Yuan Yi's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Lin Yuan before him. As a Dou Emperor expert, he had been firmly restrained in the blink of an eye, something completely beyond his imagination. He could clearly sense the razor-sharp Dou Qi condensed like solid matter in Lin Yuan's hand. With just the slightest release, his life would end on the spot.
This person was absolutely not a Dou Spirit. The terrifying aura that erupted in that instant was undeniably at the Dou Emperor level and far beyond his own. Such a young Dou Emperor was simply inconceivable.
"Who exactly are you?" Yuan Yi asked in a deep voice. "How can you possess such terrifying strength? Have we formed any grudge between us?"
Lin Yuan smiled faintly as he looked at him, yet there was not the slightest warmth in his deep, unfathomable eyes—only cold indifference.
He did not answer Yuan Yi's question. Instead, he spoke calmly.
"Who I am is unimportant. What matters is that your life is in my hands. Everything you possess—your power, your wealth, and every secret you know, I want it all. And what I can give you in return is your life."
"Also, stop the little movements of your right hand. My soul perception is extremely sharp—nothing you do escapes me. Now, I will give you two choices: submit to me, or die here and now. Answer me, are you willing or unwilling? My patience is limited."
As he spoke, Lin Yuan slightly tightened the hand gripping Yuan Yi's throat, making him fully experience his current predicament.
Yuan Yi took a deep breath and dispersed the power he had been secretly gathering in his right hand. He understood clearly, this was the most straightforward form of black-on-black robbery.
"My lord, if you have needs, perhaps we can—" Yuan Yi attempted to find room for negotiation.
"I've already made myself perfectly clear," Lin Yuan interrupted coldly. "Do not test my patience. You cannot afford to lose."
The Dou Qi in his hand was like an unsheathed blade, poised to strike at any moment.
Looking into Lin Yuan's merciless eyes and feeling the increasing pressure on his throat, Yuan Yi harbored no doubt—if he refused or continued speaking nonsense, he would die instantly. In his current state, resistance was utterly impossible. Preserving his life was the only choice.
"…My lord, I am willing."
Yuan Yi answered in a low voice, as if surrendering entirely.
Lin Yuan nodded in satisfaction, but his vigilance did not relax in the slightest. He knew well that old foxes and desperados of the Black Corner Region never truly submitted so easily. This surrender was merely a temporary measure, like a venomous snake lying in wait.
"Since that is the case, swallow this 'pill.'"
Lin Yuan took out a round "pill" and handed it to Yuan Yi.
"A pill?" Yuan Yi stared at it hesitantly. "That sounds more like poison."
Seeing his hesitation, Lin Yuan's voice grew colder.
"Don't worry. It won't kill you. But if you don't eat it—you will die immediately."
Yuan Yi knew resistance was futile. Gritting his teeth, he swallowed the pill.
As soon as it entered his body, it dissolved rapidly. A strange force merged into both his body and soul, then vanished without a trace. He found himself unable to sense it at all, causing his heart to sink.
"In that case, we are now on the same side," Lin Yuan said calmly, withdrawing his hand.
A flash of viciousness passed through Yuan Yi's eyes but before he could act, Lin Yuan casually waved his hand. A burst of force slammed into Yuan Yi's chest, sending a wave of intense pain through him as his Dou Qi instantly collapsed.
"Heaven Flame Seal!"
A streak of cyan light shot into Yuan Yi's body, forming a solid seal. He stared in horror as he discovered that all his Dou Qi had been completely locked away. At this moment, he was no different from an ordinary person.
The feeling of losing all strength was like falling into an abyss. The fear in his heart far surpassed even the threat of death.
"My lord, this—" Yuan Yi looked at Lin Yuan in terror.
Lin Yuan chuckled lightly.
"It's merely a seal. I can remove it at any time. I told you, my soul perception is extremely keen. Since you like playing tricks, I'll temporarily take away your ability to do so."
