Chapter 721: The First Building in the Sky, Who is He?

This voice, clearly modified by the shou mian, was unmistakably a female tone, and as soon as it emerged...

The entire hall fell into dead silence!

A silence so profound that not even a pin drop could be heard.

"My room..."

"Room..."

"In..."

"Indeed..."

Everyone in the audience was stunned.

Naturally, this included Nangong Yin up on the high platform.

The small hammer in Nangong Yin's hand dropped with a thud, hitting the wooden stand without him even noticing, as he remained in a daze.

"Isn't this possible?"

Someone swallowed hard, their Adam's apple bobbing, and cautiously ventured, "This... this couldn't be the voice of Dongling Huizhang, right?"

"But..."

No one responded.

Everyone present still had question marks on their faces—how could they respond?

The speaker's instinctive questioning tone already revealed their inner shock and the answer.

And many others shared that same answer.

Just moments ago, Nangong Yin had called for the female owner of Box 183—Dongling Huizhang—to put on the shou mian.

And now, barely a short while later, the "Dongling Huizhang" after putting it on had become so... direct? "Come to my room"?

"This can't be real!"

After a brief pause, the scene erupted into chaos.

"That Box 183 is undoubtedly the Refining Dan Masters Association, but who could be in Box 172 that Dongling Huizhang is on such good terms with?"

"Bidding on the 'Bodhi Tree Root' and giving it away?"

"Heavens, 'Come to my room'... That 'room' must mean 'box,' right? I didn't misunderstand, did I? Hey, pinch me!"

"Hiss..."

"Not a dream! But why?"

"I've met Dongling Huizhang before; she's not the type to act like this..."

At that moment, with Hua Niao's words, everything settled.

In countless hearts, the lofty and proud image of Dongling Huizhang crumbled in an instant.

Inside Box 183, Dongling Huizhang herself trembled slightly, staring in shock at the unguarded speaker.

The murmurs from the crowd outside the box reached her ears clearly at that moment.

The several elders by Dongling Huizhang's side, including Shi Ti, silently looked up at the ceiling, feigning complete sensory shutdown as if they heard nothing.

Yet, their perked ears and frequent twitches betrayed their intense curiosity about the discussions below.

Dongling Huizhang pondered deeply.

Not only had her voice fallen silent, but her expression had darkened; she instinctively wanted to scold out loud.

But it was Hua Niao, the Saint Envoy...

Thinking of this, Dongling Huizhang took a deep breath, her chest rising as she exhaled the pent-up frustration.

"Huff..."

Then, without a word, she put on the shou mian.

"Shut up!!!"

Dongling Huizhang's sudden, icy shout exploded through the entire trading hall.

Shi Ti, standing nearby, jolted and quickly shifted his position, putting some distance between them.

He knew Dongling Huizhang was not to be trifled with.

As the president of the Wang Cheng Refining Dan Masters Association headquarters, her expertise extended beyond refining dan techniques to the legendary ultra-combat abilities of the Jin Zhao lineage.

Such a figure was not one with a mild temper!

The discussions below ceased abruptly.

After Dongling Huizhang's outburst, Nangong Yin snapped back to reality, swiftly grabbing his small hammer and rapping it sharply several times.

"Quiet, quiet! No disturbances at the trading hall!"

At this point, Hua Niao realized what had happened.

Even if she hadn't initially grasped the trouble caused by her careless words, the crowd's murmurs, Dongling Huizhang's clenched fist, and the angry voice made it clear in an instant.

"Um..."

Hua Niao turned awkwardly, her face flushing red as she stammered, "That... Dongling Huizhang, I didn't mean to..."

Dongling Huizhang waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine."

Her demeanor was calm and composed, as if the built-up anger had been fully vented with that single shout.

But Hua Niao's eyes darted around, quickly glancing at the tall-stemmed wine glass still in Dongling Huizhang's hand, which she was gripping tightly...

That glass was already cracked!

It hadn't shattered only because Dongling Huizhang's powerful cultivation was holding it together with spiritual energy.

"This... um..."

Hua Niao scratched her head and looked around.

She saw everyone else gazing at the ceiling, whistling silently, or flipping through dan books... not a single one seemed willing to help resolve the situation.

In that moment, Hua Niao felt as if she were back in the Saint Palace.

