Young Master Zhao?
Inside the loft, Ye Xuan frowned. Who was this pompous young master popping up now?
Elder Xuanji stepped in and bowed slightly. “Senior, the Zhao family has arrived!”
Ye Xuan asked, “Who’s the Zhao family?”
Elder Xuanji replied gravely, “A clan not from the Tianji Realm. They once had a Life-Knowing Realm expert in their lineage!”
*Once had a Life-Knowing expert!*
Ye Xuan smiled. “That’s intriguing!”
Elder Xuanji’s face darkened. “This Young Master Zhao might cause trouble!”
Ye Xuan chuckled. “I’ll go meet him!”
Elder Xuanji hesitated. “For such a small matter, how could we trouble you, Senior? You—”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “Some karmic ties I can handle without issue. If you get involved, it could harm you!”
With that, he walked toward the door.
Elder Xuanji, moved by his words, didn’t overthink it and hurried after him.
In the auction hall, Ye Xuan approached Young Master Zhao. Behind the young man stood an old man in black robes, his aura robust—a solid Primordial Spirit Realm expert with no fluff!
Ye Xuan smiled at Young Master Zhao. “Here to bid on divine treasures?”
Young Master Zhao sized him up, smirking. “Who are you?”
Ye Xuan grinned. “I’m here to bid too!”
He turned to Elder Xuanji. “Let’s start!”
Elder Xuanji glanced at Young Master Zhao, then signaled a distant old man. “Begin!”
The old man nodded, stepped onto the auction stage, and held up a black armor. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Hun Tian Armor. Its durability can withstand dozens of strikes from a Primordial Spirit Realm expert without damage. Starting bid: 50,000 Tianji Crystals!”
*50,000!*
The crowd stirred, but no one dared bid. All eyes turned to Young Master Zhao.
He smirked. “I bid 50,000!”
Ye Xuan immediately countered, “100,000!”
Young Master Zhao looked at him, smiling. “You’re not giving me face, huh?”
Ye Xuan blinked. “Fair bidding, fair bidding!”
Young Master Zhao’s smirk turned icy. “Fair bidding?”
Ye Xuan grinned. “Any problem with that?”
Young Master Zhao laughed. “No problem! What problem could a dead man have?”
As his words fell, the black-robed old man behind him lunged at Ye Xuan, his overwhelming power poised to rip him apart.
But someone moved faster!
Xu Wang vanished from her spot.
*Whoosh!*
A sword light tore through the air!
*Boom!*
The black-robed old man was blasted out of the hall. The moment he stopped, a sword pierced his brow!
Instant kill!
Young Master Zhao stood dumbfounded, completely stunned!
The Qingxuan Sword devoured the old man’s soul entirely. Meanwhile, Xu Wang appeared behind Young Master Zhao, her sword pressed against his neck.
Ye Xuan smiled at him. “Now, you can call your family! Tell them to bring plenty of Tianji Crystals!”
Young Master Zhao snapped, “Are you trying to rob me?”
Xu Wang’s sword slashed downward.
*Whoosh!*
His right arm was severed, blood spraying everywhere!
Panicking, he stammered, “L-let’s talk! I-I’ll call my dad…”
Ye Xuan grinned. “Better hurry!”
Young Master Zhao nodded frantically. “O-okay!”
He crushed a transmission talisman.
Soon, a powerful aura swept in, and an old man appeared before the crowd.
Seeing him, Young Master Zhao cried, “Dad, save me!”
Beside Ye Xuan, Elder Xuanji whispered, “That’s Zhao Qing, the Zhao family head!”
Zhao Qing ignored his son and faced Ye Xuan. “How has my Zhao family offended you, sir?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Ask your son!”
Zhao Qing turned to Young Master Zhao, who whined, “Dad, they’re bullying me! I didn’t do anything!”
Zhao Qing’s face darkened. “Shut up!”
He knew his son’s character all too well.
Turning back to Ye Xuan, he clasped his fists. “Sir, I’ve failed to discipline him. Please show mercy!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Xu Wang, let Young Master Zhao go!”
Xu Wang nodded, sheathed her sword, and returned to Ye Xuan’s side.
Zhao Qing clasped his fists again. “Thank you!”
Ye Xuan chuckled. “Let’s go!”
Young Master Zhao suddenly sneered, “Weren’t you so tough earlier? Why’d you back off the moment my dad showed up?”
Zhao Qing slapped him across the face.
*Smack!*
The crisp sound echoed as Young Master Zhao was sent flying.
Zhao Qing clasped his fists at Ye Xuan. “Apologies for the scene!”
With that, he grabbed his son and vanished.
Ye Xuan glanced into the distance, smiled, and turned to Elder Xuanji. “Continue!”
Elder Xuanji nodded. “Yes!”
The auction resumed!
Ye Xuan left the hall with Xu Wang.
