Ya Fei's face was extremely beautiful, her willow-like eyebrows were like ink, sweeping up towards her temples. Her pair of narrow phoenix eyes seemed to hold two pools of spring water, and as her gaze shifted, they shone brightly, exuding a charm that seemed capable of seeing into people's hearts, yet deep within, there was a hint of the sharpness and shrewdness of a business elite.
Below her upturned nose were two full, luscious cherry lips, their color an inviting rose red. The corners of her lips naturally curved slightly upwards, giving her a subtle, captivating, lazy smile even when she wasn't laughing.
Her raven-black hair, like a waterfall, was loosely gathered into an elegant bun at the back of her head, with a few unruly strands falling gracefully along the side of her smooth neck and rounded shoulders, adding an air of effortless charm.
At this moment, this graceful red lotus, with a warm smile capable of melting any distance, approached Mo Yuhan and the other two.
Her gaze lingered slightly on Mo Yuhan, carrying a perfectly calibrated hint of surprise and admiration. Clearly, the commotion at the market entrance had reached her ears like the wind.
Then, her gaze subtly swept over the mysterious figure shrouded in a large gray cloak beside Mo Yuhan, and the delicate and gentle Little Fairy Doctor next to her.
"Distinguished guests have arrived; Ya Fei is honored to welcome you."
Her voice was like honey-dipped silk, carrying a strange magnetism that was bone-numbingly sweet yet never felt frivolous. "This young gentleman, I presume, is the one who just... well, rose to fame in the market?"
She smiled charmingly, not explicitly stating what happened, but the meaning in her words was clear: "Please come in quickly, the auction is about to begin. Ya Fei has already reserved the best VIP seats for you."
Her enthusiasm was like a tangible warm current, instantly enveloping the three.
She turned slightly, making a gesture of invitation, and as she moved, her vibrant cheongsam outlined an even more breathtaking side profile.
As she walked, the occasional glimpse of startling white skin from the slit and the crisp 'thud-thud' sound of her high heels on the mirror-smooth cloud-patterned stone floor intertwined into a silent invitation, making one unconsciously follow her steps into the luxurious doorway.
In the air, only the unique scent of top-grade spices mixed with the mature female fragrance lingered from her, dissipating slowly.
"Foxy seductress."
Bibi Dong squeezed Mo Yuhan's hand. "Han'er, don't be misled by women like her. The prettier a woman is, the more dangerous she is."
"Then Aunt and Little Fairy Doctor Sister are even more dangerous," Mo Yuhan said with a laugh.
Ya Fei's intelligence was indeed sharp; she knew about the conflict that had just occurred.
However, Mo Yuhan had not expected Ya Fei to personally greet them and arrange for them to sit in the VIP section.
Inside the Mittel Auction House, the high domed ceiling and the golden sand-like light from the crystal chandeliers illuminated the central auction platform, draped in deep red velvet, making it appear luxurious and mysterious.
The air was filled with the elegant and lingering scent of expensive incense, mixed with the faint aroma of tea and cosmetics from the VIP seats below.
Mo Yuhan and the two others sat in the VIP seats specially arranged by Ya Fei, which offered an excellent view. Soon, the auction began.
The wide velvet seats were soft and comfortable, but they did not relax Bibi Dong's body, which was taut as a bowstring.
Little Fairy Doctor sat close to her, her slender fingers, through the cloak fabric, gently pressing on Bibi Dong's wrist pulse.
Extremely faint but pure and gentle light green Dou Qi lingered at her fingertips, flowing like the smallest stream, carefully tracing and soothing the chaotic and depleted meridians and Qi Sea within Bibi Dong's body.
Mo Yuhan sat on the outermost side, his small body held perfectly straight, like a young pine tree growing on a cliff.
He appeared calm as he watched the glittering auction platform, but deep within his ink-black eyes, like a bottomless cold pool, every subtle Dou Qi fluctuation and every gaze in the venue was clearly reflected, calmly analyzing everything.
The auction proceeded in an orderly fashion, accompanied by Ya Fei's honey-sweet and charming voice.
Rare medicinal herbs, uncommon minerals, and even occasional low-tier Dou Techniques scrolls saw their prices steadily climb under the auctioneer's highly persuasive words and Ya Fei's perfectly timed shifting gaze, captivating the hearts of countless people.
