?

Just as they were stopped by the steward, Ye Lingyue and Ye Han couldn't endure it.

As direct descendants of the immortal Ye Clan, they had grown up with golden spoons in their mouths. They had whatever they desired, and wherever they went, they were surrounded by fawning crowds. When had they ever...

When had they ever been pointed at and told, "Your level isn't high enough, you cannot enter"?

A profound humiliation!

An absolute, profound humiliation!!

The steady and composed eldest sister, Ye Lingyue, could still suppress her anger, though her face had long since frosted over with ice.

But Ye Han, whose temper was inherently fiery and who was accustomed to being arrogant and domineering, how could she swallow this insult?

She instantly drew the longsword in her hand, pointing the blade right at the steward's nose as she scolded:

"Audacious! Do you know who we sisters are? How dare you speak to us in such a manner?!"

As she spoke, she prepared to strike.

Ye Lingyue furrowed her brows. She reached out to stop Ye Han, simultaneously erupting with the cultivation base of the Ninth Heaven of the Divine Fire Realm, allowing the steward to clearly sense her strength and realm.

The steward paused for a moment, but then burst into raucous laughter:

"My apologies, you two!"

"Even a Ninth Heaven Divine Fire Realm expert cannot enter this Heaven Character private room!"

Had it not been for the previous incident where a maid judged by appearances and mocked Chu Chen, only to be killed, the steward, given his temper, would have long since blasted anyone who dared draw a sword on him out of the auction house.

However, seeing that Ye Lingyue and Ye Han possessed an extraordinary bearing and a natural aura of nobility, the steward forcefully suppressed his anger and refrained from making things difficult for them.

Though he didn't make things difficult, rules were rules. Naturally, he didn't offer the two women a pleasant expression either.

"Let alone the Divine Fire Realm, even a Great Saint expert cannot enter the Heaven Character private room. This is the rule set by my Divine Flame Imperial Palace."

"Our Shenhuo City auction house divides its private rooms into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. The Yellow Character rooms host honored guests, the Profound Character rooms host Great Saint cultivators, the Earth Character rooms host Saint King Realm experts, and the Heaven Character rooms..."

"Are strictly for internal use!!"

"......"

Ye Lingyue furrowed her brows. This was the territory of the Divine Flame Imperial Palace. If she exposed their Ye Clan identities, not only would they receive no special treatment, but instead...

They would be even more likely to be expelled from Shenhuo City!

"Then may I ask, who just entered the Heaven Character private room..."

A flash of inspiration struck Ye Lingyue. As she spoke, she quietly retrieved two Top Grade Spirit Stones and slipped them into the steward's hand.

The steward froze. He initially intended to refuse, but upon closer inspection, he saw they were actually two Top Grade Spirit Stones. He was instantly overjoyed.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was watching, he hurriedly swept them into his Storage Ring.

"Shh~ The ones who just entered the Heaven Character private room are our Divine Flame Imperial Palace's Saintess and Elder Zhong Sheng..."

"And the other one? The youth walking in front, dressed in splendid brocade robes."

Before the steward could finish, Ye Lingyue urgently pressed:

"He... who is he? What is his name??"

The steward was startled. He immediately waved his hand in vigilant refusal:

"That, I do not know!"

As soon as these words fell, Ye Lingyue and Ye Han's expressions shifted repeatedly.

"Big Sister, let's go!"

"Those three just entered the Heaven Character private room, which is strictly reserved for the internal members of the Divine Flame Imperial Palace."

Ye Han secretly sent a Divine Sense transmission to Ye Lingyue. Frustrated at every turn, she had lost all desire to attend the auction:

"That trash Chu... Even if Chu Chen is still alive, it is absolutely impossible for him to set foot in a Heaven Character private room, much less have the Saintess and an Elder of the Divine Flame Imperial Palace accompany him. We definitely mistook him for someone else!"

"......"

Reason told Ye Lingyue that Ye Han's words were true.

But still...

Ye Lingyue couldn't shake the feeling that the youth's back was far too familiar. She was unwilling to just let it go.

"For the sake of those two Top Grade Spirit Stones, if you wish to participate in the auction, I can arrange a Yellow Character private room for you. Take it or leave it, decide for yourselves..."

Ye Lingyue bowed slightly, speaking with gratitude:

"Then, many thanks."