…
Outside, atop the clouds, Zhao Qing overlooked Tianji City in silence.
Beside him stood Young Master Zhao.
Young Master Zhao said gravely, “Father, could you see through that kid?”
Zhao Qing shook his head.
Young Master Zhao’s face grew serious. “I tried to provoke him into acting, but he never did. That leaves two possibilities: first, he’s really Life-Knowing and doesn’t bother; second, he’s not Life-Knowing and has been faking it!”
Zhao Qing remained silent.
Young Master Zhao continued, “Dad, he’s got treasures from that ancient ruin! Our family and others have coveted it for so long, but it ended up in his hands…”
Zhao Qing shook his head. “That’s exactly why we should be cautious. That ruin was no ordinary place—especially that spacetime array. Yet he broke through it…”
He shook his head again. “This guy’s not simple!”
Young Master Zhao said gravely, “Dad, the divine treasures are secondary. The real prize is the top-grade crystal mines inside! We estimate at least three veins, each with tens of thousands of top-grade Tianji Crystals! Plus, there could be countless ancient techniques and artifacts!”
*Top-grade crystal mines!*
Zhao Qing’s face darkened. That was what he wanted most.
A single top-grade mine could transform a family’s fate!
Young Master Zhao added, “He’s only got three Primordial Spirit Realm experts with him!”
Zhao Qing asked gravely, “What if he really is Life-Knowing?”
Young Master Zhao shook his head. “Impossible! If he were, he’d have killed me for provoking him—not let me go! He wouldn’t spare me or our family! But he didn’t act, which means he fears us and wants to avoid trouble.”
Zhao Qing fell silent.
Young Master Zhao pressed, “I’ve checked—he hasn’t lifted a finger since arriving in Tianji City! Even if he’s not Life-Knowing, he’s no ordinary guy.”
He looked at Zhao Qing. “Father, willing to take a gamble?”
Zhao Qing closed his eyes slowly.
Young Master Zhao glanced at him but said no more.
After a long pause, Zhao Qing opened his eyes. “This fat prize might be too big for our Zhao family to swallow alone. Let’s go contact the Wang family!”
With that, he took his son and left.
Shortly after they departed, a shadowy figure appeared—An Yin.
An Yin stood silently for a moment, then turned and left.
Soon, he appeared in Ye Xuan’s small loft and bowed slightly. “Senior, as you predicted, the Zhao family is indeed plotting something!”
He recounted the conversation between Zhao Qing and his son.
Ye Xuan smiled but said nothing.
An Yin glanced at him. “Senior, are you going to wipe out the Zhao family?”
Ye Xuan suddenly asked, “An Yin, how many Tianji Crystals do you earn per job?”
An Yin replied gravely, “Depends on the target. Killing a Primordial Spirit Realm expert nets around 10,000.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Do you know how many top-grade Tianji Crystals it takes to go from Primordial Spirit to Life-Knowing?”
An Yin shook his head. “No idea!”
Ye Xuan looked at him. “At least two million top-grade Tianji Crystals!”
*Two million!*
An Yin and Xu Wang froze. After a moment, An Yin gave a wry smile. “No wonder Life-Knowing experts are so rare! Two million top-grade crystals… I doubt all of Tianji City has that much!”
Xu Wang’s expression dimmed.
Two million top-grade Tianji Crystals? Even regular ones felt out of reach!
Top-grade ones? She didn’t dare dream of it!
Ye Xuan chuckled. “Under normal circumstances, you’d never reach Life-Knowing. But this world is full of abnormal situations!”
An Yin quickly asked, “What do you mean, Senior?”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. “I’ve got a plan. Want to hear it?”
An Yin nodded eagerly. “Yes!”
Ye Xuan’s lips curled. “The fastest way to get money isn’t earning it—it’s borrowing it!”
*Borrowing!*
An Yin and Xu Wang were both baffled.
Ye Xuan looked at An Yin. “If you trust me, follow me from now on. I guarantee you’ll reach Life-Knowing within a hundred years!”
An Yin blinked, then bowed deeply. “From this moment, I, An Yin, am at your command, Senior!”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Keep monitoring them. Report any moves they make—don’t let them spot you!”
He paused, then added, “The game’s more fun when played slowly!”
An Yin nodded. “Understood!”
With that, he vanished quietly.
After An Yin left, Xu Wang said gravely, “Master, does reaching Life-Knowing really take that many Tianji Crystals?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Maybe even more!”
Xu Wang’s expression darkened.
Ye Xuan smiled. “Don’t worry. Stick with me, and I’ll find a way to get you there!”
Xu Wang looked at him. “Master, why are you so good to me?”
Ye Xuan paused, then laughed. “You’re my disciple! If I’m not good to you, who will be? Haha…”
Xu Wang glanced at him, lowered her head slightly, and said nothing.
…
