Mittel Auction House Invites You!

Inside the Xiao Clan hall, the elders remained seated in their chairs, their faces etched with profound shock.

Mittel Auction House, Ya Fei—she was one of the most distinguished figures in Wutan City. How could she possibly send someone to invite Xiao Chen?

"Clan Head, why do you think Ya Fei is looking for Xiao Chen?" the Second Elder asked.

Xiao Zhan shook his head. "I have no idea."

"Xiao Chen is merely a Dou Disciple at the third stage... how could Ya Fei even know him?" the Third Elder remarked.

"And she even invited him to be a guest at the Mittel Auction House," the Fourth Elder added.

The elders were all left to speculate on Ya Fei's motives.

The Great Elder sat in the primary seat, his brows furrowed tightly; he couldn't make sense of it either.

Although Chen'er was his grandson, his strength was plain to see. At the third stage of Dou Disciple, he didn't even rank in all of Wutan City. How could Ya Fei possibly...

"Enough, stop guessing," Xiao Zhan said. "We will just ask Xiao Chen when he returns."

The elders nodded, falling silent.

As Xiao Chen walked into the hall from the backyard, he saw all the elders staring at him.

"Grandfather," Xiao Chen said, walking up to the Great Elder. "Did you call for me?"

The Great Elder nodded. "Chen'er, someone from the Mittel Auction House was just here."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen's heart stirred. The Mittel Auction House? Ya Fei?

"The messenger said that Miss Ya Fei would like to invite you to the auction house for a visit," the Great Elder said.

Xiao Chen looked at the Great Elder, a look of confusion appearing on his face.

"Ya Fei? Why would she invite me?"

"We don't know either," the Great Elder replied. "You will find out once you go."

Xiao Chen thought for a moment and nodded.

The Great Elder looked at Xiao Chen, wanting to say something but hesitating.

"Chen'er, be careful," the Great Elder said.

"Rest assured, Grandfather," Xiao Chen replied.

With that, Xiao Chen turned and walked out of the hall.

The elders watched Xiao Chen's retreating figure, exchanging glances with one another.

"Why do you think Ya Fei invited him?" the Second Elder asked.

"Who knows," the Third Elder said. "Perhaps she mistook him for someone else."

"That's possible," the Fourth Elder added. "Xiao Chen is a waste; how could Ya Fei possibly take an interest in him?"

Hearing the word "waste," the Great Elder's expression darkened.

Seeing this, the elders immediately shut their mouths.

As Xiao Chen stepped out of the Xiao Clan gates, he saw a maidservant standing at the entrance.

The maid was dressed in a light green gown and had a delicate appearance. Seeing Xiao Chen emerge, she immediately stepped forward.

"Young Master Xiao Chen," the maid bowed.

Xiao Chen looked at her. "And you are?"

"This servant is from the Mittel Auction House, sent by Miss Ya Fei to invite you over," the maid said.

Xiao Chen nodded. "Let's go."

The maid walked in front while Xiao Chen followed behind, the two of them heading toward the Mittel Auction House.

As she led the way, the maid felt a bit nervous, stealing a glance back at Xiao Chen.

The youth looked to be no more than fifteen or sixteen, yet Miss Ya Fei had said it was highly probable that he was a Dou King expert.

A Dou King expert—that was a being capable of manifesting wings from Dou Qi, a rarity even in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

The maid took a deep breath and quickened her pace.

Xiao Chen followed behind, watching the maid's back without saying a word.

He was pondering why Ya Fei had invited him. Yesterday, when he bought medicinal herbs and paid with a Rank 5 Monster Core, Ya Fei must have deduced something from that, and now she wanted to probe his background.

Xiao Chen calculated the situation in his mind. Fine, I'll go. Regardless, I am currently a three-star Dou Emperor; no one in Wutan City can do anything to me.

In a VIP room at the Mittel Auction House, Ya Fei and Gu Ni sat together.

"Do you think he will come?" Gu Ni asked.

"He should."

Gu Ni nodded.

"Once he arrives, how shall we test his strength?" Gu Ni asked.

Ya Fei pondered for a moment before saying, "Let's chat for a bit first and see how he reacts."

"What if he truly is a Dou King?" Gu Ni asked.

"Then we report it to the family," Ya Fei replied. "A fifteen or sixteen-year-old Dou King must have a powerful force backing him."

Gu Ni nodded. The Mite'er Family was one of the three great families of the Jia Ma Empire with vast influence; if they could truly befriend a Dou King, it would only benefit the family.

"Furthermore, if he really is a Dou King, we cannot afford to offend him," Ya Fei added.

"That goes without saying," Gu Ni agreed.

As the two were speaking, footsteps echoed from outside the door.

"Miss Ya Fei, Young Master Xiao Chen has arrived," a maid's voice called out.

Ya Fei and Gu Ni exchanged a glance and immediately stood up.

"Please, come in," Ya Fei said.

The door opened, and Xiao Chen walked in.

A smile appeared on Ya Fei's face as she stepped forward to greet him.

"Young Master Xiao Chen, welcome, welcome."

Xiao Chen looked at Ya Fei and said indifferently, "You are too kind, Miss Ya Fei."

"Please, have a seat," Ya Fei said.

Xiao Chen sat down in a chair, and Gu Ni also walked over to sit opposite him.

Gu Ni observed Xiao Chen, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. This youth was the one who had hunted a Rank 5 Magical Beast? He didn't look like anything special.

