Soon, the auction reached its final item.
"The final auction item: The Pill Formula for the Seventh-Rank Medicinal Pill, the Holy Spirit Pill. It can clear all negative effects from the consumer, including poisons, curses, and certain Seal-type skills!"
"Everyone in the Black-Corner Region should know that in the Fighting Qi Continent, insidious methods are countless. A poison used by a mere Dou Practitioner might leave a Dou King expert wishing for death."
"And if one has this Holy Spirit Pill, these insidious methods will no longer be effective. It is absolutely a rare treasure among Seventh-Rank Medicinal Pills!"
"The starting price for this Pill Formula is: one million gold coins."
The old man's brilliant speech, however, did not elicit much of a response.
If this were a Seventh-Rank Medicinal Pill, someone might have fought for it. But this was a Pill Formula, and a seventh-Rank one at that. They hadn't even seen a single Seventh-Rank Alchemist in their entire lives; what the hell was the use of buying a Pill Formula?
Wasn't this just like a eunuch buying a condom—seeking psychological comfort?
"Heavenly Serpent Mansion, one million one hundred thousand gold coins!"
The second of the Black Tiger Mountain Four Tigers was stunned; did the Heavenly Serpent Mansion have a Seventh-Rank Alchemist?
Forget it, since that was the case, there was no need to compete. Their goal for this trip had already been achieved, and there was no need to cause unnecessary complications.
the four brothers glanced at each other and exited the auction hall.
A moment later, carrying the two bird eggs they had bought for one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins, the four of them walked out of Black Seal City.
After walking for most of the day, no one had come out to chase them.
Taking the Appearance Restoration Pill, the Black Tiger Mountain Four Tigers transformed instantly into four young and beautiful men and women. Where were the Black Tiger Mountain Four Tigers now?
"This doesn't seem like the style of the Black-Corner Region. We four brothers spent one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins, yet not a single person came to rob and kill us?"
Zi Yan leaned on Xiao Feng's shoulder, somewhat surprised. She had thought there would be a fierce battle next.
She had looked forward to it for nothing...
"You take it too seriously. There are plenty of people richer than them. they only bought two bird eggs; if they were going to rob someone, they'd go after those other people."
The auction gradually picked up pace after the initial items, and the atmosphere inside the hall grew increasingly lively. One item after another was brought onto the stage—rare medicinal ingredients, strange weapons, incomplete maps, and even a few mysterious objects whose origins no one could clearly identify.
Soon—
A set of Profound Rank cultivation techniques appeared.
The old man on the stage raised a scroll and spoke with a confident tone:
"Next item… a Wind Attribute Profound Rank Intermediate Technique—Gale Shadow Steps. A movement technique that enhances speed and agility in battle."
Immediately, murmurs spread across the hall.
"Movement technique?"
"That's rare…"
"Especially Wind-type…"
Before the crowd could fully react—
A calm voice echoed from Xiao Feng's direction.
"Two hundred thousand."
The sudden bid drew attention.
Some people turned to look, slightly surprised.
"Who is that kid?"
"He doesn't look like someone from around here…"
The old man smiled faintly.
"Two hundred thousand… going once…"
A few hesitated—
But no one raised the price.
"Going twice…"
"Sold."
Zi Yan blinked and leaned closer to Xiao Feng.
"Brother… why are you buying this? You're already fast enough."
Xiao Feng smiled slightly.
"It's not for me."
He tapped the scroll lightly.
"It will be useful for the others… especially during escape or group combat."
The auction continued.
Another scroll appeared—this time radiating a faint metallic aura.
"A Metal Attribute Profound Rank Advanced Technique—Iron Mountain Body. Enhances defense and physical durability…"
This time, the competition was fiercer.
"Two fifty!"
"Three hundred!"
"Three twenty!"
Xiao Feng remained silent for a while, observing.
Then—
"Three hundred and eighty."
His calm voice cut through the noise like a blade.
The hall fell quiet again.
After a brief hesitation—
No one continued.
"Sold!"
Zi Yan tilted her head, smiling.
"Hehe… you're really rich, aren't you?"
Xiao Feng shook his head.
"Not rich… just prepared."
