Black Horn Region, Mitel Auction House.
After visiting Great Elder Su Qian, Chen Guan arrived here from Canaan Academy.
His sole purpose was to find Yafei.
"So, you're now solely responsible for the auction house in Black Horn Region, and Tengshan has gone to the Sky Star Empire?"
"As the Alliance Leader said, ever since the internal strife within the Sky Star Empire royal family, Senior Tengshan has gone there. Yafei was a bit flustered when she first took over the auction house, but thankfully, with the support of loyalists like the Eight Gates, we've been able to avoid any problems. Black Horn Region is indeed a mixed bag, and this auction house alone is now sufficient to support the Sky Star Alliance's daily expenses."
Yafei didn't take all the credit; she didn't need to.
As the head of the auction house, she naturally deserved the primary credit for its prosperity.
Compared to this 'insignificant' achievement, she was more eager for Chen Guan's promise; that was the thing that could completely change her life.
Over the past few years, she had wanted to ask Yao Ye about this countless times, but she always held back, fearing that Chen Guan would be displeased.
Year after year, Yafei sometimes wondered if Chen Guan had just said it casually, never taking that promise to heart. If that were the case, there was nothing she could do.
Fortunately, after years of anticipation, hope finally shone today: Chen Guan had returned.
She knew that, given his status, he didn't need to come to the auction house for such a trivial matter; his real purpose was most likely that matter.
She was filled with excitement beyond words, but Chen Guan remained silent, and Yafei could only suppress it, enduring the itching pangs of being scratched by a cat.
"Well done! Few in the Tianmeng can match you in business," Chen Guan nodded in praise.
He had just asked Yafei about the situation in the northwest over the past few years; everything was fine.
The only major event was the civil unrest within the Tianxing Empire. Although suppressed by the Emperor, it came at a heavy price: the princes and princesses perished...
Such a tragic scene.
This incident spread widely in the northwest, but to Chen Guan, it was a minor matter, insignificant.
"Thank you, Alliance Leader, for your compliment."
"It's just the truth. Well, I see you're feigning composure, but I've been wanting to ask. You made significant contributions back then, and I promised to refine a Heaven-Replenishing Pill for you to improve your aptitude. I won't let you down this time."
With that, Chen Guan tossed out a mutton-fat jade bottle.
Just one pill wasn't enough to make him go back on his word.
A thousand-mile dam can be breached by a single ant hole. As a leader, it's crucial to maintain the morale of your subordinates for long-term success.
With almost the fastest speed she'd ever seen, Ya Fei reached up with both hands and grasped the jade bottle tightly.
Feeling the cool warmth in her palms, she hesitated several times before finally, with trembling hands, she could no longer resist removing the cork.
Suddenly, the rich aroma of the pill filled her nose and mouth.
Gazing at the perfectly round pill resting quietly in the bottle, her vision blurred, and her delicate body trembled.
She wept with joy!
A gifted man like Chen Guan could never comprehend what she was feeling right now.
No matter how talented one is at business, it's ultimately unremarkable. Without real power, one will always be just a tool!
"Thank you...thank you..."
"Don't thank me, you deserve it. Also, I need to remind you: this Bu Tian Dan is sealed with my Dou Qi. You'd better take it immediately upon your return to avoid trouble. Not to mention the potential covetousness if the news leaks, even if the elixir is broken, you won't be able to recapture it. My seal will dissipate automatically after you take it."
Although Chen Guan couldn't fully empathize with Ya Fei's joy, seeing her like this, he still felt a sense of emotion, so he added another reminder.
Actually, with Ya Fei's intelligence, this was unnecessary.
Ya Fei nodded repeatedly, and it took a long time for her to regain some control of her emotions. When she looked up to thank him again, the person in the seat in front of her had already disappeared.
...
Jama Empire, Holy City.
Anyone who left ten years ago would doubt their eyes upon returning now.
Truly, this place has changed so much!
In the past, the Holy City's royal family reigned supreme,
standing tall among its peers, its most dazzling jewel. Now, a colossus loomed.
In the very heart of the Holy City, an exquisite pavilion, more than twice the height of the Imperial Palace, soared to the clouds, a true landmark.
This was the Tianmeng's Guantian Pavilion!
Only the highest echelons of the Tianmeng were authorized to make decisions and hold discussions here, and any order issued from here could profoundly impact the entire northwest.
When Chen Guan arrived, he could see many people pausing to gaze upwards, their eyes brimming with passion. Occasionally, he'd hear his name mentioned in their conversation.
It was a strange feeling, to be honest.
Yet, he felt a little embarrassed. He had only known of the vast Guantian Pavilion through correspondence with Yao Ye; this was his first time seeing it in person.
Few could surpass the level of a hands-off shopkeeper who had achieved this feat...
With a guilty smile, Chen Guan vanished from the scene.
With his current strength, no one could detect him unless he tried.
