Not Bros, Is Wind Lightning Pavilion's Security Really This Bad?

Qian Wanguan's slightly embarrassed voice echoed in the auction hall. The starting bid of ten million gold coins was like a boulder thrown into a calm pond, only stirring up a few snickers and a deeper silence.

"Ten million and five hundred thousand."

A clear and calm voice abruptly broke the awkward silence, clearly resounding throughout the room through the loudspeaker.

Swish!

Countless eyes instantly focused on the private room from which the sound originated.

The crystal wall blocked any prying eyes, but the owner of the voice brazenly announced the price in that young voice.

A buzz of discussion immediately filled the hall.

"Are there really suckers out there?"

"Spend over ten million on two completely unsubstantiated messages? Are you out of your mind?!"

"He's probably a rich young master from some powerful family who's out here for training; he's got too much money to burn."

"Shh... keep your voice down. Anyone who gets into a private room isn't simple. Don't get yourself into trouble."

Qian Wanguan's face instantly brightened, plastered with a professional and enthusiastic smile, as if he had grasped at a lifeline.

"Good! This esteemed guest has offered 10.5 million! Is there anyone offering a higher bid? This is a precious clue concerning two Heavenly Flames! This is an opportunity not to be missed!"

Inside the private room.

Ya Fei frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "We should arrange for a shill to help us out. If you bid first, based on my experience, there will probably be some bored people who want to cause trouble."

She naturally knew what that Fragmented Map was. Elder Hai also had a copy of it, which Xiao Yan took. It was said to be related to the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, which ranked third on the Heavenly Flames Ranking.

Yun Yun Queen Medusa also became more serious. They knew Xiao Yan well and were aware that he had already decided to obtain the information about the two Heavenly Flames by any means necessary.

Zi Yan, on the other hand, was carefree and couldn't be bothered to pay any attention to a lousy map.

"One thousand and five hundred thousand times!"

Qian Wanguan's voice carried a hint of excitement as his gaze swept across the entire room, especially the private rooms.

After a brief silence, a slightly effeminate voice came from the opposite private room, carrying a hint of mockery and probing:

"Hehe, this friend certainly has a lot of guts, but I'm determined to have this item. I'll offer eleven million."

Someone has placed a bid!

The atmosphere in the hall was instantly ignited.

Everyone loves a good show, and they're all eager to see how far this "sucker" dispute will go.

Xiao Yan's eyes turned slightly cold. Without hesitation, he announced the next number, "Fifteen million."

Hiss!

A collective gasp filled the room.

A bid increase of four million! This isn't just being rich; it's practically throwing gold coins around like rocks!

The owner of that effeminate voice seemed taken aback by the offer, remaining silent for a moment before speaking again, this time with less of the playful tone and more seriousness:

"Sixteen million! My friend, I do have a reason to have this. Why don't you give it to me, and we can be friends?"

"Twenty million."

Xiao Yan's voice remained calm.

Making friends without introducing yourself?

If you have no sincerity whatsoever, who would want to be friends with you?

Inside the private room, Ya Fei's palms were slightly sweaty. After the auction just now, it seemed that Yan Alliance's remaining funds were not enough. If 20 million was not enough, then things would really be difficult.

A long silence fell over the opposite compartment.

Twenty million gold coins for just two pieces of information, one of which was a tattered treasure map—the price was far too high.

Even powerful forces have to think twice before acting.

The problem is, he absolutely has to get his hands on this thing!

He gritted his teeth and said with a hint of helplessness:

Twenty-five million.

Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, then decided not to follow.

Twenty million is too expensive.

Even Lower Earth Tier Dou Technique would only cost a few million at most, with ten million being the maximum.

The high price of the Heavenly Flames is because the Auction House knows that if the price is too low, the wealthy won't be interested, and the poor won't want to buy it. Everyone here is shrewd. If the auction house is too hesitant to set a high price, doesn't that mean the thing is completely useless?

Why buy it then? With so much money, you might as well save it for the grand finale auction item later!

Qian Wanguan's heart pounded. He never dreamed that this bundled "chicken rib" could fetch such a high price. This was already a huge profit!

Therefore, his voice trembled slightly. "Twenty... twenty-five million! This VIP has bid twenty-five million! Is there anyone higher? Twenty million once! Twenty million twice!"

His gaze swept across the entire room, especially Xiao Yan's private room, but all he received in response was silence.

Clearly, this price has deterred all potential competitors.

No one would be willing to spend such a huge sum of money on a vague and risky clue.