When Ya Fei's voice suddenly rose, carrying a deliberately created excitement, the previously somewhat relaxed atmosphere in the hall instantly tensed. "Hehe, esteemed guests, our auction house has just received a new item for auction, and I believe everyone will be interested."
After auctioning the item in her hand, Ya Fei suddenly smiled charmingly, and with a gentle wave of her jade hand, an auction house attendant quickly brought up a jade tray, on which sat a small white jade bottle.
An ancient-looking jade bottle was carefully placed on the display stand.
The bottle was translucent, filled with a viscous, emerald-like liquid that swirled with captivating vitality and mysterious luster under the brilliant lights.
"This is a second-grade medicinal pill, Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. Its miraculous effect is only valid for those below the Dou Zhe stage. Cultivating by soaking the body in this spirit liquid can accelerate the cultivation speed for those below the Dou Zhe stage!"
"It can help those in the Dou Qi stage lay the most solid foundation and shorten the long accumulation period required to break through to Dou Zhe. The value of such a pill... the starting bid is eight thousand gold coins!"
Ya Fei's red lips parted slightly, each word seeming to carry magic, but her gaze, like a precise probe, instantly swept over the three private rooms on the second floor, representing the top powers of Wutan City—the Xiao Family, the Jia Lie family, and the Oba family.
The bidding instantly erupted like sparks hitting hot oil.
Ouba Pa's slightly hoarse voice was the first to break the silence: "Eight thousand five hundred!" carrying the Oba family's usual steady probing.
"Nine thousand!" Jia Lie Bi's slightly sharp voice followed closely, not hiding his determination to win, his gaze provocatively sweeping towards the Xiao Family's private room.
"Ten thousand!" Xiao Zhan's steady, deep voice rang out, like a rock hitting the ground, decisive and crisp, directly pushing the price to a small peak.
The price soared like a runaway wild horse, escalating wildly in the overt and covert competition between the three patriarchs!
Twelve thousand! Fifteen thousand! Eighteen thousand!
Each increase in bid drew gasps of suppressed surprise from the hall.
Ouba Pa's facial muscles twitched a few times when the price broke thirty thousand, and he finally chose to remain silent, unwillingly, his eyes gloomy.
Jia Lie Bi's chubby face also trembled slightly from excitement and pain, but when the price was raised to thirty thousand gold coins, a clear hint of hesitation and calculation flashed in his eyes.
Just as he gritted his teeth, his cheeks puffed out, preparing to raise the bid again, attempting to crush the Xiao Family's momentum—
"Forty thousand gold coins!" Xiao Zhan's steady voice rang out again, like a clap of thunder! This price had far exceeded the actual value of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and even surpassed the psychological expectations of most people.
Ultimately, the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid was still won by Xiao Zhan.
Although Mo Yuhan was no longer short of gold coins, he did not want to buy it at a high price at this time, especially since this was Xiao Yan's first auction.
Mo Yuhan's attention did not linger too much on the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.
His targets were clear: the several 'Coagulating Meridian Grass' that appeared later, which had miraculous effects on nourishing and repairing damaged meridians, their leaf veins resembling naturally formed energy circuits, emitting a soft light blue halo;
And several special poisonous herbs whose core formulas Little Fairy Doctor had seen in the Seven-Colored Poison Manual, such as the entirely black 'Bone-Corroding Ghost Orchid' which emitted a strangely sweet and cloying scent, its petals edged with tiny serrations.
There was also the 'Ghost Hand Vine', shaped like a withered claw and cold to the touch.
He bid precisely and decisively, each increment not large, but always managing to hit the crucial point before the auctioneer's hammer fell, ultimately acquiring all the desired items at relatively reasonable prices.
This also made Ya Fei look at him with a hint of surprise.
When the exquisite jade box was presented, Little Fairy Doctor looked at the strangely shaped and uniquely scented poisonous herbs inside, her eyes sparkling with uncontrollable excitement. Her fingers gently caressed the cool surface of the jade box, as if she could already see the possibility of realizing those complex formulas in the poison manual.
