Ye Xuan left the Blackwood Ancient Ruins shortly after receiving the ancient inheritance.
The forest was quiet.
The morning sunlight filtered through the enormous trees, casting golden patterns across the ground.
Ye Xuan walked along the forest path with his hands behind his head.
"Three years of cultivation, one ancient inheritance, and my first adventure outside the sect."
He smiled.
"Not bad."
[The system agrees.]
Ye Xuan glanced upward.
"You've become surprisingly agreeable."
[The system is afraid the host will complain again.]
"Good. You've learned."
[The system regrets everything.]
Ye Xuan laughed.
He continued forward.
After several hours, the dense forest finally disappeared.
A massive city appeared in the distance.
Its walls were dozens of meters high.
Cultivators entered and exited through the enormous gates.
Flying swords crossed the sky.
Carriages pulled by spiritual beasts traveled along the road.
Ye Xuan stopped.
"So this is a cultivation city."
[Name detected: Azure Sky City.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Let's see what this place has."
Azure Sky City
The moment Ye Xuan entered the city—
he immediately realized how different it was from the Heavenly Frost Sect.
The streets were crowded.
Cultivators from different sects walked everywhere.
Some carried swords.
Others wore strange robes.
There were merchants selling pills, weapons, talismans, spiritual herbs and countless strange treasures.
Ye Xuan's eyes wandered across the shops.
Then he noticed something.
A large group of people had gathered around a young woman.
She wore a simple blue dress.
Her long black hair reached her waist.
Her appearance was beautiful, but her expression was cold.
Several young men surrounded her.
One of them smiled.
"Miss Lin, our Young Master sincerely wishes to invite you to the Azure Cloud Pavilion."
The woman frowned.
"I already refused."
The man's smile disappeared.
"Miss Lin, don't make things difficult."
Ye Xuan stopped walking.
He sighed.
Every cultivation city really does have this scene.
He was about to leave.
Then—
the woman suddenly looked toward him.
Their eyes met.
Ye Xuan froze.
She looked at him for a moment.
Then her eyes moved toward the jade token hanging from his waist.
Her expression changed slightly.
Heavenly Frost Sect.
She immediately understood his identity.
The young man beside her also noticed.
"Another Heavenly Frost Sect disciple?"
He turned toward Ye Xuan.
"You."
Ye Xuan pointed at himself.
"Me?"
"Mind your own business."
Ye Xuan looked around.
"Was I interfering?"
The young man sneered.
"Then leave."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"I was already leaving."
He turned around.
The blue-robed woman suddenly spoke.
"Wait."
Ye Xuan stopped.
He looked back.
"Yes?"
"Could you help me?"
The surrounding young men immediately became angry.
The leading man stepped forward.
"Brat, don't interfere."
Ye Xuan looked at him.
"She asked me."
"So?"
"So I'm considering it."
The man's expression became cold.
"Do you know who I am?"
Ye Xuan thought for a moment.
"No."
"I am Zhao Ming, disciple of the Azure Cloud Pavilion."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Congratulations."
Zhao Ming's face darkened.
"You're courting death."
He raised his hand.
A palm strike shot toward Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan didn't move.
The attack reached him—
BOOM!
A golden-blue spiritual barrier appeared around his body.
The palm strike shattered instantly.
Zhao Ming's expression changed.
"How..."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"That wasn't very impressive."
Zhao Ming's cultivation was only Spirit Gathering Seventh Layer.
Ye Xuan didn't even need to use a technique.
His physical body alone was enough.
The Mysterious Girl
The blue-robed woman looked at Ye Xuan with surprise.
She had expected him to be stronger than Zhao Ming.
But she hadn't expected him to completely ignore the attack.
Zhao Ming's face turned red.
"Do you think the Azure Cloud Pavilion will forgive you?"
Ye Xuan sighed.
"Why does everyone threaten people with their background?"
He looked toward the woman.
"Miss, let's go."
She nodded.
The two walked away.
After leaving the crowd, the woman finally spoke.
"Thank you."
Ye Xuan looked at her.
"No problem."
She hesitated.
"My name is Lin Xue."
"Ye Xuan."
"I know."
Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"You know me?"
She pointed toward his jade token.
"Your identity."
"Oh."
Lin Xue studied him.
"You are Elder Han Yue's disciple."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Yes."
Her expression became slightly surprised.
"She rarely accepts disciples."
"I was lucky."
Lin Xue smiled faintly.
"Perhaps."
The Auction
They eventually arrived before a massive building.
A golden sign hung above its entrance.
Azure Sky Auction House.
Lin Xue looked at Ye Xuan.
"Are you going inside?"
"Maybe."
"I need to purchase something."
"What?"
"A spiritual herb."
Ye Xuan glanced at her.
"Expensive?"
"Very."
"Then I definitely shouldn't ask."
Lin Xue laughed softly.
"You are strange."
"I hear that often."
They entered together.
Neither noticed—
a black-robed figure standing across the street.
The man watched Ye Xuan carefully.
His eyes narrowed.
"Heavenly Frost Sect..."
Then he looked at Lin Xue.
"And the daughter of the Lin Clan."
A faint smile appeared.
"This city is becoming interesting."
[Special Location Detected.]
Ye Xuan suddenly stopped.
His eyes brightened.
The System had spoken.
[Azure Sky Auction House qualifies as a Special Check-In Location.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
Now we're talking.
[Check-In condition: Participate in the auction and remain until the final item is revealed.]
Ye Xuan looked toward the auction hall.
"Final item?"
[Unknown.]
His curiosity immediately increased.
"Then I'll stay."
Lin Xue looked at him.
"Did you say something?"
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Nothing."
He walked inside.
The auction was about to begin.
And the final item—
would attract far more attention than either of them expected.