Chapter 112: Xiao Yan Is Beside Me?

"He actually dares to participate in the auction."

"A calf is not afraid of the tiger. Does this guy think that just because he's a student of Jia Nan Academy, Fan Ling won't dare to do anything to him?"

"Ignorant! This is the Black-Corner Region, not Jia Nan Academy!"

The surrounding crowd witnessed the scene just now and saw Lin Xiu actually walking into the auction house on his own initiative. There was a sense of wanting to see the end of the auction, and discussions ensued.

Among these people, some showed disdain, some contained ridicule, almost all of them believed that Lin Xiu was heading for disaster.

Anyone who mixes in the Black-Corner Region would know the character of Fan Ling.

Just by daring to come to the Eight Gates territory for the auction, it was enough to show Fan Ling's boldness and recklessness.

When Huo Lan regained consciousness, he saw Lin Xiu had already stepped into the passage. He wanted to rush up to say a few words, but was stopped by someone.

The VIP card was taken by Lin Xiu, and he couldn't get in even if he wanted to.

"There aren't many normal people in this Black-Corner Region after all." Xiao Yan, whose entire body was hidden under a black robe, sighed softly amidst the crowd.

Actually, Fan Ling's gaze had swept over him just now. In an instant, there was a feeling of being stared at by a vampire bat in the darkness.

At that time, he felt confused, but unexpectedly, the next moment, Fan Ling was challenging another young man, like a mad dog.

"Don't just stand there in a daze. You just sold a Pill, didn't you also get a VIP card? Keep queuing, how long do you plan to wait?" A voice sounded in Xiao Yan's heart.

"I was just about to go." Xiao Yan responded and looked towards the other side of the passage.

A man happened to be pushed out of the line, cursing under his breath about the privileged behavior of the Eight Gates.

Suddenly realizing the black-robed figure beside him turned towards him, he hesitated for a moment and fiercely said, "Damn, what are you looking at? Looking for trouble?"

Ignoring this neurotic guy, Xiao Yan, amidst his astonished gaze, walked straight towards the carpeted passage.

"Tsk, this guy..." A skinny man, seeing Xiao Yan's actions, scoffed.

About to curse a few words, he found that after Xiao Yan paused briefly, he smoothly entered the passage. The words at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.

Damn, coming to squeeze even with a VIP card, what's wrong with him!

...

Upon entering the auction house, a maid immediately approached, inquiring about Lin Xiu's seat.

He took out the VIP card from Huo Lan, and after the other party inspected it, she led Lin Xiu in a certain direction.

"Daring to follow in? He really doesn't regard me, Fan Ling, at all! How infuriating!" Catching sight of Lin Xiu's figure, Fan Ling's somewhat handsome face twisted slightly.

"Young Sect Master, the matter at hand is urgent," a similarly pale-faced old man reminded in a low voice.

"Don't worry, I have it under control."

Fan Ling nodded slightly, withdrew his gaze, and suddenly caught sight of a black-robed figure entering.

The figure was completely shrouded in black robes, yet inexplicably gave him a sense of dread.

As if an animal had encountered a natural enemy, there was a deep-seated fear from within.

"Young Sect Master, what's wrong?" The old man noticed Fan Ling's abnormal state.

"It's nothing, just felt that guy was a bit strange, and strangely, I felt a peculiar sense of dread," Fan Ling said, then couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.

It's really bizarre, usually encountering nothing out of the ordinary, but today, within a short half-hour, encountering two people who made him uneasy.

Why?

Could it be that he was doomed to meet his end today?

"Hehe, Young Sect Master, you must have sensed wrong."

"Although our Blood Sect's Qi Method is extremely cold, naturally, it is wary of some extreme flames. However, at the level of those flames, there are not many people in the entire Black-Corner Region who possess them," the old man chuckled.