Finally, at the end of the auction, there was a scroll of a high-tier Xuan-level Dou Techniques, the Wind Scroll Technique.
As in the original story, Xiao Zhan continuously raised bids, ultimately severely tricking the Jia Lie Family.
Jia Lie Bi's chubby face instantly twisted, his teeth grinding audibly. Fifty-five thousand gold coins for this cultivation technique scroll; the price was still too high.
He wasn't a fool; Xiao Zhan wasn't bidding, he was openly inflating the price. A surge of furious rage at being played instantly rushed to his head, almost making him lose composure on the spot.
Finally, under Jia Lie Bi's venomous gaze, which seemed to shoot fire, Ya Fei's eyes sparkled, and she smiled charmingly, extremely satisfied with the transaction price that far exceeded expectations.
In the end, the auction concluded perfectly
Mo Yuhan quietly watched this familiar scene, whose rhythm had accelerated slightly due to him, a 'little butterfly,' and he understood.
It seemed the major plot points were still stubbornly advancing along their original trajectory; it was just that the market conflict he had triggered had intensified the conflict between the Jia Lie family and the Xiao Family prematurely, making this drama more direct and fierce.
The auction finally concluded with Ya Fei's sweet closing remark, "Thank you, esteemed guests, for gracing the Mittel Auction House today. We look forward to seeing you again."
The crowd began to surge orderly towards the exit like a receding tide, and the doors of the three major families' private rooms opened one after another.
However, at this moment, a burly man suddenly entered Jia Lie Bi's private room, bringing news that made Jia Lie Bi furious.
"That little bastard?! How dare he injure my son! Go gather men; I want them dead!"
On the other side, Mo Yuhan carefully helped Bibi Dong up, feeling that her body was heavier than when she arrived, and every slight movement tugged at the deep-seated pain.
Little Fairy Doctor immediately supported her steadily from the other side.
The three walked out of the grand archway, symbolizing wealth and opportunity, with the crowd. The afternoon sun was a bit dazzling, casting the long, imposing shadow of the Mittel Auction House onto the street.
"We have a tail."
Although Bibi Dong could not fight, her keen perception remained, and she quickly noticed that someone was secretly following them.
"It's probably the Jia Lie Family. It's a good thing, I was going to settle accounts with them anyway."
They did not choose the crowded main road but turned into a relatively quiet alley paved with bluestones.
The alley was flanked by towering gray walls, isolating it from the main street's clamor, making it seem especially deep and secluded.
Just as they stepped deep into the alley, with the main street's clamor reduced to a faint echo, the front and rear exits of the alley had, at some unknown point, been completely blocked by over a dozen burly men dressed in uniform, their aura dense and fierce.
Their eyes were as sharp as eagles, and faint Dou Qi halos shimmered around their bodies, revealing them all to be Dou Zhe level.
The leader was exceptionally burly, his arms muscled like gnarled old roots. Standing there, he resembled a small moving mountain, exuding an aura far surpassing the others—heavy, violent, and with a heart-pounding sense of oppression.
This was a Samsung Dou Shi, an elder of the Jia Lie family, General Manager Jia Liejie.
His eyes, like bronze bells, now burned with cruel flames, fixed deadly on Mo Yuhan, as if staring at a lamb awaiting slaughter.
"What a grand gesture."
Mo Yuhan, however, showed no trace of panic.
As long as Jia Lie Bi didn't come out with his entire force, he wasn't very afraid.
Although he was only a Dou Zhe Two-star, having a unique flame meant he could deal with anyone below a Dou Shi (Fighting Master) with ease.
As for a Dou Shi, though troublesome, they weren't entirely untouchable.
"You little bastard, how dare you provoke our Jia Lie Family? Attack him!" General Manager Jia Liejie waved his hand.
"Yes, sir!"
The dozen-plus Dou Zhe shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the narrow alley, and a murderous aura instantly spread like a tangible icy mist.
Like hyenas smelling blood, some ferociously lunged at Little Fairy Doctor and Bibi Dong, attempting to control these two soft targets, while others flanked Mo Yuhan from the sides and rear!
General Manager Jia Liejie let out a sneer and took a step forward.
The formidable aura of a Samsung Dou Shi erupted without reservation, cracking the bluestone slabs beneath his feet. His target was singular—Mo Yuhan!
