It's actually this

Having broken through to the rank of Dou Grandmaster, Li Xingluo felt excellent; turning back to gaze at the starry night sky, it felt like a beautiful painting.

The black ring emitted a faint red glow, growing brighter and brighter, until in an instant, Li Xingluo's consciousness was once again pulled into that strange space.

The barrier on the third floor had likewise vanished, and Li Xingluo, harboring the excitement of opening a blind box, felt both expectant and restless.

Compared to the previous two times when he had spent a long time exploring the space due to his unfamiliarity, this time Li Xingluo could be described as having mastered the ropes.

He did not spend much time finding the hidden compartment on the third floor. As he injected his Dou Qi, the compartment slid open bit by bit, and Li Xingluo's heart began to thump with accelerated speed.

The compartment stopped with a "click." Li Xingluo withdrew his palm and took out the reward for the third floor.

It was different from the previous two times; there was only one item on the third floor, wrapped in a layer of silk cloth, making it impossible to see what lay inside.

Li Xingluo carefully unwrapped the silk cloth, and what met his eyes was a Dou Technique scroll—only, this Dou Technique turned out to be a flight-type Dou Technique.

Li Xingluo's hands trembled as he unwrapped the silk; flight-type Dou Techniques were rare and hard to come by. He recalled Xiao Yan obtaining the Purple Cloud Wings in the Magical Beast Mountain Range—that was truly a top-tier item for showing off.

If he couldn't win a fight, he could at least use it to run away; at the very least, before reaching the rank of Dou King, this item was absolutely the best Dou Technique to have.

The scroll bore two large characters: Sky Feather! The name was quite imposing. Li Xingluo could wait no longer; he sat cross-legged on the spot, opened the scroll, and began his cultivation.

In a corridor in the backyard of the Aus Auction House, an old man and a youth walked one after the other.

The youth seemed to have suffered a great grievance; not only was his face full of sorrow, but he was also quite angry, swinging his arms with increased intensity.

Perhaps unable to suppress the thoughts deep in his heart any longer, the youth quickened his pace to walk in front of the old man.

"Grandfather, I don't understand. Why are you so respectful to that Li Xingluo? You even gave him so many benefits. When I ask you for money on ordinary days, you don't even give me that much."

Yan Gui vented his inner injustice with grievance. Yan Yun stopped in his tracks when he heard Yan Gui speak in such a manner.

He first knitted his brows, then relaxed them and let out a long sigh. There was a sense of frustration that his descendant wouldn't live up to expectations, but more so, an expression of inner helplessness.

"Grandfather..."

"Gui'er, you only see the surface."

How could Yan Gui understand the thoughts of an old fox like Yan Yun? Naturally, he stared at Yan Yun like a foolish pig, waiting for an explanation.

"Setting aside who is right or wrong in this matter, as long as Liu Yuntian is around, Grandfather cannot do anything to Li Xingluo."

"Furthermore, the fact that Li Xingluo can refine medicinal pills that allowed that old curmudgeon Liu Yuntian to successfully advance by two stars is enough to prove his ability."

"A Grade 5 Alchemist is not someone I can afford to offend. Looking across the entire Chuyun Empire, Grade 5 Alchemists are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. As long as he is willing, let alone a Dou King, even a Dou Emperor would agree to work for him. Your grandfather is old, not stupid."

Yan Yun stated his analysis, and Yan Gui nodded as if he understood, though it didn't matter if he truly grasped it or not.

Yan Yun gave a final warning to Yan Gui: in the future, he must not provoke Li Xingluo again; this was a formidable figure he could not afford to offend.

"Do you think your grandfather gave away so many good things for nothing? There is a saying: 'Eat someone's food, be soft-mouthed; take someone's gifts, be soft-handed.' As long as I show enough goodwill, he won't refuse me if I want a similar pill."

After Yan Yun finished speaking, he couldn't help but laugh out loud; perhaps this was his ultimate goal.

He had been on the verge of toppling Liu Yuntian and successfully promoting himself to the position of Second Elder, but he hadn't expected Li Xingluo to appear halfway and successfully stabilize Liu Yuntian's position.

