Nine Nether Wind Flame!

In a private room, Li Xiao fiddled with the purple-gold card in his hand, a satisfied smile spreading across his handsome face. If only more morons like Gu Qing Yang would come over—just a hundred would be enough to gather the ten billion gold coins required by the system.

Unfortunately, such people were few and far between.

"Master," Ya Fei approached with grace, bowing respectfully.

Currently, Ya Fei's strength had reached the Five-Stars Dou King level. With Ling Long and the others guiding her, she had transformed from a mere Dou Disciple into a respected Dou King within just a few years.

Ya Fei was deeply grateful to the Pavilion Master and her sisters for their nurturing, and her loyalty to the Heaven Ascending Pavilion was unwavering. If at first she was joining the pavilion as the representative of Mittel Family, now she already considered this place as her true home.

With a slight movement of his finger, Li Xiao sent a steaming cup of tea floating towards Ya Fei.

"Have some tea to soothe your throat; you've worked hard."

"How considerate of you, Pavilion Master." Ya Fei smiled warmly, "But, serving the Heaven Ascending Pavilion is my duty; there's no hardship in that."

With a grateful expression, Ya Fei took the cup, parted her lascivious lips slightly, and drank the tea in one go. To her, drinking tea personally brewed by the Pavilion Master was a rare blessing.

Ling Long, kneeling beside Li Xiao, gently massaged his legs, occasionally using a variety of techniques that made Li Xiao sighed in pleasure.

Lian Xue, her face filled with a playful smile, asked, "Master, will you be personally handling the final auction?"

"Yes," Li Xiao nodded. The last item he decided to auction was a recently awarded Heavenly Flame from the system, the Nine Nether Wind Flame.

As the tenth-ranked flame on the Heavenly Flame List, the value of the Nine Nether Wind Flame was extraordinary, far surpassing the eleventh-ranked Bone Chilling Flame. Although there was only a one-rank difference between them, the gap between the top ten flames and those ranked lower was like heaven and earth.

Even Yao Chen, who was revered as Alchemy Venerable, had only possessed the Bone Chilling Flame. Had he practiced the Flame Mantra, he might have encountered even higher-ranking flames.

Li Xiao patted Lian Xue's shoulder, then teasingly pinched her chubby cheeks, "Xue'er, have you gained weight recently?"

Lian Xue blushed, shyly replying, "Master, you're so naughty."

Despite being a First Transformation Dou Venerate, Lian Xue acted like a bashful young girl in front of Li Xiao. Of course this privilege was only served for Pavilion Master; anyone else who tried to tease her would likely end up as a corpse.

Li Xiao picked up his signature menacing mask from the table and gently placed it on his face, a precaution to prevent the horde of infatuated women from falling for him.

Suddenly, the lights in the first-floor hall dimmed. As puzzled murmurs spread among the crowd, a beam of white light focused on the crystal platform. Out of nowhere, the masked Li Xiao appeared before everyone; his aura was dignified and imposing.

"It's Pavilion Master Li! He's finally showing himself!"

"Pavilion Master Li, I want to have your babies!"

"Pavilion Master Li, I love you! I love you!!!"

The hall erupted in excitement. The female guests were cheering especially loud. Even those who possessed Dou Emperor cultivation stood up, shouting his name, some waving pre-prepared banners and others enthusiastically waving their arms.

Li Xiao lightly rubbed his forehead, thankful that he had decided to wear a mask. Otherwise, these people might just rush the stage and try something outrageous… especially the less-than-attractive ones. The mere thought of it made him shudder.

A few voices called out from the crowd, interrupting his thoughts:

"Pavilion Master Li, what's the final item up for auction?"

"Yeah, Pavilion Master Li, give us a hint!"

The attendees were eager to know what the final item would be, their curiosity growing by the second.

Li Xiao waved his robe behind him and greeted the crowd with a polite nod. "Everyone, please be patient. Some of you may not know me, so allow me to introduce myself. I am Li Xiao, the Pavilion Master of the Heaven Ascending Pavilion, and I'm honored to be your auctioneer today."

"Pavilion Master Li, just tell us what the final item is! We can't wait any longer."

"Yeah! Hurry up, we've been waiting forever!"

Li Xiao chuckled softly at their eagerness. With a subtle gesture, he activated a series of mechanisms within the Heaven Ascending Pavilion. The sound of gears shifting echoed throughout the room as a special barrier slowly enveloped the auction platform, even extending upwards to create a protective cyclone over the crystal stage.

"Please, do not be alarmed. Due to the dangerous nature of this item, the Heaven Ascending Pavilion has taken precautions by creating this special containment field," Li Xiao explained calmly. "However, I must still advise everyone to keep your distance from the auction platform. This item holds immense power."

At his words, the expressions in the crowd shifted from curiosity to shock. The last time the Pavilion Master Li had made such a statement, he had revealed the Bone Chilling Flame, ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Flame List, and the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth.

Could it be that this time, the item was an even more powerful Heavenly Flame?

As if in response to their thoughts, a strange whirlwind swept through the room. Everyone who felt its touch experienced an unsettling shift in their emotions, some even feeling a sudden urge to commit violence.

This flame produced an eerie sound, and those who heard it felt an inexplicable irritation, as if something was gnawing at their sanity.

Without hesitation, Li Xiao struck the auction platform with his fist, creating a thunderous boom. The force of his blow pinned the flame, the Nine Nether Wind Flame, ranked tenth on the Heavenly Flame List, firmly to the ground.

The Nine Nether Wind Flame, having already developed its own intelligence, had been trying to manipulate the crowd's emotions in an attempt to create an opportunity to escape. But to its shock, the masked human in front of it had effortlessly crushed its schemes with a single punch.

What about my dignity?

"Apologies for the disturbance, everyone," Li Xiao addressed the crowd. "This is the Nine Nether Wind Flame, ranked tenth on the Heavenly Flame List. It was born in the depths of an endless abyss, where the most ferocious windstorms rage year-round. This flame formed at the very center of the fiercest gales."

"That is why it managed to disrupt your mind. We hope you can forgive the inconvenience."

Alchemy Emperor Han Feng, a prominent figure among alchemists, suddenly sprang up from his seat, his voice filled with astonishment. "It's really the Nine Nether Wind Flame, ranked tenth on the Heavenly Flame List! This is an extraordinary treasure! I never imagined that Pavilion Master Li would also have this flame in his possession…"

"It really is a Heavenly Flame. Looks like we guessed right."

"Heh, a Heavenly Flame is born from the very essence of heaven and earth. If it weren't for the special restrictions in the Heaven Ascending Pavilion, trying to fully suppress such a flame would be nothing short of suicide."

The crowd was in awe. The destructive potential of a Heavenly Flame was well-known; if unleashed in anger, it could very well obliterate the entire Northwest Region.

However, at this moment, the Nine Nether Wind Flame lay eerily still, as if resigned to its fate. It made no attempt to resist, merely resting on the crystal stage, awaiting its final destiny.

Han Feng adjusted his robes, his voice low but resolute as he addressed the crowd. "Everyone, if you assist me in obtaining the Nine Nether Wind Flame, I, Han Feng, will double the rewards I've promised you, and I won't charge you a single coin!"