"Perhaps," Fan Ling casually agreed, his gaze shifting to the crystal platform inside the venue. "I wonder if that piece of news is true. If it is, my father said that no matter the cost, it must be obtained."

"Hehe, Young Sect Master, rest assured, the Sect Master has made preparations in secret. Even if that thing falls into someone else's hands, they won't be able to leave Black Mark City's vicinity of ten miles," the old man chuckled darkly.

Upon hearing this, Fan Ling fell silent, closed his eyes to rest, and awaited the start of the auction.

On the other side, led by a maid, Lin Xiu found his seat smoothly. Not long after he sat down, a black-robed figure took the seat beside him.

Glancing over, Lin Xiu withdrew his gaze, faintly sensing the other person sizing him up. Lin Xiu paid no mind to it. This was his first time attending an auction, and upon entering the venue, he realized he should have brought a black robe. 

At present, the entire inner hall, except for a few influential and well-connected individuals, was mostly cloaked in black robes, exuding an aura of mystery. 

"Xiao Yan should have come in by now, just don't know where he is." Leaning back in his chair, Lin Xiu calmly scanned the entire auction house. Meanwhile, right beside Lin Xiu's seat, Xiao Yan was quietly assessing him. "Teacher, are all the students of Jia Nan Academy this strong?" Xiao Yan couldn't help but ask in his mind. After close contact, relying on his excellent Soul Power, he could sense that the young man beside him possessed Dou Spirit strength.

Upon careful observation, Xiao Yan could discern that the other person was perhaps only slightly older than himself.

"As one of the top academies on the continent, do you think Jia Nan Academy is ordinary and can achieve nothing special?" Old Yao replied. "However, you don't need to elevate others' ambitions at the expense of your own prestige. When you have the opportunity to go to the Central Plains in the future, you will discover many more outstanding individuals."

"Could it be that someone at this age can break through to Dou King or Dou Emperor?" Xiao Yan was somewhat moved by his words.

He had put in countless efforts to become a Dou Grandmaster. And it wasn't without the assistance of his teacher's Pills.

"There are many things you can only understand by going out. The Northwestern Region is ultimately a small place. What you now regard as a towering peak like the Misty Cloud Sect, in the Central Plains, it's nothing at all," Old Yao advised Xiao Yan not to focus on others anymore and to pay attention to the upcoming auction instead.

Xiao Yan nodded in response. Before long, the auction venue became increasingly crowded, and the atmosphere became lively, with continuous chatter filling the air. As a figure ascended the central crystal platform, all voices gradually diminished.

"Hehe, everyone must be feeling a bit impatient by now. In that case, I won't bother with any formalities," the elegantly dressed old man smiled as he looked out at the densely packed crowd.

"As the annual auction, I believe that this one hosted by our Eight Gates will surely not disappoint you all. I declare that the Black Mark City auction is now officially beginning."

With these words, the enormous crystal platform burst into a dazzling light. When the light subsided, a completely azure long sword was illuminated, emitting a chilling gleam under the lights.

With the appearance of the first magic core weapon, the auction officially commenced.

Seated in his place, Lin Xiu watched with interest, his gaze calm and unruffled. Unfortunately, he had no money in his pocket.

During the auction process, there was fierce competition, back and forth. With the appearance of a scroll containing the Black Rank Low Level Flying Dou Technique, "Thunder Bat Sky Wing," it marked the beginning of a new phase.

"Hehe, as for the next item up for auction..." the elder on the platform suddenly brought out a silver plate, revealing a tattered piece of old cloth underneath.

As the elder described the probability of it being a treasure map, there was a chorus of hisses from the audience.

A tattered map? Could it be the one about the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame?

Lin Xiu was taken aback. He hadn't seen such a map before and wasn't sure, but he did know that such a map would appear here.

Suddenly, there was a momentary fluctuation of Dou Qi from the black-robed figure beside him, as if something had excited him.

Lin Xiu glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, his brow furrowing. "Xiao Yan is beside me?"

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