This Time, I'll Pay!

"Ying Xuanzi?"

"Who's that? I've never heard of him. Our sect master's surname is Han, given name Li. People call him Han Tianzun. Brother Jia Lie, have you heard of our Dao Sect?"

Xiao Yan answered without a change in expression.

"Ding, Mind Listening failed... please try again!"

"Ding, Mind Listening failed... please try again!"

"Ding, Mind Listening failed... please try again!"

While Xiao Yan spoke, Jia Lie Ao kept trying to eavesdrop on his thoughts.

Unfortunately, how could his level-one system possibly break through the defenses of Xiao Yan's level-two system?

"Han Tianzun?"

Jia Lie Ao suddenly felt an urge to curse.

First Lin Dong, now Han Tianzun. Were these just coincidentally identical names, or was there some other secret I didn't know about?

"I've heard a little in passing. Now that I think about it, perhaps I misheard!"

Jia Lie Ao gave a couple of awkward chuckles and asked no more questions.

After all, they had only just met. Digging straight into the other man's entire background was hardly appropriate.

"That's what I thought. Our Dao Sect is a Hidden Sect and rarely interacts with outsiders. No one should know about us."

Xiao Yan spoke with a light chuckle.

"Ao, what are you still doing out here?"

"Hurry inside. The auction is about to start."

Just as Jia Lie Ao wanted to chat with Xiao Yan a little longer, Jia Lie Bi came out to call him.

"Brother Lin, I'll head inside first. See you later!"

With that, Jia Lie Ao turned and left.

At the same time, he wondered whether his transmigration had caused a butterfly effect in this world, leading to these changes.

Just how powerful was this Hidden Sect?

Could it contend with those first-rate factions out in the open in the Central Plains?

With all these questions on his mind, Jia Lie Ao parted ways with Xiao Yan.

Jia Lie Ao can hear other people's thoughts, can he?

His own strength has reached the Dou Ling level, too. I wonder when he transmigrated here.

And whether he has any other trump cards...

Xiao Yan's mind was likewise filled with questions.

Should I wipe out the Jia Lie Family outright, or probe them first before making my move?

Thinking this over, Xiao Yan walked into the auction house.

"Is that young man actually on good terms with the Jia Lie Family?"

"If so, our Xiao Clan could be in danger!"

Not long after Xiao Yan went inside, Xiao Zhan and the others followed.

At the thought of how long Xiao Yan and Jia Lie Ao had been talking, Xiao Zhan's face darkened.

After all, the Jia Lie Family and the Xiao Clan were fierce competitors in business.

Both drew their main income from the Market Districts under their control.

As a result, the two families clashed fairly often.

The Ao Ba Family was different. Its main sources of income were the Underground Casino and the Pleasure District.

They were like well water and river water, each staying clear of the other.

"This is all because of you two! You've made a powerful enemy for our Xiao Clan for no reason. If he really makes trouble for us because of this, you'll bear full responsibility!"

Xiao Zhan glared fiercely at the pale-faced First Elder and Second Elder as he spoke.

"Clan leader, don't blame the First Elder and Second Elder. Who could have imagined that a teenager would actually be a legendary Dou Ling expert?"

The Third Elder hurried to smooth things over.

The three elders were branches of the same tree. Seeing Xiao Zhan use this incident to blame the other two, the Third Elder naturally could not sit still.

"Hmph!"

Glancing at the two pale, badly injured elders, Xiao Zhan snorted coldly and said nothing more.

The Xiao Clan truly could not afford internal strife at this point. Otherwise, it would only give the other factions more openings to exploit.

Inside the Mittel Auction House!

The auction was about to begin, but Ya Fei, who had already appeared, suddenly left the venue.

The reason was simple: Xiao Yan had revealed his identity, and Ya Fei and Gu Ni had come to receive him.

When they saw Xiao Yan's current appearance, disbelief spread across both their faces.

Although they had long known that Xiao Yan was a very young expert, they had never imagined he was this young.

He was clearly only a boy of fifteen or sixteen, yet he was actually a Dou Wang expert.

"Lord Lin Dong, you've arrived at just the right time. Our auction hasn't officially begun yet."

"If you have no other business, why not take a look?"

"There are quite a few fine items in this auction. Perhaps some will be of use to you, Lord Lin Dong."

Ya Fei took a deep breath, maintaining her alluring smile as she spoke respectfully.

"Oh? What items do you have? Let me hear about them!"

Xiao Yan raised his brows slightly, a hint of interest appearing on his face.

Although he had mostly kept to himself lately, he knew that Mittel Tengshan, the head of the Mittel Family, had arrived in Wutan City.

He had also brought many precious items, and the Mittel Auction House had been publicizing this all along.

That was why several cities around Wutan City had sent people here as well.

"There are some Black Tier Dou Techniques and cultivation methods, high-grade third- and fourth-tier pills, and things like high-grade medicinal ingredients and magic cores."

Ya Fei gave him a brief rundown.

"Then how many of the fire-attribute magic cores I wanted do you have this time?"

Xiao Yan did not particularly care about the other items. He had little use for them anyway.

The fire-attribute magic cores, however, were rather important to him.

His crimson dragon divine mark was expendable.

Once its power ran out, it would disappear, and he would have to draw it again. That meant he needed to stock up on fire-attribute magic cores.

"The items you requested aren't among the auction lots, Lord Lin Dong."

"Our family head said we could give you the fire-attribute magic cores as a gift, as a token of our Mittel Family's desire to befriend you."

As Ya Fei spoke, she stole a glance at Xiao Yan's face to observe his reaction.

"Thank you, then. But I'm not someone who takes advantage of others. Last time, I only came to you because I urgently needed help."

"This time, I'll pay!"

Xiao Yan had no intention of continuing to freeload off the Mittel Auction House.

That was something a villain would do. I'm the protagonist. How could I keep taking other people's things?

"You're too kind, Lord Lin Dong. Our Mittel Family sincerely wishes to befriend you. How could we accept your money?"

Ya Fei covered her mouth and chuckled softly, with no intention of accepting payment. How could a few paltry gold coins compare to the friendship of a young Dou Wang expert?

"Miss Ya Fei is right, Lord Lin Dong..."

Gu Ni was just about to echo Ya Fei from beside her, but to his surprise, Xiao Yan swept his hand, and a dozen or so jade bottles instantly appeared before them, floating gently in the air.

Everyone, remember to cast your recommendation votes~