After a few more rounds—
The atmosphere shifted.
The old man suddenly brought out something… unusual.
It wasn't a scroll.
Nor a weapon.
It was—
A dark, irregular stone, about the size of a palm.
Its surface was rough, almost ugly, yet faint red lines flickered within it like veins of fire.
"This item…" the old man paused slightly, "was discovered in a deep volcanic region."
"We are unsure of its exact origin…"
"But it contains a unique energy fluctuation."
The hall went silent.
Then—
Someone scoffed.
"A useless rock?"
"Even the auction house doesn't know what it is…"
"Who would waste money on that?"
The price started low.
"Fifty thousand."
No one responded.
Zi Yan suddenly narrowed her eyes.
She tugged Xiao Feng's sleeve slightly.
"Brother…"
"That thing…"
"It smells… strange."
Xiao Feng's gaze sharpened.
"Strange?"
Zi Yan nodded seriously.
"Not like treasure…"
"But not ordinary either."
He looked at the stone again.
This time—
More carefully.
Inside it—
There was something.
Something faint…
Yet familiar.
Without hesitation—
Xiao Feng raised his hand.
"I'll take it."
The old man seemed slightly surprised.
"No further bids?"
Silence.
"Then… sold."
As the stone was brought down—
Zi Yan whispered curiously:
"Do you know what it is?"
Xiao Feng held the stone in his hand, feeling the faint warmth within.
A slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Not yet…"
He glanced at it once more.
"But I have a feeling…"
"This thing is far more valuable than it looks."
Half a month later—
Xiao Feng and his group finally returned to Peace Town, their journey smooth and unexpectedly calm. There were no ambushes, no assassins lurking in the shadows, and none of the usual chaos that followed a major auction in the Black Corner Region.
No one tried to rob them.
And they didn't rob anyone either.
Walking through the familiar streets, Xiao Feng let out a soft breath, his expression relaxed.
"Looks like… not every journey needs bloodshed," he said lightly.
Zi Yan, who was walking beside him, tilted her head.
"Hmph… I was actually expecting someone to try something stupid."
Xiao feng, let out a low chuckle.
"Be grateful they didn't."
Xiao Feng smiled faintly but didn't reply.
Deep inside—
He knew one thing clearly.
Cultivation was not about fighting everywhere…
Nor was it about proving strength through meaningless slaughter.
More often than not—
It was about surviving.
Living better.
Protecting what mattered.
"This is the real world…" Xiao Feng muttered softly.
"Not every battle is decided by strength alone."
He remembered something clearly—
Even a weaker cultivator, if desperate enough, could drag down someone far stronger.
A hidden trump card…
A single mistake…
That was all it took.
"In this world… death isn't a story."
"It's the end of everything."
Because of that—
Xiao Feng never underestimated anyone.
And he never fought unless he had to.
But that didn't mean—
He was afraid.
If someone truly crossed the line—
He would respond.
Without hesitation.
Just as they were walking through the town—
Suddenly—
A panicked voice broke the calm.
"Someone help!"
"Please—someone save him!"
The group stopped.
Not far ahead—
A young girl was kneeling on the ground, her face pale and covered in tears.
Beside her—
A young man lay in a pool of blood.
His chest was slashed open—
Deep wounds exposed bone and flesh, blood flowing uncontrollably.
His breathing was weak…
Barely there.
"He's going to die…" someone whispered in the crowd.
"No ordinary medicine can save him…"
The girl cried harder, her voice trembling.
"Please… anyone… I'll do anything… just save my brother!"
The crowd watched—
But no one stepped forward.
Until—
A figure moved.
Xiao Feng stepped forward calmly, his expression unchanged.
Zi Yan blinked.
"Brother…?"
Without saying a word—
He flicked his finger.
A streak of light shot forward—
And landed directly on the injured youth's chest.
In an instant—
A gentle, powerful medicinal energy spread through his body.
The wound—
Which had been gushing blood—
Stopped.
Flesh began to heal—
At a speed visible to the naked eye.
The torn muscles closed.
The bleeding ceased.
His breathing—
Stabilized.
"W-What…?!"
"He's recovering?!"
