"Your eyes truly are as sharp as torches, seniors, and you predict events like gods!"
"After appraisal by the Heaven-Subduing Pavilion, this ancient beast was confirmed to have come from another Dao domain, and its bloodline is exceptionally rich!"
On the auction stage, the black-robed middle-aged man beamed as he gave his vivid introduction.
As his voice fell, he lifted some of the restrictions on the iron cage.
In an instant, the white beast's immense, surging Qi and blood continuously spread outward, sweeping across the nine heavens like a vast ocean.
"The starting bid is fifty immortal crystals!"
After announcing the starting price, the black-robed man tactfully stepped aside, leaving the floor to the crowd.
"An unfamiliar ancient beast from another Dao domain..."
Many young prodigies fell silent in thought, in no hurry to bid.
Though the little creature had a rich bloodline, they could not be sure what species it was.
If they bet wrong, they would lose everything they put in.
"A white ancient beast... There doesn't seem to be any similar description in the Primordial Dao Domain's ancient records."
The young prodigies present thought it over, but still could not find the slightest clue. The venue remained as silent as ever.
"Since no one is bidding, I, this princess, will set a precedent. Sixty immortal crystals!"
Huang Wu's soft, bone-melting voice came from a private room, breaking the silence first.
"Sixty-five immortal crystals!"
Xuan Xiao raised the bid right after her. He was also very interested in the ancient beast from an unfamiliar Dao domain.
"Seventy immortal crystals!"
Zi Tianque's gaze flickered. After careful consideration, he decided to take a gamble.
His Purple Mansion Saint Physique was on the verge of a breakthrough, and he urgently needed the bloodlines of various exotic beasts to temper it.
Though the little white beast looked unremarkable, its Qi and blood were relatively powerful, making it an excellent match for his physique.
If it turned out to be a rare species, wouldn't he strike it rich?
The young prodigies who dared bid now all undoubtedly had backgrounds that reached the heavens.
Ordinary young prodigies simply had no room for trial and error.
Just then, Yun Yao's ethereal, melodious voice came from the Emperor Room.
"Two hundred immortal crystals. No matter how much anyone bids for this item, I, this divine maiden, will bid one more!"
At those words, the entire auction instantly fell silent, without a sound.
Everyone turned to look at the Emperor Room.
"She raised the bid by more than a hundred immortal crystals in one go. She's determined to win it!"
"Bidding one more no matter who bids-is she lighting a sky lantern at the auction? What astounding resolve!"
"That looks like the Li Lineage divine son's room. That voice... Why does it sound a bit like Divine Maiden Yun Yao?"
The entire auction hall buzzed with discussion, and everyone could see the astonishment in one another's eyes.
Sharing a room with Fairy Yun Yao was truly enough to make people envious and jealous!
"The Li Lineage divine son..."
Purple Mansion Saint Son Zi Tianque's gaze darkened, and his expression turned ugly.
The perfect Dao companion in his heart was bidding on an item for another man.
The distress he felt was beyond words.
"After this auction, I'll enter the Purple Mansion's forbidden ground and strive to fuse with that wisp of immortal fire, so I can grow stronger!"
Zi Tianque clenched his fists and took a deep breath, making an oath to the Heavenly Dao in his heart.
He could not afford to offend the Li Lineage divine son at present. Only when he grew stronger would he be qualified to pursue her!
In the Emperor Room, Yun Yao had joined the bidding of her own accord at Yun Yuan's instruction.
It was his first time meeting his nephew, so he had to be thorough with his gift!
"Two hundred and one immortal crystals!"
Just then, Xuan Xiao's bid came from another Emperor Room.
At the sudden bid, many of the young prodigies present came to a realization.
Recently, Xuanming Divine Mountain had clashed with the Li Lineage repeatedly over the Desolate Ancient Mine, and a grudge had long since formed between them.
Xuan Xiao's purpose in joining the bidding at this juncture was plain to see.
In one of the Emperor Rooms.
The corners of Xuan Xiao's lips curled up slightly. His ink-black hair hung loose, and ancient Dao charm flowed through his ink-black eyes, giving them a vast and mysterious quality.
Behind him, a colossal phantom that covered the starry river flickered in and out of sight. With every breath it took, the stars brightened and dimmed. It was terrifying beyond compare!
Xuanming Divine Mountain and the Li Lineage fought constantly, as irreconcilable as fire and water!
He would never let the Li Lineage divine son win the auction so easily. He would rather be a piece of rat droppings and spoil the whole pot of porridge!
"You little turtle bastard, are you deliberately trying to disgust me? Three hundred immortal crystals!"
Just then, a low, indifferent voice rang out, drawing the attention of everyone in the auction hall.
Calling Xuanming Divine Mountain, a Primordial Imperial Clan, a little turtle bastard—such lawless, outrageous words left all the young prodigies present frozen in place.
