After the commotion caused by the alchemy hall on that day, nearly all conversations within the Black Emperor's Pavilion centered around the formidable white-robed woman and the enigmatic alchemist. Many people stayed outside the pavilion all day, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was unfolding. However, once the alchemy ceremony concluded, the pavilion remained utterly still, and no one dared to approach the white-robed woman, whose intense aura of hostility made such visits impossible. Despite the bustling rumors spreading outside, the pavilion's master remained completely silent and unseen. Some visitors, who had come with expectations of a special encounter, were forced to quietly depart after being turned away—among them was Mo Yao, who had particularly believed in his own importance. While the outside world buzzed with excitement over the events of the previous day, Xiao Yan, weary from his efforts, finally stepped out of the inner chamber for the first time. Upon seeing Xiao Yan finally emerge from the inner chamber, the young physician and Zi Yan hurriedly came forward to greet him, noting the bloodshot eyes of the former and gently sighing. How fiercely dedicated he was during the preparation of the pills—was he truly that consumed with passion? "You've been inside for two days now. If you don't come out soon, I'm going to have to force my way in," the young physician remarked, frowning slightly at Xiao Yan, who had finished drinking the entire cup of tea on the table. "Set down the cup," Xiao Yan smiled and asked. "Aside from a few dull-minded people, generally no one dares to disturb us." The young physician nodded in agreement. "Heh, it seems your appearance that day had a significant impact on quite a few who had ulterior motives." Xiao Yan chuckled. "I recall seeing the members of the Xiao Sect—was that your second brother? There was also an elder of similar strength, at the peak of the Douzong stage, beside him." The young physician spoke softly. "Ah, I believe it's Su Qian, the Grand Elder—within the inner academy, he's the only one at the Douzong level." Xiao Yan smiled slightly, his fingers lightly tapping the table as he spoke slowly. "Do you not intend to meet them?" After a moment's pause, Xiao Yan shook his head slowly. "Not yet. A number of old masters have arrived in Black Emperor City, all eager for the Bodhi Body Transformation. By now revealing our connection to the Xiao Sect might actually prompt some of them to quietly seek allies. In that case, it would be better to make an appearance only at the crucial moment." "Very well." "As for me, it doesn't matter at all," the young physician said, lifting her gray-purple eyes with a casual tone. "Mo Ya has visited several times recently, stating that Master Mo Tianxing of the Black Emperor Sect would like to invite you for a chat. However, since you've been busy refining pills, I've simply declined his request." "Declined, then, that's fine," Xiao Yan nodded, then suddenly thought of something and asked, "So, what's Master Mo Tianxing's strength like?" "He's also a strong Douzong-level cultivator, comparable to me—roughly a four-star Douzong." The young physician mused. "A four-star Douzong, then?" Xiao Yan murmured to himself. "Oh, by the way, the gray-robed man beside the Magu Yan Valley—should also be a Douzong-level cultivator," the young physician suddenly recalled. Frowning slightly, Xiao Yan's fingers paused, then gently exhaled, "Indeed, I always thought the Magi-Inn Valley wouldn't send just one representative. Though this old man has already made significant strides toward the Douzong rank, he still falls far short of true Douzong strength. I didn't realize he had been holding back all along. I simply wonder—what is this mysterious gray-robed man's background? "I don't know that either," replied Xiao Yixian, shaking her head. The man's aura was particularly obscure; even when he was close, she had only just noticed his strength, and she was completely unaware of the others. "It seems the Black Emperor City won't be quiet any longer. So many factions are eager for the Bodhi Transformation Essence, yet there's only one. Hehe—this time, I wonder which one will emerge as the ultimate winner?" Xiao Yan chuckled coldly. He had a strong feeling that this auction would soon be stained with blood. The young physician nodded slightly, then glanced at Xiao Yan's flushed eyes, and sighed with a touch of helplessness. "You should rest first. This level of mental strain isn't good for your body." "Hmm." Hearing this, Xiao Yan felt slightly embarrassed. Indeed, his current state of exhaustion was significant. If he didn't recover soon, it might begin to take a toll on his health. With the auction set to begin shortly, the events ahead were sure to be anything but smooth. He would need to remain at his peak performance at all times to avoid being caught off guard by sudden developments. "Then I'll go take care of myself and aim to recover before the auction starts tomorrow." Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan stood up, gazing out at the night sky beyond the window, and smiled gently. "Looks like tonight will be a night without sleep. … The night quietly faded away. When a streak of morning light appeared on the horizon, the once-silent Black Emperor's City erupted with vibrant energy, as if awakened in an instant. The once-empty streets quickly filled with figures flowing from every direction—each heading toward the same destination: the grand auction square at the city's heart. Today marked the most magnificent large-scale auction in the Black Corner Region in a century, drawing an unprecedented number of elite warriors, whose influence resonated throughout every corner of the region. A streak of morning light crept along the window, then climbed into the room, finally falling upon the figure seated in meditation on the bed, clad in black robes. Under the sunlight, the young man's tightly closed eyes trembled slightly, then suddenly opened. As his eyes opened, a remarkably powerful aura surged forth from Xiao Yan's body, spreading out like a lion awakening from slumber, filling the entire room. Green flames, tangible and vivid, flickered within his dark pupils. The black robe clinging to his body swayed without a breeze, rustling continuously. It wasn't until after several moments that the flames in his eyes gradually faded. As the flames dimmed, the robe gently settled, flowing smoothly against his skin. Feeling the qi within him now more robust than it had been over the past two days, Xiao Yan's eyes gleamed with a touch of satisfaction. Though the relentless alchemy practice had left him weary, after enduring a night of grueling training despite his fatigue, he noticed a subtle refinement in his internal qi. Though this improvement was slight, accumulated over time, a breakthrough was merely a matter of time. Stepping out of bed, Xiao Yan casually washed up and then donned a particularly spacious black robe, fastening the cloak over his shoulders, which completely enveloped him in shadow. Gently running his fingers over his storage ring, Xiao Yan smiled slightly before stepping out. The young physician and Zi Yan, who had been waiting in the hall, were both taken aback upon seeing the tall, cloaked figure emerge. Zi Yan had just been about to smile secretly when a black robe was suddenly tossed over her head. "Put it on," Xiao Yan said, "so the senior elder won't recognize you. The young physician has already made her appearance—she doesn't need to do it again." Watching Zi Yan, who had been reluctant, Xiao Yan chuckled. "I'd rather not wear something so plain!" she complained, frowning. Yet, under the steady gaze of Xiao Yan, she eventually gave in, sighing and wrapping the robe tightly around herself, transforming into a rather awkward black-robed figure. "Let's go," Xiao Yan said. "Today's auction is likely to be far more exciting than expected. "Looking at the two fully prepared, Xiao Yan smiled and stepped out first, followed by Zi Yan and Xiao Yi. Since the auction was scheduled to begin today, the people stationed outside the pavilion had all cleared out, which saved them some hassle. With the route clearly established, the three simply headed toward the Black Emperor's Pavilion. "Haha, I've been waiting for you, Rock Jiao brothers!" A white figure approached them as soon as they stepped out of the residential area, and the cheerful voice reached their ears instantly. "Always sticking around," Xiao Yi said, frowning slightly at Mo Ya's persistent enthusiasm. Xiao Yan had never particularly liked this man. With a slight glance from beneath his black robe, he said calmly, "Young Master, is there something I can assist with?" Mo Ya glanced at Xiao Yan, who was hidden beneath the large black robe, and then his gaze naturally shifted to the young physician beside him, taking in the graceful, slightly cool expression on her face. A warm feeling surged within him. From his meditation belt, he withdrew a jade plaque and smiled, saying, "Heh, this is the VIP section of the auction hall. Only the most prominent figures in the Black Angular Domain are granted access—after much persuasion, I managed to secure it from my father." "Thank you, Young Chancellor," Xiao Yan replied, his expression warm. Yet, a smile played at the corners of his lips as he felt it. Without hesitation, he reached out and took the plaque, then, without offering a formal thanks, turned and walked toward the exit of the Black Emperor's Pavilion. Behind him, Zi Yan and the young physician exchanged a quiet, amused smile and simply passed by Mo Ya, following him. Mo Ya's face twitched slightly, and in his heart he cursed Xiao Yan fiercely. Then he forced a smile onto his face. However, just as he was about to move forward, a cold, crisp voice suddenly froze his expression and made his feet seem as though glued to the ground. "If you're lucky enough to live long enough, come on then!"