets of Shimo City with Qing Lin.

"Where are we going?" Qing Lin asked softly.

"The auction house," Xiao Chen replied.

Qing Lin nodded and asked no more. She followed behind Xiao Chen with her head lowered, not daring to look at the people around her.

When the pedestrians on the street saw the scales on Qing Lin's face, they all cast curious glances her way.

Qing Lin sensed their gazes and lowered her head even further.

Xiao Chen ignored them and walked straight ahead.

Before long, a towering building came into view.

The Shimo City Auction House was not as grand as the Mittel Auction House, but it was still quite large.

Xiao Chen pushed open the door and went inside. Qing Lin hurried after him.

The auction house's hall was packed with people, all mercenaries from around Shimo City. They wore leather armor, weapons hanging from their waists.

Xiao Chen found a seat in the corner, and Qing Lin sat beside him.

At the front of the hall stood a raised platform. A woman stood on it.

She wore a qipao and had a curvaceous figure and striking features. With a professional smile on her face, she introduced the item in her hands.

"Everyone, up next for auction is a Yellow Tier Mid-Grade Dou Technique. It has a wind attribute and is suitable for Dou Zhe who specialize in speed."

The woman in the qipao raised the scroll and looked around the hall.

"The starting bid is fifty thousand gold coins."

"Fifty-five thousand." A mercenary raised his hand.

"Sixty thousand." Another voice rang out.

"Sixty-five thousand."

"Seventy thousand."

The bidding was not especially fierce, and it eventually sold for eighty thousand gold coins.

Xiao Chen glanced at the auction item on the platform and shook his head. He had no interest in low-tier Dou Techniques.

A few more cultivation manuals and Dou Techniques went up for auction, all Profound Tier Low Grade.

Xiao Chen wasn't interested. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

Qing Lin stole a glance at Xiao Chen, then quickly lowered her head again.

"Everyone, up next for auction are six portions of second-tier medicinal herbs." The woman in the qipao raised her voice.

Xiao Chen opened his eyes and looked toward the platform.

The woman in the qipao said, "The starting bid is two hundred thousand gold coins."

Hearing the price, Xiao Chen did a quick calculation. Two hundred thousand gold coins wasn't expensive.

Foundation Building Spirit Liquid was a second-tier medicinal pill that greatly aided cultivation. Qing Lin was still too weak, and this was just what she needed to improve her strength.

"Two hundred and ten thousand." A voice came from the front rows.

"Two hundred and twenty thousand." Someone bid from another direction.

"Two hundred and thirty thousand."

Xiao Chen didn't rush to bid. He waited through a few more rounds.

The price rose to two hundred and eighty thousand, and fewer and fewer people were bidding.

"Two hundred and ninety thousand." Xiao Chen raised his hand.

The woman in the qipao looked at him, surprise flashing in her eyes.

"Three hundred thousand." The voice from the front rows rang out again.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand," Xiao Chen said calmly.

The hall fell silent. Three hundred and fifty thousand gold coins for six portions of second-tier medicinal herbs was already a steep price.

The bidder in the front row fell silent for a moment and made no further offer.

"Sold for three hundred and fifty thousand." The woman in the qipao brought down her gavel.

After the auction ended, Xiao Chen took Qing Lin backstage to pay. He collected the six portions of medicinal herbs.

Xiao Chen put the herbs away, then turned and headed for the auction house's exit.

Qing Lin followed behind him, puzzled.

What did this young master need so many herbs for?

The moment they stepped out of the auction house, they sensed that something was wrong.

People on the street were fleeing to either side, panic written across their faces.

"Run! The Snake People are here!"

"How did the Snake People get into Shimo City?"

"Stop asking and run!"

The pedestrians scattered in every direction. Stalls were knocked over, their wares strewn across the ground.

Qing Lin's face turned deathly pale. She grabbed the hem of Xiao Chen's clothes, her voice trembling.

"Young Master, could those Snake People from earlier have come to settle the score with you?"

Xiao Chen glanced at Qing Lin. "It's fine."

"But..." Qing Lin bit her lip. "It's all because of me that you—"

"It has nothing to do with you," Xiao Chen cut her off.

Qing Lin lowered her head, her eyes reddening.

She felt she had dragged Xiao Chen into this. If he hadn't stood up for her, he wouldn't have offended the Snake-Person Tribe.

Now the Snake People had come looking for him. What were they going to do?

Xiao Chen paid no mind to Qing Lin's anxious thoughts. He lifted his head and looked ahead.

A group of people was approaching from the end of the street.

At their head was a female Snake Person, tall and clad in silver scale armor, with a slender sword hanging at her waist.

A few small silver scales dotted her face, and her slit pupils glinted with a cold light.

Two dozen Snake-Person powerhouses followed behind her, all armed and bristling with killing intent.

Yue Mei, a Seven-Star Dou Wang.

Yue Mei stopped and looked at Xiao Chen, who stood at the auction house entrance.

So this is the human? He looks no older than fifteen or sixteen, and there's nothing special about him. Was he the one who injured Hua She'er?

"You're the human who trespassed on my Snake-Person Tribe's territory?" Yue Mei asked.

Xiao Chen looked at Yue Mei. "I am."

"You killed more than a dozen powerhouses of my tribe and injured Hua She'er. You've got some nerve," Yue Mei said coldly.

"They attacked first," Xiao Chen replied.

Yue Mei couldn't be bothered to waste words with him. "Come with me to the Snake-People Empire and face Her Majesty the Queen's judgment."

Xiao Chen shook his head.

"No?" A murderous glint flashed in Yue Mei's eyes.

Xiao Chen didn't answer. He took Qing Lin's hand and prepared to leave.

Seeing that he was ignoring her, Yue Mei's expression darkened at once.

"Stop," Yue Mei barked.

Xiao Chen didn't stop.

"I said, stop." Yue Mei raised her voice.

Xiao Chen halted and turned back to look at Yue Mei.

"Something else?"

Yue Mei's anger surged.

This human dared to speak to her like that? She was a Seven-Star Dou Wang of the Snake-Person Tribe, outranked only by Queen Medusa and the elders.

Not just in Shimo City—even across the entire Jia Ma Empire, few people dared to ignore Yue Mei like this.

"If you refuse to appreciate my good intentions, don't blame me," Yue Mei said coldly.

Yue Mei waved a hand, and the Snake-Person powerhouses behind her immediately charged forward.

"Take him down."

Two dozen Snake-Person powerhouses surrounded Xiao Chen and Qing Lin.

Qing Lin was so frightened that her face turned pale. She clutched Xiao Chen's clothes tightly.

"Young Master..."

"Don't be afraid," Xiao Chen said.

One of the Snake-Person powerhouses struck first, thrusting his spear toward Xiao Chen's chest.

Xiao Chen didn't even look at him. He casually swept out a hand.

Dou Qi burst from Xiao Chen's palm and sent the Snake-Person powerhouse flying.

The other Snake-Person powerhouses rushed forward at once.

Spears, curved blades, and claws came at Xiao Chen from every direction.

Xiao Chen raised a hand and struck out with his palm.

A terrifying aura burst from his body, and the air around them trembled.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Snake-Person powerhouses were sent flying. They hit the ground and lay motionless.

Yue Mei's pupils shrank sharply.

One move, and all two dozen Snake-Person powerhouses were down.