The crowd that had just been jeering and sneering moments ago now looked as if someone had grabbed them by the throat. Faces froze in disbelief and terror.
She'd crushed a Golden Core cultivator's wrist… bare-handed?
And forced him to his knees?
Was that even something a late Foundation cultivator could do?
Everyone realized it at once—this cloaked figure wasn't what she appeared to be.
To suppress a Golden Core cultivator so effortlessly, her true strength had to be at least at the late Golden Core stage, maybe even higher!
When that thought sank in, cold sweat trickled down more than a few backs. They'd mocked her just a minute ago, and now they were terrified she'd notice them. Most instinctively stepped back several paces, hoping to melt into the crowd.
Xie Zhaolin let go without emotion.
The Golden Core man slumped to the ground like a pile of mud, clutching his mangled wrist and trembling uncontrollably. He didn't even dare lift his head.
She didn't spare him a glance, as if brushing away a speck of dust.
Just as she was about to follow the maid into the auction hall, another wave of commotion rippled through the crowd.
Xie Zhaolin frowned ever so slightly, irritation flickering through her heart. She only wanted to quietly attend an auction and get the Soul-Nurturing Sapling. Why did trouble keep finding her?
Right then, a surprised yet melodious female voice rang from behind the crowd.
"Huh? Why's it so noisy up front? Oh… that Daoyou's got some impressive moves!"
That voice…
Xie Zhaolin's brow arched faintly, a glint of amusement flashing in her eyes. She slowly turned toward the sound.
The crowd parted on its own, revealing a pair walking side by side—a man and a woman.
The woman in front wore a pale yellow dress. Her features were lovely, her brows lively, her lips curled with curiosity and a faint playful smile. It was none other than an old acquaintance, Yu Xiaotang.
Beside her walked a man in a light blue robe. He had a tall, upright figure and a gentle, refined air, though a faint aloofness lingered between his brows. At his waist hung a jade-green flute, and faint waves of spiritual sound rippled around him.
Judging from his attire and aura, he was clearly from the Tianyin Sect, famous for walking the path of music cultivation.
And since he could walk beside Yu Xiaotang so naturally, his status must be that of a personal disciple—at least.
Yu Xiaotang's gaze swept over the Golden Core cultivator still kneeling on the ground, then landed on Xie Zhaolin. Curiosity gleamed in her eyes.
"This Daoyou really hides her strength well," she said with a teasing smile, her tone unclear whether it was praise or probing. "To subdue a Golden Core cultivator with a single move—how admirable."
The Tianyin Sect man beside her inclined his head slightly. His cool eyes lingered on Xie Zhaolin for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing within, though he said nothing.
Under her cloak, Xie Zhaolin's expression didn't shift, but her mind moved swiftly. She hadn't expected to meet Yu Xiaotang here.
By now, her cultivation had already reached mid Golden Core, while Yu Xiaotang's aura was still stuck at late Foundation. Was this what people called an unexpected blessing?
Maybe she could use this chance to get rid of her. Even if not completely, at least she could cripple her. Her gaze flicked over Yu Xiaotang, calm and cold.
But Yu Xiaotang seemed to sense that fleeting chill beneath the cloak. A faint unease tightened in her chest. For some reason, this cloaked figure felt strangely familiar, especially those icy eyes...
Where had she seen them before?
No matter how she tried, she couldn't recall. The uncertainty only deepened her curiosity. Of course, she could've used her system to check the other's identity, but every scan consumed precious points. She wasn't about to waste them on some mysterious stranger she didn't understand yet.
So instead, she smiled again, her voice soft and probing.
"This Daoyou… haven't we met before? You look kinda familiar."
At that, the corners of Xie Zhaolin's mouth lifted faintly under the cloak, though her smile carried a chill.
"Met before? Oh, more than that."
But she didn't bother responding. As if she hadn't heard a word, she turned away and said flatly to the maid,
"Lead the way."
She'd completely ignored Yu Xiaotang.
The latter's smile froze, her expression darkening in an instant.
She was a distinguished guest of the City Lord's Mansion and the Young Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect. When had she ever been treated like this—ignored outright, and in public no less?
The Tianyin Sect man's brow furrowed. Even his usually composed face showed a flicker of displeasure. He stepped forward, his tone gentle but firm, leaving no room for argument.
"This Daoyou, isn't that a bit too discourteous?
My Junior Sister Yu greeted you kindly, yet you refused to respond. Do you think that having a bit of strength gives you the right to look down on both the Tianyin Sect and the Hehuan Sect?"
His gaze shifted toward the maid, his tone sharp.
"And your auction house, what's going on? Do you only serve customers by cultivation level now? You ignore disciples of major sects and prioritize some unknown loose cultivator instead?"
In his mind, loose cultivators were pitiful wanderers, even if they managed to form their core. How could such nobodies compare to disciples of great sects backed by generations of heritage and resources?
His words thickened the tension in the air once again.
Before Xie Zhaolin could speak, the maid who'd been silently standing beside her finally found her opening. Her polite smile remained, though her tone cooled slightly.
"You've misunderstood, honored guests.
This lady holds a Green Star Card of third-tier priority." She looked evenly at the Tianyin Sect man and Yu Xiaotang. "According to our rules, Green Star Card guests take priority over Yellow Star Card guests. They may enter through the VIP passage without waiting in line.
As for your cards, they're Yellow Star, the second tier," she continued, her tone still respectful yet steady. "By regulation, Yellow Star guests must wait their turn. And for the record, I'm not assigned to receive Yellow Star guests.
I was ordered to wait here specifically for this Green Star guest. I can't break the rules to serve anyone else. I ask for your understanding."
Her words were crisp and precise, reasoned and resolute, laying out the auction house's rules for all to hear.
Silence fell once more across the crowd.