The door to the VIP box opened silently.
Ling Xian turned to see a figure entering their box: Ming Shen, the mysterious merchant who had once sold him the Sun-Frost Divine Furnace.
He was dressed in deep violet robes laced with black-gold embroidery, his long gray hair flowing like river silk behind him. His eyes held wisdom, but also a playful spark—like a man who had seen too much, yet still found amusement in the world.
Ming Shen stepped inside, With a serene smile, he clasped his hands in greeting.
"Little friend Ling, I trust the hospitality of the Grand Phoenix Auction House has met your expectations."
Ling Xian rose to his feet and respectfully cupped his fists.
"Senior Ming Shen," he said with a nod, "it is an honor. I didn't expect you to come in person."
Ming Shen chuckled softly. "And yet here I am, drawn by curiosity and a touch of admiration. You've surprised me again."
Yan Ruyin watched from the side, noting the subtle shift in Ling Xian's tone—less aloof, more composed. It wasn't fear. It was respect.
Ling Xian asked softly, "Senior, was it you who arranged the upgrade to this box?"
Ming Shen smiled, eyes glinting. "I simply made a suggestion. The rest... was curiosity. You see, young friend, Feng Lianhua herself requested a full background check when she saw the pill recipes submitted in your companion's name."
Yan Ruyin stiffened slightly.
Ling Xian remained calm. "She suspects something?"
"No. She's intrigued. Which, in this place, is far more dangerous."
Ling Xian nodded slowly.
Ming Shen patted his shoulder. "But consider this a gift. Let the world taste a fraction of your talent. It may draw attention—but the right kind."
"I sensed a few familiar threads in your refined cores and your pill formulas," Ming Shen continued, pacing leisurely around the VIP room. "Methods long forgotten by today's alchemists… and that should no longer exist in this world."
Ling Xian remained quiet, only bowing his head slightly. "This junior was fortunate enough to stumble upon some legacies in a ruin. I hope the auction house finds them valuable."
Ming Shen smiled. "Valuable? Little friend, they are priceless to the right buyer. You've stirred more waves than you realize."
He turned, lifting a jade token from within his sleeve and placing it gently on the table before them.
"This is a special bidding token. With it, you may bid without deposit or restriction tonight. It will shield you from suspicion… and give you weight should any trouble arise."
Ling Xian hesitated only briefly before receiving it with both hands.
"Many thanks, Senior Ming. This junior will remember the favor."
Ming Shen nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Good. Cultivators like you—talented, mysterious, and quiet—either shine like stars… or burn too quickly."
He moved toward the exit but paused at the threshold, his tone dropping ever so slightly.
"A word of caution," he added, eyes glinting with meaning. "Tonight's auction may appear to be about treasures… but in truth, many are here for people. For alliances. For power. Watch the bidders closely, Little Friend Ling. Some of them have sharper fangs than the items on display."
With that, he offered a final nod and left, the heavy door sealing behind him.
The heavy door clicked shut behind Ming Shen, and silence settled like mist within the room.
Ling Xian stood there for a moment, the jade bidding token still warm in his palm. He stared at it, lost in thought.
Yan Ruyin finally broke the silence. "That senior … he's no ordinary merchant, is he?"
Ling Xian slowly sat down, the token resting beside him on the carved jade table. "He's much more than a merchant. That man's eyes… they've seen too many things to belong to a simple trader."
She studied Ling Xian for a beat. "You were different with him. Not cold. Not distant."
He gave a faint smile. "He deserves respect. Senior Ming Shen may wear a merchant's robe, but he carries the weight of a cultivator who's walked through storms far fiercer than most of us can imagine. I could sense it."
Yan Ruyin leaned back against the seat, folding her arms. "He said people are here for more than just treasures."
Ling Xian's gaze sharpened. "He's right. Some will come for power. Others for secrets. Some may already have their eyes on us."
"You, you mean," she corrected quietly.
Ling Xian didn't deny it.
He turned his divine sense outward again—subtle and restrained this time—brushing against the myriad auras that filled the grand auction house. Cultivators of all stages. Some arrogant. Some silent. Some cloaked too well to read clearly.
But the one thing they all had in common… was hunger.
A knock echoed at the door.
A young servant stepped in respectfully, bowing low. "Honored guests, the Grand Auction of the Phoenix House is now beginning. May fortune favor your bids."
As the servant retreated, the translucent wall of their VIP room shimmered softly, unveiling a direct and unobstructed view of the grand hall below.
Rows of cultivators packed the enormous space, arranged in tiers around a raised platform of polished spirit wood. Glowing formations danced faintly across the hall's ceiling, ensuring sound clarity and privacy enchantments for all VIP boxes.
Then, from behind a curtain veiled in radiant phoenix silk, a figure stepped onto the central stage.
The entire auction hall seemed to pause.
Gasps escaped the crowd.
"She's here…!"
"That's her…!"
Even Ling Xian narrowed his eyes slightly.
The woman who now stood beneath the lights was unlike any he had seen. Her figure was graceful, every movement carrying natural charm. Her long silken hair cascaded like a waterfall of night, and her phoenix robe—scarlet trimmed with gold and white—hugged her form like flowing flame. Her skin gleamed like jade, her features carved with ethereal precision. The flick of her wrist, the curl of her lips—it was as if beauty had taken human form.
But it wasn't just her appearance.
It was her aura.
Cold as moonlight, regal as a queen, and yet… kindled with quiet flames. Golden Core Peak Stage—but Ling Xian could feel that she was hiding her true depth.
Whispers exploded throughout the hall.
"It's her! The Peerless Flame Fairy of the Phoenix House!"
"Feng Lianhua… Even her name is like a celestial poem…"
"I heard she once burned a Nascent Soul cultivator to ash with a single command—after he dared insult her in a private auction."
"I would die just for her to glance my way…"
"Forget the treasures, I came just to see her in person!"
In the VIP box, Yan Ruyin scoffed softly. "Cultivators. One beauty and they forget their Dao hearts."
Ling Xian smiled faintly but didn't look away.
"So that's Feng Lianhua…"
He had heard the name whispered in taverns, spoken in awe in sects and merchant guilds alike. A figure cloaked in mystery and reverence—known as the Auction Flame Fairy, and rumored to be the real power behind the famed Phoenix Auction House.
Now, seeing her in person, Ling Xian understood why.
Feng Lianhua raised her voice, soft but clear as the chiming of spiritual bells. "Honored guests. From distant sects to lone wanderers—welcome."
She paused, her gaze sweeping the room.
"Tonight, the Grand Phoenix Auction begins. Whether you seek treasure, knowledge, or rebirth—may your flames rise."
The room thundered with applause.
And just like that, the first item was brought forward.
To be continued...
Author: please don't mind small mistakes; As there was no proper explanation for each characters in the chapter as they are only random character, as it is only the beginning of the journey, so they are only randomly picked up to sell items.