The Auction

"All right. I'll represent the Xiao Household at the grand auction hosted by the Mittel Family."

Xiao Lin's eyes gleamed as he read the invitation handed to him by the patriarch, Xiao Dongcheng, and the list of auction items enclosed with it.

An invitation and an advance list of auction items—previously, the Xiao Household had never qualified for such treatment.

This was undoubtedly a benefit Xiao Lin had brought the Xiao Household by becoming a Dou Wang.

In the past, whenever the Mittel Family held a grand auction, the Xiao Household had to buy tickets at the last minute to get in.

Even then, they could only sit in the auction hall.

This time, though, the Mittel Family's invitation to the Xiao Household came with a VIP card!

That meant when Xiao Lin brought his family to the auction, they would have a private box of their own. They would no longer have to squeeze into the hall with everyone else.

Compared with how they had been treated before Xiao Lin became a Dou Wang, it was the difference between heaven and earth!

Being able to see the list of auction items in advance was especially convenient for the Xiao Household.

Xiao Lin had only glanced over the list before spotting quite a few things that interested him.

That was the main reason he had agreed to represent the Xiao Household at this grand auction.

There could be only a handful of powers in the entire Jia Ma Empire that received the same treatment.

At most, the others would be the Gama Imperial Family, the Misty Cloud Sect, the Nalan Family, and the Mu Household.

As for powers without even a Dou Wang, their treatment was probably the same as the Xiao Household's had once been.

They had to fend for themselves. Before the auction began, they would not even know what was up for sale. All they could do was gamble!

By comparison, getting the list in advance made things much easier.

After all, if something caught your eye, you could prepare enough money ahead of time.

This time, Xiao Lin had already decided to buy several items the moment he saw them on the list.

They were not for him. They were for his son Xiao Zhan's Foundation Establishment.

There were also items other members of the Xiao Household could use.

As for something Xiao Lin wanted for himself, there was indeed one item.

"Good. Since you're willing to go, buy whatever catches your eye. You're free to use the Xiao Household's resources as you see fit!"

Once Xiao Lin agreed to attend the Mittel Family's grand auction, patriarch Xiao Dongcheng waved a hand and gave him full authority.

In other words, Xiao Lin could decide what to buy without seeking anyone else's approval.

He was not yet the Xiao Household's patriarch, but if he wished, his authority could even surpass Xiao Dongcheng's!

After all, the Xiao Household owed its current standing in the Jia Ma Empire entirely to Xiao Lin becoming a Dou Wang.

No one in the family would be foolish enough to oppose his decisions.

"Thank you, Patriarch."

With Xiao Lin's reply, the matter was settled.

Three days later, the Mittel Family's grand auction began.

That day, countless groups poured into the Gama Imperial Capital.

Some ruled other cities. Others were sect leaders and elders from minor sects. Even a few mercenaries had come to the capital.

But without exception, those qualified to enter the Mittel Family's grand auction had either come with senior members of their households or possessed at least the strength of a Da Dou Shi themselves.

On the way to the Mittel Auction House with several Xiao Household clansmen, Xiao Lin even spotted a few independent cultivators who were Dou Wang!

Clearly, powers from every quarter were looking forward to the Mittel Family's grand auction.

Xiao Lin had brought only four clansmen.

One was an elder of the older generation; the other three were young men of the family.

Barring any surprises, those three would likely be the ones supporting Xiao Lin's generation of the family.

Once Xiao Lin became patriarch, they would very likely become elders.

All three were now Intermediate Great Dou Masters.

With enough effort, becoming Dou Ling was not beyond their reach.

"Young patriarch, there are so many people in the capital today!"

One of the clansmen could not help exclaiming.

"Xiao Ze, show some composure. You're embarrassing us!"

Seeing his younger clansman act as though he had never seen the world, another Xiao Household clansman covered his forehead.

"You're one to talk about Xiao Ze. Aren't you the same, Xiao Zhen?"

The third clansman chimed in.

"That's enough, Xiao Ze, Xiao Zhen, Xiao Yi. We're nearly at the Mittel Auction House. The way you're behaving will only embarrass the family!"

As a Xiao Household elder, he carried considerable authority.

At his words, all three shut their mouths.

Xiao Lin said nothing from beginning to end.

Given his status, he had no need to.

Though Xiao Ze, Xiao Zhen, and Xiao Yi belonged to the same generation as him, a gulf stood between their positions.

It was no exaggeration to say that Xiao Lin's very existence had left every clansman of his generation struggling to breathe beneath his shadow.

No one had challenged his position as young patriarch in the slightest!

When the gap between people was small, others might grow jealous and harbor schemes.

But when that gap became impossible to close, all they could do was look up to him.

That was Xiao Lin's standing among the Xiao Household's younger generation.

Before long, the group arrived at the entrance to the Mittel trading house.

The Xiao Household's arrival naturally drew plenty of attention.

The Xiao Household was the capital's rising star, after all. Whenever one of its members went out, they attracted looks of envy and jealousy.

All the more so when it was Xiao Lin, the man who had raised the family to its current heights!

Xiao Lin remained perfectly composed under those gazes, betraying not a trace of emotion.

The other four clansmen were another matter. Even the elder looked somewhat ill at ease.

Their tense expressions gave them away.

"Relax. We're not heading to a battlefield."

Their behavior left Xiao Lin rather speechless.

He could only remind them in a low voice.

His words eased their expressions somewhat, but they were still on edge.

Xiao Lin shook his head helplessly.

It was probably their first time in a situation like this, so he said nothing more.

Soon, Xiao Lin reached the reception desk at the entrance to the Mittel Auction House and presented his invitation.

The attendant assigned by the Mittel Family had noticed the group's arrival long before.

Now that Xiao Lin had presented one of the family's VIP invitations, the attendant treated them with every courtesy.

"Honored guests of the Xiao Household, please follow me. The Mittel Family has prepared a private VIP box for you."

The Mittel Family attendant gestured for Xiao Lin and the others to follow him.