My Twin Sugar Mommies and Two Systems are 100 Years Late! Volume 2 – Chapter 2.
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Blood Oaths were for mortals, and Heart Demon Oaths—also called Great Dao Oaths—were for cultivators.
Yan Anle did not pay much attention as the twenty-one recruits queued up to press bloodied thumbs onto the parchment.
His mind was on the issue of getting these people into his mobile Secret Realm without them or Sun Ziyun noticing.
Even with Oaths in effect for both sides, he still did not feel completely at ease—especially regarding the latter. Who knew whether she had played a trick?
If only he knew his guess was spot-on. As a true-born Demon—not to be mistaken for a demonic cultivator—how could she possibly develop a Heart Demon?
Soon, he was called back from his musings by Dou E. "Young Master, we are through."
He blinked. "I see."
His gaze swept over the group once more before he decided: No need to complicate things too much. Sometimes, the most direct way is the best.
He called Dou E and Pan Ting over, whispering instructions into their ears.
"Yes, Young Master," was their response before they turned and headed in different directions.
After Dou E headed for the kitchen and Pan Ting toward Sun Ziyun's bedchamber, Yan Anle's attention shifted to one of the systems.
Myriad Worlds, send out the invitation.
[Myriad Worlds] replied in an excited tone, [Yes, Host!] All that was left was for it to shout, "Finally!"
Instantly, with Yan Anle at the center, several people within a 1.5-mile radius raised their heads to see something floating above them.
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"Hmm?" A certain small clan's Young Master instinctively reached out to grab it. As he read the placard's contents, his expression changed subtly.
Seated on the opposite end of his chessboard was a young lady who looked similar in age. She probed, curious, "Third Brother, what's that?"
"It seems to be an invitation to an auction." One of the young man's brows rose.
"An auction?"
"Yes. Sister, have you ever heard of Prosperity Abode?"
"No, I'm afraid not." The young lady shook her head. "But, brother, I don't think this new auction house is ordinary. The material used for this invitation seems special."
"You are right, Sister. This looks like it was made from…"
"Small Phoenix Tree!" they chorused.
The Young Lord's expression became one of enthusiasm. "Fifth Sister, it says here that I can bring one person along. Would you come with me?"
"Of course! Do you need to ask? Nothing exciting these days besides the Yan Clan and Sword River Sect turning against each other." She nodded. "By the way, where is it located?"
"Uh… it doesn't say." The young man's brows furrowed. "It just says that as long as I intend to honor the invitation, I should write down my name and the name of the companion I intend to bring along. When the time comes, I will understand."
"This…" The young lady frowned. "This wouldn't happen to be a scam, would it?"
"What's the point of guessing? Just do as it says and when the time comes, we'll naturally see the truth. If not for anything else, the promised final item for the auction alone is quite interesting!"
"What is the final item?"
"It's a stalk of—"
Similar scenes played out for 107 other people. Not all of them were Young Masters or Young Ladies.
Not all of them were cultivators. Some were Martial Artists, though all of them were at least Martial Kings.
The only commonality between them was that they possessed either a great reputation or wealth among their peers—or both.
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Shortly, Sun Ziyun stepped out of the Private Courtyard's wooden gates while Dou E returned with a bowl of water and two cups.
Under the curious gazes of the hires, Yan Anle picked up a cup and instructed, "Each of you should take a sip."
No one rushed to obey.
Noting their hesitance, he added, "Worried I would harm you? If that was my intention, why did I not just have her act directly? Could you resist a cultivator?"
Hearing this, their expressions changed.
Indeed, if this new boss of theirs wanted to harm them, could they put up any resistance?
What would be the point of putting on such an act up to this point?
So, they began to step forward, scooped up some of the water, and drank.
Two minutes later, one of them muttered, "Why… why do I suddenly feel dizzy?"
Yan Anle said, "It's fine. Don't worry. The location of my business is confidential, so I resorted to this."
They did not get to voice any complaints or curses before they fainted one after the other. With them out of the way, Yan Anle stood up and, obeying his mental command, Myriad Worlds opened the portal to the Secret Realm.
