115: Chapter 115: The Auction

Early the next morning.

Xiao Ran woke up from his meditation and pushed open the window, allowing the morning light of White Emperor City to spill into the room.

The inn he was staying at was the resting point arranged by Mo Yuan.

The room wasn't large, but it was pleasantly quiet.

At this time.

The door to the adjacent room also opened.

Bai Linger walked out, having changed into a light green long dress.

Her black hair was tied into a simple bun, and while her face still lacked expression, her complexion looked much better than the previous night.

“Good morning, Young Master Xiao.”

She nodded slightly.

Xiao Ran nodded back. “Good morning, Young Miss Bai. Did you rest well last night?”

Bai Linger fell silent for a moment before saying flatly.

“It was fine.”

Xiao Ran laughed inwardly.

Fine?

The two of them had shared a room last night.

Of course, it was a suite with two separate bedrooms.

After Bai Linger entered the other bedroom, she hadn't slept the entire night; her gaze had been fixed on the door.

She didn't know if Xiao Ran would barge in and take her that night.

Xiao Ran, naturally, saw through everything.

So he played along and didn't go over at all during the night.

The two of them slept separately for the night.

Bai Linger's expression today was clearly off.

Xiao Ran smiled to himself, not making a scene.

No rush.

Just wait and see me pull a surprise attack tonight.

“Let’s go, we’re heading to Wanbao Pavilion.”

Xiao Ran didn't pursue the topic and was the first to head downstairs.

Bai Linger followed behind him, hesitated for a moment, and then asked.

“Young Master Xiao, you're going to the auction... don't you need me to stay away?”

Xiao Ran didn't look back.

“Stay away for what?”

“You're more familiar with this city than I am; you can be my guide.”

Bai Linger pursed her lips upon hearing this and said no more.

The two walked out of the inn and joined the flow of people.

...

Wanbao Pavilion was located in the commercial center of White Emperor City.

It was a nine-story octagonal pavilion, built entirely from white marble.

With its upturned eaves, brackets, and painted beams, it shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

The plaza in front of the pavilion was already a sea of people.

“So many people?”

Xiao Ran said in surprise.

Wasn't it supposed to be an Advanced auction?

Why were there so many people?

Standing beside him, Bai Linger said softly.

“Wanbao Pavilion is the largest merchant guild in the Northern Territory, with branches in all the major cities.”

“It's said that the main pavilion is on Mount Zhaoxing, but no one knows the exact location.”

As a native of White Emperor City, she naturally had some understanding of its largest merchant guild.

“Rumor has it that Wanbao Pavilion's power is not at all weaker than the top Sects, and might even surpass them.”

“No matter how precious the treasures Wanbao Pavilion puts out, no powerful individual dares to try and seize them.”

“Furthermore, the Master of Wanbao Pavilion has always been very mysterious and has never appeared in public.”

Xiao Ran became thoughtful after hearing this.

“So there's an even more powerful existence behind Wanbao Pavilion?”

Bai Linger nodded.

“Most likely.”

“Some speculate that the Pavilion Master themselves is a Body Integration Stage powerhouse, or even... in the Undergoing Tribulation Stage.”

Xiao Ran sucked in a breath of cold air.

Undergoing Tribulation Stage?

Those were legendary figures; he hadn't heard of any Undergoing Tribulation Stage powerhouses in the entire Northern Territory.

“But it's normal; with such a large enterprise, you couldn't keep it without strength.”

He whispered to himself.

The two of them walked toward Wanbao Pavilion as they talked.

Among the crowd.

Cultivators of all kinds rubbed shoulders.

There were white-clad Sword Cultivators with long swords on their backs, surrounded by sharp Sword Qi.

There were demonic Cultivators in black robes, wreathed in Devilish Qi.

There were white-haired elders with steady auras, clearly the Old Ancestors of major families.

And there were several Loose Cultivators with obscure, hard-to-measure auras and eyes as sharp as hawks.

Xiao Ran's Divine Sense quietly swept over them, and he was secretly shocked.

At least a dozen at the Soul Transformation Stage.

And those at the Nascent Soul Stage were too many to count.

The scale of this auction was indeed very high.

“Young Master Xiao, have you noticed?”

Bai Linger suddenly whispered.

“What?”

