"Rest," she whispered.
A thin layer of frost spread from her palm, creeping up Ye Chen’s neck, shoulders, and chest. The brilliant golden light of his True Yang physique flickered, then dimd, sputtering like a dying fla.
His body trembled once, then fell still.
Steam hissed violently as fire t ice, shrouding them both in swirling mist.
When it cleared, Ye Chen hung suspended midair, frozen from the chest upward in translucent crystal ice, his expression trapped between pain and defiance — his spirit utterly subdued.
The woman exhaled softly and released him, her slender hand trembling ever so slightly.
"It’s over," she murmured, turning away as the arena’s barrier shimred with acknowledgnt.
"Winner, Bing Ying!" announced a calm, resonant voice.
A soft ripple of awe spread through the crowd who were watching their match.
Monts later, both combatants were teleported into the participant’s chamber, where several disciples hurried forward to carry the unconscious Ye Chen away.
’I overexerted myself a little,’ Bing Ying thought, feeling her Qi depleted. Her opponent had been strong, his physique especially — but his attacks lacked the experience. She believed that he had recently advanced into the Nascent Soul Realm.
’Still... this was a worthwhile encounter.’
She straightened her robes, the chill of her aura fading slightly.
For the past month, Bing Ying had been traveling through the sect, seeking opponents from different peaks to temper her understanding of combat.
She had already visited Order Heaven Peak and, though her next destination had been Martial Heaven Peak, so personal matters had led her instead to Chaos Heaven Peak.
Leaving the chamber, she ignored the lingering gazes that followed her.
After a brief walk through the bustling area, Bing Ying finally stepped outside the Arena. The cold wind greeted her, carrying with it the distant roar of another match beginning.
***
"Bing Ying, Bing Ying...Ding, ding, ding — where have I heard that surna before?" Yu Xuan muttered, watching the arena reset for the next match.
’Ah! that was the one Master told about.’ he rembered the na Bing Xin, his master talked about her.
He tapped his(Lingluo’s) fan lightly against his chin, deep in thought.
Then he thought about Ye Chen.
’Huh. He’s gotten quite a bit stronger since last ti, but maybe he isn’t a protagonist after all.’
He sighed dramatically.
’A pity. I was half-expecting him to awaken so hidden bloodline mid-fight or sothing.’
Lingluo and Ming Tiani exchanged looks. They had long since given up trying to understand the strange things Yu Xuan sotis muttered to himself. Especially Ming Tiani.
After that, the trio continued watching a few more matches — duels of fire, blade, and illusion, each more intense than the last, it was that ti.
"We’re a bit late," Yu Xuan said, checking his dallion for ti.
"It happens," Lingluo replied casually, not hurrying in the slightest.
"Then let’s go," Ming Tiani said.
Yu Xuan flicked open the fan, grinning.
"If you fancy sothing, buy it. Just don’t let the price make the cry or have debts."
His tone was easy, but his aura carried the effortless confidence of soone used to having the last word — that subtle "young master" air that clung to him, when he pretended to be humble.
The auction house was located quite far from their location, so the three used their movent techniques to cut through the night sky.
Trails of light followed their figures as they sped past the glowing lanterns of Chaos Heaven Peak.
Soon, a grand building ca into view: Multi-storied, adorned with hanging gold lanterns and jade plaques. Its structure radiated wealth and power, the kind of place where even the air seed priced by the breath.
At the gate, robed attendants bowed politely, their eyes sharp enough to asure one’s background with a single glance.
Yu Xuan smiled faintly.
"Ah, finally, a place that understands my taste."
He glanced at the enormous plaque above the entrance: UFC Auction Hall.
Beneath it, the smaller characters read Unrivaled Fortune Consortium.
But Yu Xuan’s brows twitched.
There again, was the logo of a serene woman in white robes — which looked suspiciously similar to UFC logo, the one which read "Ultra Fried Chicken."
The only difference this one held was a glowing stele inscribed with countless runes instead of a chicken wings.
As they approached, the guards imdiately recognized Lingluo.
One of them discreetly sent a ssage through divine sense.
"This way, Miss Yu and her companions," a guard said respectfully, gesturing for them to follow.
They were soon led into a private chamber labeled VIP Room 7.
