40: Mittel Auction

Jia Ma Holy City, the scepter and pearl of the empire, welcomed guests from all directions with its millennia-old profoundness and ceaseless vitality. The massive black iron granite city walls stood like silent giants. Outside the city gate, carriages flowed like water, people bustled, and various individuals moved constantly. The air was a mix of spices, sweat, the scent of Magical Beast mounts, and varying strengths of Dou Qi fluctuations, forming a vivid and realistic tableau of life.

Li Ao entered the city with the flow of people. He had changed out of his travel-stained clothes into a simple dark blue cloth garment, deliberately concealing the sharp killing intent honed from mountains of corpses and seas of blood. However, the solidified demeanor brought by the initial completion of the Black Iron Hegemon Body, like refined steel sinking into a deep pool, and the occasional flash of sharpness in his dark iron-colored pupils, as if capable of cutting through anything, still made him stand out like a pearl among grains of sand, drawing discreet glances from those with keen senses or those who frequently walked the line between life and death.

He paid no mind to these gazes, calmly surveying the majestic, unfamiliar city. Shops lined both sides of the street, their calls incessant. In the distance, the golden roof of the imperial palace shimmered under the sun. Further still, the towering, cloud-shrouded peak of Yun Lan Mountain, which pierced the sky, exuded an invisible pressure, like the backbone of the empire.

“Ding! Multiple high-energy aggregation points detected in Jia Ma Holy City: deep within the imperial palace, the Alchemist Guild, the core area of the Mittel Family, the Nalan Family mansion, the Cloud Mist Sect energy field… It is recommended that the host gradually explore and gather intelligence. Prioritize contact with the Mittel Auction House, where rare resources and key information may be obtained.”

The system's prompt rang in his mind, calm and objective.

Mittel Auction House… Li Ao’s heart stirred slightly. This commercial empire, spread throughout Jia Ma, had an omnipresent intelligence network, perhaps a good entry point. Moreover, he remembered there was a charming and alluring Auctioneer there in the original story—Ya Fei.

He found a quiet but not dilapidated inn to stay in, requesting a room facing the street. Li Ao did not rush into action. Instead, he stood by the window, seemingly gazing at the streetscape, but in reality, he was sorting through the information gathered from the Snake-People Clan and along the way, combining it with the system’s scan to construct a preliminary map of the Holy City’s forces.

As night fell and the first lamps were lit, the Holy City's clamor did not subside. Instead, it donned a shimmering veil of light, with various desires surging beneath the night.

Li Ao's figure merged into the night, moving like a ghost through rooftops and alleys. His target was clear—the Mittel Auction House headquarters. Not for theft, but for “observation.”

Using the system's precise perception of energy flow and life auras, he easily avoided overt and covert sentries, infiltrating the auction house like an invisible wind. He did not touch the treasure vaults but, like a patient hunter, quietly remained in the shadows of the intelligence hub, his soul power like delicate spider silk, capturing fragmented information lingering in the air and the whispers of passing personnel.

For two consecutive nights, he repeated this process. He heard bits and pieces of information about the overt and covert struggles of various major families, discussions about Nalan Yanran's annulment of the engagement, and vaguely caught some ambiguous terms related to himself, such as “mysterious expert,” “Tagor Desert,” and “Queen Medusa.” Clearly, some news had already reached the Holy City.

On the evening of the third day, Li Ao changed into a slightly more presentable cyan long robe, deciding to formally enter the Mittel Auction House. He needed some medicinal herbs to aid in his Black Iron Hegemon Body cultivation and also wanted to personally experience the atmosphere of this commercial empire. Perhaps he could “casually encounter” that key person.

The Mittel Auction House headquarters was magnificent, brightly lit even at night, like a crouching beast. Entering the grand hall, the interior space was vast and decorated with extreme luxury. Crystal chandeliers refracted dazzling light, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and money. Those who came and went were either rich and noble or powerful Dou Qi cultivators.

Li Ao’s appearance did not attract much attention. His aura was restrained, and although his attire was not shabby, in the eyes of the Mittel Auction House staff, who were accustomed to important figures, he was not a person requiring special attention.

He walked directly to the medicinal herbs display area, his gaze sweeping over the rare herbs protected by crystal covers. The system quickly scanned and evaluated them in his mind.