His calloused giant hand, accompanied by an ear-splitting shriek that tore through the air and a solid earthen-yellow Dou Qi glow, descended like a grinding stone from the sky, aiming squarely at Mo Yuhan's small head.
He wanted to personally crush the little beast's skull, washing away the Jia Lie family's humiliation in the most brutal way.
At the very moment General Manager Jia Liejie led his men to block the alley entrance and unleash their killing intent.
In a shadowy corner of a taller building not far from this secluded alley, two figures appeared silently like Gui Mei.
Xiao Yan leaned against the cold wall, panting slightly, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.
He had just barely kept up with the Jia Lie family thugs' speed, tracking them all the way here, by relying on the boost from Yao Lao's spirit power.
He cautiously poked out half his head, his sharp gaze instantly locking onto the scene in the alley below—the dozen-plus murderous Dou Zhe, the Dou Shi (Fighting Master) exuding a terrifying, mountain-like aura, and the three figures, appearing incredibly small, trapped in the middle.
"Teacher, they…"
Xiao Yan's heart was in his throat. Even from a distance, he could feel the terrifying oppressive aura emanating from that Samsung Dou Shi, Jia Liejie, which was far beyond the likes of a weak Dou Zhe like Galeo.
He knew that without Yao Lao's help, facing such a lineup would almost certainly mean death.
"Silence, watch carefully!"
Yao Lao's voice echoed directly in Xiao Yan's mind, carrying a hint of… indescribable surprise, "That kid… is not simple. That Samsung Dou Shi might not be his match."
Facing this sudden assault, Little Fairy Doctor's expression remained unchanged as she scattered poison powder from her medicine pouch.
Bibi Dong's body beneath her large cloak suddenly tensed to its limit, a cold killing intent almost breaking free from the cloak's confines, ready to sweep out.
If she weren't severely injured and near death now, these mere chickens and dogs could be extinguished with a flick of her hand.
At this moment, standing at the eye of the storm, directly facing the Samsung Dou Shi and the group of Dou Zhe, Mo Yuhan's dark eyes showed not a hint of panic.
Only extreme calm. Just as the thugs were about to close in, and Jia Liejie's massive palm, capable of shattering stone, was about to touch him—
"Boom—!"
An indescribable, scorching aura, as if from the deepest part of the earth's womb, erupted without warning from Mo Yuhan's small body. The aura was thick, vast, and carried an ancient, majestic power as if it could split heaven and earth.
Pale yellow flames instantly surged, enveloping him entirely.
The flame's color was strange and profound, not the usual crimson or bright yellow of ordinary flames, but a dark, subdued hue like Xuan Huang Qi that had settled for ten thousand years.
Yet, at the edges of the flame, a metallic, cold, and sharp luster strangely flowed.
The moment the flames surged, the surrounding air seemed to become viscous and heavy, light distorted, and a pressure emanating from the flame itself, causing even the soul to tremble, permeated the area—the twenty-third ranked on the Heavenly Flame List, Earth's Flame, Xuan Huang Flame!
"It's a Heavenly Flame!!"
In the shadows, Yao Lao instantly exclaimed in Xiao Yan's mind.
"First Spirit Ability: Xuan Huang Lion Flame Crash!"
Mo Yuhan mentally roared, his will perfectly aligned with his Spirit. The surging, roaring Xuan Huang Flame suddenly ceased to be scattered, instead instantly molding as if by the hand of an invisible Divine Craftsman.
The flames furiously condensed and materialized, especially at his slender shoulders and forearms, where the thick Xuan Huang Flame accumulated and solidified like surging magma, outlining a clear, ferocious, and primal fiery lion's head.
At the shoulder pads, flames churned like the wild mane of an enraged lion, ostentatious and violent.
The flames on his forearms were even more solid, like Xuan iron that had been melted and then rapidly cooled, forming incredibly thick lion-head armguards, their color dark like abyssal Xuan iron, yet with a molten, scorching glow flowing across their surface.