"Three hundred and one immortal crystals!" Xuan Xiao's voice rang out again, betraying no anger.
Clang!
A sword cry suddenly rang out!
A dazzling streak of sword light whistled out of the Li Lineage's room and slashed toward Xuan Xiao!
"Merely bidding is far too dull. I, this divine son, will put on a show for you all!"
At the same time, Li Xunyuan's utterly calm voice came from the room.
Boom!
An earthshaking roar resounded through the auction hall.
Wood chips flew, and dust filled the air!
Xuan Xiao's room had been blasted to pieces, revealing his true appearance.
"It looks like... the Li Lineage divine son made a move!"
A young prodigy spoke in shock, unable to hide how shaken he was.
Hum!
At that moment, the barrier around the central Emperor Room gradually receded, revealing the scene inside.
Li Xunyuan sat at an angle on an imperial throne, while Yun Yao, the Yun Family's divine maiden, sat obediently beside him.
To one side, Yun Yuan stood behind Li Xunyuan with his hands clasped behind his back, like his Dao protector.
Farther back were Li Nantian and the other two, leaning against the doorframe and watching everyone with indifferent gazes.
"The Li Lineage divine son, Lord Supreme Yuan, Great Saint Nantian, and Divine Maiden Yun Yao..."
The crowd cried out in astonishment. Such a lineup was truly rather frightening!
The status of any one of them alone was enough to crush an ancient kingdom or imperial dynasty and make its emperor or ruler rush out to welcome them with his shoes on backward.
Above all, Divine Maiden Yun Yao, the fairy in the hearts of the young prodigies, was actually sharing a room with Li Xunyuan.
Was she still the fairy in their hearts?
How could this be?!
The sight shocked everyone beyond measure. They looked on in disbelief, their Dao hearts dealt a heavy blow.
"I only regretted how brief our meeting was then. Now that we meet again, the pain of longing is finally eased..."
Many women gazed at Li Xunyuan's handsome, immortal-like face, their beautiful eyes losing focus as they murmured with longing.
Some went further, looking at Yun Yao with envy in their beautiful eyes, wishing they were the ones sitting beside Li Xunyuan right now!
Such a face belonged only in the heavens; how often could one hear of it in the mortal world!
"Chen Qian greets Supreme Yuan and the divine son!"
After seeing Yun Yuan appear, the black-robed middle-aged man on the auction stage immediately bowed, his manner exceedingly humble and respectful.
He was merely an elder of the Heaven-Subduing Pavilion. Even the pavilion behind him, or the entire Heaven-Subduing Ancient City, was nothing before the Yun Family.
The same was true before the Longevity Li Family.
Compared with the graceful Li Xunyuan, Xuan Xiao, on the other side, had disheveled clothes and a dust-covered face. He looked utterly bedraggled.
Xuan Xiao's eyes sharpened, and icy killing intent burst forth, no longer restrained.
Boom!
The Black Tortoise divine manifestation behind him thunderously unfurled a starry expanse, then transformed into an ancient divine ring that revolved around him, casting its light upon him until he looked like a supreme divine lord!
"Li Lineage divine son, you're courting death!"
Xuan Xiao's voice boomed like thunder, shaking heaven and earth. The Black Tortoise divine ring radiated countless rays of dark light, covering the sun, moon, and stars.
To shatter his room in front of everyone was to show him no regard at all!
And even less regard for Xuanming Divine Mountain!
Seeing this, the young prodigies hurriedly moved away, their gazes filled with wariness and their expressions grave.
Xuan Xiao of Xuanming Divine Mountain had opened nine Life Palaces and awakened the Black Tortoise Divine Physique.
He had even transformed the Black Tortoise Emperor Manifestation into a divine ring. His combat power was thought to rival that of a prodigy with ten Life Palaces, and his strength was utterly terrifying.
He was at least as formidable as Ao Xing, if not more so.
"An auction should be fair and impartial. Everyone present may take part!"
"You could have bid two hundred and fifty immortal crystals, or even three hundred, but you just had to bid two hundred and one!"
"You little turtle bastard from Xuanming Divine Mountain, if it's so hard to do, then don't do it!"
Li Xunyuan narrowed his eyes slightly. His calm voice slowly carried through the silent venue.
As his voice fell.
Li Xunyuan held one hand behind his back and used the fingers of his other hand as a sword, lightly slashing forward as he coldly spat out two words.
"Kneel!"
When he spoke, it was as though a Saint had uttered the laws of heaven, his words becoming law!
Thud!
The next moment, before the horrified gazes of everyone in the auction hall...
Xuan Xiao suddenly pressed his palms together, bent both knees without warning, and knelt before Li Xunyuan!
For a moment, everyone present felt as though struck by lightning. They all turned to stone where they stood, and a deathly silence filled the venue!
The sight made the heart of the black-robed Great Saint behind Xuan Xiao spasm repeatedly, and he cursed inwardly...