The Black Emperor Pavilion, used by the Black Emperor Sect to accommodate strong figures and leaders from the Black-Corner Region, was naturally extravagantly luxurious. When Xiao Yan and his two companions entered through the immense gate and saw the grand hall that resembled a square, they couldn’t help but marvel at it in their hearts; indeed, the Black Emperor Sect had quite a bold hand. At this moment, the main hall of the Black Emperor Pavilion was bustling with people, many of whom were sitting in small groups, each group’s composition meticulously arranged. The majority of these groups were either well-acquainted or belonged to the same force, thus gathering together. Those who sat alone were often the lone wanderers of the Black-Corner Region, usually rather formidable and somewhat eccentric, and would readily draw blades at the slightest provocation.
Chaos was a hallmark of the Black-Corner Region, and even here in the Black Emperor Pavilion, there was no sign of that chaos diminishing. As this place gathered the bulk of the region’s strongest and most prominent forces, conflicts were bound to arise among enemies, igniting into full-scale battles. The most effective way to resolve disputes in the Black-Corner Region was by means of true sword and spear combat. Thus, from time to time, the sharp sounds of metal collisions could be heard echoing through the great hall. However, these fights were kept within bounds—while minor brawls were ignored, major disturbances such as tearing down the building would prompt instant intervention from the concealed Black Emperor Sect powerhouses.
Xiao Yan and his companions stood at the door, gazing at the intermittent eruptions of vicious skirmishes, and listening to the cheers of the onlookers; they couldn’t help but shake their heads, for the air of the Black-Corner Region truly lacked any semblance of peace. Not long after entering the pavilion, a delicate-featured serving girl hurried over, bowed, and, after checking the tokens, informed them cheerfully where their accommodations were. The expansive Black Emperor Pavilion, capable of housing thousands of people, had residential areas divided into three levels: Heaven, Earth, and Human. Xiao Yan’s group, not too high nor too low, was assigned to the Earth level.
To Xiao Yan, this stratification was of little concern; all he cared about was a secluded chamber for alchemy without disturbance. Because it was still early, Xiao Yan was in no hurry to return to their rooms, so he declined the servant girl’s offer to lead them back and instead led Little Healer Immortal and the excited Zi Yan, who reveled in the lively atmosphere, to the massive hall.
They walked through the clamorous hall, found a table by the window, and took a seat. From there, they could see the verdant forest outside, and a cool breeze tempered the cacophony around them. Shortly after they sat down, an attendant respectfully served them tea. Such service was truly impeccable, indicating that the Black Emperor Sect had put considerable effort into welcoming the strong figures from all corners of the Black-Corner Region.
As Xiao Yan sipped his tea, he mulled over the gray-robed man he had seen before. Due to the cloak, he couldn’t discern the man’s face, and the faint sense of familiarity could only be attributed to his perceptive soul senses. “That person’s aura was quite peculiar, seemingly weak, yet upon closer inspection, one could detect a hint of something unusual. This is a feeling I have never experienced before, but I can be certain that the gray-robed figure is anything but ordinary,” Xiao Yan thought to himself, musing on the matter.
Noticing Xiao Yan’s thoughtful frown, Little Healer Immortal, guessing his thoughts, softly remarked, “Earlier, that person’s breath seemed very strange, although apparently feeble, if you pay close attention, you can sense a trace of extraordinary aura. This is a feeling I have never felt before, but at least I can affirm that the gray-robed figure is not as simple as he appears.”
Xiao Yan nodded slightly, for he also sensed there was something off about the gray-robed figure. Yet, despite his ruminations, he still could not connect this feeling to anyone he had met, nor could his soul perception gauge the strength of the other. It was as though a murky fog shrouded his presence, obscuring further scrutiny.
