Chapter 232 - 199: The Dark Age_2

Words : 1499 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Chapter 232: Chapter 199: The Dark Age_2 "Old Lady Li," he bowed deeply and said. Yan Xiaobao nodded in response, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Please follow this servant into the hall we have prepared for the auction. We’ve arranged the most beautiful balcony for you to overlook the auction; we hope it meets your satisfaction." Yan Xiaobao raised an intrigued eyebrow. The manager couldn’t see his reaction, but from under the conical hat, a melodic, youthful voice replied: "Thank you, manager. I deeply appreciate your assistance." The manager and all the guards felt a ripple, a shockwave reverberating through their bodies as the voice passed over them. Though gentle and friendly, the voice carried an undeniable depth of power—a testament to this expert’s remarkable cultivation. The guards did not follow Yan Xiaobao into the Black Market Auction House building. Instead, after bidding him farewell with respectful bows, they resumed their patrol duties immediately. The manager personally escorted Yan Xiaobao up to the balcony of the main auction hall on the second floor. The balcony, spacious enough to accommodate ten people, was entirely reserved for "her." A servant was stationed outside to ensure that the expert "Li Fen" would have everything "she" desired. Despite the arrival of numerous nobles early on, none were permitted to enter before the disguised Yan Xiaobao. Now seated within "her" private balcony, the doors were finally opened, revealing a panoramic view of Liluo. The city’s upper echelon began to stream into the auction hall, reminiscent of a tribal frenzy on Black Friday. The first floor was filled with rows of seats for minor nobles and merchants. Mercenaries and wealthier middle-class civilians were also given places. The other balconies were reserved for the city’s most influential aristocracy. The first balcony to open belonged to Lord Rong Liang. Yet, when Yan Xiaobao saw who entered it, his brows knitted tightly. Yan Xiaobao had anticipated Rong Liang would bring along Bubu and several guards. However, among those entering the balcony were the two unmissable figures of his children, alongside seven mysterious individuals cloaked entirely in black, who closely resembled ones Yan Xiaobao had encountered before. Seeing these enigmatic figures, Yan Xiaobao felt a cold sweat break out and a pang of unease settle in his chest. Logically, he understood that these experts couldn’t possibly recognize him as the boy he had been earlier. Previously, Yan Xiaobao had relied solely on his cultivation base as a student. His aura was entirely his own. But now, to anyone observing, what emanated from him was the aura of Lan Feng. Calming himself, Yan Xiaobao scrutinized the experts. Although Lan Feng’s spiritual energy was naturally exuding around him, neither said a word. Instead, they synchronized their souls completely, merging their auras effortlessly. The men in black passed their eyes over Yan Xiaobao. All they did was nod slightly, to which Yan Xiaobao responded courteously. Lord Rong Liang seemed to treat these individuals with even greater regard than he normally displayed, leading Yan Xiaobao to suspect they were affiliated with the Royal Family. The black-cloaked figures no longer paid Yan Xiaobao any attention, and his nerves gradually settled. Instead, their focus shifted back to Lord Rong Liang, observing him cryptically. It seemed as though they were conversing, but the whispering was too far away for Yan Xiaobao to overhear. Lord Rong Liang adopted an utterly humble and reverent posture, nodding frequently and bowing slightly in acknowledgment of their words. Watching the City Lord exhibit such great hospitality and deference toward these shadowy figures, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but feel a whirl of confusion. Clearly, these were individuals of extraordinary prowess, or perhaps renowned experts he had yet to identify. Who are they? Yan Xiaobao pondered as his gaze rested on the opposite balcony. Why would Lord Rong Liang extend such respect and humility? Could they truly be from the Royal Family? The mere thought sent a jolt of surprise through him. Beneath the brim of his conical hat, his eyes widened as he examined the figures more closely. But no matter how carefully he observed, all he could see were the seven cloaked figures seated, with Lord Rong Liang standing beside them. It made complete sense if they had been dispatched by the Royal Family, given the extraordinary value of the two martial arts skills being auctioned tonight. As he waited for the auction to commence, Yan Xiaobao let his gaze wander to the other balconies. His