The crowd was stunned.
The girl froze for a moment—
Then looked around desperately.
Her eyes landed on Xiao Feng.
She immediately rushed forward and bowed deeply, her voice shaking with gratitude.
"Thank you… thank you, benefactor!"
"My name is Liu fei… I will never forget this kindness!"
Xiao Feng waved his hand casually.
"A fifth-rank healing pill… don't think it's free."
The girl quickly nodded.
"I understand! I will repay you—no matter what!"
Xiao Feng smiled faintly.
"Good."
"Take him back and let him rest."
Liu fei bowed again, tears still in her eyes.
"Thank you… truly…"
With the help of others, she carefully carried her brother away.
The crowd slowly dispersed—
Still whispering in shock.
Inside a nearby teahouse—
Xiao Feng sat down calmly, pouring himself a cup of hot tea.
He took a sip—
As if nothing had happened.
But across the table—
Zi Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, and the others were staring at him.
Their eyes Filled with admiration.
Zi Yan leaned forward slightly, grinning.
"Hehe… Brother…"
"You really like acting cool, don't you?"
Xiao Feng let out a soft sigh as he set down his teacup, his gaze drifting slightly as if lost in thought. Then, with a faint smile, he spoke casually, "Tell me… if something like that happened to me one day, would I look like that boy just now?"
The moment those words left his mouth—
The atmosphere froze.
"No!"
"Not even close!"
"That would never happen to you!"
Zi Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, and the others reacted almost instantly, their voices overlapping with firm rejection, as if even the idea itself was unacceptable.
Zi Yan even tightened her grip on his arm, her expression unusually serious. "Brother, don't say things like that. You won't end up like that… ever."
Xiao Feng blinked slightly at their intense reactions, then shook his head with a small, helpless smile.
"I was just thinking out loud…"
Xiao Yi Xian gently held his hand, her voice soft but filled with concern.
"Even so… don't say such unlucky things."
Zi Yan quickly nodded in agreement, leaning closer.
"Yeah! She's right this time!" she added, then immediately paused before muttering under her breath, "Even though she's always too serious…"
Xiao Feng ignored their small bickering and leaned back slightly, his expression turning calm yet thoughtful.
"You don't need to be so tense… I just realized something," he said slowly.
"Life is fragile."
His voice wasn't loud—
But it carried weight.
"In this world… no one can guarantee absolute safety."
"No matter how strong you become…"
"One mistake… one moment of carelessness…"
"That's all it takes."
The table fell silent.
Xiao Feng's gaze softened as he looked at them.
"So if we want to keep moving forward… if we want a future where we can all stay together…"
"We have to be careful."
"Careful in everything we do."
"No arrogance… no recklessness…"
He paused slightly—
Then added quietly:
"Because if something really happens…"
"There may not be a second chance."
The words lingered in the air.
Zi Yan didn't speak this time.
Xiao Yi Xian lowered her gaze slightly.
Even Snow remained silent.
They all understood—
He wasn't being dramatic.
He was being real.
After that day—
Something changed.
Back in the academy, everyone trained harder than before.
Their cultivation became more focused.
Their attitude—more serious.
Because now—
They understood what they were protecting.
At the same time—
Another thing began to spread quietly.
Stories.
Stories about Xiao Feng.
"How he used a high-grade pill to save a dying stranger…"
"How he didn't hesitate even for a moment…"
"How someone so young possessed both strength and compassion…"
There had been many witnesses that day.
And in a place like this—
Stories spread fast.
Soon—
His name began to circulate throughout the Outer Academy.
Not just as a talented alchemist…
But as someone different.
Someone who didn't just chase power—
But used it.
And when people connected this incident with something else—
The Tranquility Pill he had previously released—
A pill that helped countless students stabilize their cultivation—
His reputation grew even further.
"Talented…"
"Generous…"
"Reliable…"
Within just a few months—
His name wasn't just known in the academy anymore.
It began spreading beyond—
Into the Black Corner Region itself.
And even further.
Xiao Feng, however—
Didn't care much about any of that.
For him—
Everything he did had only one reason.
To grow stronger.
And to make sure—
That the people around him…
Would never end up like that boy on the ground.