The air in the private room froze for a moment at Xue Qinghe's joking remark.
The scent of dragon's-breath incense was fresh and gentle, yet impossible to ignore. It lingered at the tip of Lan's nose.
Lan set down his chopsticks.
He raised his eyes and quietly studied the peerlessly handsome face before him.
Xue Qinghe's features were exquisite, his eyes crinkled with a smile. Though dressed as a man, he couldn't conceal his innate nobility and splendor.
An inexplicable flutter, rising from deep in his blood, quietly passed through Lan's heart.
Even when facing the woman who had given him life only to cruelly abandon him—Bibi Dong—he had never felt this strange sense of closeness.
"If His Highness the Crown Prince were a woman..."
Lan's voice was cool.
"...you'd surely be a peerless beauty."
The amused smile on Xue Qinghe's face froze.
He stared at Lan, genuine astonishment flashing in those eyes that were usually warm with a smile.
Then a brilliant smile bloomed across his face, like snow melting at the first touch of spring.
This time, it wasn't the refined smile of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. It was a heartfelt smile, touched with a girl's sly delight.
"Hahahaha!"
He couldn't help laughing aloud, leaning back slightly against his chair.
"That tongue of yours is even sharper than the blade in your hand."
Xue Qinghe picked up the serving chopsticks, lifted a glistening piece of Dragon Scale Fish, and naturally placed it in the porcelain bowl before Lan.
"Try this. It's Heavenly Fragrance Tower's signature dish—you can't get it just anywhere."
Lan looked at the fish without a word. He simply picked up his chopsticks again and silently brought it to his lips.
It was delicious, melting in his mouth.
But what stirred his heart more was the other's unintentional display of affection.
Aunt Xue and Aunt Bing had made him feel this way, too.
The person before him was Qian Renxue—and his older sister.
Bound by blood.
He thought of that woman, his mother.
She had brought him into this world, then abandoned him in a frozen wasteland thousands of miles away.
The meal ended amid a wonderfully harmonious atmosphere.
The two walked out of Heavenly Fragrance Tower side by side. The afternoon sun spilled over the flagstone street, casting their long shadows behind them.
Xue Qinghe was still in high spirits. He pointed out the buildings on either side of the street and regaled Lan with stories about Heaven Dou City.
Lan followed quietly at his side, listening and watching.
Before long, they arrived at a broad plaza.
A vast, magnificent building loomed before them.
It was built entirely of white stone, its soaring dome majestic and imposing. Most eye-catching of all was the enormous golden auctioneer's gavel carved atop the building.
"Here we are."
Xue Qinghe stopped, his voice touched with pride.
"This is the Heaven Dou Grand Auction House—the highest-class auction house in Heaven Dou City, and indeed on the entire continent."
He turned to Lan with a smile. "As long as you have the money, you can buy anything here."
Lan looked at the building and nodded.
The two headed for the entrance.
"Stop!"
Two armored guards immediately crossed their halberds, blocking their way.
"This is the auction house. No unauthorized visitors allowed!"
One of the guards barked, eyeing them warily.
Just then, a clear, melodious female voice came from inside.
"Have you two honored guests come to participate in the auction?"
A beautiful woman with a graceful figure and a silver mask came out in a gliding stride.
She glanced at them and asked in a formal tone:
"Do you have bidder qualification certificates?"
Xue Qinghe remained unruffled. He simply took a golden token engraved with a subtle snowflake pattern from his sleeve and held it up.
"The Crown Prince's token!"
The guards and the masked woman both paled, then immediately bowed.
"We didn't know the Crown Prince was visiting. Please forgive our offense!"
Xue Qinghe waved them off, signaling that they needn't stand on ceremony.
Lan, however, didn't follow him inside. Instead, he stepped forward and said to the masked woman:
"I want to sell something."
The masked woman was clearly taken aback. Surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes behind the mask, but she quickly resumed her professional composure.
"So you're a seller. Please, come with me."
She stepped aside, gestured for him to follow, and personally led the way.
