“A tree lives by its bark, a man by his face.”
Some people can live without shame.
Ling Xiao cannot!
In the VIP area, everyone’s gazes were tinged with surprise.
Someone had not only offended Yan Peng but also dared to challenge the Divine Phoenix Auction House.
This guy was too arrogant, too ungrateful.
“Kid, don’t force me to make you regret this. I’m speaking nicely now, but soon you’ll be carried out of this auction house horizontally. Believe it?” Elder Bai was extremely displeased.
He had intervened only because Ling Xiao was a disciple of Qingxu Academy, to prevent him from being killed here and implicating the auction house.
But this Ling Xiao was impervious to reason, refusing to listen, refusing to apologize, and refusing to leave.
“Heh, I’m the one refusing a toast and choosing punishment? When have you ever offered me a toast? Don’t forget, I’m a guest of this auction house. According to your Divine Phoenix Auction House rules, anyone auctioning an item worth over ten million low-grade spirit stones is entitled to sit in the VIP area. Yet you want me to kneel and apologize to him, and tell me to get lost? That’s your so-called toast? You show me no respect, yet expect me to heed your advice. Where’s the logic in that?”
His Mysterious Ice Mad Lion was worth at least ten million low-grade spirit stones, not to mention he planned to bid on slaves later.
Combined, that more than qualified him to sit in the VIP area.
As for the rule barring humans from entering, it was clearly something added arbitrarily.
Ling Xiao had memorized all the auction house’s rules upon entering.
He didn’t want to give anyone leverage over him.
Clearly, Elder Bai’s attitude showed him no respect whatsoever.
He even threatened to withhold payment for his auctioned item.
And all this just to appease that young noble, Yan Peng.
“Fool, this is your toast! If it’s punishment, for injuring our auction house staff just now, I could kill you on the spot!” Elder Bai saw nothing wrong with his attitude toward a human. Humans were mere livestock, to be demeaned and ordered about at will.
In his view, Ling Xiao shouldn’t blame him but should be weeping with gratitude for saving his life.
“So, that’s your punishment. I understand!”
The anger on Ling Xiao’s face vanished, replaced by a smile.
As expected, reasoning was useless. In the end, it all came down to whose fist was bigger. Anything else was just empty words.
*Boom!*
No one saw how Ling Xiao moved.
In an instant, the pompous Elder Bai was sent flying from the second-floor VIP area to the first-floor auction hall.
A loud crash echoed, startling many guests mid-bidding.
“It’s Elder Bai, the auction house manager! How did he get beaten?”
“Who’s bold enough to cause trouble in the Divine Phoenix Auction House?”
“And in the VIP area, no less!”
“It must be some noble’s son. Elder Bai’s taken a silent loss this time. Even the Emperor wouldn’t dare provoke those nobles, especially with the election approaching. The Emperor wants Crown Prince Feng Mingqishan to succeed.”
“It doesn’t seem to be a noble’s son!”
“Not? Then who?”
As the dust settled, people saw the figure standing on the second floor.
A young man with long black hair flowing.
“I recognize him! That’s Ling Xiao, the one who made a life-and-death wager with Blood Skeleton!”
“It’s really him!”
“You! You dare cause trouble in the Divine Phoenix Auction House!”
Elder Bai, sprawled below, couldn’t believe Ling Xiao’s audacity to strike him.
He was clearly stronger than Ling Xiao, yet he hadn’t even seen how the attack happened. The humiliation was suffocating.
“You’re mistaken! I’m not causing trouble. I’m just teaching a blind fool a lesson!” Ling Xiao’s voice rose sharply. “You think being a manager here lets you offend me without consequence? Let’s get one thing straight: I’m a disciple of Qingxu Academy, an elite class disciple! What are you compared to that? Moreover, I’m auctioning a Mysterious Ice Mad Lion, worth over ten million low-grade spirit stones. If I take my item and leave, can you cover the auction house’s losses? It’s truly unfortunate for the Divine Phoenix Auction House to have a fool like you!”
“Hahaha, well said, Brother Ling! Don’t take offense. This old fool is blind and upset you. The VIP area is absolutely meant for people like you. If anyone’s unhappy, let them come to me!”
A hearty laugh rang out as a young man, about twenty years old, approached.
His tone suggested a higher status than Elder Bai.
“Young Master!”
Elder Bai scrambled to his feet, bowing respectfully.
“Useless! Apologize to Brother Ling!” the young man snapped.
“No need for an apology. He wouldn’t mean it anyway. Since the Young Master has stepped in, I’ll give you face, Ling Xiao, and not delay the auction. But being insulted by certain people in your auction house—there should be some resolution, no?”
Ling Xiao had vented his anger and saw no need to escalate further.
But he had to make his stance clear.
“Rest assured, Brother Ling. For today’s auction of your Mysterious Ice Mad Lion, we’ll waive the commission. Anything you purchase will be at a fifty percent discount, same as the other VIPs. How’s that?” the Young Master said with a smile.
“That’s more like it. But Young Master, you should manage this VIP area better. Don’t let certain foul-mouthed idiots sneak in!”
Ling Xiao had come out ahead today, not just because he showed his strength but because he was a Qingxu Academy disciple, an elite one at that.
In the imperial city, elite disciples of Qingxu Academy held high status.
The Young Master likely also wanted to avoid trouble in the auction house.
Otherwise, any disruption could lead to greater losses.
Ling Xiao was satisfied, but Yan Peng’s face was ashen.
“Young Master Yan, give me some face today and don’t cause trouble in the auction house. You understand, right?” the Young Master said to Yan Peng with a faint smile.
“Hmph, I’ll give you that face!”
Yan Peng snorted coldly, not daring to make a scene here.
As a noble of the Divine Phoenix Empire, he didn’t dare provoke the Emperor, which was normal.
But Ling Xiao wasn’t afraid. From the moment he learned the Divine Phoenix Empire’s Emperor was collaborating with the True Demon Empire, he hadn’t considered the Emperor a friend.
If not a friend, then an enemy. Why would he give face to an enemy?
Surely the mighty Emperor wouldn’t stoop to personally kill an insignificant nobody like him.
And even if the Emperor tried, Ling Xiao had ways to escape!
