The voice from above went unheeded by Xiao Bai. The five-colored lightning palm continued its descent toward Lei Ou and his grandson without pause.
As the palm print loomed closer, Lei Ou's pupils constricted violently. The inexplicable pressure pinning him in place left him helpless, forced to watch as doom approached.
Just then, the voice from the air rang out again. Lei Ou, who had been channeling his Dou Qi to reinforce the armor on his body, lit up with wild joy. He shouted desperately, "Great Elder, save me!"
His words had barely left his mouth when the massive palm print, crackling with electric light, was nearly upon him. The overwhelming pressure it exuded plunged him into despair, his face ashen.
Boom!
A deafening explosion reverberated through the hall, kicking up clouds of dust that obscured everyone's view.
In an instant, a visible ripple of energy surged outward from the dust, spreading rapidly in all directions. The crowd, sensing the terrifying power in the ripple, paled and scattered, diving for cover in the hall's corners.
The strong could unleash devastating energy with a mere gesture—far beyond what most could withstand.
Amid the chaos, the sound of shattering crystal display cases filled the air. Those hiding behind cover cautiously peered toward the center of the hall.
"Is that… the Great Elder of the Miteer family?"
A hesitant whisper rose from the crowd.
Following the voice, all eyes turned to the center of the hall. As the dust settled, a figure emerged—an old man in ornate robes, his eyes narrowed, standing protectively in front of Lei Ou and his grandson.
Cough, cough… "Sir, to attack members of my Miteer family so brazenly in our auction house—isn't that a bit too reckless?"
The narrowed-eyed elder's face was grave, his hands trembling slightly behind his back. A flicker of wariness crossed his eyes as he looked at the black-robed youth.
"You want to protect them?"
Seated in his chair, Xiao Bai propped his elbow on the armrest, his chin resting on his hand. He lifted his eyelids slightly, glancing at the newcomer with a casual tone. "With your mere Six-Star Dou Wang cultivation… that's a bit underwhelming."
"My cultivation may indeed fall short of yours," the elder replied, his calm tone faltering as he continued in a deeper voice, "but the Miteer family is not without its powerhouses. If you think you can do as you please with your Peak Dou Wang strength…"
He paused, then added gravely, "I'm afraid you won't be leaving this place today!"
Nearby, Ya Fei barely had time to process the revelation that Xiao Bai was a Peak Dou Wang when the elder's words made her face pale. Her hands, resting at her waist, trembled as she stepped in front of Xiao Bai, her voice quivering. "Great Elder, he—"
Seeing the woman shielding him, Xiao Bai was momentarily speechless. He gently pulled her back, meeting her anxious, confused eyes with a smile. "Trying to plead for me?"
Her peach-blossom eyes widened slightly, glaring at him as if to say, You finally noticed!
Xiao Bai chuckled, shaking his head. "No need. Because…"
As he spoke, he turned to Lei Ou, who was smirking smugly. In a flicker, Xiao Bai's figure blurred, leaving only a faint afterimage in his place.
"You dare!"
"Get lost!"
Two shouts rang out in quick succession. The crowd saw a black shadow appear beside Lei Ou as if teleporting.
The ornate-robed elder's face contorted with rage as he moved to intercept.
But the black-robed youth seemed to deliver a light, almost careless palm strike to the elder's chest.
Pfft!
The elder spewed a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward like a discarded sack.
Xiao Bai paid no mind to the airborne figure. He lowered his gaze to Lei Ou, whose smug smile was freezing, replaced by a look of sheer terror.
Not bothering with words, Xiao Bai raised his hand, light surging at his fingertips. With a casual flick, he tapped twice.
Two faint sounds followed, and Lei Ou's face twisted in disbelief before he collapsed, lying side by side with his grandson.
Both bore a faint black mark on their foreheads, as if struck by lightning.
Xiao Bai glanced coldly at the scene before turning back to Ya Fei, who stood frozen, dumbfounded. In a calm voice, he said, "Because… they don't deserve it."
Snapped out of her daze by his voice, Ya Fei blinked, realizing he was finishing his earlier sentence.
Looking at Xiao Bai, she pursed her red lips, a wry smile tugging at her heart as she murmured, "Yes… they don't deserve it."
Would a passerby stop to argue or plead with an ant they could crush underfoot just because it squeaked threats?
Of course not!
In fact, Xiao Bai's earlier exchange with the Great Elder now seemed like he was merely humoring himself out of boredom!
It was as if he'd seen an ant brandishing its pincers at a human—amusing enough to pause and watch, nothing more.
"Was I… just making a fool of myself earlier?"
Thinking of her impulsive attempt to intervene, Ya Fei's slender fingers twisted together. She glanced at Xiao Bai, her eyes lowering, a flush of embarrassment rising.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Bai paused, his mind quickly piecing together her thoughts.
"A sincere heart is the most precious thing in the world. It's never a joke, nor should it ever be."