"Come here. This is my first time using this technique on a Dou Emperor. Let me check the results."
At this point, Yuan Yi no longer dared harbor even the slightest resistance. He obediently stepped forward.
Lin Yuan extended his soul perception deep into Yuan Yi's body and carefully examined the seal. After a short while, satisfaction appeared on his face.
'The Heaven Flame Seal, created with reference to the Amethyst Seal of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, works quite well. Although it cannot permanently seal cultivation, it is more than sufficient to render the target unable to mobilize Dou Qi for a short period—no different from an ordinary person.'
'Not in vain that after beating it half to death back then, I spared its life and forced it to demonstrate the Amethyst Seal so many times.'
After finishing the inspection, Lin Yuan nodded.
"The effect is excellent. You needn't worry—the seal will automatically resolve after two hours."
His thoughts returned to the moment he had cast the seal.
'Using soul power to assist in controlling Dou Qi, combined with the extreme compression characteristics granted by the Green Lotus Core Flame… this combination truly allows many Dou Techniques and secret arts to be released instantaneously. In actual combat—especially close combat—this will be a tremendous advantage.'
Lin Yuan's gaze then shifted to Yuan Yi's storage ring.
By now, Yuan Yi had no intention of resisting. He took off his ring himself, erased the soul imprint, and respectfully handed it over.
Lin Yuan accepted it, his soul force slipping inside to inspect its contents. A smile curled at the corner of his mouth—Yuan Yi, as an auction house operator, was indeed well-stocked. Pills, rare treasures, cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, secret arts—everything was present.
After searching for a while, a flash of joy appeared in Lin Yuan's eyes as he took out a yellowed, damaged map fragment.
Unfolding the fragment, he saw the familiar routes and the incomplete yet sinister pattern. From it, he could clearly sense the vast soul power hidden within.
"Finally got it, the third Demonic Flame fragment."
He stored the fragment into his own ring and let out a long breath.
Looking again at the storage ring in his hand, his demeanor relaxed considerably.
"The fragment is secured. The main objective of this trip has been accomplished. Now, let me see what other surprises remain."
He continued searching. Soon, a silver scroll radiating wind and lightning aura appeared in his hand.
'As expected—low-tier Earth-class movement Dou Technique: Three Thousand Lightning Movement. But the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill isn't here… Could it be that Han Feng hasn't entrusted it for auction yet?'
According to the original trajectory, Han Feng should have placed the seventh-grade pill Yin-Yang Dragon Profound Pill here for auction half a year later.
Lin Yuan then turned toward Yuan Yi, who was standing with his head lowered.
"Han Feng hasn't yet entrusted that seventh-grade pill, the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill to you for auction, under the condition that you must unconditionally agree to do two things for him?"
Yuan Yi was startled. Even this was known? And with such precision?
Han Feng had indeed mentioned that he would provide a seventh-grade pill as the finale item for a super-large auction half a year later, though he had not disclosed further details. The fact that Lin Yuan knew so much only deepened Yuan Yi's fear of him.
He raised his head and replied respectfully,
"Han Feng did say he would give me a seventh-grade pill as the finale item for the upcoming large-scale auction, but he did not specify further."
"Is that so?" Lin Yuan said indifferently.
He raised the silver scroll in his hand and asked calmly, "Then, where did this come from?"
Yuan Yi looked at the silver scroll in Lin Yuan's hand, a complicated expression flashing through his eyes.
"This scroll was forcibly pushed onto me by the Black Emperor Sect. They demanded that my auction house be the one to handle it."
When mentioning the Black Emperor Sect, a trace of awe unconsciously flickered in Yuan Yi's eyes. Having dealt with the Black Emperor Sect before, he understood very clearly that it was the true dominant power of the Black Corner Region. His so-called title as one of the 'Top Ten of the Black Rankings' was nothing more than a joke in front of the Black Emperor Sect. As for their demands, he had no room whatsoever to refuse.
