"This way, my friend. Please!" Luo Tian paid no mind to the effeminate man’s reaction and led Shen Haoran into the Celestial Wu Auction House. However, as they passed by the man, Luo Tian seemed to remember something. He turned and said to him nonchalantly, "Oh, right. Please have your men clean up this entrance. After all, we’re partners now, aren’t we?" With that, he turned and walked away.

Staring at the backs of Luo Tian and Shen Haoran, the effeminate man’s eyes turned red, his body trembling with rage. Just a moment ago, Luo Tian had been acting friendly, but now he had berated him in front of everyone, causing him to lose all face! ’I am the grandson of the Black Wind Stronghold’s Grand Elder, the future Village Chief! No one has ever dared to order me around like this. Who the hell does Luo Tian think he is?!’

’Hmph, it’s all that damn kid’s fault. Don’t think I can’t touch you just because you have the Celestial Wu Auction House backing you. Once our plan succeeds, we’ll take down this Celestial Wu Auction House along with you! I will make you wish you were dead!’ The effeminate man shifted all the blame onto Shen Haoran, his gaze as venomous as a viper’s.

Shen Haoran was currently unaware that he had already been targeted. He followed behind Luo Tian as their group of four arrived at the top floor of the Celestial Wu Auction House.

"This subordinate, Luo Tian, greets you, Elder!" The moment they entered the room, Luo Tian turned and performed a full kowtow before Shen Haoran, which completely startled him.

"No, no, no, Manager Luo!" Shen Haoran exclaimed. "I’m just a junior, not some Elder. How can I possibly accept such a grand gesture? Please, get up!" He hurriedly sidestepped Luo Tian and moved to help him up, but Luo Tian’s body was like an unmovable boulder.

"It is a family rule that the holder of a Purple Gold Token is an Elder of the clan, regardless of seniority," Luo Tian said stubbornly. "You must accept this gesture, Elder. Otherwise, this subordinate dares not rise!"

"Fine, fine, I accept! Manager Luo, please get up!" Seeing that Luo Tian was so insistent on addressing him as Elder, Shen Haoran had no choice but to relent. He then immediately helped Luo Tian to his feet.

After helping Luo Tian up, Shen Haoran twirled the purple-gold card in his hand. "Isn’t this just a VIP card? How did it become an Identity Token, Manager Luo?"

"You may not be aware, Elder, but only direct descendants of the Luo Family are qualified to gift a Purple Gold Token to an outsider. Furthermore, each descendant may only ever give out one," Luo Tian explained. "To the public, we call it a VIP card, but internally, it is a family Identity Token!"

"In that case, Elder, may this subordinate be so bold as to ask which Young Master gifted you this Purple Gold Token?" Luo Tian asked curiously. The Purple Gold Token held great significance, and he was dying to know which Young Master would give such an important item to a mere Tier Nine Spirit Pupil.

"Oh, it wasn’t a Young Master. Sister Xiaowen gave it to me," Shen Haoran replied casually.

"Sister Xiaowen? Luo Xiaowen?" Hearing this, Luo Tian felt another jolt of shock, so intense he nearly fainted.

Luo Xiaowen was Patriarch Luo’s precious daughter! That meant the Purple Gold Token in Shen Haoran’s hand carried even more weight than he’d imagined.

"Ahem..." Luo Tian could only let out a dry cough to mask his shock. He then asked, "So, Elder, what brings you here today?"

"Manager Luo, you don’t have to call me Elder. Just call me Haoran," Shen Haoran said, stating his purpose. "I’m here to attend the auction."

"But there’s something I don’t understand," Shen Haoran asked. "This auction seems rather strange. Why is it that anyone can participate as long as they provide the Spirit Core of a Tier Four Spirit Beast?"

"Well..." Luo Tian hesitated, seemingly unsure whether he should speak on the matter.

"What’s wrong? If it’s inconvenient to say, then never mind. You don’t have to force yourself."

"It concerns the personal privacy of the Black Wind Village Chief, but since you’ve asked, Elder, I will tell you. Three years ago, the Black Wind Village Chief, Yang Zhentian, discovered a Secret Realm. He led a team of his men deep inside to hunt for treasure, but the realm was filled with traps, and they were caught. His party of over thirty people—the weakest of whom was a Tier Nine Spirit General—were all killed. Only Yang Zhentian, with his Spirit Emperor cultivation, managed to escape with his life.

"Although Yang Zhentian escaped, he was afflicted with a potent poison—the Nether Poison of a Three-headed Hellhound. It can only be suppressed with a Ten Thousand Beasts Pill, which is why he is collecting Spirit Cores from Spirit Beasts to create one."

’The Nether Poison of a Three-headed Hellhound? A Ten Thousand Beasts Pill?’ Shen Haoran murmured as information about the two items surfaced in his mind.

’The Three-headed Hellhound is one of the Ancient Ten Fierce Beasts. Its most terrifying aspect is the Nether Poison coating its fangs—the poison is instantly fatal upon contact, with no chance of survival. For Yang Zhentian to have survived for three years, the Nether Poison must have been ancient, its potency almost completely depleted.’

’As for the Ten Thousand Beasts Pill, it requires ten thousand Spirit Beast Cores and several Treasures of Heaven and Earth to create. The Alchemist would need to be at least Sixth Grade to even have a chance of success. Moreover, the Medicinal Power of the Ten Thousand Beasts Pill is incredibly violent. Even if one were made, Yang Zhentian, in his current state, likely wouldn’t be able to handle the Refinement. Taking it would be a death sentence!’

"Oh, that’s right," Luo Tian continued. "The Secret Realm Map is what Yang Zhentian managed to bring out of that dangerous realm. He has also announced that whoever can help him or provide a method to cure the Nether Poison will be given the Secret Realm Map!"

"Huh? I thought the Secret Realm Map was being auctioned?" Shen Haoran asked, surprised.

"An auction would only get him some money, which is worthless compared to his life!"

’Hmm, in that case, I still have a chance to get that Secret Realm Map,’ Shen Haoran mused. ’I have Elder Yan, that living treasure. He might know a way to cure the Nether Poison!’

’Tch. It’s just a little puppy’s spit. They make it sound so terrifying.’ Just as Shen Haoran was pondering, the voice of Taotie Changmao echoed in his mind. It was only then that Shen Haoran suddenly remembered—he had a Taotie, the leader of the Ancient Ten Fierce Beasts! ’He should be the one who knows the most about the Three-headed Hellhound’s Nether Poison!’

’Changmao, do you know how to cure the Nether Poison?’ Shen Haoran asked mentally.

’Easy. A little trick like that couldn’t be simpler. Leave it to me!’ Changmao’s confident voice rang out.

Shen Haoran’s heart filled with joy at his words, but little did he know that this single statement from Changmao would bring him a great deal of trouble in the future.

Afterward, Shen Haoran chatted with Luo Tian for a while longer before asking him to find a room for his group of three to rest.

"Elder, this is your resting area. Please call me if you need anything at all," Luo Tian said. "If you get bored, you can check out the trading floor downstairs. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of interesting things there." After giving these instructions, he left to attend to his duties.

After Luo Tian left, Shen Haoran’s group of three began to process all the information about the auction. Now that they understood the situation, all that was left was to wait for it to begin...