Show of Strength!

The small chamber was brightly lit. An old man with somewhat graying hair was sweeping Xiao Yan with a sharp gaze.

Seeing that neither of them wore alchemist robes, the old man, who had originally risen to greet them with a smile, immediately turned serious.

However, he did not say anything insulting, and his attitude remained fairly normal.

"Please, have a seat, gentlemen!"

The old man casually pointed at the chairs before the table and put away the tools he had been using to inspect auction items.

Lowering his head, he said indifferently, "Please take out the items you wish to auction."

Without saying a word, Ye Lin slammed a blood-red spear onto the table with a clang.

Startled by the sound, the old man thought the newcomers were here to cause trouble and raised his head, ready to drive them out.

But then he saw the familiar spear.

The old man abruptly rose to his feet, his voice trembling.

"Th-this is Fan Lao's Blood Fiend Treasure Spear!"

The old man's excited voice echoed through the small chamber.

"Could it be that you two are the experts who killed that old thief Fan Lao?"

The old man immediately changed his demeanor. Rising to his feet, he eagerly pulled out two chairs and invited them to sit.

He was completely unlike before.

"Appraise this spear," Ye Yan said.

Only then did the old man turn his gaze toward the person clad in a loose black robe.

The skin faintly visible beneath the black robe showed that this person was very young, though his exact age was unclear.

"Sir, if you wish to auction this spear, my authority is insufficient. Please wait a moment while I fetch someone."

The old man lowered his posture considerably. Once the two honored guests nodded,

he immediately turned and left, heading into the auction house to find the higher-ups.

As the news was reported layer by layer, it eventually reached Yuan Yi's ears.

"Gate Master, have they come to us of their own accord?"

Wang Cheng was somewhat stunned. He had recently been considering how to find them through today's auction.

"It seems this alchemist intends to accomplish something significant in the Black Corner Region."

Yuan Yi lowered his eyelids slightly, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes.

Under these circumstances, it was no longer merely that he had used the auction to lure this alchemist to stay. This alchemist wanted to find him.

As for why he was seeking him out, that was unknown.

"Come. Let us welcome our honored guests."

A short while later!

Inside the small chamber.

The moment Yuan Yi entered, he reproached the people below him.

"What is going on? You put honored guests in such a tiny chamber? Change it to a larger reception room at once!"

"Yes, sir. I'll see to it immediately," Wang Cheng hurriedly replied.

"No need," Ye Lin said bluntly, turning his head.

He could not be bothered to beat around the bush with this man. He was merely a one-star Dou Emperor!

Wang Cheng looked up at Yuan Yi. Seeing him wave a hand, he led the others out.

He sensed an inexplicable threat from the person before him, as well as the utterly unceremonious tone in his voice.

Yuan Yi did not mind in the slightest. Over the years, this was how things had been when he dealt with the other factions of the Black Corner Region.

He had even experienced situations far more humiliating than this.

There was no helping it. This was the Black Corner Region.

This was a place where the strong ruled with absolute clarity.

Moreover, the threat this person gave him was comparable even to the peak Dou Emperors he had encountered.

"May I ask why Your Excellency has come to see me?"

Yuan Yi's expression was calm, a faint smile curling at his lips.

"To auction some items, as well as some pills."

Ye Lin tossed the items on the table into his hands.

"Fan Lao's Blood Fiend Treasure Spear could fetch at least a million gold coins at auction. However, this Long Spear has severe limitations, which would lower its price considerably."

"If Fan Lao's cultivation technique is included, the price would multiply several times over."

Yuan Yi gave his assessment in full detail.

"Then auction them together."

Ye Yan also handed Yuan Yi the cultivation technique they had obtained from Fan Lao's Storage Ring.

"Good!"

Yuan Yi accepted the cultivation technique, then asked, "Then what pills does Your Excellency wish to auction?"

"One Imperial Extreme Pill, and Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pills!"

"What?"

Yuan Yi instantly lost his earlier gentle demeanor. His eyes were filled with urgency as he looked at Ye Yan.

"Sir, are you telling the truth? You truly intend to offer an Imperial Extreme Pill?"

The Imperial Extreme Pill was a pill considered to be at the peak of the sixth tier. It could allow a Dou Emperor to raise his level by one or even two stars within a relatively short period of time, while also strengthening the meridians and tempering the bones.

Its remaining medicinal power could even help strengthen one's body once.

Whenever an Imperial Extreme Pill appeared in the Black Corner Region, it stirred up a bloody storm, leaving countless dead and wounded.

The last time one had appeared was fifty years ago.

If this news spread, the gates of the Black Seal Auction House would likely be trampled down.

There might even be high-level Dou Emperors harboring ill intentions.

"I have no reason to deceive you."

Ye Lin glanced at Ye Yan before replying.

This was the plan Ye Yan had proposed: use profit as bait to win Yuan Yi over.

Even the Imperial Extreme Pill had been refined long ago by Ye Zhong and given to Ye Yan.

After offering this one, Ye Yan only had the Imperial Extreme Pill Xuan Yi had given him left.

With merely the strength of a two-star Dou Emperor, Yuan Yi had managed to establish an auction house of considerable renown in the Black Corner Region. That showed his capabilities.

One could also imagine how many setbacks he had suffered before those stronger than him while founding this auction house.

And now, an Imperial Extreme Pill capable of plainly raising his strength was right before him.

They did not believe Yuan Yi would remain unmoved.

Sure enough.

A trace of greed and desire appeared in Yuan Yi's eyes, but after he quickly recalled the strength of the person before him, his gaze became clear once more.

"May I ask what Your Excellency requires?"

Yuan Yi pleaded, "Could the Imperial Extreme Pill perhaps be kept off the auction block? I am willing to pay a high price for it."

"Hahaha!"

Ye Yan chuckled softly at that moment.

"Gate Master Yuan, since you are willing to pay such a great price for it, why would we not auction it and pursue the greatest possible profit?"

Yuan Yi looked at the speaking Ye Yan. When he saw that the other person said nothing, inspiration suddenly struck him.

"May I ask this young brother..."

Ye Lin patted Yuan Yi on the shoulder and said teasingly,

"Do not ask what you should not ask. You only need to know that I am here to protect him."

Yuan Yi's heart jolted, and he swallowed.

What kind of powerful faction could send a peak Dou Emperor to protect someone?

Even a Dou Zong was probably nothing extraordinary to such a force.

Yuan Yi obediently shut his mouth, but when he thought of that Imperial Extreme Pill, he found it unbearably tempting.

"May I ask this young master, what must I do for you to sell that Imperial Extreme Pill to me?"

Ye Yan glanced at Ye Lin. Seeing that he had no intention of responding, he spoke again.

"Gate Master Yuan, I have only just arrived in the Black Corner Region. I do not even have a place to settle down."

"This..."

Yuan Yi pondered for a moment, his brows slightly furrowed.

This was not merely a matter of a place to stay. They wanted a faction—or rather, subordinates.

What they valued was him.

But the Eight Fan Gate and Black Seal City had been built through the countless efforts he had poured into them. Trading them for an Imperial Extreme Pill just like that was truly inappropriate.

Yet the faction behind this person was likely extremely powerful. If he joined them...

"Gate Master Yuan, the world is vast, while the Black Corner Region is small!"