He reached out, hesitated, then withdrew his hand, saying slowly, "Ya Fei, never underestimate others—but never underestimate yourself either."
Noticing his hand extend and retract, Ya Fei bit her lip, a flicker of disappointment passing through her glistening peach-blossom eyes.
Xiao Bai sighed inwardly, pretending not to notice. He sat back in the chair, a sudden, inexplicable irritability creeping into his mood.
"It's so cold!"
"Yeah, why's it suddenly freezing?"
As the atmosphere grew heavy, whispers broke out from the corners of the hall.
"Look! Are those… snowflakes? How are there snowflakes falling in the hall?"
"Shh! Keep it down! Let's get out of here—this place might not hold much longer!"
Feeling the chill, Ya Fei, still reeling from her earlier shock, snapped her head toward Xiao Bai. In her distraction, she'd forgotten to warn him.
"Xiao Bai, this is—"
"No need to worry. I know what this is."
Xiao Bai caught a snowflake, feeling its icy touch. He waved a hand to calm the anxious Ya Fei, speaking unhurriedly.
Stimulated by the cold, the ornate-robed elder, previously unconscious, slowly opened his eyes. After a moment of confusion, his face lit up with joy as he recognized the familiar chill.
"Who dares cause trouble in my Miteer family?!"
An icy shout, carried by the cold, echoed in the ears of everyone in the hall.
Xiao Bai looked toward a certain direction, a faint smile on his lips. "Old man, it's been two years, and your cultivation… still hasn't improved much, has it?"
"Bullshit! I'm way stronger than I was two years ago! Wait… that voice sounds familiar. Two years? You're Xiao Bai!"
The aged voice roared with indignation, then shifted to surprise, and finally rang with delight.
Sensing the approaching presence, Xiao Bai shook his head, chuckling. "Come, let's catch up."
"Haha, I'm here!"
As the words fell, the chill in the air vanished rapidly. In the blink of an eye, the snowflakes drifting through the hall disappeared without a trace.
"Tch, still so theatrical!"
Xiao Bai rolled his eyes at the display.
"You know the Supreme Elder of our clan?"
Ya Fei covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. This was something she'd never imagined.
Right now, she felt like the man before her was shrouded in layers of mist, each glimpse of the truth beneath more astonishing than the last.
The ornate-robed elder nearby pricked up his ears. The conversation between the black-robed youth and the Supreme Elder sounded like old friends reuniting after years apart.
If you know Hai Lao, why didn't you say so sooner?! he thought, tears of frustration welling up.
"That old guy stayed in Wu Tan City for a while two years ago. You just didn't know," Xiao Bai said, glancing at the enchanting figure beside him. Her lovely face was practically overflowing with astonishment, and he spoke warmly, smiling.
"Haha, Xiao Bai, you're finally back! I was just counting the days, figuring you'd show up soon!"
A hearty laugh sounded from outside the hall, followed by a white-haired old man striding in with vigorous steps.
"Heh, Hai Lao, long time no see! You're looking even more spirited than before," Xiao Bai said, standing from his chair with a smile.
"Tch, tch, you've changed so much. If I passed you on the street, I might not even recognize you!"
Hai Bo Dong approached, sizing Xiao Bai up with a marveling click of his tongue.
"My technique's made some progress, so there's a slight change. It's not as dramatic as you're making it out to be—Ya Fei recognized me right away," Xiao Bai said, shaking his head with a smile. He gestured toward Ya Fei, who had been standing just behind him.
Ya Fei froze, her eyes flickering with a complex emotion. She understood instantly: Xiao Bai was giving her an opportunity—an opportunity to secure a position in the clan where no one would dare cross her.
In the past, she would've been ecstatic. But now, her heart felt oddly heavy.
"Ya Fei greets the Supreme Elder," she said, bowing respectfully as Hai Bo Dong's gaze turned to her.
"No need for formalities. I remember you—the girl who came back from Wu Tan City not long ago," Hai Bo Dong said, nodding with a smile. His seasoned eyes darted between the two, a teasing glint in them as he winked at Xiao Bai. "I told you back then, the girls in our Miteer family are top-notch. You played the gentleman then, but now you're exposed, eh?"
"Hey, how about it? Since you're back, why don't I help you two seal the deal?"
His eyes sparkled with anticipation, a flush of excitement on his aged face.
If he could tie this mysterious young man closer to the Miteer family, a few women were a small price to pay. If Xiao Bai wanted more, Hai Bo Dong could arrange that too.
Xiao Bai glanced subtly at Ya Fei. Under Hai Bo Dong's teasing, her delicate cheeks flushed a deep crimson.
Keeping his expression neutral, Xiao Bai gave a noncommittal smile. Looking at the eager old man, he sent a private transmission: "In a few days, that woman from the desert will be here. If you dare say this in front of her, I'll agree to anything you want."
"Damn it!"
