16: Mittel's horror, branding raises questions

Inside the VIP room of the Mittel Auction House, the lingering sandalwood incense failed to dispel the suddenly congealed, icy air.

Lin Chen's muscles tensed like iron the moment the door opened, like a Vicious Beast encountering its natural predator! His heart pounded wildly in his chest, almost shattering his ribs! The owner of those deep, dark eyes, that young face with a composure and sharpness far beyond his peers—he would never mistake him!

Xiao Yan!

The monster who, in the poisonous miasma-filled valley of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, with a three-star Dou Master's Physique, directly confronted three Hall of Souls Protectors, and possessed a unique flame and Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils! He was the protagonist of this world, whom Lin Chen had meticulously plotted to 'leech off' in secret since his Transmigration!

In just a few months, the opponent's Aura had become as vast as the ocean, steady and powerful, clearly reaching the Peak of a Great Dou Master! That hidden but sharp Aura, like a peerless Vicious Sword sheathed, made Lin Chen, who was already at the Peak of a six-star Fighter and had undergone a complete Body Tempering transformation, feel a heavy sense of oppression!

What made Lin Chen feel even more as if he had fallen into an ice cellar was that Xiao Yan's gaze, like a physical probe, instantly locked onto his left wrist! There, the dark red chain brand, entwined with purplish-black poisonous patterns, seemed to be stimulated by an invisible force the moment Xiao Yan appeared, suddenly sending a searing pain through his Soul, and its glow flickered slightly, becoming exceptionally clear!

“It's him…” Xiao Yan's heart also trembled violently! The image of the “mysterious black-robed man” mentioned by Ya Fei instantly overlapped with the heavily injured, dying figure in the poisonous miasma of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, who possessed a strange Dou Qi and a Hall of Souls brand! Especially the clearly visible Hall of Souls brand on his wrist, emitting a poisonous Qi, was as dazzling as a lighthouse in the dark night!

Yao Lao's solemn voice instantly exploded in Xiao Yan's mind: “Be careful! This person is the one from the poisonous swamp! He not only survived, but his strength has also surged by a large margin! That Dou Qi… is even more bizarre and domineering! And that brand… it originates from the same source as the Hall of Souls branch's tracking mark! He is definitely an important target for the Hall of Souls, or… he himself is an evil seed cultivated by the Hall of Souls!”

A bone-chilling killing intent, like an invisible cold wave, instantly emanated from Xiao Yan! Though the xuan heavy ruler was not in his hand, the air around him seemed to solidify, and the Green Lotus Core Flame within his body was poised to erupt at any moment, ready to incinerate this dangerous and strange “Hall of Souls minion” into ashes!

Ya Fei keenly sensed the unusual atmosphere. Her charming smile paused slightly, and her beautiful eyes shifted between Xiao Yan and Lin Chen, her heart filled with surprise and uncertainty: Do these two know each other? And… it seems there's a deep-seated hatred? Especially the sudden, undisguised hostility and killing intent erupting from young master Xiao Yan, which even startled her!

“Young Master Xiao Yan? Do you… know this gentleman?” Ya Fei tentatively spoke, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible tension, trying to ease the atmosphere.

Lin Chen's brain raced at an unprecedented speed! Fear, killing intent, calculations… countless thoughts collided instantly! He was exposed! Exposed while his strength was far inferior to the opponent's, and while he was in the heart of the Mittel Family's territory! Xiao Yan's killing intent at this moment was absolutely real! If they fought, he would surely die!

“Calm down! I must calm down!” Lin Chen forcefully suppressed the surging Qi and blood and the dizziness from the intense pain of the brand in his Soul. His Shadow Erosion Dou Qi instinctively operated to its maximum, forming an extremely subtle, constantly collapsing deep purple halo on his body's surface, desperately resisting Xiao Yan's substantial oppressive force. His right hand, hidden in the wide sleeve of his black robe, had quietly clutched the fused dark shadow source core fragment, its cold touch forcing his chaotic thoughts to focus.

He couldn't fight head-on! His only chance of survival… lay in a transaction! In the opponent's needs!

He suddenly looked up, and from the shadows beneath his hood, his eyes, interwoven with dark red and dark purple, met Xiao Yan's icy gaze without the slightest retreat, but rather with a near-mad calmness. His hoarse voice was deliberately lowered, with a metallic, grinding quality, and he spoke first, directly addressing Xiao Yan:

“Mr. Xiao Yan, I've heard much about you. I am merely a passerby on the run, with a slight misunderstanding with your friend, but absolutely no ill intent.” He spoke extremely fast, not giving Xiao Yan a chance to interrupt, “I've come uninvited today solely to make a transaction with the Mittel Auction House. I hear Your Excellency urgently needs 'Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid'?”