"Young Master Xiao Chen, I am Gu Ni, the chief alchemist of the Mite'er Auction House," Gu Ni began.

Xiao Chen looked at Gu Ni and nodded.

"Master Gu Ni, I have long heard of you."

Hearing this, Gu Ni felt a slight stir in his heart. The youth's attitude was neither servile nor overbearing; facing him, a Rank 2 Alchemist, Xiao Chen showed no signs of nervousness or reverence, as if he were just an ordinary person.

Gu Ni muttered to himself in his heart.

"Young Master Xiao Chen, you came to buy medicinal herbs yesterday and paid with a Rank 5 Magic Core," Ya Fei started. "May I ask where you obtained that core?"

Xiao Chen looked at Ya Fei and said calmly, "I hunted it."

Ya Fei was shaken. Hunted? A Rank 5 Magical Beast? Was he truly a Dou King?

"You possess great strength, Young Master," Ya Fei said. "A Rank 5 Magical Beast is not something an ordinary person can hunt."

Xiao Chen remained silent.

Seeing that Xiao Chen did not wish to elaborate, Ya Fei did not press the matter.

"Young Master, I invited you here today because I would like to host you as a guest," Ya Fei said. "I will have a banquet prepared for this evening, and I hope you will grace us with your presence."

Xiao Chen looked at Ya Fei and nodded.

"Then I shall impose upon your hospitality."

Ya Fei was overjoyed at his response.

"You are too modest, Young Master," Ya Fei said. "It is our honor to host you."

Xiao Chen looked at Ya Fei, a cold sneer forming in his heart. Ya Fei's invitation was nothing more than an attempt to probe his background, to see if he was truly a Dou King and if he had a powerful faction behind him.

These women in the business world were never simple-minded.

However, Xiao Chen did not care. He was now a three-star Dou Emperor; there were only a handful of people in the entire Jia Ma Empire who could threaten him. If Ya Fei wanted to probe, he would let her.

"Master Gu Ni, please keep Young Master Xiao Chen company for a while; I am going to arrange the evening banquet," Ya Fei said.

Gu Ni nodded. "Go ahead."

Ya Fei stood up, smiled at Xiao Chen, and turned to leave the VIP room.

Only Xiao Chen and Gu Ni remained in the room.

"Young Master bought herbs for Energy Storage Grass yesterday; those are used to refine Energy Storage Pills," Gu Ni said. "The Energy Storage Pill is a Rank 2 pill. May I ask who those herbs were for?"

Xiao Chen looked at Gu Ni. "They were for my own use."

Gu Ni was shocked. For his own use? Could it be that he was an alchemist?

"Young Master knows how to refine pills?" Gu Ni asked.

Xiao Chen nodded.

Gu Ni gasped. A fifteen or sixteen-year-old Rank 2 Alchemist? There were barely any to be found in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

"Young Master is truly extraordinary," Gu Ni remarked.

Xiao Chen did not speak.

Seeing that Xiao Chen remained silent, Gu Ni found it difficult to ask further.

The two sat in the VIP room, neither saying a word.

Ya Fei walked out of the VIP room and into the corridor, a flash of shock crossing her eyes.

Hunting a Rank 5 Magical Beast, a Dou King expert at fifteen or sixteen years old, and a master of alchemy—who exactly was this Xiao Chen?

Ya Fei took a deep breath, steadying her emotions.

Regardless, she had to befriend this youth; if he truly possessed a formidable background, it would be a monumental boon for the Mite'er Family.

Ya Fei turned around and headed downstairs; she needed to arrange the evening banquet and ensure Xiao Chen was satisfied.

By dusk, Ya Fei had a banquet set up in the backyard of the auction house.

The courtyard was not large, but it was exquisitely decorated with a round table and several chairs, the table laden with dishes and fine wine.

Accompanied by Gu Ni, Xiao Chen arrived at the backyard.

Standing by the table, Ya Fei saw Xiao Chen approach and a smile bloomed on her face.

"Young Master Xiao Chen, please, take a seat."

Xiao Chen nodded and sat down in a chair.

Ya Fei sat opposite Xiao Chen, while Gu Ni took a seat to the side.

"Young Master, these dishes were prepared by the finest chef in our auction house; please, have a taste," Ya Fei said.

Xiao Chen picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the food, and placed it in his mouth.

"Not bad," Xiao Chen remarked.

Hearing this, Ya Fei felt a weight lift from her heart.

"I am glad you like it, Young Master," Ya Fei said.

Ya Fei raised her wine glass, "Young Master, a toast to you."

Xiao Chen lifted his glass, clinked it against Ya Fei's, and downed the contents in one gulp.

Ya Fei also finished the wine in her glass.

Sitting to the side, Gu Ni watched Xiao Chen, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes; such composure was not something a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth should possess.

Xiao Chen looked at Ya Fei and said indifferently, "Miss Ya Fei, you didn't invite me here just for a meal, did you?"

Hearing this, Ya Fei froze for a moment; she had not expected Xiao Chen to be so blunt.

"Young Master is joking," Ya Fei said, "I simply wish to make a friend."

"Make a friend?" Xiao Chen looked at Ya Fei.

Xiao Chen knew clearly that Ya Fei's motives went far beyond merely making a friend.

But that was fine; he needed the connections and resources of the Mite'er Auction House, so it was simply a matter of mutual benefit.

Ya Fei raised her glass and toasted Xiao Chen once more.

Xiao Chen drank the wine and looked at Ya Fei.

The two exchanged smiles, each harboring their own hidden thoughts.