After a long period of contemplation and still no clues, Xiao Yan sighed and conceded, “Perhaps I am mistaken.” After a moment of self-consolation, he set the matter aside, engaged in conversation with Little Healer Immortal, and paid attention to the bustling hall. Though the hall was crowded and noisy, it was here that they might glean some necessary information. In this manner, Xiao Yan picked up quite a bit of news, such as the fact that, beyond the Flame Valley, various other old forces from the Black-Corner Region, as well as some external ones, had also received word of the auction and sent their best to the Black Emperor City. Amidst the eavesdropping, he also heard a mention that struck a chord: the Xiao Gate.
When Xiao Yan first heard the name, his composure gave way to astonishment, followed by a chortle. He hadn’t expected that the accidental establishment of Xiao Gate, bolstered by his brother’s efforts and the support of the Jia Nan Academy, would have blossomed into a first-class force in the Black-Corner Region, qualifying to participate in such a significant auction. “If the Xiao Gate is also participating in this auction, it’s likely that they are residing in the Black Emperor Pavilion,” Xiao Yan murmured to himself, though he didn’t immediately seek to find them. The gathering of elites in the city made it wiser for the fast-rising Xiao Gate to maintain a low profile, and should an unexpected incident occur, Xiao Yan, hidden in the shadows, would be a surprising ally.
During his inquiries, Xiao Yan heard much talk of the Bodhi Body Saliva. Clearly, the Black Emperor Sect had heavily promoted this item, and almost everyone knew that it would be one of the prized treasures in the imminent large-scale auction. Conversations about the Bodhi Body Saliva were often filled with fervor, driven by its reputation as a body-improving agent. Even the mere prospect of enhanced physical condition was enticing, as none deemed themselves so invincible as to reject any form of improvement.
“Seems we truly are late to the party; something we’ve been searching for remains undiscovered by us while everyone else here knows about it,” Xiao Yan sighed, turning to Little Healer Immortal. Despite spending half a year crisscrossing the distance between the Chu Yun Empire and the Black-Corner Region, they had found nothing, while here, practically everyone knew about the Bodhi Body Saliva. Hearing this, Little Healer Immortal smiled and said, “There are three days until the auction, and more forces and experts will surely arrive. The Black-Corner Region is indeed unparalleled, simply in terms of the number of strong figures, compared to the Chu Yun and Jia Ma Empires.”
Nodding, Xiao Yan acknowledged that the Black-Corner Region, near the center of the Dou Qi Continent, drew in countless black market items due to its unique ambiance. Objects hard to sell elsewhere would fetch a fair price here, far outshining the distant and desolate Jia Ma and Chu Yun Empires.
“Let’s go, it’s getting late. We should rest tonight, and tomorrow, I need to craft some potent medicines to hold my own at the auction.” Xiao Yan cast a glance at the sky outside, placed his cup down gently, and addressed the two.
“Alright,” Little Healer Immortal agreed with a nod. The trio rose, but as they turned, they noticed a commotion in the hall, followed by a surly group of men advancing towards them with a menacing air. Xiao Yan’s eyes flickered, spotting the wolf tattoos on their arms, identical to those of the men he had dispatched at the city gate. “It looks like we have some small trouble,” Little Healer Immortal remarked lightly.
Acknowledging her words, Xiao Yan sat back down and met the approaching roughnecks with an indifferent gaze, knowing that being too reclusive could invite more trouble. This might, in fact, be a good opportunity to teach a lesson.
The group’s ferocious entry caught the attention of many in the hall, and exclamations filled the air.
“Hey, it’s that group of cutthroat Quilupan!”
“Looks like Quicha is in the Black Emperor City too. They say he recently killed a one-star Battle Emperor!”
“The Quilupan are a bunch of brutes. I wonder how that kid offended them. He’s in for a tough time today!”
Amidst the stares, the belligerent, bloodthirsty men reached Xiao Yan’s table, where one of them, sporting scars across his face, fiercely kicked the table to pieces, scattering wood chips everywhere. “Little bastard, was it you who killed my Quilupan men at the city gate?” His voice was cold and menacing, slicing through the air.
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