Late at night, the bright moon hung high.
On the top floor of the Purple Firmament Pavilion, Chen Xiao and the Medusa Queen stood side by side, their backs to the surging undercurrents of the Black-Corner Region, facing the continuous Green Mountains, leaning against the railing.
The moonlight was serene, the Green Mountains dripped with verdure, and the clouds and mist were like spread cotton.
This quiet and peaceful scene, like a pair of gentle hands, quietly lifted the curtain of Chen Xiao's memories.
In a trance, his thoughts drifted back to that peaceful Wu Tan City in the Jia Ma Empire.
At that time, he was immersed in cultivation every day, and through the cold winters and hot summers, in those few peaceful moments, there was always a pure figure like a green lotus accompanying him...
"Something wrong?"
After waiting for a long time without hearing Chen Xiao speak, the Medusa Queen glanced at him sideways.
Chen Xiao chuckled and shook his head, "I just came to thank you."
From the moment he sent the Medusa Queen into the Jia Nan Academy, the transaction between them had actually ended. There was no need for her to help Chen Xiao anymore.
If he encountered a problem, her willingness to help was out of kindness; if she didn't, no one could blame her.
"This Queen just doesn't want Zi Yan to be in trouble, that's all."
The Medusa Queen knew that Chen Xiao was talking about the Barrier and her temporary return today, and she replied calmly.
But even as she said this, she could feel that her words lacked a bit of credibility.
It seemed that ever since she successfully evolved, she had shed her former sharpness in front of Chen Xiao. The imposing aura of the Queen, which used to be awe-inspiring without anger, had quietly subsided, replaced by a gentleness and relaxation that even she herself hadn't noticed.
The invisible influence of the Little Heaven Swallowing Python was still too great.
After much thought, the Medusa Queen could only come up with this one explanation!
Chen Xiao nodded slightly and smiled, "When I was in the Inner Academy, the Grand Elder said that Zi Yan is greedy and playful, and he couldn't rest assured without someone watching her. In the past few years, I had fewer things to do and my strength was weak, so even if I went into seclusion, it wouldn't take long. But now it's different. Dealing with those powerhouses in the Black-Corner Region, the time I spend with this girl will only get less and less in the future. Moreover, after she takes the Transformation Pill, I have to slowly help her change and adapt. Many private topics are inconvenient for me to discuss directly with her. You can come back more often."
Hearing this, the Medusa Queen neither agreed nor disagreed, but as her eyes flowed, a very slight arc curved at the corner of her lips.
This matter really had to be her.
Even the Little Fairy Doctor's relationship with Zi Yan had not yet reached such a close level.
Seeing the Medusa Queen's appearance, Chen Xiao nodded slightly.
"Since Your Majesty doesn't object, I'll take it as you agreeing."
The Medusa Queen's expression was like a sudden summer shower, unpredictable. Just a moment ago, there was a hint of gentleness in her eyes and brows, and she seemed to be in a good mood, but in an instant, frost covered her face, as if the warmth just now was just a fleeting illusion.
Glancing coldly at Chen Xiao, the Medusa Queen stopped talking and turned to leave.
A head peeked out from the corner. The cute-looking Zi Yan looked in the direction the Medusa Queen had left, then walked out.
"Why is Sister Medusa angry?"
"She might be envious that you have a nice name. After all, we're friends. It's really distant to keep calling her Your Majesty, but the problem is, if I don't call her Your Majesty, what should I call her?"
Zi Yan nodded as if she understood but didn't.
...
The next day.
The Purple Firmament Pavilion's semi-annual large-scale auction officially kicked off under the hosting of Hai Bo Dong.
Chen Xiao, Zi Yan, and Little Fairy Doctor personally oversaw the event.
Medusa Queen was still nowhere to be found.
The aura of four Dou Huang powerhouses enveloped the auction house, instantly causing some people with ulterior motives to rein in their thoughts and also giving the bidders a great sense of security.
Under such deterrence, this large-scale auction proceeded without any incidents from beginning to end and concluded smoothly.
Following this, under Chen Xiao's deliberate promotion, the news of two Low-Level Earth Tier Dou Skills and one Low-Level Earth Tier Cultivation Method appearing at this auction spread throughout the Black-Corner Region within three days, making the reputation of the Purple Firmament Pavilion even more resounding.
It was also at this time that the counterattack from the Eight Gates Sect and the Black Emperor Sect, which Chen Xiao had long anticipated, finally arrived.
"They sent out a message today, saying that in a month, they will hold the largest auction in history in Black Emperor City, and they even boasted that Low-Level Earth Tier Dou Skills and Cultivation Methods will not be the main attractions. It's obvious they are targeting us."
In the hall, Hai Bo Dong said with a chuckle, completely unconcerned about the counterattack from the two major forces.
After all, this was the result they wanted to see.
The Eight Gates Sect and the Black Emperor Sect could never have imagined that Chen Xiao and his group never intended to stay in the Black-Corner Region for too long. Everything they did was just to force them to react.
Now, it was exactly what they wanted!
"Has the auction list been released?"
Hearing Chen Xiao's question, Little Fairy Doctor also looked at Hai Bo Dong with a hint of anticipation.
"It's out. I specifically had someone stationed in Black Emperor City and got it immediately. However, this is just the first version. In the next month, they will definitely add more new items."
Hai Bo Dong took out several lists from his Storage Ring and distributed them to the three of them.
Large-scale auctions would build momentum in advance, and the first version of the auction list was also a key part of the promotion by the organizers.
As for when the auction actually started, there would only be more items, not fewer, which was an old tradition.
Taking the list, Chen Xiao hadn't even turned to the second page before he saw something good.
Turning his head to glance at Zi Yan, he saw her also frowning and staring intently at the image of a Magical Beast corpse on the list.
"Chen Xiao, this thing makes me feel so disgusted, but I can't say why."
"Perhaps, it's related to your true form."
Undoubtedly, the only thing that could make Zi Yan feel such disgust was that Heavenly Demon Phoenix Corpse.
Zi Yan nodded slightly, too disgusted by the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Corpse to continue looking at the list.
Little Fairy Doctor quickly flipped through it, and before long, her gaze settled on the image of a cluster of emerald green liquid.
Bodhi Transformation Saliva!
Little Fairy Doctor looked up at Chen Xiao, her eyes carrying a hint of confirmation.
Chen Xiao nodded in response: "That's it!"
Hearing this, Little Fairy Doctor let out a long sigh of relief.
Although they had guessed that the Eight Gates Sect and the Black Emperor Sect would definitely bring out some valuable items for this counterattack, before seeing the list, no one was sure if they would bring out the Bodhi Transformation Saliva.
Now, they could finally relax completely.
"A Mid-Level Earth Tier Dou Skill, a Magical Beast corpse, Bodhi Transformation Saliva, and even Dou Ling Pills, Dou Wang Pills, and so on. The Eight Gates Sect and the Black Emperor Sect have really gone all out this time. It's a pity we didn't see that piece of incomplete map."
After reading through the list, Chen Xiao chuckled in admiration.
Hai Bo Dong also felt a bit regretful, "Perhaps they will bring it out for auction then, who knows. After all, it's just an incomplete map with no beginning or end, it's not worthy of being on the list."
Chen Xiao nodded slightly. What Hai Bo Dong said was not impossible.
However, even without that incomplete map, their goal of provoking the Black Emperor Sect and the Eight Gates Sect this time had been achieved.
"Let's all get ready. Since our opponents are being so generous, let's go and show our support!"
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