An Unfathomable Game

Li Xingluo pointed at the person beside Princess Luoxin, an ominous feeling welling up in his heart.

"Who is that person?"

Liu Li poked his head out, looking in the direction Li Xingluo was pointing.

He shook his head to indicate he didn't recognize him, but just as Liu Li leaned out, a wave of pressure instantly descended.

Li Xingluo refused to be outdone; he turned his black ring and stared straight ahead until the pressure vanished.

Li Xingluo could clearly sense that the person beside Princess Luoxin was another Dou King, and given the princess's attitude toward him, the relationship was clearly not simple.

With a crisp drumbeat, the auction officially began, and as the host stepped onto the high platform, Liu Li became incredibly excited.

Having already taken his seat to wait for that Profound-tier intermediate Dou Technique, Li Xingluo was driven by curiosity to rise and walk to the platform after seeing Liu Li's behavior.

Lowering his head to look closely, a familiar figure came into view, and Liu Li said happily: "How about it? Is it a big enough surprise?"

Li Xingluo grinned, and on the high platform, Liu Ya cast a grateful look toward Li Xingluo; the two nodded to each other in acknowledgment.

Liu Ya continued her opening remarks while Li Xingluo returned to his seat, as the items being auctioned held no appeal for him.

It wasn't until Liu Li, who had been keeping a close watch on the auction, waved him over that Li Xingluo realized the time had come.

Liu Ya slowly opened the box, took out the scroll, and displayed the Dou Technique in her hands to the crowd.

"This is a Profound-tier intermediate Dou Technique—Nine Nether Underworld Art. The starting bid is six hundred thousand."

"Is this the technique for poison masters that your grandfather mentioned?"

Liu Li nodded with certainty, adding that Liu Ya had not yet made the information regarding the technique public.

"If that is the case, it is indeed worth acquiring."

Before Li Xingluo could even speak, the price had already soared to 1.2 million gold coins; as expected, the Chuyun Empire was the most powerful place for poison masters.

A frantic bidding war was only natural, and Li Xingluo called out his first bid.

"1.3 million!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the royal guards in the opposite box also placed a bid.

"1.5 million."

Eyes turned toward Princess Luoxin, and naturally, whispers broke out—some saying it was no surprise given the royal family's involvement, others saying there was no hope for anyone else now...

"1.6 million!" Li Xingluo bid again without a moment's hesitation.

As soon as the price was called, Li Xingluo felt as though he were being watched, and that very uncomfortable sensation instantly spread throughout his entire body.

The guard who had called the price looked back at Princess Luoxin, and upon receiving her affirmative response, turned to continue bidding.

"1.8 million!"

Fine, fine, fine. You raise it by one hundred thousand each time, then I shall raise it by two hundred thousand. Let's see how you handle that.

This did not make Li Xingluo back down; he didn't even bother to look directly at the other side.

"2 million!"

You like raising the price? Then I will raise it too. Don't think that just because you are a royal princess, I have to yield to you.

Xiao Yi Xian felt a faint sense of unease and reached out to tug on Li Xingluo's sleeve, signaling him to stop.

Xiao Yi Xian naturally understood that Li Xingluo was bidding for this technique for her sake, and he had even sold quite a few items to the Aus Auction House over these past few days.

Princess Luoxin was uncharacteristically furious, slamming her hand on the table as she rose; this was the first time anyone had dared to challenge her, especially in such a setting.

The person beside her was clearly much calmer, signaling for Princess Luoxin not to lose her temper, as they had not come out today specifically for this technique.

"2.2 million!" This time, Princess Luoxin bid personally.

But just as her voice fell, that voice she found so unpleasant came from across the way again.

"2.3 million!"

For a Profound-tier intermediate Dou Technique to reach over two million was already beyond its actual value, and everyone present was interested in Li Xingluo's identity.

Did he not know who he was bidding against, or was he doing it on purpose?

Princess Luoxin was incensed and stood up, preparing to bid again, but was stopped by a hand.

