Chapter 179: The Auction (Please Subscribe, Please Vote)

"Xiao Yu, if you ever encounter anything and can't reach me, just take this token to Dragon Gate and ask for assistance." Xiao Xie took out a white jade token and handed it to Xiao Yu. In truth, at Canaan Academy, they were unlikely to face any real danger, but he gave them the Dragon Gate token just in case.

Xiao Yu gazed at the white jade token in her hand. On one side, it bore the character 'Xie', and on the other, a vividly carved dragon's head. After carefully tucking the token away, she said to Xiao Xie, "Alright, I understand."

"Well then, since everything's settled, I'll be off." Xiao Xie clapped his hands, smiled, and with that transformed into a streak of white light, flying toward Maple City.

"Cousin Xiao Xie certainly acts with such boldness," Xiao Xun'er watched him depart, shook her head, and muttered in exasperation.

"Xun'er, don't try to change the subject. What did Xiao Xie mean when he said you have a Dou Emperor watching over you? Out with it!" Xiao Yu asked, her face full of curiosity.

"Well," Xun'er gave a sweet smile and paused, "that's... a secret!"

With that, she giggled and darted away.

"You little rascal, don't run!" Xiao Yu grabbed Xiao Mei and chased after Xun'er.

"That girl's background is indeed extraordinary," Xiao Yan murmured to himself, watching Xun'er's retreating figure.

The Black Horn Domain was vast, several times larger than the Jia Ma Empire, a place teeming with all sorts of people and powers, ever-changing and home to many reclusive experts.

Though Dragon Gate claimed to have unified the Black Horn Domain, it was in name only; not all forces had joined them. It was much like the martial alliance leader: able to command the martial world, but not every group would bow under his banner.

Moreover, there were hidden sects in the Black Horn Domain, low-profile but formidable, such as the Lord of Devil Flame Valley, a Dou Sect master, seldom seen due to his discreet nature.

Yet Dragon Gate was now the strongest power in the Black Horn Domain, unmatched by any other force. Thus, its claim to unity went unchallenged.

A month later, in the luxurious manor at the heart of Maple City—

"An invitation to the auction house?" Xiao Xie looked at the gilded invitation in his hand, then asked Qing Lin and Little Doctor Fairy, "Would you care to join the excitement?"

"I want to go!" Qing Lin raised her hand eagerly; she had reached the rank of One Star Dou King.

"After being shut away for so long, I'd like some fresh air as well," Little Doctor Fairy smiled. Through persistent cultivation, she had now broken through to One Star Dou Emperor.

In the Black Horn Domain, nearly every city frequently hosted auctions, though single events were modest in size and hardly worth Xiao Xie's attention. But occasionally, the strongest powers would join together, pooling treasures and holding grand joint auctions, true spectacles that attracted countless experts and factions.

As Dragon Gate's master, Xiao Xie naturally received invitations to such major gatherings. This time, it was a large-scale auction hosted by several powers.

The city chosen for this auction was Sky Shade City, under the jurisdiction of the Sky Shade Sect, Dragon Gate's affiliate. Xiao Xie had previously met its sect master, Su Mei, in Maple City, gifting her an Emperor's Extreme Pill.

Three days later, Xiao Xie, Qing Lin, and Little Doctor Fairy arrived in Sky Shade City, which was far larger than Maple City. Towering walls, dozens of meters high, forged from black stone harder than steel, surrounded the city.

"Branch of Dragon Gate, Sky Shade Sect's master, Su Mei, welcomes the Gate Master!" No sooner had Xiao Xie's group entered the city gates than Su Mei, who had been waiting with a retinue of elders—all Dou King-level experts—stepped forward to greet them.

Su Mei's voluptuous figure was tightly wrapped in a black gauze dress, enhancing her allure. Her teasing gaze toward Xiao Xie was unmistakable: with a word from him, she would willingly surrender herself.

"Ahem, alright, just lead the way," Xiao Xie felt the chilly, warning look from Little Doctor Fairy beside him and hurriedly withdrew his gaze from Su Mei's half-concealed curves. He regretted bringing his companions along, for with Little Doctor Fairy present, he couldn't even indulge in a passing glance.

"Yes," Su Mei replied with a charming smile, turning to lead the way.

Xiao Xie watched Su Mei's swaying hips, clad in black gauze, as she walked ahead, his eyes unconsciously following their movement.

"Hmph! If you stare any longer, your eyeballs will pop out!" Little Doctor Fairy snorted coldly.

"Hehe," Xiao Xie gave an awkward laugh and averted his gaze. It wasn't a matter of weak resolve; Su Mei was deliberately tempting him. For her, currying favor with Xiao Xie was paramount.

Qing Lin couldn't help but giggle at Xiao Xie's embarrassment. In this world, only Little Doctor Fairy could make him falter.

"You little imp, you love mischief," Xiao Xie ruffled Qing Lin's hair, undoing her careful braids.

"Young Master, you're bullying me!" Qing Lin pouted, running behind Little Doctor Fairy and sticking out her tongue at Xiao Xie.

The Sky Shade Sect elders found Su Mei's behavior odd. Though she appeared seductive, that was only the surface; anyone who thought her easy prey would learn the true meaning of a venomous beauty.

But seeing her so eager to please Xiao Xie was astonishing. She had never fawned over any man, even if he was the master of Dragon Gate.

Xiao Xie's group followed Su Mei to the Sky Shade Pavilion, the sect's branch in the city, where they would stay for the night before the auction began the next day.

Originally, Su Mei planned to assign several young and beautiful maidservants to Xiao Xie, but seeing Little Doctor Fairy instantly poison a stone table with a single touch, he declined righteously.

Night faded quietly. As dawn broke and sunlight crept through the windows, the once silent Sky Shade City burst into life. The broad streets quickly filled with crowds heading in the same direction: the vast auction square at the city center.

Today marked the grandest auction in a century within the Black Horn Domain. The number of powerhouses surpassed all previous records, and its influence reached every corner of the domain.

A ray of sunlight stretched into the room, finally illuminating the white-clad young man seated cross-legged upon the bed.

Under the sunlight, his closed eyes quivered slightly, then suddenly opened.

As they opened, a powerful aura surged from Xiao Xie's body, filling the room like a waking lion.

"Mirror of Myriad Forms..."

Xiao Xie finished his brief cultivation, exhaling a dense stream of white breath. The Soul-Cutting Blade was a step away from revealing its true name, and when it did, it would become another trump card for him.

He stored the blade, gathered Qing Lin and Little Doctor Fairy, and, led by Su Mei, headed toward the auction venue.

The auction, hosted by the Sky Shade Sect, was held in the city’s central square, vast in area. Yet even so, the sect had underestimated the event’s draw.

Arriving at the venue, Xiao Xie's group gazed at the endless sea of people, stunned by the madness. These participants were more fanatical than ever.