With a strange mindset, Chen Guan slowly ascended the pavilion. Along the way, he encountered seven Dou Wangs and two Dou Huangs, all of whom passed by him. They all looked very young, and Chen Guan even felt a sense of familiarity, though he couldn't place their names.
After reaching the tenth floor, he reached the true heart of the Guantian Pavilion, where Dou Zong masters resided.
In one of the rooms, he also spotted Jia Xingtian, though this Jia Xingtian was a bit strange, possessing only the strength of a one-star Dou Zong.
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Seeing this, Chen Guan nodded slightly.
"The old man is quite cautious. This stand-in is so real it's practically indistinguishable from the real thing."
Continuing up, Chen Guan spotted Nalan Jie, Hai Bodong, and the others, but neither of them appeared to greet him.
He reached the top floor, which contained only four rooms.
The two on the left were connected, housing a collection of techniques, fighting techniques, magic cores, weapons, and other valuables. While the most valuable items were certainly not there, they were enough to make any faction in the northwest envious.
Notably, the long-unseen Ghost Poisonous Monster lay in one of them, completely unaware of his hidden gaze.
Seeing the old man's corpse-like appearance, Chen Guan shook his head and chuckled, feeling a sense of relief.
He still remembered Ghost Poisonous Monster's farewell to Xiao Qingyan on the day he returned to the northwest. Others hadn't seen anything wrong, but to him, it was as if he were seeing an old general on stage, his back covered in banners. "He
's safe and sound now, that's good."
Smiling, Chen Guan turned and pushed open the first room on the right.
Yao Ye was standing by the window, lost in thought, staring into the distance.
With the Tianmeng now on track, there were fewer things to worry about, naturally giving them more free time.
Furthermore, those old men should have been sitting here, but they were each increasingly lazy, and someone needed to take charge, just in case, so the responsibility naturally fell to Yao Ye.
Fortunately, Yao Ye's special status was well known, so no one dared to underestimate her. If something serious happened, those men would surely come out.
A noise from behind suddenly brought Yao Ye back to her senses.
She wasn't worried about any danger, but simply wondered which old man was being so rude today.
It probably wasn't Yunshan.
Jia Xingtian was more likely!
Looking back, she was stunned, like a still painting of a beautiful woman.
A gentle breeze blew, her hair flowed like a waterfall, and the mountains seemed to appear!
"You..."
After a long pause, Yao Ye spoke uncertainly.
She would recognize the young man in her sight even if he turned into a ghost, but his sudden appearance always made her doubt his authenticity.
"Sister Yaoye, it's me."
Chen Guan laughed out loud, and the surprise in his eyes faded.
Perhaps it was because he hadn't seen Yaoye without her military uniform for so long, he actually felt as if he were in another world.
At the same time, in the opposite room, the old monster Youdu, who had been lying there like a dead body, also opened his eyes, then shook his head and closed them again.
It was so sudden, he actually heard that kid's voice just now...
back here.
The familiar title also made Yaoye confirm.
"Our leader has finally decided to come back."
He felt an inexplicable emotion in his heart, but looking at that smiling face, the sense of distance he was worried about did not appear. He complained lightly, just like when he came back from training.
Chen Guan was no longer like he was in Zhongzhou. He smiled awkwardly, walked to the desk, pulled out a chair and sat down, casually fiddling with some letters on the desk, which was a small move to divert his attention out of guilt.
"I just came out of seclusion. I haven't even returned to Zhongzhou yet. I came to see you, Sister Yaoye."
Yaoye rolled her eyes at him, then pulled out a chair and sat down, her delicate hand resting on her chin as she surveyed him.
Sitting opposite each other, less than two feet apart, they felt quite intimate.
"Well, you're so thoughtful. How long can you stay this time?"
It was the inevitable question he always asked upon returning, but Chen Guan didn't want to answer, because this time, he truly couldn't stay much longer.
His gaze drifted to the open letter on the table, which contained news about the Tianxing Empire. Yaoye seemed quite concerned about it.
"It's just a few sentiments. The Tianxing Emperor was severely injured in this internal strife, and the possibility of renewing his bloodline is slim. Perhaps in a few decades, the Tianxing Empire will no longer be ruled by his lineage."
Seeing that Chen Guan didn't answer, Yaoye guessed what he had, and casually explained his confusion.
Chen Guan nodded slightly. It was a small matter, unimportant.
"Sister Yaoye..."
Chen Guan started to say something, but suddenly paused, his calm gaze casting a calm gaze out the window.
"Well, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. A few enthusiastic friends who love this land of the northwest have followed me here. Wait a moment while I go and settle them."
Chen Guan gave Yao Ye a reassuring smile and stood up to leave the room.
Outside the Holy City, a group of hurried men stopped, all gazing at the towering attic within sight.
"That's where the Tianmeng headquarters is. I'm telling you one last time: try to capture the leaders alive, and leave the rest as they please. Quick and decisive!"