As he watched the shock on Ya Fei's face, Xiao Zhan's lips curved into a faint smile. He had expected this reaction all along.
Anything could be auctioned, as long as someone needed it.
For most people, this information might be useless.
But to those who needed it, it was worth a fortune.
With the Xiao Clan's current strength, they really had nothing particularly valuable to offer.
Yet if the Xiao Clan wanted to develop quickly and recruit experts from all quarters, it would need vast amounts of wealth.
So Xiao Zhan could only make money by revealing these secrets from the original story.
He believed that anyone who needed this information would spare no expense to buy the knowledge they sought.
And as the Xiao Clan expanded and its auctions gained a reputation, Xiao Zhan could reveal even more secrets.
Things like the Eight Ancient Clans, the eight pieces of Emperor Jade, the Ancient Map of the purifying lotus demon flame, and even the location of the ancient Dou Di Cave Abode...
If this information went up for auction, plenty of experts would surely come, even at an enormous cost.
If those experts tried to seize it through trickery or force, Xiao Zhan had nothing to fear.
As long as the auction took place within the Xiao Clan's territory, he would welcome anyone who came looking for trouble. He could suppress them with a turn of his hand, then rob the robbers.
Of course, making money was not his only goal.
Xiao Yan had already been away for half a month, but he still had not triggered the father-reliance effect.
That left Xiao Zhan feeling rather helpless. Xiao Yan was still too weak.
Even if he triggered the father-reliance effect, he probably would not provoke any powerful enemies.
For Xiao Zhan, who now possessed the strength of a Nine-Star Dou Emperor, that would be meaningless.
With Xiao Yan's current strength, provoking an enemy at the Dou Zong level was practically impossible!
So Xiao Zhan intended to give his dear son a helping hand.
Since there were no powerful enemies, he would create some for him.
Once the Xiao Clan's auctions had established a reputation, he would auction off information about Yao Chen's soul form, the bone spirit cold flame, and the Flame Mantra.
Xiao Zhan believed that anyone who obtained this information would definitely seek out Xiao Yan.
Then it would be time for a good father like him to step in.
He could even give the Xiao Clan's Emperor Jade to Xiao Yan later on.
The Eight Ancient Clans ought to be interested in that.
Reminder to the host: The "Fatherly Love Like a Mountain" function can only be activated when the host's son naturally provokes trouble on his own. Any instigation involving the host's deliberate intent is invalid!
At that moment, sensing Xiao Zhan's thoughts, the system popped up again to warn him.
Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow. "System, don't spout nonsense. When did I instigate anything? I'm tempering him, adding just a billion little hurdles to his journey of training. Don't misunderstand... I'm only thinking of what's best for Yan'er. Don't slander me!"
System: "..."
After discussing the auction house's future direction with Ya Fei, Xiao Zhan told her to prepare thoroughly.
Although he already had a preliminary plan, implementing it with the Xiao Clan's current strength would still present considerable difficulties.
As time passed, news that Xiao Zhan had killed an Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect soon reached the Imperial Capital.
In the central district of the Imperial Capital.
Less than five li from the Jia Ma Empire's imperial palace stood a magnificent residence occupying tens of thousands of square meters.
Above its main entrance, the words "Night Moon Residence" were written in sweeping calligraphy, like soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes.
To possess such a luxurious, spacious residence...
In the Jia Ma Empire, aside from the three great aristocratic families, only the empire's eldest princess, Yao Ye, enjoyed such treatment.
It was said that the current ruler of the Imperial Family held Eldest Princess Yao Ye in exceptionally high regard.
After her coming-of-age ceremony, she had been bestowed with this lavish residence.
Late at night, darkness shrouded the entire Imperial Capital, and gentle moonlight spilled into the Night Splendor Residence.
Under the moonlight, the residence's palace-like buildings appeared noble and mysterious.
Their golden glazed roof tiles shimmered with an enchanting radiance.
On a pavilion balcony, a young woman leaned against the railing. She was tall and wore a fitted red martial outfit that perfectly accentuated her full bust, rounded hips, and exquisite curves.
On a stone table beside her sat an incense burner trailing white smoke and a celadon teacup.
Just then, a ghostlike figure appeared soundlessly in the pavilion and dropped to one knee before her.
"Your Highness!"
The figure was entirely shrouded in a loose black robe, their features impossible to make out. Only a pair of viperlike eyes could be seen, cold enough to chill the bones.
Only after the shadow appeared did the young woman move to the stone table and sit down. She picked up the celadon teacup, gently stirring the tea leaves within with her pale, slender fingers. "Has anything significant happened recently?" she asked coldly.
"This is the intelligence your subordinate has gathered. Please have a look, Princess."
The black-robed figure respectfully offered her a letter.
Yao Ye extended her delicate hand, accepted the envelope from the black-robed figure, and slowly began reading.
A short while later, Yao Ye lowered the letter, her beautiful face gradually growing solemn.
"Wutan City, the Xiao Clan, Xiao Zhan..."
"When did someone like this appear in the empire?"
"He actually dared to offend the Misty Cloud Sect so thoroughly. Is he arrogant beyond reason, or does he truly possess that kind of strength?"
Looking at the secret report in her hand, Yao Ye sank into thought.
A moment later, a gleam flashed through her eyes. "Perhaps this Xiao Clan is worth winning over to our Imperial Family's side..."
The Misty Cloud Sect was widely acknowledged as the strongest force in the Jia Ma Empire. It held an exalted position within the empire and was a sacred cultivation ground in countless people's hearts.
But one mountain could not hold two tigers!
As the rulers of the Jia Ma Empire, the Jia Ma Imperial Family had always regarded the Misty Cloud Sect as a thorn in their eye, longing to pluck it out once and for all.
Yet the Misty Cloud Sect was powerful, with numerous Dou Wang experts and Yun Yun, who had already broken through to the Dou Huang Realm.
And the one the Imperial Family feared most was Yun Shan, who had been in seclusion for many years.
Precisely because of this, the Imperial Family had never dared act rashly throughout all these years.
Though friction frequently arose between these two powers in secret, on the surface, the waters remained calm, each keeping to its own stream.
They seemed to have tacitly accepted a division of the realm.
In truth, however, these two colossal powers were constantly vying with one another behind the scenes.
At the very least, the Jia Ma Empire had always maintained a strict guard against the Misty Cloud Sect.
The hundred thousand troops stationed at the foot of the Misty Cloud Sect's mountain were proof enough.
The Imperial Family had even planted numerous spies within the Misty Cloud Sect to monitor its every move.
"Keep a close watch on everything the Xiao Clan does. With a Misty Cloud Sect Elder killed this time, Yun Yun is bound to take action."
"If Yun Yun leaves the Misty Cloud Sect, notify me immediately."
The black-robed figure nodded.
"Does Great-Grandfather know about this?" Yao Ye suddenly turned her gaze toward the black-robed figure.
"Your subordinate has already sent someone to deliver the news to the palace," the black-robed figure replied.
"Make the arrangements. I'll be going to the palace first thing tomorrow morning."
Upon hearing the reply, Yao Ye nodded and calmly issued her instructions.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The black-robed figure acknowledged the order, then vanished into the night.
Before you continue