By the time Ye Lingyue and Ye Han settled into the Yellow Character private room, the auction had resumed.

.......

Inside the Heaven Character private room, facing Bai Lu's probing, Zhang Ke'er and Zhong Sheng did not answer directly. Instead, they both turned their gazes to Chu Chen.

What a joke. Without Chu Chen opening his mouth, how could they dare act on their own authority??

Who did he think he was looking down on~

"Elder Bai Lu, there is no need for such formalities. I am but a lowly Essence Condensation Realm cultivator."

As he spoke, Chu Chen pushed open the window, gazing down at the first item on the auction block, the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, with profound interest.

"......"

Countless alpacas trampled across Bai Lu's heart, yet he didn't dare probe further.

A lowly Essence Condensation Realm cultivator? Who are you trying to bluff?

Can an Essence Condensation Realm cultivator order around an Elder of the Divine Flame Imperial Palace?

Can an Essence Condensation Realm cultivator command Her Highness the Saintess?

Can an Essence Condensation Realm cultivator treat a Saintess as a maid and a Great Saint as a slave??

If that were true, what was the point of him, Bai Lu, risking his life to break through to the First Heaven of the Great Saint realm???

Seeing that Chu Chen had no intention of revealing his true identity, Bai Lu dared not ask. Instead, he attentively brewed tea and poured water for the three of them, personally attending to their needs.

Setting all else aside, Zhang Ke'er's status as the Saintess alone was worthy of Bai Lu's servitude.

Not to mention the unfathomably mysterious Chu Chen beside her.......

"Distinguished guests, although this Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill is incomplete, even as a mere fragment, its grade has reached the Heaven Opening Realm."

"The essence of this manual is a top-tier defensive technique that tempers the flesh, blood, bones, and skin with metal-attribute spiritual power. Cultivating this art reinforces the body, making it as impenetrable as a Dharma Treasure, rendering it invulnerable to blades, weapons, water, and fire."

The auctioneer once again introduced the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill. Her enchanting voice instantly hooked the attention of every cultivator present:

"If a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator practices the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, their bodily defense can rival that of an Essence Condensation Realm cultivator. If an Essence Condensation Realm cultivator practices it, their defense can match a Sea Cleaving Realm cultivator..."

"I need not elaborate further on the value of this Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill. The starting bid is one thousand High Grade Spirit Stones, and each subsequent bid must increase by no less than one hundred High Grade Spirit Stones."

"Fellow Daoists, let the bidding begin!!"

The moment her words fell, the atmosphere within the auction house ignited once more, drawing a countless swarm of bidders.

Defensive cultivation arts were already exceedingly rare. For such a top-tier manual, there was naturally no shortage of desiring cultivators.

It was merely a pity that this Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill was a fragment, only allowing one to cultivate up to the Heaven Opening Realm. To cultivators at the Spirit Communication Realm and above, it held little value, otherwise...

But upon further reflection, if this Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill wasn't a fragment, it would never have appeared at this auction, nor would it be sold for a mere one thousand High Grade Spirit Stones.

Chu Chen was currently only at the Essence Condensation Realm; obtaining this fragment right now was absolutely perfect.

Once he broke through to the Heaven Opening Realm in the future, he could simply seek out the remaining fragments.

"Elder Zhong, place a bid!"

Chu Chen crooked his finger at Zhong Sheng behind him, his tone domineering:

"I want this Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill!!"

Hearing this, Zhong Sheng immediately nodded in compliance. His raspy voice then echoed throughout the massive hall:

"The Heaven Character private room bids three thousand High Grade Spirit Stones!!"

Whoosh-

The moment Zhong Sheng spoke, he ruthlessly spiked the price to three thousand High Grade Spirit Stones and deliberately emphasized the words "Heaven Character private room." The entire auction house instantly descended into a deathly silence; no one dared to continue bidding.

The auctioneer was stunned for a moment, then hastily called out to confirm:

"Three thousand High Grade Spirit Stones, going once!"

"Three thousand High Grade Spirit Stones, going twice!"

As she spoke, the auctioneer prepared to strike the gavel held high in her hand:

"Three thousand High Grade Spirit Stones, going thr..."

But just as the dust was about to settle, a willful, arrogant voice echoed from the Yellow Character private room:

"This young lady bids four thousand High Grade Spirit Stones!!"

......