Since he couldn't destroy him, he would just get close to him; that was never a mistake. As long as he was willing to refine the same pills, there would still be opportunities in the future.

Yan Yun's depressed mood lifted. Yan Gui didn't understand any of this, only feeling that his grandfather was truly amazing, and he was the first to start buttering him up.

The next day, just as the sky brightened, Li Xingluo's door was knocked upon.

After cultivating for the night, Li Xingluo discovered that Sky Feather could be upgraded, eventually rivaling a Heaven-tier Dou Technique, with a speed that could even allow for teleportation across a hundred thousand miles. However, the time, energy, and resources required were an astronomical figure.

Li Xingluo opened the door to see Liu Li wearing a cheeky expression.

"So early?"

"Grandfather asked me to notify you that there is an auction today."

Li Xingluo suddenly remembered; that was right, today was the third day. He hadn't expected time to pass so quickly.

"Thanks, let's go then."

Xiao Yi Xian also happened to come out of her room. Liu Li continued to act as their guide, leading Li Xingluo and Xiao Yi Xian to the Holy Capital Auction Arena of the Aus Auction House.

It was countless times larger than the Maple Forest City auction house, truly worthy of the title of the number one auction house.

Liu Li was quite proud, standing in a third-floor private box and looking down at the auction center.

"Brother Li, there is another surprise today."

Li Xingluo looked down at the entire auction floor; many people had already entered, and it appeared that both the second and third floors were VIP rooms.

Liu Li's mysterious, half-withholding demeanor piqued Li Xingluo's interest.

Could it be that Liu Yuntian had made some arrangements? Forget it; since it was a surprise, it would be impossible to know until the moment the answer was revealed.

As more and more people entered the auction floor, the lively atmosphere reached its peak. There were also people in the private box directly opposite on the third floor.

Liu Li began to introduce the VIP rooms to Li Xingluo, but Li Xingluo was more curious about the third floor.

"You mean the one opposite?" Seeing Li Xingluo nod, Liu Li leaned in and whispered into Li Xingluo's ear: "That is Luo Xin, the princess of the Chuyun Empire's royal family. Don't underestimate her; I've heard that she is the next monarch."

"Uh, hearing you say that, it seems there's a story there." Li Xingluo caught the implication in Liu Li's words, and his desire to gossip was instantly ignited.

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head helplessly. Seeing two grown men whispering and sharing secrets, she couldn't help but shudder.

"Brother Li is truly Brother Li, I admire you."

"Stop buttering me up and just spit it out."

Xiao Yi Xian possessed a curious streak as well, leaning in close to the two of them.

"Don't tell me the emperor of your Chuyun Empire has no sons?"

"He does, actually."

"Then how come...?"

"That is precisely why I say this Princess is no simple character. Mind you, this is just hearsay. Pure hearsay."

Liu Li hurriedly clarified, his words piquing the interest of Xiao Yi Xian, whose curiosity had already been stirred.

She urged Liu Li to continue, but he gestured for the two of them to move away from the platform, having noticed Princess Luoxin's gaze lingering on them.

Once the three were hidden behind a pillar, Liu Li lowered his voice: "No one knows why, but the Princess's older and younger brothers all inexplicably turned into fools, becoming deranged and losing their wits. Left with no other choice, they had no option but to groom Princess Luoxin as the successor."

Li Xingluo couldn't help but frown. The royal family, is it? Sigh, it seems it's the same everywhere.

"The world says the royal bloodline is cursed, that the males are incapable of inheriting the throne, and that choosing Princess Luoxin will surely lead the Chuyun Empire to its peak."

Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help but retort, "You actually believe that?"

"But it's the truth."

Li Xingluo's brows furrowed slightly; this so-called destiny was likely nothing more than a scheme orchestrated by someone.

Just a moment ago, when Li Xingluo's eyes had met those of Princess Luoxin, that cold, stunningly beautiful face—coupled with those domineering eyes—had made it clear that this Princess Luoxin was indeed no simple character.