“You saved them?” The red-robed elder, a Seventh-Turn Sage, calmed himself and realised that Lan Xiaobu might not be as simple as he’d assumed.
“What do you think, old fool? Eat your Grandpa Bu’s halberd!” As he spoke, Lan Xiaobu’s Longevity Halberd swept forward, its formidable domain instantly locking down the red-robed elder.
This elder, a Seventh-Turn Sage no less, felt the breath of death. He couldn’t break free from Lan Xiaobu’s domain. His own domain, in comparison, was a joke—dissolving completely under Lan Xiaobu’s pressure. Terror filled his eyes.
To bind a Seventh-Turn Sage with a domain—what kind of being was this? Even if he wasn’t the strongest of his rank, no one below Eternal Life should be able to restrain him like this. Could Lan Xiaobu be a Half-Step Eternal?
“Friend Lan, let’s talk! I’m Heng Kai, Supreme Elder of Tai Xu Hall. I’m willing to apologise and compensate you for all losses…” Heng Kai’s words trailed off as a worse thought struck him.
A powerhouse like Lan Xiaobu, capable of binding him, wouldn’t care about Tai Xu Hall. Even if all their elites swarmed, he’d likely shrug them off. If he didn’t fear the Hall, why negotiate? Right—the trap-killing array on Tai Xu Hall Square!
“Friend, our Tai Xu Hall Square’s trap-kill—”
He didn’t finish. A terrifying killing intent tore through his brow. As blood sprayed, Heng Kai’s final thought was of his world being breached.
Lan Xiaobu’s anger surged. This guy knew his name—clearly extracted from Mo Xiaoqi and the others through coercion.
*Clap, clap!* A few claps rang out. A youth, absurdly young-looking, approached, applauding, “Impressive, friend. I’m genuinely in awe.”
Another Seventh-Turn Sage? Lan Xiaobu’s gaze landed on the youth, brows furrowing. A mere Seventh-Turn, yet he gave off a faint sense of threat. Thankfully, no killing intent radiated from him.
“If you want revenge, now’s the time to go in,” the youth said, pointing at Tai Xu Hall’s gates.
“Why?” Lan Xiaobu asked instinctively.
The youth smirked, “Wondering why, after all you’ve done, only Heng Kai came out? They’re auctioning a Heaven-Opening Time Dao Scroll inside. I couldn’t afford it, so I stayed out—too frustrating. Tai Xu Hall’s powerhouses won’t ditch the Time Dao Scroll to deal with you. They’re waiting to snag it first, then come kill you. The square’s trap-kill array is sealed anyway—they think you’re stuck.”
Lan Xiaobu sneered inwardly, pulling out array flags to set up a protective formation around Mo Xiaoqi and the others in moments.
The youth seemed to guess his intent, adding, “Go bid on the Time Dao Scroll. I’ll watch your three friends—no one’ll touch them. Once you’ve got it, I’ll cover your escape. Of course, I’d like to do a little business with you.”
Lan Xiaobu ignored him. After securing Mo Xiaoqi’s group, he strode into Tai Xu Hall, heading straight for the second-floor auction.
His array was tied to the square’s killing formation. Anyone targeting Mo Xiaoqi’s trio would trigger it, letting Lan Xiaobu borrow its power. Short-term, no one could breach his shield.
Escape after grabbing the goods? He hadn’t even considered it. Winning the Time Dao Scroll through bidding? Not a chance.
…
“Stop! Auction in progress—no entry,” a Quasi-Sage guard blocked Lan Xiaobu at the second-floor entrance.
Lan Xiaobu didn’t bother replying. A slap turned the guard to dust, and he stepped into the auction hall.
“The bid’s at 10,000 top-grade divine spirit veins, 100 Sage Dao Fruits, and a chunk of Tai Ken Iron Crystal! Any higher offers? If not, the Time Dao Scroll goes to this friend…” The auctioneer’s voice strained with excitement.
Before she finished, the giant bid screen updated: 11,000 top-grade divine spirit veins, 50 Sage Dao Fruits, plus the innate treasure, Void Condensation Tower.
Lan Xiaobu grinned. The youth was right—no wonder only Heng Kai came out despite the chaos. These guys couldn’t tear themselves away. The Time Dao Scroll auction was at its peak.
Even his entrance barely drew a few divine senses—most stayed locked on the scroll atop the stage.
He wasn’t here to bid. One step, and space seemed to vanish beneath him.
But before he reached the platform, a Level-9 Divine Restriction halted him. Even the fastest powerhouse would need half an incense stick’s time to break it. In this hall, half a breath was enough for countless experts to swarm.
Lan Xiaobu twisted his body, and the restriction parted like a wide road—no resistance.
“You—” The auctioneer got out one word before the Time Dao Scroll landed in Lan Xiaobu’s hand. A slap later, she was dead.
He was here to kill. No one from Tai Xu Hall would be spared.
If he wronged someone innocent, blame their bad choice of employer. Lan Xiaobu figured most working for Tai Xu Hall deserved it.
“Someone’s stealing the auction item!” The hall snapped awake.
Honestly, everyone was stunned. Robbing an auction? That was suicide—plain and simple.
No auction, not just Tai Xu Hall’s, feared robbers. History backed it up—robbers were rare, and when they struck, they were caught and killed on the spot.
Yet here was a young cultivator storming the stage, snatching the Time Dao Scroll, and offing the auctioneer.
“I know him—it’s Lan Xiaobu,” someone whispered.
Realisation hit. Anyone else, impossible. But Lan Xiaobu? Different story. Who was he? The guy who’d killed Sixth-Turn Sage Jiang Sen in Tai Xu Hall Square back in the day. Jiang Sen wasn’t Hall staff, but he was tight with Supreme Elder Dong Yan. Lan Xiaobu’s wanted poster still hung outside.
If it was him, robbing Tai Xu Hall’s auction wasn’t so strange. Ignorance bred fearlessness. Young and maybe newly ascended, he might think everything was under control. Killing Jiang Sen easily didn’t mean he could strut through Tai Xu Hall. That was just naive.
No one left. Most didn’t even stand. They knew he’d be subdued soon—maybe the auction would roll on.
Sure enough, as Lan Xiaobu killed the auctioneer, several figures blocked his path.
“You’ve got some skill, taking down Heng Kai,” a long-bearded man said, his domain already sealing Lan Xiaobu’s space.
An Eighth-Turn Sage, his aura swirling with the charm of the Dao, threatening to shred Lan Xiaobu’s surroundings.
Beside him stood a middle-aged woman—another Eighth-Turn Sage. Silent, but her domain stacked onto the man’s.
Beyond them, four Seventh-Turn Sages cut off every escape, with Sixth-Turns circling the perimeter.
Tai Xu Hall’s strength was unreal. These powerhouses might hail from various divine realms, but gathered here, they formed a terrifying force.
Oddly, no Ninth-Turn Sages showed up, which surprised Lan Xiaobu.
“Give up, or I’ll make you,” the long-bearded Eighth-Turn said calmly, as if crushing Lan Xiaobu was a given—no surprises possible.
Lan Xiaobu didn’t waste words. His hand opened, and the Longevity Halberd appeared.
His divine sense had already scoped the blockers: two Eighth-Turns, four Seventh-Turns, and several Sixth-Turns on the outskirts.
Tai Xu Hall’s might was no joke.