"Oh? The Black Emperor Sect… Mo Tianxing?" Lin Yuan said, a hint of interest arising in his heart.
After pondering for a moment, a look of realization flashed through his eyes.
"So that's how it is. You and your auction house were used as shields."
Lin Yuan casually tossed the scroll in his hand and said with amusement,
"'Three Thousand Lightning Movement' is something the people of Wind Lightning Pavilion value greatly and keep an extremely close eye on. After all, it is the prerequisite Dou Technique of Wind Lightning Pavilion's sect-protecting ultimate art, 'Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body.'"
"And Wind Lightning Pavilion has always acted in an overbearing manner. If they were to find out that 'Three Thousand Lightning Movement' had leaked out, they would definitely rush over from Central Plains to retrieve it. As for what might happen during that process—who can say? If they were a bit more extreme, they might even wipe out everyone connected to the matter altogether."
Lin Yuan paused, a trace of admiration appearing in his tone.
"That old fox Mo Tianxing really calculates things well. He lets you shoulder all the risks while he sits back and reaps the benefits. No wonder he was able to establish such a massive foundation in a place like the Black Corner Region and cultivate himself to the realm of a four-star Dou Ancestor."
"Speaking of which, the Black Emperor Sect itself mainly operates through auction businesses. I imagine that the reason Mo Tianxing allows 'competitors' like the Black Mark Auction House to exist is precisely so that, when necessary, he can have you handle some high-risk items on behalf of the Black Emperor Sect."
Listening to Lin Yuan calmly and fluently dissect forces such as Wind Lightning Pavilion and the Black Emperor Sect—powers Yuan Yi could only look up to—Yuan Yi's awe and fear grew ever stronger. He could not help but think to himself, 'Who exactly is this person? Could he be the descendant of some great sect or clan? It seems that today, I've once again encountered someone I absolutely cannot afford to provoke.'
At this thought, a bitter feeling arose in Yuan Yi's heart. But when he looked at Lin Yuan again, his eyes immediately filled with respect as he said, "Your insight is truly astonishing, my lord. Yuan Yi sincerely admires you."
Seeing how tactful Yuan Yi was, Lin Yuan pondered for a moment. The killing intent in his heart gradually dissipated, and a deeper meaning appeared in his gaze as he looked at him.
'This fellow actually has quite a bit of value. Killing him outright would be far too wasteful—perhaps he can be put to use.'
'The Black Corner Region is far more 'prosperous' than the Jia Ma Empire. The probability of encountering good items here is much higher than anywhere else in the Northwest Continent. Earth-Class cultivation methods and Dou Techniques appear here with no small frequency. Moreover, Yuan Yi has intricate connections with many forces in the Black Corner Region. The auction house he runs is one of the largest circulation channels for goods in the region and also serves as the Black Emperor Sect's venue for handling high-risk items. Many rare treasures are very likely to flow through this place.'
'And besides,' Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, in the Black Corner Region, there are certain matters that are inconvenient for me, a genius elder of Jia Nan Academy, to personally handle. But if Yuan Yi, the Sect Master of the Eight Gates, were to act, it would be extremely convenient. What's more, his Dou Emperor strength is not difficult to control.'
Having thought this through, Lin Yuan had already decided to spare Yuan Yi and the Eight Gates. As one of the foremost alchemists in the Black Corner Region, he possessed formidable production capabilities. With Yuan Yi's high-quality circulation channels as support, he would be able to fully leverage his advantages and rapidly accumulate resources. And since it wasn't his own foundation, abandoning it in the future wouldn't be a pity either.
Lin Yuan stared at Yuan Yi. When Yuan Yi was growing increasingly uneasy, Lin Yuan finally revealed a warm smile.
"Congratulations, Sect Master Yuan. Your ability to read the situation has allowed you to preserve both your life and the foundation of the Eight Gates. Originally, I was planning to kill you first, and then take a stroll through the Eight Gates' treasury."