“This three-hundred-year-old Crimson Blood Ganoderma has lost nearly thirty percent of its energy; the price is too high.”

“Ice Spirit Flame Grass? Unfortunately, it’s not old enough; the potency is a bit lacking.”

He silently judged in his heart, yet remained outwardly composed.

Just as he paused before a “Lightning Arc Wood” emanating a faint lightning glow, a soft, seductive, almost hook-like voice sounded behind him:

“Sir seems very interested in this Lightning Arc Wood?”

Li Ao turned around, and what met his eyes was a stunning woman in a tight red cheongsam. Her figure was graceful and curvaceous, and the slits in the cheongsam revealed her fair, slender legs, exuding charm with every movement. She had an enchanting, oval-shaped face, and her eyes, when they moved, were captivating. A small beauty mark near her red lips added to her allure. It was none other than the chief Auctioneer of the Mittel Auction House, Ya Fei.

She wore a professionally charming smile, but deep within her watery, peach-blossom eyes, there was a subtle hint of scrutiny. Li Ao's unique, composed demeanor, so different from ordinary people, and his calm yet confident gaze when he had just examined the herbs, piqued her curiosity.

“Hmm, it looks acceptable,” Li Ao nodded, his tone flat. His gaze lingered on Ya Fei’s face for a moment before returning to the Lightning Arc Wood, as if his interest in the stunning beauty before him was less than that in the piece of wood.

Ya Fei felt a slight surprise. She was extremely confident in her charm; ordinary men would more or less lose their composure upon seeing her, but this young man’s eyes were clear and calm, as if he were looking at an exquisite artifact—appreciative, yet devoid of desire.

“Sir has excellent taste,” Ya Fei took a light step closer, and a faint, alluring fragrance wafted to Li Ao's nose. “This Lightning Arc Wood was harvested from the edge of Thunder Valley and contains a trace of pure lightning power. Whether used for alchemy or to assist in the cultivation of certain lightning-attribute techniques, it is a rare treasure. As for the price…” She smiled charmingly, not finishing her sentence, but the implication was clear.

“Price is not an issue,” Li Ao said blandly. “However, this lightning power seems overly violent; direct use might damage the meridians.”

A flicker of surprise flashed in Ya Fei’s beautiful eyes. Not many people could discern the energy characteristics of the Lightning Arc Wood at a glance; this young man was indeed not simple. Her smile grew wider, and her voice became even softer: “Sir is indeed an expert. That’s right, this item does require the aid of ‘Calming Grass’ or ‘Jade Marrow Liquid’ to neutralize its violent power to unleash its maximum effect. Our auction house just acquired a batch of high-quality Calming Grass a few days ago. If Sir needs it, Ya Fei can have someone bring it for you to see?”

She began to display her adeptness at social maneuvering, attempting to build rapport and extract more information.

Li Ao remained noncommittal, then asked, “I hear the Mittel Auction House is well-informed. Are there any recent rumors concerning ‘Heavenly Flames’ or… the ‘Hall of Souls’?”

“Hall of Souls?” Ya Fei’s pupils constricted imperceptibly. Her smile remained unchanged, but a hint of wariness and solemnity entered the depths of her eyes. “The information Sir is inquiring about is truly… extraordinary. Heavenly Flames are divine objects of heaven and earth, difficult to trace, and each appearance causes a bloody storm. As for the ‘Hall of Souls’…” She gently shook her head, lowering her voice slightly, “That name is too sensitive, involving too much. Ya Fei is but a humble person and dares not speak carelessly about it.”

She skillfully deflected the topic, but from her instant reaction, Li Ao had already gotten part of his answer—the Mittel Family, at least at Ya Fei’s level, had heard of the “Hall of Souls” and held reservations about it.

“Is that so? Then never mind,” Li Ao did not press further, as if he had merely mentioned it casually. He pointed to the Lightning Arc Wood and the Calming Grass Ya Fei had mentioned. “I’ll take these two. In addition, prepare a portion of the essence blood of a ‘Bone-Tempering Steel Bristle Bear’ for me; the older the better.”

Bone-Tempering Steel Bristle Bear essence blood? This was a rare material for cultivating some powerful body-refining technique! Ya Fei’s heart stirred again, and her assessment of Li Ao rose another level. Her smile remained alluring: “Alright, Sir, please wait a moment. Ya Fei will go prepare it for you now.” She summoned a maid, whispered a few instructions, and then personally led Li Ao to a nearby VIP lounge.