eyes fell on the one beside Rong Liang’s, and a faint smirk crossed his face. This particular balcony housed five seated individuals, with five stern-looking guards standing watch behind them. Among the seated, one was a youth almost the same age as Yan Xiaobao, whom he instantly recognized as Wang Julong. While Yan Xiaobao had anticipated seeing Wang Julong participate in such a high-stakes auction, the sight still amused him. If the Wang Family managed to purchase the skill, it would certainly drain an enormous sum of money. But if they failed, the envy it would stir might sow discord within their household’s already delicate atmosphere. This was admittedly a petty line of thought—one Yan Xiaobao himself was well aware of—but when it came to Wang Julong, his rationality often slipped away. The stalemate from their previous duel still weighed lightly on Yan Xiaobao’s mind. In his past life, Yan Xiaobao had never encountered an equal. Yet in this world, Wang Julong had been the first to stand on par with him. Acclaimed as a prodigy, Wang Julong had become a nagging thorn in Yan Xiaobao’s confidence. However, he stubbornly refused to acknowledge them as equals. Soon enough, Yan Xiaobao was determined to prove who was superior—especially once he secured some powerful medicine pills through this auction. Truthfully, Yan Xiaobao had little desire to be at the Black Market Auction House tonight. Attending was fraught with risks. With so many powerful figures present, even the slightest misstep could draw unwanted attention, potentially blowing his cover. Unfortunately, he had no other choice. Whenever students left the academy, the student council meticulously recorded their names and departure times. Were the teachers to notice discrepancies during the expert’s visit, they’d launch an investigation. Obviously, no one could suspect that Yan Xiaobao, a mere student, was the expert in question. Yet his extraordinary combat repertoire ensured he could no longer pass as an average academy disciple. This placed the identity of "Li Fen" in peril, leaving Yan Xiaobao with no safe way out. Thus, he resolved to fully immerse himself in his imagined persona as the distinguished expert. Lan Feng had promised they’d escape unharmed if things escalated to conflict. Even if he couldn’t secure victory alone, Lan Feng assured him that, by ceasing their aura synchronization, he’d at least have the strength to spirit them to safety. Initially, as guests began to arrive, Yan Xiaobao had brimmed with excitement at the prospect of profit from the auction. But that exhilaration soon transformed into apprehension the moment the black-cloaked figures entered the fray. That apprehension further congealed into irritation as his gaze landed on Wang Julong, fueling a simmering frustration. Lan Feng, overly preoccupied with maintaining the aura blend, lacked the capacity to tease Yan Xiaobao as usual. Yet even without external remarks, the irritation lingered far longer than Yan Xiaobao anticipated. At last, he heaved a deep sigh, passing the stage of frustration as he continued scanning the room, his attention drawn to the next balcony over. There, a sight unfolded that caused him to frown ever so slightly. This balcony unmistakably belonged to the Deng Family. Though Yan Xiaobao had expected Wang Julong to show up tonight, he now wondered if the Rong twins or even Hong Kong might make an appearance. What genuinely surprised him, however, was the presence of Deng Wu. Deng Wu was generally regarded as a moderately talented boy. Yet his personality was far from the norm for someone from a distinguished lineage. People brought to auctions of this scale were typically considered prominent within their families. Deng Wu’s attendance piqued Yan Xiaobao’s interest—there was clearly much more to him than he let on. Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but imagine that bringing attention to himself was precisely Deng Wu’s intent. As if he could sense Yan Xiaobao’s thoughts, Deng Wu turned his head, locking eyes on the conical hat of the disguised expert. A knowing smile crept onto his face, wordlessly conveying that he could see straight through the facade of the esteemed "Li Fen." Yan Xiaobao bit his lip, exhaling sharply. He sensed the plans beginning to unravel, yet there was no way to change course. For now, all he could do was remain seated and continue scanning the rest of the guests. Catching sight of the audience below, Yan Xiaobao noticed Shan Ping sitting beside Wang Jingshen. For some reason, the elder brother wasn’t seated within the Wang Family’s allocated balcony, raising Yan Xiaobao’s eyebrows in surprise. ...

Chapter 232 - 199: The Dark Age_2

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