The scene was just like after she had messed up, when her master Bai Ai got angry, and everyone fended for themselves.

In times like this, who would risk themselves to save her?

"It's all your fault!"

Hua Niao suddenly whipped around, glaring fiercely at Zhou Tiancan, thinking, Your suggestion wasn't any good, so I had to use my own brain!

Zhou Tiancan: ???

He was completely baffled.

How did the blame suddenly land on me again?

Clearly, Hua Niao hadn't realized...

The person she was counting on wasn't much brighter either!

In Box 172.

Honestly, the one most startled by "Dongling Huizhang's" words was Xu Xiaoshou himself.

He had even quickly reviewed his memories.

Yet, he couldn't find any connection between himself and the Wang Cheng Refining Dan Masters Association headquarters.

It was only when another modified female voice from Box 183 emerged that Xu Xiaoshou realized everyone had misunderstood.

That mindless remark wasn't from Dongling Huizhang at all—it was the work of another careless woman.

But the key question was...

"Why would there be a woman in Box 183 wanting to give me her treasure?" Xu Xiaoshou pondered, utterly perplexed.

At that moment, Mu Zixi sidled up to him sinisterly, her eyes narrowed and full of cold intent, as if possessed by a dark spirit. "Xu, have you been fooling around outside again?"

"Absolutely not, don't talk nonsense," Xu Xiaoshou waved it off.

"Passive value from suspicion: 3."

"No? So no one's sending you a treasure worth thirty-one billion?" Mu Zixi wrinkled her nose and snorted dismissively.

"I'm just as puzzled about that..." Xu Xiaoshou grew even more confused, then raised an eyebrow as a possibility struck him. "Is she trying to scam me?"

"Hmph!"

"Passive value from curse: 1, 1, 1, 1..."

Xu Xiaoshou ignored his junior sister's odd mood and thought to himself: Is this their tactic?

Saying they'll give the treasure, then once I stop bidding and they win it, afterward...

They turn on me?

"What a clever tactic!" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh.

This move is pretty slick!

If he were the one doing it, it would definitely end in "turning on someone."

But the other side is the Refining Dan Masters Association headquarters...

"What's going on?" Xu Xiaoshou found himself in a dilemma.

He felt the Refining Dan Masters Association had no reason to deceive him. Even if they were stingy and hadn't given him a high-grade refining dan master badge, it was partly because he had blown up the dan tower...

But that was in Tian Sang Cheng, not Wang Cheng.

They wouldn't resort to such petty tricks here, would they?

"Thirty-one billion, once."

"Thirty-one billion, twice."

Down on the platform, the black-robed, shou mian-wearing Nangong Yin had recovered and was now hammering the stand.

Mu Zixi stamped her foot anxiously beside him and couldn't help but speak up: "Young Master Xu, I don't think you should trust her. A woman's heart is as deep as the sea; I bet they're teaming up to trick you. Whatever you do, don't go to their box."

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

A woman's heart as deep as the sea... Where did you pick up that phrase, you little rascal?

He remained silent, even covering Mu Zixi's mouth to keep her from speaking at this critical moment.

There must be some mystery here; he could wait and see.

Getting a treasure for free was a good thing, and Xu Xiaoshou never turned those away.

If they didn't deliver in the end, and this left a bad mark in front of everyone, especially since they'd revealed their identity...

Then afterward, Xu Xiaoshou figured he'd have plenty of excuses if he wanted to cause trouble at the dan tower.

"Thirty-one billion, three times. Sold!"

"Let us congratulate Box 183 for acquiring the 'Bodhi Ancient Tree' derivative treasure—the Bodhi Tree Root—for thirty-one ling que!"

Applause erupted from the audience.

This spectacle had been truly entertaining, leaving everyone with mixed feelings.

After that little interlude, almost everyone was dumbfounded, hesitant even to bid, let alone compete seriously.

Even dominant forces like Gui Yin Ge and Da Xuan Tian Zong felt the same.

So, no one else called out bids.

But...

"How strange!"

After the auction, the top forces in the various boxes began to suspect the identity of Box 172.

What kind of person could make Dongling Huizhang go to such lengths to befriend them?

It didn't seem like Sheng Shen Dian Tang at all!

Then, many of the bigwigs in the boxes, with a mindset of just trying, asked the Ye Mao attendants.

To their surprise, they received affirmative responses.