“Those Soul Transformation Stage powerhouses look at Wanbao Pavilion with eyes full of wariness.”

Her ability to observe people was quite good.

Xiao Ran nodded.

It seemed the waters of Wanbao Pavilion were even deeper than he had imagined.

The two of them followed the crowd to the entrance of Wanbao Pavilion.

Two rows of attendants in green robes stood at the door.

Every one of them was at the Golden Core Stage, guiding the guests with smiles on their faces.

A Golden Core powerhouse would be strong enough to establish their own Sect outside, yet here they were just doormen.

“Honored guests, do you have an invitation?”

An attendant stepped forward.

Xiao Ran produced the token Mo Yuan had given him.

A jade plaque engraved with the symbol of the Eternal Night Demon Sect.

The attendant took one look, and his expression immediately became respectful.

“So you are honored guests of the Eternal Night Demon Sect. Please follow me.”

He stepped aside to lead the way, bringing Xiao Ran and Bai Linger through the crowd and into Wanbao Pavilion.

...

The main hall on the first floor of Wanbao Pavilion was spacious and bright, with samples of various rare treasures displayed in the center for people to admire.

Surrounding it was a ring of counters displaying various Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, and Materials.

But Xiao Ran knew that the truly good stuff wouldn't be displayed here.

The attendant led them to a staircase on one side of the hall.

“Honored guests, please go up to the second floor.”

“That is the VIP area, where there are specialized shopping guides to serve you.”

Xiao Ran nodded and climbed the stairs.

The second floor was completely different from the first.

There were no counters here, only elegant private booths, with different serial names hanging on the doors.

Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow, Universe, Cosmos, Flood, Wilderness.

The corridors were laid with soft carpets, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood.

Walking through it, Xiao Ran suddenly felt much more refined.

“As expected of Wanbao Pavilion, they really know how to do decor.”

He sighed inwardly.

Suddenly.

A woman in a lotus-pink long dress approached them.

She was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old and was strikingly beautiful.

Not only that, her figure was exceptionally graceful, her dark hair pulled into a high bun fastened with a green jade hairpin.

A pair of peach-blossom eyes were filled with smiles, and when she looked at people, it was as if she could steal their souls.

“Honored guests, I am Liuer, your shopping guide for the second floor.”

“May I ask how I should address you?”

She gave a graceful bow, her voice like an oriole singing in a valley.

Looking at her, Xiao Ran felt a slight stir in his heart.

This woman's temperament... did not seem like that of an ordinary guide.

But he remained impassive on the surface.

“Xiao Ran.”

“So it is Young Master Xiao.”

“Young Master has become famous throughout the Northern Territory recently; I have long heard of your great name.”

A strange light flashed in Liuer's eyes.

Xiao Ran smiled. “It's just an empty reputation.”

Liuer covered her mouth and chuckled, her gaze sweeping over him before turning to Bai Linger behind him.

“And this is...”

“The daughter of the Lord of White Emperor City.”

Xiao Ran said flatly.

A flash of surprise crossed Liuer's eyes, but she quickly returned to normal.

“So it is Young Miss Bai, my apologies for the lack of respect.”

“Please follow me, both of you. Your booth is the 'Flood' room.”

She stepped aside to lead the way.

Xiao Ran followed her, his gaze sweeping over the booths on both sides of the corridor.

Heaven, Earth, Black... all the doors had 'Reserved' signs hanging on them.

“Quite a lot of people came today?”

He asked casually.

Liuer nodded.

“Yes, the scale of this auction is extremely high.”

“There are over twenty VIPs at the Soul Transformation Stage alone, and those at the Nascent Soul Stage are countless.”

She paused and lowered her voice.

“Furthermore, several Old Ancestors from major families have arrived, as well as a Prince from the Great Qian Dynasty.”

Xiao Ran was secretly shocked.

This auction was indeed not simple.

While they were talking, the three of them arrived at the door of the 'Flood' room.

Liuer pushed open the door and stepped aside.

The booth wasn't large, but the arrangement was extremely elegant.

In the center was a red sandalwood tea table, set with tea sets and snacks.

Against the wall was a soft couch covered in brocade.

The wall facing the door was a single piece of transparent crystal, through which the auction stage in the center of the first-floor hall could be clearly seen.

Simple yet noble.