"Twenty million and five hundred thousand three times!!" Qian Wanguan's gavel slammed down, making a crisp sound. "Sold! Congratulations to this distinguished guest for successfully acquiring the clues to the Nether Poison Flame and the Fragmented Map the Mysterious Heavenly Flames map!"

The dust has settled!

Xiao Yan's tense body relaxed slightly. Next, he needed to plan his murder and robbery.

Having spent his time in the Black Corner Region, Xiao Yan is no longer a nice guy.

Whether it's the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, which is of great use to him, or the Nether Poison Flame, which is extremely important to Xiao Yi Xian, he is determined to obtain them!

Zi Yan looked at Xiao Yan with some strangeness:

"Xiao Yan, why aren't you raising the price? I feel like you really care about that thing."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan shook his head, rubbed Zi Yan's head, and said calmly:

"This thing is certainly important to me, but the price is too high. I've decided to get it for free."

As they spoke, Xiao Yan had already secretly placed his soul power at the entrance of the private room. When the person inside came out later, they would naturally be tainted by Xiao Yan's Soul Mark and thus be marked.

We can find an opportunity to use diplomacy first, then resort to force.

Or... first force, then diplomacy?

While killing directly is an option, it's just a suggestion. If the problem could be resolved peacefully, he didn't want to be like those people in the Black Corner Region, killing and robbing without any scruples.

In the private room marked by Xiao Yan, a handsome young man in a green brocade robe with delicate features and an effeminate air was rubbing his temples with a somewhat helpless expression.

That's a ghost.

He originally knew that the Nether Poison Flame was useless against alchemists, and he thought he could easily buy it.

He never expected someone would try to take it from him.

Judging from the voice, the person seemed to be about the same age as him.

He must be the young master of some powerful force, but his voice is somewhat unfamiliar, so it seems we're not acquaintances.

But this just cost 20 million; how am I going to buy those Earth Tier Dou Technique later?

Although the Advanced Earth Tier Dou Technique was an auction item that the Palace Master had instructed them to strive for, the information about the Heavenly Flames was the only request that the Holy Maiden had made to him in recent years. If this disappointed her, she would probably be so angry that she wouldn't speak to him for at least a year.

Now, not only have I spent a fortune, but I also seem to have offended other powerful young masters. This is quite troublesome.

Hopefully, the other party will spare us trouble out of respect for the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

He hates trouble the most.

"Uncle Nan, go and check who's in that private room. Just in case they make any moves, we'll be prepared."

"Knew."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man with a fair complexion and eerie golden vertical pupils standing next to the effeminate young man nodded, turned around, and walked out of the room.

"Sigh, what use is information about this Heavenly Flames to her?"

The effeminate young man sighed with some distress. Ever since Aunt Man brought the Holy Maiden back to the manor, he had always liked the somewhat timid little girl. It took him two and a half years to build a good relationship with her and to be able to be called Brother Si Ming by her.

However, his younger sister was really hard to appease; she would ignore him when she got angry, which really gave him a headache.

The most idiotic thing is that the elders in the manor actually want to match me up with the Holy Maiden.

He, Si Ming, does have ambitions, okay?

Why would he ignore all those busty, curvy older women and instead set his sights on an eleven-year-old girl he treats like a little sister?

He's not a pervert!

Unfortunately, he had feminine features, so beautiful that it was hard to tell if he was male or female. From childhood to adulthood, all the pretty older girls treated him like an underdeveloped younger sister, and men would always try to flirt with him.

This is also why he is so afraid of trouble.

I've encountered so many troubles throughout my life. Although they can all be resolved, who would want to be bothered if they could avoid trouble altogether?

Just as Si Ming was pondering why his saintly sister had insisted that he obtain the clues to the Heavenly Flames, in the auction hall, as the ownership of the Nether Poison Flame clues and the mysterious Fragmented Map was settled, the atmosphere in the auction hall did not cool down; on the contrary, it became even more heated because of the upcoming grand finale.

Qian Wanguan a deep breath, his face once again displaying a highly persuasive smile, and his loud voice resounded throughout the hall:

"Distinguished guests! Thank you all for your enthusiastic support of the previous lots! Now, we have finally arrived at the most anticipated and climactic part of this auction!"

He clapped his hands, and a powerful Dou Emperor guard, with an extremely solemn expression, walked onto the stage carrying a jade plate covered with dark purple silk.

Fine, silver arcs of lightning flickered faintly on the silk, emanating a terrifying, violent energy fluctuation.