While waiting in the lounge, Ya Fei personally poured tea for Li Ao, chatting casually, but subtly probing Li Ao’s background and purpose without revealing her intentions. Li Ao responded naturally, his words concise. For most of the time, he quietly sipped his tea, occasionally responding with a word or two, yet Ya Fei felt as if she were facing a bottomless ancient well, completely unable to gauge his depth.

Soon, the medicinal herbs and essence blood were ready. Li Ao paid a hefty sum of gold coins, his expression unchanged, as if he were only spending a few copper coins. This display of wealth also made Ya Fei secretly gasp.

“Sir, if you need anything else in the future, please come find Ya Fei.” As she escorted Li Ao to the auction house entrance, Ya Fei handed him a purple card with a golden border, her smile as beautiful as a flower. “This is a VIP card for the Mittel Auction House. With this card, you can enjoy discounts on any purchases at any Mittel Family establishment, and… perhaps gain access to things not available through ordinary channels.”

Her words carried a hidden meaning, hinting at deeper levels of potential cooperation.

Li Ao took the card, his fingertips lightly brushing Ya Fei’s soft ones, then quickly separated. He glanced at Ya Fei, nodded, and said, “You’ve been thoughtful.”

With that, he turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the night, without a trace of lingering attachment.

Ya Fei stood at the entrance, watching the direction he vanished. The charming smile on her face gradually receded, and a glint of shrewdness flashed in her peach-blossom eyes. She gently caressed the fingers that had just handed over the card, muttering to herself, “Li Ao… a mysterious expert, powerful physique, unfathomable… It seems a storm is indeed brewing in the Holy City. I must inform Elder Teng Shan of this news as soon as possible…”

At the same time, in a secluded courtyard in Jia Ma Holy City.

Xiao Yan, who had just finished a day of intense cultivation, was listening to Yao Lao recount alchemy insights. His aura was even more profound than when he was in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, clearly indicating rapid progress.

“…The path of alchemy emphasizes fire control and soul perception…” Yao Lao earnestly instructed.

Xiao Yan listened attentively, but a hint of intractable gloom hung between his brows. He couldn't help but interrupt: “Teacher, those rumors circulating in the Holy City recently about ‘Blade Ancestor’ Li Ao… and Nalan Yanran, she…”

Yao Lao’s ethereal figure drifted, sighing: “Boy, I know what you’re thinking. That Li Ao is indeed mysterious, and his cultivation speed is strangely fast. He is connected to Queen Medusa, and possibly other forces. But you must remember, your path is one you must walk step by step yourself! Indulging in comparisons with others, or letting external rumors affect your state of mind, is a major taboo in cultivation!”

“But!” Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his fingernails almost digging into his flesh. “I’m not reconciled! Why does he…”

“There is no ‘why’!” Yao Lao’s voice grew stern. “The world is vast and full of wonders; there are always those with heaven-defying opportunities. If you cannot even withstand this much setback and comparison, how can you achieve the heart of a strong practitioner? How can you ascend to the peak of the continent? How can you… find your father?”

Father… Xiao Yan’s body trembled, and the unwillingness and frustration in his eyes gradually gave way to a resolute gleam. He took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice, “Teacher, I understand. My mind was in disarray.” He looked towards Yun Lan Mountain, his gaze once again sharp as a blade. “The Three-Year Agreement is approaching. I will let everyone know that I, Xiao Yan, am not a waste! As for Li Ao… one day, I will personally measure his worth!”

Yao Lao nodded with satisfaction, but his gaze towards the night sky held a hint of imperceptible worry. Li Ao’s appearance was like a giant stone thrown into the river of fate, its ripples quietly changing the direction of many things. Xiao Yan’s future was destined to be filled with more variables and challenges.

The night in the Holy City grew deeper. Li Ao was inventorying the medicinal herbs he had purchased in the inn, Ya Fei was calculating how to establish contact with this mysterious expert, and Xiao Yan was diligently cultivating for the Three-Year Agreement. Three different forces quietly surged in this massive city, their destinies slowly drawing closer under the pull of invisible forces. A storm was quietly brewing beneath the calm night.