Retreat

In a luxurious courtyard of the Mittel Auction House, a handsome youth sat cross-legged on his bed, practicing.

Suddenly, the youth's tightly closed eyes opened slightly, and he whispered to himself, So, you've come?

After speaking, a faint, imperceptible smile crossed his lips, and he closed his eyes once more.

Time ticked by, and the temperature in the night seemed to drop suddenly, causing Lei Luo to sneeze involuntarily.

Reaching up to rub his nose, Lei Luo said lazily, "Since you two are here, why bother hiding?"

"Tsk tsk, a young man with quite strong soul power to have detected my presence."

An aged voice rang out abruptly, and then the half-closed window was pushed open, revealing a black-robed figure standing in the room.

"You break into my Mittel Auction House uninvited; may I ask what for?"

Lei Luo asked, knowing the answer perfectly well.

The person who had entered the room was Xiao Yan, though his body was currently being controlled by Yao Chen, who chuckled dryly:

"I have come tonight to borrow something from you, little friend!"

Hearing this, Lei Luo smiled.

He rose slowly, curled his fingers into a claw, and a scorching, black-and-white flame appeared in his palm.

"Is this what you wish to borrow, old man?"

Seeing this, a flash of obvious astonishment crossed Xiao Yan's eyes.

They had never expected their objective to be discovered by the other party.

Furthermore, this person had brought out the Heavenly Flame so openly.

However, as a former Battle Venerate, Yao Lao still possessed that level of composure.

"Little one, such a treasure of heaven and earth is not something you can handle. If you are willing to part with it, I can offer you some compensation to avoid a conflict tonight," Yao Chen said to Lei Luo.

Hearing this, Lei Luo found it rather amusing.

He mocked the master and disciple, "Tsk tsk, 'part with it'—what a fine way to put it. You truly have no shame!"

After being mocked by Lei Luo, the expression on Xiao Yan's face, hidden beneath the cloak, remained unreadable.

Only the aged voice sounded once more.

"In that case, I have no choice but to take it by force."

As he spoke, a terrifying aura erupted from Xiao Yan's body. White flames emerged, the temperature in the room plummeted, and layers of frost began to form on the floor.

At this moment, the entire room was enveloped by Yao Chen's soul power, preventing a single sound from escaping.

This was precisely the confidence that allowed Xiao Yan to dare break into the Mittel Auction House!

But since Lei Luo knew they would come and still dared to wait here, he naturally had his own confidence.

He flicked his sleeve, and a pure black flame shot toward Xiao Yan!

Seeing this, a hoarse laugh emanated from beneath the hood.

"Little one, you have quite the temper!"

Hearing Yao Chen's mocking tone, an inexplicable rage rose in Lei Luo's heart.

The Yin Fire and the Bone Chilling Flame collided violently, producing a piercing explosion.

The scattered sparks incinerated the floor, releasing a thick, burnt smell.

Seeing this, his eyelids twitched, and he tapped his toes against the ground, launching an active assault on Xiao Yan.

As he neared Xiao Yan, Lei Luo suddenly leaped up, whipping his leg toward his head with great force.

Facing this vicious strike, the expression beneath the hood finally changed.

Yao Chen, controlling Xiao Yan's body, crossed his arms and met Lei Luo's whip kick head-on!

"How is this possible? A Seven-Star Dou Master!"

Yao Chen exclaimed in shock.

At the same time, Xiao Yan's body was sent flying backward, smashing all the furniture in his path into splinters.

Dust rose, and a bout of dry coughing followed.

Struggling to his feet, the figure beneath the wide black robe seemed filled with disbelief.

"Tsk tsk, little friend, your talent is truly extraordinary. To possess such strength at this age is truly enviable."

However, after the failed strike, Lei Luo's heart sank.

He was strong!

Although Yao Chen had only recently awakened, he was still not someone he could handle.

After all, the soul of a Battle Venerate was truly a headache.

"Little one, you are very strong, perhaps not even weaker than an average Great Battle Master, but you are still a long way from defeating me."

Yao Chen's tone was cold, as if he had already decided Lei Luo's fate.

Lei Luo pressed his lips together, his handsome face revealing neither joy nor anger.

Suddenly, the system's voice rang out beside his ear.

[You have one check-in opportunity remaining for today. Do you wish to check in?]

Hearing this, Lei Luo's heart stirred, and he silently recited, "Check in."

[Congratulations on checking in with the plot character "Yao Chen." You have received the following rewards: Third-Rank Alchemist Realm Card, One-Star Dou Emperor Realm Experience Card!]

Looking at the rewards from this check-in, Lei Luo felt a sense of relief and turned his gaze back to Xiao Yan.

"If I alone am not enough, what if I add a few more?"

No sooner had the words left his lips than a terrifying explosion rang out.

Looking up, Lei Luo knew that the experts from the Miter Clan had arrived.

Several sounds of air being torn apart echoed as Ying Jia led four Great Battle Master experts through Yao Chen's blockade and burst into the room.

Powerful Dou Qi erupted from Ying Jia and his men as they surrounded Xiao Yan, waiting only for Lei Luo's command.

At this moment, Yao Chen had already retaken control of Xiao Yan's body. "Little brat, you don't actually think they can hold me here, do you?"

Hearing this, Ying Jia and the others narrowed their eyes and prepared to strike, but Lei Luo waved his hand to stop them.

"Let him go!"

Although Ying Jia and his men were confused, they dared not disobey Lei Luo's order and could only allow Xiao Yan to leave.

"Heh, you are very smart, young man. Let this matter end here!"

With that, Xiao Yan's figure vanished from the room.

Looking at the wreckage scattered across the floor, Ying Jia asked in confusion, "Young Master, why didn't we keep him?"

Hearing this, Lei Luo couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile. "If he had wanted to, none of us would have survived!"

The group listened in disbelief; after all, they had four Great Battle Master experts present.

Among them, Ying Jia was even a Nine-Star Great Battle Master.

To kill them all, one would need to be a Battle Spirit!

Thinking of this, a trace of lingering fear appeared in everyone's eyes.

In truth, how could Lei Luo not have wanted to keep the master and disciple?

But unfortunately, that would only ever be a thought.

Not to mention the presence of Ying Jia and the others, even with the One-Star Dou Emperor Realm Experience Card he had just obtained from the check-in, Lei Luo didn't feel much confidence.

Perhaps Yao Chen was currently in a weakened state; otherwise, they would not have retreated tonight.

But he dared not gamble.

If he pushed the master and disciple too far, the consequences of a desperate, mutual destruction would be far too great.

Sighing, Lei Luo felt his mood grow heavy.

Tonight's events made his desire for strength even more intense.

"Young Master, are you alright?"

Ya Fei's anxious voice rang out from outside the door.

When she rushed into the room and saw that Lei Luo was unharmed, she patted her ample chest and let out a sigh of relief.

After the servants had cleaned the room and replaced the furniture, Lei Luo spoke to Ying Jia and the others.

"You all may leave first. Ya Fei, stay behind..."