Princess Luoxin looked back at the person who had stopped her in confusion, then sat back down very reluctantly.

"Teacher, why are you stopping me? If I just bid one more time, I believe I can win it."

"Xin'er, I cannot see through that person opposite us."

Princess Luoxin was shocked upon hearing this, her gaze fixed on Li Xingluo, whose face was obscured by his black robes.

Although Li Xingluo was mysterious, he gave off an impression of being utterly ordinary.

Princess Luoxin couldn't help but knit her brows, asking in confusion: "Teacher, surely you aren't mistaken? How can I not see anything different about him?"

The old man seemed slightly disappointed by Princess Luoxin's remark and let out a long sigh.

"Teacher..." Princess Luoxin also sensed the change in the old man's expression.

"Xin'er, what kind of people are allowed to enter the third floor?"

Princess Luoxin responded without a moment's hesitation, "The three great families of the Imperial Capital, along with that bunch from the Alchemist Guild."

The old man nodded and then shook his head, leaving Princess Luoxin completely bewildered. Was he agreeing with her or disagreeing? Why be so ambiguous?

"Even the three great families wouldn't be able to make Liu Yuntian arrange for his own grandson to act as a companion. The fact that this person can do so shows that he is no simple figure within the Aus Auction House."

Listening to the old man's analysis, Princess Luoxin naturally cast her gaze toward Li Xingluo. That was right; in her fit of anger earlier, she had overlooked that point.

As someone groomed to be a successor, her intelligence was not low. Once she calmed down, she immediately arrived at a different conclusion than before.

The reason for her anger was that when all obstacles are cleared away, one inevitably develops a sense of arrogance.

At this moment, the door to the opposite room opened, and Yan Yun stepped inside, appearing exceptionally respectful toward Li Xingluo.

Princess Luoxin's beautiful eyes arched slightly. Just as her teacher had said, this person was indeed not simple. If...

"Teacher..." Princess Luoxin whispered something into the old man's ear. The more the old man heard, the broader the smile on his face became, until he finally nodded in great satisfaction.

Li Xingluo naturally did not miss a single movement between Princess Luoxin and the old man. The opposite side stopped bidding and even signaled for the attendant to return behind Princess Luoxin.

This sudden change was beyond Li Xingluo's expectations. Yan Yun, of course, saw Princess Luoxin and the old man.

Seeing that no one else was raising the price, Liu Ya announced that the winner of the Nine Nether Underworld Art was the occupant of Room Three.

Having obtained what he wanted, Li Xingluo had no intention of staying any longer and turned to leave the private room.

The opposite room was suddenly empty. Princess Luoxin's beautiful eyes remained fixed on the now-vacant room before she signaled to the old man, who immediately stood up and left as well.

Watching both parties leave at the same time, Liu Ya felt a pang of anxiety, but she quickly composed herself and continued auctioning the remaining items.

Stepping out of the private room, the gloom that had been suppressed deep in his heart was finally released.

"Young Friend Xingluo, please stay." Yan Yun called out to Li Xingluo and hurried to catch up.

"Does Elder Yan Yun have something to say?"

Yan Yun looked left and right, appearing somewhat embarrassed, which left Li Xingluo completely baffled.

He could only stare at Yan Yun, waiting without asking further.

Xiao Yi Xian and Liu Li, who had no fondness for Yan Yun, pulled at Li Xingluo, intending to leave. Seeing this, Yan Yun immediately rushed forward to block their path.

Xiao Yi Xian glared at Yan Yun, her expression cold as she snapped, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Li Xingluo felt helpless; offending Yan Yun would not lead to a good outcome.

"Elder Yan Yun, please state your business."

Yan Yun seemed to summon his courage before finally speaking his mind.

"Young Friend Xingluo, I wonder if you could help me appraise that medicinal pill." Fearing that Li Xingluo might refuse, Yan Yun quickly added, "Rest assured, I will provide the medicinal materials myself, and I will pay you the proper remuneration without missing a single cent. What do you think?"