Monts later, the door slid open, and a mature woman entered.
She was breathtaking — fox-like eyes, velvet red lips, and several ethereal tails swaying gracefully behind her. Her presence carried both charm and danger.
"Miss Lingluo, I’m very sad," the woman said, her voice a soft purr.
Yu Xuan, Lingluo, and Ming Tiani exchanged puzzled glances, their expressions all saying the sa thing: Do we know her?
Seeing their confusion, the woman laughed lightly, covering her mouth with slender fingers.
"Aiya, I’m Huan, the branch manager of this hall. I was heartbroken when you didn’t attend yesterday’s auction, even after personally assigning a VIP room to you all."
Her tails shimred faintly, and her tone dripped with charm.
’This vixen is definitely up to sothing,’ Yu Xuan thought, his gaze briefly flicking to the shimring tails behind her.
Then, aloud, he said, "This isn’t a VIP room, right?"
Huan’s smile faltered slightly before she recovered with a delicate cough.
"Ahem, well, you’re right. This isn’t the VIP room for now. This one is currently under renovation. It still needs a few final touches and expansion, so it’s been temporarily closed. Unfortunately, since you didn’t co yesterday, your reserved room was reassigned."
"That’s fine. We have no complaints," Yu Xuan said smoothly, answering for all of them.
Huan’s eyes flickered with curiosity.
’So he’s soone important after all...’
"Of course," she said, her tone turning honey-sweet.
"I do feel terrible for not providing the Peak Master’s disciple with proper accommodations. To make up for it, anything you purchase today will receive a ten percent discount."
Her tails swayed slowly, like pendulums of temptation.
’Discounts, charm, and politics, all wrapped in one tail-fluttering package. Are they money hungry, is it politics? or does she have a hidden motive?’ Yu Xuan thought. There was no way he’d believe every VIP room was full.
"I’ll gracefully accept your offer," Lingluo said brightly, completely sold on the discount.
Huan’s eyes curved in amusent.
"If you need anything, just tap the button beside your chair. An attendant will arrive imdiately."
Then, with a soft laugh and a sway of her gleaming tails, she turned to leave.
"Enjoy your ti at the Unrivaled Fortune Consortium~"
As Huan glided out of the room, the charm in her smile disappeared the mont the door closed behind her.
A faint shimr of spiritual light flickered between her fingers as a talisman appeared in her hand.
She reread the information she had on them.
"So... he’s soone even the Peak Master’s disciple considers important and the main branch took interest?" she murmured.
Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Surna Yu... but the resemblance ends there. Their bearing, their aura is completely different. Still..."
She tapped her clawed nail lightly against the talisman, brows furrowing.
"The bigger question is why the main branch is so desperate to gather information on this child."
After a long mont, she sighed and pulled out another talisman, sending her brief report. The light faded from her hand.
"Not my concern," she muttered at last, the corners of her mouth twitching.
"I’m just a small-ti branch manager, not an information agent at all."
anwhile, inside the room, Yu Xuan leaned lazily back in his chair, fanning himself with casual grace.
"...Hypnosis through tail movent really should be banned," he murmured, half-annoyed, half-amused.
Lingluo glanced at him.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," Yu Xuan said smoothly, closing his fan with a snap.
"Just admiring the little professionalism of the Unrivaled Fortune Consortium."
Before Lingluo could respond, a booming voice filled the room.
"Our next item, Hamr of Lightning! Forged from genuine Tribulation Lightning and tempered for—"
The voice was cut for so ti before returning.
"SOLD! SOLD for one hundred thousand sect points!"
The sudden announcent made Yu Xuan blink.
"...Wait, what?"
He turned toward Ming Tiani, who was fiddling with a talisman on the table.
"What are you doing?" he asked suspiciously.
"Nothing much," she said innocently, as she did another thing, the auctioneer’s voice ca back.
"—tempered for seven days and seven nights under sunlight and moonlight! Truly a—"
Yu Xuan stared at her.
"You just muted the auction."
"Hmm," Ming Tiani mused, eyes glinting.
She tapped it again. This ti, the small window they had been watching through shimred like disturbed water. Lines of light crawled across the wall, forming a glowing array.
The entire surface pulsed once and then turned transparent.
Beyond it, the full grandeur of the auction hall unfolded.
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