His entire being seemed to be clad in a fierce battle armor forged from the ancient Earth's Flame and a savage lion's soul
Facing General Manager Jia Liejie's grab, which contained the immense power of a Samsung Dou Shi, Mo Yuhan not only didn't retreat or dodge but instead made a move that caused everyone, including Xiao Yan and Yao Lao in the shadows, to suddenly constrict their pupils.
He, instead, went to meet it!
His small body was encased in a thick, ferocious Xuan Huang Flame Armor, and he stomped his foot hard.
"Crack!"
The hard, thick bluestone slabs instantly shattered and collapsed like fragile biscuits, radiating in a spiderweb pattern from his point of impact, sending gravel flying.
Using this violent stomp, Mo Yuhan transformed into a burning, pale yellow meteor, his speed instantly soaring to the extreme, carrying a fierce momentum of going all out, like a do-or-die attitude, launching a short-distance death charge.
His target was precisely the group of thugs, and the giant palm covered in earthy yellow Dou Qi that General Manager Jia Liejie had extended, meeting attack with attack!
"You ignorant little bastard!"
A trace of extreme cruelty, mockery, and wild joy flashed in General Manager Jia Liejie's eyes.
A mere Dou Zhe dared to directly confront the full power of more than ten Dou Zhe and a Samsung Dou Shi; this was simply courting death!
He seemed to have already heard the pleasant sound of the opponent's bones shattering inch by inch, being crushed into a meat paste by himself.
The Dou Qi on his palm surged again, the earthy yellow light intensified, and the palm wind tore through the air with a ghost-like shriek, vowing to smash this ignorant brat, along with his strange flames, into dust.
Bang—!!!
Fist and palm collided with a thunderous, unadorned impact.
There was no overwhelming, blood-splattering scene of crushing destruction as everyone had expected.
The moment of impact did not produce a crisp sound of bone breaking, but rather a dull thud that made one's heart stop, like two mountains carrying immense force crashing into each other.
A visible, condensed, and substantial pale yellow energy shockwave suddenly exploded from the point of impact between their fists and palms.
The violent air current swept out like a hurricane, sending all the advancing Jia Lie family Dou Zhe stumbling backward, and dust fell from the walls on both sides of the alley.
The cruel, ferocious smile on General Manager Jia Liejie's face instantly shattered like frozen ice.
It was replaced by an unbelievable sharp pain and bone-deep horror; he felt as if he hadn't grabbed a child's fragile fist, but had collided with a star that had fallen from the nine heavens, carrying endless lava and the power of the earth.
Terrifying power, far exceeding all his estimations, a mighty and irresistible force slammed into his arm, making the bones of his entire arm groan under the strain.
But this was only the beginning of the disaster.
In the thousandth of a second that the fist and palm made contact, the thick, ferocious Flame Armor on Mo Yuhan's fist suddenly vibrated, and a bizarre, soul-burning, terrifying pain struck.
It didn't come from the surface of the skin, but rather like countless red-hot steel needles, ignoring his body's Dou Qi defense, directly and brutally piercing into the flesh and blood of his hand, drilling into his meridian network, and even seeping into the depths of his bones.
The "Origin Burning" characteristic of the Xuan Huang Flame—ignoring the skin, burning directly to the origin—instantly erupted.
"Ugh ah—!"
General Manager Jia Liejie couldn't help but let out a suppressed groan of pain; he felt as if his Dou Qi had been thrown into boiling magma, being frantically ignited and burned by this strange flame, a tearing pain came from his meridians, and the circulation of his Dou Qi instantly became sluggish and chaotic.
What terrified him even more was that a terrifying deterrent force, originating from the Flame Lion spirit ring, full of savage dominance, like an invisible heavy hammer, heavily struck his spiritual sea of consciousness.
It was as if a gigantic flame lion, towering to the heavens, roared in the depths of his soul, his blood qi suddenly stagnated, his blood seemed to stop flowing instantly, and his forward momentum and the subsequent activation of his Dou Qi were forcefully delayed.
"Phoenix Flight Step!"
Mo Yuhan coldly shouted in his heart, his grasp of combat timing was flawless; using the immense counter-shock force generated by the collision, the Xuan Huang Flame on his feet flashed like flowing fire, and his body instantly became incredibly light, as if it had lost all its weight.