Those last few words, like stones dropped into still water, instantly stirred ripples in Xiao Yan's heart! His pupils imperceptibly contracted! Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid! This was precisely the Heaven And Earth Treasure he urgently needed to prepare for the Three-Year Agreement, to enhance his strength, especially to strengthen his Physique to withstand the power of a stronger unique flame! How did the other party know? And why bring it up at precisely this moment?

Yao Lao's voice carried a hint of surprise: “He knows your needs?! Is it a coincidence? Or… has he investigated you? This person is deeply cunning!”

Ya Fei's beautiful eyes also lit up as she looked at Lin Chen. Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid was indeed a precious treasure Xiao Yan had entrusted the auction house to find. If this mysterious person truly possessed it, then this transaction would be crucial for both the Mittel Family and Xiao Yan! She immediately suppressed her doubts and chuckled, “Is what sir says true? Do you really have Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid?”

Lin Chen did not answer Ya Fei, his gaze still firmly fixed on Xiao Yan, as if he had staked his entire fortune at a gambling table: “This item is in my hands.” He slowly raised his left hand, not to attack, but to open his palm. Above his palm, a jade box emitting a faint chill appeared out of thin air. The lid opened a crack, and a rich, pure life essence and icy energy instantly filled the entire VIP room!

It was indeed Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid!

Xiao Yan's gaze was instantly drawn to the jade box! With his eyesight and Yao Lao's perception, he immediately confirmed the authenticity of the item! That vast life energy and icy essence held immeasurable value for his Body Tempering and solidifying his foundation!

The killing intent, in the face of such a great need, wavered and hesitated for a moment.

Lin Chen keenly caught this flicker of hesitation! Like a tightrope walker over a ten-thousand-foot abyss, his voice became even deeper and hoarser, with a desperate resolve: “This item can be exchanged for what Your Excellency needs, or for treasures of equal value. It can also… be exchanged for a promise from Your Excellency.”

“What promise?” Xiao Yan's voice remained cold, but the killing intent that sought to burn everything had indeed receded slightly, his gaze as sharp as a knife, scrutinizing Lin Chen.

“A promise of ‘non-interference’.” Lin Chen spoke each word distinctly, his gaze from beneath the hood seemingly piercing through the shadows, directly into Xiao Yan's Soul, “I am not a member of the Hall of Souls. This brand is a mark left by a relentless pursuit, an unending vendetta! Our goals may differ, but at this moment, we are absolutely not enemies. After today's transaction, we go our separate ways. If we meet again on the battlefield in the future, it won't be too late to decide life or death!”

These words were half-truth, half-false, and impactful! He stated his position, clarified his predicament, and proposed conditions. He placed himself in the position of a “victim” also persecuted by the Hall of Souls, cleverly using Xiao Yan's deep hatred for the Hall of Souls to gain a moment of respite!

Xiao Yan fell silent. Yao Lao's voice quickly analyzed in his mind: “The truthfulness of this person's words is hard to discern. That brand cannot be faked. The Hall of Souls's methods are strange; it could also be a ploy to gain sympathy. However, his Dou Qi's attribute is indeed different from the common Yin Soul power of the Hall of Souls, more domineering and pure, with an annihilating characteristic… Moreover, the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid is of utmost importance to you…”

Ya Fei held her breath, looking nervously at Xiao Yan. Although she didn't know the specific grievances between the two, she could feel the immense risk hidden behind this transaction, yet it also contained an irresistible benefit.

Time seemed to freeze. In the VIP room, only the cold Qi emanating from the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid flowed silently.

Just then—

“Heh heh, what a lively scene. Ya Fei girl, I heard a distinguished guest brought something rare?” A slightly aged but vigorous voice suddenly came from outside the door. Immediately after, the VIP room door was pushed open, and an old man dressed in simple hemp clothes, with white hair and beard, and a hale and hearty face, walked in with a smile, leaning on a seemingly ordinary wooden staff. The old man's Aura was peaceful, but in the occasional flicker of sharp light from his seemingly cloudy old eyes, the pressure in the entire space seemed to intensify!

Ice Emperor Hai Bodong!

His gaze casually swept across the room, pausing briefly on the tense Xiao Yan and Lin Chen, finally landing on the cold-emitting jade box in Lin Chen's hand, a hint of imperceptible surprise flashing in his eyes.

Hai Bodong's appearance was like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the fragile standoff between Lin Chen and Xiao Yan! An invisible, faint pressure belonging to a Battle Emperor powerhouse permeated the air. Although not intentionally directed, it made Lin Chen feel as if he was carrying a mountain on his back, making it difficult to breathe! The Hall of Souls brand on his left wrist, stimulated by this vast pressure, suddenly intensified its burning pain, even faintly emitting a subtle, imperceptible special fluctuation that only Hall of Souls powerhouses could sense!

Lin Chen's heart instantly sank to rock bottom!

Out of the wolf's den and into the tiger's lair? Was the appearance of this Battle Emperor powerhouse a blessing or a curse? How much longer could his damned Hall of Souls brand remain hidden in front of Hai Bodong?