Qian Wanguan surveyed the entire room, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and solemnity:

"The next item, the grand finale of this auction, is Advanced Earth Tier movement Dou Technique!"

The words "Advanced Earth Tier" struck like a thunderbolt, instantly igniting the entire arena!

Countless gazes turned bloodshot, and their breathing became heavy.

Qian Wanguan abruptly lifted the deep purple silk!

Buzz!

On the jade plate, a scroll, entirely silver-white, lay quietly.

On the surface of the scroll, countless tiny lightning snakes snaked and writhed, emitting a deep rumbling sound. A violent, swift, and seemingly multiplying aura rushed towards you!

At the center of the scroll, five ancient and sharp silver characters were clearly visible in the lightning:

Three Thousand Lightning Illusion Body!

"Hiss--!"

A collective gasp filled the arena! This was followed by deafening gasps!

"Three Thousand Lightning Illusion Body?! It's actually this Dou Technique!"

"My God! Isn't this the treasure of the Wind Lightning Pavilion?!"

"Damn, even if I bought it, I wouldn't dare use it!"

"Heavenly Treasure Pavilion is really ruthless; they actually dared to bid on this thing!"

"Tch, Heavenly Treasure Pavilion also has Dou Zun expert backing it up. The Thunder Venerable of the Wind Lightning Pavilion can't do anything to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion."

Inside the private room, Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He suddenly sat up straight, a strange look on his face, and couldn't help but laugh:

"What on earth is the security team at the Wind Lightning Pavilion doing?! How could such a core Dou Technique be leaked? Last time in the Black Corner Region, Thunder God Descent was leaked, and the Black Emperor Sect had Three Thousand Lightning Movement. Now, in the Tianxin Empire, it's become Three Thousand Lightning Illusion Body... Wind Lightning Pavilion is going to lose all face!"

Queen Medusa opened her beautiful eyes, looked at the silver scroll, and parted her red lips slightly. "Is this the advanced version of the movement and Dou Technique you are currently cultivating?"

Yun Yun also showed surprise. Advanced Earth Tier Dou Technique is extremely rare in the entire Northwest Continent, not to mention that this seems to be the treasure of a power with Dou Zun expert!

This time, she really learned something new.

Ya Fei was quite pleased that Xiao Yan was able to obtain the Three Thousand Lightning Illusion Body in such a place, but her brows quickly furrowed.

This is the most prized treasure of the pavilion! Does the Wind Lightning Pavilion really not care at all?

Zi Yan was also very familiar with this stuff. Her eyes gleamed with longing for the delicious pills. She rubbed her hands together and said solicitously:

"I can now command more Wind Lightning Power. Do you need me to help you cultivate with it?"

"No need for that. Having the Three Thousand Lightning Movement as a foundation is enough. If you want some pills, I'll refine them for you later. Plenty."

Xiao Yan was in a good mood, and with a smile, he ruffled Zi Yan's hair and said in a light tone.

Qian Wanguan was very satisfied with the reaction at the scene, and he said loudly:

"Indeed! It is the renowned top-tier movement Dou Technique of the Wind Lightning Pavilion, famous Central Plains — the Three Thousand Lightning Illusion Body! Advanced Earth Tier movement Dou Technique! When this Dou Technique is mastered, one can condense a Lightning Illusion Body. The illusion body is of similar strength to the original body, and as long as the original body exists, the illusion body will not perish! It is an unparalleled weapon for survival, surprise attacks, and combat!"

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, becoming incredibly seductive:

"The value of such Dou Technique is self-evident! Starting bid: 15 million gold coins! Each bid must be at least 1 million!"

The astronomical starting price instantly deterred 90% of the people in the hall, but that didn't stop them from witnessing this fierce competition.

The starting bid had barely been set when a domineering voice boomed from one of the private rooms, carrying an air of absolute certainty:

"Eighteen million! My Lion Underworld Sect wants it!"

"Twenty million!"

Another chilling voice followed closely behind, coming from another direction, clearly belonging to a powerful figure as well.

"Twenty-two million!"

The competition for the third private room also intensified.

Prices are skyrocketing at an astonishing rate!

In just a few breaths, it has already broken through the 30 million mark!

However, Xiao Yan did not rush to bid. Instead, he fell silent, his gaze sweeping across the auction hall below, seemingly lost in thought.

When the bidding started, he sensed a well-hidden aura suddenly leaking out.

He must be at least a Dou Zong level expert, it seems possible...

People from the Wind Lightning Pavilion?