"He Xiangliu: '…?'"
He Xiangliu's lip curled. "Distinguished guests from Jiangbei—mind your own business. Pretend you didn't see anything, or else…"
Chen Xiao smiled faintly. "Or else what?"
He Xiangliu's grin hardened. "I'll kill you one by one. Even Jiangbei Triangle can't protect you."
The threat didn't faze Chen Xiao. The Mad Ghost Butcher was a name, a reputation—nothing more. He Xiangliu didn't push his luck, but neither did he welcome Chen Xiao. After all, Jiangbei's people were Jiangbei's people.
Ouyang Miao stepped forward, brows knitted. "Do you know who runs Jiangbei Triangle?" He Xiangliu said nothing.
A calm voice cut in from outside the door: "Even if the Mad Ghost Butcher shows up, he'll have to hand over his Evolution Points today."
The speaker was a young man in a blue robe, jade sword at his hip—poised, confident, almost otherworldly. When He Xiangliu saw him, he immediately dropped to his knees. "Young Master Tailong! You're here—just in time. We're on the brink of the opportunity!"
Li Tailong's reply was languid. "Shame about Brother Shengyan. He wanted the prize all to himself, ignored Xingyue Base."
"He deserved it," He Xiangliu agreed. "Only Young Master Tailong is qualified for such a reward."
Li Tailong shook his head. "This treasure is precious, but I bear the Shu Mountain inheritance. Talents would interfere with my Dao. I'll give it to Bai Ying."
A hulking figure stepped out behind Tailong—broad, solid as a boulder, aura thick and grave. "If Bai Ying gets this, I'll devote my life to helping Young Master Tailong dominate the apocalypse," the man vowed.
He Xiangliu forced a laugh. "What a fortune for Xingyue Base if Brother Bai gains it."
Chen Xiao realized something then: that was why some warriors never shouted about their talents. For certain inheritance lines—ancient martial lineages—talents could be a contamination, a contradiction to their Dao. It explained a lot about the strange, old-fashioned reverence in that camp.
Conversation flowed as if Chen Xiao and Ouyang Miao weren't even there. The words were blunt, greedy—utterly wrong for public ears. He Xiangliu brought up Evolution Points.
Li Tailong's grin turned cold. "It's the apocalypse; Brother Shengyan was too soft. That mindset loses opportunities."
Yang Baiying stepped forward. Tailong nodded. "Surround them. I'll collect Evolution Points—one by one."
He Xiangliu hesitated. If this leaked, Dachang would make enemies across the Sanjiang Basin. He swallowed and, teeth clenched, obeyed.
Then the room exploded into chaos.
With a deafening crash the auction stage collapsed, dust and splinters flying. Rustling footsteps followed. Panic swelled.
"Was the auction house bombed?" "New Human attack?!" "Calm—Li Tailong's here; he can handle a Tier 3!" people shouted, relief and fear tangled together.
The courtyard where Chen Xiao and the others stood was now exposed to the main hall.
"Ouyang Miao—what do we do?" she asked, eyes glued to Chen Xiao. If it were up to her, she'd stay out—Li Tailong was dangerous.
Chen Xiao only smiled. "Wait."
They waited for the evolution opportunity.
In the next moment thousands of armed troops poured out—black uniforms, tactical gear, faces stone-cold. Drones circled overhead. The auction house was sealed like a fortress. The air snapped taut with tension.
"What's this? Dachang's armed forces?" someone yelled. "Why point guns at us? Are you kidnapping us? We demand an explanation!" "Does Dachang want to make enemies of all Sanjiang? Think carefully!" "Don't forget—Jiangbei Triangle's people are here!"
Li Tailong appeared, laughing. "Hahaha—calm down. I don't want your treasures or your money." He flicked a hand. "I only want your Evolution Points."
The crowd seethed. This was robbery, blatant and arrogant.
"You'll make enemies of Sanjiang if you do this," someone barked. "If you let us go, we swear we won't tell." "Sanjiang has countless talents. You can't be so brazen!"
A scoffer called Tailong a madman—the next instant a sword aura split him in two. Blood sprayed; the courtyard fell silent with the shock of it.
"Old Sun!" someone gasped. Sun Hao—a leader from Cangzhou Extreme Path—lay split, a one-shot kill. "Li Tailong has gone mad!"
Tailong's face had gone cold. He looked at the crowd like a man appraising spoil. "The Mad Ghost Butcher wiped out the top three families—I can slaughter the entire Sanjiang Basin," he said, voice low and dangerous.
The message was clear and simple: Dachang would take what it wanted, by any means necessary.