Under her guidance, the three bypassed the front hall and arrived at a quiet appraisal room.
A female appraiser, also wearing a mask and possessed of a composed air, sat behind a table.
"Please take out the item you wish to auction," the woman who had led them said.
Lan said nothing. The Storage Soul Tool on his wrist glimmered faintly.
In the next moment, he gently placed a leg bone, crystalline as jade and emanating a chilling aura, on the table.
The instant the Soul Bone appeared, the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
The appraiser jolted. Her eyes fixed on the Soul Bone.
She reached out with trembling hands and carefully lifted it. The shock in her eyes could no longer be concealed.
"This... this is..."
She abruptly looked up.
"A thousand years! It's a thousand-year Ice Plains Snow Wolf left leg Soul Bone!"
"Honored guest, please wait a moment!"
Xue Qinghe watched her hasty retreat, then turned to Lan, his eyes full of curiosity.
Lan merely stood there, his expression calm.
Before long, the appraiser hurried back, followed by an elderly man with white hair and a steady presence.
The old man took the Soul Bone, closed his eyes, and ran his wrinkled fingers carefully over its surface.
After a long moment, he opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing within them.
"That's right."
The old man's voice was steady and firm.
"It is indeed an Ice Plains Snow Wolf Soul Bone, and an exceptionally rare leg bone at that."
"Judging by how condensed the Soul Power fluctuations are, its age... should be around thirteen hundred years."
He looked up at Lan, a note of respect entering his voice.
"Absorbing this bone can greatly increase the user's speed and affinity with ice elements. It's a treasure that Agility Attack System Soul Masters dream of."
Hearing this, Xue Qinghe's handsome brows drew together slightly.
He turned toward Lan, his gaze warm.
"Lan."
"If you're short on money, just tell your big brother Xue. Why sell such a precious Soul Bone?"
Lan met his gaze. His deep eyes remained undisturbed as he gently shook his head.
"No need."
To him, it was nothing more than spoils from hunting in his spare time.
A whole pile of thousand-year Soul Bones lay quietly in his system space, and he even had several that were ten-thousand-year Soul Bones.
Seeing how firm Lan was, the appraiser hurried forward and said respectfully:
"Honored guest, a thousand-year Soul Bone of this quality appears less than once a year, even at the Heaven Dou Grand Auction House."
"After discussion, we've decided to set the starting price for your Soul Bone at one million Gold Soul Coins."
"Additionally, you will immediately become a red-tier VIP, our auction house's highest rank, and enjoy all the privileges that come with it."
As she spoke, she presented a card made of an unknown red crystal with both hands.
Lan took the card and casually put it into his Storage Soul Tool.
Personally guided by the appraiser, Lan and Xue Qinghe crossed a long corridor and entered the main auction hall.
The scene before them opened up in a flash.
Golden and magnificent!
The enormous domed ceiling was painted with intricate, lavish constellations. The floor was paved with smooth, mirrorlike milky-white marble. Every detail displayed the height of luxury and grandeur.
Thousands of seats were arranged in a ring, and every one was occupied.
"The two honored guests' private room is on the third floor."
The appraiser led them toward the VIP passage on one side.
Just then—
A growl, choked with pain and edged with impatience, suddenly rang out from a nearby corner.
"My Evil Fire is about to get out of control!"
Following the sound, Lan's gaze fell on the corner.
A fat man in bright red clothes leaned against the wall, drenched in sweat, his eyes bloodshot as he panted heavily.
It was Ma Hongjun.
At that moment, he was staring fixedly at a curvy female server nearby, who carried a tray.
The server was pretty, with a voluptuous figure, but her expression was utterly numb.
A muffled growl rose from Ma Hongjun's throat. He lunged at her, reaching out to wrap his arms around the woman.
"Bang!"
Two guards in silver armor appeared in an instant, like a pair of iron towers, and blocked his path. One of them thrust out a metal-gauntleted hand and stopped him with ease.
"Sir, you're only a white-tier VIP."
The guard's voice held no emotion.
"I'm afraid you aren't qualified to touch the 'goods' here."
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