Hai Bo Dong's face fell, a flicker of fear crossing his expression. He immediately abandoned his scheming, waving his hands frantically. "Forget it, forget it! You youngsters handle your own affairs. This old man won't meddle!"
He even patted his chest, as if to calm his racing heart.
Good gods, I lost my head for a moment and forgot about her!
The memory of that woman's fearsome reputation—and the sight, two years ago, of her and Xiao Bai embracing as they parted in the Snake-People's royal city—flashed through his mind. If he dared bring this up in her presence, she'd probably grind his bones to dust!
Heh, old fox, trying to scheme against me?
Xiao Bai sneered inwardly. The old man's earlier ploy had nearly put him in a bind.
Agreeing wasn't an option, but rejecting outright would've humiliated Ya Fei publicly.
Moments later, Hai Bo Dong turned, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the scene in the hall. His voice dropped, cold and sharp. "Tell me, how did these useless fools provoke you?"
He knew Xiao Bai's temperament. Unless they'd truly crossed a line, he wouldn't bother with such insignificant people.
"Ya Fei, why don't you explain to your Supreme Elder," Xiao Bai said, shaking his head at the visibly furious Hai Bo Dong.
He didn't care whether part of that anger was directed at him.
He'd already shown restraint. If not for Ya Fei and Hai Bo Dong, the Miteer family might've suffered grievous losses today—or worse.
"Very well," Ya Fei said with a slight nod. Her melodious voice recounted the entire incident in detail.
"Heh…" The more Hai Bo Dong heard, the angrier he grew. Looking at the two bodies on the floor, he wished he could revive them just to kill them again!
"Teng Shan!"
A furious shout made the ornate-robed elder, blood still staining his lips, pale. He scrambled to his feet, responding, "Here, Old Hai!"
"This is how you've been managing the clan I entrusted to you?"
Hai Bo Dong's aura surged, his Dou Huang presence flooding the room, making everyone tremble.
"Old Hai!" Teng Shan's breath hitched, feeling as if a mountain pressed down on him. The aura was aimed squarely at him. Struggling, he explained, "I didn't know the full story. I even offered to sit down with this… er, your friend to discuss and promised the clan would provide a satisfactory resolution, but—"
"Sit down and discuss?" Hai Bo Dong laughed in disbelief, his voice rising in fury. "What gives you the right to 'discuss' with him?"
"If a Dou Zhe harassed your wife and wanted to 'discuss' a solution with you, a Dou Wang, would you sit down and negotiate?"
"I think your brain's waterlogged! A resolution? What kind of resolution could you possibly offer?"
Hai Bo Dong's tirade was relentless. Suddenly, he turned to Xiao Bai with a grin. "Xiao Bai, how about I give you half of the Miteer Auction House?"
The crowd gasped, their eyes locking onto the black-robed youth with a mix of disbelief and envy.
This was the Miteer Auction House!
It had branches in every city of the Jia Ma Empire, each one the wealthiest and most prestigious in its region. Everyone in the empire knew the true wealth wasn't in the royal treasury but in the Miteer Auction House, where unimaginable sums flowed daily.
To casually offer half of it—what audacity!
All eyes were glued to the black-robed youth. A single word from him, and he'd become the richest man in the Jia Ma Empire.
Seeing his unhurried demeanor, the crowd itched to rush forward, possess him, and agree on his behalf.
"Heh, old man, you're scheming a bit too much today," Xiao Bai said, ignoring the stares. He looked at Hai Bo Dong, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I don't need such trifles."
… The hall fell silent.
I really want to beat this show-off to death!
Trifles?
Half the Miteer Auction House, described as a mere trifle? Just how rich was this guy?
"Teacher, is Bai-Ge that wealthy?"
Xiao Yan muttered, as if seeing a golden halo radiating from Xiao Bai, blindingly bright.
"Little Yan, you need to understand—gold coins alone hold little appeal for your Bai-Ge," Yao Lao said. "You think the Miteer Auction House is grand now, but once you leave the Jia Ma Empire, you'll see it's nothing special."
"High-tier techniques and skills are rare here. High-grade pills are scarce. Rare treasures are even harder to come by. There's nothing enticing enough to bother with, so why get entangled in this mess?"
"If he wanted gold, with his alchemy skills, he could refine a few furnaces of pills in the same time and earn more than this."
Yao Lao's words dawned on Xiao Yan. It wasn't that Bai-Ge was so rich he didn't care—it was that he genuinely looked down on it.
"See? I offered him the most valuable thing in the Miteer family, and he doesn't even want it. And you're talking about giving him a 'resolution'?"
Hai Bo Dong paid no mind to Xiao Bai's tone. Turning back, he resumed berating Teng Shan.
Xiao Bai was speechless. He realized now—this old fox, once the head of a commercial empire, was a master manipulator.
This tirade seemed aimed at Miteer Teng Shan, but its true effect was directed at him.
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