Hearing Lin Yuan speak so casually about such cruelty, cold sweat immediately broke out on Yuan Yi's forehead. He hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed, his voice trembling slightly.
"Thank you, my lord, for sparing my life."
Lin Yuan's gaze remained deep and icy as he said calmly, "Gratitude shouldn't just be spoken, it must be demonstrated through action. Do you understand?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Yuan Yi nodded repeatedly and replied respectfully, "If my lord has any commands, both I and the Eight Gates will spare no effort."
"Very good." Lin Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
"Sect Master Yuan, as long as you serve me wholeheartedly, you will certainly be grateful for today's decision in the future. Now, relax your mind. I will place some restrictions within your soul. This is the foundation of my trust in you."
"Yes. Thank you, my lord, for bestowing the restrictions," Yuan Yi replied. Knowing he could not resist, he could only comply.
Soon after, Lin Yuan planted a complex soul restriction deep within Yuan Yi's soul. This was a soul-binding technique he had created after gaining inspiration from the restrictions Soul Hall had placed on Yun Shan, combining sealing techniques with his own research in the field of the soul. At his current level, Lin Yuan could barely be considered a master in soul techniques.
As for Yuan Yi, whether it was because the soul restriction forced him to fully accept reality, or because he sensed Lin Yuan's vast and terrifying soul power while enduring the process, it was as if he had suddenly attained enlightenment. He quickly adjusted his mindset and said with utmost respect,
"Master, what are your instructions?"
Seeing how quickly Yuan Yi adjusted himself—and how naturally he addressed him as "Master"—Lin Yuan could not help but feel a trace of surprise.
Lin Yuan quickly assumed the role of master and said calmly, "I'm very satisfied with your attitude. As a reward, take this."
With that, Lin Yuan took out the Mighty Huang Pill he had originally intended to use himself from his storage ring and handed it to Yuan Yi.
Yuan Yi respectfully received the Mighty Huang Pill. A flash of brilliance appeared in his eyes. As someone from an auction house, he possessed extremely high discernment when it came to pills. The Mighty Huang Pill before him was shrouded in pill mist—clearly a top-grade pill. He was confident that if he took it at the peak of two-star Dou Emperor, he would be able to break through in one leap to the realm of four-star Dou Emperor. At this moment, he was incomparably glad that he had never taken a Mighty Huang Pill before.
'This new master is truly generous. Serving him may not be a bad thing after all.'
With that thought, Yuan Yi dropped to one knee and said respectfully, "Thank you, Master, for your generous gift. From this day onward, Yuan Yi will devote himself fully to serving you."
Lin Yuan nodded slightly. He then took out a list densely packed with items from his storage ring and handed it to Yuan Yi, instructing him, "Do your best to collect everything on this list—whether the actual items or any related information."
Yuan Yi took the list and saw that it contained various precious heavenly materials, cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, secret arts, and many high-grade medicinal ingredients.
At this moment, he became even more certain that his new master—who carried such a list at all times and possessed such terrifying soul power was not only a powerful expert, but also a high-level alchemist. Following such a young man with immense potential and becoming his confidant was undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity.
Yuan Yi made up his mind. From this moment on, his most important identity would no longer be the Sect Master of the Eight Gates, but the most loyal follower of his master. He said firmly, "Master, rest assured. I will lead the Eight Gates with all my strength to gather these items."
Lin Yuan looked at Yuan Yi and said calmly,
"Good. If you serve me wholeheartedly, it won't be impossible for me to help you reach the Dou Ancestor realm in the future."
Upon hearing this, a brilliant light flashed in Yuan Yi's eyes. Dou Ancestor that was the pinnacle of power in the Black Corner Region. He lowered his head respectfully and said in a deep voice, "Master, rest assured. Yuan Yi will spare no effort and will not fail your trust."
Lin Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
"Then I shall look forward to your performance."
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