During Xu Zihuang and Qingmu's conversation, the group had unknowingly entered the inner city of Moon Pivot City. This was the core and most prosperous area of the city.
Towering buildings stood in rows, but compared to Mingdu, where Xu Zihuang had long lived, they lacked that cold metallic feeling. Instead, the retro and elaborate architecture carried a quaint, classical charm.
Particularly striking was a massive clock tower nearly a hundred meters tall. From the marks weathered into its surface, it was at least several centuries old.
The bell tolled, startling a flock of white doves at its peak.
Xu Zihuang soon stopped before a peculiar circular building.
This circular structure was enormous, with a diameter close to five hundred meters and its highest point surpassing eighty meters. Even within the inner city, few buildings could compare to it.
And in this inner city where land was worth its weight in gold, its presence alone showed the depth of the power behind it.
In fact, this was indeed the Moon Pivot Auction House. Its master was none other than Yao Yang, the Viscount of Yuenan and nominal ruler of the Yuenan Archipelago. This was also the meeting point Xu Zihuang and Wang Xiao had agreed upon earlier.
The main gate of the auction house was semicircular, like the building itself, all gleaming in white and gold.
Several tall greeters stood at the entrance. Clearly chosen with care, all the young women were around one meter seventy-five, with balanced figures. Though not peerless beauties, their graceful appearances and lively youth made them attractive.
On either side stood squads of soldiers in white-gold armor, each holding a spear. Xu Zihuang clearly felt the ripple of soul power from them.
These soldiers' cultivation was about the same as his—around the twenties in soul power rank.
So these were the Moon Pivot City Guards Yao Yang had mentioned.
When the greeters approached, Xu Zihuang calmly produced the crescent-shaped white jade token from the soul tool ring on his left index finger.
At the sight of the token, the girls' faces instantly changed. After whispering briefly among themselves, one hurried into the auction house while the others bowed respectfully to Xu Zihuang and his group.
"Please, come with us."
Inside the auction hall, there was no dazzling opulence. The floor was milky-white marble, while the walls were decorated with various reliefs. It appeared simple, elegant, and refined. Besides the reliefs, there were display cases along the walls showcasing rare metals, crystal-clear or vividly colored, as well as finely crafted soul tools.
These were all low-tier, worth less than a thousand gold soul coins each—the cheapest auction items.
Many well-dressed patrons strolled about, commenting in pretentious tones, as if to satisfy their vanity.
Just then, sharp, crisp footsteps rang from the staircase at the back of the hall.
A seductive woman in a fitted purple dress appeared at the landing, scanning the room until her gaze settled on Xu Zihuang and his group.
"Why would Supervisor Zhu personally come here?!"
The crowd erupted in chatter, staring in shock.
Ignoring their surprise, Supervisor Zhu gracefully walked straight to Xu Zihuang.
Even from a distance, Xu Zihuang noticed that she was taller than the greeters at the entrance, nearly one meter eighty. She didn't appear older than twenty-five. Her black hair was coiled neatly, her skin smooth as porcelain, her delicate beauty dignified yet alluring. The contrast in her bearing was striking.
What caught Xu Zihuang's attention most, however, was her eyes—deep violet, like his own.
Supervisor Zhu smiled dazzlingly at him, then intimately placed her hand on his shoulder.
Meng Lang, behind Xu Zihuang, tensed instantly, his guard rising. As her hand touched Xu Zihuang, he was ready to act—not only out of vigilance but also dissatisfaction.
How could someone of her status casually touch their Young Master?
"Don't be reckless!" Qingmu seized Meng Lang's right hand, halting him with a soul power transmission.
"This is Viscount Yao's territory. Remember his relationship with the Young Master."
Meng Lang's expression shifted at those words, and his clenched hand slowly relaxed.
Supervisor Zhu seemed unaware of their small exchange, her attention wholly on Xu Zihuang.
"The City Lord has long been waiting. Allow me to take you to him."
Xu Zihuang looked strangely at the overly intimate Supervisor Zhu, muttering inwardly.
Just what had Yao Yang said to her? Perhaps her relationship with him was unusual.
With his Golden Eye martial soul, Xu Zihuang could clearly see subtle emotions in her gaze. Especially when she mentioned the City Lord—Yao Yang—that lingering affection could not be hidden.
Waving his hand to reassure Meng Lang and the others, Xu Zihuang silently followed her. Each time his eyes met hers, she smiled softly back at him.
It felt like she was treating him kindly because of Yao Yang.
Meanwhile, the arrogant patrons in the hall couldn't tear their eyes away even after Xu Zihuang and the others left.
"Which power's disciple is that, to warrant a personal reception by the City Lord?"
"Not just a meeting—didn't you hear Supervisor Zhu say the City Lord has been waiting for him? What kind of identity must that young master have, for the City Lord himself to wait?"
"Hmph."
Ascending a golden sandalwood staircase, they entered the second-floor hall, where noticeably fewer patrons lingered.
The hall connected to corridors of utmost luxury. Carpets of soul beast pelts lined the floors, rare flowers were everywhere, and even a few water-attributed soul beasts—the tranquil lotus, known for calming effects—rested quietly in crystal containers along the sides.
Supervisor Zhu, clearly familiar with the place, led Xu Zihuang and his group to a corridor. She explained that each corridor connected to a private room, though there were only six top-tier VIP rooms.
Just as she stopped to continue speaking, her smile froze. She lifted her proud head and stared directly at another corridor's entrance.
Xu Zihuang followed her gaze. There stood two blue-haired girls who looked sixty to seventy percent alike. The younger appeared about twelve or thirteen, while the older was around Supervisor Zhu's age. Her soft, aqua-blue eyes met Supervisor Zhu's unflinchingly. In beauty, she was in no way inferior. But compared to the domineering Supervisor Zhu, she carried a fragile, pitiable air.
"Elder Sister Zhu." The blue-haired girl greeted her sweetly.
"So it's Little Sister Shui. Forgive me for not accompanying you—I have urgent business, escorting an honored guest to meet the City Lord. Seems someone else wanted to see him today, yet still hasn't, hmm?"
Supervisor Zhu's gaze turned cold, then shifted as if recalling something. She responded with unusual initiative, though her lips curved in a faint, mocking smile.
Xu Zihuang immediately felt two burning gazes fall on him, leaving him speechless.