With an incredibly agile angle, like a goat hanging its horns, he floated obliquely upward like willow catkins drifting in the wind or a butterfly flitting through flowers.
He narrowly escaped General Manager Jia Liejie's attack range, which was half a beat slower due to his stagnated blood qi.
The exquisite agility of his movement technique, in stark contrast to his previous violent and domineering charge, made even Yao Lao in the shadows secretly applaud in his heart.
"You little beast! Die for me!"
General Manager Jia Liejie was both shocked and enraged; the intense pain and humiliation drove him completely mad.
He endured the excruciating pain of his meridians burning and the intense discomfort caused by his blood qi stagnation, his eyes bloodshot like a wounded raging bear, his internal Dou Qi circulating frantically without restraint, and he struck out with both fists.
"Stone Splitting Mountain Crushing Fist!"
He roared, unleashing his signature Dou Techniques.
Two extremely condensed, substantial earthy yellow Dou Qi fist auras, like giant pythons, erupted with a roar; wherever the fist auras passed, the air was compressed, emitting a piercing crackle, carrying the terrifying pressure of a Samsung Dou Shi's full-power strike, like two collapsing giant mountains, one left and one right, sealing off all of Mo Yuhan's dodging space, heavily slamming towards the pale yellow figure that had just landed!
He wanted to utterly smash this Little freak who had brought him endless humiliation into dust!
Facing this unavoidable, lethal combined attack, capable of severely injuring even an ordinary Dou Shi, a sharp glint like lightning exploded in Mo Yuhan's eyes, and the Xuan Huang Flame form on his body, used for attack, instantly flowed and transformed like a living creature.
"Second Spirit Ability: Flame Armor Guardian!"
The thick flame lion head arm guard instantly melted and spread, the pale yellow Xuan Huang Flame no longer violently flared outward, but instead compressed, condensed, and stacked inward to the extreme.
The flame was no longer an ostentatious form but transformed into countless incredibly dense structures, like ancient dragon scales, layered and tightly interlocked.
In an instant, a heavy flame armor covering his entire body, exuding a thick earthy aura and a cold metallic luster, perfectly enveloped his small body.
This Flame Armor not only perfectly carried the ultimate defensive power granted by the spirit ring but also incorporated Mo Yuhan's own pure and robust Dou Qi for enhancement.
Physical defense was raised to the limit of his current realm, resistance to energy attacks was greatly enhanced, especially against fire and earth attribute damage, possessing an almost instinctive and powerful damage reduction ability.
Furthermore, it contained the unyielding, all-encompassing protective will of the Earth Xuan Huang Flame.
"Boom! Rumble—!"
Two earthy yellow Dou Qi giant pythons, powerful enough to crack mountains, solidly slammed onto the condensed, thick layer of Xuan Huang Flame Armor on Mo Yuhan's body, which glowed with an enigmatic luster.
The deafening explosion almost tore eardrums, and the extremely violent Dou Qi energy, like escaped fierce beasts, raged wildly, the point of impact erupting with dazzling yellow and white light.
The hard ground was blasted into a pit several meters wide, and gravel and dirt flew in all directions like a downpour, dense smoke and dust instantly filled half the alley!
"Hmph! Let's see if you're still alive!"
General Manager Jia Liejie panted heavily, a cruel and triumphant smile on his face; he was confident that under his fully unleashed Profound-tier Dou Techniques, even a Five-Star Dou Shi would be severely injured, let alone a small Dou Zhe relying on a secret technique to hold on.
The few Dou Zhe subordinates who had rushed towards Little Fairy Doctor and Bibi Dong were affected by the battle's aftermath, and Little Fairy Doctor's poison powder hindered their movements, causing them to unconsciously slow down.
Little Fairy Doctor's heart almost leaped out of her chest, and the killing intent under Bibi Dong's cloak seemed to solidify.
However, within the smoke and dust, the pale yellow Flame Armor merely rippled, the Xuan Huang Flame flowed ceaselessly, and thick earthy power continuously surged from Mo Yuhan's body, merging into the Flame Armor.
Mo Yuhan was only pushed back two or three meters, his feet plowing two deep furrows in the cracked ground, sending gravel flying.
But he still stood steadily in the smoke and dust, like a bedrock rooted to the earth