"Tian Shang First Tower?"

"Xu Detie?"

"That recently emerging... semi-saint force?"

Upon getting the confirmed reply, the representatives of various forces fell silent again.

They had certainly received intelligence on Tian Shang First Tower before, but hadn't paid it any mind.

In a place like Wang Cheng, full of hidden dangers and intrigue, a semi-saint force from the Northern Domain was insignificant and couldn't affect the bigger picture.

But now...

If this force had connections with the Refining Dan Masters Association, it demanded their full attention.

Without exception, the bigwigs in the boxes pulled out their communication beads and seriously instructed their subordinates.

"Investigate this thoroughly—dig up everything on Tian Shang First Tower, from their origins to their activities in the Northern Domain, as much as possible."

"Yes! But we have no presence in the Northern Domain... um, limited manpower, so it might be restricted..."

"Then start from the beginning of Tian Shang First Tower's establishment and trace step by step, including their entry into the city, people they've contacted in the last few months, everything they've done... get it all clear."

"The shou mian can hide a voice, but in Wang Cheng, no one can hide their identity!"

"Yes!"

After the interlude, the trading event continued.

Ye Mao's Nangong Yin presented three supreme treasures, and despite the extra side story, it undoubtedly set a strong opening.

At the same time, it set an example for all first-time participants.

At least, some who had initially planned to pass off subpar items as treasures in this high-level event quickly thought better of it.

Not to mention the sharp-eyed experts present—with weaker treasures, even if they were supreme elsewhere, many now felt too ashamed to present them.

—It wasn't that the treasures were weak; it was just that the scale of this trading event was extraordinarily high!

In Box 172, Xu Xiaoshou quietly watched the traders taking turns on the stage.

He hadn't won any of Ye Mao's three great treasures.

The items from those on the stage were good, but compared to what he had, they barely caught his eye anymore.

He was just waiting.

Waiting for the real heavyweights hidden in the boxes to make their moves.

That would surely bring another wave of excitement to the trading event.

As he waited, Liu Lu suddenly perked up his ear, as if receiving some instruction, and approached Xu Xiaoshou.

"Young Master Xu, the owner of Box 183 invites you over."

"Oh?"

Everyone was surprised at this.

Xin Gugu immediately stood up; as the strongest bodyguard, he had to stay close and protect.

"So soon? They couldn't even wait for the trading event to end?" Xu Xiaoshou was equally surprised. The scenario he'd imagined had come, but faster than expected.

As the saying goes: courtesies without reason are either schemes or theft.

Xu Xiaoshou had been leaning toward suspecting that Box 183 was up to something, and now that they were inviting him directly, it meant they truly had business to discuss.

After a moment's thought, Xu Xiaoshou said, "Decline them."

Mu Zixi turned to look at him. "Why? They're offering the 'Bodhi Tree Root'—isn't that a good thing? Why turn down a free gift?"

Liu Lu was also puzzled.

In his view, this was a treasure worth thirty-one billion.

That day, when Young Master Xu dealt with Ye Mao for thirty billion, he had seemed quite excited.

Given his love for money, how could he not want it?

"Decline them," Xu Xiaoshou repeated.

After saying this to Liu Lu, he glanced at his junior sister, sizing her up and sighing, "You're still too young. They're offering treasure for no reason, so they must want something from me. In this situation, I'm the one in control—how can I just go over there?"

Young...

Mu Zixi didn't hear a word of what came after; she kept mulling over that word, glanced down at her toes, then puffed out her chest a bit. Realizing it didn't help, her little face puffed up in annoyance.

"Passive value from curse: 1, 1, 1, 1..."

Liu Lu quickly sent the message.

In no time, he had a response and looked at Xu Xiaoshou in surprise. "Young Master Xu, someone from Box 183 wants to meet you."

Now, Xin Gugu, Xiao Wanfeng, and the others showed a hint of emotion.

Young Master Xu had truly read everyone's minds perfectly!

"Passive value from admiration: 2."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, lifted his chin, flicked his sleeve, clasped his hands behind his back, took a few leisurely steps, paused for three breaths, and then nodded indifferently.

"Approved!"

How annoying, he pulled it off... Mu Zixi pouted, watching the scene, rolling her eyes skyward as she muttered under her breath:

"Show-off Xu!"

"Passive value from criticism: 1."