Pan Ting gasped and covered her mouth. "This is… this is… a Spatial Gate!"
Dou E smiled. "Sister Pan, no need to be overly excited just yet. In time, you will come to know how fortunate you are to be the Young Master's maid."
Yan Anle glanced at them. "Don't worry about these hires. Go on in."
Dou E did not waste any time and walked directly into the Secret Realm. Pan Ting stared at Yan Anle for a moment before heading in as well.
Then, he glanced at the unconscious hires; the portal exerted a suction force, pulling them in. Only then did he walk in, the spatial gate closing behind him.
Sun Ziyun, who was on her way to complete the errand he had sent her on, glanced back over her shoulder. Her lips curved up slightly as she chuckled.
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On the other side of the spatial gate, Pan Ting marveled at the lavishness of the Prosperity Abode.
"This place… where is this?" she asked Dou E, her eyes twinkling with greed and astonishment. "Such lavishness! Could this be a forbidden ground or a special cave abode of the clan?"
"Forbidden ground?" Dou E chuckled. "What forbidden ground would have chairs and a stage arranged like this?" She told her, "This place is our Master's."
Pan Ting, who had crouched down to closely inspect some tableware, accidentally let go of the mug in her hand.
"W-What?" She doubted her ears.
Dou E reflexively struck out with a dagger, catching the mug without damaging it.
"Careful now," Yan Anle warned as he walked down the stairs. "If you damage anything here, your monthly salary may not be able to cover it."
Pan Ting blinked, turned, and ran over to him.
"Master," she said with a chirp. "This place, it's so amazing! This is where I will be working from now on? As a host?"
"Yes, it is." He nodded. "From today henceforth, you will be in charge of overseeing the auctions that take place here."
"Auctions? This is an auction house?!"
"Indeed, it is." Yan Anle smiled. "Its name is Prosperity Abode. The first auction will be held in a few hours."
"Master, are you really the owner of this place?" She could not help but probe.
"Of course I am." Yan Anle exhaled through his lips and pointed at the unconscious mortals. "Alright, enough idle chatter. Wake them up."
Dou E and Pan Ting obeyed, injecting slivers of Qi into them to stimulate their recovery from the medicine.
Shortly after, their eyes fluttered open one after the other, filled with confusion. Questions like "Where am I?" and "What happened?" were as common as cabbages.
Yan Anle glanced at Pan Ting and told her, "You should establish familiarity and authority over them as soon as possible."
"As the host, you will practically be the manager of this auction house, running the place in my and Dou E's absence. Are you up for it?"
Pan Ting gave the group a once-over and smacked her lips. She said solemnly, "Don't worry, Master. I will not slack off."
"Good." He nodded, satisfied. "Then, here comes your first task: pacify them and lead them on a tour."
"Of course, the topmost floor is out of the question for them, and you will only have limited access."
"As for the rules they have to follow, you will create those as well."
"Leave it to me!" Pan Ting patted her chest, a flame of determination burning in her eyes.
Dou E stood beside him as they watched Pan Ting calm the group in a few sentences before leading them up.
Yan Anle complimented her, "Dou E, your idea was indeed not bad. As someone from that line of work, handling people is as easy as eating and drinking for her."
"I cannot take all the credit, Young Master." Dou E smiled. "In fact, you took charge of everything once we arrived at Bliss Sanctuary."
"The spirit stones spent, the connections forged, and even choosing Pan Ting herself—that was all you. I was merely a guard, a pretty companion, and a shadow of sorts."
"That does not change the fact that I probably would not have considered such a 'bold' idea without you." Yan Anle shook his head. "Okay, enough of that. After today's auction, I will redeem some resources from the warehouse for you."
He looked at her gently, "You should go into seclusion and quickly elevate your cultivation base to the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment."
"…" Dou E went silent.
"Why are you giving me that look?" Yan Anle raised a brow, his voice dripping with exasperation. "Hey, don't tell me you are about to start crying again!"